sbdcsierra Chapter 1392 3 Auntie
Chapter 1392 3 Auntie
Chapter 1392 Thirteenth Concubine
Despite Li Xuewu's poor interpersonal relationships, quite a few people wanted to treat him to a meal when he came back this time.
He had just rejected Gao Yaqin when Peng Xiaoli caught up with him and insisted on inviting him to dinner.
"Why are you arguing with me? Go do what you're supposed to do—" Li Xuewu scolded, both amused and annoyed. "If you really have the will, then work hard and have a double celebration next year."
"Thank you for your kind words, I will definitely work hard." Peng Xiaoli said with a chuckle, "But I have to treat you to dinner today."
Before Li Xuewu could scold him again, he had something to say. He straightened his head and emphasized, "It was my boss who gave me a strict order to invite you to express your gratitude."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and patted his shoulder, saying, "You're a henpecked husband too."
Seeing that Peng Xiaoli was not ashamed but rather proud, he said with a smile, "Alright, I really didn't have time to accept your invitations this time, but I appreciate your kindness."
Seeing that he was going to insist, Li Xuewu became more serious and explained softly, "I have other plans for tonight. It's rare for me to come back, so I'm just having a chat with some leaders."
"Hey—" Peng Xiaoli said with great annoyance when she heard him say that, "I told her I would invite you yesterday, but she insisted that you had just arrived home and it was inconvenient for you, this, this—"
"Alright, why are you being so fussy now?"
Li Xuewu glared at him with feigned displeasure and said, "You're married now, so be more composed and keep more serious matters in mind. I'm not kidding when I say you're having double happiness."
“Understood, leader. I know this is your expectation and encouragement for me.” Peng Xiaoli replied with a more serious expression, “Just watch my actions.”
"However..." He hesitated, glancing at Li Xuewu, and said with difficulty, "When are you going back? If you can't make it this time, then you must come back next time—"
"Alright, this isn't over yet—" Li Xuewu chuckled and patted him on the shoulder again, saying, "You're young, ready to start a family and build a career. Don't waste this precious time. Comrade, you must work hard."
"Hehe, please don't say I'm impolite."
When Peng Xiaoli heard him say that, she chuckled and agreed, but her gaze still held expectation.
This was the leader who changed his destiny; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a benefactor, and it would be fitting to call him a teacher.
It wasn't that Yu Haitang forced him to invite Li Xuewu to dinner; he himself was looking forward to it.
"Gu Cheng was talking about you to me yesterday, saying he didn't dare to invite you because he was afraid you would scold him."
Peng Xiaoli chuckled and explained, "He asked me to invite you, and he also said he wanted to bring Qian Youqiong, Wang Lu, and Zhao Yajun along for some fun."
"If he had that kind of awareness, wouldn't it be better for him to focus more on his work and stop wasting his time on trivial matters?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him and reminded him, "I don't care about the interactions between you young people, but it's fate that you've come together. Don't argue over trivial matters, or I'll have to punish you."
"Don't worry, we're all on the same side in this circle." Peng Xiaoli raised an eyebrow, chuckled, and said meaningfully, "We're not kids anymore, would we let you worry about these things?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him sideways, not paying attention to the meaning of "one of their own" in his words. This kid was quick-witted and cunning; ordinary people couldn't see through him.
Seeing how insightful he was, she didn't say anything more, nodded, and went to Gu Weijie's office.
Among the cleverest people in this group, Peng Xiaoli is one, and Gu Cheng is another.
If these two get together, nothing good will come of it. You don't even need to interrogate them to know they've committed enough crimes to warrant execution.
The reason Gu Cheng didn't dare to come to see him was because this kid had taken it upon himself to frame Su Weide before the new year. The reason why the investigation team from the ministry was able to grasp Su's problems so quickly was because of his "help".
However, Li Xuewu thought this kind of help was somewhat naive and unnecessary, so he ignored him.
Judging from Peng Xiaoli's words, this small circle deliberately pulled Wang Lu and Zhao Yajun into it.
Without a doubt, since they can bring Wang Lu and Zhao Yajun along, the next step is to get Li Xue involved with other relationships.
There are quite a few people in this group who can be connected to Li Xuewu, so it's not surprising that they would form a group together.
He's doing well in the capital. These people don't need to get together to take care of each other, and no one can make things difficult for them.
Now that he has been transferred to Liaodong, although the big tree has not fallen and the monkeys have not scattered, it is still inconvenient.
It must have been Gu Cheng or Peng Xiaoli who came up with the idea—to connect these relationships, form a network, and then expand its operations.
When Li Xuewu was in Beijing, they didn't need to do this, nor did they dare to, for fear of provoking certain people. But now the situation is different; they need to stick together for mutual support, and no one can say anything about it—that's just the rule of the game.
Another important reason why Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng decided to team up was Li Xuewu's unique way of doing things.
Other leaders always show favoritism towards their secretaries and personal relationships, a phenomenon commonly known as protecting one's own.
But this doesn't apply to Li Xuewu. He never raises sheep; he only hunts with dogs, lions, tigers, and wolves.
They each have their own set of rules: who wants to be a lion, who wants to be a tiger, who wants to be a wolf, and who wants to be a dog.
From the day they joined Li Xuewu, they knew that here they had to be self-reliant and strong, and there was no chance or possibility of bullying others. Only by being self-reliant and strong could they gain his support and affirmation, and only then could they have the possibility of making progress.
Therefore, to outsiders, Li Xuewu was fair in his dealings and never showed favoritism to his subordinates, earning him a reputation for impartiality.
But in the eyes of his subordinates, he was a guiding light, an object of worship, and a goal to be emulated.
Just look at the few people he brought out; none of them are easy to deal with. Wang Lu, who was once jokingly called a silly girl, has become a formidable figure in the group.
Li Xuewu does not oppose young people uniting, nor does he oppose them making friends, nor does he shy away from these networks of relationships.
But who can control how much trouble three such wicked kids can cause when they get together? If they really cause trouble in his name, he'll have to come back and clean up their mess.
Therefore, it is necessary to remind them that doing bad things is acceptable, but doing stupid things is not.
If Li Xuewu accepts Peng Xiaoli's invitation to dinner today, the already tense and paranoid group will definitely be thrown into turmoil, with countless eyes watching him.
Now is not the time to manage the group; showing appropriate weakness will help him pacify Liaodong as quickly as possible.
Liaodong is the key to his current situation.
-
"Boss, do you have time tonight?"
Zhou Miaomiao, carrying a black briefcase, gracefully came up the stairs. Seeing him passing by in the corridor, she took the initiative to greet him: "Zhou Tan and I would like to invite you to a casual meal?"
"I had no idea I'd become such a popular figure in the company. Why does everyone want to treat me to a meal?" Li Xuewu smiled and slowed his pace, looking at her as he asked, "You took a few days off for the New Year holiday, didn't you go out for a stroll?"
"Where am I going? I'm too lazy to move," Zhou Miaomiao said with a sigh. "I'm actually envious of you now."
She looked intently at Li Xuewu and asked, "Is the Northeast fun? Zhou Tan even told me that the group intends to build a sanatorium in the steel city, where you can ski and soak in hot springs in the winter and relax in the summer. Is that true?"
“If Zhou Tan has heard about it, then it must be true.” Li Xuewu smiled and glanced at her, saying, “There is such a plan, but it will be in the second half of the year or next year. The group’s financial budget is tight this year.”
"When has our group's budget ever not been tight?"
Zhou Miaomiao covered her mouth and smiled. Her clean and neat women's suit made her look like a blooming rose.
Li Xuewu nodded in agreement and said, "Let's wait a little longer. Maybe you can go skiing in Steel City next winter."
"That's great—" Zhou Miaomiao looked at him with flirtatious eyes and asked, "You really don't have time? Just give us a chance."
"Why are you being so polite—"
Li Xuewu turned to look at her and said, "Is something the matter? If so, just say so."
"What could we possibly have to do? It's just that you've come all this way, so let's sit down together."
Zhou Miaomiao looked a bit plump after the New Year; her eyebrows and eyes looked like two silkworms when she smiled, which was very attractive.
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Unfortunately, I've already made plans with people. If you're really free, then wait until I come back next time and invite Zhou Tan, Xiaoli, and the others to get together."
"Alright, then I'll wait for your summons."
Zhou Miaomiao gestured towards Gao Yaqin's office and said, "I'm going to report to Deputy Director Gao, so I won't bother you any longer. We'll get together again when you come back."
"Go on, get back to what you're doing."
Li Xuewu stopped and watched her leave with a smile before entering Xue Zhifu's office.
It seems that Lao Xue was already waiting for him, knowing that he had been running around to the offices of various leaders these past few days, and had made preparations in advance.
Li Xuewu didn't stand on ceremony with him, only knocking on the door when he entered, without stopping.
Xue Zhifu also got up from behind his desk, and while greeting him, he came over to the sofa.
Secretary Liu Zhen followed him in from outside the door, greeted Li Xuewu warmly, and then went to make some hot tea.
"No need to trouble yourself. I just came from Deputy Director Gu's place and already had a drink."
"He uses a tin box; he's picky about food."
Xue Zhifu joked, then turned to Li Xuewu and said, "You've been working really hard these past few days. You must be feeling the pressure of working in Liaodong."
"Everything is difficult at the beginning—"
Li Xuewu nodded, crossed his right leg, rested his right elbow on the sofa armrest, and looked at Xue Zhifu with a relaxed expression, replying, "It just so happens to be the New Year."
"Yes, I understand. What did Comrade Weijie say?"
After watching his secretary set out the tea, Xue Zhifu said to Li Xuewu, "Organizational work is the focus this year."
"Yes, Deputy Director Gu emphasized a lot."
Li Xuewu nodded and said seriously, "I was mentally prepared, but I still need to sort it out when I get back. The situation of industry in Liaodong is complicated."
“I can think of that—” Xue Zhifu sighed softly and said, “It seems that only you can keep this up now.”
"I gritted my teeth and endured it."
Li Xuewu smiled, glanced at the teacup on the coffee table, and then said to Xue Zhifu, "Zhang Enyuan brought you the research report I prepared, right? What do you think of it?"
"I've been watching it for two days now." Xue Zhifu nodded, picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying, "I've been watching it every day after get off work these past two days, thinking about it as I go."
"That's great, I was just looking forward to hearing your opinions and suggestions." Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, "I want to open up the situation in Liaodong as soon as possible, but there are so many things to do."
At this point, he shook his head slightly and said, "The more complex the situation, the more cautious we need to be. A small change can have far-reaching consequences, especially with the personnel changes currently underway."
“I’ve been thinking about this too,” Xue Zhifu said, putting down his teacup. “After much thought, I’ve come to the same conclusion as you. The situation is difficult; it’s better to remain calm than to take any action.”
“I didn’t intend to muddy the waters, much less try to profit from the chaos.” Li Xuewu emphasized with a more serious tone, “These sludge sludge slid down with great difficulty, and since they’re already there, there must be a reason for it.”
“We do need to clean up the silt regularly, but there’s no need to go to great lengths.” He looked at Xue Zhifu and said, “On the other hand, isn’t this silt also a kind of nutrient?”
"You have to find the right balance."
Xue Zhifu, who once served as the head of regulatory affairs, still cares about the group's regulatory development.
In particular, Li Xuewu's appointment as the head of Liaodong Industrial Park gives him a greater responsibility for supervision and oversight.
Originally, Xue Zhifu was the supervisor in charge of the project construction, but after Li Xuewu entered the office, the first thing he talked about was supervision and organizational and personnel development.
This is not surprising, because Li Xuewu had previously worked with Xue Zhifu as his supervisor, and the two already had a tacit understanding.
This tacit understanding involves top-down supervision and management, cultivating a regulatory and supervisory force within the group.
Li Xuewu doesn't trust Li Huaide, and Xue Zhifu doesn't trust anyone, including Gu Weijie, who is now in charge of supervision. People will do wrong things once they have selfish motives.
Ideological differences can make an already misguided path even more convoluted.
Li Xuewu's proposed normalized supervision and management, as well as his theories of cultivation and reverse cultivation, are still somewhat risky in his view. However, Li Xuewu understands Liaodong better because he is based in Liaodong.
Just as Li Xuewu just explained, some of the filth has already settled, and the surface looks relatively clear, so there's no need to muddy the water in the name of integrity.
Li Xuewu nodded slightly and said, "I still need your help to make a decision, after all, you have a deeper understanding of the company."
"It's too far, and my eyesight is limited."
Xue Zhifu shook his head slightly, whether out of refusal or modesty, and changed the subject when the topic was brought up again.
Are you applying for this year's construction project?
He opened the documents beside him and said, "I can help you figure out some ways to supplement existing projects."
Pointing to the several suggestions made by Li Xuewu, he thought for a long time before saying, "The group's finances are tight."
"Has the higher-ups withdrawn funds again?"
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked, "I saw in the newspaper that both domestic and foreign debts have been cleared. Our group has also contributed to this effort, right?"
"It's inevitable. The hardest part isn't for those of us who spend money, but for those of you who make money, and for people like Comrade Yunong who manage the money. Everyone's life is tough."
“This year has been tough, so next year will be even tougher.” Li Xuewu said with a wry smile, “There’s nothing I can do. You’ll have to think carefully about some projects. If you can do them, then do them.”
"Hehehe—" Xue Zhifu looked at him and said with amusement, "I never thought you'd be running projects one day."
"Just as you said, everyone is having a hard time. We have to carry on the legacy of the past and pave the way for the future."
After Li Xuewu and Xue Zhifu finalized their work agreement, Li Xuewu stood up and said, "What leader doesn't try to please their subordinates? Don't you agree?"
"Hehe—" Xue Zhifu chuckled, got up and saw him out. Their conversation was much more relaxed than his conversation with Gu Weijie, and there was no awkward atmosphere.
******
To be honest, he had known Gu Weijie for three or four years. Although they didn't have any private interactions, they still had a personal relationship.
Han Shu also had contact with her, and during the Chinese New Year, he arranged for Shen Guodong to deliver New Year's gifts, which she accepted.
In the workplace, where can you even talk about feelings?
That is, there must be a superficial peace and the dust must have settled down; otherwise, Gu Weijie would still stab him in the back.
When Dong Wenxue returned, he didn't give her a friendly look either. He confronted her several times at the management committee meetings, showing no regard for their past relationship.
This time when the two met, Gu Weijie's attitude towards him was noticeably more subtle. The wariness and complexity in her eyes were impossible to hide, and he could see it too.
The atmosphere was slightly tense, especially Li Xuewu's businesslike attitude, which made her frown and want to speak several times.
In fact, Li Xuewu is not a vengeful person. If you go to the west of the city in the middle of the night to inquire, you will find out when he has ever taken any revenge. He is a true gentleman.
Gu Weijie's vigilance was pointless. If he wanted to retaliate, he would have done so already. Why should he watch Dong Wenxue make a scene at the management committee meeting?
Even when caught up in the situation, one must still maintain a facade of composure.
Li Xuewu proactively reported the research results to her and sought instructions and explanations on some important work ideas, which in itself was an attitude; the rest was left for her to figure out herself.
What Gu Weijie thinks is not important; what matters is what the other people watching the spectacle think.
Li Xuewu's return and his long-standing "secret plot" with Li Huaide had already made him a target of suspicion among the team members.
If his conflict with Gu Weijie deepens, some people will definitely side with Gu Weijie, or even try to win her over.
All opposition is based on contradiction.
As long as Li Xuewu actively makes enemies, there will be no end to them, and sooner or later they will make him suffer a setback in Liaodong.
Li Xuewu's actions during his return to Beijing have allowed these people to rediscover his maturity and perseverance.
A mature approach is to use rational thinking to resolve comradeships and handle work-related conflicts.
Li Xuewu's combination of punches was undeniably skillful, leaving these bystanders speechless.
Even Gu Weijie was caught in his scheme, and he used this uprightness to elevate her.
This is precisely the main reason why Xue Zhifu, despite holding his nose, insisted on getting up to exchange pleasantries when he saw Li Xuewu knock on the door and enter the office; in truth, he was now all alone.
"Where are you from? Would you like some tea?"
Su Weide walked over, shook hands with him, and invited him to sit on the sofa. He then gestured towards the tea cabinet and said, "I sent Gu Cheng out on an errand. Please don't be shy if you want any tea."
"Please don't be shy, I'm already full."
Li Xuewu smiled and waved his hand, then sat down on the sofa and explained, "I've drunk a lot."
"Hehe, from Comrade Weijie?"
Su Weide smiled, sat down on the single sofa, looked at Li Xuewu and said, "She cares a lot about Liaodong."
See? He's already digging a hole in less than three sentences. This person is beyond saving.
"The situation in Liaodong's industry is complicated." Li Xuewu nodded and said calmly, "Not only does Deputy Director Gu need to pay more attention to Liaodong, but you also need to pay more attention to Liaodong."
"Hehehe—" Su Weide chuckled, his eyes filled with a unique depth, and looked at the research report in his hand, saying, "Your work ability is second to none in the group. With you in Liaodong, everyone is at ease."
"Don't worry about your trust in me, your concern is a sign of your care for me—" Li Xuewu smiled and looked at him, asking, "You don't have any complaints about me, or about Liaodong and some of the cadres in Liaodong, do you? You can speak frankly. If I'm wrong, I'll correct it. If the cadres in Liaodong are wrong, I'll make them correct it."
It is only polite to reciprocate. Su Weide dared to dig a pit, so Li Xuewu dared to bury him alive. He had that much skill.
Su Weide dared not respond to Li Xuewu's words, for anything he said would be wrong. He dared not openly express his dissatisfaction with Li Xuewu, much less with Liaodong or the cadres of Liaodong's industry; the trap was simply too great.
Li Xuewu is a scoundrel!
"Hehehe—" He chuckled dryly, looking down at the research report in his hand, and said, "I did hear some things a few days ago, but I don't believe them."
Su Weide flicked the report in his hand and said, "Based on this research report alone, those things are obviously fabricated without even being investigated. It's clear that someone is afraid—"
"Really?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze full of surprise. "It seems I really got lucky returning to the capital this time, otherwise I wouldn't have known that someone in Liaodong had a problem with me."
"It's just work, it's normal."
Suweid did not explain who came to him to report him, nor did he mention the specific issues reported; he just laughed and made up some nonsense.
"If a rock like this were to fall without making a sound, we wouldn't be able to sleep."
"Please don't. If my going to work causes you comrades to lose sleep, then it would be my fault."
Li Xuewu smiled gently, raised his hand slightly to indicate the research report in his hand, and said, "I've been working non-stop for almost a month in Liaodong. Please feel free to offer your criticisms and suggestions."
"It's great, what's there to correct?"
Su Weide put the report aside and looked at Li Xuewu, saying, "If you want my opinion, I can talk to you about it. But if you're asking for corrections, does that mean you have a problem with me?"
"Hahaha—" The two old foxes laughed in unison. The laughter echoed down the corridor and sounded very eerie to anyone who paid attention.
The secretary was chatting happily with Deputy Director Su, their laughter echoing throughout the room. Wasn't that bizarre enough? It was like something out of a ghost story.
When Li Xuewu arrived at Jing Yunong's office, even Jing Yunong was surprised by the matter.
When did you become acquainted with him?
"Look at what you're saying—" Li Xuewu smirked and said, "Everyone knows I'm well-liked in the group, so what's so strange about me having a pleasant conversation with Deputy Director Su?"
“I thought that after you went to Liaodong, with more responsibility on your shoulders, you wouldn’t talk so illogically and nonsense anymore.” Jing Yunong lowered his eyelids and said, “I didn’t expect you to still be the same as before, not changed at all.”
"Could you please not say that?"
Li Xuewu leaned forward and looked at the somewhat flustered Deputy Director Jing's pretty face, who was so close to him, and said, "It's too ambiguous. It would be bad if someone heard us. They might think we have some kind of secret."
Jing Yunong wants to kill someone right now, and his target is this bastard in front of him. How can he talk like that!
What is a secret that cannot be told to others?
Seeing Deputy Director Jing gritting his teeth, Li Xuewu leaned back tactically to create distance and said seriously, "I still want to ask for your opinion and suggestions."
"I have no suggestions, much less offer any advice," Jing Yunong said casually, setting aside the research report in his hand. "You must have other things to do."
"What's wrong? Nothing—"
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "How about we have dinner together tonight? It's on me."
He paid no attention to Aunt Jing's fiery glare and said with a smile, "How about we go eat Qinyuanchun?"
"Oh dear, I forgot, you like seafood."
Li Xuewu seemed to have just remembered, nodded and said, "Then it's settled, my treat tonight..."
"Thank you, but no need," Jing Yunong said, his eyes slightly narrowed. "We're not that close yet."
She pushed the documents in front of her and said, "I don't want people to misunderstand anything or say anything hurtful. You may not care, but I can't stand it."
"Tsk tsk—" Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "You should think of it this way: if your feet are straight, you have nothing to fear from crooked shoes."
"Are you leaving or not?" Jing Yunong asked angrily, glaring at him. "If you're not leaving, I'm leaving!"
Who's saying someone's feet are crooked, or whose shoes are crooked!
Feng Xiaolin, deputy director of the personnel department, had just reached the door and raised her hand to knock, wanting to ask for instructions or report on her work, but when she heard the slightly angry tone of Deputy Director Jing in the office, she withdrew her hand.
Not only did she withdraw her hand, but she also quickly glanced at the scene in the office and shrank back completely.
Before Li Xuewu knew it, Jing Yunong only saw a figure flash by at the door.
Good heavens, the leader and Deputy Director Jing got into an argument in the office. This will soon spread throughout the entire unit.
Was that an angry tone in her voice?
Yes, she was furious and embarrassed, wishing she could tear this bastard's clothes off... and then...
"You did it on purpose, right?"
Deputy Director Jing raised his hand, pinched the temple of his gold-rimmed glasses, and looked at the bastard opposite him, saying, "Go do what you're supposed to do. I'm not keeping you here."
"That's not very interesting—"
Li Xuewu, of course, received a signal from Deputy Director Jing. He changed the subject and retorted strongly. Seeing her frown, he prepared to get up and take his bow.
But as he stood up, he whispered something to her, causing Deputy Director Jing's face to flush red.
That bastard... he really is...
Jing Yunong grabbed the documents beside him to hit him, but he nimbly dodged them, and the blow missed.
Seeing his smug smile, she felt angry, ashamed, and anxious, wishing she could chase after him and beat him up to vent her anger.
As Li Xuewu walked to the office door, he saw Feng Xiaolin walking towards him from a short distance away, as if she wasn't the one who had been at the door just moments before.
"Hello, Secretary-General—" Feng Xiaolin greeted him very politely, as if she had just arrived.
Li Xuewu forced a smile, nodded, and said, "Hello."
The way he said "hello" sounded very forced, as if he was trying hard to control his temper when he was furious.
After Feng Xiaolin watched the secretary-general leave, when she knocked on the door of Deputy Director Jing's room again, she keenly noticed that the leader was also angry. Didn't she see that the leader's face was red with anger?
This...this really is...
Feng Xiaolin had heard that the relationship between the secretary-general and the deputy director Jing was not good, and that there had even been arguments and conflicts. But these were just rumors she had heard. She never expected to see it with her own eyes today.
Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.
She saw the secretary-general sitting opposite the deputy director, Jing. The deputy director spoke harshly, while the secretary-general spoke sharply.
She saw the secretary-general struggling to control his temper, while Deputy Director Jing was flushed with anger, his documents in disarray.
These are all things she heard and saw with her own eyes. Isn't this evidence conclusive enough?
Some people used to suspect that the Secretary-General and Deputy Director Jing were acting, saying that Deputy Director Jing was the first to speak for the Secretary-General at the Management Committee meeting. But seeing is believing.
Those speculations and doubts are all nonsense. Deputy Director Jing hates the Secretary-General, and the Secretary-General hates Deputy Director Jing!
This news couldn't be more true!
Alright, starting today, the conflict between Deputy Director Jing and the Secretary-General has escalated into mutual hatred.
Feng Xiaolin believed that only women could truly understand other women. She understood Deputy Director Jing; the glint of hatred in her eyes was unmistakable!
"It's a promise, I'll go over after get off work."
As Li Xuewu came out of Deputy Director Zhang's office, he turned back and said with a smile, "I'll go ahead and wait for you."
Zhang Jingsong simply smiled and nodded, watching Li Xuewu descend the stairs before returning to his office.
Those who were concerned about this matter had already heard about it; it seemed the Secretary-General had made an appointment with Deputy Director Zhang that evening.
How strange!
Many people were thinking to themselves: "I've never heard that the Secretary-General and Deputy Director Zhang have any connection!"
Just kidding, who does Deputy Director Zhang have any personal relationships with? He always handles business strictly and doesn't show any favoritism.
Especially after the secretary's accident, this leader became extremely meticulous. Forget about accepting invitations; even giving him a toothpick would result in a cold reception. He had become obsessed.
Even Director Li dared to accept gifts, but Deputy Director Zhang, who was not the head of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department, was the most upright.
The key point is that this upright Deputy Director Zhang was also implicated because of his secretary's mistake.
This world is truly magical.
Even more surreal is that Deputy Director Zhang actually made a friend in the group, and that friend turned out to be Li Xuewu.
It's not that the secretary-general can't be a friend of deputy director Zhang, but the two of them just don't get along... Li Xuewu is such a smooth talker.
Even the strangest things can be traced, and someone mentioned that the management committee meeting that was crucial to the secretary-general back then, in which Deputy Director Zhang voted in favor.
It seems that Deputy Director Zhang and the Secretary-General had long ago developed a personal relationship or a tacit understanding in their work.
However, some people countered that Deputy Director Zhang was deliberately competing with Deputy Director Su because of that case.
Some even say that Deputy Director Zhang was forced to stand up for the Secretary-General only because he listened to Director Li's advice.
There were many rumors, and the unit was in chaos because the secretary-general had returned. Everyone was speculating about which other leaders would be at dinner tonight besides these two.
They had no idea who Li Xuewu was going to invite.
***
"Are you inviting him to dinner here?"
Yu Li looked at Li Xuewu in surprise and asked, "You two had a very unpleasant talk here last time, won't you feel uncomfortable about being arranged to do it here again?"
"It depends on the person. Times change, those things are in the past, why should he be upset?"
Li Xuewu looked at the documents in his hand and said, "Alright, let's arrange it like this. You greet him tonight."
"Me? Okay, I understand." Yu Li was surprised again; this was the first time Li Xuewu had asked her to greet him.
Also in the office at that time were Wu Shuping, Zuo Jie, Shen Guodong, and Wen San'er, who was recuperating from an illness.
After greeting him, Yu Li went out to arrange dinner for the evening, while the others in the room waited for Li Xuewu to speak.
"How is Zuo Jie doing over there?"
Li Xuewu looked up at Wu Shuping and asked, "Is it convenient? If not, we can come back."
"What's inconvenient about it? I'm the same way."
Wu Shuping said nonchalantly, "The employees in the joint venture are already quite diverse, it won't make a difference if he's one more."
"I'm also learning how to do things from Teacher Wu." Zuo Jie smiled and looked at Li Xuewu, saying, "I'm not in charge of any work; I'm mainly learning."
"Haven't you learned enough?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and looked at him, saying, "Alright, excessive modesty is just arrogance."
After saying that, he looked at Wu Shuping and emphasized, "There's no need to be cautious. Director Li asked about you today."
“I’ve met him; he called me.”
Wu Shuping reported: "It happened before the New Year. He called me to his office, asked about my work, and also inquired about my life and the issue of raising my child."
"Oh—" Li Xuewu nodded knowingly and said with a smile, "He's quite kind and righteous."
“If that’s what you’re saying—” Wu Shuping’s lips twitched, and she glanced at Shen Guodong and Wen San before saying, “I really have nothing to say.”
"Hehehe—" Shen Guodong was the first to burst out laughing. Seeing Brother Wu looking over, he said embarrassedly, "This Director Li is the most caring person."
This wasn't Shen Guodong joking or making fun of Li Huaide; it was just that Director Li was overacting.
The more personnel changes are pushed forward, the greater the difficulty becomes, the higher the rank of the cadres involved, and the more complicated the network of relationships becomes.
At this point, Li Huaide also became anxious and found it difficult to handle the situation when applying a conciliatory policy to some cadres.
In Shen Guodong's words, rumors are circulating within the group that Director Li has changed his tastes.
What kind of talk is this? Director Li is a womanizer and also has homosexual tendencies? The rumors are getting more and more outlandish.
"That's a good thing—" Li Xuewu teased Wu Shuping, only to receive a big eye roll from her.
"I can't let go of the business of the recycling station in Beijing. Can the supply chain work be handed over to Zuo Jie?"
Shen Guodong took the initiative to ask, "I think he's exercised enough, he should come out for a stroll."
Zuo Jie didn't say anything, but straightened his back, looking eager to try, as if he really wanted to get things done.
In recent years, Zuo Jie has mainly been doing management work at the Youth Center, while also learning from Shen Guodong.
Although he was also responsible for building the supply chain system in Beijing, he never really took on the responsibility.
Shen Guodong's initiative to recommend him proves that he had this idea and was mentally prepared.
Li Xuewu looked him over seriously for a long time before nodding and saying, "Okay, you decide what to do."
After saying that, he looked at Shen Guodong and instructed, "As previously agreed, Pei Pei still needs to be used."
"Yes, Pei Pei is already doing it."
Shen Guodong smiled at Zuo Jie and, seeing that the boy was blushing with excitement, teased him, "Tell me yourself, who will be the director and who will be the deputy director, you or Pei Pei?"
"Huh? Did I say that?" Zuo Jie knew that Brother Shen planned to recommend him for a job, but he didn't expect this.
Seeing his stunned and bewildered expression, Wen San'er and Shen Guodong both laughed.
Zuo Jie knew he had been tricked, but he had no choice but to take it seriously, in case Brother Li took it seriously.
He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll... I want to be the director. Let Pei Pei help me."
"Okay, I'm fairly confident."
Wen San'er nodded and commented, "If you want to do something, you can't be afraid of making mistakes. You must have the determination to move forward and the confidence to succeed immediately."
"If you can't even answer this kind of multiple-choice question, then you really don't need to have a career."
"Did you hear that?" Shen Guodong looked at him with a smile and said, "Your third uncle is teaching you how to do things."
"Hey—are you insulting me?"
Wen San'er glared at Shen Guodong with amusement and said, "It's not news that I've suffered a crushing defeat. You don't need to keep reminding me that I regret it."
"So, do you regret it?" Shen Guodong asked jokingly. "I didn't see it coming from you."
"Regret? What's the use of regret?"
Wen San'er said with a serious expression, "I have never regretted it since the moment I left, and I will never regret doing those things."
"How is Third Uncle's health?"
Seeing that Shen Guodong was giving Wen San'er a chance, Li Xuewu also steered the conversation towards him.
Wen San'er wanted to pat his chest to prove he was alright, but he was afraid of reopening his wound, so he could only awkwardly lower his hand and sigh, "I'm afraid I'll have to rest for a while."
"Then let him rest for a while and we'll see—"
Li Xuewu looked at Wen San'er, whose eyes were somewhat forlorn, and said calmly, "Come to Steel City once your injuries have healed."
"Go to the steel city? I'm still going?"
Wen San'er looked up at him with some surprise and asked, "Weren't you in Steel City?"
"Come to the steel city and move Dongfeng Shipbuilding away."
Li Xuewu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Putting it in Gangcheng is a bit too conspicuous. Let's separate them and put them in Yingcheng and Jinmen. We can't put all our eggs in one basket."
"Then—" Wen San'er asked hesitantly, "Will it be me and Er Hai who will be in charge?"
"No, Erhai is only in charge of trade in Tianjin, and he cannot be involved in this matter."
Li Xuewu looked at Wen San'er firmly and said, "You will be in charge of Dongfeng Shipping. Wait for news from Gangcheng Biaozi."
“I…” Wen San’er was stunned, staring blankly at Li Xuewu. He had never thought that he would have the chance to redeem himself and reconnect with Hong Kong.
But will Li Xuewu agree to let him return to Hong Kong?
He still has his thirteenth concubine in Hong Kong.
(End of this chapter)