Chapter 124: The Expert Team Drops In, Zhao Lao San's Black‑Hearted, Rotten Accusations!

On the other end of the phone, Lin Yue'e's voice was tinged with an uncontrollable sob and hoarseness, the background noise was unbearably noisy, and faint shouts could be heard, making Lu Qingshan's heart tighten sharply.

"Qing Shan? Is that you, Qing Shan! Come back quickly!"

Without waiting for Lu Qingshan to ask in detail, Lin Yue'e's tearful words bombarded him like a rapid‑fire cannon, full of panic and helplessness.

Lu Qingshan felt a weight in his chest, quickly steadied his voice: "Yue E, it's me! Why are you at the village office? What happened? Speak slowly, don't rush! I'm listening!"

"Wuh... Qing Shan..."

Lin Yue'e seemed to find her backbone, inhaled deeply, but her voice still trembled: "Early this morning, just at dawn, several vehicles arrived at the village entrance, a group of people got off, saying... saying they were an agricultural expert team dispatched by the province, coming to our village to inspect the 'Rural Reform Pilot Advanced Model' matter!"

The provincial expert team arrived ahead of schedule?!

And they came in this kind of surprise inspection! Lu Qingshan's mind buzzed, instantly going blank.

Secretary Zhang had mentioned this, but who could have expected it to happen so quickly, so suddenly, and to choose the exact moment he had just stepped out!

He forced himself to stay calm and asked in a deep voice: "Where are the members of the expert team? Where are they now? How did the village chief and Captain Zhao respond?"

"The village chief and Captain Zhao are both staying at the village office, but... the expert team specifically requested to see you, saying they want to hear you personally report on our factory and the village's development plan. They've asked you several times, and you're not at home!"

Lin Yue'e's voice was thick with anxiety: "They can't wait for you; their expressions have already turned sour..."

Lu Qingshan furrowed his brows; this was indeed a big trouble.

If he's not there, many matters can't be explained clearly by others, and the situation can't be steadied.

"And then? Just because I'm not here?"

He keenly sensed that the matter might not be that simple.

"And then... then Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu, those two damned beasts!"

Lin Yue'e's voice suddenly rose, filled with deep hatred and anger: "They heard somewhere that you weren't in the village, and seeing the expert team arrive, they gathered a few idle slackers and rushed to the expert team, spouting nonsense!"

"What did they say?!"

Lu Qingshan's voice suddenly turned cold, a chill shooting from his soles up to the crown of his head.

"They... in front of the expert team, they slandered you, saying you fled with the recent payment the village food factory received! They called you a fraud, claiming you opened three factories, spread the operation so wide just to draw big pictures, trying to swindle state support funds and subsidies!"

Lin Yue'e trembled with anger, sobbing, "They also said... they said the people of Shanwan Village were all deceived by you, and sooner or later they'd lose everything! Now the leaders of the expert team look stone‑blue, having asked the village chief many sharp questions. Many villagers have believed those bogus accounts, started arguing, and morale is nearly shattered! Zhao Er Zhuang, Zhao Qiang and a few others got so angry they tried to confront Zhao Lao San's group, but the village chief held them back tightly; the scene was chaotic!"

"Bogus accounting stuff!"

Lu Qingshan only felt a raging flame surge from his chest to his forehead, his hand gripping the handset whitening at the knuckles, veins bulging.

【5】 Zhao Lao San! Zhao Lao Wu!

Zhao Lao San! Zhao Lao Wu!

These two lingering, despicable shit‑stirrers!

The previous lesson clearly didn't teach them, and they dared to flip black and white and maliciously slander at this critical moment!

They intend to ruin his, and the entire Shanwan Village's efforts, in an instant!

Had we known these two troublemakers' hearts were unrepentant, we should have dealt with them harsher from the start, making sure they could never recover!

"Qing Shan, think of a solution quickly! The Comrade from the expert team said, if you don't appear today and give a clear answer, they might... might cancel our Shanwan Village's pilot recommendation!"

Lin Yue'e's voice was laced with desperate sobs, "If you don't come back, our village... the hope we've barely managed to bring, the modest assets we've worked hard for, I'm afraid they'll be completely ruined by them! I... I can hardly hold on..."

Lu Qingshan closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and when he opened them again, a sharp, icy glint and unquestionable resolve filled his gaze.

"Yue E, don't be afraid! Hold steady! Tell the village chief and Captain Zhao to try to stall the expert team as much as possible, saying I'm urgently rushing back from the provincial capital and will definitely arrive by tomorrow night at the latest! Make sure they never engage Zhao Lao San's group in direct conflict, protect themselves and the factory! I'm heading back immediately! As for these trash, I wonder how long they can keep flailing!"

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying undeniable strength, instantly giving Lin Yue'e on the other end a bit of reliance.

"Qing Shan..."

"Listen to me, keep the situation steady, wait for my return! Everything's with me!"

Lu Qingshan said resolutely, and before hanging up, he seemed to have already seen Zhao Lao San's hateful face, his inner fury and murderous intent intertwining and soaring.

This time, he will never give these rotters any chance!

Lu Qingshan inhaled deeply, suppressing the fury and anxiety in his heart.

He knew that at this moment, he absolutely could not act recklessly.

He is the backbone of Shanwan Village; if he panics, everything would truly be over.

After hanging up, Lu Qingshan's complexion turned iron‑blue, his eyes sharp as knives.

Li Jianqiang and Wang Ming, standing nearby, also caught the gist; seeing his demeanor, they couldn't help but furrow their brows.

"Little Lu, is something wrong at home?"

Li Jianqiang asked concernedly.

Lu Qingshan nodded, briefly explained the situation, his tone carrying a hint of apology: "Master Li, Brother Wang, and Master Yao, Master Qian over there, I'm afraid... this inspection trip will add some variables."

He looked at Li Jianqiang, "We must set off immediately and return, the sooner the better!"

Li Jianqiang furrowed his brows: "At this critical juncture, with no one in charge in the village and outsiders fanning the flames, it's indeed troublesome. If the expert team's first impression is ruined, the rest will be hard to manage."

Wang Ming couldn't help but speak up: "I told you, making such a big mess in the mountain ravine is unstable. It wasn't bad enough, and now troublemakers appear."

His words carried a hint of schadenfreude, and also a sense of 'just as I thought.'

Lu Qingshan ignored Wang Ming's sarcastic remark; his mind was now filled with how to rush back to Shanwan Village as quickly as possible and how to handle the present crisis.

He looked at Li Jianqiang, his gaze firm: "Master Li, I know this puts you in a difficult position. Shanwan Village's current situation may be more complicated than I described earlier. If you, Master Yao, and Master Qian now change your minds and refuse to wade into this murky water, Lu Qingshan will have no second thoughts; the previous promise still stands, and I will fully cover the travel expenses."

His gaze swept over Li Jianqiang, the veteran technician who had just had a glimmer of hope reignited by his blueprint and sincerity; what will he choose now?

And Yao Bai'nian and Qian Jin, upon learning of this sudden situation, will they still be willing to embark on the journey to that unknown mountain village?

Lu Qingshan's heart couldn't help but rise in anxiety.

He not only had to face the village's crisis, but also the possible wavering of those talents who had only just glimpsed a ray of hope.