dognovel Chapter 1429: Red Sleeves Add Fragrance to the Night
Chapter 1429: Red Sleeves Add Fragrance to the Night
Chapter 1429: Red Sleeves Add Fragrance to the Night
"Didn't your third aunt come with you?"
Li Xuewu glanced at Wen San'er; he was thinner than when he returned from Hong Kong at the beginning of the year.
"Guodong said that your third aunt has been trying to nourish you, but why are you getting thinner and thinner?"
Have I lost weight?
Wen San'er looked at herself without realizing it, and after a long while, she said, "I feel like I've gained weight."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled, looking at him strangely, and said, "Take it easy, don't risk your life. Even if you want to give Wen Yuan a younger brother or sister, there's no need to be in such a hurry to risk your life."
"And you're the one talking about me?"
Wen San'er glanced at him with amusement, then looked at the girl cutting watermelon in the kitchen.
Standing tall and graceful, young and vibrant.
"Ahem, we're all friends."
Li Xuewu reached for his teacup, coughed lightly, and offered a brief explanation, meaning, "Don't misunderstand."
Wen San'er thought to himself, "I can't be wrong. I don't know how many 'friends' you have, but I certainly do know how many Biaozi has."
"We're eating watermelon, it's so sweet."
Zhou Xiaoling came out of the kitchen carrying a tray, her smile sweeter than the watermelon in her hands.
"What should I call you?" Wen San'er first looked at Li Xuewu, then looked at her and asked, "Judging from your demeanor, you must be from the Red Star Art Troupe, right?"
"That was a bit too much of a joke—"
Li Xuewu gave him a disapproving look, put down his teacup, and introduced him to Zhou Xiaoling: "Your name is Third Uncle."
"Why call me Third Uncle? Call me Third Brother."
Wen San'er was quite sarcastic. He said to Zhou Xiaoling with a smile, "I look old, but I'm actually about the same age as you. Calling me Third Brother is just right."
“That’s not really appropriate,” Zhou Xiaoling said with a smile, putting down the tray and handing him a slice of watermelon. “Li Xue and I are good friends and best friends. I have to call you whatever she calls you. We can’t be of different generations.”
"Hey—" Wen San'er glanced at Li Xuewu with a strange look and a hint of teasing, as if to say, "How could you do this?"
“Then I have to call him Third Uncle, otherwise Li Xue will make a scene when we get back.” He chuckled as he took the watermelon, looked her up and down and praised, “You’re really beautiful.”
"Thank you for the compliment. I won't stand on ceremony."
Zhou Xiaoling smiled confidently and presented another slice of watermelon to Li Xuewu; it was the sweetest one she had chosen.
Li Xuewu raised his chin, indicating that she could just put it on the coffee table.
Wen San'er's gaze at him was rather strange and mocking, making even the thick-skinned man feel a little embarrassed.
"The heat is unbearable; I thought it would be cooler in Northeast China—"
Zhou Xiaoling followed his suggestion and placed the watermelon in front of him, then naturally sat down next to him.
She simply raised her arm and tossed her long hair back, the ends of her hair swaying slightly, releasing a faint fragrance.
The more skilled the hunter, the more likely they are to appear as prey; Wen San'er could already smell the bait.
At this point, he naturally didn't say anything, but just ate his watermelon and watched the excitement.
Li Xuewu has been attracting attention for a long time; his legend has been circulating in the alley ever since the day I met him.
Think about it, it had only been a few years since liberation, how many of the young women and wives in the alleys were conservative?
Don't say it's because the local people are simple and honest; this is love hormones, and it has nothing to do with local customs.
With his upright posture and handsome face, he could make young women envious and young wives' hearts flutter.
This is the kind of guy who has had girlfriends since puberty, and has had countless "good older sisters" and "good sisters-in-law".
Do you think Wen San'er is envious or not?
Do you believe him when he says he's not envious?
Old Biaozi told him stories of how wildly Li Xuewu played back then, as if they were legends.
Why did Li Shun arrange for his son to join the army? Later on, Li Xuewu was rarely home.
If you want to know where he is, he doesn't even know where he'll be sleeping tonight; it depends on whose house he has time to go.
His parents were in poor health at that time and passed away one after another, gradually squandering their family fortune.
He barely had enough to eat and almost starved to death.
Look at Li Xuewu, if it weren't for taking care of these younger brothers, he would have been living a life of luxury all by himself.
Think about it, what good sister-in-law or older sister would skimp on his meals? His health is the most important thing.
How can you do this without a strong body?
My impression of Li Xuewu changed; he seemed like a completely different person since he returned from military service.
When Wen San'er first saw his face, her heart skipped a beat, especially when comparing the left and right sides of his face.
If Li Xuewu had an ordinary appearance, his scars wouldn't be so noticeable. Even now, looking at him, one often feels sorry for him.
What does it mean to be envied by the heavens? Perhaps even the heavens are jealous of Li Xuewu's carefree life.
But look at him, half his face is ruined, has he lost the woman beside him?
Farts—there are more and more of them!
Not only are there more and more of them, but the quality is also getting better and better.
It's true what they say: no girl stays eighteen forever, but Li Xuewu is never short of eighteen-year-old girls around him.
If Li Xuewu were to actively pursue someone, given his experience as a seasoned womanizer and his superior skills, he would be convinced and accept it.
What truly made him envious and jealous was that Li Xuewu clearly put on an attitude of "keeping to himself and staying away from flowers and plants," but those little butterflies just kept fluttering towards him, the kind that you couldn't get rid of no matter how hard you tried.
What's going on with this girl named Zhou Xiaoling?
Although it was the first time he had met her, he could tell from her gentle demeanor—the way she tossed her hair and sat with her legs crossed—that she was also a proactive little butterfly.
"Is it the same all over the country at this time?"
Seeing that Li Xuewu was ignoring her and the atmosphere was about to break down, Wen San'er quickly added a sentence.
Nonsense, we haven't had enough of the excitement yet, how can we let the good show end? He's not coming here for nothing.
"It's hotter than Beijing anyway. I didn't feel this hot when I went to Guangzhou a few days ago."
Zhou Xiaoling gathered her hair and casually tied it up with a hairpin, which accentuated her chin and collarbone, making the atmosphere even more lively tonight.
Li Xuewu pretended not to notice, took a sip of hot tea, broke the watermelon into small pieces, and ate them slowly.
"Don't you work at the Red Star Art Troupe?"
Wen San'er raised an eyebrow, carefully examined Zhou Xiaoling, and shook his head slightly, sighing, "What a pity."
“I work in the aviation service team of the labor service company, but what you said is also true, Uncle.”
Zhou Xiaoling smiled modestly and explained, "I did work at the Red Star Art Troupe before."
"So you and Wang Yajuan are colleagues?"
Wen San'er really knows how to stir up trouble. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Her sister works in our unit."
“We’re not only colleagues, but also classmates.” Zhou Xiaoling smiled and said, “We were in the same dance class, then we joined the Beijing Railway Art Troupe together, and later we went to the Red Star Factory together.”
"That's truly fate—"
Wen San'er glanced at Li Xuewu discreetly and asked with a smile, "Is she still in the cultural troupe?"
"What's wrong? Is it inconvenient to ask?"
He had just finished asking Zhou Xiaoling when he saw Li Xuewu glaring at him with crooked eyes, reminding him not to be presumptuous.
Wen San'er had already stoked the fire up; how could he just let it go out like that? He really wanted to tease Li Xuewu.
Zhou Xiaoling acted quite naturally, still smiling as she introduced, "There's nothing inconvenient about it. I transferred out of the cultural troupe last year, and she did it even earlier than me."
She glanced at Li Xuewu, then introduced him to Wen San'er: "She is also in Gangcheng now, and is the director of the Liaodong branch of the Red Star Radio Station of the Group's Literature and Art Publishing House."
"He was also the head of the publicity department of the metallurgical plant."
"Oh—I just found out."
Wen San'er nodded in sudden realization, as if he had just found out. He had forgotten that it was he who had just said that Wang Yamei also worked at his workplace.
Zhou Xiaoling seemed genuinely unconcerned about these things and introduced him to some information about the aviation service team.
Wen San'er pretended not to know anything about the flight attendant profession, and kept acting dumb, asking some basic questions.
As far as Li Xuewu knew, he kept a flight attendant in Hong Kong. How could he not understand the flight attendant profession?
I'm afraid there's not a single part of him I don't know.
"Go to the study and see if that kid is studying seriously. Also, find me a copy of the History of the Ming Dynasty."
Seeing that they had finished their conversation, Li Xuewu said something to Zhou Xiaoling.
"Okay, just call me if you need anything."
She showed no reluctance whatsoever, nor any disappointment at being sent away; her performance was commendable, even to Wen San'er.
"That's enough, time to pack up."
Watching the graceful figure walk towards the study, Wen San'er shifted her position a little closer, raised her eyebrows, and whispered to Li Xuewu, "How big of a fish do you want to catch?"
"It seems that it was a mistake for Third Aunt to stay in the capital. Someone like you can cause trouble anywhere."
Li Xuewu glanced at him and said indifferently, "Your body is already so weak, yet you still have time to let your mind wander."
"I'm just imagining things!" Wen San'er glared at him and said, "No, what's wrong with my health!"
He raised his arm, deliberately showing off his muscles, and said, "See that? A real man—"
"Please be gentle, or it will explode."
Li Xuewu glanced at the muscle with amusement; it wasn't even as big as a balloon that's been blown up by a fart.
Wen San'er curled his lip, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Only the magistrate is allowed to set fires!"
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and looked at him, saying, "Stop talking nonsense. Did you bring me to Liaodong just to watch the show?"
"It won't interfere with your work." Wen San'er smiled, gestured towards the study, and said, "If you meet a girl like that in the future, remember your third uncle."
"I'm afraid you'll die before you even get started."
Li Xuewu snorted and said, "Biaozi said you haven't even finished paying off your romantic debts in Hong Kong, and you're already thinking about the mainland?"
"Oh, and there's a peach too, right?"
He turned to Wen San'er and reminded her, "If you want your third aunt to speak, then I'll have no choice but to..."
"Hey—just kidding—"
Wen San'er waved his hand, sighed softly, and said, "That was all just for show. I had no choice. You know I'm a respectable person."
"Don't ruin the word 'decent person'."
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said casually, "I'll need it again in the future."
"You're no good person either."
Wen San'er chuckled, straightened up, and seeing no movement from the study, became more serious and said, "I met with Zhou Yamei before I came here."
"It wasn't just Zhou Yamei; Guo Dong, Yu Li, Teacher Wu, and a few of us also had a chat."
He looked at Li Xuewu and explained, "Our initial discussion has concluded that the three systems of recycling stations, Shunfeng Trading, and Dongfeng Shipping are currently in a bit of a mess."
"Well, that's true."
Li Xuewu nodded and looked at him, saying, "Go on, it would be best if you could find a solution."
"We discussed and decided to do it together."
Wen San'er explained softly, "The most suitable and convenient way to manage these resources is to integrate them."
The words he used were all learned from Li Xuewu, such as "integrating resources."
Of course, this also proves that everyone is actively learning and striving for progress.
"At present, it is unrealistic to combine the three projects together, and it would also be somewhat incompatible."
He adjusted his posture and leaned slightly forward to speak to Li Xuewu: "Especially the recycling station system, I think it's best to retain our base."
"We should be prepared for danger even in times of peace."
Before Li Xuewu could speak, he emphasized, "Your current position is increasingly unsuitable for you to step in and resolve the recycling station's issues, and we've taken that into consideration as well."
Wen San'er pointed a few times with his finger and continued, "What we're discussing is that you shouldn't be involved in these projects anymore, as it's not a good thing."
“Guodong handles the minor matters; he has gained some influence in the neighborhood now.”
"Has Guodong's matter been settled?"
Li Xuewu sipped his tea and raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this. Guodong had told him about this.
Wen San'er smiled and nodded, explaining, "He's so generous, how could the neighborhood not show some appreciation?"
"Throughout the capital, there are several streets that have opened up seven small industrial parks in one go. Jiaodaokou is really holding its own now."
He rubbed his fingers together and said, "With the establishment of small collectives and small industries, and Guodong having no shortage of channels, it will be convenient for the neighborhood to do whatever it wants."
"Just last month, Lao Liu was transferred to Xinjiekou for a while, and he got there because of this opportunity."
The old Liu that Wen San'er mentioned had some connection with Li Xuewu. He was the one Li Xuewu visited after his demobilization, bringing two bottles of wine. It was the old Liu who helped arrange a job at the Red Star Factory.
"Fine, the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow."
Li Xuewu nodded and said firmly, "Otherwise, it would put my godmother in a difficult position."
“I also think it’s a good thing to hand it over.” Wen San’er raised his head slightly and looked at him as he spoke: “Those small industries have absorbed so many people from the streets. If we keep them in our hands, something bad will happen sooner or later.”
"Even if the neighborhood committee doesn't cause us any trouble, who can guarantee that those people won't have ulterior motives?"
He had a long-term vision and a clear mind. He pointed to the armrest of the sofa and said, "Now is the perfect time for Guodong to retire after achieving his goals. Everyone can save face for each other."
“Look at Guodong, he’s generous and the neighborhood committee is also involved in the work. His status is actually more important.”
Wen San'er clenched his fingers, raised an eyebrow and said, "He who has no desires is invincible. He took the initiative to let go, and the other person is still reluctant to leave him. In the end, he is the one who arranges things."
"Liu Guangfu, right?" Li Xuewu put down his teacup and asked with a smile, "How is he?"
"Hey, I'm fine—"
Wen San'er raised his chin and said, "Who's as awesome as him? He bought another heavy tricycle and is working with the transport team to earn rent."
"His older brother came to our house to freeload, and the two brothers got into a fight. Liu Guangqi stood in the stairwell cursing and said he would never come back to this house again."
He found the gossip about his former neighbors in the courtyard quite amusing, and shook his head slightly, saying, "His mother's health is failing; it'll only be a year or two."
"Second Aunt? Is her health failing?"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "It looked fine when we moved last year, and now it's all over?"
"Hey, Guodong told me that too."
Wen San'er nodded and said, "That's the problem. What good person can withstand that kind of torment?"
"It's also Lao Liu's own fault. If he hadn't had those wicked thoughts back then, how could he have brought trouble upon his own family?"
"Back then, Liu Haizhong was so wild!"
He raised an eyebrow and said, "There's no one else left in the courtyard. They can't keep him any longer. He's figured things out now."
"It's because of his troubles that his family suffers. Liu Guangfu is a filial son, so you saved his life."
"What kind of life-saving was that?"
Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, picked up the watermelon he had just broken open and ate it in small bites, and asked, "Where's Grandpa?"
"That won't work either, I'm tired of talking about it."
Wen San'er nodded and sighed, "I almost died back then. I was saved, and my body was badly damaged."
"Shazhu told me that the old lady was already in poor health, and now the old man is barely holding on."
"He still has several years before he can retire."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "The group is currently undergoing technological innovation. Every workshop treats him like a treasure because of his level eight skill. We can't let him get overworked."
“I don’t know much about that. It was Shazhu who told me about it. He’s planning to have a child.”
Wen San'er smiled and explained, "I asked him who would take care of the child, and he said that an older woman couldn't do it anymore."
"If you ask me, it's all because of the move."
He glanced at Li Xuewu, nodded slightly, and said, "The feng shui has changed, the environment has changed. Young people are okay, they can adapt, but the older ones are doomed."
"Nonsense, completely fabricated."
Li Xuewu glanced at him and said calmly, "Don't say such things outside, or you'll cause trouble for yourself."
"I know, I'm not stupid—"
Wen San'er tilted his head and said, "Even during the two years I was away, I told people I was working in Steel City."
"Don't touch the recycling stations for now, let's adjust the business." Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "Except for the recycling station and the large warehouse in Jiaodaokou, Beijing, let's move all the recycling stations in other places to Shunfeng Trading."
"That's what we mean too."
Wen San'er cautiously said, "The recycling stations in Jicheng, Jinmen, Bianjiang, and Gangcheng are all just masquerading as legitimate businesses; they basically don't do any waste recycling anymore."
He spread his hands and said, "We're too busy with our distribution business. The economic development and trade of Hongxing Steel Group are growing too fast. We can't keep up."
"You may not know this, but several more distribution companies have moved into the Tianjin Trade Management Center."
Wen San'er explained, "It's the same as our Shunfeng Trading; it's just a shell within a shell."
"The specific background relationships can be retrieved, but even if you know who it is, what's the use?"
He shrugged and said, "I believe the Tianjin Trade Management Center would also prefer the presence of these distributors; otherwise, there wouldn't be any such presence."
"No business can last forever if one company has a monopoly."
Li Xuewu nodded, eating watermelon as he said, "This is a good thing, at least for Shunfeng Trading right now."
“I know all the joint venture trading companies you just mentioned. Jinyuan is Jinmen Aquatic Products, Jingda is Beijing Chemical Industry, and Boyun is a credit union.”
He put down the watermelon rind in his hand, wiped his hands with a towel, and said, "The supply and marketing corporation is also involved. The Beijing and Tianjin supply and marketing branches are responsible for the procurement and coordination of distribution."
"I'm relieved to hear you say that."
Wen San'er nodded and said, "With more distribution companies, Shunfeng Trading will be safer in the future."
"But Director Li and the Tianjin Aquatic Products..." he asked hesitantly, "After that incident, Zhou Xiaobai left. What about his salary and such?"
"Let's do the math and make some money," Li Xuewu said casually. "If there's Shunfeng Trading, then there's Shunshui Trading. We can just set up a joint venture company and use it as a shell."
"Oh—I understand—"
Wen San'er nodded knowingly and said, "Then let's use Shunshui Joint Venture Trade to do Shunfeng Trade's distribution business, and then use Shunshui Trade to pay them?"
"Do whatever is suitable and convenient," Li Xuewu said casually. "This cake may be small and inconspicuous, but it won't do without it."
He looked at Wen San'er and said, "They don't remember how much they received each month, but they do remember that their wages are gone."
"Oh dear, Zhou Xiaobai is gone. We've lost a lucky general." Wen San'er shook his head and sighed, "It's such a pity that we finally managed to train him."
"Her share shouldn't be cut off either."
Li Xuewu said casually, "Guodong can contact her and deliver it to her regularly. Don't bother him."
"Of course, I told Guodong."
Wen San'er raised an eyebrow and emphasized, "We're all one of us, so there's never anything wrong with us, unless she denies being one of us."
Stop talking nonsense and get things done.
Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "The task of integrating recycling station resources by Shunfeng Commerce will be handled by Wu Shuping and Zhou Yamei. You take over the work at Dongfeng Shipping."
"No matter what you do, when Yingcheng Port starts operating in three years, you need to get half of the near-shore transport and trade volume to have a say."
"Understood, let's sit down and eat."
Wen San'er nodded and replied, "If we can't get on the table, then we'll become the dish on the table."
He smiled and said, "But I'm not worried. The investigation department treats us like gods of wealth, so I'm not worried about the safety of near-shore transportation."
"Don't go too far—"
Li Xuewu, amused and annoyed, reminded him, "Who the hell taught you to fire a machine gun horizontally? Are you a cargo ship or a warship?"
"This isn't what we were thinking. Do you think we have that kind of ruthlessness?"
Wen San'er said with a wry smile, "Dongfeng Shipping's ships follow certain principles and rules once they set sail."
"They don't get involved in business issues, and we don't need to worry about security issues; that's how they make their money."
He spread his hands and said, "Especially now that they've got money, if someone tries to rob the boat, those guys get all red-eyed and will dare to bring anything on board."
"We still need to be mindful of the potential impact."
Li Xuewu felt helpless when he thought about the current shipping environment. Can you believe there are still pirates in this day and age?
That makes sense, though. There were pirates in later generations, but not the traditional kind with eye patches and curved swords at their waists.
Those people in the investigation department are incredibly audacious. Not only did they bring an anti-aircraft machine gun up there, but they actually dared to use it.
This thing has a deterrent effect just by being displayed; if a real fight breaks out, nothing can withstand its power.
"Zhou Yamei is going back to Beijing, and I'm going to Dongfeng Shipbuilding. What about Gangcheng?"
Wen San'er asked, "Zhou Yamei said she comes back twice a month, this..."
"Let's keep operating like this for now. Since she's confident, let her give it a try."
Li Xuewu casually remarked, "However, you'll be in charge of the Sea Coachman's plan."
“I know, she told me.”
Wen San'er thought for a moment and said, "It's a good thing if we don't make any money in a month when we have two boats in the Bohai Bay."
"I do hope that a third or fourth ship will appear soon..."
Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "When the time comes, we'll make them the first boat, and the second boat."
"I understand, and I'm willing to give it up."
Wen San'er nodded and said, "However, your idea will probably have to wait a while."
"If these coachmen don't have the lifespan and luck to support them in building large ships, they'll have to wait until Yingcheng Port is operational and other large ships come along."
"We still need to cultivate our own people."
Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa, glanced at the commotion in the study, and said, "We shouldn't let the good stuff go to outsiders."
***
Zhou Xiaoling didn't come to Gangcheng specifically to find Li Xuewu; it was purely by chance that she ran into him.
As some of the industrial equipment of the Beijing Steel Rolling Mill was transferred to the New Beijing No. 1 Mill, more and more workers came to work in the steel city after passing the assessment.
The construction scale of the workers' new village in the steel city industrial zone is not as large as that in Beijing, and the project was initiated relatively late.
According to Li Xuewu's reply to Kuang Yusheng, the steel rolling mill will be relocated this year, and all workers will be provided with food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
The goal is to arrange for these employees to work in the steel city; this requires resettlement and coordination, but it will take time.
The Steel City Workers' New Village was constructed at the same time as the exhibition hall and office buildings. The construction company transferred a lot of people to speed up the construction schedule.
The workers who came to the steel rolling mill in the early stages had nowhere to stay and could only stay in the guesthouse temporarily.
The metallurgical plant's guesthouse had so many rooms that it was fully booked in just a few days.
Zhou Xiaoling's aviation service team always stays at their own unit's guesthouse whenever they come to Gangcheng, instead of going to the airport guesthouse.
When the crew arrived at the guesthouse, there were limited rooms available, so only some of the crew could be accommodated.
As a cadre, Zhou Xiaoling naturally had to demonstrate her good manners and take the initiative to coordinate the rooms and make arrangements for everyone.
When it was her turn, she could only try her luck at other guesthouses.
She was really lucky; before she even left the factory gate, Li Xuewu's car came out.
Seeing her carrying her luggage and walking out, Li Xuewu asked the driver to stop the car. His secretary, Zhang Enyuan, got out of the car first to inquire, and after reporting to him, Li Xuewu let her get in the car.
He had no intention of showing mercy to a beautiful woman, nor was he interested in playing the hero and rescuing her; he couldn't very well leave her to sleep on the streets.
At this point, industrial parks were no longer called guesthouses; they used any place that could accommodate workers.
If she really walked from the industrial area to the city, she wouldn't make it by dark, and it would exhaust her.
Zhou Xiaoling herself lamented the unpredictability of life, saying that what you want most is often not given to you, and just when you're about to give up, fate plays tricks on you again.
She never imagined that after arranging for team members, she would seek help from Li Xuewu and not even go in the direction of the office building.
Because she hadn't even considered it, nor was she sure if Li Xuewu was there. He managed all of the group's industries in Liaodong, and it was impossible for him to be in the office every day.
She has a tenacious spirit; she thought, "Is it really possible for me to sleep on the streets?"
Look, we didn't get to sleep on the street, but we can rest in small villas, and some unexpected people have appeared.
When Li Xuewu's car arrived and his secretary told her to get in, Zhou Xiaoling almost burst into tears.
Prince Charming doesn't necessarily have to ride a white horse; a black Volga M24 will do too.
"Should I call you Aunt Zhou? Or Sister Zhou?"
Banggeng tilted his head, looked her up and down, and asked, "How old are you? How many years old are you?"
"How old? Does anyone ask someone's age like that?"
Zhou Xiaoling said with a smile, "Tell me your name and how old you are first."
"Banggeng is my nickname, you can just call me by my nickname." Banggeng looked at her cautiously and said, "I must be younger than you, do you want to tell me first?"
"You're so young but so clever—" Zhou Xiaoling smiled as she looked at him, then at the book in his hand, and asked, "Did your Uncle Li tell you to read this book?"
"I usually call him Uncle Wu."
Bang Geng emphasized this point, still sizing her up as he asked, "Are you also from the Red Star Factory?"
"Hmm, how did you figure that out?"
Zhou Xiaoling knew that Li Xuewu was talking to that old lecher and it wasn't convenient for her to overhear, so she tactfully came to the study.
To let the people in the living room know that she had no ulterior motives, she took the initiative to chat with the child.
From the moment she entered the house until the meal, and then until the gaunt man came to visit, she hadn't spoken a word to the child.
Although the two haven't officially started dating, Bang Geng is no stranger to her.
Bang Geng is no stranger to anyone; he has gradually become accustomed to the reality that this home will constantly refresh the lives of beautiful women.
It used to be Aunt Zhou, then Aunt Zhang, and now it's Sister Zhou. There will probably be more aunts and sisters in the future. What's so strange about it? It's not like we live here permanently.
She comes today, and another one comes tomorrow; he just needs to make sure he doesn't let anything slip.
As for remembering each one, there's no need for that; it's uncertain whether they'll even be able to come again next time.
His connection with these beauties depends entirely on Uncle Wu's wishes, so as not to waste any energy or time.
"I can't tell, I'm just guessing."
Banggeng calmly replied to her initiative, "Uncle Wu works at the Red Star Factory, and most of the people he interacts with are also from the Red Star Factory."
"And my mom also works at the Red Star Factory. People from the Red Star Factory are very proud and talk with their heads held high."
"Hahaha—" Zhou Xiaoling couldn't help but laugh out loud, and looked at him and asked, "So we're talking with our faces tilted back? What would that look like?"
Speaking with one's face upturned doesn't simply mean someone is talking with their face tilted upwards; rather, it describes someone who is confident.
Why should the people at Hongxing Steel Group lack confidence?
This is a large corporation, especially known for its welfare benefits. They even applied for land from the city to build commercial and residential areas for their employees while developing the industrial park, along with medical and educational resources.
While ordinary people in Beijing were still struggling to afford eggs, the workers at the Red Star Factory were already enjoying fresh seafood. Can you even compare?
With their factory employee ID, they can buy non-staple foods, vegetables, and meat without receipts. Can you compare to that?
Factory employees can apply to purchase vehicles such as cars and bicycles on a family basis, and they don't need industrial ration coupons. Who can compare to that?
Bang Geng had already figured it out. He could tell from the way he looked at the service staff and employees at his mother's workplace and the neighbors on the street.
For example, his mother, Qin Huairu, was known in the eyes of the neighbors as a widow who always attracted gossip.
But after his family's circumstances improved, whenever his mother brought back a basket of vegetables from the factory, the neighbors could only look on with envy and would greet her. His mother would respond with this expression.
Speaking with her head tilted back, Sister Zhou was just like that, quite confident.
You said your mother works at the Red Star Factory?
After laughing, Zhou Xiaoling looked at Bang Geng and asked, "Which unit does she work for, and what's her name?"
"I'm not even going to tell you my own name, why would I tell you my mother's name?"
Banggeng rolled his eyes at her and said, "You think I have to do whatever you want just because you're pretty?"
"Hahaha—" Zhou Xiaoling discovered for the first time that chatting with children was particularly fun.
Her uncontrollable laughter echoed into the living room, drawing a glance from Li Xuewu.
Even the most popular jokers think she has a low threshold for laughter. Is it because she's so charming?
Could she have fallen for him?
He looked at the girl suspiciously. Her appearance was fine, and her slightly unsteady speech wasn't a problem. It was just that she was a bit too old.
Grandma said that marrying a girl three years older is like finding a gold brick; she's fourteen this year, so she must be twenty, right?
So, he's at least six years older and has two gold bricks with him?
It's not impossible...
-
"Brother, are you asleep?"
Zhou Xiaoling wore a white silk nightgown with a floral pattern, making her look graceful and elegant.
Li Xuewu turned to look at her and nodded, saying, "Not yet? Why aren't you resting? It's so late."
"I'm having trouble sleeping in this new environment."
Zhou Xiaoling mustered her courage and walked into his study in soft-soled cotton and linen slippers.
"Who is that person you told me to call Third Uncle?" she asked, trying to make conversation. "He's quite interesting."
Do you know Shen Guodong?
Li Xuewu turned around, looked at the large book on the desk, and casually said, "They're together."
“I know Manager Shen. Who in our factory doesn’t know him?” Zhou Xiaoling walked gracefully to his side, stood by the desk, and said, “I’ve met Manager Shen, but I’ve never met this third uncle. He’s really good at talking.”
"He makes a living by his mouth."
Li Xuewu muttered something to himself, then looked up at her disheveled hair and asked, "Aren't you flying tomorrow?"
"Fly, but it will be evening."
Zhou Xiaoling seemed very worried that he would say something like kicking her out, which would be too embarrassing.
Her already limited courage was rapidly dwindling, and she was even more afraid of her second brother.
"I can't help you if you can't sleep."
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "If you're willing to go all out, I'll go downstairs and get a stick."
"Knock me out?" Zhou Xiaoling felt a little relieved when she saw him joking, and said with a coquettish laugh.
Who hasn't dreamed of having a beautiful woman by their side when they were young? What would it feel like to have a beautiful woman visit you while you're reading late at night?
"Knocking you out was a mistake."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "What I mean is, I'll give you a stick to go back to sleep, so you'll feel safer."
"Do I still lack a sense of security in your home?"
Zhou Xiaoling smiled sweetly and said, "With you here, I have no shortage of a sense of security."
As she said this, she couldn't help but glance at the pistol next to the pen on the desk.
That's absolutely true; if someone keeps a gun in hand while reading, how cautious must they be when they're working?
"It was my oversight." Li Xuewu seemed to remember something and sighed, "The relocation of the steel rolling mill has a procedure, but I didn't expect that plans could not keep up with changes, and so many people came all at once."
"That's why you couldn't stay at the guesthouse, but this problem will be solved by September, as the workers' new village will be completed soon."
"It's alright, I'm actually very happy to have this opportunity today."
Zhou Xiaoling stood to the side, showing off her figure; even her loose pajamas couldn't hide her youthful charm.
“If the guesthouse hadn’t been fully booked, I wouldn’t have met you, let alone been able to enjoy such better accommodations at your home.”
"I apologize for the poor hospitality. Did you have a good dinner?"
Li Xuewu looked at the thick book in his hand and said, "The child downstairs is the son of Qin Huairu, the director of the group's guesthouse. He is studying in Gangcheng and is staying with me."
“I also rented this house. I don’t cook much. It’s a problem for the two of us to have food.”
"It's already very good. What more can you say about the food at the restaurant?" Zhou Xiaoling said with a smile, afraid that Li Xuewu would be too polite. "I don't dare to eat too much in order to maintain my figure."
It seemed like she was explaining why she hadn't eaten much for dinner, but she managed to steer the conversation in the direction she wanted to go.
Even if Li Xuewu didn't respond to her topic, he couldn't help but glance at her.
As expected, Li Xuewu didn't respond to her words, but the gaze he gave her sent a chill down her spine.
Having never experienced such matters before, she felt both anticipation and fear. It had to be someone she liked, right?
How old is he? Is he fifteen?
Seeing that he wasn't saying anything, Zhou Xiaoling knew she couldn't stay silent, so she could only try to bring up the matter of Bang Geng.
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "He was not yet fifteen, only fourteen. He hadn't finished his studies and came to Gangcheng to learn from a master. He's staying with me temporarily."
“He told me that you didn’t make him read the book.”
Zhou Xiaoling examined his profile, the side with the scar, because she felt that Li Xuewu's face looked more masculine and had more charisma on that side.
“This is his teacher’s house.” Li Xuewu looked up at her and said, “If you can’t sleep, you can find a book to read. The books in the study are all from his teacher’s collection.”
"Oh, I don't read books much."
Zhou Xiaoling awkwardly tidied her hair behind her ear, avoiding his eyes, and said, "I can't concentrate on my studies."
"Shall we chat?"
Seeing her like this, Li Xuewu sighed helplessly in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He put away his book, nodded, and gestured for her to sit down and talk.
Zhou Xiaoling was secretly delighted. It would be best if they could sit down to talk, preferably on the bed.
Such an opportunity is too rare to be had today. She can't guarantee that she will ever have the chance to step into this house again, nor can she guarantee that she will ever have the chance to be alone with him in a room again.
"Second brother, did I disturb your reading?"
She was quite clever, and even more of a green tea bitch; she only said this after she had already sat down.
If she had already realized the problem, shouldn't she have left on her own initiative?
"No, I'm used to it. I watch a little bit every day."
Li Xuewu smiled and said to her, "Young people should still have the habit of reading and studying."
"You don't need much. Just read one chapter a day, and you'll gradually accumulate knowledge and learn something."
(End of this chapter)