Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

Xu Lin's office at the steel rolling mill

The office door closed behind Xu Lin, and the steady yet excited footsteps of Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan faded away down the corridor, eventually disappearing completely.

Xu Lin felt no excitement or agitation.

He quietly sat back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop, making soft "tap, tap" sounds, as if it were the rhythm of some ancient ritual.

Inside, it was so quiet you could hear the dust settling down.

Yang Anguo's underhanded tactics didn't even register with Xu Lin. For a hunter, successfully catching their prey after setting a trap based on the environment is nothing to be excited about.

In Xu Lin's eyes, Yang Anguo's political tactics were like a three-year-old child painstakingly hiding a piece of candy and then thinking he had control over the world's joys and sorrows.

ridiculous.

childish.

It wasn't worth him expending even the slightest bit of his attention to deal with it.

As for the position of the person in charge of the heating project in the urban construction department that District Chief Fang enthusiastically patted on the shoulder before leaving, Xu Lin didn't take it to heart either.

What is the core of this matter?

Resource integration.

On one end was Minister Kao of the Ministry of Industry, who held great power over the approval of production materials and technologies.

On the other end is District Chief Fang of Dongcheng District, who controls the channels for administrative implementation and the public opinion base.

With two large Buddha statues guarding him on either side, all he needed to do was coordinate from the center, turning the lines on the blueprints into underground pipes.

What difficulty could there be in such a nanny-like task?

Xu Lin slowly closed his eyes. What came to mind was neither the power he was about to attain nor Yang Anguo's face, which was destined to become distorted.

His thoughts had drifted back to half an hour earlier.

Beside that stinking garbage dump.

That spark of brilliance that suddenly burst forth amidst filth and corruption, a brilliance powerful enough to reshape the energy landscape of this era.

Biogas digester.

This word may still be a vague concept for people in this era.

But for Xu Lin, it carries a complete and profound historical memory.

In my past life, this thing was promoted as an energy revolution sweeping the country.

The government is providing funding and policies, hoping to connect every household's stove to this clean and free energy source overnight.

But the result was far from satisfactory.

They came silently, and they disappeared without a trace.

In the end, only abandoned cement pits remained on the ridges of rural fields, becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes in the summer and traps for stagnant water during the rainy season.

The problem has never been with technology.

The basic principles of fermentation are only at a junior high school chemistry level, no matter how advanced they may seem.

The real crux of the problem lies in scaling up.

One household, one family. This model sounds so wonderful that it's hard to refuse. Their own manure, their own straw, becomes the fire in their own pot. Self-sufficiency, a perfect closed loop.

However, this is precisely the biggest problem, because biogas digesters require a lot of time and manpower to maintain.

Poor maintenance can lead to endless problems.

In Xu Lin's mind, countless images of farmers complaining about building their own biogas digesters flashed by.

An old farmer with dark skin, holding a bamboo pole, was sweating profusely as he poked at the clogged discharge port, cursing under his breath.

A peasant woman, unable to eat due to the stench from the leaking biogas pipe, simply blocked it with a rag.

Not to mention the routine maintenance that requires professional knowledge, such as feed ratios and pH adjustments...

Ordinary people, toiling in the fields, who has the time and energy to take care of such a precious thing?

Over time, blockages, leaks, inefficiencies, and even safety hazards become inevitable outcomes.

Xu Lin would never walk down a road that had already been proven to be a dead end a second time.

His knuckles slammed heavily on the table.

"Knock!"

The sound was crisp and clear, like a thunderclap exploding in the quiet office.

Xu Lin opened his eyes.

There was no longer any languor in those deep eyes; instead, there was an almost burning intensity.

If you're going to do something, you can't do it on a small scale.

If we're going to do it, it has to be disruptive, systematic, and a large-scale, professional attack that reduces the scope of our operations!

He suddenly pulled open the drawer, took out a stack of brand-new manuscript paper, and slammed it heavily on the table.

"Splash—"

The white paper was as white as snow, exuding the fresh scent of ink.

He unscrewed the pen cap, the nib hovered on the paper for half a second, and then fell abruptly like a black lightning bolt.

His idea was extremely simple and crude, yet also terrifyingly grand.

Abandon the foolish model of using "households" as the unit.

Establish a regional biogas energy supply station directly on the "town" basis!

This station is the energy heart of the entire region.

Its model will be a complete replica of the red behemoth of later generations—the State Grid!

Xu Lin's pen flew across the paper, lines and words intertwining, and a vast and intricate system was rapidly taking shape under his pen.

The site's functions are clearly divided into several modules: raw material recovery unit, anaerobic fermentation matrix, biogas purification and pressurization unit, pipeline laying, daily maintenance, and production of gas storage equipment...

All residents in the town, and even those in the surrounding villages, opened accounts, installed meters, and were charged based on data usage.

This money will become the lifeblood of the entire site's operation, used to pay employee salaries, equipment depreciation, and technology upgrades.

A perfect, self-sustaining business closed loop.

It is no longer a burden that requires constant government funding, but a high-quality enterprise that can create value and contribute tax revenue!

Xu Lin's breathing gradually became heavy.

This is not excitement, but a primal bodily reaction under extreme focus.

His mind was completely absorbed in this massive plan. Every detail, every possible problem, was being frantically analyzed and optimized in his head.

This game is far too big.

It involves not only energy, but also agriculture, environmental protection, and even the reshaping of social structures.

Biogas residue and biogas slurry are top-quality organic fertilizers that can completely transform the barren land of this era.

Centralized treatment of human and animal waste can solve most of the sanitation problems in rural areas at their source.

One site can provide hundreds of stable jobs.

Xu Lin's writing speed increased, filling one sheet of paper after another, only to be tossed aside casually.

He didn't even have time to go back and check.

New, deeper ideas, like a volcanic eruption, kept surging from the depths of his mind.

Finally, after he had poured out the entire framework of the plan and all the details of its execution on paper, he put down his pen.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the thick stack of manuscripts on the table, still smelling of ink, his chest heaving violently.

But that's not all.

This is only the first layer.

It's something that's out in the open, something everyone can see.

Xu Lin slowly pulled another fountain pen filled with red ink from the pen holder.

He pulled out the last, and most crucial, planning map.

At the end of that picture, with unprecedented solemnity and reverence, he wrote a line of words, stroke by stroke.

The handwriting is so strong it seems to penetrate the paper.

Like a brand.

—After deducting national statutory taxes and the site's own operating costs, all remaining profits will be used to establish a special fund to give back to the local area and will be used for this purpose only!

The funds have only three uses:

educate!

Medical!

Retirement!

This is his real purpose.

This is the final piece of the puzzle in this grand scheme!

It was also his deepest, most core ambition!

From the moment I put pen to paper, the game of chess has already begun.

Xu Lin examined the line of bright red characters repeatedly; each character seemed to contain immense power.

He carefully organized the plan, arranging each sheet of paper neatly in order.

After confirming that there were no further omissions.

Xu Lin leaned back in his chair and exhaled a long, heavy breath.

The burning sensation that had been lingering in his mind due to the intense activity was slowly dissipating with that breath.

On the table, a thick stack of manuscript paper still exudes the fresh scent of new ink. Every word and every line embodies a terrifying power capable of overturning the energy landscape of an era.

He didn't go to see it again.

When the last period falls, the course of this game has already departed from the paper and become a kind of predetermined destiny.

People like Yang Anguo and Li Huaide are nothing more than dust swept off the chessboard before this grand game begins, not even worthy of his second glance.

What he needs now is a moment of peace to allow his turbulent thoughts to settle completely.

The office was dimly lit, and the sky outside the window had completely sunk into twilight, leaving only the scattered lights from the distant workshop, outlining the silent silhouette of the steel forest.

"Squeak—"

A very faint, suppressed sound of a door hinge turning broke the silence in the room.

A narrow gap was pushed open, and the dim yellow corridor light cut in, casting a thin strip of light on the floor.

One eye, with a hint of probing and wariness, peered through the crack in the door.

Xu Lin didn't even lift his eyelids; he could recognize the person just by the deliberately suppressed breathing.

There was no movement from the person inside the door.

The people outside the door seemed to finally feel relieved.

With a swift movement, a slender figure nimbly squeezed in, and then gently fastened the latch behind the door.

"Click".

A barely audible cracking sound completely shut out this small office from the rest of the world.

The person who arrived was Liu Lan.

She still carried a faint scent unique to the cafeteria kitchen, a mixture of smoke and food, but at this moment, that scent was completely suppressed by the heat and fragrance emanating from her.

She didn't approach immediately, but instead leaned against the door, her shimmering eyes fixed on Xu Lin in the dim light, her chest heaving.

"Deputy Factory Director Xu..."

Her voice was deliberately low and soft, with a barely perceptible tremor, and the last syllable rose slightly, drawing a seductive thread in the silent air.

Xu Lin finally moved.

He didn't speak, but simply raised his hand and beckoned to her.

It's an incredibly simple action.

Yet it seemed like an irresistible command.

Liu Lan's body went limp instantly, and the restraint she had been deliberately maintaining crumbled in an instant. She took small, quick steps, walked quickly to the table, and without hesitation, went around the corner of the table and pressed her whole body against it.

The warm, soft, and surprisingly elastic feel is transmitted without reservation through the thin fabric.

Xu Lin smiled, and with a quick movement, he pulled her firmly into his arms.

The temperature in the office suddenly rose.

The fresh scent of ink mingled and fermented with the unique fragrance of the woman in the air, creating a distinctive aroma.

for a long time.

Liu Lan lay languidly on Xu Lin's firm chest, completely powerless, with only one slender white finger unconsciously drawing circles on his shirt.

Round and round.

That gentle touch, carrying a faint electric current, traveled from my skin all the way to my heart.

She pressed her cheek against his heart, feeling the steady, powerful heartbeat, as if it were the most beautiful music in the world, capable of soothing all anxiety and unease.

"Today at the cafeteria, I heard them say..."

She lowered her voice, making it sound like she was being coquettish, but the underlying worry in her words betrayed her true emotions.

"You're saying you're being transferred?"

The finger that was drawing circles paused for a moment.

Xu Lin could clearly feel that the body in his arms stiffened very slightly at that moment.

He curled the corners of his mouth slightly in the darkness.

This is the taste of power.

Even a trivial rumor about a job transfer can cause those who depend on him to feel a primal sense of panic.

He enjoyed the feeling.

"Yes, I'll be transferred for a while."

His broad, calloused hand gently stroked her smooth back. His voice was steady and calm, each word like a reassuring pill, precisely striking into her fearful heart.

"Go and take charge of the heating project in Dongcheng District."

He didn't go into too much detail, but at the end, he casually added a sentence.

"It was Minister Gao and District Chief Fang who personally came to the factory to transfer the personnel."

"Minister Gao?"

"District Chief Fang?"

Liu Lan's body jolted, and her previously languid and dreamy eyes instantly brightened.

It was a radiance that defied description.

In the dimly lit office, they looked like two stars suddenly illuminated!

Although she was just a kitchen helper and didn't understand the intricacies of officialdom, she knew the terrifying weight that the words "minister" and "district chief" represented!

Those were all important figures whom Factory Director Yang Anguo had to fawn over and serve with utmost care!

Why would someone like that personally come to the factory just to transfer Xu Lin to be in charge of a new project?

This...this is hardly a punishment!

This is hardly a transfer!

This is clearly a tremendous honor! It's a sign of a promotion that will take several ranks!

A tremendous, indescribable ecstasy, like a flash flood, instantly washed away all her worries and anxieties.

Instead, there was an intense pride that almost overflowed, a deep-seated worship, and a burning love that wished she could completely merge herself into this man's body!

She chose the right person to be with!

This man was more powerful and unfathomable than she had imagined!

Those who gossip behind people's backs, saying that he was suppressed by Director Yang and that he was going to fall from power, are simply a bunch of blind people!

"No wonder you're still so energetic today! Just you wait!"

Liu Lan suddenly sat up from his arms, the movement so forceful that it stirred up a fragrant breeze.

She looked down at Xu Lin, her bright eyes burning with two flames, her cheeks flushed with a captivating blush of extreme excitement.

"I'm going to make you pay for this!"

She gritted her teeth, her words revealing a ruthless determination to go all out.

Before she finished speaking, her slender hands, which had just been tidying her clothes, rose again and unbuttoned the buttons on her front one by one.

The action was decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

It was as if she wasn't just undressing, but breaking some kind of seal, releasing the most primal and fervent power to celebrate her man's victory and wash away the bad luck brought by those unjust accusations against him.

"..."

Looking at her high-spirited and ready-to-fight stance, Xu Lin smiled with a mixture of helplessness and admiration.

He didn't say anything.

He simply leaned back slightly in his chair, appreciating the moving scene before him with an indulgent gaze.

At this point, "refusal" is simply not an option...

After capturing Meng Huo seven times and finally seeing off the satisfied Liu Lan, Xu Lin tidied up the table and was about to get up when the door was pushed open again...

This time, it was Ding Qiunan who came in.

The little girl's eyes were red, as if she had just been crying. She had come looking for Xu Lin, but found that Liu Lan had gone in first, so she stood by the corner of the wall outside and listened for a long time, feeling a mix of emotions, as if a bottle of mixed feelings had been spilled.

Upon seeing Xu Lin, she could no longer hold back and threw herself into his arms.

"I don't care! I can't wait until I'm eighteen!" Ding Qiunan buried her face in Xu Lin's chest, her voice muffled but filled with an unyielding stubbornness. "Liu Lan can do it, why can't I? I don't want any title or status, I just want to be with you!"

The girl's sweet fragrance and resolute expression left Xu Lin speechless.

Xu Lin: "No, Xiao Ding, listen to me, you're still young..."

Ding Qiunan: "How am I small!"

Xu Lin: "......."

Ding Qiunan: "Were you too tired just now? Why don't you rest for a couple of days?"

Xu Lin: "Huh??????"

Although it was a clumsy attempt at provocation, it was undeniably effective.

As the readers have all seen, this was her own doing; I had no choice but to accept it. I couldn't let a mere young woman accuse me of trampling on the dignity of men...

Xu Lin swept the petite Ding Qiunan into his arms, strode to the desk, and with a wave of his hand, pushed all the materials on the table to the ground, creating a makeshift battlefield.

It wasn't until they engaged in close combat that Ding Qiunan suddenly understood what Xu Lin meant when he said she was still young.

……

When I came out of the office, it was already getting dark.

Ding Qiunan walked with a very unnatural gait, limping. Xu Lin simply bent down and carried her on his back, all the way to the bottom of the single dormitory building. After watching her blush and lean against the wall as she left, Xu Lin turned around and went home.

Xu Lin returned to the courtyard house; the night was already as dark as ink.

Because he returned so late, Tan had already finished eating and gone to rest, so Xu Lin's dinner was kept warm in the pot, specially left for him by Qin Huairu. After Qin Huairu set out the food, Xu Lin sat alone at the table, eating quietly under the dim light. Throughout the meal, his movements were unhurried, while Qin Huairu stood behind him, gently massaging his shoulders.

After the meal, Xu Lin didn't say much, but simply took Qin Huairu's hand.

Qin Huairu's hands were warm and soft, enveloped in his large palms. She could clearly feel the undeniable strength emanating from his palms. She obediently followed him, the two of them entering the basement, their secret fortress, one after the other.

Tan Liya was already waiting there in the basement.

"I'm back."

Her voice was soft, yet it instantly made the atmosphere in this small space even more comforting.

Xu Lin nodded, released Qin Huairu, and sat down on the sofa in the center of the room.

Qin Huairu and Tan Liya sat naturally around him, one on each side, their movements practiced as if they had done it a thousand times.

A faint fragrance filled the air, mixed with the unique scents of the two women, creating a reassuring atmosphere that could make any man let down his guard.

However, tonight, Xu Lin did not immediately embrace them as he usually did.

He remained silent.

This silence itself is a signal.

Qin Huairu and Tan Liya exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of inquiry in each other's eyes, but neither spoke, simply waiting quietly. They knew this man too well; if he didn't speak, it meant he didn't need them to ask. When he wanted to speak, he wouldn't hold back a single word.

Xu Lin tapped his fingers lightly on his knee, breaking the silence of the room.

Finally, he spoke, his voice steady and clear, without any emotional fluctuations, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

"Liu Lan came to see me today."

Qin Huairu paused slightly, then relaxed. Xu Lin had already explained the whole situation to her, so she was mentally prepared.

Tan Liya merely glanced at Xu Lin with a gentle look, then continued to listen quietly.

Without pausing, Xu Lin changed the subject and confessed everything that had happened.

"And Ding Qiunan..."

His voice paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the two women in front of him, observing the most subtle changes in their expressions.

"...and they've become mine too."

The words fell.

An eerie silence fell over the basement.

There were no questions as expected, not even the slightest hint of jealousy.

Qin Huairu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she lowered her eyelids, making it impossible to see the emotions in her eyes.

Tan Liya stopped fiddling with her hair, raised her head, and looked at Xu Lin with clear eyes, as if she was thinking about something.

Xu Lin didn't rush them; he gave them ample time to process the news. He knew this wasn't a simple announcement, but an ultimate test of the stability of his family. He chose to be honest because he disdained deception and concealment in such matters. What he wanted was absolute loyalty and unconditional acceptance.

a long time.

Qin Huairu and Tan Liya exchanged another glance.

That one glance seemed to constitute a silent exchange between women. They both saw the understanding in each other's eyes, the tacit agreement that had already been reached.

Finally, Qin Huairu couldn't help but chuckle and spoke first, "Is that all?"

Her voice was soft, yet carried a reassuring calmness.

"You've already told me about Liu Lan's matter, so I have no objection."

She raised her head, her gaze returning to Xu Lin's face, her eyes filled with love, devoid of any resentment.

"As for Ding Qiunan's matter... I can actually understand it."

Her words made Xu Lin's eyebrows twitch slightly.

Qin Huairu continued, "I've met Qiu Nan a few times. She's very simple-minded and can't hide anything in her eyes. Her heart is entirely with you. It's actually a good thing to settle this matter sooner rather than later. It would be troublesome if someone used Qiu Nan's feelings for you to their advantage."

She reached out and gently brushed away a speck of dust from Xu Lin's collar, the movement natural and intimate with the unique affection of a wife.

"As you rise higher in your position, more and more people are watching you. Qiu Nan is pretty and has a gentle personality. If she hadn't reached this point and had remained in this ambiguous state, she would have been targeted by those shady people sooner or later. That would have been a big problem for both you and her."

Tan Liya nodded at this moment, adding in a gentle voice:

"Huai Ru is right."

Her gaze held a hint of wisdom and concern from someone who had been through it all.

"Besides, it's not safe for a young woman to live alone in a single dormitory with so many people around. I think you should think of a way to settle Qiu Nan in the courtyard as soon as possible. It'll be more reassuring to have her under your watchful eye."

Two women, one singing and the other harmonizing.

Instead of discussing whether Xu Lin should or shouldn't have done it, they directly explored how to handle the situation most safely after it happened, and how to minimize all potential risks.

They weren't considering their own gains or losses, but rather the safety of the entire family and Xu Lin's future.

At that moment, an indescribable warm current surged from Xu Lin's heart and instantly flowed throughout his body.

So sensible!

These two women were truly a gift from heaven. Their intelligence and thoughtfulness far exceeded his expectations. He had thought he would need to expend some effort to explain and appease them.

But they gave him their strongest support in the calmest tone.

Xu Lin felt he was the happiest man in the world.

With a woman like this, what more could a husband ask for?

All his ambitions and schemes seemed to find a solid foothold at this moment. No matter how fierce the storms of the outside world were, as long as he returned here, he would have the warmest harbor.

All those words were ultimately put into action.

Xu Lin suddenly stretched out his arms and pulled the two women beside him tightly into his embrace.

Qin Huairu's soft body and Tan Liya's mature and alluring form pressed tightly against his chest. Their body temperature and heartbeats were clearly transmitted through their close contact.

He buried his face in their hair, took a deep breath, and filled his nostrils with their comforting fragrance.

"Enough said, officers! Just watch how I perform!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Xu Lin made up his mind that tonight, he would repay their understanding and kindness with the most practical and powerful actions...