Siheyuan diet for men and women

Chapter 1607 Benefiting from the Opportunity
The person Li Xuewu arranged to meet was not Guli'aisha; their meeting at the club's tennis court was purely by chance.

Whether Shen Guodong believed it or not, he wouldn't explain, and even played for another half hour after resting.

When Gao Yaqin arrived, the two had just finished a game, and Guli'aisha was the first to see her.

"Hello, Mr. Gao."

"Hello, you play well."

Gao Yaqin gave her a meaningful look, mainly because the other person's clothes were a bit too lively.

She's no country bumpkin. Although tennis is a niche sport in China, she's not an ordinary person either.

She only lingered on the other person's short skirt for a few seconds before looking at Li Xuewu and nodding with a smile.

Li Xuewu noticed her smile was a bit strange, and then he looked at Guli Aisha, who was walking past to make tea, and he understood perfectly well that people's prejudices were like a mountain.

"I looked for you everywhere but couldn't find you. I told you you couldn't just sit around doing nothing."

Gao Yaqin sat down in the rattan chair, casually patted the armrest, and looked at Li Xuewu, who reeked of hormones, asking, "Feeling good?"

“If you’re asking how I feel after exercising,” Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, picked up his teacup, and deliberately went along with her teasing.

"Ha—" Gao Yaqin didn't care whether he was innocent or not. In middle age, her pursuits were nothing more than a few things.

If Li Xuewu were not her colleague, but a male college graduate who had just been assigned to the unit, she wouldn't mind testing him and giving him some pointers.

Don't talk about her being virtuous and kind. Although she has this or that flaw, she firmly believes that she is a good person.

At least she's better than the smiling tiger sitting in front of her; Li Xuewu is the real scoundrel who eats people without spitting out the bones.

"You seem to be enjoying this game of hide-and-seek."

She didn't stand on ceremony; she didn't need to be polite to someone like Li Xuewu. She could just say what she wanted to say directly. When it came to beating around the bush, he was the best.

"Don't tell me that you're too afraid to go back to work and are hiding to prove your innocence just because someone reported you?"

She looked at Li Xuewu with some suspicion and said, "It can't be that bad, can it?"

“If I wanted to hide, I wouldn’t have called you.” Li Xuewu gestured to the tea that Guliaisha had brought her, saying, “Try it, it’s a gift from a friend, they said it’s good tea.”

“You don’t have any substandard products here.” Gao Yaqin had no doubt about Li Xuewu’s taste, because this bastard knew how to enjoy life.

She has a family to support, and although she receives subsidies from her company for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, she knows how to manage her finances.

Li Xuewu, however, was the most dashing one in the group.

He glanced around at the courtyard, which seemed quiet and undisturbed, but who could ignore the circle behind him?

Furthermore, he has more than one circle behind him.

Whether he takes a step forward or a step back, Li Xuewu has room to maneuver; at least he is more calculating than she has been working for over a decade.

At such a young age, he doesn't have to worry about money, has a successful career, a harmonious family, and even has beautiful women by his side for leisure and entertainment. Who wouldn't envy that?

"Are you really not going to take care of that mother and her two children from Steel City?"

She put down her teacup, glanced at the girl leaving with the thermos, and said with a hint of helplessness, "It has to be resolved eventually, doesn't it?"

Gao Yaqin looked at Li Xuewu, frowned slightly, and said, "Didn't you tell me that competition in any form would weaken the power of unity?"

"I'm the one who's in a passive position now."

Li Xuewu turned his head, his expression still lazy, but his gaze was firm as he emphasized, "I haven't even fought back yet, isn't that enough?"

"Are you sure?" Gao Yaqin looked at him with some suspicion and said, "I don't believe it. Taking a beating passively is definitely not your style."

"Then what do you want me to do?" Li Xuewu chuckled, slumped back, crossed his legs, and said casually, "Take responsibility for your mistakes?"

“Of course you have your own plans.” Gao Yaqin was quite certain of this, but after a moment of contemplation, she still reminded him, “It’s been windy outside lately, so be careful not to demolish the house again just to find a cricket.”

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled, turned to look at her, and asked, "Is this how you see me? A rule-breaker?"

"What do you think?" Gao Yaqin picked up her teacup, glanced at him, and said, "Don't play the innocent rabbit in front of me. I know what kind of person you are."

"Look how popular I am!"

Li Xuewu sat up, supporting himself on the handrail. Looking at the flowers and green grass outside the basketball court fence, he sighed and said, "A storm is brewing."

"Isn't this what you wanted?" Gao Yaqin glanced at him before putting down her teacup and said, "Isn't this a trick you played called 'borrowing the east wind'?"

She put down her teacup, looked at the garden full of spring colors, and said leisurely, "I hope you can decide the outcome in one game."

“At least you’re more pragmatic than them.” Gao Yaqin turned to look at him, raised an eyebrow, and added, “What a pity.”

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me." Li Xuewu smiled indifferently. Of course, he knew what Gao Yaqin meant by her last words, "What a pity."

With his current influence and size, even if he dominates the battlefield, what difference does it make? He's still a long way from the point where he can decide the fate of the world in one fell swoop, as she said.

She regretted that Li Xuewu was too young. If he had been in Gu Weijie's position and had done this, all these messy things would have been avoided.

It's a pity. Even if Li Xuewu wins this time, the group won't stop there. It's just that in the ecosystem, things rise and fall, and competition is constant.

When will the steel bus project officially begin operation?

Knowing his attitude, Gao Yaqin stopped talking and started discussing practical work.

Li Xuewu thought for a moment, then squinted slightly and said, "Probably in September. They said they'd finish this job before autumn."

"How about you?" he asked, looking at the other person. "How's the preparation for the trade fair going?"

"You're only now thinking about this project?" Gao Yaqin picked up the teapot to refill her tea, looked at him and said, "Would you like to participate in the preparatory work? Even just to offer some advice or provide some guidance."

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu laughed as he picked up his teacup and politely declined, "Let's forget it. I don't have the energy for it, and it would only delay your work."

Gao Yaqin didn't care about his refusal, because it was all within her expectations. At this point in time, Li Xuewu wouldn't waste his time on this kind of project.

"Is the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation project just going to be abandoned like that?"

She turned to Li Xuewu and said, "They've arranged for financial staff to account for the assets and accounts of the tertiary industry. It seems they're determined to sever all ties and cut all ties."

"Hmm." Li Xuewu already knew about this situation and nodded, saying, "Isn't there still a 5% stake?"

"Ha—" Gao Yaqin looked at him amusedly and asked, "5%? Where is the 5%? Didn't you mortgage it all to get investment funds?"

"The mortgage is a mortgage, but the ownership still belongs to the group."

Li Xuewu said in a serious tone, "I never said I wouldn't redeem this collateral."

He turned around and looked at Gao Yaqin earnestly, saying, "I sincerely hope that Shenyang Aircraft Corporation can make these tertiary industries bigger and stronger."

"And then?" Gao Yaqin asked him with amusement, "After they expand and strengthen their tertiary industry, won't the 5% increase in value from your mortgage outweigh the loan interest?"

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu laughed and explained, "That's how the capital game is played, this is just the simplest version."

"I always feel like you're playing with fire."

Gao Yaqin narrowed her eyes slightly and reminded him, "Do you feel that you don't know how to do these things?"

"No, I'm not afraid of them finding out."

Li Xuewu emphasized earnestly, "Since Honggang Group has such policies and resources, it should boldly give it a try."

"Do you believe it or not?" He tapped the table with his finger, raised an eyebrow and said, "The experience of the United Savings Bank will eventually become a model or lecture material and be presented to the managers in the financial field."

"We crossed the river by feeling for the stones, while they crossed the river by feeling for us."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said with no small amount of arrogance, "We were the first to eat crabs and the first to have our fill of resources."

"But it's also dangerous, isn't it?"

Gao Yaqin comes from a background in foreign trade, and both foreign affairs and trade require a cautious personality.

Her ability to work in the economic field is unquestionable. After Li Xuewu gradually relinquished his responsibilities for economic development under Li Huaide's suggestion, she fully took on this responsibility.

She currently oversees and plans most of the economic and trade cooperation within Honggang Group, and its sales business grows larger year by year.

It was precisely because sales opened up the market that this industrial behemoth had the impetus to drive development and transformation.

While acknowledging her work ability, Li Xuewu also respected her cautiousness.

"It would be irresponsible of me to say that fortune favors the bold." He thought for a moment and analyzed carefully, "Have you noticed that the current economic situation is developing and moving in a certain direction?"

"You mean—" Gao Yaqin raised her eyes and asked tentatively, "But the meeting hasn't even started yet, has it?"

"But the wind has already blown down."

Li Xuewu pulled a stack of newspapers from under the coffee table and placed it on the table, tapping on the eye-catching headline to remind her: "Don't lose your sense of smell, my comrade."

Upon seeing the title emphasized by Li Xuewu, she finally realized what it meant, her brows furrowing deeply as if she were pondering something.

Li Xuewu gave her time, waved to Guli'aisha who was sitting not far away, and after she came over, he gave her a soft instruction before letting her leave.

"I still can't quite believe it, how could this be—" Gao Yaqin's face turned a bit ashen. She had thought that the changes in the group's organizational ecosystem were independent, but she never expected that the changes in the ecosystem were also influenced by changes in the "weather".

"If it's only one aspect, then it can be considered an isolated incident."

Li Xuewu took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said calmly, "I'm telling you that a storm is brewing, and you still think of me as a rule-breaker."

“But—” Gao Yaqin looked up at him, hesitatingly asking, “Are you so sure that person will…”

"Of all the leaders in the group, whose health do you fear the most?" Li Xuewu glanced at her and said, "I won't ask you who you most hope will fall ill."

Gao Yaqin, of course, did not take this as nonsense. She did not answer, but her brows furrowed even more deeply.

"As you know, Li Huaide has an incurable disease and relies entirely on insulin to maintain his health," Li Xuewu said casually. "He doesn't take it seriously, but some people are still hoping that his insulin will expire or become ineffective."

“You can think about it.” He looked at Gao Yaqin and asked, “What would happen within the management committee if Li Huaide’s health deteriorated at this time?”

"You've been paying attention to this, haven't you?" Gao Yaqin asked him earnestly, "Not just Director Li's health, right?"

Li Xuewu simply smiled and did not give her the answer she had already thought of. Looking at the sweltering heat in the distance, he slightly raised his chin and said, "You hope I can decide the outcome in one game, but there are 180 games in this game."

"What are your thoughts?" Gao Yaqin asked, frowning. "Since you've been paying attention to these things for a while, you must have some ideas, right?"

"Of course I hope Director Li will hold on until the end," Li Xuewu said without hesitation. "He has a long life ahead of him, as long as the insulin keeps him going."

"The longer he persists, the healthier Honggang Group will be."

Right in front of Gao Yaqin, he said bluntly, "At this time, it's best if Director Li doesn't have any problems. His cough is just a sign of a cold in the group."

"You don't trust Deputy Director Gu?" Gao Yaqin wanted to probe his thoughts from another angle, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Whom do you trust?"

She added, "If Director Li really gets into trouble..."

"I never prepare for assumptions."

Li Xuewu wasn't just fooling her; he looked at her very seriously and said, "All I can do is support Director Li, that's all."

Gao Yaqin stared at him intently for a while before lowering her head and saying softly, "You don't think highly of Deputy Director Gu, and you don't think highly of anyone else either."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled faintly and said, "What can I say? Don't treat Director Li like a fool."

"He's not at the point of being dizzy or confused yet. After all these years of ups and downs, he can tell what's good and what's bad."

"Of course, of course I understand what you mean." Gao Yaqin understood; she understood the double meaning in Li Xuewu's words—it meant the same thing.

Li Huaide has never relinquished his control over personnel matters and other management authority, and remains the undisputed leader in Honggang Group.

Over the years, from Hongxing Factory to Honggang Group, there have been many people in the management team who have the ability to grasp the overall situation.

For example, Cheng Kaiyuan, when he came here he was the executive deputy director. Look at his influence now.
Li Huaide never resorted to drastic measures, but he was always taking action.

A closer look at and analysis of Honggang Group's organizational structure and ecosystem reveals that its management is neither particularly weak nor particularly strong.

Old Li truly achieved balance; his wrist technique is top-notch.

Come to think of it carefully, has Old Li ever gone to such lengths to wipe out everyone?

No, he allowed dissenting voices, and even now, he had seen Zhou Wanquan and Su Weide's little tricks.

Li Xuewu is his designated successor, but he doesn't mind letting Li Xuewu experience more trials and tribulations during this period.

It is not only to train the willpower and action of young cadres, but also to smooth out the rough edges of young people, and to trim their overly long wings. Now is not the time for young people to fly.

Did he see Li Xuewu's little tricks?

Of course he saw it. He even saw the change in Li Xuewu's attitude and the methods he used, and he responded accordingly.

Since Li Xuewu wants to play the "pure suit" strategy in Liaodong, he has to bear the pressure. If he doesn't want to play, he shouldn't make such a big deal out of it, and he shouldn't be in such a hurry.

The conflict was not one-sided. Su Weide was targeting Li Xuewu, but it was also because Li Xuewu was too hasty and his methods were too extreme.

If you punch someone, you can't just not let them fight back, can you?

Li Huaide saw through Li Xuewu's ulterior motives, but he failed to notice Li Xuewu's hidden scheme.

The punch that hit Suweide was more like bait, a feint; the real blow was yet to come. You can't catch a big fish without casting a long line.

It was arranged with Jing Yunong long ago that he would promote Su Weide, otherwise how could Su Weide have the confidence to challenge Li Huaide? Li Huaide's series of actions in the first half of the year were even more intense than his.

People can always see the flaws in others, but not their own.

It wasn't Li Xuewu who made the first move; it was Li Huaide who first targeted Su Weide, who was like a dead dog, as well as the weak Cheng Kaiyuan and Jing Yunong, and didn't even spare the others.

Suweide was also very aggressive at that time, eager to make a comeback, and he wouldn't let go of Dong Wenxue, keeping his eyes on Liaodong.

From Li Xuewu's perspective, what choices should he make, and what actions should he take?

He couldn't refuse Li Huaide, but he also didn't want to pressure Dong Wenxue by following Li Huaide's wishes. That would be too obvious, like discarding a donkey after it has served its purpose.

Since we're going to play this game, let's go big. We decided to remove the shackles from Cheng Kaiyuan's body and even tell Jing Yunong part of the plan.

Cheng Kaiyuan is not an honest and obedient child. Even if you remove the shackles from his body and loosen the rope around his neck, he will not dare to bite anyone.

Even Li Xuewu didn't expect him to stand by his side in crucial moments.

So what is he after?

Just as he didn't want to take Lao Li offline at this stage, Cheng Kaiyuan, who was quite talented in industrial management, also had his reasons and necessity for being there.

Furthermore, Cheng Kaiyuan was like a dead dog; even without his watchful eye, countless people were waiting to kick him while he was down, leaving him with no other options.

In the end, he didn't have much energy left to put into the plan to save the other party. Rather than letting Cheng Kaiyuan hold his hands back and passively take a beating, he would rather let him unleash his power and fight back.

As Cheng Kaiyuan's influence gradually recovered, the pressure on Jing Yunong lessened, and Li Xuewu was able to obtain support from industrial management, personnel, and financial management.

Even if Jing Yunong's support for him was invisible, it was still real and could not be denied.

With Cheng Kaiyuan and Jing Yunong's strength greatly increased, Li Huaide will be more cautious in his actions, and the pressure will be shifted to others.

When faced with the danger of the plan failing, Li Huaide would not weaken Dong Wenxue's influence; instead, he would provide support and care.

Even though he was far away in Liaodong, Li Huaide would mainly appease him and would not think of weakening his management authority. This second step can be considered accomplished.

What's the third step?

It's quite simple. The Beijing Industrial Group arranged for Zhou Wanquan to break the deadlock, which relieved Su Weide's pressure and naturally created a connection.

Li Xuewu hadn't anticipated Zhou Wanquan's arrival, but he adjusted his plans accordingly.

Su Weide will not let Dong Wenxue go. No matter how fiercely Dong Wenxue retaliates, the other side will not give up easily, because that would mean completely losing the opportunity to control the Liaodong industry.

We need to capture Dong Wenxue, and then implicate Li Xuewu. Even if we can't directly harm Li Xuewu, we must cut off one of his allies.

Su Weide's goal was simple: either to keep Li Xuewu locked up in Liaodong for ten years, or to cripple him and bring him back to the group as a full-time secretary-general.

Su Weide focused his attention on Liaodong, and Zhou Wanquan's attention was also drawn to it. Old Li's situation eased slightly, but he dared not make any more rash moves.

Old Li now has the right to sit back and watch the tigers fight, but he still doesn't have many options.

To put it bluntly, he cannot give up Dong Wenxue, nor can he give up Li Xuewu, so he is waiting for a suitable opportunity to step down.

To paraphrase Gao Yaqin, he was the one who needed a decisive victory.

But Li Xuewu could not do as he wished. Even if Su Weide jumped again, it should not be him who delivered the final blow; that would be a foolish act of self-destruction.

He was the secretary-general of Honggang Group, not Li Huaide, and did not have the qualifications to kill Su Weide. Li Xuewu could only use Su Weide's strength against him and let him put the noose around his own neck.

Li Xuewu could tolerate Cheng Kaiyuan's ambition, indulge Jing Yunong's narrow-mindedness, and even understand Gao Yaqin and others' goals, but!

He could not tolerate Suvid's aimless and reckless behavior, or even his betrayal.

Just for his action of dragging the Northern Industry Daily into this mess, Li Xuewu had a million reasons to bury him alive.

But it is necessary to unite the opinions of everyone on the management committee, and it is necessary for him to isolate himself from others.

Therefore, Suweide had to push the pressure onto Steel City and onto him, and he couldn't retaliate. He had to give the impression of putting the overall situation first and swallowing his anger.

He is young and has plenty of time and opportunities; he won't care about gains or losses in terms of face.

Think about it, it's mid-August 1970 now. How long can Suweide's intimidating tactics last?
He was reading the newspaper. Perhaps starting this month, the person behind him should also be getting angry. Once a person loses their adherence to their beliefs, they become foolish.

Therefore, when people look back at history, they always feel that those who couldn't possibly be so stupid would do bizarre things, even things so childish that they make people want to laugh.

Let him investigate. He should find out something; Li Xuewu wants the truth.

Suweide's focus was on Liaodong, but he was also in Liaodong, and he was confident that he could ensure that the group's industry in Liaodong would not be affected.

This is better than the other party focusing their energy on the group, where the losses would be far greater than just a little.

Furthermore, with Su Weide's energy tied up in the steel city, Cheng Kaiyuan, Jing Yunong, and others had more room to develop.

Li Xuewu and Li Huaide shared similar ideas and approaches, at least during this period: they did not want anyone too powerful to emerge.

If the branches on someone's head are growing too thick, then prune them; if the leaves on someone's head are withered, then water them and fertilize them.

In short, the goal was not to get rid of Su Weide, but to make everyone on the group's management committee realize that those who betray their own side will not have a good end.

Furthermore, anyone who dares to covet Lao Li's position will surely bring about their own destruction. The only person who can decide when Lao Li will leave is none other than him.

This was the ultimate battle that truly solidified Li Xuewu's position within the group.
-
Gao Yaqin left with a heart full of doubts and Li Xuewu's attitude. It's hard to say about others, but at least she won't change her mind depending on the wind.

Because she didn't dare.

Li Xuewu's ability to win people over with virtue, his perspective on issues, and his accurate grasp of the future can be seen even in the newspapers; this ability is enough to intimidate her.

What did Gao Yaqin see in the newspaper?
Li Xuewu didn't explain it in detail, but only reminded her that she had seen that all over the country was actively developing agricultural chemical industries and actively promoting the development of fertilizer and pesticide industries.

This is also a project that Li Xuewu is discussing and researching with Beijing Chemical Industry. Next, the higher authorities will definitely strengthen the development and construction of agriculture and rural areas, and the policies will be actively improved.

It should be noted that, as the situation of going to the countryside developed, the enthusiasm for the study campaign had shifted from cities to rural areas.

Li Xuewu's reminder to pay attention to this news is to tell her that agricultural work is also recovering and that there will definitely be positive changes in policy.

If that's the case, then the dynamics of the situation will also change accordingly.

She could easily connect the dots to the key point Li Xuewu was implying. After working for so many years, she knew immediately what this change reflected.

Putting everything else aside, just based on the unspoken understanding between them that Li Xuewu casually pointed, she wouldn't dare to be a fence-sitter.

Cheng Kaiyuan certainly didn't dare, not because he feared Li Xuewu's ability to control the situation, but because he was afraid of Li Xuewu's insidious and vicious nature in digging traps for people.

You have to use the right approach for the right person.

Li Xuewu never explained to Dong Wenxue why he had dragged out the No. 4 furnace production accident into a burden, giving the other party a handle to use against him.

Since there's no No. 4 furnace, the other side can still build No. 5 and No. 6 furnaces. Since there's really something going on, but it's not that important, it's better to use this opportunity to bury people.

The first and second time, Li Xuewu admitted that he did influence the investigation team's judgment and conclusions in order to make a bigger splash, which was to put it bluntly, to create a mystery.

If we don't do this, Suweide will firmly believe that there is a big problem with Furnace No. 4.

If we don't do this, Su Weide will stubbornly believe that he can restrain Dong Wenxue by controlling the production accident at Furnace No. 4.

You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub; you can't catch a lecher without risking your woman.

In the first year or two after Dong Wenxue returned to the group, he was destined not to gain Li Huaide's trust and support, because his contributions in Liaodong were simply too great.

Why was Dong Wenxue confined to the Liangmahe Industrial Zone?
Because the Liangmahe Industrial Zone is a long-term project, it will take at least ten years to complete its construction and development.

By the time the merits were actually assessed, Li Huaide no longer considered Dong Wenxue's contributions a threat.

Therefore, Dong Wenxue's current predicament has nothing to do with Furnace No. 4. Even without Furnace No. 4, Su Weide would not let him go, and Li Huaide would not let him go by using Su Weide to suppress him.

The outcome will be the same; it all depends on whether Dong Wenxue can accept it.

If Li Xuewu achieves his goals in Liaodong and returns to the group to take up his post, he will also encounter this situation, unless he is so powerful that no one dares to resort to underhanded tactics.

Therefore, Li Xuewu was not in a hurry to return to the group; it would be beneficial for him to cultivate more at this time.

Li Xuewu had high hopes for the trade fair, and he believed that Gao Yaqin was also well aware of its significance.

The first four-door sedan launched by SteelCars last year has not received a very strong response in the mainland market, which may be related to its limited influence.

Being able to build a good car like the Antelope doesn't necessarily mean you can build a good sedan.

Li Xuewu had to admit that Aries, in terms of both design and manufacturing, was far behind internationally renowned automobile manufacturers.

But the car is cheap, that's a big plus.

He emphasized that the products were of good quality and low price, which is not fraud. He was just selling low-end products honestly, so there's nothing wrong with that, right?

Furthermore, steel companies are not without progressive thinking; after the East German engineers came over, they participated in the modification and development of existing models.

These people weren't brought in for nothing, nor were they wasted money; they need to be used to their fullest potential.

After seeing Gao Yaqin off, Li Xuewu took a shower, changed into the clothes that Guliaisha had brought back, and came out of the room at the perfect time.

He made an appointment with Bai Changmin that evening, and Bai Changmin didn't come alone; he also invited Director Zhang, who had just taken office at Beijing Chemical Industry.

Li Xuewu only brought Guli'aisha with him. When she got out of the car, she realized his intention, and a relaxed smile appeared on her slightly rigid face.

"The environment here is really nice." Director Zhang's name is Zhang Zhanshan. He is very domineering, but he looks very kind. You can tell at a glance that he is a scholar.

After getting out of the car, he looked around the front yard. Under the glow of the red lanterns, it felt as if he had really entered a grand mansion from a previous dynasty.

After Bai Changmin introduced them, the two shook hands and exchanged a few simple pleasantries, and that was how they became acquainted.

Li Xuewu didn't overlook Guli'aisha and naturally introduced her to the other party. As for whether the other party remembered her or not, she didn't know.

Guli'aisha felt very satisfied. She didn't care whether the other leader knew who she was or not; she just felt that the current secretary-general was particularly elegant and poised.

Zhang Zhanshan and Bai Changmin didn't find it annoying that Li Xuewu brought an unimportant person with him. With this girl here, the atmosphere tonight was even more harmonious.

Don't get me wrong, none of the three men had those kinds of feelings for each other. They just felt it was a bit abrupt that the two sides met for the first time in private.

But it's different when there's a beautiful woman around. When friends get together for dinner, they can chat about work-related matters. It's very natural, isn't it?
Since Li Xuewu brought them, they weren't worried about the topics they discussed at dinner being leaked. Besides, what was said at the dinner table still counts.

Rather than saying tonight's meeting was a declaration, it would be more accurate to say they were testing the waters.

Li Xuewu wasn't a direct partner, but he harbored ulterior motives to control the overall situation, so I had to be cautious and put in some effort.

"This is a club I joined when I was working at the branch office. It's kind of a small circle." Li Xuewu raised his hand and guided the other person toward the restaurant, which had its own private courtyard.

“I really didn’t expect this.” Zhang Zhanshan followed him into the courtyard within the courtyard, and turned to Bai Changmin to say, “I’ve been here before, but I never knew there was such a blessed land.”

"A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the immortals who dwell there."

Bai Changmin was really good at making things happen. He smiled and looked at Li Xuewu, praising, "Among the people I know, Secretary-General Li is the most fortunate."

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile and said modestly and politely, "It's only when Director Zhang comes here that this place can be called a blessed land."

"Hahaha!" Zhang Zhanshan replied politely, smiling as he stepped into the courtyard.

It's just casual conversation in private. It's all about attitude. Who cares about a few flattering words? If someone is overly polite, they're just incredibly hypocritical.

From the moment they entered the gate, they only saw one guard. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was an empty courtyard or a haunted house.

It wasn't until I arrived at the courtyard that I discovered it had been transformed into a restaurant.

Led by Li Xuewu, we entered the private room. The furnishings and furniture inside were antique, and the waiters had already prepared the food and drinks, as if they were timing it perfectly.

Looking at the white towel used for wiping hands, Zhang Zhanshan couldn't help but shake his head. Even he rarely saw such a luxury. Li Xuewu had really shown him something special today.

Was this meal free? Was it delicious?

I had already learned about the basic situation of the affiliated unit, Hongxing Factory, from Bai Changmin, and I also knew about the whole process of Hongxing Factory's transformation into Honggang Group.

Given that he knows so much about this, it's impossible that he doesn't have ulterior motives.

I came to the banquet tonight to test Li Xuewu's abilities and see if he was truly capable of handling their difficult task.

Four people, six dishes. Since it was summer and Li Xuewu had also prepared a banquet, he prepared four cold dishes and two hot dishes, and specially added a fish soup, which was considered to be quite respectful.

Zhang Zhanshan was certainly no stranger to such banquets, so when the waiter poured him wine, he politely joked with Bai Changmin, "We're under pressure now, haha."

"Hahaha!" Bai Changmin laughed and gestured to Li Xuewu, saying, "Secretary-General Li doesn't care about this; we can't compare to their conditions."

They were talking about returning the favor. Li Xuewu had given them so much face, so it should be their turn to arrange the next meeting.

The underlying meaning of their words was to see Li Xuewu's sincerity. If Li Xuewu presented his true intentions this time, they would give him the respect he deserved.

Li Xuewu understood immediately, but he didn't rush. He waited until the waiter left before raising his glass for the first drink of the night.

It's worth mentioning here that, unlike Yu Li's management style, Zhou Yamei has never appeared in similar situations since becoming the head of the club.

Whether it's Li Xuewu entertaining guests or anyone else, she would never personally serve them, much less come over to offer toasts in a formal manner.

Li Xuewu didn't comment on the merits or demerits of their management skills, nor did he care about their reasons for doing so. As long as they could manage the team well, whatever they did was right.

After a few rounds of drinks and several dishes, the conversation turned to Gulisa, since she was the only woman and could hold her liquor.

"Do all broadcasters have a good voice?" Zhang Zhanshan asked curiously, "Is it natural or learned?"

"Director Zhang, I used to be a dancer." Guli'aisha was quite good at chatting, and she was no longer the bookish person she used to be.

These words surprised the other person, who then laughed.

"This Honggang Group is truly full of hidden talents!" he praised. "Even dancers can shine in the broadcasting industry; they are very versatile."

"Thank you for your praise. I've met a good leader and a good teacher." Guliaisha filled his glass with wine and then looked at Bai Changmin, saying, "Leader, please drink more. You seem to have a good capacity for alcohol."

"You can tell someone's alcohol tolerance by their drinking capacity?" Bai Changmin smiled and gestured to Li Xuewu, asking her, "How do you think your leader's drinking capacity is?"

Actually, he was being mean and was just teasing her.

Even he knew that Li Xuewu had an unparalleled capacity for alcohol, let alone the girl Li Xuewu brought with him.

Guli'aisha smiled and glanced at Li Xuewu, saying with undisguised admiration, "Our leader is like the proud snow on the Tianshan Mountains and the mighty eagle on the grasslands."

Okay—

"Hahaha!"

Laughter filled the restaurant on a summer night. Even Li Xuewu was embarrassed by the compliment and offered her a drink.

Zhang Zhanshan and his companion witnessed this openness and chivalry, and it prompted them to reflect once again.

They were all seasoned foxes; they never thought Li Xuewu was a novice. Judging from his demeanor and methods, he was truly remarkable for his age.

This girl, as beautiful as a little white rabbit, is right in front of you, yet you won't even take a bite. No wonder she's called the proud snow of Tianshan Mountain; she's truly arrogant.

“Praise Director Kua and Factory Director Bai more,” Li Xuewu teased her in return, gesturing to the two people opposite him and saying, “You’re sounding like you’re self-promoting.”

"Hahaha--"

After the joke, Bai Changmin took the initiative to ask Li Xuewu about his work in the steel city, and then followed up on the topic by asking about his connection with Liaodong industry.

That changes the subject.

Li Xuewu also briefly introduced how he met Hu Ke and talked about her work style, using real examples to illustrate his point.

Similarly, when introducing Hu Ke, he also mentioned Lu Qiming, the deputy director in charge of Liaodong industry, and talked about the latter's emphasis on industrial development.

So far, at least according to Li Xuewu, Beijing Chemical and Liaodong Industry have not had any formal contact, and he cannot guarantee that there is no private relationship between the two parties.

Therefore, he spoke very sincerely, without exaggeration or pretense, and frankly introduced the development and situation of Honggang Group in Liaodong.

If you have difficulties, talk about them; if you have gratitude, express it. Sincerity is the key to getting along with others. There's no need to put on airs when you meet in private.

Seeing that there was no topic for her to discuss, Guliisa dutifully served the guests at the banquet, while also freely picking out and eating the dishes she liked.

I heard some news a few days ago.

Bai Changmin stubbed out his cigarette, his eyes squinting slightly from the smoke, and explained, "It's about the launch of the first guided-missile destroyer."

He looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "I heard that your Yingcheng ships also participated?"

"They gave us medals and letters of appreciation." Li Xuewu nodded frankly and explained, "However, it wasn't a major engineering collaboration, but rather related to parts production."

He deliberately steered the conversation toward the main topic, emphasizing that "the advantages of integrated production have been fully demonstrated in industrial production."

"Is this a project of the Sixth Ministry of Machine Building?"

Zhang Zhanshan, with his arm propped on the dining table and eyes slightly narrowed, said while smoking a cigarette, "Shanghai Jiaotong University has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Sixth Ministry of Machinery Industry."

He exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "It's clear that industrial development still requires talent cultivation and scientific research. Your Honggang Group is ahead of the curve."

“This road is not easy, and we have stumbled along the way.” Li Xuewu explained with a wry smile, “Every year we invest more than a million in talent recruitment and training alone.”

“But you made the right choice,” Zhang Zhanshan said meaningfully, looking at him. “Now, every industrial company in Beijing is doing well; who wouldn’t envy you?”

"We also benefited from it."

He glanced at Bai Changmin and said with a smile, "This year's graduates from the United Vocational and Technical College are truly outstanding. In my opinion, they are more professional than the college students we've graduated from before."

"You can't say that," Li Xuewu said politely with a smile. "It's more accurate to say that everyone has their own expertise. For example, we've accumulated experience through our own efforts in the group-building project."