After my divorce at thirty, I developed an intelligence network.

The groundbreaking day for the Xinke Sensing plant project was a clear, windless morning.

The area around the construction site had long been cleaned up and covered with a brand-new red carpet.

A huge backdrop stands at the main entrance, printed with project renderings and the auspicious words "Good luck on the start of construction" in gold.

Several excavators adorned with red ribbons stood quietly in the designated area.

More people came than expected.

Jiang Yan arrived early and didn't squeeze to the front. She chose a spot on the side where she could see the whole place clearly.

Today she wore a simple smoky gray suit, with her long hair tied up, which was neither impolite nor too overpowering.

Holding the tea prepared by the project team, he sipped it slowly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd that was arriving one after another.

Cao Dayong and Shunzi, like two fighting roosters who could finally stand up straight, were wearing matching new work clothes and leading a dozen core colleagues with great spirits, their faces beaming with uncontainable radiance and excitement.

For them, this was not just the start of construction, but also a moment of triumph.

Fu Mingde also arrived, bringing with him officers from two branch offices.

He stood near the backdrop, talking quietly with Mr. Li from Xinke Company, a faint smile on his face as usual.

His presence itself was a subtle signal.

Mr. Li was in high spirits today, busy greeting several invited industry association leaders and local media reporters.

The scene gradually became lively.

When the time came, all parties spoke.

At Gong Yuelong's command, the shovels of two excavators on the construction site were raised high, and the red silk cloth tied to them swayed in the wind.

Cao Dayong grinned from ear to ear and jogged over to light the two long strings of firecrackers hanging on the front of the car.

"Crackling sound—!!!"

The sound was deafening, red shredded paper was scattered everywhere, and the air smelled of gunpowder.

The workers, who had been waiting for a long time, suddenly erupted in cheers, shouting and clapping.

"Good luck on your first day of work, Brother Long!"

"Boss Gong! Make a fortune!"

May everything go smoothly and may you be safe and sound!

There were all sorts of shouts, a chaotic mix of voices, but they all sounded quite cheerful.

Their faces, tanned dark red or covered in ash, were all wrinkled with smiles.

At this moment, they seemed to have forgotten the humiliation they had suffered elsewhere.

The sounds around them, the new machines, and the man who could inspire confidence just by standing there made them feel that there was hope for the future in their work.

"Brother Long, have a smoke!"

"Boss Gong, have some water!"

"There are many loose stones here, please watch your step..."

People kept coming over, offering cigarettes and water, reminding them to be careful, their words conveying closeness and respect.

Even a few seasoned foremen who had previously worked for other contractors and looked down on Gong Yuelong, this outsider, were impressed.

Now they're all gathered around, all smiles, saying polite things like they'll be relying on Boss Gong's help from now on.

Gong Yuelong took a cigarette, lit it with the light Cao Dayong handed him, and took a puff.

He looked at the warm faces in front of him, listened to the lively yet energetic sounds, and in the distance was an empty plot of land waiting for the foundation to be laid for the factory.

The red paper scraps from the firecrackers were still floating in the air, and a few landed on his shoulder.

His eyes flickered, and he remembered that not long ago, also in this high-tech zone, he was driving a beat-up pickup truck.

Squatting on the cold cement floor of the labor market, like goods on a stall waiting to be picked over, they argued with people until their faces turned red and their necks bulged over an extra twenty yuan a day.

At that time, the surroundings were noisy, but the gazes that fell on him were mostly indifferent, critical, or contemptuous.

"Are you guys even capable? Don't delay the project."

"Lower the price further, or I'll look for someone else."

Those sounds seem to still be right next to my ears.

Now, he stands on the construction site where he won the bid, listening to these sincere or polite congratulations and kind words, looking into these hopeful eyes...

He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.

The world is still the same world.

Before you've risen up, you'll be surrounded by cold faces and high barriers to entry.

Once you step on it a little, you'll see mostly smiling faces and convenient paths.

The difference lies in whether the ground you're standing on is solid enough, and whether it's something you've earned through your own hard work.

The excitement was real, and the respect wasn't entirely fake.

But beneath this commotion and smiles, the unspoken schemes, the lingering hostility, and the inevitable difficulties to come are all equally real.

He stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette and threw it into the metal trash can next to him.

The slight daze on his face disappeared, and he returned to his usual composed demeanor.

"Dayong," he said, turning to Cao Dayong, who was still grinning foolishly, "get ready to shovel the first shovel."

"Understood, Brother Long!" Cao Dayong replied, then turned and shouted, "Stand in position according to plan! Ready to break ground!"

An even louder roar surged over, and the machines began to rumble.

The first shovel of soil had just been dug up, and the dust hadn't even settled yet.

Wu Jinshui arrived at this time.

A person, holding walnuts in their hand, walks slowly.

He came in through the main gate, his shadow trailing shortly behind him. Several older workers saw him, stopped what they were doing, and moved aside.

He walked straight up to Gong Yuelong, taking three or five steps to stand still. The machine's noise was deafening. He spoke:

"This is quite a commotion, Boss Gong."

His hands never stopped fiddling with the walnuts, his eyes scanning his surroundings.

"This place used to be a wild and chaotic wasteland. It's a good thing that factories are going to be built here. I just don't know if the land's energy is flowing smoothly, and whether the machines will run safely in the future."

Gong Yuelong smiled and said calmly, "Boss Wu has time to come and inspect? We operate legally and in compliance with regulations, and our production is safe."

"Legal and compliant, of course, is good." Wu Jinshui's lips twitched slightly, as if he were smiling.

"I just came to give you a heads-up. It's a construction site, after all, with lots of cars, lots of people, and lots of materials. The roads in and out of here used to be quite dangerous."

"If a rock rolls into the middle of the road, or a car breaks down and causes a traffic jam... that would delay the construction schedule, wouldn't that be terrible? Don't you think so?"

This is a blatant threat.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

"Wu Jinshui".

Fu Mingde had also arrived here at some point.

He looked at Wu Jinshui with a serious expression.

"The High-tech Zone is now focusing on construction and ensuring production. Xinke is a key enterprise introduced by the zone, and its project schedule cannot be disrupted in any way."

Fu Mingde's voice carried an authoritative, businesslike quality.

"Ensuring smooth traffic flow around the construction site, safe transportation, and maintaining public order in the construction environment are all key priorities for our Public Security Bureau at present."

If you have any questions, please report them according to the procedures. But it's best not to interfere where you shouldn't.

He stared at Wu Jinshui: "Did you understand what I said?"

Wu Jinshui paused for a moment as he played with the walnuts.

His eyes met Fu Mingde's for two seconds.

"Director Fu, what you said is the rule, I understand."

He took a small step forward. "But I, Wu Jinshui, have relied on rules all these years in the High-tech Zone."

He raised his eyelids and glanced at Gong Yuelong.

"Two of my men have been killed. Wu San lost his leg, and Wang Biao lost his life. This wasn't an accident; someone reached out and broke my livelihood."

"I'm a reasonable person. I remember if someone makes me unhappy for a moment. But if someone cuts off my livelihood and makes me unhappy forever..."

"Then I need to think about whether I can still enjoy the rest of my life."

The ruthlessness in those words was no longer concealed.

It wasn't aimed at Fu Mingde, but at Gong Yuelong.

"It's a good thing that the High-tech Zone wants to develop."

"But development can't just be about stepping on the bones of a group of people to get ahead. I, Wu Jinshui, am a rough man, not one for all the tricks of the trade. I just believe in one principle: even a clay figure has some earthy spirit. If you push someone too far, even a clay brick can splatter blood all over their face."

He gave Gong Yuelong one last look.

"Boss Gong, the project's commencement is a cause for great joy. I wish you... every step you take from now on will be exceptionally steady. And please, don't... hurt your foot."

After saying that, he stopped looking at Fu Mingde and, without waiting for any response, turned around and walked away.

His steps were heavier and slower than when he came, and he walked out of the construction site gate step by step.

Fu Mingde frowned, staring at the direction where Wu Jinshui disappeared, his face even more somber than before.

He could control the situation for a while, but he couldn't control the ruthless, desperate rage that had already gone red in his eyes.

Wu Jinshui's last words were no longer a threat, but a warning that was almost a complete breakdown in relations.

Gong Yuelong stood still, his face remaining expressionless.

This feud is no longer just a business conflict. It's escalated to the point of bloodshed and enmity, and the other party has made it clear they have no intention of resolving it amicably.

I never intended for it to end well.

kill.