sbdcsierra Chapter 1439 There are plenty of sons out there!
Chapter 1439 There are plenty of sons out there!
Chapter 1439 There are plenty of sons out there!
"Dad, aren't you coming back with us?" Li Shu hugged her father's neck and said sweetly, "What am I going to do if I miss you?"
"Dad, I'll miss you too—"
"Okay, okay, my good son."
Li Xuewu chuckled wryly and teased his son, who was mimicking his sister's words, before turning to his daughter and saying, "Daddy will be going back in a few days. Why don't you go home and wait for Daddy?"
"That's all we can do now."
Li Shu didn't know who she learned it from, but this helpless yet spoiled look was definitely not like Gu Ning's, and it was impossible for her to have learned it from him.
"Sweetie, Daddy needs to work hard, but I'll come home to see you on time."
Li Xuewu kissed his daughter and son and said, "Listen to your mother when you get home."
"Understood—" X2
Li Shu and her younger brother obediently agreed, but whether they could actually do it remained to be seen.
“Yu Zhe is going home to visit his family. I can rest assured that he will take care of you on the way.”
Li Xuewu gently patted Gu Ning's arm and instructed, "The matter between Lao San and Yu Xiu is basically settled. When you get back, find some time to bring the children to our house for a meal."
"Hmm, shall we ask?"
Gu Ning nodded, understanding what he meant—it was about interpersonal relationships and social etiquette.
Asking doesn't mean you don't know; it's a sign of concern and concern, after all, she's your sister-in-law.
"If Gu Yan comes back, let him visit his relatives instead of always going to his in-laws' house."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "I'm not in the capital, so I can't visit my relatives back home. They'll be picky about the gifts I give them."
"I understand, I'll remind him."
Gu Ning grew impatient with these trivial matters, not because of Li Xuewu, but because she found these social niceties tedious and annoying.
The aunts and uncles, when they get together, do nothing but gossip.
The Gu family were local residents of Beijing. They became connected after the liberation and thus became relatives.
A large number of people attended Gu Ning's wedding, and Li Xuewu was able to meet them all by following his father-in-law. After that, he would take the initiative to contact Gu's close relatives during holidays.
My father-in-law and mother-in-law went to Nanjing, my brother-in-law's eldest son stayed in Xi'an, and my brother-in-law's youngest son stayed in the Central Plains.
With Gu Ning all alone in the capital, expecting her to care for these relatives is like asking the sun to rise in the west.
Given Gu Ning's personality, even if these relatives are picky, they won't say anything to the Gu family.
But if he, as Gu Ning's lover, didn't take the initiative, it would be truly impolite.
Li Xuewu never expected to get any support from these in-law relationships; he only made contact because his father-in-law cared.
"Okay then, otherwise you'll just find me annoying again." Li Xuewu smiled and looked at Gu Ning, saying, "Take good care of the child and yourself on the way back. I'll be back soon."
"Take care of yourself too, don't stay up late, and don't overwork yourself."
It was rare for Gu Ning to say such thoughtful words in such a crowded environment on the platform.
Li Xuewu nodded with great satisfaction and earnestly agreed.
There were quite a few people on this train today, many of them commuters, making it seem a bit crowded.
Gu Ning managed to buy a soft sleeper berth using Li Xuewu's work ID, and Yu Zhe also benefited from it.
Yu Zhe was not simply going home to visit relatives; his boss's wife was returning to Beijing and needed his help to take care of her.
Given his position as a driver, he can't just take leave to go home anytime; he has to see what his boss's leave is like.
Besides, Yu Zhe didn't want to go home and listen to his parents and older sister nagging. It wasn't as free and easy as living in the steel city.
Li Xuewu arranged for Yu Zhe to send Gu Ning and the children back to Beijing, which really meant that Yu Zhe was going home to visit his family. This kid is not young anymore, he can't keep living such a muddle-headed life.
He called Yu Li and mentioned Yu Zhe's recent behavior, especially emphasizing his inappropriate relationships with some female comrades.
Yu Li was also very upset when she heard this. She only had one younger brother, Yu Zhe, and her parents had pinned all their hopes on him.
Li Xuewu spoke very subtly, but Yu Li knew him very well and had a very precise grasp of the appropriate boundaries, while Yu Zhe was simply out of touch.
It's a good thing that he likes women. Previously, his father, Yu Baodong, thought his son didn't like women because he rarely brought his girlfriends home.
What do you like if you don't like women?
The old man's thinking on this issue is very insightful; as long as you don't like small animals, it's fine.
Yu Baodong was quite knowledgeable. In the early Qing Dynasty, many scholars from Fujian and Zhejiang had homosexual tendencies.
How many high-ranking officials don't keep some handsome young servants in their homes? Even their family troupes and mansion troupes are carefully selected.
On stage was a graceful and beautiful young woman in a green dress, and off stage was a gentle and charming personal servant.
Stop talking about the fancy things modern people do. The things we do now are things that the ancients had already done. There's a lot more to it than meets the eye.
In terms of understanding Yu Zhe, Yu Li was better than her father; at least she never doubted her brother's sexual orientation.
Yu Zhe also reassured her that he didn't have any close male colleagues or friends.
Because my younger brother spends most of his time dating female colleagues.
Li Xuewu's phone call revealed Yu Li's long-standing helplessness; she had also long discovered that her younger brother didn't like girls his own age.
Su Qing is three years older than her younger brother, and she is the girl whose age is closest to his.
Li Xuewu called to tell her that Yu Zhe was seeing a woman in her thirties and they often went out to eat together.
It's not Zhang Meili. Zhang Meili is 24 years old, only four years older than Yu Zhe, which isn't considered old.
I don't know where Yu Zhe picked this older sister from, but she seems to understand men better than Zhang Meili, and she dresses better too.
She wears whatever Yu Zhe likes, and she's almost made him smitten.
Yu Li asked Li Xuewu helplessly how many years older he was than her younger brother.
What can Li Xuewu say? He can only say he's a little older than you. Can he say he's a little younger than your mother?
Yu Li is 25 years old this year. She panicked a little when she heard this. How much older is "older"?
Yu Zhe is only 20 this year. Is he looking for a wife or an old lady?
Women in their thirties but not yet forty are truly treasures.
Yu Zhe's ability to think things through is quite advanced, and more importantly, the older sister is considerate and knows how to comfort people. Nowadays, young girls don't know how to comfort people; their attempts at being cute often involve punching, which is not fun at all.
Li Xuewu thought to himself that he was just being sarcastic, but he didn't dare to add fuel to the fire for Yu Li. Yu Zhe might face a three-way interrogation and severe torture when he got home.
After all, I've been driving for him for more than half a year, so I can't be too harsh on myself.
This arrangement was made out of concern for him, hoping that Yu Zhe wouldn't go astray and regret it.
Although the old A8 is still an A8, once you buy it, it's basically a dead end. Its performance will only last for a few years, and after that, maintenance and upkeep will be a problem.
Borrowing someone else's car to drive around is fine, experiencing the driving experience is no problem, but actually buying it for your home collection is a bit of a stretch.
-
"Comrade Secretary-General, why do you keep avoiding us?"
Wang Yajuan, head of the Liaodong Station of Red Star United Radio, is leading a group of people to assemble.
After inspecting the factory site, Li Xuewu made a point of taking a detour around the office area on his way back.
The girls were not satisfied, and the boys burst into laughter.
Office Director Sun Jia glared at the person who was joking, afraid that they would offend the leaders.
Li Xuewu wasn't that serious, and he certainly wouldn't get angry or upset over a joke.
He smiled and looked at the young men and women, nodded and asked, "What are you doing? I don't understand yet."
"I already reported to you about the newly recruited members of the performing arts troupe undergoing intensive training."
Wang Yajuan looked very capable in her white shirt and black pants.
She said with a hint of reproach, "Just as Comrade Huiying said, you don't care about us at all and you're avoiding us."
"I didn't, don't talk nonsense."
Li Xuewu wasn't annoyed. He chuckled and explained, "I was afraid of disturbing you."
"No disturbance at all, not at all." A young new member laughed and teased, "Please, leader, say a few words to us."
"Please say a few words to us, leader!"
There were those who started the commotion and others who joined in, making the scene quite noisy. People even opened their windows on the upper floors of the government building to look down.
Wang Yajuan initially didn't intend to disturb his time; she was just afraid that Sun Jia would blame the newcomer.
Seeing Li Xuewu standing there watching these newcomers without any reprimand, they felt relieved and let the young people run wild.
"They have a vibrant and energetic spirit!"
Hearing their jeers, Li Xuewu chuckled and said something to Sun Jia.
Looking at these young people, Sun Jia thought of himself. He was just as naive and romantic back then, and almost got sold off like a fool.
"They've caught a good time."
Sun Jia chuckled and said to Li Xuewu, "As far as I know, very few art school graduates this year will be able to go directly into factories and mines; most will be assigned to support remote and border regions."
"Thinking in reverse, isn't this also a sign that we've caught a good time?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him, then looked at the young people and said, "It is also an opportunity to strive for excellence and select the best students to join the group's publicity system."
"You're right, that's exactly right."
Sun Jia nodded and said with a sense of agreement, "You have always been concerned about the group's publicity and cultural organization building, which has also put our group at the forefront of the system in cultural and publicity work. This is your achievement."
"Hey, when you're talking about credit, you should think more about your comrades and the collective."
Li Xuewu corrected him, saying, "When you're criticizing someone, you should think more about yourself."
"Yes, you are right."
Sun Jia smiled and agreed. He still admired Li Xuewu's character; one could tell what kind of person a leader was just from his words, actions, and style.
Excellent character and ability are essential for achieving pioneering and enterprising success.
The achievements he just mentioned were indeed made possible by Li Xuewu's support.
Having been through so much, Sun Jia is no ordinary sycophant.
To be honest, Li Xuewu is a pretty good leader, at least that's what he thinks.
"I won't talk anymore. If I talk too much, you won't be happy; if I talk too little, I won't be happy either."
Li Xuewu chuckled, waved to the new members, and then looked at Wang Yajuan, emphasizing, "Pay more attention to their lives and studies, and come to me if they have any difficulties."
"Yes, thank you for your concern, Secretary-General."
Seeing him talking like this, Wang Yajuan gestured to the others and said, "Aren't you going to thank the leader?"
"Thank you, Secretary-General—"
They were all recent college and vocational school graduates, some current and some from previous years, and were personally selected by Wang Yajuan.
Are the working conditions good in metallurgical plants?
Putting aside the benefits within the group, just comparing it to other companies in this era, anyone who knows anything will tell you to go to a factory.
In those days, working in a factory was better than working in a government department, as the benefits and compensation were higher.
The gap is even more pronounced when comparing factories to each other.
Everyone knows that the employees at the subsidiaries and factories of Hongxing Steel Group are treated terribly!
Putting everything else aside, the work uniforms distributed by the group are of better quality, more humanized in design, and more aesthetically pleasing than those of other companies.
The old-fashioned all-blue cotton or canvas work clothes have long been phased out at the Hongxing Factory.
The tertiary industrial textile factory had long ago obtained composite textile materials of various materials from the No. 2 Textile Factory in Beijing. These materials were durable, wear-resistant, anti-static, breathable, warm, and fashionable.
The design of the work uniforms for the Red Star Factory was created by Shen Guodong and his team of tailors.
The shirt and pants are not the same color, and the gloves are not the same color as the clothes.
Different colors result in different work uniform designs for different jobs.
We must consider the basic needs of those in special professions, while also taking into account the needs of ordinary workers.
Work uniforms for all four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), with four styles for each job type and a variety of options.
Government offices have administrative suits, and workshops also have work suits; they're quite fashionable.
These days, you can't just make any clothes for yourself at home; everyone wears work clothes.
If you go out in filthy clothes, you won't be able to show your face. But nowadays, wearing work clothes makes you look presentable.
Everyone knows you work for Hongxing Steel Group because of the logo on your chest.
Wang Yajuan led her team to schools to recruit people, and they could basically take away whichever school they selected. This was even though she arrived late; many schools had already completed the job placement for their graduates.
Even so, Li Xuewu filled all the spots he had allocated to her, with some even overflowing.
This trick was taught to her by Li Xuewu; if you give her 10 slots, you can recruit 12.
Of course, this is determined by the special nature of the performing arts troupe; the recruitment of ordinary factory workers must be carried out in strict accordance with established standards.
However, this point doesn't need to be considered anymore, because the recruitment of all employees in the group will be handled by the group's human resources department.
In other words, when the company officially completes its group formation at the beginning of next year, the factories and branches will no longer have the ability and right to recruit employees.
What if we need workers or government clerks?
It's very simple. The group's human resources department collects the personnel requests from each unit every month. Those that can be reassigned are reassigned, and those that cannot are reassigned wait for new recruitment next year.
Temporary access will only be granted to exceptional individuals, and this requires special approval from leadership.
For example, chefs. As long as they have good skills, there is currently a huge shortage of chefs in the group.
Don't say that cooks can train apprentices just like fitters. Fitters can train apprentices in large numbers, but cooks may not be able to train many apprentices.
This thing is not of the same nature.
Over the years, Li Xuewu hasn't seen Sha Zhu train many apprentices. Even someone like Ma Hua might not be able to get private tutoring in another ten years.
The same applies to the performing arts troupe; these young people are all considered special talents, and branch companies and factories are even less qualified to recruit them.
They didn't even have the qualifications to report to higher authorities. The performing arts troupe reported to the cultural troupe, and the cultural troupe reported to the literary and artistic publishing house. That's what a system is.
Therefore, Wang Yajuan was directly managed by Li Xuewu because she also served as the head of the publicity department, which is why he approved funding for her.
If she simply serves as the head of the Liaodong branch of the United Broadcasting Station, then Li Xuewu, as the branch factory leader, should not have any authority over her in principle, except for the secretary-general.
The management of vertical systems has both independence and flexibility, so it cannot be said in absolute terms.
Li Xuewu supports the idea of establishing an arts performance troupe and a branch station in Liaodong.
The scale doesn't need to be large, but it should have local characteristics. Recruiting actors from the local area can better reflect the unity between the group and the local community.
Previously, when the group's industrial enterprises in Liaodong needed cultural performances, they would report to the group's publicity department, which would then instruct the arts and literature publishing house, which would then coordinate with the performing arts troupe.
After receiving the assignment, the performing arts troupe organized a small team to rehearse the program as required, and arranged for the team to go to the local area to perform for the troops on the corresponding dates.
As the group's industrial zone in Liaodong expands, the demand for arts and culture also grows. Frequent reporting and coordination are too troublesome and time-consuming.
As secretary-general, Li Xuewu directly coordinated the establishment of an arts and performance troupe by the publishing house in Liaodong, which greatly saved management and time costs.
Furthermore, the group's publicity policies for various industrial enterprises in Liaodong are too general, and the leading group needs to fully understand and implement them.
If we borrow people from the group every time, then the Liaodong Industrial Leading Group will have no work to do.
Therefore, it can be seen that Li Xuewu set up a temporary management organization in Liaodong, with the Industrial Leading Group Office as the main body, and also established a propaganda organization such as the Liaodong Art Performance Team.
The next step is to actively promote the establishment and development of the United Savings Bank in Liaodong.
Based on the United Savings Bank, the group leveraged its economic cooperation and construction efforts in Liaodong, laying the foundation for industrial development.
Management, publicity, and the economy must all be addressed, and these must be addressed firmly before we can finally concentrate our efforts on organizational development. There is a specific order to these priorities.
Some people start by focusing on organizational development, emphasizing it over and over again, but in the end, it's all for naught. They don't get anything substantial done, and what they create is just a facade, a castle in the air.
From the time Li Xuewu took office in Liaodong until August, it has only been a little over half a year. Do you see any different voices emerging?
All industrial enterprises are developing strategies and plans according to his ideas.
Li Xuewu then examined the development plans they submitted and supervised their implementation.
If something cannot be completed, discuss it with them, find solutions, and resolve the problem.
The transition from project manager to supervisor is a common one and most people will stumble.
If you can't adapt to the pace and changes in work, and you have a stubborn mindset, you're doomed.
***
"Sigh—what should we eat tonight?"
Bang Geng sighed, looking at the menu in his hand and falling into decision paralysis.
This menu was delivered by the restaurant; you can order whatever you want and have it delivered right to your door.
They had eaten almost everything on the menu except for the dishes that Bang Geng was afraid to eat or that Li Xuewu wouldn't eat, and they were even tired of them.
Banggeng was worried about this. He bent his legs and stuck them on the sofa armrest, swaying his calves, and sat there muttering to himself, his wrists supporting his chin.
When Li Xuewu returned home from get off work, he saw Bang Geng's bicycle parked in the warehouse as soon as he entered the yard, and knew that Bang Geng had already returned.
The bicycle wasn't bought by Li Xuewu; it was bought by Bang Geng with the pocket money Li Xuewu gave him and the salary Zhou Yamei paid him over the past six months. It was his first major expense in life.
The total came to 96.8 yuan, with some change and some loose change, for a used underbone bicycle that was about 80% new.
Don't ask why he didn't buy a 28-inch bicycle. He wasn't afraid of the stick, but Li Xuewu was afraid that Qin Huairu would ask him for a grandson. How many naughty kids still remember the fear of being dominated by a bicycle?
Some people say that the 24-inch underbone bicycle is for women, and that it's not cool for men to ride.
That's bullshit. He's a 14-year-old idiot. He's fine riding a bike on the road, but when he brakes, he has to consider which way he'll fall so he won't get hurt.
Sitting in the seat makes it impossible to reach the footrests, but not sitting in the seat makes it painful to reach the footrests.
The 24-inch curved-beam bicycle was just right; the pedals were incredibly fast, and it didn't slow down at all when turning, speeding recklessly down the street.
The residents on this street all know that an official often stays at Zhou Yamei's house.
They don't dare to ask or care about the relationship; everyone lives their own life these days.
However, after the arrival of the stick, these neighbors started paying attention to her family.
If this kid were to bump into me, who would I ask for medical bills from?
"Come in, this is the courtyard."
Li Xuewu greeted Qin Huairu as she got out of the car, saying, "Your son may have just returned."
"He rides his bike to work by himself every day?" Qin Huairu asked in surprise. "Aren't you afraid he might get into some kind of danger?"
"I'm afraid—I'm afraid others will be in danger."
Li Xuewu shook his chin, gesturing for her to come into the courtyard, and said, "It's good that you're here. You should also keep an eye on your son. He treats his bicycle like an airplane; he could fly if he puts his arms on both sides."
The voices in the yard naturally caught the attention of Bang Geng, who was looking at the menu in the living room. He raised his head as if he was hallucinating. Why was it his mother's voice outside?
“If I could control him, I wouldn’t have sent him here.”
Qin Huairu really knows how to shift the blame. She bluntly said, "Anyway, he's with you now, so he listens to you more. If he doesn't listen, you beat him up."
"You're such a great mother, aren't you? You've let us outsiders play the bad guys?"
Li Xuewu opened the door and called out, "Big Face Cat, come out and help."
"Hey! They're here—"
Banggeng was still doubting his ears, but when he heard Uncle Wu's voice, he responded without hesitation and ran out.
He had just heard his mother's voice, but he couldn't believe it, and he didn't want to believe it. He didn't know how to face his mother.
But all these hesitations and awkwardness vanished the moment he saw his mother.
He didn't need to think about how to greet his mother, let alone how to speak to her.
And so, the moment he saw his mother, he couldn't help but cry and rush into her arms, still just like a child.
After watching the commotion for a while, Li Xuewu carried Qin Huairu's luggage into the house.
Bang Geng was still crying, with snot and tears streaming down his face, which looked a bit disgusting.
Qin Huairu also wiped away her tears. All her resentment towards her son vanished at that moment, for a mother and son are of one heart.
My son is a piece of my own flesh and blood; if I don't care for him, who will?
The mother and son cried at the door for a while, said a few more words, and then went inside.
Li Xuewu had already boiled the water. Seeing them come in, he gestured to the room upstairs and said, "Perfect timing, take your mother to put her luggage away."
"What do you need me to do? I'll do it."
Qin Huairu is a hardworking person by nature, and she certainly doesn't pretend to be a guest here.
Her eyes were still red, but she had already rolled up her sleeves and was ready to get to work.
"Don't worry, there's plenty of work to be done."
Li Xuewu smiled and gestured upstairs, saying, "Go put your luggage down first. I'll take a shower first, and then you can take your turn when I come down."
"It's too hot outside, and I feel all sticky and uncomfortable. I can't stand it."
He picked up his underwear and went to the bathroom. When he closed the door, he reminded Bang Geng to call the restaurant to order dinner.
"Why are you ordering dinner from a restaurant?"
Qin Huairu heard everything Li Xuewu said, but she was still completely confused.
Seeing that Banggeng was carrying her luggage and about to go upstairs, she followed him up.
There are three rooms upstairs, one large and two small. Banggeng chose the guest room for his mother.
This is indeed a guest room, because Aunt Zhou lives in the master bedroom, Fu Zhidong lives in the second bedroom, and this is the guest room.
If you ask him where Uncle Wu lives, he won't easily reveal such a confidential question.
Aunt Zhou reminded him not to come up without being told, but Aunt Zhou had already left. He had secretly come up a few times before and was already familiar with the place.
Li Xuewu tacitly agreed to this, otherwise what about the hygiene upstairs?
Should we make him clean up?
Let Bang Geng come up; he doesn't have any privacy to protect himself from Bang Geng.
Where do you usually live?
Qin Huairu began to look around the courtyard and villa as soon as she entered the gate, and continued to do so once inside the house.
She had come to deeply feel the gap between herself and Li Xuewu.
She and Liu Guoyou jointly bought the two apartments across the street, and they still didn't think it was easy.
Then look at Li Xuewu, he never shortchanges himself, he always lives in a Western-style house.
Li Xuewu's home in Beijing was like this, and his residence in the steel city was also like this.
"My room is downstairs, right across from the living room."
Banggeng enthusiastically helped his mother pack her luggage; all that was left was to make the bed and fold the blankets.
After looking around at the furniture in the room, Qin Huairu sat on the bed, took her son's hand, and asked, "How can you be so heartless? You don't even want to write a single letter to your mother?"
Has Banggeng written home?
He wrote it; Li Xuewu forced him to write it. But the kid was stubborn. He wrote it for his grandma, for his two younger sisters, and even for his master, Sha Zhu, but he wouldn't write it for his mother.
Qin Huairu wrote a letter to Banggeng every week, but never received a single letter. How could she not feel aggrieved?
Banggeng lowered his head, speechless. He really didn't know how to reconcile with his mother.
Before seeing his mother, he had imagined countless possibilities, but the one he hadn't considered was the simple scene of mother and son reuniting.
"If I hadn't come to see you, would you really never come home again and never see me again?"
Qin Huairu's tears fell again as she looked at her son and asked, "Do you hate me that much?"
Bang Geng pursed his lips and lowered his head, as if he also had a lot of grievances to tell.
He's different now than when he first left home; he understands many things and has grasped many principles.
So he learned to answer questions with silence, which is also a kind of attitude.
Qin Huairu understood his attitude, and felt even more aggrieved and sad.
How could you not feel wronged when the son you raised is drifting away from you step by step?
No one in the world wants her son to be better than her, but her son just doesn't understand her.
"Do you genuinely dislike your Uncle Liu, or do you simply dislike his child?"
Qin Huairu remembered what Li Xuewu had told her, and chose to face her son honestly and talk to him calmly.
When Banggeng saw that his mother asked the question so directly, he also looked up at her.
After a long pause, knowing that his mother was waiting for his answer or she wouldn't give up, he said softly, "I don't like him, and I don't like his two children. They see me as an outsider, as a fool, and even more like an enemy."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
Qin Huairu held her son's hand and said, "Mom can choose the rest of her life, but she can't choose to leave you, do you understand?"
"Would you have listened to me back then?"
Banggeng sat on the bed as she pulled him, and said with his head down, "I don't think our family needs to have another man."
"So that's why you came to Steel City to prove yourself?" Qin Huairu understood what he meant, and asked while touching the back of his head, "To prove that you can support this family?"
Banggeng nodded silently; this was his goal.
Qin Huairu only now realized what Li Xuewu meant by what he had said to her.
She couldn't help but put her arm around her son's shoulder and rest her forehead on his head.
The little boy is finally growing up and has his own thoughts and understanding.
Just as Li Xuewu said, she couldn't use an adult's mindset and thinking to regulate the child's thinking patterns. The more she emphasized it, the more conflicted and stubborn the child became, eventually turning it into a knot in her heart.
She used to blame her son for being heartless, but she never thought that he would leave her and travel thousands of miles to Liaodong precisely because of her choice.
What should she say at this point?
Every cause has an effect, and every effect has a cause; it's a cycle of cause and effect.
"What are you two doing?"
Li Xuewu changed into his pajamas and came upstairs. Seeing the mother and son silently in the guest room, he greeted them.
He knew what the mother and son were talking about, but the atmosphere had become tense, and someone had to help ease the tension.
"Son, did you order food when I told you to?" Li Xuewu raised his chin and asked Bang Geng.
"Ah, I'll order it now."
Banggeng stood up, turned to his mother, and asked, "Mom, what would you like to eat?"
"Why are you ordering food? I can cook. We'll just eat whatever we have at home."
Qin Huairu wiped away her tears, stood up, and went downstairs to cook.
Li Xuewu looked at her with amusement and said, "There are plates, bowls, iron pots, and iron spatulas. Choose whichever you can eat."
"Let's order food. We have nothing left at home, not even the vegetable garden."
Banggeng gave his mother a word of advice, then hurried downstairs.
The vegetables in the garden weren't gone; they were eaten by the rampant weeds that grew after the start of autumn.
There are two people in the house, one a lazybones and the other a lazybones, and neither of them has gone to pull the weeds.
If you expect Zhou Yamei to come back every two weeks to tidy up the weeds in the yard, those weeds will grow taller than Zhou Yamei herself.
Zhou Yamei was still willing to tidy up the first few times she came back, but she was too tired to continue afterward. She scolded Li Xuewu and Banggeng, but to no avail, so she gave up.
Every time I come back, it takes me a whole morning to clean up, but the next time I come back, it's back to the same state.
The garden already had all sorts of vegetables, but since the two of them were used to eating out, washing dishes became a major part of their kitchen routine.
Unless it's raining heavily, Banggeng will use his special skill to make Li Xuewu a dish of canned food stir-fried with canned food to help him get through the weather crisis.
If the vegetables in this garden aren't picked, they'll either get too old or fall off. Even if you clear the weeds, there's no point in doing so.
Enraged, Zhou Yamei vowed that anyone who tries to grow a vegetable garden next year is a dog!
Qin Huairu truly couldn't imagine what kind of life Li Xuewu could manage with his son.
She glared at Li Xuewu and emphasized, "That's my son!"
This was in response to Li Xuewu calling Banggeng his son, which made her a little jealous.
Li Xuewu shrugged nonchalantly and said indifferently, "Sure."
"What does 'okay' mean? It means either yes or no. What does it mean to say 'okay'?"
Qin Huairu frowned and looked at him, saying, "I want to take Banggeng back to the capital."
“Okay.” Li Xuewu said calmly, “Have you thought about how to help him resolve his inner conflict? If you are ready, I fully support you.”
He pointed downstairs and said, "I still have to save money at the restaurant to support your son. I'm really afraid he'll starve and then eat me if he gets desperate."
"It's not like I didn't give you living expenses; you were just being polite and didn't accept them."
Qin Huairu retorted, "That doesn't mean he's your son just because you spent money on him."
"Stop being unreasonable and making trouble. Who wants to take your son away?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and curled his lip, saying, "I can have plenty of sons if I want them."
"I believe you. If you're really open-minded, I'll congratulate Yu Li when we get back."
Qin Huairu looked at him provocatively and said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to let go, that you won't be willing to give up."
"Sigh—of course I can't bear to part with it."
Li Xuewu sighed and said, "A single-parent family like yours is bound to make the child lack a sense of security. How could I bear to let the child's mother suffer, and then let the child suffer as well?"
So you're choosing not to give it to me?
Qin Huairu nodded in sudden realization and said, "You always have great wisdom and profound understanding of life."
"Are you lecturing me again?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and turned back to the master bedroom, saying, "You should sort out your own affairs and leave me alone."
***
Qin Huairu took leave specifically to come to Gangcheng just to see her son.
It was also inspired by what Li Xuewu said when he and his wife visited their home last time.
A son is ultimately your own; to argue with your son is to argue with yourself.
So Qin Huairu took the initiative to come.
Liu Guoyou was busy with work and also out of consideration for Bang Geng's feelings, and to give the mother and son some space and time, so he did not come.
When Li Xuewu received her call, he didn't pay much attention. He glanced at the time and arranged for a driver to pick her up from the train station.
Yu Zhe has not returned to Beijing since then, and there is no news of him. It is unknown whether he can escape the disaster. Li Xuewu is already prepared to mourn for him.
The experience of being interrogated by three judges was unpleasant, especially since he had long understood the truth of "young people don't know how good their aunts are" and "mistaking young girls for treasures." He was definitely going to be subjected to severe torture.
Qin Huairu's arrival was somewhat sudden, but it was also within Li Xuewu's expectations.
He spoke sincerely when he went home, every word of which was true, so he wasn't afraid that Qin Huairu wouldn't think it through.
Furthermore, Qin Huairu was already used to listening to his opinions, and this time was no exception.
As for arranging for Qin Huairu to stay at his home, Li Xuewu didn't think much of it.
Those who gossip are definitely targeting him; you can't shut people up. Those who can understand things clearly will not spread rumors.
Banggeng is already a grown man; with him at home, what does Li Xuewu have to be afraid of?
The food arrived quickly after I ordered it; it was delivered personally by Niu Xianglan and was still warm.
"You don't have anything planned for today?"
When Li Xuewu heard her voice, he came downstairs and greeted her.
Niu Xianglan glanced at the glamorous woman who had come downstairs with him with slight surprise, then replied, "It's alright right now tonight."
She has visited our home several times and knows the place well, but she has never met Qin Huairu.
"This is Banggeng's mother, our neighbor in the same compound, and also a colleague."
Li Xuewu gave a brief introduction and also introduced Niu Xianglan to Qin Huairu.
"This is Comrade Niu Xianglan, the manager of the restaurant where we booked our meals. Your son didn't starve to death thanks to her help in taking care of him."
"You're joking, you make me so embarrassed." Niu Xianglan smiled at Qin Huairu, responding to Li Xuewu's joke.
"Hello, thank you for taking care of our hamster. We're sorry to have troubled you."
Qin Huairu was very polite, and she should take seriously any introductions Li Xuewu made to her.
"Her husband works at a recycling center."
Li Xuewu only added this one sentence to Qin Huairu, and both Qin Huairu and Niu Xianglan understood that the other was one of their own.
Although Niu Xianglan's sense of belonging to her own people was short-lived, she genuinely felt that Nie Liansheng had a promising future working with Li Xuewu, at least he wouldn't be as adventurous as before.
The two looked at each other, their smiles becoming even more genuine and natural.
Have you eaten? Would you like to eat together?
Qin Huairu politely declined, but Niu Xianglan refused, saying that her child was still in the shop. She only said one sentence to Li Xuewu before leaving.
"Is this another capable henchman you recruited after you came to Steel City?"
Qin Huairu walked into the restaurant and looked at the food her son had set on the table.
She said to Li Xuewu, "Are you living such a luxurious life every day?"
"It's only because you came that we were able to survive on meager food and almost starved to death."
Li Xuewu replied with feigned pitifulness, then nodded meaningfully at Banggeng.
Bang Geng smiled knowingly, ignoring his mother's scolding and embarrassment.
Qin Huairu was genuinely jealous. She felt like an outsider at the table, while the father and son exchanged knowing glances.
He ordered four dishes with great skill and expertise, and even knew how to balance meat and vegetables.
"We apologize for the difficult conditions and lack of hospitality."
Li Xuewu smiled, picked up his teacup, gestured to Qin Huairu, and said, "If there's anything I've done wrong, you can beat me up."
"Hehehe—" Banggeng laughed and raised his teacup to clink with his, just like an adult.
Qin Huairu looked at the two of them with amusement and asked, "These conditions are still so basic. No wonder Banggeng doesn't want to go home. It turns out he's living a life of plenty here with you."
"We've only ever seen you eat meat, but we've never seen you suffer."
Li Xuewu picked up a piece of food, tasted it, nodded, and said, "Sometimes we're so full that we have to go out for a walk after eating."
As he spoke, he shook his head, indicating how hard and painful it must have been back then.
Banggeng knew he was teasing his mother on purpose, so he chuckled along.
Qin Huairu looked at her son and the more she looked at him, the more he resembled Li Xuewu's bad behavior back then.
It seems I won't be able to take my son back with me.
-
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(End of this chapter)