sbdcsierra Chapter 1641 The Devil's Deal
Chapter 1641 The Devil's Deal
Chapter 1641 The Devil's Deal
"Why bother going out of your way to pick me up?"
Yu Haitang walked out of the broadcasting building carrying her bag and saw Peng Xiaoli standing at the door wearing a cotton coat.
She felt warm inside, but still complained aloud.
"Why didn't you wait for me in the lobby? Aren't you cold?"
Having been married for over two years, Peng Xiaoli already knew what kind of personality she had, so he didn't care at all now.
He tossed aside his cigarette butt, tilted his chin, and said, "I just arrived too, and I'm smoking right now. How could I possibly come into the lobby?"
"I've never seen you act like this before, what's up?" Yu Haitang looked him up and down and asked, "Are you getting promoted?"
“That’s just nonsense—” Peng Xiaoli said nonchalantly, “Qian Youqiong gave birth to a big, healthy boy.”
When Yu Haitang heard him say that, she curled her lip and said, "Envious? Come on, let's go home and have one too."
"Hehe—" Peng Xiaoli looked at her with some surprise, as she hadn't given in before. "What brings you here today?"
"What? You're not willing anymore?"
Yu Haitang raised an eyebrow and teased him with a deliberately pursed mouth, saying, "If you don't want to, we can wait two more years."
"Yes, I'm willing." Peng Xiaoli wouldn't miss this opportunity. He straightened up from beside the motorcycle, took her bag ingratiatingly, and asked, "You weren't also provoked by Qian Youqiong, were you?"
"Does having a baby really need someone to stimulate it?"
Yu Haitang gave him a playful nudge and said irritably, "Hurry up, it's cold."
"I have even more exciting news for you."
As Peng Xiaoli started the motorcycle, he explained, "Gu Cheng's arrangements have been made; he's going to the Medical Education Bureau."
"Really—" Yu Haitang asked with some surprise, "A section chief? Or a deputy section chief?"
"How could he be a deputy section chief? We have to give Old Su some face, and besides, he also cares about his reputation."
"That's impressive—" Yu Haitang pursed her lips and said, "You're a full section chief right off the bat, saving you three years of hard work."
“Not necessarily,” Peng Xiaoli said loudly as he watched her get on the motorcycle and twist the throttle to drive away. “She’s going to the Organization Department. It might take her several years to get there.”
"Wow, isn't this a double celebration?"
Yu Haitang only realized what was happening now, patted him on the shoulder and asked, "When are they treating us?"
“It’s still early. Let’s go to the hospital to see Qian Youqiong first,” Peng Xiaoli explained. “Give her five yuan.”
"Give it to me today?" Yu Haitang wasn't worried about the 5 yuan. Usually, relatives would only give 50 cents or 1 yuan as a gift. But Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng were best friends, and their families had a very good relationship.
Furthermore, both families are dual-income earners, so they don't really care about the amount of money spent on gifts.
"We'll just give some baby clothes today since it's the postpartum period, nothing else," Peng Xiaoli explained, braving the cold wind. "It'll save us from having to compete with others for gift money, and it'll look better."
"You're so cunning—"
Wearing a woolen overcoat, Yu Haitang sat on the back of a motorcycle, looking quite superior on her way home from get off work.
Her rank wasn't high enough to warrant the use of an official vehicle, even though the radio station was an independent unit and could easily bypass her rank to use one.
However, Yu Haitang is ambitious and doesn't want to stumble on this issue. Even though the group hasn't investigated these problems yet, the group's management is constantly changing, and who knows what winds might blow.
Her current position is at a critical juncture, neither advancing nor retiring, and she cannot afford to be swept away by the winds of change because of indulging in pleasure.
Others might not know what's going on in the group's management committee, but she knows it all. That Deputy Director Zhou from the city is no pushover; he might use her as an example to deal with one day.
So even though the radio station had its own official vehicle, she didn't use it and instead rode her bicycle to and from get off work.
It's not far, only a six or seven-minute bike ride, though it might get a bit congested during rush hour.
Peng Xiaoli came to pick her up because he was worried that it would be inconvenient to ride a bike after dark and snowfall. This wasn't the first time he had done this.
To say she was so moved that she wanted to have Peng Xiaoli's child, or that she was provoked by Qian Youqiong, wouldn't be an exaggeration. The main point is that the tone of the group's representative meeting has already been set, and her position shouldn't change much in the next two years.
Her work was already sorted out, so spending half a year having a baby wouldn't hinder her career at all.
However, after listening to Peng Xiaoli explain Gu Cheng's arrangements, she still had more to think about.
Just as Peng Xiaoli bought some fruit from the market and the two were walking towards the United Hospital together, she asked softly, "Did Gu Cheng talk to the secretary-general? Why was it arranged this way?"
"He went to see the secretary-general, wanting to go to Liaodong for training."
Peng Xiaoli explained with a smile, "But the secretary-general retorted, roughly meaning that he wasn't qualified."
“You two are evenly matched,” Yu Haitang said, amused by the smug look on his face. “What are you so proud of?”
“I am better than him.” Peng Xiaoli glared and emphasized, “What kind of environment does he have? What kind of environment do I have? Who is he on? Who am I on?”
“Don’t be fooled by his current position as a section chief; he won’t be promoted again for the next five years. I’m different.”
He tilted his chin and explained, "I'm expected to be promoted to section chief next year, to a real production management department. I'll take it one step at a time, and I'll definitely have a chance to be promoted to deputy director within four years."
"Wow, look how capable you are!"
Although Yu Haitang agreed with him, she still smiled and said, "Anyone who didn't know better would think this was a done deal."
"I'm telling you, don't tell Gu Cheng this!"
She took Peng Xiaoli's hand and shook it gently, softly reminding him, "You shouldn't spoil other people's fun at this time."
“I know that—” Peng Xiaoli nodded, went up the stairs and replied softly, “But he made it through, so he has a bright future and a promising future. We are not in the same system.”
"Alright, stop bragging—" Yu Haitang gestured to the obstetrics and gynecology ward and asked the receptionist for Qian Youqiong's ward.
Unexpectedly, Nie Xiaoguang came from the inpatient department carrying a lunchbox, and the two bumped into each other.
"Hey! Section Chief Peng, Director Yu."
Nie Xiaoguang greeted him with a smile, but the smile on his face looked somewhat strange, as if he had just been thinking about something dangerous.
Peng Xiaoli glanced at him, frowned slightly, and said, "Why haven't I seen you lately? What have you been up to?"
"It's fine, I don't have to work every day." Nie Xiaoguang curled the corners of his mouth and said, "What would I eat if I didn't work?"
"What's this...?" Yu Haitang pointed to the lunchbox in his hand and asked, "Is someone sick?"
She glanced at the obstetrics and gynecology department; if it couldn't be Nie Xiaoguang's mother, then it could only be Han Lu.
Nie Xiaoguang raised his eyebrows and said, "My Han Lu is sick, so I've come to bring her food."
As he spoke, he gestured towards the stairs and said, "I have something to do. You guys are busy. We'll talk later."
He genuinely didn't care what Peng Xiaoli and Yu Haitang were there for, and didn't seem to take this encounter seriously.
Watching his retreating figure, Yu Haitang looked at Peng Xiaoli, who was frowning, and asked, "Is he still in contact with the Secretary-General?"
“How could that be—” Peng Xiaoli snorted and said, “The Secretary-General is kind and righteous, but he also cherishes his reputation the most. How could such an incompetent person be a pushover?”
"He seems a bit sick."
Yu Haitang frowned slightly and said, "Han Lu is sick, why is he so happy? It's not even funny."
"Ignore them—" Peng Xiaoli turned his gaze away from the stairs and continued walking forward, saying as he went, "That kid's got a bad streak going on; it'll happen sooner or later."
"And I've heard from others that he and Han Lu aren't actually married, and who knows what he's up to."
"How did you know?" Yu Haitang glanced at him and said, "Is your circle so well-informed?"
"It's practically common knowledge."
Peng Xiaoli didn't hide anything from her and explained frankly, "Everyone knows he wants to avenge his father's death."
"Even Director Li doesn't dare to provoke him now. If he wasn't afraid, why would he have assigned Han Lu to him?"
“This is really—” Yu Haitang frowned in disgust and said, “Forget it, let’s not talk about them anymore, they’re disgusting.”
Peng Xiaoli wasn't interested in talking about this, but at that time he was Li Xuewu's secretary and Nie Xiaoguang was his driver, so the two were comrades who had come from the same trench.
Of all the people who served as Li Xuewu's secretary and driver, Nie Xiaoguang was the least ambitious.
Li Xuewu's first secretary, Sha Qizhi, is now the vice president of the sales headquarters and the general manager of the international business department. He is a deputy division-level cadre and his career is quite successful.
Li Xuewu's first driver, Han Jiankun, is now the captain of the General Office's motorcade, a deputy section-level cadre, and is also very successful.
If we're talking about someone who can rival Nie Xiaoguang, it's Yu Zhe. But as much of a scoundrel Yu Zhe is, he's doing just fine with his work and marriage. This period has been the most glorious time for him.
According to their discussions, Yu Zhe's trip to Steel City this time will either result in him dominating the battlefield or him losing his head.
Anyway, it's just these two things. But considering that the group's supervisory team in Beijing can't do anything to him right now, and he even caused a scene, he might not behave himself much in Steel City.
The key difference is that Yu Zhe and Nie Xiaoguang are different. Yu Zhe has the backing of the secretary-general, while Nie Xiaoguang is all alone.
Yu Zhe was working for the secretary-general, while Nie Xiaoguang was acting out of personal revenge; their fates and outcomes were bound to be different.
Upon arriving at Qian Youqiong's ward, the group exchanged pleasantries, with the focus of their conversation naturally shifting to the chubby boy.
Both Qian Youqiong's parents and Gu Cheng's parents were in the ward, and both sets of parents were naturally happy.
Peng Xiaoli couldn't find Gu Cheng. After asking around, she learned that he had gone home to make chicken soup because he felt sorry for his wife, and he was even going to cook it himself.
Both sets of parents laughed when they talked about his antics, but they were also proud and delighted by Gu Cheng's further progress.
With Gu Cheng absent, Peng Xiaoli, impatient with the lively atmosphere, left Yu Haitang there to chat for a while, while he went out for a smoke.
Just around the corner of the stairs on the right, he had just taken his first puff when he heard people laughing and talking, saying that young people these days are too frivolous, choosing the land route over the water route, and ending up in the hospital for emergency treatment...
Peng Xiaoli was slightly taken aback, glanced towards the stairs, and wondered if this person who was playing tricks could be...
-
After the get off work bell rang, Li Xuewu waited a while before coming downstairs. He had already told Qi Yan to prepare a car for him.
It's that cruiser that we drove yesterday. The old lady and the others are still staying at home today, but he has nowhere to go back.
He had already told his family that since he would be in Beijing for the time being, he should let his grandmother and the others stay for three days before going back.
Li Xuewu drove the car out of the headquarters, thinking about things as he drove. At this moment, the car was passing the intersection of Tuanjie Road and Commercial Street, which is the location of the United Hospital.
He recognized the figure ahead and glanced at it as the car passed by, only to spot Han Yating.
After driving for a while, he parked the car steadily on the side of the road, opened the car door, got out, and stood on the roadside embankment.
Just then, Han Yating arrived carrying her child. She was surprised to see him and greeted him with a smile, "Secretary-General!"
"Why don't you wear a scarf?"
Li Xuewu glanced at her; she was only wearing a cotton hat, but her face was as red as two apples from the cold.
At that moment, a small figure leaned to the side on the back of the bicycle behind her and looked at him. It turned out that the scarf was on the child's body.
"I forgot about him when I went out this morning."
Han Yating explained apologetically, "When my daughter and I came out, we told each other to ride slowly so we wouldn't get cold."
Li Xuewu walked to the back seat, stretched out his hands, smiled at the little boy, and asked, "Can Uncle give you a hug?"
"Call him uncle. What did Dad teach you?" Han Yating held the handlebars and turned to her son, saying, "Don't you recognize Uncle Li? He's the one who bought you toys when you were little."
"Uncle Li—" Ji Bufan called out to Li Xuewu after hearing his mother's words.
The child's voice was clear and crisp, but only his eyes were visible. He looked mischievous and very much like his father, Ji Weidong.
Li Xuewu took his little hand, lifted him from the back seat and bounced him around, then asked with a smile, "You're so heavy!"
"Mom says that eating more will make you grow tall!"
Ji Bufan wasn't shy at all, or perhaps she already remembered who he was, because she started chattering away.
Han Yating stood to the side and asked with a smile, "Did you just get off work? Why did you drive yourself?"
"Yeah, I just came from headquarters."
Li Xuewu walked to the car, opened the back door, and gestured to Ji Bufan, saying, "How about taking Uncle's car home?"
"Okay!" Ji Bufan responded excitedly at first, then hesitated and looked behind him, asking, "What about Mom?"
"You don't want your mom anymore, huh?" Li Xuewu teased him deliberately. "Come home with your uncle. There are older sisters and older brothers at your uncle's house."
"No! I want my mom!"
Ji Bufan got angry, jumped up and down, and stretched out his hand for his mother.
Li Xuewu chuckled and patted his bottom, saying, "Then let Mom get in the car too. Will you still ride in Uncle's car?"
"That's alright." This kid is really clever; after hearing him say that, he finally sat down in the back seat.
"Goodbye, Secretary-General, it's not far."
Han Yating said shyly, "My daughter and I walk like this every day, we're used to it."
"Get on the bike first." Li Xuewu gestured to the back seat of the bike, then pointed to her bicycle and said, "Are you going to store it at the hospital, or should I hang it on the roof and take it back with you?"
"Secretary-General—" Han Yating hesitated for a moment before taking her bag off the handlebars and saying, "I need it for work tomorrow. Will your bike have enough space?"
Without wasting words, Li Xuewu lifted her women's bicycle and placed it on the luggage rack on the cruiser's roof, which was originally intended to facilitate the installation of communication antennas by the disciplinary department.
He secured the bicycle with a rope from the trunk before letting Han Yating get in, and then he got into the driver's seat himself.
“There was a funeral in our compound, and they were worried that my grandmother and children would be scared, so they all came to stay at our house.”
As Li Xuewu turned the steering wheel and got back on the road, he explained, "I have nowhere to stay, so I can only go to the compound. That's why I didn't use a driver to take me. It's more convenient to drive myself."
After saying that, he glanced at the mother and daughter in the rearview mirror and asked, "Is your unit's official vehicle situation so tight? Even you, the deputy editor-in-chief, can't get a car?"
"No—" Han Yating helped her son untie his scarf. It was hot in the car, and she was worried that the child would sweat. She explained, "They said they would borrow a car from my unit, but I didn't let them."
"Who said they were going to help you borrow a car?" Li Xuewu asked casually. "Ding Zigui or Liu Songhua?"
Ding Zigui is the general manager of Red Star Literature and Art Publishing House, and Liu Songhua is the editor-in-chief of the publishing house, which is why he asked that question.
Red Star Literature and Art Publishing House is a division-level unit with three section-level subordinate units: United Broadcasting Station, United Industrial Newspaper, and Literature and Art Troupe.
Yu Haitang was the head of the United Broadcasting Station, so he was a section chief. Han Yating was also a section chief when she was at the International Hotel, and she was promoted one level when she was transferred here to serve as deputy editor-in-chief.
Yu Haitang's rank would be wary of using official vehicles, but Han Yating is qualified to enjoy such treatment.
Honggang Group has its own automobile manufacturing plant. Although it strictly controls the use of vehicles by each unit, it is not so bad that a deputy director-level cadre would be without a car. How could he not be angry?
Han Yating also sensed the annoyance in his tone and explained softly, "Last year, the company asked us to uphold the spirit of self-reliance and try not to apply for financial budgets..."
"Does your publishing house's management all ride bicycles? I'll ask Ding Zigui and Liu Songhua about that tomorrow."
Li Xuewu glanced at her in the rearview mirror and said with dissatisfaction, "Don't you know my phone number? Or do you not know where my office is? Why didn't you tell me something like this?"
He was truly furious. Ji Weidong wasn't home, and the mother and daughter had long been entrusted to him. Would he be willing to suffer any injustice?
He admitted one thing: he rarely visited Han Yating and her son, because it was simply inconvenient.
Even though he and Han Yating had known each other for a long time, and she had even promoted him herself, he couldn't keep going home.
Even if they were relatives, even if Ji Weidong entrusted him with this task, he couldn't do it. People wouldn't say anything to him, and he wouldn't care if they did, but Han Yating couldn't stand it.
He didn't go himself, but he often reminded Ji Yuxiu to go home and visit, or to send Li Xue to visit.
However, Han Yating did not stay at Ji Weidong's house for long before returning to her mother's house, making it somewhat inconvenient to visit each other.
He was annoyed that Ding Zigui and Liu Songhua didn't give him face, and he was also annoyed that Han Yating didn't take the initiative to fight for him.
This is the welfare she deserves. If you want to show some respect, you can do it without children. Why suffer in the dead of winter?
Some people say that children of cadres are children, but children of employees are not?
Li Xuewu never thought that way. He was the one who proposed equipping the workers' new village with commuter buses before it was built.
Most employees now live in the Workers' New Village, which is only a five or six-minute walk from the United School.
Only in special cases like Han Yating's, it's not worthwhile for the commuter bus to make a trip just for her; she has to walk.
But even employees like her are rare these days. There aren't many people like Sha Zhu who have inherited property. Who would rather live in an apartment building than a rented bungalow? There are fewer commuter buses these days.
Sensing the dissatisfaction in Li Xuewu's tone, and knowing his personality well, Han Yating dared not explain further.
"I'll apply when a suitable opportunity arises."
"When is the right time?" Li Xuewu glared at her in the rearview mirror and said, "I'll call Ding Zigui tomorrow."
"Forget it, Secretary-General." Han Yating knew he would say this, and said with difficulty, "I'll say it myself."
"Don't worry about it. We'll see when you decide." Li Xuewu couldn't bring himself to be angry with her. She was raising a child on her own. Ji Weidong could come back often, but only on a monthly basis. When he was busy, he wouldn't come back for three to five months at a time.
Especially this year, with the shipping and shipping work being so demanding, he has rarely seen Ji Weidong. He understands Han Yating's suffering.
Ji Bufan listened to his mother and uncle's conversation, and when they stopped talking, he quietly asked his mother what was wrong.
Han Yating knew he had misunderstood, and explained with a smile, "Uncle isn't angry. Uncle just feels sorry for Mom."
"Oh—" Ji Bufan thought for a moment, then looked ahead and asked, "Uncle, do you work with my dad?"
"No, your father works at another company."
Even though Li Xuewu was angry, he couldn't tell the child. He just smiled and replied, "What's wrong? Missing your dad?"
“I’ve been thinking about it—” Ji Bufan counted on his fingers: “Dad hasn’t come back to see me for one, two, or three months.”
“Then call your dad and ask him to come back and see the kids,” Li Xuewu teased him with a smile. “When your dad comes back, tell him that if he doesn’t come home more often, you’ll abandon him.”
“No—” Ji Bufan emphasized seriously, “I want my dad.”
"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and reached back to touch his cheek, then asked Han Yating, "What month was he born in '67? I remember it was May?"
“Yes, May in the Gregorian calendar.” Han Yating’s eyes were on the child as she smiled and replied, “His birthday is in April in the lunar calendar.”
"Time flies so fast."
Li Xuewu remarked with emotion, "When I first met you, you were still a young girl, so spirited and ambitious."
"Not at all—" Hearing the leader's praise, Han Yating said with some emotion, "She's still a young girl. Her child is already three years old. By the time he grows up, I'll be old."
"They grow fast, kids grow in the wind."
As Li Xuewu drove, he said, "He's three months younger than my Li Ning, who was born in February."
"Brother Xuewen's child was also born in 67, right?" Han Yating asked. "I remember they were the same age."
"Yes, he's a little over a month older than Li Ning."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Do you remember Li Wenbiao, who used to make uniforms for us? His daughter was also born in 67."
"Ah, I remember him—" Han Yating nodded, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Where is he now?"
"With your family's Ji Weidong."
Li Xuewu glanced at the rearview mirror and asked, "Didn't Ji Weidong mention him to you?"
“He never talks about this at home.”
Han Yating lowered her head and explained, "They said they were worried about the safety of my daughter and me, and that it would be safer if we didn't know anything."
"Yes, that's true, he's very thoughtful."
Li Xuewu nodded and continued, "He Yuzhu's son from the cafeteria has been here for six or seven years, as have my brother-in-law and Li Wenbiao's uncle's child."
He smiled and said, "That year, it seemed like all I heard was news about babies being born."
Actually, Li Xuewu hadn't mentioned his godson Li Xin yet. Li Xin was born in 1966 or 1967, a month older than Li Ning and a week younger than Li Tang. That year, we always heard news like that.
"You and Dr. Gu haven't thought about having another one?" Han Yating teased with a smile, "Your family isn't short of money."
"It has nothing to do with the conditions; it's just that she's been working too hard."
Li Xuewu turned the car into the street where her mother lived and explained with a smile, "Now she is a key member of the department and a key person to be cultivated. She has various training programs scheduled until the year after next."
He pointed to the building in front and asked, "Is this the way? I haven't been here in so long I've forgotten."
"Yes! It's my maternal grandmother's house!"
Ji Bufan was already jumping and shouting behind him, excited that they had arrived home.
Han Yating helped the child put on his hat, and at the same time looked ahead and asked, "Secretary-General, shall we go upstairs for a meal before we leave?"
"No, I have plans for tonight."
Li Xuewu opened the car door, got out of the car, and took her bicycle off the roof rack.
Given his height and strength, most people wouldn't be able to do it so easily.
After Han Yating got off the bus with her child in her arms, Li Xuewu had already parked her bicycle at the door.
"Secretary-General, just leave it there."
Han Yating put her son down on the ground, took his little hand and walked over, saying, "Why don't you eat before you go?"
"I really have social obligations, I'm not lying to you." Li Xuewu smiled and squatted down, stuffing ten yuan into Ji Bufan's pocket.
"Secretary-General—" Han Yating quickly refused, "We're not lacking in anything..."
"Don't tear it, it's for the child." Li Xuewu glared at her, feigning displeasure, and said, "It's not for you."
After saying that, he patted Ji Bufan's pocket, took his little hand, and said with a smile, "Keep it to buy some good food, okay?"
"Okay—" Ji Bufan smiled and covered his pocket, saying, "Thank you, Uncle—"
"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu rubbed his little head, stood up and looked at Han Yating, who was about to say something more, and said, "You don't need to worry about the car. Wait for my news."
"Also," before she could speak, Li Xuewu pointed at her again and instructed, "Remember to call if anything happens, so I don't have to say it a second time."
"I understand." Han Yating could feel his care and concern, so she could only reply.
Li Xuewu nodded and said to Ji Bufan, "When your father comes back, come visit your uncle's house with your mother."
Goodbye, Uncle!
As if knowing he was leaving, Ji Bufan waved his little hand and said, "Remember to call my dad for me!"
"Okay, I'll remember."
Li Xuewu was amused by his childlike innocence. After saying goodbye to Han Yating, he got into his car and left.
Neighbors were coming and going downstairs after work, but neither he nor Han Yating paid any attention to their stares.
These days, gossiping can have consequences.
-
He said he had a business dinner tonight, and he wasn't lying to Han Yating. Gu Litong from Beijing No. 2 Automobile Works invited him to dinner.
Of course, Li Xuewu generally wouldn't accept such invitations without a legitimate reason.
It's not that I'm afraid of any negative impact, I'm just too lazy to socialize.
Wang Xiansheng, the vice president of Jinan Automobile, and Yang Aidong, the factory director of Jigao Guanzheng Automobile, came. Gu Litong invited the three of them to dinner.
Like Beijing Second Automobile Works, Jiqi and Changzheng Automobile both produce trucks, and Wang Xiansheng and Yang Aidong both knew Li Xuewu, having worked together during their time in Dongde.
It goes without saying that Beijing No. 2 Automobile Works and Honggang Group have multiple areas of cooperation in automobile projects, such as Hongyun.
Li Xuewu was busy with the truck projects that Jinan Automobile and Sichuan Automobile introduced from East Germany, and there was such a connection between the parties.
The banquet was held in the small canteen of the Second Automobile Works. These days, not only large companies like Honggang Group could afford to operate restaurants in the city. They usually employed good chefs and entertained guests in small canteens, which was considered a high standard.
Li Xuewu's car had no trouble passing through the compound of the Second Automobile Works in Beijing and drove directly to the entrance of the small canteen.
Gu Litong's secretary was already waiting for him at the door. As soon as he got out of the car, she jogged over to report that everyone had arrived.
The subtext of this sentence is: He's the only one missing.
Li Xuewu could have arrived on time, but he was delayed a bit because he was dropping off Han Yating and her daughter.
At this moment, Gu Litong heard the commotion and came out to greet them. The two met in the lobby, exchanged pleasantries, and shook hands.
"Come here quickly, Wang Xiansheng is talking about you."
He smiled and invited Li Xuewu to the private room, joking as they walked, "Tell me about your glorious days in East Germany."
"Why are they in the capital?" Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked, "Did you invite them?"
"Where? There's a meeting at the ministry."
Gu Litong explained softly, "We happened to be sitting together, and remembering that you were also in the capital, we made plans to have dinner together tonight."
As he said this, he pushed open the door and greeted everyone with a smile, "Secretary-General Li is here! Let's give him a round of applause!"
"Hahaha—" Yang Aidong clapped his hands with a loud laugh and said, "Secretary-General Li is late!"
"I ran into a friend on the way, sorry."
Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile and said, "Why didn't you let me know you were coming to the capital? It makes me so embarrassed."
“There will be plenty of times when you can show your hospitality as a host!” Wang Xiansheng said with a smile, waving his hand. “But today, Comrade Litong will have to make the arrangements.”
“Although Second Automobile Works can’t compare to Honggang, let’s drink Honggang’s liquor tonight.” Gu Litong smiled and picked up a bottle of Five Star Moutai, saying, “It’s like borrowing flowers to present to Buddha, to elevate the class.”
"This is considered low-class?" The room was hot, and Li Xuewu laughed as he took off his coat and jacket, pointing to the several cold dishes already laid out on the table. "Are you trying to make ends meet?"
"Hahaha—" Gu Litong laughed as he poured them wine, saying, "This is nothing, it's not even a fraction of what Honggang has to offer. We'll just have a bite today, and tomorrow we'll go to Honggang and feast on the big shots!"
“By your standards, we can hardly be considered a big spender,” Li Xuewu said, pointing to Wang Xiansheng and Yang Aidong. “We can’t let the two leaders laugh at us for being extravagant.”
"It's okay, we won't talk, we'll just eat," Wang Xiansheng joked. "We're not afraid of eating well, the better the better."
"What's wrong? Jinan Automobile has poured all its money into the new project and is now starving?" Li Xuewu asked him. "You didn't come to Beijing this time just to beg for alms, did you?"
"Hey! You were right!"
Wang Xiansheng wasn't angry at all at his teasing. He smiled and pointed at him, saying, "I came here specifically for you, Secretary-General Li."
"Don't take it out on me," Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Everyone knows we're the poorest we've been this year."
"Are you kidding me? Who would believe that?"
Wang Xiansheng reached out and nudged Yang Aidong, asking with a smile, "Old Yang, do you believe what he said?"
"I don't believe it," Yang Aidong said with a smile. "If Honggang Group is the poorest, then we'd really starve to death."
“Exactly!” Wang Xiansheng lightly slapped the table, pointed at Li Xuewu and said, “I’m not asking you for money, so don’t pretend to be poor yet.”
The hot dishes were served one after another, showing that Gu Litong was indeed a sincere host.
He first raised three glasses as the host to welcome the two guests and Li Xuewu back to Beijing, and the last glass was to celebrate the reunion of old friends.
After three cups of wine, neither Wang Xiansheng nor Yang Aidong were the type to beat around the bush or engage in idle chatter. They exchanged a glance with Gu Litong and then revealed the purpose of inviting Li Xuewu to dinner today.
"You said back in East Germany that the automotive industry is an integrated industry, and that costs will be squeezed the more you go, right?"
Wang Xiansheng looked at Li Xuewu, and seeing him nod, he asked seriously, "Does that also include parts production?"
"What do you mean?" Li Xuewu tilted his head and asked, "Are you talking about our component supply chain, or your all-inclusive model where one factory handles everything?"
"Compared to the all-inclusive model, will integrating component production become a trend to squeeze out costs?"
Wang Xiansheng first explained, then emphasized, "I'm referring to heavy or light trucks like ours."
Li Xuewu understood, put down his chopsticks and said, "Whether it's a heavy truck or a light truck, just tell me if it's in mass production."
"As long as it is mass-produced, standardized and integrated production of parts will reduce production and management costs."
He raised his chin and said, "You should all know what gives the second generation of Antelope the confidence to suppress 212."
Seeing them frowning in thought, Li Xuewu chuckled and said in a slightly arrogant tone, "I'm going to spread the word that the third generation of the Antelope is about to be launched, and several executives at Beijing Automotive are having trouble sleeping at night. Do you believe me?"
"Hehehe—" The group couldn't help but laugh when they thought of Li Xuewu's "sticky marketing" strategy.
Although this trick is a bit underhanded, it really works.
From its inception, Antelope Motors has been aiming to compete with the 212. From initially playing to its strengths and avoiding its weaknesses to now surpassing them in every way, it's hard to say what kind of feelings Beijing Automotive has towards Li Xuewu.
The fact that the higher-ups tried to broker a partnership between the two companies but failed to reach an agreement, and the ensuing media frenzy, certainly added a bit of fun to this kind of marketing.
But things are different now. The true rise of Hongxing Auto is something that Beijing Auto, a car manufacturer that relies on a single brand, can no longer suppress or compete with.
In particular, the supply chain system has truly transformed the domestic automobile manufacturing industry.
Now even heavy-duty and light-duty truck manufacturers are starting to pay attention to the parts supply chain system, which shows the influence of Hongxing Auto.
"What if we partnered with truck manufacturers to establish a parts production base in a region and standardized the production specifications for most parts? What do you think of this idea?"
Wang Xiansheng asked, "For example, in Steel City."
Why didn't you suggest choosing Jicheng?
Li Xuewu had long anticipated their thoughts, and now he smiled and teased, "Let's strike straight at Factory No. 17's headquarters and catch them off guard!"
This joke almost made Wang Xiansheng roll his eyes, but he couldn't help but laugh.
Yang Aidong said meaningfully, "It would be great if we could persuade Factory No. 17 to step forward."
This is true. Factory No. 17 has the most complete truck parts production facilities in China, even for a single screw.
If a truck parts production base can be built based on Factory No. 17, it would be a boon for truck manufacturers across the country, or at least greatly reduce production costs.
It's a pity, who would dare to make that decision?
The existence of Factory No. 17 is not just a simple definition of automobile production; it is a strategic layout.
Breaking the existing order and providing parts for the national truck manufacturing industry? Even Li Xuewu wouldn't dare to joke about that.
"How about in Steel City?" Wang Xiansheng insisted. "You have mature experience. Let's join forces to build up the truck parts supply chain as well."
"Of course, that's no problem. We'd be more than happy to have you cooperate with us." Li Xuewu raised his glass, smiled, and looked at them, asking, "Haven't you considered that since the parts are all produced in Steel City, the whole vehicle assembly can't be done there too?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Wang Xiansheng was taken aback and asked, "Move our factory to the steel city?"
Yang Aidong and Gu Litong also frowned, clearly disagreeing with Li Xuewu's opinion.
“It could be a branch factory, right?” Li Xuewu took a sip of baijiu and explained, “From parts to complete vehicles, without leaving the steel city, just think how much transportation costs can be reduced?”
"Isn't this the same?" Yang Aidong asked, frowning. "In the long run, how can the main factory compete with the branch factory?"
"Are you that prejudiced against your own region?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "Have you never thought about setting up a group company? Or a headquarters? Why do you have to use the location of the factory to mark the location of your company?"
He picked up a bite of food with his chopsticks, glanced at the group, and said enticingly, "Think about it, how much can we reduce costs by setting up a production line in the steel city?"
"Think about it again. With so many vehicle assembly plants and parts manufacturing plants concentrated in the steel city, how much can the R&D costs be reduced?"
The people at the table fell silent, clearly shocked by his description of the car city.
After the initial shock came deep reflection. Putting aside the other reasons for building the factory, this situation was the best option for cost control.
Moreover, by building a factory in Gangcheng, the entire vehicle can be transported by rail all the way to Yingcheng, and then directly by waterway from Yingcheng Port of Honggang Group to any coastal city in the country for unloading. This further reduces transportation costs, and with lower prices, sales will certainly not be a problem.
If we do well, we can even gain a foothold in overseas markets. Just thinking about it makes my heart pound.
No wonder Gu Litong said that inviting Li Xuewu to make plans was like making a deal with the devil; you could always get tricked by him.
I'm going to Beijing tomorrow for a Writers Association training course, which will last for 5 days. I'll prioritize updating this course.