Chapter 127: Experts Wait a Day, Lu Qingshan Returns with a Surprising, Forceful Comeback!

The green‑painted train, with its harsh braking screech, slowly stopped at the Baishan City station platform; Lu Qingshan leapt out of the carriage first, and Li Jianqiang and three other technical experts followed closely.

July in the Northeast is already early summer; the night breeze carries the forest's distinctive fragrance, but Lu Qingshan has no mind to appreciate it, his heart burning.

"Factory Director Lu! Factory Director Lu!"

Before he could leave the station, a familiar figure rushed over—it was Zhao Er Zhuang.

He was drenched in sweat, his face full of anxiety.

"Er Zhuang? Why are you here?"

Lu Qingshan felt a tightening in his chest; seeing Zhao Er Zhuang's flustered demeanor, he feared the village situation was worse than what was said over the phone.

"Brother Qing Shan, Sister‑in‑law Yue E asked me to wait for you at the station; the village situation… sigh!"

Zhao Er Zhuang gasped, helping carry luggage as he spoke, "The expert team is still waiting in the village office; they've been waiting since morning and their faces are getting increasingly sallow. That Zhao Lao San is literally a scoundrel; seeing you not return, his mouth fires like a machine gun, spouting every nasty word!"

Li Jianqiang frowned: "Lu Qingshan, this situation is more complicated than we thought."

Lu Qingshan took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm: "Er Zhuang, tell me in detail—what are the backgrounds of the expert team members? What did Zhao Lao San and the others say?"

"The expert team consists of five people. Leading them is a group leader surnamed Sun, who looks quite stern; there are two who handle agriculture, one who handles industry, and one who seems to handle finance."

Zhao Er Zhuang said as he walked, "Originally the village chief and Team Leader Zhao could handle it, but that dog Zhao Lao San, in front of the expert team, spouted nonsense, saying you ran off with the factory's money, claiming our village is just bragging to swindle subsidies!"

"That's not all," Zhao Er Zhuang grew more indignant, "He even teamed up with Zhao Lao Wu, bringing a few idle troublemakers, fanning the flames everywhere, saying things like 'Lu the scabby one's situation may change, but his nature is hard to alter' and 'sooner or later he'll show his fox tail'—such nonsense! Some villagers who were already half‑doubting are now starting to waver."

Lu Qingshan listened, his fists slowly clenching, veins bulging.

"Zhao Lao San, Zhao Lao Wu—those two clueless brutes, they wouldn't shed a tear until they see a coffin!"

Yao Bai'nian snorted coldly from the side: "Jump‑beam clown, not worth a sneer. Comrade Lu, the more this kind of moment arises, the more you must keep your composure."

Qian Jin stroked his chin and said, "Looks like our good show has come at just the right time."

Lu Qingshan nodded, his mind racing to devise a plan. The current situation is indeed far from optimistic; the expert team has been waiting all day, and their patience is nearly exhausted.

On top of Zhao Lao San and his group's sowing discord, the first impression is already terrible.

But just as he thought on the train, isn't this precisely an opportunity for a desperate counterattack?

"Er Zhuang, help me arrange lodging for a few masters; have them rest at the guesthouse first."

Lu Qingshan decided, "I'll go to the village office first to meet the expert team and steady the situation."

Li Jianqiang grabbed him, "Lu, it's so late, and you're all dusty and weary; the first impression is poor. How about we go tomorrow at dawn after thorough preparation?"

"No!"

Lu Qingshan shook his head, a resolute glint in his eyes, "The expert team has already waited a day; if I don't appear tonight, they may leave tomorrow! There's only one chance; it must be seized!"

He turned to the technical experts, "Masters, thank you for your hard work; rest for tonight. Tomorrow at dawn, we'll let those doubters see what true technical strength looks like!"

Three hours later, the Shanwan Village office was brightly lit.

Pushing open the conference room door, Lu Qingshan saw five middle‑aged men in Zhongshan suits seated around the table, all with grim faces.

At the head was Group Leader Sun, about fifty years old, wearing thick glasses, his brows tightly knit.

Village chief Zhao Yongnian and Production Team Leader Zhao Dazhi sat nearby; when they saw Lu Qingshan enter, relief showed in their eyes.

"Comrades, experts, sorry for keeping you waiting!"

Lu Qingshan stepped forward, bowing sincerely, "I am Lu Qingshan, just rushed back from the provincial capital."

Group Leader Sun adjusted his glasses, scanning Lu Qingshan up and down, his tone rather cold: "Comrade Lu, we've been waiting here all day. As the person in charge of Shanwan Village's development project, do you know how much trouble your absence has caused our work?"

"Group Leader Sun, I deeply apologize."

Lu Qingshan admitted calmly, "I went out this time to recruit technical talent for the village's development project. The schedule is indeed tight, but I can guarantee it's absolutely worth it!"

A skinny tall man seated to Group Leader Sun's right sneered, "Recruit talent? Comrade Lu, do you know what's being whispered outside? Some say you siphoned the factory's money and fled, claiming Shanwan Village's projects are mere shells, a scheme to swindle state subsidies!"

With those words, the conference room's atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing.

Lu Qingshan cursed inwardly; Zhao Lao San's venomous tongue was indeed fierce, shaking even the expert team.

But his face remained impassive, instead showing a faint smile.

"That expert is right; such rumors do exist outside."

Lu Qingshan unexpectedly admitted, "But may I ask, as the expert team sent from the province, are you relying on hearsay, or do you trust facts you have seen with your own eyes?"

Group Leader Sun raised an eyebrow: "What are you getting at?"

"What I mean is, since you experts are here to assess Shanwan Village's development project, please come to our factory yourself, let facts speak, and verify everything with technology!"

Lu Qingshan's voice rang powerfully, "If we are merely painting big pictures and lack real technical strength, no flowery words can stand. But if we truly have genuine skill, those malicious rumors will collapse on their own!"

The conference room fell into a brief silence.

The members of the expert team exchanged puzzled looks, clearly not expecting Lu Qingshan to confront them so directly.

"Alright!"

Group Leader Sun suddenly patted the table, "The young man has guts! Then tomorrow we'll go to your factory for an on‑site inspection, to see whether it's solid gold or scrap iron!"

At that moment, the conference room door was violently shoved open; Zhao Lao San burst in with a few men, a smug smile on his face.

"Comrades, experts, don't be fooled by this kid!"

Zhao Lao San pointed at Lu Qingshan, shouting, "He's a liar! The whole talent recruitment thing is just a crime‑fleeing cover; now he can't run away, so he's back to keep acting!"

Zhao Lao Wu chimed in, "Exactly! Comrades, experts, don't believe his nonsense! Shanwan Village has no technology; we just hunt a few Wild Boars and trade some mountain goods!"

A cold glint flashed in Lu Qingshan's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.

"The opportunity has arrived!"

Right there, in front of the expert team, he could expose these two jump‑beam clowns completely!

"Zhao Lao San, Zhao Lao Wu," Lu Qingshan's voice was terrifyingly calm, "Since you doubt our technical strength so much, tomorrow come with the expert team to the factory and see. Then we'll find out whether it's a mule or a horse, and pull it out for a ride!"