Sold into a ghost marriage? Four-year-old and his thuggish father go on a killing spree.

"Waaah—"

The piercing sound of car horns shattered the afternoon tranquility of Chengjiawan.

The villagers who were enjoying the cool shade under the big locust tree all stood up abruptly and craned their necks to look towards the village entrance.

There stood a brand-new Beijing Jeep, painted entirely green, resembling a steel monster.

It drove in aggressively, kicking up clouds of yellow dust.

"It's a Jeep!"

"My goodness! What kind of high-ranking official must be riding in that car?"

"The license plate is from the provincial capital!"

The villagers were talking amongst themselves, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.

In those days, bicycles were a rarity, and being able to ride in a jeep was a luxury.

That's an absolutely incredible person!

What's even more shocking is that after circling the village, the jeep actually came to a steady stop in front of the agricultural technology extension station.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, gray trousers, and gold-rimmed glasses stepped out.

He got out of the car.

He was about forty years old, with his hair neatly combed and his leather shoes polished to a shine.

He possessed an indescribable air of authority, completely different from the village officials.

Behind him followed Director Han of the county agricultural machinery station, as well as two other young cadres dressed in Zhongshan suits.

Old Han jogged alongside the man, his attitude as respectful as a primary school student.

"Director Fang, this is our pilot project in Qinghe County, the Chengjiawan Agricultural Technology Extension Station."

"Um."

The man referred to as "Director Fang" nodded, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group.

His gaze finally fell on Gu Yanqiu, who was standing at the door with oil stains on his hands and a bewildered expression.

"You must be Comrade Gu Yanqiu?"

Director Fang's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

"Yes...I am..."

Gu Yanqiu was so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands, so he subconsciously wiped them on his pants.

"Director Fang, this is our station's technician, Gu Yanqiu," Old Han quickly introduced.

Fang Zhengguo ignored Lao Han, his gaze remaining fixed on Gu Yanqiu.

"I've read the materials submitted by your county and also the handbook. It's well-written, and the illustrations are even better."

He speaks very directly and gets straight to the point.

"I'm here today to see for myself just how much real skill this 'grassroots pioneer' really has."

The next hour felt like a rigorous exam to Gu Yanqiu.

The questions asked by Fang Zhengguo, the section chief from the Provincial Department of Agriculture, were both tricky and professional.

From the differential principle of the Dongfanghong-54 tractor to the troubleshooting of hydraulic system faults in the Fengshou-27 combine harvester,

Every question gets straight to the heart of the matter.

This is no longer ordinary repair technology; it involves the level of mechanical design and principles!

Old Han and the county officials standing nearby broke out in a cold sweat; they couldn't understand several of the questions.

Gu Yanqiu, however, became more and more composed as she spoke, and her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

These questions hit the nail on the head!

He even forgot his nervousness and spoke eloquently, dissecting his insights and practical experience to the other party.

As they exchanged questions and answers, the serious expression on Fang Zhengguo's face gradually melted away.

The scrutiny in his eyes gradually turned into undisguised admiration.

"Excellent! A promising talent in technology! He has both theoretical knowledge and practical skills! He's far superior to those college graduates in our department who only know how to talk the talk!"

Fang Zhengguo did not hold back his praise.

He picked up the hand-drawn "Repair Manual" on the table, which was already worn and had some curled edges, and stroked the rough paper.

"I heard that your daughter organized the pictures and text here?"

"Yes...yes." Gu Yanqiu smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "My daughter, Niannian."

"Niannian?" Fang Zhengguo looked up and scanned the yard, just in time to see Gu Niannian peeking out of the house and curiously looking at him.

He beckoned.

"Little girl, come here."

Gu Niannian walked over confidently, tilted her little face up, and called out in a clear voice, "Hello, Uncle."

"You're Gu Niannian?" Fang Zhengguo looked her over with interest. "Did you really draw this handbook?"

"Yes!" Gu Niannian nodded vigorously. "Dad said it, I drew it, I wrote it!"

"Amazing!" Fang Zhengguo laughed, a hint of surprise in his smile. "How old are you this year? What grade are you in?"

"I'm six and a half years old and in fourth grade."

Upon hearing this, not only Fang Zhengguo, but also the two young cadres behind him, gasped in shock.

Six and a half years old, in fourth grade?

This...this is a child prodigy!

Fang Zhengguo's gaze lingered on Gu Niannian for a good ten seconds.

He looked at the pretty girl with clear eyes and a humble yet confident demeanor, and his gaze became thoughtful.

Finally, he turned back to look at Gu Yanqiu and dropped a bombshell.

"Comrade Xiao Gu, your ideas are excellent, and your technical skills are solid. Our provincial department is planning a province-wide training program for key agricultural machinery technicians, and we need front-line technicians like you with rich practical experience."

His voice was incredibly seductive.

"Are you interested in coming to the provincial capital to participate in this training?"

"boom!"

Gu Yanqiu's mind went completely blank, as if struck by lightning.

Go...go to the provincial capital?

Participate in province-wide training?

This...this is like a windfall!

This means he will have the opportunity to access cutting-edge technology and meet the most outstanding experts!

This means that his future will no longer be limited to a small Chengjiawan, or even a small Qinghe County!

He was so excited that his lips were trembling, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Gu Niannian, however, reacted very quickly. She tugged at her father's sleeve, tilted her head back, and answered for him in a clear voice:

"Uncle Fang, my dad is amazing! He can definitely do it!"

Fang Zhengguo was thoroughly amused by the little girl's confident demeanor.

"Hahaha! Great! With you saying that, your dad is even more capable!"

He took out a small wallet from his jacket pocket, pulled out a clean white business card with printed characters, and handed it to Gu Yanqiu.

"Here's my contact information. Call me when you've made up your mind. The training course starts next month, and there are limited spots available. I can only reserve one week for you."

In those days, a personal business card carried as much weight as an imperial edict.

Gu Yanqiu took the thin card with trembling hands, feeling as if it weighed a ton.

The jeep was already started when they left.

Fang Zhengguo suddenly stopped, turned around, and took another deep look at Gu Niannian standing in the courtyard.

That look in his eyes was complex and profound, as if he were assessing a rare treasure.

"This young girl is quite something..."

He said something in a low voice before turning around and getting into the car.

The green jeep sped away amidst the villagers' awe-inspiring gazes.

But the shock it brought was like an 8-magnitude earthquake, stirring up a huge wave in the hearts of Gu Yanqiu and Gu Niannian.

To go or not to go?

Behind this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lies the deepest fear in the hearts of the father and daughter.

That night, Gu Yanqiu didn't sleep a wink, clutching the business card tightly in her hand as if she were holding onto her burning future.

But when he closed his eyes, all he saw was his daughter, dressed in her red wedding gown, lying dying in the snow...