dognovel Chapter 1387 Using a gas cylinder!
Chapter 1387 Using a gas cylinder!
Chapter 1387 Using a gas cylinder!
As all things welcome spring and bid farewell to the old year, the year comes to an end tonight.
As soon as Fu Zhidong's little head appeared on the windowpane, a cheer was heard before he even entered the room.
Li Xuewu smiled and raised his wrist to look at it. It was just past eleven o'clock. This kid really can hold on.
"I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stay awake at night, so I took a long nap in the afternoon."
Zhou Yamei looked at her son with a mixture of heartache and amusement, and reached out to take Li Xuewu's coat.
This is a new woolen coat she bought for Li Xuewu. It's made of wool on the outside and fur on the inside, and it's very warm to wear.
The temperature in Northeast China can easily drop to minus 20 or 30 degrees Celsius. If you wear even a little less clothing, you won't be able to stand it. You'll be so cold that you'll shiver and be unable to walk.
Wear new clothes for the New Year.
Not only did they buy new clothes for Li Xuewu, but Fu Zhidong also got a new outfit. He had planned to wear it the next morning, but he couldn't help showing it off.
Zhou Yamei herself, however, does not seem to like bright colors and has never even worn gold or silver jewelry.
However, Li Xuewu had seen that her dressing table drawer contained jade and some gold and silver jewelry, some of which were old-fashioned.
"what is this?"
When Zhou Yamei took the packaging box from Li Xuewu's hand again, there was a hint of surprise and anticipation on her face.
No matter how hard she tried to hide it, the gleam in her eyes had already betrayed her.
Li Xuewu smiled, looked at her and said, "Happy New Year."
"Is this for me?" Zhou Yamei's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting him to buy her a gift.
Of course, she never felt that Li Xuewu owed her anything, and she never thought that following him was a disservice to her.
However, due to her status and her concerns, she always kept a distance from Li Xuewu, a distance she called self-awareness.
Human hearts are made of flesh and blood; even if they aren't husband and wife, feelings can develop over time. It was the joyous and festive Spring Festival, a time for family reunion, and she bit her lip to keep herself from losing control.
Fu Zhidong looked at his mother with some anticipation, then at his godfather, somewhat confused about what they were doing.
"Have you made dumplings yet? Do you need my help?"
Li Xuewu could see Zhou Yamei's emotion, smiled, patted her arm, and stepped into the living room.
Fu Zhidong, of course, had to follow his godfather. He glanced at his mother and then, like a little shadow, went to his godfather to boast about his achievements.
He slept all afternoon, and after dark he looked forward to his godfather coming home early, preparing firecrackers and matches.
He only began to help his mother when she started making dumplings. While he called it helping, it was more about participation.
Every year when we go back to my maternal grandparents' house, my mother is always busy with chores. If he could spend more time with her, it would ease her burden.
This year is no exception. With him around, my mother has someone to talk to, and the two of them can do everything quickly.
Zhou Yamei stood in the entryway and opened the box that Li Xuewu had brought back. Inside was a pair of black mid-heeled leather boots.
This isn't a product from the mainland. The economy of this steel city is certainly not as good as that of big cities like Beijing or Fengtian, but the leather goods are still acceptable.
Just like Li Xuewu's coat, it's naturally not available in shopping malls; the materials used are too extravagant, and who could afford it?
Even if someone could afford it, no one would buy it at a shopping mall. The steel city isn't that big; there are only two major shopping malls. If you bought a leather coat in the morning, the whole workplace might know about it by the afternoon.
Human society has always had hierarchical structures, not because of humanities or politics, but because of economics.
Even though this period was when social classes were least distinct, some people traveled by plane, some by sleeper berth, and some couldn't even afford a bicycle.
There are always some channels that penetrate different levels of society, such as what Zhou Yamei and others are doing—a gray area that is neither entirely legal nor entirely illegal.
She certainly doesn't lack money now. She earns a salary as a manager at the recycling station, and she has long since achieved a comfortable life.
She still receives the "living expenses" that Li Xuewu regularly gives her, and the amount is no different from the first time, so she has never tried to calculate it.
This allowance served more as a bond between the two, and also as proof that she acknowledged he was supporting her.
If one day Li Xuewu stops paying this fee, she will clarify her situation and take a step back without being told by anyone.
But the gifts Li Xuewu gave her, especially the surprise, made her feel a more subtle emotion about this relationship.
Don't be fooled by her willingness to buy new clothes for Li Xuewu; it's because of her traditional upbringing, where she feels it's her duty to serve her man.
But the emotional feedback she received from Li Xuewu truly moved her and made her feel the warmth from her lover.
The reason why it was easy to tell at a glance that the leather boots Li Xuewu gave away were not from the mainland was because the recycling station was also involved in the leather trade.
At that time, Northeast China could be considered the country's leather production center. Due to historical reasons, it also had leather trade with Siberia, which led to the formation of a stable leather processing industry.
Leaving aside other places, just in Jicheng Xilin, every year some finished fur coats are shipped to several distribution points in Beijing.
This thing is expensive but unavailable; ordinary working-class families in Beijing can't afford it. Buying it with a ticket is cheaper, but it's impossible to actually buy it.
Leather is mostly used for coats because it's warm and makes people look good, but very little is used for women's leather boots because there's no market for it.
In this day and age, women have never had a high enough status in the family. Even if they earn a salary, they still have to think about the whole family.
The fact that Li Xuewu managed to find such leather boots in a steel city shows that he went to great lengths, and it also demonstrates his concern for him.
Moved, she blushed slightly, like a young girl, her heart racing and a few fantasies arising.
Zhou Yamei also felt that she had really gone crazy. She couldn't help but touch her face with the hand holding the shoebox, and it was a little hot.
Listening to the father and son's "nonsense" in the living room, she muttered with a smile, "I wonder what size my feet are, whether they're even the right size—"
This really shows that she hasn't known Li Xuewu for very long and doesn't know much about his preferences.
Although the two of them would play around under the bed, he was like a bandit, not missing a single spot for her, so he couldn't possibly pay attention to such details.
That muttered remark wasn't just shyness, but also an excuse, a good reason to explain her impatience.
Noticing that neither the father nor the son in the living room were looking over, she changed into her new boots on the shoe bench by the door. Only then did she realize how thoughtful Li Xuewu was; the size was just right.
Li Xuewu turned around and met her surprised gaze, his eyes showing a hint of amusement and amusement.
Zhou Yamei smiled and gave him a reproachful look, then confidently put on the other one and stood in front of the mirror to admire herself.
Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa, admiring the view. To be honest, it was a real shame that Zhou Yamei's long, slender legs weren't wearing boots.
"Hehe—" Fu Zhidong couldn't help but chuckle as he saw his mother being vain.
This made Zhou Yamei's face even hotter, especially when she saw Li Xuewu's undisguised gaze in the mirror, which became even more intense.
"Wash your hands and eat!"
She pretended to be nonchalant, quickly changed into slippers, tidied her hair behind her ear, and walked towards the kitchen, calling to the father and son to get ready for dinner.
Seeing her fleeing steps, Li Xuewu turned to his godson and asked with a smile, "What's wrong, Mom?"
"Hehe—" Fu Zhidong just laughed, and only after his mother went into the kitchen did he whisper to him, "Mom's shy—"
"Zhidong—" Zhou Yamei's voice followed, along with a look that seemed to be directed at the father and son.
Li Xuewu spread his hands at his godson and said, "Whoever controls the kitchen controls the family, understand?"
"I understand, I understand." Fu Zhidong obediently got off the sofa and said to him, "It seems that you, Uncle, are just like me and can't cook, so you both have to listen to your mother."
“You understand correctly, but Uncle has a trick up his sleeve.” Li Xuewu put his arm around his godson’s shoulder and went to the bathroom together. He said softly, “What if your wife refuses to cook for you when you’re arguing? At that time, it would be especially important to be able to make a plate of fried rice and a bowl of dumpling soup.”
"Can't you teach my son something good?" Zhou Yamei was making dumplings in the kitchen, but she still heard the father and son grumbling.
"See that?" Li Xuewu looked at Fu Zhidong helplessly and said, "When they stand in the kitchen, it's like they're sitting on a dragon throne. Listen to your uncle, when you grow up, you must learn to do housework proactively."
"Why?" Fu Zhidong didn't understand.
“Because women who do housework are more terrifying than women who cook.” Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, “Haven’t you observed that?”
"My mom is so nice—"
Fu Zhidong was clearly much smarter than Li Xuewu had imagined; he immediately changed his tune when he realized things were going badly.
Before Zhou Yamei could even open her mouth when she reached the bathroom door, he started singing a celebratory song, praising his mother profusely.
Zhou Yamei looked at her son with satisfaction, then at Li Xuewu with a smug look, before saying to her son, "Go eat dumplings."
"Mom, you've worked so hard—" Fu Zhidong's words were so sweet; even at such a young age, he had already mastered the ultimate skill of coaxing women. Zhou Yamei had also said that he had coaxed all the teachers in the kindergarten, and they couldn't bear to scold him for his mistakes.
Zhou Yamei patted her son's head, smiled as she watched him go to the restaurant, but when she turned back to look at Li Xuewu, she pouted.
"When did I ever force you to make fried rice or dumpling soup?" she said, her eyes filled with grievance. "These words make me so sad. Women who do housework are the scariest. If I don't do housework, who will?"
"See, I told you you misunderstood." Li Xuewu was stubborn as ever, turning the tables and saying, "What I said was that women who do housework are the most adorable."
He put his arm around Zhou Yamei's shoulder, turned her around, and pushed her towards the restaurant, saying with a smile, "Alright, I won't hold you accountable for eavesdropping on our men's survival secrets, but be careful to keep it a secret."
"I'm not giving you dumplings; you can have some dumpling soup instead."
Zhou Yamei swayed her shoulders, but how could she bear to leave his embrace? It was more like she was clinging to him and acting coquettishly than angry.
After so many years, this house is finally filled with the sounds of play and the joy of celebrating the New Year.
How could she bear not to give Li Xuewu dumplings? Spending the New Year with him was not only a surprise for Fu Zhidong, but also a joy for her.
They ate dumplings, set off firecrackers, the children laughed, and she laughed too, until the clock struck midnight, ending the day's festivities.
Although he had slept a lot in the afternoon, he had probably reached his limit by now. After wishing his mother and uncle a Happy New Year, Fu Zhidong went upstairs to sleep.
On the sofa, Zhou Yamei snuggled greedily in Li Xuewu's arms, feeling his breath, his warmth, and his love.
Only one light was on in the living room—a table lamp on a small table. The orange light shone on her face, making her look even more charming.
The lighting was too biased, highlighting her shyness but obscuring everything else, making the living room somewhat dim.
The dimness didn't feel cold or awful; instead, it gave her even more reason to snuggle into his arms, seeking safety and comfort.
Fireworks flashed intermittently outside the window, followed by crackling sounds of varying distances and volumes, as if echoing the anxiety and excitement inside the living room—the first firecracker of the new year.
-
"Sister, Happy New Year." Mai Qinglan got out of the car with her child in her arms and greeted Zhou Yamei, who had come to pick her up, with a smile.
"Happy New Year, please give me the child."
Zhou Yamei smiled as she took the wrapped-up Tiger Girl from her hands and gave her a big kiss on the exposed little face.
"Mom—" Tiger Girl was still a little embarrassed.
Zhou Erya, who got out of a car, looked at Hu Niu with envy. She and Zhou Changli got married last year and also wanted a child.
"What's wrong? Are you in a hurry?" Zhou Yamei smiled and glanced at her, teasing her, "Changli also needs to work harder."
"Sis, I'm trying my best—"
After getting married, Zhou Changli became more open-minded, especially since he had known Zhou Yamei for a long time and didn't seem distant at all.
Together with Zhao Laosi, he unloaded many boxes from the trunk, all of which were New Year's gifts prepared for this place.
In previous years, he was not married, and Zhou Yamei had taken her child back to her hometown, so he had never given her a gift.
This year is different. Zhou Yamei helped a lot when he got married, and Li Xuewu lives here, so how could he not come to pay his respects?
Not only him, but also Zhao Laosi and Mai Qinglan, who was taking care of a child alone, were coming, which made up a whole carload.
"Deok-joo also needs to work harder."
Zhou Yamei didn't stand on ceremony with them; when she saw them carrying down their New Year's gifts, she just smiled and teased them.
It wasn't that she was being paranoid, but no matter how she looked at it, these gifts should be attributed to Li Xuewu.
Even without Li Xuewu, these people would still come to give gifts, but without Li Xuewu, could she be the supervisor of the recycling station in Steel City?
Impossible. She had thought about it long ago. Although she had been the supervisor before Li Xuewu came to Gangcheng, it was still Li Xuewu who gave the order.
It's not hard to see from the layout that if he dared to send Lao Biaozi to the port city, he was confident that he could do things in the steel city, which is why he dared to put her in a leading position.
You might say she doesn't have the ability, since she's never even been to the black market, but she does indeed manage the personnel issues of the entire recycling station system.
Over the course of three years, I made no mistakes or oversights, and earned the unanimous respect and affection of my colleagues.
It's not enough to simply say that she's an expert in psychology to achieve this; we also need to consider her personal motivations.
She had witnessed the cold and cruelty of this harsh winter firsthand and felt it deeply. What had happened to the neighbor's empty house?
The entire family of the former vice president who used to work in Fengtian has disappeared. What is she supposed to think?
She took the living expenses Li Xuewu gave her, let him support her, be his woman, and took the wages from the recycling station to do what she was supposed to do.
She did consider becoming independent, but in this era, where would she find the opportunity to be independent and survive on her own?
If she were alone, living by herself, she would endure even the harshest and coldest place, but she also has a son.
So even though it was not legitimate, she still accepted it and let Li Xuewu move into her house.
This time, Li Xuewu wasn't just passing through or temporarily staying in Gangcheng; he was going to live under the same roof for the next few years.
When she gave Gu Ning that bracelet, she did feel guilty and wanted to make amends, but in the end, she crossed the line and took the initiative.
This year, Li Xuewu is at home, and whether the people from the recycling station should come to pay their respects for the New Year is also waiting for her approval, after all, the relationships are complicated.
Not only do we need to consider Zhou Yamei's feelings, but we also need to see if Li Xuewu is willing.
What is Li Xuewu willing or unwilling to do?
In Zhou Changli and others' view, whether Li Ge's relationship with Zhou Jie could be acknowledged was the key to whether Zhou Jie could fully control the Steel City Recycling Station.
He just didn't understand whether Li Xuewu admitted that his relationship with Zhou Yamei was irrelevant to the operation of the recycling station.
Even Zhou Yamei could see that Li Xuewu was giving her double portions because he wanted to stop her from having any illusions and to make her face the reality.
Furthermore, as long as Li Xuewu is in Gangcheng, Zhou Yamei's position is secure, and no one will dare to mess with her.
So when Zhou Yamei took the initiative to invite them to her home on the first day of the new year, not only was Zhou Changli confused, but Mai Qinglan was also confused.
She didn't work within the recycling system and didn't really understand the ins and outs of it; Li Wenbiao had never explained it to her either.
Looking at Zhou Yamei again, he was more inquisitive, wondering what tricks she had up her sleeve to win Li Xuewu's heart.
Zhou Yamei sensed the misunderstanding, but she didn't say anything. Over time, they naturally came to their senses.
Li Xuewu didn't give her a reason to covet it, so naturally he wouldn't give her a chance to act recklessly. Wouldn't that be better?
Zhao Laosi was quite perceptive, and his gaze towards her was very clear. He smiled and jokingly replied, "I was thinking of asking you to help me find a match."
He said jokingly, "You know me, there are a bunch of them right here, so just help me find them."
"Looking for a girl from Northeast China?" Zhou Yamei, holding her child, invited them into the courtyard, saying with a smile, "Don't you have any you like at the recycling center?"
"Hey, don't even mention it—" Zhao Laosi waited until the last gate was closed before following, complaining, "There are too many wolves and not enough meat in the recycling station."
In the past two years, especially in the first two months, the personnel system of the recycling station has expanded rapidly, absorbing many young people from Beijing's hutongs.
Most of these people came from the "wan zhu" (a derogatory term for troublemakers), and many were their children. They grew up in the hutongs and were quite clever.
What can bad boys do when they get together? The docks are strict; they're not allowed to go out on their own or fight. So all they can do is date.
Do you think the recycling system only hires bad kids?
Actually, that's not the case. There are girls who grew up in the alleys, and there are also idle young women who graduated from junior and senior high schools in the steel city. This can also be considered a job, right?
The recycling station is still outwardly located at the dock and Dongfeng Shipping, but it has only recently started to open an energy recycling plant in the industrial zone.
Those who haven't looked at the personnel roster and management accounts wouldn't know how many employees were actually in the recycling station system. Currently, only Zhou Yamei and Li Xuewu know this data, making it a secret of the times.
What would people think if they knew that a seemingly insignificant street organization actually had a huge personnel structure?
Dongfeng Shipping has crew members, mechanics, transport workers, and management personnel. Steel City Recycling Station has legitimate sales staff, truck drivers, and office workers.
The two units appeared to be normal, except that their locations were somewhat remote and there was a mysterious gatekeeper and security organization.
These gatekeepers and security guards never interact with them; even though they eat from the same pot, they still have their own little cliques.
In the past two years, at Li Xuewu's suggestion, Zhou Yamei has begun recruiting young people who can be trained in Gangcheng and the entire Liaodong region.
The current personnel structure of the recycling station system is still somewhat homogenous. We need to add more diverse elements to make it less obvious what the original purpose is.
He wouldn't dare use it in groups with those rebellious types from the capital, unless they were all arranged to be on a ship and physically isolated.
In the next three years, he will make great strides in the group, expand into Liaodong, and lay the foundation for the recycling station system in the entire Northeast during these crucial three years.
At the same time, he was also deploying personnel, giving these people at the recycling station the right and opportunity to make contributions, and providing them with the greatest possible personnel support.
The capital city offers opportunities for development, but it faces too many restrictions, making him hesitant to expand operations on a large scale. The current development model, while slower, is more secure.
The company relies solely on the Hongxing Steel Group for development, with distribution limited to business with the Joint Trade Management Center. On a larger scale, it leverages the network of veterans to establish a lower-level distribution system, ensuring that these profits are not hoarded.
Even the recycling station has outsourced its scrap collection business; Shen Guodong has already withdrawn his hand from that business.
Actually, it was time to pull back, because there were just too many three-wheeled motorcycles and bicycles leaving the warehouse every day.
He withdrew from the operation in time after Li Xuewu's reminder, and truly turned the recycling station into a cooperative. He hung the sign on the street and only retained the right to centrally collect and process waste. This insightful move has been tacitly approved.
What are we condoning?
Allowing the recycling station to continue using that sign not only allows them to recycle waste but also to operate a secondary business selling used goods.
The street may have the care of a godmother, but the street doesn't belong to her. With more people at the recycling station, it's natural that it needs to be standardized and rationalized.
Now if you go to the recycling center to cause trouble, you won't find any proper management, because it's a cooperative.
You're looking for Shen Guodong? That guy is now a cadre in the subdistrict, and he also holds the position of deputy director. Why are you picking a fight with him?
You say the recycling station's operating system is non-compliant, but this falls under the jurisdiction of the street office. Those people who drive tricycles, collect waste, and engage in transportation are all legitimate people affiliated with the street office.
The recycling station is clearly there and operating, but the background is completely blurred, making it look more like a small collective enterprise.
The people in the neighborhood are quite grateful and reciprocate. Over the years, Shen Guodong has invested a lot in the neighborhood, including those of them who are in charge.
Countless times, people have written to the neighborhood committee inquiring whether there is such a recycling station, and the neighborhood committee has always replied in affirmation.
Otherwise, how could the recycling system in Steel City, Jilin City, or even the frontier be so reliable?
Because the foundation was solid, and because the system in the capital had been rebuilt and transformed, Li Xuewu dared to give Shen Guodong and Yu Li full control.
He directed operations in the Northeast, leveraging the influence of the capital and the steel group's presence there to extend his influence further.
If the steel group's business scope is the arteries and veins, then the recycling station system is the capillaries.
He could provide support for Zhou Yamei, allowing them to go all out, and he could even leverage the influence of the steel group to help them at any time.
Similarly, while the Northeast is developing, the border regions are also working hard, precisely completing the layout of the economic network while simultaneously conducting intensive training.
Three years is enough time for these people to mature, and the newly recruited young people can then promote a group of capable individuals.
Before the economy is fully opened up, Li Xuewu has enough time to plan and adjust, and the recycling station distribution system will definitely have the opportunity to spread all over the country.
He was absolutely convinced of this, and who else but him could know about this ambition and plan?
Zhou Changli and the others were unaware of it anyway, and Li Xuewu wouldn't tell them either; that's how managers operate.
It has been almost 20 days since he arrived in the steel city, but he has not gone to the dock or the youth club even once.
The reason is simple: if Zhou Yamei is to be used, his authority will not be highlighted, nor will it need to be deliberately highlighted.
Especially for the sake of making it easier to utilize the group's influence in Northeast China in the future, it's better for him to stay behind the scenes.
So when Zhou Yamei mentioned that Zhou Changli and the others were coming to pay their respects for the New Year, Li Xuewu only gave them one morning.
Zhou Yamei made a lot of dumplings last night to entertain them today, so the dumplings were served quickly this morning.
There were many people today, but the relationships were complicated. Zhou Changli and Zhao Laosi came for Li Xuewu, and they were filled with trepidation.
Zhou Yamei had already spoken with the two of them, without mentioning that it was Li Xuewu's arrangement, but they understood from the decisive tone in her words.
Since Li Xuewu didn't go to the dock, they couldn't help but come and pay their respects.
Since Zhou Yamei has made such arrangements, it means that she has already gained Li Xuewu's approval, and they should listen to Brother Li's instructions.
It was Zhao Laosi who reminded him of this. Zhou Changli brought up the topic with Zhao Laosi and also listened to Li Xuewu's emphasis.
However, Li Xuewu didn't talk much about this, and it seems that he completely trusts Zhou Yamei and them.
Yes, they could feel Brother Li's trust and support, which was especially important for them as they were about to head to Fengcheng to expand their market.
Regardless of what Li Xuewu said, the fact that he was willing to meet with them and talk to them about these businesses was enough to prove that Li Xuewu acknowledged them and was willing to use them.
Zhou Erya didn't know much about this. In the past year or so, she had only been learning how to work at the docks and had never been exposed to these things.
Mai Qinglan understood, but Li Xuewu didn't give her the opportunity to participate in these tasks, and Li Wenbiao also gave instructions when he left.
So when Li Xuewu talked about business, they just listened without daring to interrupt, even during meals.
Li Xuewu's attitude towards Zhou Changli and Zhao Laosi wasn't very serious, but he didn't smile much either. However, his attitude towards Mai Qinglan and Zhou Erya was different.
Did Zhou Changli bully you?
Taking the chopsticks handed to him by Zhou Erya, Li Xuewu smiled and said to her, "Don't let him bully you. If you feel wronged, tell your sister Zhou."
"No, he... is fine."
Zhou Erya was somewhat afraid of him. When she entered the house and saw him sitting on the sofa, she didn't dare to look him in the eye when she greeted him. It was all based on the impressions that Zhou Changli had given her.
Zhou Changli had this mindset towards Li Xuewu before, thinking that what kind of good impression could he possibly have of his girlfriend?
Zhou Yamei chuckled and scolded him, "The young couple is getting along very well, so don't meddle in other people's business."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and nodded, then looked at Mai Qinglan and asked, "Has Biaozi sent any message home?"
"He brought back a message before the New Year, saying that everything was fine." Mai Qinglan felt a little disappointed when he mentioned Li Wenbiao.
It was the Lunar New Year, and she felt a bit lonely taking care of the child alone, which made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "That's the same message he brought me. He's still too competitive."
Old Biaozi went to the port city but no concrete news came back, which shows that he went there with anger and resentment.
He wouldn't reply to his family for instructions until he had vented his anger and frustration, thus saving Li Xuewu the trouble of telling him to be careful.
Do you think Old Biao is stupid? Big-Chested Bro is more cunning than anyone else. This ruthlessness of his might just knock some people in Hong Kong down.
"If you feel bored at home, bring Tiger Girl to the dock when the weather gets warmer, and also come to our house often."
Seeing that Li Xuewu was concerned about Mai Qinglan, Zhou Yamei took the initiative to extend an invitation and give her some advice.
Li Xuewu nodded and looked at her, saying, "If you can graduate smoothly this year, talk to your mother when you go back to Beijing and see if you can ask her to help you take care of your child. Then you can come and work at the metallurgical plant."
"Second Brother, this—" Mai Qinglan wasn't surprised, because Zhou Yamei had mentioned it to her a few days ago when she came to visit. At the time, Zhou Yamei had also emphasized that this was Li Xuewu's arrangement, but she hadn't dared to ask for help.
Her parents were actually rescued by Li Xuewu, and he had already arranged a good life for them. The whole family couldn't just rely on his help.
She looked at Li Xuewu hesitantly and asked, "Isn't this too much trouble? My school and major..."
"Okay, I'll arrange it for you."
Li Xuewu didn't give her a chance to refuse. Big-chested Brother was working hard in Hong Kong, and he couldn't let Mai Qinglan hold him back.
This woman, lacking knowledge and experience, only felt happy staying at home and never leaving the compound.
Cultured and knowledgeable women are different; if they aren't given job opportunities, they'll always have some reservations.
At first it might just be an idea, but over time it turns into complaints, and in the end it could lead to irrational behavior.
Think about it: are more women who cheat educated or uneducated?
"Changli and Lao Si are going to Fengcheng, and Er Ya is going too." Li Xuewu looked to the other side and instructed, "Take good care of them."
“Um…” Zhou Erya said, head down, “He won’t let me go…”
“His word doesn’t count, mine does.” Li Xuewu glanced at her with amusement; even this uneducated girl had a sense of duty.
“You’ll follow him wherever he goes, I told you.” He glanced at Zhou Changli, who was chuckling dryly, and said, “If he doesn’t take you with him, call me and I’ll arrange a car to take you to him.”
Zhou Erya looked up at Zhou Changli, then quickly lowered her head again.
Zhou Yamei found it amusing, but she didn't interrupt at this moment.
Zhou Changli explained somewhat awkwardly, "Going to Fengcheng is somewhat dangerous, and I don't want her to suffer with me."
“I’m not afraid—” Zhou Erya was afraid that Li Xuewu would change his mind, so she quickly replied, which made Zhou Yamei and Mai Qinglan laugh.
She herself felt she had acted rashly, and blushed, unable to lift her head.
"See? They're not afraid." Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Changli with amusement and said, "Besides, when did I ask you to go and fight? Don't you understand what the martial world is all about?"
Zhou Changli was somewhat embarrassed and couldn't answer, while Zhao Laosi just sat to the side and watched the show with a smile.
"If you can't even protect your own lover, what can I expect you to do for me?" Li Xuewu said to him indifferently, then looked at Zhao Laosi and instructed, "I heard you want to find a partner, that's good, otherwise I would have been urging you to settle down. A man can't be established without a family."
“Boss, no need for you to urge me, I’m anxious too.” Zhao Laosi chuckled and said, “Please don’t blame me for putting personal matters before business. I’ve asked Sister Zhou to help me look around in Gangcheng, and I’ll also keep my eyes open and look carefully when I go to Fengcheng.”
"You think I'm looking for a toad—" Zhou Changli was angry that he hadn't helped him out of the predicament earlier, so he made a joke about him now.
Li Xuewu glanced at him, while Zhao Laosi had already retaliated: "If it weren't for my help and the leader's help, you wouldn't have a wife to be so arrogant with me now."
"Hahaha—" Everyone laughed when they saw him deliberately acting silly.
Li Xuewu smiled at the two of them, then turned to Mai Qinglan and said, "Walk around here more often. If you want to go back to the capital, have them take you."
"Thank you, Second Brother." Mai Qinglan knew she couldn't refuse Li Xuewu's kindness at this moment, so she could only smile gratefully in response.
Li Xuewu heard the car noise outside the courtyard, put down his chopsticks and said to them, "You guys eat slowly, I still have work to do."
"Are you still going to work today?"
No one could continue eating. They all got up to see him off, but Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "No one is allowed to see him off. Just eat your food."
He then explained to Zhou Changli, who had asked the question, "This morning was the metallurgical plant's New Year's gathering, and this afternoon is the Liaodong Industrial Leading Group's New Year's gathering."
"This timeframe is far too tight—"
Zhou Changli wanted to see him off, but Li Xuewu pressed his shoulder down and made him sit back down.
"You can eat here. I'll be busy these next few days, but I'll treat you properly once I'm done with this busy period."
Li Xuewu glanced at Fu Zhidong and Hu Niu before letting Zhou Yamei help him to the foyer to put on his coat and go out.
Secretary Zhang Enyuan was dressed in a brand-new Zhongshan suit with shiny black leather shoes, and his newly cut hair made him look very energetic.
She quickly took the briefcase from him, opened the car door for him in advance, and got into the passenger seat after he got in.
After watching the car leave, the people standing in the lobby returned to the restaurant. However, with the main character gone, the conversation at the table was no longer so formal.
Zhou Yamei and Mai Qinglan took the initiative to talk about children, and Zhou Erya listened with great interest. Zhou Changli and Zhao Laosi stopped talking and kept eating dumplings, having already achieved their purpose for coming.
“He won’t be home tomorrow or the day after, and he’ll probably go straight back to Beijing on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, so there’s no need to wait for him.”
After breakfast, everyone sat for a while longer. When Zhou Yamei saw them off, she gave them some instructions.
"Changli and Dezhu should go to Fengcheng as soon as possible. The preparations made in the early stage can be started. Your brother Li will also go to Fengcheng often in the future."
"Okay, sister." Zhou Changli knew that she was trying to reassure them, so she replied, "Then we'll make preparations in the next couple of days and won't come over when we leave."
"Okay, I'll talk to him about it." Zhou Yamei looked at the two of them and instructed them, "Do your work diligently and be good people."
This was exactly what Li Xuewu had told the two of them in the living room that morning.
Li Xuewu wasn't deliberately creating a busy work atmosphere for them; he was genuinely busy.
The New Year's gathering they mentioned was real, with one session in the morning and one in the afternoon. Although it was said to be a formality, it was not something to be taken lightly.
When it comes to business and work, Li Xuewu now basically doesn't make specific arrangements or plans, but rather focuses on grasping the general direction.
If he has to do everything, wouldn't he be exhausted? What's the point of supporting other people?
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Li Xuewu was in Gangcheng, and on the second day, he arrived in Yingcheng.
His visit to Yingcheng was not only for research and to offer condolences, but also to pay attention to the recent ice storm in the Bohai Bay.
In early February, Yingcheng Shipyard reported that the situation in the Bohai Bay this year was more severe than in previous years, with ice storms already forming.
The Bohai Bay has an ice period of about 100 days each winter. The ice is thin and distributed along the coast, which generally does not hinder navigation. The situation of severe freezing that obstructs navigation occurs only about once every 10 years.
This year, affected by the southward movement of the massive Siberian cold wave, on February 5th, almost overnight, two-thirds of the sea area froze, with ice about one meter thick. On the unfrozen sea surface, drifting ice floes floated, and in some places, the ice was piled up to seven meters thick.
The news has already reported that 123 passenger and cargo ships currently in Tianjin Port are unable to leave the port. Nineteen of them are frozen at sea and drifting with the ice; seven are stranded due to being trapped by ice; and six have been damaged by ice.
Qinwangdao, once known as an ice-free port, has become a "dead port," with 23 merchant ships frozen inside. The "Hai 1 Well" oil exploration platform, which was operating at sea, was capsized by ice, and the "Hai 2 Well" was in imminent danger after its anchor broke.
At that time, there was only one 600-ton icebreaker permanently stationed in the Bohai Bay, which could not find its way out no matter how it tried.
Li Xuewu only heard from Xu Sinian after arriving in Yingcheng that the Bohai Bay Shipping Administration had applied to use explosives for blasting and aircraft bombing. The effect seemed feasible, but the cost was quite high.
He also went to the seaside with Xu Sinian to see the scene. Although he did not understand hydrology, ice was still visible to the naked eye covering the sea.
It is foreseeable that this ice storm will cause incalculable damage to transportation and economic life in the north.
Li Xuewu was concerned about whether the construction of Yingcheng Port and the shipyard would be affected, and even more concerned about whether the future operation of Yingcheng Port would also be affected by such climate.
"Let's try getting the gas cylinder over there."
(End of this chapter)