mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 1716 A Necessary Recourse
Chapter 1716 A Necessary Recourse
Chapter 1716 A Necessary Recourse
"I need to know the truth."
Li Huaide frowned, tapped his finger on the desk, and emphasized to Zhou Yao, the head of the group's security department: "If you don't know, go to Gangcheng, don't report it to them."
"Director Li, what did Comrade Xuewu say about this matter?"
Zhou Yao wasn't the only one in the office; her supervisor, the group's safety director Dong Wenxue, was also there. The two were reporting on the traffic accident that Secretary-General Li Xuewu had encountered in the steel city.
Just now, Zhou Yao reported the information she had obtained to Li Huaide, the group's general manager, but failed to satisfy the leader.
She was in the capital, and the accident happened in the steel city. She could only report it through layers of bureaucracy, and the results she obtained were already embellished and processed, at least with subjective judgment.
Not wanting to put her in a difficult position, Dong Wenxue offered, "If necessary, I'll go."
What could he say—
Li Huaide pushed away the teacup beside him with dissatisfaction, glanced out the window and said, "I'm afraid he'll only report the good news and not the bad."
"This..." Dong Wenxue frowned and asked, "Have Xu Sinian and Kuang Yusheng not given any feedback?"
"If Comrade Xuewu intends to conceal something, would the two of them dare to tell the truth?" Li Huaide glanced at Zhou Yao, who was standing there straight, snorted twice, and said, "It would be pointless for her to go."
Zhou Yao remained silent. She couldn't make a judgment about the unknown situation, let alone make any promises to her superiors.
Just as the leader said, she really went. The secretary-general asked her to keep it a secret, so what else could she say?
So she remained silent despite Director Li's complaints.
“Then I’ll go there and see what’s going on,” Dong Wenxue said. “If anything happens, I’ll report to you immediately.”
"You go out first." Li Huaide looked at Zhou Yao and said, "Contact Gangcheng again and have them report the detailed process."
"Yes!" Zhou Yao saluted crisply, knowing that her leader still had something to say, and then turned and left.
This wasn't her first time as a department head, nor was it the first time she'd encountered this kind of problem.
Sometimes when problems arise, it's not enough to simply solve them; you also need to deal with a complex follow-up process.
This is the part that is difficult for the head of the group's security department to decide and bear responsibility for.
The leader asked her to investigate cases, strengthen public security, and enhance security training, all of which were fine. However, she still needs to learn how to address the issues at a political level.
So, if you don't have the skills, don't take on the job. The leader knew she couldn't handle it, so he let her go.
The reason Dong Wenxue was kept on was because Deputy Director Dong was capable of handling the matter, so what else was there for her to hesitate about?
She simply couldn't believe that, since the secretary-general had personally called the leaders, the security system in Steel City would dare to fabricate a report.
This at least to some extent ensured that the information she obtained was true and reliable.
The statement that it is true and reliable is, of course, based on the fact that the Secretary-General was aware of it. As for whether the content of her report is the most accurate account of the actual process on site, that is not something she can decide.
Furthermore, she was also deeply concerned about the Secretary-General's incident, and Director Li's words just now proved her loyalty.
Upon hearing the news, she immediately wanted to fly to the steel city to handle the matter, but she was no longer the head of the security department. As the person in charge of the group's security forces, she could not act on her own initiative without instructions from her superiors.
"Comrade Xuewu must suppress this matter."
Watching Zhou Yao leave, Li Huaide frowned and said to Dong Wenxue, "I couldn't hear his explanation about this matter; there are some things that are difficult to say on the phone."
“I understand.” Dong Wenxue immediately understood, widened his eyes slightly, and asked, “I think he must have some concerns.”
"That's what I'm worried about."
Li Huaide gently patted the table and said, "He's just too considerate of the big picture, and sometimes he feels wronged."
"He is very mature in his work."
Dong Wenxue thought for a moment and said, "I also believe that he can handle this matter properly and will not make us worry."
"The reason I didn't let you go there immediately was because I was afraid that things over there would involve you again."
Li Huaide said with concern, "You should have sensed it too; the situation is very tense right now."
“Our group is at the forefront of industrial and economic transformation. As the person in charge at the group level, a single word, action, or behavior could cause a stir.”
He leaned back in his chair, thought for a moment, and said, "The Secretary-General's insistence on stability is correct, it is correct indeed."
"Should I still go?" Dong Wenxue asked, looking at him. "There probably won't be any at this time..."
"I think you'd better not go."
Li Huaide tapped his fingers irregularly on the armrest of the chair, and after thinking it over, said, "Let's wait a little longer."
"Okay, then I'll arrange for Zhou Yao to go over there?"
Dong Wenxue looked at him and explained, "She has already received her admission notice from the cadre academy and will be registering soon. I don't think she will be involved in anything."
“Hmm, that works too,” Li Huaide said, his eyes flickering slightly. “She was recommended by the Secretary-General, so she’s quite useful.”
"Then let her lead the team on this trip."
Dong Wenxue nodded and said, "I think the group should stop blocking the news. It's easy to cause discussion."
"Well, let's have the publicity team produce a detailed report, preferably in a gradual and unexaggerated way."
Before Li Xuewu could provide definite information, Li Huaide had to carefully consider every decision he made.
This is also a kind of capability decline. Although the group's development has been bumpy over the years, it has been relatively peaceful.
With Dong Wenxue, Jing Yunong, Gao Yaqin and others providing protection inside, and Li Xuewu, Bu Qingfang and others charging into battle outside.
There weren't many things that really gave Lao Li a headache; what really troubled him were the internal issues.
Every change in the group's management team leads to a restructuring of the entire ecosystem.
If he were a deputy director or other cadre, he wouldn't feel much pressure, but he's the class monitor.
What is the role of the class monitor?
He is responsible for the work of the entire team, and he must take responsibility if any link in the chain goes wrong.
Li Xuewu reminded him that if Su Weide's problems were proven true, he would also be in deep trouble.
That's why it's not easy to have a job; you have to be a father, a mother, and support the family.
If Li Xuewu gets into trouble, and as the squad leader, he can't lead the team if he can't show a positive attitude.
Besides, Li Xuewu is his chosen successor. If Li Xuewu were to get into danger this time, it would be a disaster for the entire group.
This highlights the importance of building a robust cadre team.
While he was discussing this matter with Dong Wenxue, an idea popped into his mind: should we prepare another alternative plan for the group's future?
-
"Dad—" Li Shu said on the phone, sounding a little aggrieved, "If you don't come back soon, school will start soon."
"Yes, Dad remembers them all."
Li Xuewu displayed the most tender side of a father, and his daughter was one of his few weaknesses.
The son is not; the son is armor. Li Ning has reached the stage of "you say yours, I'll do mine," like a mischievous monkey.
"Then, Dad, will you come back?"
Li Shu asked pitifully, "I still want you to take me to school on the first day of school."
“Li Shu is a second-grade elementary school student now. Dad believes that even if Dad can’t make it back that day, you can take good care of yourself, right?”
Li Xuewu coaxed Li Shu, saying, "Please forgive your father, I've been really busy with work lately."
"If you promise Dad you'll take good care of yourself and go to school happily when school starts, how about Dad takes you and your brother to visit Grandma in Jinling when he goes back?"
"But—that will take many more days."
Li Shu was unhappy and said in a low voice, "I miss Dad. You didn't come back to play with us during the summer vacation."
"That was Dad's fault. I didn't consider Li Shu's feelings. Dad knows you miss Dad. Dad is so touched."
Li Xuewu said helplessly, "Please take good care of Mom and my younger brother. Dad isn't home, so this family is counting on you."
"Okay, then—" Li Shu was suddenly persuaded by her father to take her to school. Although she was unhappy to hear that her father could not come back to take her to school, she still mustered up her strength.
"I will take good care of my mother and my younger brother."
Li Shu held the microphone and glanced at Li Ning, who was about to cause trouble, her eyes seemingly carrying a certain power.
Li Ning, who had been listening attentively with her ears perked up, instantly felt the killing power of her sister's gaze and obediently withdrew her little hand.
"Don't worry, Dad, we'll wait for you to come home," Li Shu said obediently. "Then I'll give the phone to Mom. I'm going to read now."
She handed the microphone to her mother, pursed her lips, and headed towards the stairs. Li Ning had a premonition that something bad was about to happen, and tried to run away, but it was too late; her sister had already arrived.
Snapped--
Another delighted little mouth.
Li Ning had been beaten so many times that he still couldn't help but want to cry, but he didn't dare to cry in front of his sister. He could only pout and look at his sister with teary eyes.
"If you dare to take out the scissors again, I'll cut your fingers off with them."
Li Shu glared at her younger brother and threatened, "Let's see if you dare to play with scissors again."
"I won't do it again—" Li Ning tried hard to keep her voice down and calm herself down, "I'm sorry, sister."
"Dad's not home, don't cause trouble for Mom," Li Shu pointed at her younger brother and said, "Don't make me angry."
"Understood, sister." Li Ning nodded, watched the Great Demon King go upstairs, and then raised her arm to wipe the corner of her eye.
He wanted to complain to his mother, but then thought better of it. His older sister had gotten two perfect scores at the end of last semester, and he estimated that his grades probably wouldn't be as good as hers.
Why waste time on something hopeless? Besides, it's better to tell your aunt than your mom.
His mother would just look at him and try to reason with him. If he acted like a brat and didn't want to listen, it wouldn't work with his mother.
His aunt would hug him and cook him delicious food. Thinking about it, his life in this family must have been really tough.
"Yes, he didn't cry." Gu Ning glanced at her son and said casually into the phone, "He's very well-behaved."
Is Mom talking about me?
Li Ning, who was struggling with his feelings, felt much relieved in an instant. He sniffed, trying to suck back the tears that were falling.
He's a little man now, he can't cry when his sister hits him, and he can't embarrass himself in front of his mother.
Besides, Dad's listening. He'd be so embarrassed if he knew he was crying.
So Li Ning composed herself and prepared to play with her toys, but then her mother said, "She's gone upstairs to read. She's been doing the same thing all summer. She goes to her grandfather's house during the day and comes back at night to read and study. She's already learned to take care of herself..."
"..." Li Ning's attempt to rally his troops came to a complete standstill. The flag had fallen, the drum had broken; he had been deluding himself.
It turns out Mom wasn't talking about him, but about my older sister!
It was his older sister who hit him! He was the one who got hit! Why is his sister crying? Does the one who gets hit not cry while the one who hits them?
Is there no law or order in this family? Does the youngest deserve to be bullied?
"Li Ning? Him—"
Just that one sentence made Li Ning, who had just been thinking of giving up, perk up his ears again.
"He's grown quite a bit taller this summer, and he's even learned to identify medicinal herbs from his grandfather..."
Oh dear! That's exactly me!
Li Ning turned to face his mother, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, waiting for her to praise him a couple more times before putting his hands on his hips.
"No, everything is fine at home."
Gu Ning asked with a hint of worry, "How about you? Are you alright?"
"Yes, Mom called me."
Li Xuewu said on the phone, "It's nothing serious. Xiao Ma is recovering, and Xiao Qi's surgery is over. He'll be back soon after things stabilize."
"That's good, that's good." Gu Ning unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You must be careful."
"I know, Mom told me too."
Li Xuewu explained to her, "Let's leave it at that. There's no need to cause any more trouble."
"Mom—" Li Ning heard the worry in her mother's voice and sensed the change in her parents' emotions during the phone call. She took the initiative to walk over and snuggle up to her mother.
"Well, you can make the decision."
Gu Ning reached out and patted his son's head, smiling as he said, "Li Ning is here. Do you want to say a few words to your dad?"
“Dad, Dad—” Li Ning shouted into the phone, “Dad, I miss you too.”
"Hehe, Dad misses you too."
Li Xuewu asked with a light laugh, "Did you take good care of Mom and my sister, as you promised Dad last time?"
"Dad, I've been a very good student, and my teacher praised me too!"
Li Ning muttered to himself, seemingly unrelated to the question, "Grandpa also praised me, saying I'm very smart and can learn anything!"
"Really?" Li Xuewu sensed his son's pride and encouraged him, "I knew you were smart."
He recounted his experiences with his son and encouraged him, saying, "You're a little man now, you need to have your own goals. Even when you're just having fun, you should try your best to do it well."
“Okay—” Li Ning agreed readily this time, nodding earnestly and saying, “I had so much fun playing it.”
"Yes, that's a good child."
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Next time Dad comes home, I'd like to hear you tell me about herbs, okay?"
"Great!" Li Ning said excitedly, "When you come back, I'll tell you lots and lots of knowledge about herbs!"
“Then it’s a deal.” Li Xuewu said very seriously, “When I was a child, I was too playful and never learned about herbs. Now I have to learn from Li Ning.”
"Hehehe—" Li Ning laughed proudly, overjoyed, his body swaying involuntarily.
Gu Ning smiled as she watched the father and son's conversation. Seeing that he had finished speaking, she picked up the phone and said, "That's all for now. He's going to take a shower."
"Goodbye, Dad—" Li Ning called out and ran towards the bathroom, where his aunt was already waiting for him.
"Don't worry, I'll wait for you to come back."
This was the first time Gu Ning had forced herself to confront a predicament head-on, a danger that was neither visible nor intangible.
Li Xuewu didn't mention it on the phone, but after contacting her immediately, someone came to her workplace to look for her.
From that day on, she was secretly protected when she went to and from get off work, and Shen Guodong drove the children to and from their grandfather's house. Even the household supplies were specially arranged by Shen Guodong.
The situation was tense on the inside but relaxed on the outside, so the children didn't feel any danger or tension, but Gu Ning's nerves were constantly on edge.
During this period, the couple talked on the phone more frequently. It was Li Xuewu's repeated comforting words that taught her to be strong and brave.
Li Xuewu was also pleased with Gu Ning's changes and growth. Perhaps he didn't want to encounter such a situation, but he was more willing to see Gu Ning take every step towards maturity.
It's not that he's making a mountain out of a molehill; he just protected his whole family after a traffic accident in the steel city.
Gu Ning's nervousness was far less than one-tenth of his, and the protection he saw and felt was also less than one-tenth.
Now, Gu Ning and her child are surrounded not only by his arrangements, but also by her father-in-law's.
He could let things go peacefully, but he absolutely could not accept the trouble affecting his family, which was also unacceptable to his father-in-law.
The reason his mother-in-law called him was because she was dissatisfied and wanted to hear his opinion.
Unexpectedly, the father-in-law and son-in-law, despite not communicating, shared the same idea, which made her feel quite sorry for them.
She had to endure this kind of thing, and even clean up the mess for the other party. She had never suffered such grievances before.
She didn't agree with her son-in-law's saying that "suffering a loss is a blessing," believing that honest people are always bullied in this world.
In Ding Fengxia's eyes, her son-in-law was an honest man, the kind of person who would compromise and put the overall situation first.
If it were her son who encountered this situation, she, as a mother, might be able to tolerate it, but she would always have to consider all aspects.
But it's outrageous that such a good person as my son-in-law, such a hardworking and outstanding young man, could encounter something like this.
She was dissatisfied and complained to Gu Haitao. Gu Haitao tried to persuade her a few times, but when he saw that he couldn't persuade her, he stopped.
She wanted to call her son-in-law, but Gu Haitao remained calm, fearing she might make a rash call if she got angry.
The first call was made to her son-in-law, Gu Haitao, who was listening nearby. When Ding Fengxia heard her son-in-law's opinion and looked at him again, he stood up and calmly went to his study.
This is the tacit understanding between father-in-law and son-in-law. Ding Fengxia was gratified, and then she complained on the phone about her son-in-law's grievances.
Li Xuewu felt no resentment; instead, he comforted his mother-in-law, asking her to relax and not worry about his safety.
He apologized on the phone for making her and his father-in-law worry, which earned him a scolding from Ding Fengxia.
It's only natural for fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law to care about their sons-in-law. If the son-in-law is bullied and the fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law pretend not to know, then what kind of parents are they?
The reason Li Xuewu asked Gu Ning to call his mother-in-law was because he was afraid she would get anxious and upset.
When facing his mother-in-law again, he could only try to put things in a positive light and downplay the issue.
-
"What? Surprised?"
Gao Yaqin suddenly appeared in Li Xuewu's office, looked at him, and smiled smugly.
As if her sudden attack had startled Li Xuewu, she walked in and said, "I'm here on behalf of the group to see you."
"Please thank the group for their concern on my behalf."
Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "Just put the gift on the coffee table, I won't stand on ceremony."
"Dream on—give me back the gift!"
Gao Yaqin tapped him and said, "We've worried so much about you; you should make it up to us."
"Ha—" Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "It doesn't make sense. Why would you come to see me empty-handed?"
"What? Aren't you welcome?" Gao Yaqin pointed to the door and asked, "Then shall I leave?"
"I don't know if you're leaving or not, but I knew you were here." Li Xuewu pointed to Zhang Jing, who followed him in, and said, "Make Mr. Gao a cup of tea, the one in the innermost jar of the tea cabinet."
"Please have a seat, Mr. Gao. Our leader has some really good tea."
Zhang Jing said with a smile, "Normally we can't drink ourselves into oblivion, but it's because of you that we've come."
"Oh, Director Zhang, you're speaking more politely now!"
Gao Yaqin looked Zhang Jing up and down and teased, "Being the head director really changes things."
"You're making fun of me." Zhang Jing brought over some tea and placed it on the desk, saying, "I also need to learn from my seniors."
"No need to learn, you've made enough progress."
Gao Yaqin turned to Li Xuewu and asked, "How are your driver and secretary?"
“Xiao Ma is still in the hospital,” Li Xuewu said, raising his chin. “Xiao Qi won’t be back until the middle of next month.”
"Hmm, I really didn't expect that." Gao Yaqin said with a somewhat unpleasant expression, "I heard that you were able to protect yourself because you reacted quickly?"
"Hmm." Li Xuewu simply nodded without explaining anything. Both the United Industrial News and the United Broadcasting Station reported on the matter.
He knew it must have been authorized by Lao Li; it was impartial, without exaggeration or deliberate distortion of the facts.
Discussions about the traffic accident had barely begun when they subsided after the group issued a statement.
Li Xuewu didn't want others to see what he was feeling wronged about, so he stayed in Gangcheng recently and didn't go anywhere else.
Wang Lu from Gangcheng visited him, and the two talked privately. Wang Lu wanted to ask for his opinion.
Since this happened in Steel City, if Li Xuewu is not satisfied, she will naturally bear the pressure.
The truck driver and his employer both apologized to Li Xuewu and proactively offered to take responsibility and provide compensation.
Li Xuewu did not show up, and he did not even meet with Xiao Ma when they went to the hospital to visit him.
His opinion was to follow the proper procedures.
The driver has been handed over to the Hongxing Steel City Industrial Zone Security Department by the Steel City authorities for handling.
Just as he had told the driver, if you're going to say it now, say it now; if you're not going to say it now, never say it again.
The driver probably didn't understand what he meant at that moment, and was probably still wondering why he said that.
If the driver had dared to show any dangerous side at that moment, Li Xuewu would definitely have retaliated, even to the point of mutual destruction.
But after calming down, he realized that some things were unnecessary, and he didn't want to be crushed under the wheels of history.
Gao Yaqin may have already understood the deeper meaning behind his restraint. She gazed at him for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.
"Go to East Germany, you know it well there."
She nodded slowly and said, "The Santayana Group sent a letter requesting that we go to East Germany to discuss the handover of the transport aircraft."
"East Germany?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are the transport planes going to East Germany for?"
“I’ll only send you if it’s necessary. Why would I send you if it’s not necessary?” Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes at him and said, “I’ve already reported this to Director Li, and he has agreed.”
Li Xuewu didn't speak, but just looked at her.
Zhang Jing had already left, and Gao Yaqin wasn't afraid to make things clear, but making things clear would ruin the point.
“This is for your own good,” Gao Yaqin emphasized. “If I simply wanted you to leave, I wouldn’t be the one to come up with a solution.”
"You think my leaving here will make me useful?"
Li Xuewu looked at her and said, "It has nothing to do with where I went. If I left, it would seem like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill."
"Then what do you want?" Gao Yaqin frowned slightly and said, "Director Li is very worried about your safety."
Do you think I'm in danger right now?
Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "On the contrary, now is the safest state."
Gao Yaqin understood his meaning after a moment's thought: if something went wrong, so be it; if nothing went wrong, then nothing could go wrong.
The first incident could be considered an accident, but if it happens again, it will be truly uncontrollable.
Li Xuewu is now trying to settle things peacefully, and the other party will not push their luck any further.
The concept of propriety is like face; once you've gained an advantage, you can't pretend to be innocent. Nobody should treat anyone else as a pushover.
"But you still have to go to East Germany."
Gao Yaqin thought for a moment and said, "Although the Santaya Group didn't say it explicitly, they still prefer you to take over."
"You'll have to figure out the specifics once you get to East Germany. I don't think she'll just pull you over for a casual chat."
"When are you leaving?" Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "I still have a lot of things to do here."
“You still have time to make arrangements for the flight on the 6th,” Gao Yaqin said. “If you’re worried, I can come to Liaodong, or you can tell Director Li whoever you want to come.”
"It seems I really have no choice but to go to East Germany this time?"
Li Xuewu thought for a moment, looked at her and said, "Alright, thank you for your concern and hard work for me, and thank you for the kindness of the other comrades in the team."
"You don't need to thank them; they weren't the ones who made the decision," Gao Yaqin said with a smile. "Thank me alone. What are the plans for tonight?"
"Hehe, what would you like to eat?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "My life now is just going back and forth between two points; I commute to and from get off work in three cars together."
“Then forget it—” Gao Yaqin shook her head and said, “If I ride in your car, I’m afraid it will really cause some misunderstanding.”
"But this meal should be noted."
She emphasized, "I can't have made this trip for nothing. Bring me back one of those watches from East Germany, the kind you bought last time."
"What? You lost yours?" Li Xuewu asked in confusion. "Didn't you buy them last time?"
“My husband has taken a liking to it,” Gao Yaqin said helplessly. “Every time we go there, he asks me about this watch. It’s so annoying.”
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu nodded and said, "No problem, I'll help you choose a good one later."
"That's settled then." Gao Yaqin stood up and said, "I'll stay in Gangcheng tonight, and I'll go to Fengcheng tomorrow."
She raised an eyebrow at Li Xuewu and said, "It's not just you who needs to be careful; I also need to be careful."
What does that mean?
It's very simple; she can't make her visit to Gangcheng to see Li Xuewu too deliberate. She needs a suitable reason.
Regardless of whether the other person has noticed her or not, she has to be careful.
Hearing this, Li Xuewu was somewhat moved. He believed that the group's leadership team was unwilling for her to come to Gangcheng to see him at this time, but at least she came.
"I send you."
Moved by this rare moment, he got up to see Gao Yaqin off, but she waved him off.
"Don't mention it, go ahead and do your work."
Gao Yaqin walked to the door and reminded him, "The work arrangements are all set; you won't be back for ten days to half a month."
How could Li Xuewu not know that it would take ten days to half a month to return, and that each trip would take two days, making a round trip four days, requiring a transfer in Hong Kong?
If the trip is delayed, it's normal to be a few days late, that's what he told Shantal.
Standing at the door watching Gao Yaqin come downstairs, he sighed deeply. He didn't want to go through all this trouble unless absolutely necessary.
The invitation from the Santayana Group was arranged by him by calling Chantal, as East Germany did not welcome him.
-
"Secretary-General Li, I'm so sorry."
In early September, Fang Yuan finally came to Gangcheng to personally express his gratitude and apology to him.
Li Xuewu was preparing to go to East Germany, and when he saw her arrive, he gave her a warm welcome.
"No need to say that. It's all for work, I understand." He nodded and said, "If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know."
"However, I have to go on a business trip for the next couple of days. If you're not in a hurry, we can talk again when I get back?"
"It's alright, Secretary-General Li," Fang Yuan waved his hand and said, "I came here simply to thank you."
She said, quite embarrassed, "And I personally apologize to you for causing you trouble."
"Hey—please don't say that."
When Li Xuewu heard that she hadn't come to ask for help, he smiled and said politely, "We're old friends, it's too much of a fuss to say such things."
"I still want to apologize to you. It's all my fault for not being careful in my work, otherwise so many problems wouldn't have occurred."
Fang Yuan sat down on the sofa and said very seriously, "If you have any requests, you can tell me, and I will try my best..."
"Director Fang, I'm serious."
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, interrupting her and emphasizing, "If I were to ask anything of you because of this, you would be underestimating me."
"Yes, yes, yes," Fang Yuan said apologetically, "I couldn't get here right away, so..."
"Alright, that's enough, or we'll get carried away."
Li Xuewu smiled and gestured to the teacup, saying, "Try it. Director Zhang specially asked me to bring this back when he went on a business trip to Suzhou and Hangzhou."
"Thank you, it smells delicious."
Seeing that he changed the subject, Fang Yuan knew that he didn't want to say anything more about this issue, so he stopped talking.
The two only talked about what happened after that meeting, and since they were both preoccupied, the conversation ended after a few words.
"How about this, I'll have Director Zhang Jing accompany you to the sanatorium in the mountains. It's quiet there and the conditions are good."
"No, I'll be back in a bit."
Fang Yuan smiled and said, "Thank you so much. I've been too busy with work lately. I'll come and thank you again after this period is over."
"No need for thanks, it's enough that you came," Li Xuewu said cheerfully. "I've been incredibly busy these past few days. I'll treat you next time you come, and we'll have something nice to eat."
"Alright, that's settled then."
Fang Yuan waved her hand, letting Zhang Jing see her downstairs, without mentioning anything else.
Li Xuewu didn't give her that chance, controlling the direction of the conversation the whole time, and even controlling the conversation until the very end.
It's not fair to say that night owls only come to a house when they have nothing to do, but based on what she said, it's really a bit strange that she only came to see him after so long.
Of course, he could also understand that Fang Yuan's work situation was special at the time, and that coming alone probably carried risks.
After Li Xuewu tested her, he found out what was going on and arranged for her to stay on the mountain, but she didn't dare to go and wanted to rush back overnight. Her nervousness spoke volumes.
He wasn't spying on Fang Yuan's work; he was just stating the facts. Fang Yuan's visit this time was definitely not as simple as she made it out to be.
If it was really just to see him, then why come so late, and actually come at all?
This only proves that his arrangements a few days ago were correct. Some people just don't want to let him go. Even though they have nothing to do with him, they insist on dragging him down because they value the power behind him.
He didn't care anymore; he was done playing. He didn't believe that if he went to East Germany, these people would still follow him and cause trouble.
If these people come with him to East Germany, he guarantees they will never return.
**
"Bring a few more clothes," Yu Li said while packing his luggage. "It's always better to bring extra clothes than to be caught off guard."
"Who knows what the climate is like over there, flying so far?" Yu Li straightened up and looked at him, asking, "Did you say for sure how many days you'll be gone this time?"
“You should prepare for half a month,” Li Xuewu explained, pausing his shaving. “The journey will take a few days, and there might be further delays when you transfer in Hong Kong.”
Are you planning to stay in the port city?
Yu Li walked over, handed him a hot towel, and asked, "Shall we go take a look over there?"
"No, I'm not going. There's too much eyeliner on them."
Li Xuewu glanced at her and said, "Besides, what's so interesting? It's all the same whether you watch it or not."
“I didn’t say it would be a different story if you didn’t watch it.” Yu Li curled her lips and said, “What I meant was that going is better than not going.”
"Qiang won't go either; there's no such arrangement."
Li Xuewu said calmly, "I'm going there for work, not for tourism. Let's prioritize safety."
"Then I'll pack you fewer light clothes." Yu Li looked at the suitcase and said, "It will be cold by the time you come back, so you should wear something thicker."
“It doesn’t need to be too thick,” Li Xuewu glanced at the cotton-padded coat in the box and said with a smile, “East Germany wasn’t this cold in September.”
Tell me, will you come back?
Yu Li suddenly looked at him with a hint of sadness and asked, "You're not just going to leave like this, are you?"
"Where am I going? I'm just leaving like this."
Li Xuewu looked at her amusedly and said, "Stop overthinking it, okay? I'm just on a normal business trip."
"How can I not overthink things?" Yu Li said, her face full of worry, sitting on the bed. "You've been leaving early and coming home late these past few days, and it makes me feel exhausted just watching you."
"Those people living next door, you can imagine how worried I am."
The house next door had been empty until this time, when Zhou Yao arrived and arranged for some people to move in.
On the surface, nothing seems amiss, but the protection provided for Li Xuewu is already very comprehensive.
Li Xuewu didn't let Zhou Yao stay any longer. Seeing her arrangement, he sent her back to school.
The cadre academy is about to start, and Li Huaide's decision to have her come over is truly just adding to the chaos.
He didn't hide anything, and he found Zhou Yao's explanation that Director Li had talked about her funny.
I don't know when, but Old Li has become so fussy and even started lecturing Zhou Yao.
However, he sent Zhou Yao away but did not cancel her arrangements, which put everyone at ease.
Although she knew there would be no more danger, Zhou Yao's arrangement allowed her to return to the group with an explanation.
Li Xuewu didn't want to make things difficult for anyone, so he could only go along with her arrangements to make everyone feel that he was safe.
Whether it's safe or not is up to him to decide. It's not that he doesn't trust the people next door, but he trusts himself more.
If he were truly forced to, he would definitely pull out his real weapon to protect himself; that's the same principle at any time.
Therefore, he felt both heartwarming and helpless about Yu Li's sentimentality.
"Don't worry, even if I'm willing to give up my job here, I won't be able to leave you. Even if I leave, I'll take you with me."
"You're joking—" Yu Li said reproachfully, "What time is it? Just think of me as a fool."
"Don't be nervous, it's not as dangerous as you think."
Li Xuewu took a chair and sat down opposite her, looking at her seriously and saying, "You know my personality; I won't do anything out of line."
"If there are any arrangements, I will tell you. You should have confidence in yourself."
He pointed at her knee and emphasized, "Even if I lose my job here, I can't possibly lose my job at the recycling center, can I?"
"You've been working too hard lately. Get some rest after I leave and don't think about anything."
Li Xuewu took her hand and said, "We'll talk about everything when I get back. I'll explain everything to you then."
“I don’t need your explanation,” Yu Li said, looking at him with tears in her eyes. “I just want you to be safe and sound.”
Even if you really leave and never come back, you still need to take good care of yourself.
"Oh dear—" Li Xuewu was amused by her. All that explanation had been for nothing; she still thought he wasn't coming back.
"You wait here, I'll be back."
Li Xuewu feigned a fierce expression, pointed at her, and said, "Wait until I get back, and see how I deal with you."
“I’ll wait for you to come back—” Yu Li didn’t care what he said, she just looked at him and said, “Come back safely.”
"Okay, okay, alright?" Li Xuewu couldn't blame her for her deep affection; perhaps she only had herself in her world.
"You know Tadon Airport, right?"
He sighed and said, "When buying a transport plane, someone has to go and take a look at it; we can't just fly it back casually."
"The quality of an airplane is like buying eggs; you have to pick and choose. What if it malfunctions? Right?"
(End of this chapter)