Rebirth 78: Hunting for Treasure in the Mountains, Spoiling My Wife and Daughter to the Heavens

"Uncle Zhao, I was planning to discuss this with you in detail tonight, but since you've run into us, and there's no one else around, how about we chat for a bit here?"

Lu Weiguo hesitated and said that after leaving the Zhao family, he didn't want to go back in.

This morning, Sister Zhao touched me there.

She even gave him a good squeeze without his knowledge.

Even as he left the house, he discussed with Lu Weiguo about helping her express her breast milk when he came back that evening.

Lu Weiguo felt a little embarrassed when he thought of Zhang Benmo, who was starving to death.

"Don't be polite to your friend's wife, no! You shouldn't covet her."

He didn't do it unintentionally.

Upon hearing this casual conversation, Zhao Kaishan casually took a braised pig's trotter from the basket of his bicycle, broke it in half, and gave it to each of them.

Ignoring the biting cold wind outside, she handed it to Lu Weiguo and gestured for him to eat and talk at the same time.

For him, the house was noisy and messy, and he didn't want to go back home every day after get off work.

This is actually a debt he owes to his family.

I spend too much time working and too little time taking care of my family.

Gradually, my feelings for home became more and more indifferent.

"This is good stuff. Being an official is really great." Lu Weiguo accepted the pig's trotter without any hesitation.

He opened his mouth and took a big bite!

For leaders, eating outdoors can easily lead to catching a cold and getting a stomachache.

For Lu Weiguo, hunting in the mountains was a common and routine activity.

Sometimes you can't swallow a mouthful of air while eating.

He also felt that his stomach wasn't digesting well.

After a few bites, Lu Weiguo spat out a large piece of bone.

Then he picked up a branch again and drew two lines on the ground.

"Uncle Zhao, you probably saw what I wrote earlier, so I won't beat around the bush. The first thing I want to tell you is that we need to do both things well!"

Lu Weiguo used the great man's words to get Zhao Kaishan's attention.

People in this era have very pure and simple feelings, especially towards great figures.

I feel a deep sense of awe whenever I hear the words of a great person.

"This line of inquiry is Zhang Benmo's. Although he was a victim of your 'honest' struggle, precisely because of this, the more your opponents, namely the Qian family faction, manipulate Zhang Benmo's case, the more clues they will expose."

Especially that Qian Duolai, he's definitely a great starting point. By the way, there's also a village cadre named Zhang Deqing in our village; I reckon Qian Duolai will make his move on him in the next few days.

You should also keep an eye on this person.

When Lu Weiguo was talking about Zhang Benmo's case, he specifically mentioned Zhang Deqing's name. For the Zhao family, investigating individuals was just a matter of course.

Regardless of whether Zhao Kaishan knew that this was Lu Weiguo's personal motive, since he had chosen to trust him, he had to investigate this person thoroughly.

But who could have imagined that Lu Weiguo's selfish remark would open up a completely different path for Zhao Kaishan?

"Yes, that's the idea. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. The public security system is definitely a crucial turning point. I recommend someone to you, that old policeman Lao Liu. I think he's very good."

Lu Weiguo began by recounting the entire case, trying his best to recount Zhang Benmo's description verbatim.

Then, taking this as a starting point, a thorough investigation was launched from within the public security system.

Police officer Lao Liu acted as a key figure, using specific points to break through the overall situation and drawing lines to completely surround the entire police force.

Even if we don't stand with Zhang Benmo, we should stand with justice.

The strategy is simple: gradually erode the Qian family's power by arresting some, punishing others, and giving lenient treatment to the rest.

Finding something to use against someone is not difficult.

The second point is the main focus of Lu Weiguo's discussion.

That is the power of the masses!

The power of the people!!

While Zhao Kaishan was "upright" in his struggle, it was essential to give the Qian family faction the false impression that they were having a very difficult time.

Behind the scenes, sweeping reforms are about to begin.

"Firstly, we need to stabilize the workers' emotions. It's not that the workers aren't working hard, but that times are changing and they aren't being given the opportunity to work hard. The working people are not at fault."

At this point, Lu Weiguo wrote two words: coal and meat!

"Unlike rural areas, the county doesn't have straw or wood. In the dead of winter, they haven't been paid for several months. How are they going to survive the winter? So the first thing we need to do is get coal."

"You're talking nonsense. Do you think I don't know that? But where will the money come from? And none of this is under my control!" Zhao Kaishan had previously thought that Lu Weiguo had gained such power.

What good stuff could I possibly come up with? I didn't expect him to just say this!

"Wait, I haven't finished yet. The neighboring Linkou County and Jixi coal mines—aren't they all coal? And buying directly from the mines, the price is much higher."

The coal mine doesn't lack money; what it lacks is something else entirely. Think about it carefully.

Lu Weiguo stopped there; if Zhao Kaishan couldn't figure this out, he shouldn't stay here.

Zhao Kaishan nodded thoughtfully.

Lu Weiguo pointed to the meat and said again, "I'll take care of that for you. Winter's coming, and the New Year is almost here. How can we not give out some meat as a welfare benefit for your workers? Get me a lot of permits and licenses, and I'll go hunting in the mountains and sell all the meat to you, in a legal and compliant way!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kaishan spat and secretly sighed, "This kid really didn't know what he was up to."

What do you mean by "working for the benefit of workers"? I think you're just...

Get what's best for yourself!

"Hey! That's a good way to put it, you're cultured. You've got some real talent!"

"Pfft!" Lu Weiguo almost spat a big pig's trotter onto Zhao Kaishan's face.

Is seeking welfare considered cultured?

Those broadcasters in later generations were incredibly cultured!

They all know how to benefit their families!

Having appeased the workers, all that remained was to focus on development.

Lu Weiguo understood this even better.

The few simple words written down startled Zhao Kaishan, who hurriedly wiped away the marks on the ground.

They didn't even dare to leave a mark.

the other side.

Shivering from the cold, Zhang Benmo settled down in an adobe house near the county town.

The homeowner was an elderly woman.

There were only her and her granddaughter at home.

The house was dilapidated and drafty. Grandma's children had all died in an accident at a state-owned factory.

This left behind only the lonely old woman and her young child who had just come of age.

"Grandma, I remember that when there's an accident at a state-owned factory, there's usually compensation, right?"

While warming himself by the fire, Zhang Benmo secretly glanced at his lightly dressed granddaughter.

"Compensation? What compensation can ordinary people like us expect? They've already taken back our houses and our grain ration certificates."

"Luckily, the neighborhood took pity on us and gave us a job gluing matchboxes, otherwise we would have starved to death long ago." The old woman said, pointing Zhang Benmo to her granddaughter's hands, which were covered in sores.

As the saying goes, "When you're full, you start thinking about sex," and Zhang Benmo already had a hint of such thoughts.

He picked up the granddaughter at the airport and took her hand.

The two looked into each other's eyes, feeling an awkward mix of attraction and ambiguity, though they couldn't quite put their finger on it.

Zhang Benmo gently touched the elephant's palm, which was burned by glue, and counted the lines on its hand.

From fingers to palm.

It was like plucking the strings of a musical instrument to pluck at a young girl's heart.