Chapter 112: Three Factories Laid Simultaneously! Lu Qingshan

The funds are in place, and all preparatory work immediately kicks off in full.

The industrial bureau experts sent from the city also arrive quickly, assisting in planning the construction of the meat products factory and the herbal beverage factory.

While discussing the meat products factory's processes, Lu Qingshan says, "Our Shanwan village's mountain spring water is of excellent quality, and the nearby forests have abundant wild Sichuan pepper, star anise, aromatic leaves, and other seasonings. I wonder if we can combine these to develop Dried Meat, Sausage, and even medicinal meat products with our local characteristics."

An engineer surnamed Li frowns and says, "Comrade Lu, your idea is good, but collecting wild spices and controlling their quality is a major problem, and using mountain spring water for industrial purposes is too costly. We should stick to mature industrial production processes to ensure product quality and output."

Lu Qingshan insists, "Engineer Li, it is precisely because of the uniqueness that we have competitiveness. Quality and distinctiveness are the foundation of Shanwan village's products." He then elaborates in detail how to organize villagers to standardize the collection and preliminary processing of wild spices, how to use trace elements in the mountain spring water to enhance meat texture, and even mentions several kinds of wood he sensed through Mountain Wild Heart that can be used to make special smoking agents.

After a heated verbal duel, Engineer Li, who was initially dismissive, gradually becomes moved by Lu Qingshan's detailed, mountain‑wise argument, his eyes showing contemplation and a touch of admiration.

When discussing the herbal beverage factory plan, the atmosphere becomes even more lively.

The traditional Chinese medicine expert accompanying the team is already very interested in the "medicinal wine, herbal oral liquid" concept Lu Qingshan previously proposed to the city.

When Lu Qingshan, using Mountain Wild Heart, perceives the forest herbs uniquely and proposes several rare medicinal combinations he believes can be paired and even mutually enhance each other's properties, an elderly Chinese medicine doctor leaps to his feet on the spot, exclaiming, "Brilliant! Comrade Xiao Lu, your thinking on these herb pairings looks ordinary but actually aligns with medical theory and is innovative! Especially the 'Acanthopanax' paired with 'Schisandra', supplemented with trace 'Forest Ginseng' to lift the qi; if we can truly make an oral liquid, it will have remarkable effects on relieving fatigue, calming the mind, and sharpening intellect! Your talent is… truly extraordinary!"

The other experts also nod one after another, their gazes toward Lu Qingshan filled with awe and appreciation.

Factory site selection is put on the agenda.

Lu Qingshan submits a land‑use application to the county.

Unexpectedly, a few days later he hears unexpected news from County Mayor Liu Yuejin.

"Qing Shan, it seems some people in your town have objections to you building this factory."

Liu Yuejin's tone is a bit subtle, "Someone sent an anonymous letter to the county, claiming you're reviving 'capitalist restoration' in the mountains, that the operation is too large, prone to getting out of control, and corrupting the atmosphere of the socialist new countryside."

Lu Qingshan feels a weight in his heart—again this line of argument!

He didn't expect resistance to come from within Wan Gou Zhen.

"County Mayor, rest assured, I, Lu Qingshan, act with conscience and live up to the Party and government's trust."

Secretary Zhang Xincheng, upon learning this, slams the table at the County Committee meeting and says, "Shanwan village is a pilot jointly selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and the city, a pioneer in exploring rural development for the whole city! Whoever dares to drag their feet now and become a stumbling block is acting against the interests of the entire county! I don't care who they are; I'll investigate to the end and deal with it sternly!"

With the County Committee secretary's firm stance, those noises quickly subside.

The county's efficiency is high, and it promptly approves Shanwan village's factory land application.

Moreover, under Secretary Zhang Xincheng's personal oversight, a parcel of land adjacent to Shanwan village—relatively convenient for transport, flat and open—is specially approved as the factory site.

The villagers call it a "geomantically blessed site," backed by green mountains and facing a stream.

Lu Qingshan stands on that land, activates Mountain Wild Heart, and immediately senses an unusually pure and abundant mist of water rising from deep underground.

"There's a massive water source below…!"

Lu Qingshan feels a surge of joy.

A high‑quality underground water source is, for the meat products factory and the beverage factory, a gift from heaven.

On July 1st, the Party's birthday, Shanwan village's herbal medicine preliminary processing plant, meat products factory, and herbal beverage factory jointly hold a grand groundbreaking ceremony.

Leaders from provincial, municipal and county levels all send representatives to congratulate, and many cadres and masses from the surrounding ten‑mile radius also attend; the scene is exceptionally lively.

Firecrackers crack, and colorful flags flutter.

Yet, amid the festive and harmonious atmosphere, Lu Qingshan keenly perceives some discordant notes.

Some visiting officials who came to "observe and learn," whispering privately, have eyes tinged with doubt.

"Lu Qingshan of Shanwan village is moving too fast, isn't he? Launching three factories simultaneously—if any link fails, it could affect Jiangyuan County Committee's performance."

"Yeah, I heard he's just a green youngster; hopefully he's not a terrible commander who ends up making a mess."

These murmurs, though low, prick Lu Qingshan's heart like needles.

He knows the road ahead remains full of unknowns and challenges.

Amid the enthusiastic applause, Lu Qingshan steps onto the makeshift podium.

He looks at the sea of dark‑crowded faces below, at the hopeful faces of his fellow villagers, and at the expectant gazes of leaders at all levels, and takes a deep breath.

"Leaders, distinguished guests, fathers and mothers of the village!"

His voice, amplified, echoes through the venue, "Today is a milestone day in Shanwan village's history! We thank the Party and the government for their trust and support, thank the experts for their diligent guidance, and thank all friends who care for and help Shanwan village!"

"I know many are watching us—some with expectation, some observing, perhaps some doubting."

Lu Qingshan shifts his tone, his gaze sharp and resolute, "But we people of Shanwan village fear neither hardship nor difficulty, nor challenge! Under our feet lies the land our ancestors lived on; behind us are wives, children, elders and the young waiting to be fed. Apart from living well and building our hometown, we have no other choice!"

"These three factories are the future hope of Shanwan village! They are the cornerstone for us to break poverty and stride toward prosperity! I, Lu Qingshan, assure everyone that I will lead the villagers to run these three factories well, to make them renowned, and let Shanwan village's name resound across the entire Greater Eastland!"

His words land with weight and charisma, and the audience erupts in thunderous applause and cheers.

After the groundbreaking ceremony ends, the construction crew immediately begins work on site.

Following the site area Lu Qingshan previously selected, excavators start foundation work.

Not long after digging begins, a veteran pile‑driver shouts excitedly, "Water's coming! Water's coming! The water here is abundant!"

Sure enough, as the digging deepens, clear spring water gushes up from underground.

The accompanying engineer quickly samples and tests, and the result is exhilarating—the underground spring water's quality is excellent, nearly meeting drinking standards, and the reserve is very abundant!

"Comrade Lu, you've chosen this spot truly divine!"

Engineer Li, in charge of the factory layout, gives Lu Qingshan a thumbs‑up, his face full of admiration, "Such a superb water source is practically tailor‑made for our beverage factory and meat products factory!"

Villagers, upon hearing the news, spread the word, and their gazes toward Lu Qingshan grow ever more reverent.

In their eyes, Lu Qingshan is practically a person with prophetic "divine abilities."

Night deepens, and Shanwan village, noisy all day, gradually quiets down.

On the construction site, only a few lights remain on, illuminating the freshly broken‑ground factory outline.

Lu Qingshan dons a coat and walks alone slowly across the site. The evening wind passes, bringing a hint of chill.

He looks at this land that carries the whole village's hope, and his heart is a swirl of emotions.

Honor, capital, experts, policies…

Everything seems unprecedentedly smooth, yet the weight of responsibility on his heart grows heavier.

He knows this is only the first step of a ten‑thousand‑mile Long March; the road ahead remains long and destined not to be smooth sailing.

Back home, Lin Yue'e hadn't gone to sleep yet, and was sitting under the lamp mending Xiao Xue's clothes.

Seeing Lu Qingshan come in with a weary expression, she set down the needle and thread, got up and poured him a cup of warm water, saying, "Still worrying about the factory matters?"

Lu Qingshan took the cup, nodded, and selectively confided some of the worries and pressures in his heart to his wife.

He had assumed Lin Yue'e would, as usual, simply listen quietly and then offer a few gentle words of comfort.

She frowned, thought for a moment, and said softly, "Qing Shan, I may not understand your lofty principles, but I feel that building three factories in our village at once will outpace the labor and management. Especially the procurement of medicinal herbs, the quality control of meat, and the future sales of products—these cannot be handled by brute force alone; they require careful, reliable people to oversee them."

She paused, looked at Lu Qingshan, her eyes bright: "Just like when our family used to sell some mountain goods, I had to calculate which items could fetch more money, which would spoil easily, and act quickly. This factory is larger, the logic should be similar, right? The accounts must be clear, inbound and outbound goods must be understood, and we can't let anyone exploit loopholes."

Lu Qingshan was taken aback; he hadn't expected that his usually gentle and composed wife possessed such clear insight into these business matters.

Her words were plain and unadorned, yet they struck at the crux.

A thought, like a flash of lightning, streaked across Lu Qingshan's mind.

He gazed at his wife's earnest, focused profile in the lamplight, and a bold idea suddenly rose in his heart.

"Yue E," he said, gripping his wife's hand, his eyes blazing, "you said… if I let you manage the factory affairs, would you be willing?"

Lin Yue'e jerked her head up, a flash of surprise and bewilderment crossing her eyes, along with a hint of…

a barely perceptible yearning.

Let her run the factory?

This… how could that be possible?