Chapter 116: Rumors Nail the True Culprit

Lu Qingshan carried the heavy bundle on his back, stepping through the afterglow of the setting sun back to Shanwan village.

The cold wind along the way could not disperse the anger in his heart; the chilling feeling of being stabbed in the back made his whole body uneasy.

Mountain Wild Heart was quietly operating, filtering every detail and every word of Boss Wang's daytime remarks.

Rotten leaves, dead livestock meat, the pretense of cheating the state out of money…

Those words were like poisoned needles, stabbing him with a painful sting.

This kind of lowly, despicable method doesn't seem like something the self‑proclaimed legitimate factories would do; it feels more like…

some unseen, scurrying vermin.

Back in the village, he made no noise, only observing silently.

The village proceeded as usual: factory construction was in full swing, and the villagers' faces brimmed with hope for the future.

This calm only made him find the rumors even more hateful.

During dinner, Lu Qingshan, seemingly casually, mentioned to Zhao Yongnian and Zhao Dazhi that he had heard some gossip in the city tarnishing Shanwan village's reputation.

Zhao Yongnian, upon hearing, slammed the Smoke Pipe onto the table with a heavy clank: "Damn it! Which brat is gossiping behind our backs?"

Zhao Dazhi also furrowed his brows: "Qing Shan, you can't speak carelessly; the impact is too harmful. What exactly is the rumor?"

Lu Qingshan then recounted the rumor relayed by Boss Wang, deliberately emphasizing the points "Lu Lazi" and "cheating the state out of money."

As soon as the words fell, Zhao Yongnian and Zhao Dazhi exchanged a glance, their faces darkening.

"Lu Lazi…" Zhao Yongnian chewed on the three words, a flash of understanding in his eyes, "I guess this matter is probably linked to those two incompetent things that just got released from the detention."

"The village chief said… Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu?"

Lu Qingshan felt a stir in his heart.

These two are the village's notorious lazy thugs; not long ago, they followed Ma Liu to Lu Qingshan's house to rob and were caught, sent to re‑education through labor for a few months, and now their time is up.

They had long mixed with the former owner Ma Liu, and knew Lu Qingshan's past character inside out.

Zhao Dazhi also nodded: "It's almost certain. Those two kids, after staying inside for months, not only didn't learn anything, they probably brewed a bellyful of bad water. Seeing our village prosper, they're jealous!"

Lu Qingshan's gaze turned cold.

If it's these two, then everything makes sense.

They know their own past, and are accustomed to stirring trouble; spreading such rumors is their specialty.

"This matter can't just be left at that!"

Lu Qingshan said gravely, "This isn't aimed at me alone; it's meant to crush the livelihood of every villager!"

The next morning, Lu Qingshan summoned Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui, and headed straight for Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu's dilapidated homes.

Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu, just rousing from sleepy eyes, were sipping corn‑porridge with salty vegetable lumps when Lu Qingshan burst in with two burly men; they were so startled the bowl in their hands nearly fell.

"Qing… Qing Shan brother… what is this…"

Zhao Lao San's tongue was even a little tangled.

Although they had once hung around Lu Qingshan, the current Lu Qingshan, with sharp eyes and steady aura, was no longer the reckless "Lu Lazi" of old, and instead made them feel genuine dread.

"I ask you," Lu Qingshan said without waste, his gaze flashing like lightning over the two, "are you the ones who spread the city rumors about Shanwan village and me, Lu Qingshan?"

Mountain Wild Heart quietly sensed their subtle emotional fluctuations—panic, insecurity, and a barely perceptible thread of resentment.

Zhao Lao Wu's eyes flicked, he stiffened his neck and said, "Brother Qing Shan, what do you mean? We just got out, we're honest and upright; we have no time to spread nonsense."

"Honest and upright?"

Lu Qingshan sneered, "I think it's like a dog that can't stop eating shit! I'll ask again: is it you?"

He stepped forward, and Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui pressed in behind; the invisible pressure made Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu's calves feel weak.

"No… it wasn't us…"

Zhao Lao San still tried to argue slyly.

"Looks like they won't shed a tear unless they see a coffin."

Lu Qingshan didn't waste time arguing; he pulled a paper from his chest, on which Boss Wang had secretly written the physical description and accent of the rumor‑spreader.

Although vague, combined with the timing of Zhao Lao San's recent release, it was enough to intimidate.

"This is the deputy food shop owner's own note, saying there's a sharp‑mouthed, monkey‑faced one and a thief‑eyed, mouse‑eyed one, each calling us 'Lu Lazi' and denigrating our village's products as worthless. Shall I take you to the city now for a face‑to‑face?"

Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu's faces turned ashen the moment they saw the note.

They hadn't expected Lu Qingshan to uncover a clue so quickly.

"Brother Qing Shan, we… we were just momentarily confused…"

"It's… it's just that seeing you now so glorious makes us feel a bit unbalanced…"

"Unbalanced?"

Lu Qingshan's gaze grew colder, "Unbalanced enough to smear the whole village? To cut off everyone's livelihood?"

Finally, the two were dragged to the village committee.

Zhao Yongnian, looking at the two worthless brats, was so angry his beard bristled, and he pointed at their noses, hurling a tirade with spittle flying.

Scolding is done; punishment must follow.

Lu Qingshan, seeing the drooping two, felt something stir and said, "Village chief, scolding alone does nothing. I think we should sentence them to work at the medicinal herb plantation, earning merit through punishment. They'll be supervised daily, their work points halved, and when they truly repent, their points will return to normal."

Hearing this, Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu, though reluctant, knew it was the best outcome for now, better than being sent back again, and they hung their heads in assent.

The matter was thus temporarily suppressed.

Lu Qingshan knew that although the rumor's source was blocked, its impact would still take time to dissipate.

A few days later, an elderly TCM doctor from Baishan City Hospital, surnamed Sun and previously one of the experts who had surveyed Shanwan village, made a special trip back to Shanwan, found Lu Qingshan, and looked visibly excited.

"Comrade Lu! The formula for your huang qi herbal beverage, we took it back for detailed pharmacological analysis and clinical observation—remarkable, truly remarkable!"

Old Doctor Sun grasped Lu Qingshan's hand, his eyes shining.

"Old Sun, where do these words come from?"

Lu Qingshan was a little puzzled.

"It's more than just a pick‑me‑up!"

Doctor Sun pulled a thick stack of reports from his bag and said, "We have found that your formula, at a specific ratio, has a very significant auxiliary effect on alleviating physical weakness and boosting immunity! Moreover, its taste is mild and it suits a wide range of people. This… this is like striking gold! I suggest you immediately apply for a national patent for this formula!"

"Patent?"

Lu Qingshan was taken aback; the word was still very fresh to him after his rebirth.

Seeing that he didn't understand, Doctor Sun patiently explained, covering everything from intellectual property protection to future market value, and Lu Qingshan's mind was suddenly opened.

He suddenly realized that the thing he concocted using his keen perception of herbs, thanks to the Mountain Wild Heart, could be worth far beyond his imagination!

This is not just a beverage; it could become a golden brand!

"Thank you, Doctor Sun, for the guidance!"

Lu Qingshan thanked him solemnly, already weighing the possibilities in his mind.

Just as Lu Qingshan was thrilled about the patent, even better news arrived one after another.

News came from the Baishan City government that, after Mayor Zhang Zhidong's personal inquiry and promotion, several major municipal agencies and large state‑owned enterprise cafeterias decided to include Dried Meat, Sausage and other cooked products produced by Dingxiang Food Factory in Shanwan Village in the direct procurement list!

The news spread through Shanwan Village like it had grown wings, and the villagers ran around telling each other, happier than during the New Year.

That meant their products already had a stable sales channel before even entering full‑scale production!

Lu Qingshan immediately took Zhao Dazhi to the city and signed supply contracts with the logistics heads of the various units.

Looking at one contract after another stamped with a red seal, Lu Qingshan felt a flood of emotions.

He knew that Mayor Zhang and the county leaders' support were indispensable, and he recorded that gratitude deeply.