dognovel Chapter 1369 A mountain of romantic debts
Chapter 1369 A mountain of romantic debts
Chapter 1369 A mountain of romantic debts
"Er Ya, what's it like flying?"
"Oh my god, that scared me to death!"
"Hahaha--"
On Saturday, after working non-stop for two days, Li Xuewu finally finished dealing with the backlog of work and had time to treat his family to dinner.
Right there in the courtyard, they called everyone they could, even Er Ya came with them.
When Li Xuewu went to Jinling, he prepared so many gifts, big and small. When he returned, his mother-in-law certainly wouldn't let him down. There were gifts not only for him and Gu Ning, but also for the children.
They didn't forget their family members, including the old lady, and Li Xuewen and Li Xuecai's family as well.
The clothes given to the old lady and Liu Yin were made of the finest fabric; it was truly rare to receive ready-made clothes as gifts these days.
Giving gifts to men and children is simple: if men smoke and drink, give them cigarettes and alcohol; if children smoke, give them stationery and toys.
When it comes to gifts for women, especially older women, jewelry is often out of the question, as most families aren't wealthy. Therefore, fabric clothing becomes the best social gift for women in this era.
The type of clothing made depends entirely on the recipient's preference, and showing it to them after it's finished is a form of reciprocal gift-giving.
Touching the silky fabric, the old lady and Liu Yin, though politely scolding Li Xuewu for accepting such a heavy gift on their behalf, couldn't hide the joy and smiles in their eyes. They also expressed their gratitude to Gu Ning for their in-laws.
Gu Ning didn't have much of an impression of reciprocity, but she could guess that her mother-in-law must have asked Li Xuewu to bring a gift to Jinling.
Even if his mother-in-law didn't plan to prepare a gift, Li Xuewu would still make sure to prepare one for her.
When in-laws get along, they don't care much about the price or amount of the gift, but rather the thought and the sentiment.
Gu Ning smiled and accepted the polite thanks from her great-grandmother and mother-in-law, and also learned from Li Xuewu about how well her mother had raised her.
When will my in-laws be back?
Upon hearing Li Xuewu mention Gu Yan's marriage, Liu Yin asked with concern, "Is it before or after the New Year?"
"Oh dear—" Before her son could answer, she patted her thigh and sighed regretfully, "It's been almost three years since you got married, and you've only met your in-laws a handful of times."
“My mother-in-law misses you too. She said she’ll definitely come to visit you and your mother-in-law after the New Year,” Li Xuewu replied with a smile, answering his mother’s question at the same time.
Actually, Gu Ning should have been the one to answer at this point, but her mind wasn't on it, so Li Xuewu wouldn't criticize her.
Gu Ning belatedly realized what was happening, glanced at Li Xuewu, a slight smile playing on her lips, and turned her head away, a smile spreading across her face.
“You should come and visit us. These are truly close relatives.” Liu Yin said to the old lady, then looked at Li Xuewu and instructed, “You should also pay attention to your brother-in-law’s wedding.”
"Okay, Mom," Li Xuewu replied. "My mother-in-law told me when we left that the two of them wanted to buy a house in the workers' new village. Isn't this just to accommodate Zhou Yao?"
"Of course we're relatives." The old lady nodded as she put down some fabric. "As her brother-in-law, you should help out as much as possible."
Li Xuewu smiled and agreed to his mother's and grandmother's instructions. Even without their reminders, he would have remembered the matter.
Buying a house is simple and convenient. Zhou Yao is a factory worker and a cadre, so it's just a matter of money.
His mother-in-law asked him to help choose a house, and Gu Yan came back with money. With his own savings and the support from his mother-in-law, buying a 100-square-meter apartment wouldn't be a problem.
Li Xuewu didn't get too involved in this matter. Gu Yan still had a few days of vacation left, so he let the young couple choose for themselves.
The information about the buildings on both sides is there. Once you've chosen one, pay the money, and get the keys, he'll find a suitable construction team to do the renovations.
There's no need to worry about furniture and appliances; the group's three industries offer plenty of options. If he prefers better furniture, he can also discuss it with his maternal grandmother and have a set custom-made to meet her measurements.
That's about it for the other furnishings and preparations. The brother-in-law can help with the arrangements, but he shouldn't overstep his bounds.
After all, the house decoration should be based on the couple's preferences, since they will be living there together in the future.
Li Xuewu acknowledged that his mother and the old lady were truly relatives; if in-laws weren't family, then there were no relatives at all.
The fact that his brother-in-law could keep the family living right under his nose was partly due to his own initiative in taking care of them. He could tell that this was his father-in-law and mother-in-law's wish, so how could the brother-in-law refuse?
Not all couples in the world are as harmonious and happy as he and Gu Ning, who have never had any conflicts since their marriage.
Young men and women, if even one of them is mature, will not fight or bicker. But such a situation is extremely rare.
The main reason why Li Shun and Liu Yin valued and were increasingly satisfied with their son was that they never had to worry about him. Whether it was work or life, raising children, their lives were well-organized.
The reason why Li Xuewu's father-in-law and mother-in-law were close to him and respected him was mostly for this reason. Since they both lived in the capital, they didn't need to worry so much. Nanjing was thousands of miles away from the capital, so how could the couple not worry about whether their daughter's marriage would be peaceful and happy?
Ding Fengxia praised her son-in-law to everyone she met, not without the intention of flattering him, but ultimately her heart was still set on her daughter.
She was worried about Gu Ning as much as she was about Gu Yan. She was incredibly shrewd; the contrast between her son's carefree attitude and her future daughter-in-law's earnestness and integrity was striking. If she hadn't seen the two of them chatting and laughing together, she wouldn't have believed they could become husband and wife.
Li Xuewu jokingly said that this was a perfect match, with complementary personalities. Ding Fengxia had met more than one couple, and although she seemed happy on the surface, she was still worried. If her youngest son and his wife could live under their son-in-law's watchful eye, there would be someone to resolve any conflicts.
They were in Nanjing, and even if they knew, they couldn't do anything about it.
Young couples especially shouldn't argue too often. They're at a young and carefree age, and a heated argument can easily damage their relationship.
If someone puts pressure on them, they'll eventually get used to each other over time.
So, while the mother-in-law ostensibly asked him to help her brother-in-law buy a house and prepare for the wedding, she was actually entrusting the young couple to his care.
"What are the houses like in the workers' new village?"
Li Xue also received a gift—a fountain pen that Gu Ning and her mother had picked out and bought together while shopping. Not only Li Xue received one, but Zhao Yafang, Li Xuewen, Li Xuecai, and Ji Yuxiu, who had all started working, also received gifts.
However, Li Xue's attention was drawn to the conversation between her second brother and mother, and she took the initiative to ask about the house.
"What? You want to go independent?"
Zhao Yafang could easily see through her sister-in-law's thoughts, and deliberately teased her, "Is staying at home preventing you from finding a partner?"
"I need to find a partner, it doesn't matter where I live—" Li Xue blushed a little, put her arm around her sister-in-law sitting next to her and shook her, saying, "You're still criticizing me, who was it that wanted separate rooms in the first place?"
"Oh?—" Zhao Yafang could tell that her sister-in-law was referring to the school's housing allocation in 1965. She and Li Xuewen had managed to get a one-bedroom apartment thanks to her second brother-in-law, Li Xuewu.
However, in recent years, the family's financial situation has improved, and both of my husband's younger brothers have their own properties. Although my parents-in-law did not ask them to, they ultimately established the rule that the eldest son's family would provide for their old age.
In addition, with the changes in the situation in the past two years and the emergence of Li Tang, she had long since changed her mind and still felt more comfortable living in a courtyard house.
Having someone help take care of the children and having a hot meal when you get home is much better than living in school housing and having to arrange everything yourself, isn't it?
However, they didn't waste the school's residence; they tidied it up a bit to prepare for bad weather.
If the weather is bad or transportation is inconvenient, the two of them will stay overnight at the school to avoid the hassle of traveling back and forth.
That's why, upon hearing her sister-in-law's "accusation," she turned around with amusement and asked, "Are you also afraid of rainy or snowy weather?"
"How can I not be afraid? I don't have a ride anymore."
Li Xue pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Before, I could take advantage of my superiors' favors and get some conveniences at work. Now, I don't even have the right to drive a car; I still have to walk."
"If you're worried about the inconvenience, just take the bus." Liu Yin saw through her daughter's thoughts, but was reluctant to let her go, so she said reproachfully, "People only decide to buy a house when they're getting married, are you buying a house because you're getting married too?"
"Mom—" Li Xue pouted and scolded. However, she also knew that the decision on this matter was not in her mother's hands.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Li Xuewu asked, amused.
Li Xue was a woman of action. She let go of her sister-in-law's shoulder and went to her second brother's side, deliberately acting coquettishly, "Second brother—"
"Ouch, ouch—" Li Xuewu exaggeratedly pushed the girl away, deliberately rolled up his sleeves and said, "I'm getting goosebumps."
"Second brother!" Li Xue patted her second brother's shoulder in dissatisfaction and said, "Am I still your good sister?"
"You should speak properly first."
Li Xuewu pushed her toward Gu Ning and said, "Quickly have your sister-in-law check if there's something wrong with your throat."
"Hahaha--"
Hearing her family's laughter, Li Xue found herself the center of attention, and promptly put her arm around her second sister-in-law's shoulder, acting like a spoiled brat. Gu Ning couldn't handle her antics, but glared at Li Xuewu with displeasure, which only made everyone laugh even harder.
Ji Yuxiu looked at her sister-in-law with some envy. She knew that Li Xue had an independent mind and envied her carefree attitude.
If we're talking about living in an apartment building, they still have one vacant space. If they really liked it, they would have moved back there long ago.
Her sister-in-law is living there now. If she were to go back, her sister-in-law would be more than happy to see her there, as it would bring more life back to the house.
Living here not only means I have my mother-in-law's help, but it's also very close to my workplace; it only takes about ten minutes by bike.
Apartment buildings have their advantages, and land-based houses have their conveniences. Otherwise, why would Li Xuewu be so reluctant to give up the house in the backyard?
Speaking of which, he not only owned the property in the backyard, but also a detached house by the lake. It's just that he's gone now, and he's never gone back. It's not that he's afraid of missing me, but that he's afraid of softening his heart.
-
"You're back? When did you arrive?"
Li Xuewu came to the club on Sunday to handle some business and bumped into Zhou Changli at the entrance.
He wasn't surprised to see this young man, because it was Yu Li who had spoken to Zhou Yamei and arranged for Zhou Changli to return to Beijing.
At this critical juncture, when young people in Beijing are facing life-changing decisions, how could the recycling system not try to make a quick buck?
"Brother Li, I arrived home last night."
Zhou Changli still habitually regards the capital as his home, and every time he returns, he says he's coming home.
Of course, this kid is slick, and it's possible he's just flattering people; he's implying he considers this place his home.
Why? Because he was afraid Li Xuewu wouldn't trust him.
Everyone here treats this place as their home, considers themselves Li Xuewu's disciples, and feels respected within the system.
Within the recycling station system, the young people from Beijing formed their own faction, and this network of relationships was further divided into many sub-branches.
Some of them came from the courtyard house recycling station, such as the Thirteen Protectors, who were highly valued and were given special training.
Some of the hardcore fans followed Zhou Changli there, but it varied depending on whether they had previously worked for the club. Those who came from this side were more trusted.
This time, Zhao Laosi brought quite a few people with him to the steel city, including some of the club's young men and a fitness instructor.
I especially want to explain why this fitness coach, who came from a sports school, also followed Zhao Laosi to the steel city to wade into the muddy waters.
It's all just pure, unadulterated money...it's the money that's blinding them. Zhou Changli isn't the only person within the system who always stays at the club after returning from the steel city. Many who went with him, whether sailors or salesmen, all consider the club the headquarters of their recycling station business.
Here you can find everything you need for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Even if you go home, you can stay as comfortably as in a guesthouse.
They're used to the comforts of life outside, how could they endure the hardships at home? They'll look at their parents, leave the money behind, and then head back here.
These rebellious youths who ventured out were all like Xiang Yu: wealth and honor not returned to one's hometown are like wearing embroidered robes at night.
Only those who have truly become wealthy dare to return to their hometown; those who haven't made it big are reluctant to come back, and too ashamed to do so.
Therefore, all the fitness instructors at the club saw were arrogant Xiang Yus who had made a lot of money and dressed in fine clothes.
To be fair, the clubs don't treat these fitness instructors or sports students badly. The competition for jobs is fierce; even high school students struggle to find employment, let alone athletes.
This period had very strict requirements for culture, and the same applied to sports activities; large-scale sporting events were not organized for a long time.
Even the Red Star Factory only held one such event in 66, and never held one again after that. They were also very cautious about organizing cultural performances.
Graduates from these sports schools in Beijing are basically just sitting at home waiting for a windfall. It was Li Xuewu who, out of gratitude for Bajiquan's efforts, selected and trained many promising young talents from these schools.
The club has been officially operating for the past two years, and has recruited quite a few people for various projects, but it's not necessary to assign them all.
Therefore, the salaries and benefits for recruited sports students are not low; compared to their peers and classmates, they are considered lucky.
But this "luck" depends on who you compare it to. Some of them work in the club providing service guidance, while others work in security. They hear from the tough guys who come back on vacation about the dangers outside.
It's really funny, but these sword fights, wind and rain, seem like child's play to these sports students.
When it comes to "hands-on skills," even three or five tough guys couldn't beat them. Don't say that the tough guys are more ruthless and that the sports students wouldn't dare to go all out; anyone who says that simply doesn't understand sports students of this era.
Let's take a look at the first martial arts tournament after liberation. It was a real competition with real swords and spears, but it was stopped before it even finished. Has anyone heard of a similar competition being held again after that?
These sports students follow a modern education system, but they still need to apprentice under a master and learn real skills.
At first, when these tough guys talked about business outside and the dangers outside, they were confused, but after listening to them more, they understood.
They're simply smart and skilled.
They have no shortage of skills, and they're not lacking in brains to be willing to follow others and make money. They believe their skills are no worse than those of the tough guys in the alleys, so why can they make money when others can't?
So when Zhao Laosi went to the steel city, there was more than one sports student who signed up; they were all skilled in martial arts.
Just when Li Xuewu was worried that Zhou Yamei would not be able to take over command from Lao Biaozi and would not be able to control the troublemakers below, Zhao Laosi reported to him, and Li Xuewu agreed, which led to the Eighteen Arhats' expedition to Northeast China.
There's a need for those with "skills," and there's also a need for those with "jobs." No matter how good these sports students are at fighting, they can't compare to the resourceful and capable kids from the alleyways.
The veterans were filled with anxiety, but ultimately it was all on the surface. Li Xuewu dared not get involved easily, so he only arranged for Zuo Jie to recruit some suitable people to work at Dongfeng Construction.
Although Tianjin Shunfeng Trading has suspended operations, its structure cannot be dismantled; the sales team in Beijing must remain active.
The trend of sending people to the countryside was too strong, and many people couldn't stand firm. But it was a great test of who survived.
Those who truly remain are all exceptionally talented.
The people Zuo Jie selected still need to be trained to form the management structure for restoring and standardizing the marketing system.
He had already noted these candidates down; they were people who performed well in the marketing system, had a calm personality, and were not too unconventional.
People like Zhang Haiyang and Li Yuanchao don't need to be selected; their families will definitely have other arrangements, and they can't be retained anyway. Those like Zhong Yuemin, who are inconsistent and arrogant, are also unsuitable.
Unlike the scattered and disorganized soldiers like the Wanzhu, Li Xuewu's order to Zuo Jie was to select elite soldiers rather than large ones.
The task assigned to Zhou Changli was to select some people who were willing to take risks and dare to fight, and bring them to Steel City.
Li Xuewu had ulterior motives in sending Zhou Changli back to Beijing urgently to appease and recruit these headless, stubborn thugs.
Veterans in Beijing have established a marketing system, which will gradually expand to surrounding areas. Veterans who went to the countryside don't necessarily disappear; even without a marketing team, they can still drive sales.
Gathering is a mass of fire, scattered is a sky full of stars.
Compared to the hardships of life in the countryside, these veterans who came from marketing teams in Beijing miss their former lives even more.
As the youthful passion begins to cool and the revolutionary fervor dissipates, reason regains its footing, and they will proactively contact the capital, even exploring new marketing strategies.
Even if the goods from the trade management center cannot adapt to the rural economic system, it is still a steady and long-term business.
After three to five years of training, when these veterans return, some will inevitably be unable to find suitable employment and will instead become part of the marketing system.
Veterans from Beijing are connecting with students from other regions. Friends are introducing friends, and the seeds sown in the recycling center will take root, sprout, and blossom into a future as beautiful as flowers.
The seeds of people's desire for wealth spread like dandelions all over the country. At that time, the recycling stations also had enough strength to support the comprehensive development of the marketing system. This was the real backup plan.
To expand into Northeast China, Zhou Changli needs to leverage the existing marketing system in the steel city and utilize the resourceful business acumen of Beijing to quickly complete the construction of the entire marketing system in the Northeast.
His trip to Liaodong was not a temporary one; he was there to make real contributions and achieve tangible results. He couldn't afford to be ineffective without influence in the Northeast.
The reason why he dared to send Li Wenbiao to Hong Kong, leaving Wen San'er and Shen Guodong in Beijing, and using Zhou Yamei to take the lead was because he was going to Steel City to make his mark and did not want to affect his brothers' ambition.
When Shen Guodong stayed in Beijing, he relied on him in every way. It was only after Li Xuewu criticized him several times that he was forced to step forward and begin to learn how to manage the recycling station system independently.
Looking back now, Shen Guodong's conservative personality was just right, and he hasn't made any mistakes in the past two years.
On his trip to the Northeast, Zhou Changli and Zhao Laosi were both men he needed to use—one for offense and the other for defense.
Zhou Changli is very perceptive and has exceptional courage. He can be entrusted with the manpower that Steel City has already trained, and together with Zhou Ziqiang from Jicheng, they can expand into Ice City and continue to advance the recycling station business.
The plan to transport goods across the sea is progressing very smoothly, and those so-called local bullies have already amassed considerable wealth.
People are greedy; they can't be satisfied with just a little bit of immediate gain. Everyone wants to buy a boat and go to sea.
Before leaving, Li Wenbiao wanted to harvest a wave of "leeks" (victims) before he could confidently hand over the work to Zhou Yamei.
It's not that I'm afraid Zhou Yamei can't do these things well. Someone who's into psychology can't fool these idiots, right?
He was afraid that any disruptions in the earlier arrangements would affect Li Xuewu's mood for taking office, and he didn't want to cause him any trouble.
Since these local tyrants are planning to expand into private business, they no longer value the networks they built up earlier. Zhou Changli can take advantage of this situation by leading his men to attack.
Of course, Li Xuewu wouldn't use people like Zhou Changli to gain market share or cause trouble for the local authorities. Just as Zhou Changli himself said, "We're doing legitimate smuggling; we can't mess around."
Li Xuewu instructed him to rely on Lao Biaozi's prior arrangements to establish his own marketing team in major cities in Northeast China.
Instead of worrying about the market, you should act as a legitimate distributor to contact and expand your network and collect business information.
They engage in both sales and acquisitions, and have established freight stations locally.
The qualifications were all readily available, with the backing of the distribution relationship of Hongxing Steel Group, so they used the name of Jinmen Shunfeng Joint Venture Trading Company to set up the Northeast Branch.
Well, the headquarters of Jinmen Shunfeng Trading Company is almost closed down, but the Northeast Branch is about to be established with great fanfare.
This arrangement serves two purposes: firstly, it formally opens up the Northeast market, paving the way for Li Xuewu's ambitious economic development in Liaodong; secondly, it consolidates existing forces, gives the recycling station staff a new identity, and aims to stabilize morale.
Zhao Laosi is mature and steady, making him more suitable for defending the city. Zhou Changli and Zhou Ziqiang will expand the territory, while Zhao Laosi and Xilin will handle stability, operations, and logistical support.
Once he has established himself in the steel city and sorted out his work, we can start pushing forward these plans.
He gave himself only three years in the steel city, unlike Li Huaide and Dong Wenxue who wanted to serve one term after another. Considering the changing situation and development, he couldn't wait to serve another three years.
In just three years, he will become the one who truly holds the reins of power in the Red Star Steel Group.
Three years.
-
"Who are you looking for?"
Zhou Changli dealt with Li Xuewu, who came to work at the club, and had just finished smoking a cigarette at the entrance when he saw a familiar-looking young man riding a bicycle to the entrance and barging in recklessly.
The security guard at the gate wasn't about to let him get away with it. He was about to glare at him when he saw Zhou Changli speak, so he just stood there.
"You look familiar?"
"You look kind of familiar to me."
Nie Xiaoguang was a reckless and unruly person, and upon hearing Zhou Changli's tone, he immediately sensed the meaning behind the playboy's words.
The two stared at each other, then seemed to remember something.
"Are you the one who hangs out with Zhang Jianguo?"
Zhou Changli seemed to have met him before, and thinking about it, the only people he could know in the capital were those notorious gangsters.
Nie Xiaoguang was obviously not a big rascal, so he could only be a lackey following a big rascal.
When Zhang Jianguo was mentioned, Nie Xiaoguang's eyes showed a hint of confusion. It had only been half a year, but it felt like an eternity to him, and the name was so unfamiliar.
Yes, Zhang Jianguo has been gone for more than half a year. The once-famous gangster has vanished without a trace. Who can still remember him? And look at this guy in front of me, wasn't he also a former gangster? Now he looks like a respectable person.
The notices to go to the countryside have been delivered to everyone, and the neighborhood committees and parents' work units are putting pressure on them. Many of these "tough guys" are confused and at a loss.
Even those old soldiers who were once at odds with each other have become like-minded. Just think about what everyone was arguing about these past two years.
Perhaps sensing Nie Xiaoguang's confusion, Zhou Changli also fell silent for a long time, reflecting on the choices Nie Xiaoguang had made.
"You're here to see Brother Li, right?"
It took Zhou Changli a while to come to his senses and remember what Zhao Laosi had said: this kid was driving for the boss.
Nie Xiaoguang nodded and said, "The leaders usually come here at this time, I'm just trying my luck."
He absolutely dared not go to Li Xuewu's house. It was alright when he was a driver, but not anymore.
Leaders are most sensitive about their family's privacy, and no one dares to bother them with work-related intrusions, including him.
Zhou Changli understood and nodded, saying, "We haven't been inside for very long. They have rules. Let me take you in."
This explanation clarified why the security guard at the gate wanted to stop him, and also revealed Nie Xiaoguang's identity to the guard.
Nie Xiaoguang glanced at the guard, who was an unfamiliar face. He had come here with Li Xuewu many times before, and the guard knew him.
"Thank you, Brother Zhou. If it weren't for you, I would have made a wasted trip."
"You're being so polite." Zhou Changli glanced at him, offered him a cigarette, and gestured for him to walk away, saying, "With your relationship with Brother Li, you can just say hello and go in."
That's what he said, but Nie Xiaoguang didn't think he had that much influence. He was worried that his superiors would dislike him.
He lacked ambition, failed Li Xuewu's training and expectations, and was single-mindedly focused on revenge, choosing to marry Han Lu.
He was the one who volunteered to help his boss and wanted to mess with Han Lu, but he ended up falling into the water himself.
Li Xuewu was decisive; after he expressed his desire to stay in the capital, he promptly changed drivers.
His mentor, Han Jiankun, also disliked him and had been giving him the cold shoulder lately. He could also sense that the person he was handing over to, Yu Zhe, already knew the higher-ups.
Whether he's a good driver or not is irrelevant; he's driven big and small cars for years, so of course he's good. The important thing is that he's gained the trust of his superiors.
The handover was quick, very quick, taking less than ten minutes. They explained the leader's schedule and habits in a few words, handed over the keys, and that was it.
But it wasn't until the moment he handed over the key that he understood what it meant to him.
Losing the key meant losing his identity as a driver and the reason why Li Xuewu would take care of him.
He also told himself not to be greedy, that a grown man shouldn't rely on others for help, and that he could grow up independently.
Li Xuewu was considerate of him, arranging for him to remain in the motor pool, just not as a driver for the leaders.
Han Lu certainly looked down on him; their union was a transaction, a gamble.
He didn't know what came over him today, but he inexplicably wanted to see Li Xuewu. Now that he was here, he felt a little regretful.
But when he followed Zhou Changli to the office and actually saw Li Xuewu, he became somewhat uneasy.
"What are you standing there for?" Li Xuewu looked up and saw that they had arrived. He said indifferently, "Find a place to sit."
Nie Xiaoguang glanced at him once, then lowered his head.
Zhou Changli knew they had something to say, and dared not linger with Li Xuewu. He smiled and pushed Nie Xiaoguang to sit down, then said he had something to do and left.
Li Xuewu ignored him, only looking at the materials in his hand, sometimes frowning, sometimes signing his opinion.
There are daily jobs at the group, and weekly jobs at the recycling station. Once a man reaches adulthood, there isn't a single day that truly belongs to him.
After working for more than an hour, he finally straightened up, only to find Nie Xiaoguang still sitting there with his head down.
"I heard you got married?" Li Xuewu asked, picking up his teacup. "Why didn't you think to send me a wedding invitation?"
“Hmm…no entertainment…” Nie Xiaoguang’s voice was a little hoarse. She looked up at him and replied, “She said she didn’t want to host a party, she didn’t want a lively event.”
“The blisters on your feet are from walking all by yourself.” Li Xuewu took a sip of hot tea, put down the teacup and said, “I’m not going to ask you how your married life is now. I just want to ask you if you regret it.”
How could Nie Xiaoguang answer this question? Silence was his answer.
Li Xuewu really didn't want to deal with him anymore. This kid seemed unreliable, but he was actually the most scheming and hated Old Li for not being dead.
"Since you've already made your choice, don't regret it," he advised. "Life goes on."
"I didn't plan to make any arrangements. It's just a piece of paper; it can't hold me back, nor can it hold her back."
Nie Xiaoguang spoke with a certain clarity, looking at the coffee table and saying, "I'm living in her house now, riding her bike, and her salary is higher than mine, so I'm not losing out."
"You can be considered the pioneer of the 'gold digger' type."
Li Xuewu glanced at him, his eyelids drooping. This kid's shamelessness reminded him of his own past.
As Nie Xiaoguang said, his salary was not as high as Han Lu's, and he did not have the ability to scheme and plot.
The house and the car belonged to Han Lu. He only brought one set of luggage with him when he entered the house. It was like he got a wife for free...
Although Han Lu looked down on him, she also knew clearly that with her current reputation and status, no one would want her.
Although Nie Xiaoguang looked down on her, he still took care of her in the end, and he made all the arrangements for the family during her postpartum period.
Although his cooking wasn't very good and she often had to get food from the cafeteria, she appreciated his thoughtfulness in bringing home a hot meal at noon.
Now that they were husband and wife, she didn't make Nie Xiaoguang sleep in the guest room; if he wanted it, she'd give it to him. She wasn't a young woman anymore, so there was no need for her to be reserved or precious.
Nie Xiaoguang, on the other hand, was very patient. Even when she agreed, he still reminded her to take care of her health in a sarcastic tone.
You could say he's heartless, yet he's always been righteous; you could say he's loyal, yet hearing him say these things makes you want to strangle him.
During their marriage, the two hated each other but also cared for each other, which led to Nie Xiaoguang's current confusion.
However, Li Xuewu couldn't solve Nie Xiaoguang's confusion. He was a passionate man back then, and he still owes a lot of romantic debts. How could he be qualified to be a relationship mentor to others?
Nie Xiaoguang didn't expect to hear any enlightenment or Buddhist teachings from him. He was just feeling lost and frustrated and wanted to talk to someone, but he couldn't find anyone in the whole capital to confide in.
He stayed in the office for more than half an hour, but Li Xuewu asked him to have lunch together, so he didn't respond and left when he got to the parking lot.
You can't pull someone out of a rut; you can only help them when they figure things out.
***
Zuo Jie is also considered to have gotten stuck on a single point.
That same noon, Luo Yun, who hadn't been heard from for several days, came looking for Zuo Jie, but stood at the gate and didn't come in.
Zuo Jie was somewhat moved when he heard that she had come. Li Xuewu, who was eating at the same table, apologized and then hurried to the front door.
"Why are you standing here?" He looked Luo Yun up and down, letting her look him up as well, and suppressed his awkwardness as he greeted her, "Have you eaten? Brother Li is here, come on, let's eat together."
"Is eating all you care about?" Luo Yun glared at him and asked, "Why haven't you come to see me these past few days?"
"That's so heartwarming to hear you say that." Zuo Jie could see her vulnerability, and his tone softened considerably. "Why didn't I go to your house? But your door was locked; I couldn't exactly jump in, could I?"
Ultimately, Zuo Jie couldn't bear to part with her, so he went to Luo Yun's house to look for her. However, Luo Yun didn't want to see him and wouldn't come out no matter how much he called out to her.
Zuo Jie didn't care about Luo Yun's accusations today. Girls are all like that; call it being arrogant or pretentious. He was truly in love with Luo Yun; she had given him everything, so it was only right that he give in a little.
Luo Yun pouted and looked at him, asking, "Have you thought about whether you want to come with me or not?"
He had assumed Luo Yun had come to him to reconcile, and her demeanor seemed to suggest so. However, Zuo Jie hadn't expected her to bring this up again, and the smile that had just appeared on his face stiffened.
But he didn't want to drag things out and push their relationship into an abyss, so he pulled her aside and said, "Let's eat first. I put down my chopsticks and came out when I heard you were here. Brother Li is still over there."
"I'm not hungry, I came here to find you."
Luo Yun shook off Zuo Jie's hand, looked at him seriously, and said, "I know you care about your pride, but my dad is doing this for our own good. We're almost out of quotas, could you..."
"Luo Yun, listen to me." Zuo Jie looked at her seriously and said, "I'm not refusing you because of pride. If I really want to join the army, I've already told my parents."
"I chose to stay because of Brother Li's kindness in taking care of me and nurturing me, and also because I can see a future here."
He gripped Luo Yun's shoulders with both hands and said, "Please believe me, my choice won't be wrong. Think about it, this place has been operating for almost three years without any problems, and the business is booming. Even if it's not as aboveboard as you say, appearances are appearances, but isn't substance more important?"
"Zuo Jie—" Luo Yun listened to his explanation, tears welling up in her eyes. She asked in a hoarse voice, "What should I do?"
"Uuuuuu——"
Perhaps she was truly heartbroken, or perhaps she was simply confused about her life choices. On one hand, her parents were urging her to mend her ways, and on the other hand, there was her devoted lover who had given her everything. This choice was simply too difficult.
Zuo Jie certainly hoped she could stay. He could see how much Li Xuewu valued this place, and he knew that there had been a series of big moves recently, and that his arrangements were not without purpose.
Luo Yun was annoyed that he was clinging to this makeshift troupe, but he could see great potential here.
To be honest, he had already reached a management level here, and he really didn't want to go back to the army.
Like conquering a kingdom, he was on the verge of victory, gaining territory and enjoying a promising future, on the verge of becoming a veteran. But then, his beloved asked him to return home and farm, just for a peaceful life. How could he possibly accept that?
So even seeing Luo Yun crying her eyes out, he couldn't bring himself to say he'd give up everything here and go with her.
The winter sun is blinding, the cold weather is biting, and emotional wounds are piercing.
Zuo Jie couldn't bear to say goodbye, and Luo Yun couldn't bear to part with him either.
But young hearts must eventually mature, and on this path, someone always has to go first.
Watching Luo Yun leave, Zuo Jie felt as if her heart was being torn apart. Her silence seemed to leave the choice for later. Since neither of them could make a final decision, they decided to put their love on hold for the time being.
Luo Yun left to join the army as her parents had arranged.
Zuo Jie stayed behind and carried out Li Xuewu's instructions.
Perhaps when they meet again, the answer to this question will be clear; perhaps it won't be. But regardless, will the two of them still care about the answer then?
-
"President Shantal, on behalf of Hongxing Steel Group, I would like to express my serious dissatisfaction and issue a warning to your company regarding your Vice President Mercedes's malicious attempt to spy on trade secrets. Please abide by basic business rules and etiquette..."
On Monday, January 6th, Hongxing Steel Group proactively met with its partner, Santay Group, to discuss the cooperation crisis caused by Santay Group's Vice President Mercedes' involvement in the Zheng Xudong case.
During the meeting, Li Xuewu solemnly expressed his side's dissatisfaction and reiterated his position, issuing a warning regarding Mercedes' alleged instigation and bribery in the case.
Shantal knew this was truly dangerous. She would rather Li Xuewu spank her in private than have him slap her in the face at this moment.
(End of this chapter)