Chapter 107: Return to Lanling

After seeing off Mine Director Chen, I didn't see anyone else.

I am preparing for the future resumption of work and production in Qi He; too many people are useless. Now is not the time for a major push.

Everything is proceeding secretly.

I had Xiao Long go to the Qi he zhen Police Station to report in.

I met with their chief,

The chief's surname is Jin; that shows great respect for us.

After Xiao Long finished reporting at the police station,

I then said to Chief Jin: "Chief Jin, Xiao Long, from now on he's in your hands."

Chief Jin gave a charming smile and said: "Thank you, Chairman Zhao and Director Niu for thinking highly of us, letting Xiao Long brother work here. Rest assured, I will definitely take good care of him."

"Taking good care of him is one aspect; of course, mainly it's about properly training the youth, which is the right thing to do. I hope Xiao Long can become talented here." I laughed.

"He will surely do so; previously Chief Li worked here, so his child will also succeed and go out from here." Chief Jin said with a smile.

This Chief Jin is quite eloquent.

I said to Chief Jin: "Chief Jin, although Xiao Long has reported to you, I temporarily lack manpower beside me, so let Xiao Long help me for a few more days, okay?"

"Oh dear, Chairman Zhao, look at what you're saying. Isn't this slapping my face? Xiao Long brother, whenever you come is fine. Rest assured, Xiao Long being able to intern here will give face to our Qi He." Chief Jin said.

I shook hands with Chief Jin,

then Xiao Long and I drove off.

We need to go to Lanling to handle important matters, because Shi Yong has already arranged a meeting time with Du County of Lanling.

This Du County of Lanling is also my old friend; previously Du County was the factory director of Lanling Winery.

When I founded Da Heng Company in Lanling, I vigorously promoted Lanling liquor, causing the Lanling Winery's benefits to improve year by year; consequently, Director Du also got promoted.

Eventually I became the parent-official of Lanling County.

Given our past interactions, Du County and I have a very solid relationship.

Xiao Long and I quickly arrived at Lanling County seat.

In recent years, Lanling County seat's construction has been very good,

the former shanty areas have mostly been demolished and relocated.

tall buildings have also risen in the county seat.

It now has some of the feel of a big city.

Looking out the car window at Lanling County seat, I felt a myriad of emotions.

I was born here, I grew up here,

Everything started here; earliest I followed Wu Xiezi in doing demolitions in Lanling County, back when Liu Xian was the leader.

Then after Liu Xian fell,

I together with Xia Yuan founded Da Heng Group in Lanling to develop the cotton mill.

In the blink of an eye, many years have passed again,

I specifically had Xiao Long drive to the cotton mill's residential area to take a look.

Xiao Long said: "Grandpa, this residential area of the cotton mill still has my home; back then you specially left a three-bedroom unit for my father."

We lived there for several years.

I asked Xiao Long: "Have you sold that three-bedroom unit?"

Xiao Long shook his head,

"My father said, wait until we return to Lanling for retirement to use it."

"Good, when we're old later, we'll all come back." I said.

The car soon arrived at the cotton mill residential area; the walls here are all made of stone, which was also a suggestion from He Zuming.

Because the terrain here is unfavorable, we must use stone to hold it down.

Using stone as walls, over time they gain a stronger sense of history.

They look much better than modern iron fences.

Some places have even grown green moss.

Originally the cotton mill was at the southernmost part of Lanling County seat, the terrain low-lying, with few residents, becoming Lanling's idle land, which locals planted vegetables on.

When summer rainy season arrives, this place gets flooded.

Back then, nobody dared to develop this place.

When we first arrived, we even got into a fight with the locals; fortunately, Wang Changguang got beaten up, which allowed us to develop smoothly.

In the car I looked at the cotton mill residential area, thinking of past scenes; time really flies.

After the car made a loop around the cotton mill,

Xiao Long asked: "Grandpa, where are we going?"

I said: "We have an appointment with Du County at five this afternoon; it's already past four."

Let's go to the guesthouse hotel; we'll wait for Du County there.

Xiao Long said: "Okay."

Xiao Long drove the car again and took me to the guesthouse hotel.

This hotel was specially opened by Liu Xian back then for Yang Tao.

After we overthrew Liu Xian, Xia Yuan still hit Yang Tao here.

As soon as I entered the hotel, I thought of Xia Yuan and Yang Tao.

Xia Yuan has been buried for over ten years; Yang Tao has gone abroad.

These women, they accompanied my growth.

I once said that a man must undergo a woman's baptism to grow up.

Without Xia Yuan directing me from behind, my Da Heng Company could not even get started.

Without Yang Tao deliberately deceiving me, my life experiences would seem so pale.

I always thought society was beautiful; otherwise, society is complex, with good and evil coexisting.

Entering the hotel lobby,

The hotel's Manager Min stood in the lobby, specifically on the red carpet waiting for me, with attendants in neat uniforms standing on both sides.

Seeing from afar, they stretched out a hand,

"Welcome Chairman Zhao to inspect the guesthouse hotel."

"Oh, Manager Min, you're being too polite. I'm just coming to the hotel to rest my feet; look at what you've done with this red carpet. Don't let people welcome me." I said.

"Chairman Zhao, you're a big shot in Zaocheng; we rarely meet, so a simple welcome will do. This time you've returned home to our hotel, which is our honor. Young Zhang, Young Li, quickly go support Chairman Zhao." Manager Min said with a smile.

Two young women ran over, one on each side, to support me.

Actually, I really didn't want to make such a grand welcome ceremony; I just came quietly and would leave quietly.

I don't want too many people to know me.

Actually, it's not a matter of whether you want it or not; many things simply cannot be done according to your wishes.

I had two beautiful women, one on each side, supporting me; Manager Min laughed and stood behind me.

At that moment, a cameraman came over and kept snapping pictures of us wildly.

After taking a photo with Manager Min, Manager Min suggested that I say a few words to everyone.

I could only smile bitterly and say: "Everyone has worked hard; everyone, go rest."

Xiao Long hurriedly ran up to Manager Min and said a couple of sentences to him.

Only then did Manager Min have the two beautiful women help me to the room to rest.

After reaching the room, the two beautiful women still wouldn't leave; they insisted on helping me onto the bed to rest and even wanted to undress me.

I was somewhat angry,

What the hell is Manager Min messing around with,

A perfectly good hotel, and yet they've messed up the service offerings into chaos.

Really annoying.

Fortunately, Xiao Long pushed the door open and came in,

Xiao Long politely asked the two beautiful women to leave.

I said, "Xiao Long, fortunately you came in; otherwise, my great-uncle would have been insulted."

Xiao Long laughed at what I said.

"Great-uncle, you're now like a star, loved by everyone."

"Society is more open now than before, Xiao Long; from now on you'll be working a position, and not an ordinary one—you need to be even more careful at work. Do you know that for a man to succeed he must master three passes?" I said while looking at Xiao Long, and I decided to pass on the three-pass education that Wu Xiezi taught me back then to Xiao Long.

"What three passes, great-uncle? I've never heard of them before." Xiao Long said.

"These are things you can't learn at school; today, great-uncle, I'll give you a lesson, teaching you what I know, so you won't make mistakes in this area later."

I lit a cigarette and slowly said,