mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 1713 Zhang Maqiang!
Chapter 1713 Zhang Maqiang!
Chapter 1713 A Sudden Turn of Events!
Yu Li had never felt the world was so chaotic until she heard the news broadcast on the Steel City Radio Station on the third day:
A man climbed the wall of the Sanshan Road Supply and Marketing Cooperative late at night and was subdued by joint defense personnel. He was seriously injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.
"What's the matter?"
She stopped chopping vegetables, came out of the kitchen, stared at the radio with wide eyes, as if she could see people inside.
"What's wrong, Auntie?" Banggeng jumped up from the sofa and asked nervously when he saw her reaction.
Didn't you hear the news just now?
Yu Li frowned, pointed to the radio, and said, "Does this radio talk about the Sanshan Road Supply and Marketing Cooperative?"
"Really? I didn't notice."
Banggeng blinked and asked, "What happened to the Sanshan Road Supply and Marketing Cooperative?"
"It was the night before last that I..."
Yu Li was about to explain when she glared at Bang Geng halfway through her sentence and said, "What use are you? You can't even hear the news clearly."
As she spoke, she turned around and went back to the kitchen, looking preoccupied.
Bang Geng was a little confused after being scolded. He raised his eyebrows and was about to sit down again.
Go and get me two scallions!
Auntie's voice came from the kitchen, sounding dissatisfied: "You just sit there when you get here, you don't even help me with any chores!"
"Okay! I'll go right now—"
Bang Geng certainly wouldn't dare say that. He had asked his aunt when he first arrived, and she said he didn't need to do anything and could just stay put.
Of course, he dared not say that his aunt was in a bad mood and that if he angered her, he wouldn't be able to eat dinner tonight.
So, almost as soon as his bottom touched the sofa, he jumped up again and quickly went outside.
Zhao Laosi arranged for him to come. His work at the factory was suspended, and he's been working full-time as his aunt's driver and security guard lately.
He even brought his equipment with him.
Yu Li wasn't after the stick; she was just anxious and afraid of causing trouble for Li Xuewu.
Especially the news just now, it sounded like what happened to her the night before last, but it also seemed like it wasn't.
Apart from the Sanshan Road Supply and Marketing Cooperative, nothing else resembles it.
The man at the beginning is wrong; she clearly encountered four or five, and told the security guards about them all.
Another issue is the timing. Although she got off work late, it wasn't until late at night.
They were at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative on Sanshan Road, but those guys were targeting her, not the cooperative.
The auxiliary police were attracted by the gunfire, and the fact that the kid was seriously injured was not caused by them.
Looking at it this way, only the location is correct; everything else is wrong. Just as Li Xuewu said, this matter has nothing to do with her?
She felt a little guilty; she should have known better than to work overtime until that late, which had caused so much trouble.
What are you doing here?
As soon as Li Xuewu entered the courtyard, he saw Banggeng teasing the wolfhound that Zhao Laosi had brought over yesterday afternoon.
This kid is clearly past the age where people dislike him, so why is he still so mischievous?
"It's okay, it's just too stuffy inside."
Banggeng looked up and chuckled, explaining, "I came out for some fresh air."
"Aren't you afraid of mosquito bites?" Li Xuewu pointed to the wolfhound jumping around him and said, "Watch out for the dog jumping around!"
"No, I've already given him the medication."
Banggeng waved his hand and explained, "I usually just lie here outside Uncle Si's office, so I'm always very clean."
Dog bugs are small insects that infest dogs. When a person is bitten, they will get a large, itchy welt.
People who live in the countryside have all experienced this: in the summer, the most hated things are flies, mosquitoes, and dog hooves.
It's very, very small, smaller than a grain of rice but larger than a grain of millet, pure black, and its blood-absorbing ability is comparable to that of Always.
"What's the use of this thing? We still have to take care of it."
When Li Xuewu entered the house, he glanced at the silly dog playing with the hamster and muttered something.
He never expected that these words would almost hurt Bang Geng's young and fragile heart.
My aunt just said he was useless, and now Uncle Wu is saying this dog is useless too. Does that mean he's putting him and the dog together?
He looked at the dog, then at himself, and slapped the silly dog that was sticking its head out to lick him.
"What good are you? All you do is play!"
"Woof—" The wolfhound was stunned by the blow and didn't react in time. This kid was more ruthless than a dog.
It's a real dog, and this kid isn't human either!
Banggeng picked up the scallions he had already peeled and followed them into the house. His aunt had made dumplings tonight, and no matter how much she scolded him or chased him away, he wouldn't leave.
"I told you to pick two scallions, and you went and grew your own?"
Yu Li glared at him, took the scallions, and went into the kitchen, looking like she was about to come out and settle scores with him.
Banggeng turned his head and saw Uncle Wu's questioning gaze. He helplessly shrugged and didn't dare to say anything.
He had endured humiliation for this meal of dumplings; he felt he would be letting down his grievances if he didn't eat 30 of them.
"How's work at the processing plant?"
Li Xuewu hadn't seen him for quite a while, so he brewed himself a cup of tea by the tea cabinet and carried it to the sofa.
Bang Geng had learned his manners; he waited until Bang Geng sat down before sitting down on the single sofa.
"It's alright, it's the same old stuff every day."
Banggeng looked at him and asked, "And you? Still so busy?"
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu found it quite amusing to see him imitating adults, recalling how he had been begging for candy at the door when he got married a few years ago.
Bang Geng didn't think anything of it, but seeing his eyes, she still lowered her head somewhat embarrassed.
"Haven't you been back to Beijing lately?" Li Xuewu picked up a plum from the coffee table, took a bite, and asked, "Didn't your mother contact you to ask you to go back?"
“She just writes letters,” Banggeng replied. “I’m so busy with work right now, how could I have time to travel back and forth?”
"Besides, there's nothing to do back home. She's at work too, everyone's busy with their own things."
"Is Xiao Dang in junior high school now?"
Li Xuewu nodded and asked, "Don't you miss your two younger sisters?"
"Yes, Xiao Dang is in junior high school this year."
Banggeng lowered his head and explained, "Huaihua is in fourth grade. I sent them money and wrote them letters."
"He has the air of a big brother."
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and said with a smile, "Have you learned any skills from Zhao Laosi?"
"He's even more unreliable than me."
Banggeng seemed to remember something and said with a snicker, "I'm always thinking about how to navigate social interactions."
"Isn't social etiquette a form of knowledge?"
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "If he can establish himself in society and earn a living through his abilities, he must have something to offer. Otherwise, society wouldn't accept him, right?"
Banggeng knew that Uncle Wu was right, and he nodded sensibly.
"And another thing, besides learning this from him, what else can you learn?" Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "The Analects of Confucius, you mean?"
"Hehehe—" Banggeng found it funny and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"He introduced a potential partner to the boss's brother-in-law without asking clearly, and ended up introducing him to his aunt."
He explained with a smile, "I'm always thinking about these things, trying to set up the same system as the recycling stations in Beijing, and get three-wheeled vehicles to collect scrap."
"Dinner's ready!" Yu Li called out from the kitchen.
"He is in charge of the treatment plant, and he should know that he is responsible for his decisions."
Li Xuewu nodded at Banggeng and said, "There's another thing you need to learn: how to take responsibility."
Bang Geng's smile froze on his face. He didn't know if Uncle Wu was talking about his work or his personal life.
Ever since the incident where "his girlfriend got married, but the groom wasn't him," he has become somewhat dissolute.
He wasn't good at dating either. If he saw a nice girl at the factory, he would flirt with her, but he never put any effort into it.
Now he's so successful, he drives a car, lives in a processing plant, and even has his own single dormitory room. He's living a very comfortable life.
Although he is still young, there are quite a few young girls who actively pursue him and are eager to be with him.
He would either ignore or retort if others said the same thing, but these were the words of Uncle Wu.
Now he doesn't even want to listen to what his mother says, but he takes every word Uncle Wu says seriously.
Because in his understanding and experience, there is no one better than Uncle Wu.
Kids in this age group are most likely to admire those who are strong. If they have a father who has achieved great success in society, they will definitely learn from him.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any of those things.
It was during his stay here that he unconsciously came to regard Uncle Wu as a father figure and respected him greatly.
"What are you thinking about? Are you stupid?"
When Yu Li saw Li Xuewu come in alone, she glanced at the living room and saw Bang Geng sitting alone on the sofa, lost in thought.
She came out, patted Banggeng's head, and asked, "If you don't come over soon, all the dumplings will be gone."
"Ah, coming right away." Banggeng realized what was happening, got up to wash his hands in the bathroom, and then came to the restaurant.
"So delicious—" After just one bite, he couldn't wait to look up at Yu Li and praise her, saying ingratiatingly, "These are the best dumplings I've ever eaten."
"If you dare to say this again in front of your mother when she comes, I'll take it as if you're telling the truth."
Yu Li glanced at him with amusement, turned the dumpling bowl over, and placed the largest portion in front of him.
"It's delicious, it's delicious," Banggeng chuckled as he ate his dumplings. "I'm telling the truth."
"Eat more if you like it, it's all yours."
Yu Li pointed to the bowl in front of him and said, "Your Uncle Wu doesn't eat much tonight, these two plates will be enough for us."
She smiled and emphasized, "The rest of the bowl is all yours. You said it's delicious, so eat it all."
"No problem!" Bang Geng said, slapping his cheeks open. "I can wipe them all out by myself."
"It really proves that saying," Li Xuewu said, looking at the stalks of the food served, "A half-grown boy can eat his father to death."
"Weren't you the same when you were young?" Yu Li looked at him amusedly and asked, "You ate even more than him."
“That’s true,” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “My father was so smart back then. He did the same thing as Qin Huairu now, sending his son to a place where meals are provided.”
"Master Li is not as smart as my mother."
Banggeng stuffed a dumpling into his mouth and muttered, "At least I can still eat dumplings now."
-
On August 16, the Hongxing International Hotel, which took two and a half years to complete, was officially completed and is scheduled to open for business before National Day.
Gao Yaqin called him and asked if he would come back to attend the completion ceremony, but Li Xuewu refused.
There's really no time. It would take three or four days to make such a round trip, and it would be even less worthwhile to take the train.
If it were during the school term, he could go back and attend a few classes, but now it's summer vacation, so he needs to save as much time as possible.
If I had to say what I regret, it wouldn't be anything special.
Although this is the tallest building in China, he also provided a lot of valuable advice at the beginning of the project.
However, he lacked expertise in building skyscrapers, so he wasn't very involved.
He has been in Liaodong for the past few years and rarely goes back, and he has hardly ever even been to the construction site.
However, it must be said that this building has indeed become a topic of conversation among Beijing residents in the past two years.
Some people even go out of their way to walk around in places where they can see the construction site, just to count how many floors have been built each morning.
Under Li Xuewu's guidance, the relevant publicity work has never been neglected since the project was first launched.
Safety slogans on construction site fences, inspirational slogans on building facades, project planning blueprints on promotional signs, and so on.
From any angle, the view of this complex will inevitably draw attention to the signboard of the International Hotel.
This is the first high-end hotel in Beijing that can accommodate up to 1500 to 2000 people at a time.
To complement the hotel, they received training from the very beginning of the project, covering everything from logistics and management to service.
The property management company set very high goals for the management team of Red Star International Hotel and made it clear that if they did not meet the requirements, they would be replaced.
Therefore, in the past two years, rain has rarely bothered Li Xuewu, because she is under a lot of pressure at work.
On the one hand, they have to manage the existing international hotel well, and on the other hand, they have to participate in the planning and construction of the new hotel.
At the same time, she also needs to study on her own and actively improve her skills, learning about and investigating more advanced service systems in China through various channels.
Of course, when it comes to service, the service at Red Star International Hotel is second to none. It is a complete standard system developed by Zhang Songying, Han Yating and others, who referenced advanced foreign services and combined them with the actual situation of the domestic service industry.
She said that when she went out to investigate, she was also striving for perfection.
The completion of the new international hotel means that the original international hotel will have to be relocated in less than three months.
Li Xuewu could easily imagine how busy the hospitality management company must be.
After integrating its hospitality and service units last year, Honggang Group has basically formed three brands:
The group includes the Hongxing International Hotel, catering to high-end hospitality and conferences; the Hongxing Guesthouse, catering to general customers; and the Hongxing Business Club, serving the group's business operations.
Currently, there is only one Red Star International Hotel, located in Beijing, and one Red Star Business Club, located in Tianjin.
The Hongxing Hotel, on the other hand, has developed very rapidly, with a presence in Beijing, Tianjin, Gangcheng, Yingcheng, Fengcheng, Nanjing and other places, and is expanding to more major cities.
This is related to the initial investment and operation management. After all, in this day and age, only a minority of people are willing to stay in international hotels.
Comparatively speaking, the cost of the Red Star Unity Hotel is already quite high, which is also related to the service standards.
The Red Star International Hotel in Beijing has been completed, and the site selection process has begun for the second international hotel to be built in Fengcheng.
Liaodong and Fengcheng authorities are very positive about Honggang Group's choice, after all, it's a symbol of the city.
Newspapers are filled with media coverage and promotion of the country's tallest building, and they certainly want to have access to that kind of publicity.
This is not just a superficial benefit; imagine how much benefit the local government can gain from constructing a 100-meter-tall building over a period of two and a half years.
In an era of relatively stagnant economic development, large-scale engineering projects represent a new breakthrough in resource flow.
Furthermore, Honggang Group has been making frequent moves in Liaodong, from the industrial park in the steel city to the automobile city, Yingcheng shipbuilding, Yingcheng port area, and chemical industrial park...
There were so many people that you couldn't count them all on two fingers. After it was confirmed that Honggang Group would be setting up the International Hotel in Fengcheng, many people took the initiative to call Li Xuewu.
Some people gave money, some gave gifts, and some offered their help.
At this point, he became highly sought after, and everyone wanted to contribute to the project and benefit from it.
As it turns out, the Hongxing International Hotel Beijing branch project, which was prepared and built by Honggang Group, has been a success, even though it has not yet officially started operating.
The investors who initially invested in this project were absolutely convinced that their shares were ready to be cashed out.
Of course it can be delivered. The building has been completed, and the hotel operator, Honggang Group, is thriving. They are quite confident.
Their confidence also stemmed from the increased emphasis placed on economic work by higher authorities and the changing relationship with America.
Reports have already emerged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to inspect the International Hotel, which will serve as an important venue for foreign affairs activities next year.
Why was Honggang Group chosen as the host institution by the foreign affairs department?
Besides the unique advantages of the International Hotel itself, this is also due to the long-standing good cooperative relationship between Honggang Group and the foreign affairs department.
Since Han Yating and Zhang Songying took over as heads of the Red Star International Hotel, there has always been a situation where foreign affairs officials concurrently serve as deputy general managers, and this continues to this day.
Honggang Group has no plans to cancel this agreement in the future, as it can both coordinate external service relationships and obtain more hospitality resources from the foreign affairs department.
It's important to know that the annual hospitality expenses of foreign affairs departments are quite substantial, even with high requirements, the profit margin is not high.
However, Red Star International Hotel never expected to make much money from this business; reputation was the most important thing.
Just think about it, once Old Ni arrives, his entourage will stay at the Red Star International Hotel, or even he himself will stay here. Then we'll see how Li Xuewu promotes it.
He would be letting down all his years of preparation if he didn't squeeze out every last bit of value from Old Ni's trip.
The site selection for the Fengcheng International Hotel became a new preparation for his future plans.
-
On August 20, Li Xuewu arrived in Fengcheng by train and met up with Xia Zhongquan, who was waiting for him there.
"The Beijing International Hotel asked for 1355 million yuan, but actually spent 1410 million yuan. It all depends on how much the Fengcheng project can spend."
Xia Zhongquan stood on the street, watching the engineers surveying and drawing maps, then turned to Li Xuewu and said, "Do you think this location is better?"
He only asked the question after seeing Li Xuewu standing there for a long time without saying a word.
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows but did not answer immediately, because he was not thinking about the site selection issue.
They've already drawn pencil lines all the way to Zhongjie Street; is there any place more suitable for building a hotel?
If a 100-meter-tall building were built here, both the Zhang Family Residence and the Fengcheng Palace would be on full display.
However, the concept of tourism economy didn't exist in that era, and Zhongjie Street didn't look as orderly as it would be in later years.
Of course, even in later generations, Zhongjie was not well-maintained; it was neither truly ancient nor truly modern.
That place is only popular with tourists; the real locals would never wander over there.
Moreover, visitors who come here but do not have a certain historical background will not be able to experience that sense of time travel.
Because Zhongjie Street is not large, and the Forbidden City in Fengcheng is not large either, you can even go into the inner palace and take a walk around to see the room where the empress lived. In addition to the long kang (heated brick bed), there is a large pot for boiling water at the head of the kang, which is definitely not the case in the capital.
In Li Xuewu's words, this was a low-rent apartment during his entrepreneurial days, while the villa in Beijing was where he would live after achieving success.
He was just lost in thought, wondering where the 1410 million had gone and how much more he could swindle from this next project.
"Let's set it here." He turned to the Fengcheng officials who had accompanied them to the site and said, "If Director Ling has no objections."
"Director Ling instructed you to take a look first. He will definitely meet the needs that can be met, and he will find a way to meet the needs that cannot be met."
The accompanying official said with a smile, "If we want to build a 100-meter-tall building here, it will take time to acquire the land."
He reminded Li Xuewu, "So if you're going to make a decision, do it as soon as possible, so that we have time to prepare and don't delay your construction schedule."
Such an easy-going person in charge is rare, all because Li Xuewu represents the Honggang Group.
In Liaodong, Honggang Group may not be considered a biological son, but it is definitely the most capable adopted son.
In terms of asset ranking, Honggang Group is not number one, and in terms of the number of employees in Liaoning, it is not necessarily the largest.
But when it comes to business vitality and the speed of expansion, it is absolutely far ahead.
The other party knew that he was the head of Honggang Group's industrial operations in Northeast China, and that he also had investments in the energy sector.
Starting in the last two years, Honggang Group Energy Company has been acquiring power plants and mines one after another.
Under Bu Qingfang's leadership, United Energy has emerged from the predicament of being a novice and has achieved self-sufficiency in terms of funding.
More importantly, United Energy now has the capital and capability to operate by borrowing funds from United Savings Bank.
Bu Qingfang received a loan of 700 million yuan from United Energy last month to acquire mining and power plants.
This 700 million is an opportunity for United Energy to expand and innovate, and the power plant, which has been upgraded and diversified, is providing a steady stream of cash flow.
It supplies electricity exclusively to industrial enterprises and has invested heavily in building an industrial power grid. Its affiliated building materials factory and electrolysis plant have become profitable as soon as they started production.
The main problem is that everything is in short supply these days, including electricity and building materials.
With such proactive individuals as those in the Honggang Group, Hu Ke's work has become much easier.
Heavy industry will always be the ballast of the economy. Honggang Group's layout of a mixed light and heavy industry sector is the best way to regulate the allocation and utilization of resources.
Hu Ke even organized a special training course, bringing industrial enterprise cadres to visit and learn from Honggang Group's enterprises in Liaodong.
Looking at the workers working methodically at their workstations, and then at the environment and equipment in the workshop, it would be a lie to say I wasn't envious.
During his time in Fengcheng, Li Xuewu completed the first draft of "Dual-Wheel Drive of Economic Work and Safety Management".
This is a novel he wrote at the request of a publishing house, which will be promoted as a guiding book for the group's safety management work this year.
He didn't pay much attention to this after he finished writing it, because he was busy discussing the site selection with Xia Zhongquan and also inspected the construction progress of Tadong Airport.
It was on the evening of the 22nd, when they decided to return to Gangcheng the next day, that Ma Baosen walked in with a newspaper.
"Boss, please take a look at this."
"What is this?" Li Xuewu asked casually, then picked up the newspaper and started reading.
Ma Baosen knew his habit of reading newspapers and wouldn't remind him to check the newspaper without reason; something must have happened.
He didn't seem to notice anything amiss, but once he did, he frowned, which piqued the curiosity of Xia Zhongquan, who was sitting opposite him.
What news could possibly make Li Xuewu frown?
"How come I didn't know reporters came from the metallurgical plant?"
He handed the newspaper he had finished reading to Xia Zhongquan and said to Ma Baosen, "You received the news?"
"No, it's obvious."
Ma Baosen curled his lip and said, "I even doubt whether the names on these are real."
"Even if it's true, it doesn't necessarily mean working in a metallurgical plant. I find it all very dubious."
The article is quite long and well-written, vividly depicting the legendary story of Li Haiyang leading the cadres and employees in starting a business at the metallurgical plant.
If the factory director at the time wasn't Li Xuewu himself, and if he knew Li Haiyang very well, then he really would have believed it.
"Was this Liu Songhua's doing?"
Having only read more than half of it, Xia Zhongquan really didn't want to read the rest. He looked up at Li Xuewu and said, "It must be him."
“If it were just an article, that would be fine,” Ma Baosen hesitated for a moment before reporting, “but someone said that he had privately contacted a leader of an industrial company in Beijing and revealed the benefits that Honggang Group would receive from actively divesting its tertiary industries.”
"What does he want to do?" Xia Zhongquan frowned and said, "Who gave him the guts to say that?"
He said somewhat angrily, "We really need to investigate this thoroughly to find out whether it's a rumor or if it's true."
"Is Honggang Group divesting its tertiary industries?"
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and recalled what Li Haiyang had said at the mahjong table. Was he planning to develop tertiary industries at the labor service company?
"It would be strange if people in the capital actually believed it."
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Ignore him, let him make a fuss, the sky won't fall down."
"Even if the sky falls down, there's always someone taller to hold it up."
Ma Baosen nodded, refilled their hot water, and then left.
Xia Zhongquan, however, kept frowning as he looked at Li Xuewu and said, "From the very beginning, the atmosphere in the group headquarters was off. It seems that General Manager Li is somewhat dissatisfied with the organizational work."
"Before I came out, there were rumors that he had a very unpleasant conversation with Deputy Director Zhou, and the two of them really didn't speak to each other."
"When will this ever end?"
Li Xuewu impatiently put down his teacup, sighed, and said, "Is he trying to use this opportunity to stir up trouble again?"
“I’m afraid he’ll think that way, and I’m also afraid he’s already done it,” Xia Zhongquan said hesitantly. “You’re the only one in the group who can persuade Director Li.”
"I shouldn't get involved in this kind of thing."
Li Xuewu frowned and said, "As you know, I've been in Liaodong the whole time, and I've put aside my work at the group."
"If I suddenly intervene at this point, the matter will become even more complicated."
He nodded slowly and said, "So it's better to stay still than to make a move. As I said before, there are tall people to hold the fort."
"I'm afraid that taller people won't be able to handle it."
Xia Zhongquan gave a wry smile and shook his head, saying, "I completely don't understand the current situation. All I can do is be cautious in my words and actions and keep an eye on my own situation."
"Just keeping an eye on her is enough. I'm not expecting you to do anything else." Li Xuewu smiled at him and asked, "How's Wang Lu? Almost five months along, right?"
"Yes, I even came to visit when I left."
Xia Zhongquan smiled and said, "Her aunt made dumplings for her, and she ate a whole plateful."
"Okay, as long as it's edible."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I only heard about it from my sister-in-law when I went home last time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known."
"You're here, how would you know?"
Xia Zhongquan nodded understandingly and said, "I am very gratified. No matter what, both children are doing well."
"Although Ya Jun's side is not flexible enough, it has the advantage of being steady. Xiao Lu's side is very lively. She should really learn more from Ya Jun."
He sighed and said, "Raising children is really not an easy thing; it's exhausting."
"You, as the uncle, are even better than the biological father."
Li Xuewu said with a laugh, "I can't imagine how much importance Wang Lu receives in your family."
"Hehe—" Xia Zhongquan chuckled and scratched his head, saying, "There's only one girl among more than twenty mischievous boys."
He looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Our family is quite large, and we all love children. She's our only daughter, so everyone dotes on her like a treasure."
"A blessed person doesn't need to ask for anything."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "You see, when he went to Ya Jun's house, Ya Jun's parents also liked him very much, treating him like a treasure."
"Now that I'm pregnant, it's even more so."
"They're not treasures anymore, they're ancestors."
Xia Zhongquan said with a smile, "If I can't eat what I like to eat, tears will stream down my face."
"Her aunt saw it and was so distressed that she got angry with her mother, saying that this was not how you should take care of a child."
He said helplessly, "She's about to become a mother, but everyone in this family still treats her like a child. Do you think she'll ever grow up?"
That's why people say they're lucky.
Li Xuewu put down the documents in his hand and said, "I saw her before the New Year and asked her how her work was going."
"Let her stay in the union quietly," Xia Zhongquan waved his hand and said, "It'll save us some trouble."
"She's too honest; she's only suited for the trade union in a government agency. She wouldn't fit in any other department."
"Yes, she herself said that she is doing well now."
Li Xuewu smiled, looked Xia Zhongquan up and down, and asked, "How have you been lately? Have you adapted to your new position? Do you have any thoughts on the matter of finding a successor?"
"Yes, I wanted to say that when I came here."
Xia Zhongquan nodded and said, "You and President Li both prefer young cadres to take on important responsibilities, and I have no objection."
“But I’m a little worried about forcing growth,” he asked bluntly. “Do you think highly of Shangguan Qi?”
“It’s not necessarily her.” Li Xuewu did not answer his question directly, but emphasized, “Research institutes still need leaders with formal academic backgrounds to manage them.”
"You are currently also serving as the director of the research institute. You should know that everyone has their own area of expertise."
He frankly stated, "The reason I wanted her to step forward was because I hoped more people would participate in the competition."
"This is the first time the group has promoted job competition, and Director Li and I both hope to see a flourishing of diverse talents."
"Then I guess it's going to be difficult—"
Xia Zhongquan took a sip of warm tea, shook his head, and said, "Currently, there are only a few cadres who have signed up to participate in the competitive selection process, and they all seem to have some concerns."
"That's where you'll need to do the work."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "You are now the chief engineer. Your scope of work has expanded, but your energy is decreasing."
"If you can't select the right people to train, the group will make the selection for you."
He nodded and emphasized, "During this time, you won't be able to do anything but clean up their messes every day."
"Sigh—" Xia Zhongquan sighed helplessly and said, "I never thought about taking it any further; I was planning to retire from the research institute."
"Hey! Don't act innocent after getting a good deal!"
Li Xuewu pointed at him and emphasized, "If Kuang Yusheng heard you say that, he would definitely start cursing at you."
"Hahaha--"
At the time, Xia Zhongquan was in the Technical Department and Kuang Yusheng was in the Production Management Department. The two were of similar rank and seniority.
When the organizational structure was changed, Kuang Yusheng was assigned to the steel rolling mill as the factory director, while Xia Zhongquan stayed in the headquarters as the director of the research institute.
During this period, the group's organizational structure underwent several changes, and Xia Zhongquan held multiple concurrent positions before finally becoming the deputy chief engineer.
When Li Huaide needed someone to step up, his opportunity came, and he instantly surpassed Kuang Yusheng.
Of course, Kuang Yusheng is doing very well now. He is a high-ranking official in the Northeast Industrial Development Corporation, with Li Xuewu as the general manager and Kuang Yusheng as the executive vice president. Kuang Yusheng is currently at the level of a full-fledged department head.
Li Xuewu's promotion is almost a certainty; once he gets promoted, it will raise the bar for his career.
Then the two of them will take off one after another.
However, comparing the two, if Xia Zhongquan really dared to say such things in front of Kuang Yusheng, then Kuang Yusheng would be furious.
-
Li Xuewu thought that the publicity work Liu Songhua had prepared for Li Haiyang would end there in the United Industrial News, but unexpectedly, he listened to another interview after returning to the steel city on Saturday.
The guest on this episode of Red Star Interview is Li Haiyang, General Manager of Labor Service Corporation.
Li Xuewu still had some patience for the article's praise, but he lost interest listening to Guli'aisha's mechanical and obviously pre-rehearsed interview on the radio.
Yu Li noticed his impatience, so she got up and turned off the radio. When she came back, she asked, "When is Li Xue coming to Steel City?"
"These past few days, what's wrong?"
Li Xuewu looked up at her and asked, "Missing her?"
"Look at what you're saying," Yu Li said with a smile, "Can't I welcome Li Xue?"
“I didn’t say anything,” Li Xuewu put down his newspaper and said, “She’s here to find some peace and quiet.”
"My mom is urging her to find a boyfriend, saying that if she doesn't find one soon she'll be an old maid."
"Is that so?" Yu Li asked, amused. "I've forgotten how old Li Xue is this year, is she twenty-one or twenty-two?"
"The Lunar New Year will be on the 21st, won't it?"
Li Xuewu also sighed and said, "I hope she finds someone she likes, but I also hope she can start her own family soon."
“That’s how all older brothers are—” Yu Li said with a smile, “When she gets here, I’ll ask her what kind of guy she’s looking for.”
“Hehehe—” Li Xuewu chuckled and said, “She’s getting annoyed. When she called me, she said that if my mom keeps pressuring her, she’ll go to university.”
"She really knows how to find peace and quiet."
Yu Li shook her head and said, "It would be such a waste if she really went to university. She might not be able to get her current position if she came back."
"She was just saying that casually."
Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, "But I'm also thinking about what kind of person would be suitable for my sister."
"He's very enthusiastic when introducing people to potential partners, and every match he makes turns out to be successful. But when it comes to his own sister, he hesitates."
Yu Li laughed at him, saying, "You're just too worried to think straight. You treat your own sister like a treasure; it would be a waste to give her to anyone else."
"Perhaps, hehe—"
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Anyway, none of the young people I've met so far have caught my eye."
“If we compare Li Xue to you, then Li Xue will really have to stay single forever?” Yu Li massaged his shoulders and said, “If Li Xue really looks for someone according to your standards, that would be a real problem.”
Ring ring ring—
The phone on the small table next to the sofa suddenly rang, startling Yu Li.
Li Xuewu frowned slightly. Who could be calling at this hour?
"Ah hello."
"Hello, Secretary-General Li, I am Fang Yuan."
Li Xuewu was also surprised that it was Fang Yuan who called him.
"Hello Director Fang, you're still busy so late."
"Secretary-General Li, I have a favor to ask."
Fang Yuan understood the dissatisfaction behind his words, so he simply explained directly, "I would like to ask you to help me investigate Takahashi Seiko's activities in mainland China."
"Let me help you investigate a clerk at Sanhe?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "You can tell me what you want to say directly."
"I'm sorry, Secretary-General Li."
Fang Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I didn't intend to bother you, but I really have no other choice."
"Okay, I got it."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I'll do my best, but there's no guarantee of a result."
"Thank you, thank you," Fang Yuan said with a smile, "Then I'll wait for your news."
Li Xuewu hung up the phone, his brow furrowed as he pondered the meaning behind the request.
Fang Yuan called, asking him to investigate a staff member of Sanhe Corporation in Beijing.
Moreover, this person has already returned to Japan. After Kenichi Nishida's incident, Nakamura changed his business strategy.
It's easy to imagine how difficult it would be to investigate Takahashi's information at this point, which is why Li Xuewu didn't agree to her request.
"Why did you suddenly decide to look this up?"
Yu Li asked curiously, "If there really is a problem, they have the right to investigate themselves, right?"
"I don't know, maybe something's happened."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "I'll call the security department tomorrow and let them handle it."
At this point, such a phone call is inherently suspicious, and even if Fang Yuan is innocent, he wouldn't get involved.