After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

Forty kilometers away, at the Fangzhuang Quarry.

Zhou Defa, legs crossed, sank into the large boss's chair. He took a deep drag on his soft Zhonghua cigarette. The embers flickered. He exhaled a perfectly round smoke ring with satisfaction. In the swirling smoke, his fat face grinned like an old chrysanthemum.

Several old newspapers were spread on the desk. On them sat a plate of freshly sliced ​​braised pork intestines and a plate of glistening braised pig's head. Two open bottles of Moutai emitted a rich, savory aroma.

Sitting opposite him was Section Chief Sun from the Municipal Building Materials Company. Section Chief Sun picked up a piece of greasy pig's head meat and stuffed it whole into his mouth. His mouth was dripping with oil as he chewed, and his meticulously combed slicked-back hair swayed with it.

"Old Zhou, your trip yesterday was absolutely brilliant!" Section Chief Sun picked up his small wine cup and took a sip. He gestured with his chopsticks towards the air. "I just found out. That country bumpkin named Ye Cheng was terrified by your series of moves. I heard he's planning to cancel the supply contract."

Zhou Defa flicked his cigarette ash with his short, stubby fingers. A smug smile played on his lips.

"I have to thank Brother Sun for making this connection." Zhou Defa picked up the Moutai bottle and personally filled Section Chief Sun's glass. "If you hadn't told me all this, how could I have gotten under that peasant's thumb? Ye Cheng is a stubborn fool; the moment he heard it would affect his sister's reputation, he immediately chickened out. A good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing."

Section Chief Sun picked up a peanut and popped it into his mouth. He laughed so hard he almost fell over. "Once he cancels the contract, we'll expedite the paperwork with Vice President Lin. Next week, the stones from our Fangzhuang quarry can be legally hauled into the North City General Hospital's construction site."

"Brother Sun, don't worry." Zhou Defa patted his round belly, exuding magnanimity. "We agreed on a 10% profit split, and I won't shortchange you a single penny. I'll also give you the same tribute from Vice Dean Lin. From now on, we'll be able to walk with impunity in Beicheng."

The two exchanged a glance. Their wine glasses clinked heavily together.

"Dry!"

The glasses clinked crisply. The two men tilted their heads back and downed their drinks in one gulp. Loud laughter echoed through the office. They could almost see stacks of ten-yuan bills drifting into their pockets like snowflakes.

Just as they were laughing so hard their faces were contorted, the empty wine glass on the desk suddenly began to vibrate without warning.

Ding ding ding.

At first, there was only a slight shaking. The bottom of the glass tapped against the table, making a soft clattering sound.

Then, the tremors suddenly intensified. A continuous tremor emanated from deep underground. The Moutai bottle on the table began to shake violently.

Zhou Defa was startled. His hand holding the cigarette trembled violently, and half a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes fell onto his crotch. He frantically slapped his thigh and cursed loudly.

"Damn it, what happened? Did the mine collapse or was there an earthquake?"

Section Chief Sun also stood up abruptly. He didn't even bother to wipe the lard from the corner of his mouth, and rushed to the window, peering out through the glass.

A second later, Section Chief Sun's pupils instantly shrank to the size of pinpoints.

A choking cloud of yellow dust billowed into the air outside. The deafening roar of wheels crushing the gravel road sounded like a stampede of a thousand horses, approaching from afar. It was the roar of a steel behemoth, almost piercing one's eardrums.

"Old, old, old... Old Zhou." Section Chief Sun pointed out the window, his voice trembling like a leaf.

Zhou Defa kicked the chair away. He quickly pushed open the door and ran out of the office, looking up towards the main entrance.

The next second, all the color drained from his face.

boom!

A deafening roar shattered the tranquility of the quarry. Six tall, imposing military trucks, like enraged beasts, arrived without slowing down. The lead truck smashed through the quarry's flimsy barbed wire gate.

The rusty iron gate twisted and deformed instantly, and was crushed into the mud like scrap metal.

A menacing convoy of military green vehicles drove aggressively into the center of the field.

The dust kicked up by the wheels of the vehicles blotted out the sky. The workers in the quarry were so frightened that they dropped their shovels and screamed as they ran around covering their heads.

As soon as the truck came to a stop, a piercing screech of brakes tore through the air. The thick, military-green tarpaulin covering the truck bed was abruptly ripped open.

Whoosh!

More than a hundred elite soldiers dressed in Type 65 green military uniforms jumped off the truck bed like dumplings being dropped into boiling water.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized. They landed, raised their guns, and cocked them.

Click click click.

A series of crisp, metallic clanging sounds as gun bolts were pulled echoed, carrying a chilling, menacing atmosphere.

In just over ten seconds, the entire quarry was surrounded by fully armed regular troops.

Zhou Defa stood rooted to the spot. His cloudy eyes widened as he stared at the gleaming steel guns, his legs spinning uncontrollably. A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

crunch.

The door of the first military jeep was pushed open.

Li Yunlong wore a thick general's overcoat. He stepped into the quarry ground, his rough hands habitually rubbing the hem of his coat. His aura, thick with the palpable presence of gunpowder smoke, instantly subdued the entire area.

Gu Zheng casually got out of the passenger seat, hands in his pockets. Leaning against the Jeep door, his eyes were as cold as stars, and a hint of mockery played on his lips.

When Zhou Defa saw the general's star on the newcomer's shoulder, his brain went blank for a moment.

He dealt with construction teams in the city year-round. He usually had to act like a servant even when meeting a bureau chief. He'd never seen anything like this before—a regular army being deployed into a private facility. It was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Section Chief Sun was still hiding behind the office doorframe. He peeked out, looking at the fully armed guards outside. The remaining half of a braised pig's ear fell to the ground with a "thud." He felt a sudden tightness in his bladder and didn't dare to breathe.

Zhou Defa forced himself to swallow. He strained his weak legs and forced out a fawning smile that looked more like a grimace. He trembled as he approached, his back bent so low it almost touched his knees.

"Sir, it's a misunderstanding, it must be a misunderstanding. You must have come to the wrong place." Zhou Defa's forehead was covered in cold sweat. "This is Fangzhuang Quarry. My name is Zhou Defa. We're just a legitimate small business, always law-abiding. There's absolutely no fugitive being harbored here."

Li Yunlong stood with his hands behind his back. His face was cold as he strode up to Zhou Defa. He looked down at the fat man and sized him up.

"So you're Zhou Defa," Li Yunlong snorted coldly through his nostrils. His voice was booming.

Zhou Defa nodded vigorously, his fat jiggling as he did so.

"Yes, yes, yes. I am Lao Zhou. What are your orders, sir? Would you like some water? There's some Moutai in the office."

Li Yunlong completely ignored him. He turned to look at the center of the quarry. There were stacks of granite slabs piled high there. Those were Zhou Defa's stock.

Li Yunlong rubbed his rough hands together and then raised his voice. His voice was so loud it sounded like a thunderclap exploding in the arena.

"I heard that your quarry wants to take on the job of the intervention center building of the North City Military Region General Hospital."

Zhou De was stunned for a moment. Before he could explain, Li Yunlong suddenly turned his head and stared at him, his eyes sharp as knives.

"The building that the main hospital built was a life-saving building for us soldiers who risked our lives on the front lines. If even a speck of sand had been mixed in with the materials, it wouldn't be sturdy and would have collapsed. That would have cost my brothers their lives."

"So, I specially brought the engineering company here today. To give you a free military quality inspection."