Chapter 130: Zhao Lao San Kneels in Guilt! The Mastermind Backer Unmasked

As soon as Zhang Xincheng finished speaking, the atmosphere in the entire factory froze instantly.

Several members of the expert team stared at each other, and Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu's faces turned ashen, as if the initiative they had just held vanished without a trace.

"However," Zhang Xincheng shifted his tone, a mysterious smile appearing on his face, "the experts have come from afar, and merely seeing this is not enough. We have prepared an even bigger surprise for you."

He turned to Lu Qingshan, a hint flashing in his eyes that only the two could understand: "Comrade Lu, it's time to take the experts to 'that place' for a look."

Lu Qingshan felt puzzled: what "that place"?

He clearly had not discussed any special arrangement with Zhang Xincheng.

But seeing Zhang Xincheng's meaning‑laden gaze, he quickly realized that the County Committee secretary clearly had a backup plan.

"Alright, Secretary Zhang. Experts, please follow me."

Lu Qingshan forced himself to stay calm, while his mind raced to decipher Zhang Xincheng's intention.

The group marched grandly away from the food factory toward the open ground behind the village.

The nearer they got, the wider Lu Qingshan's eyes opened.

On the previously empty land, a fairly large temporary exhibition platform had been erected, colorful banners fluttering in the wind, bearing the bold characters "Shanwan Village Agricultural Product Deep‑Processing Demonstration Exhibition."

Neatly arranged on the platform were various exquisite product packaging boxes—dried meat, medicinal herbs, mountain goods, and even some packaging samples Lu Qingshan had never seen before.

A few middle‑aged men in suits were scrutinizing something at the front of the platform; when the expert team arrived, they immediately came forward to greet them.

"You must be the experts sent from the province? Long have we heard of you!"

One bespectacled middle‑aged man stepped forward and said, "I am Wang Dahai, procurement manager of the Changchun First Food Factory, here especially to assess Shanwan Village's product quality."

The experts were dumbfounded; Team Leader Sun adjusted his glasses, looking incredulous: "This is…"

Zhang Xincheng walked forward with a smug expression: "Experts, this is the industrialization demonstration exhibition that we, Jiangyuan County, have specially prepared for Shanwan Village. We have invited several capable provincial investors and distributor representatives, awaiting your authoritative approval. Once approved, three companies here are ready to sign long‑term cooperation agreements with Shanwan Village."

As soon as he finished, two men who looked like merchants approached, introducing themselves respectively as the general manager of a Shenyang herbal company and the deputy general manager of a Dalian trading company.

They each claimed they had long heard of Shanwan Village's products and had come today specifically to seize the initiative.

The expert team was completely stunned.

Team Leader Sun's voice trembled with emotion: "Secretary Zhang, the county's efficiency and foresight truly impress us! This government‑led, market‑operated model is exactly the prototype we want to promote throughout the province!"

The food‑industry expert kept nodding: "Such a demonstration effect is more persuasive than any briefing material!"

The atmosphere on the spot instantly reached a climax. Before anyone realized, villagers began to gather, watching the lively scene with eyes full of respect and admiration for Lu Qingshan.

"Brother Qing Shan, you're truly amazing!"

"Our village is about to become prosperous!"

"I told you Lu Qingshan isn't ordinary; look, even the provincial experts are impressed by him!"

The villagers chattered excitedly, their heartfelt pride and excitement infecting everyone present.

Even the technical experts were stirred by the atmosphere, a long‑missing fighting spirit igniting in their eyes.

Just as everyone was rejoicing, a heart‑rending cry suddenly rang out.

"Leaders, experts, I am guilty! I am guilty!"

The crowd turned toward the voice and saw Zhao Lao San suddenly kneeling on the ground, weeping and trembling all over like a sieve.

"I am not a human! I am not a human! I have done something that betrays the village, betrays Qing Shan!"

Zhao Lao San cried while pounding his own chest with his fists: "I was ordered by someone! Someone gave me money, made me sabotage deliberately, made me speak ill of Qing Shan!"

This sudden turn made the atmosphere on the spot instantly become heavy.

Everyone's gaze converged on the kneeling, sobbing Zhao Lao San, awaiting the truth to be revealed.

Zhang Xincheng's face darkened: "Zhao Lao San, tell me clearly—what exactly happened?"

Zhao Lao San lifted his tear‑ and snot‑soaked face, trembling as he pointed to a corner of the crowd: "It's him! The one surnamed Li! He gave me two hundred yuan, told me to slander Qing Shan before the expert team, saying that if I ruin the matter he'll give me another three hundred!"

The crowd looked where he pointed; a stranger in his thirties in the crowd's midst turned pale instantly and tried to flee.

"Don't let him run!" Lu Qingshan shouted.

A few villagers immediately surrounded the man, encircling him.

The man, seeing the unfavorable situation, hurriedly raised his hands: "Everyone, everyone, don't misunderstand! I'm just a trader from a neighboring village, just passing by, just passing by!"

Zhang Xincheng sneered, strode forward to the man and sized him up: "A trader from a neighboring village? Wearing such a decent suit and carrying a briefcase—do you think we're three‑year‑old children?"

At that moment, a familiar voice came from outside the crowd: "Secretary Zhang, I know this person."

The crowd turned, and Chen Zhiguo strode over, his expression terrifyingly stern.

"Comrade Zhiguo, why are you here?" Zhang Xincheng asked, a bit surprised.

Chen Zhiguo stepped up to the stranger and said coldly: "I was ordered to protect the expert team's safety, and have been observing from the shadows. This man is Li Jianye, a native of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, who specializes in speculative profiteering everywhere."

He pulled a small notebook from his pocket and flipped through it: "Last year in Jiamusi, the year before in Mudanjiang, he had records. This guy specifically scouts for good agricultural‑product processing projects, then finds ways to sabotage them, and once the project collapses he buys the equipment and technology at low price to resell for huge profit."

Hearing this, everyone present inhaled a sharp gasp of cold air.

So there was such a vile conspiracy behind it!

"Exactly! I was the one who ordered it! Your Shanwan Village project is indeed good; I originally planned to wait for you to ruin it so I could take over, but…"

"What didn't you expect?" Lu Qingshan stepped up to him, dangerous light flashing in his eyes. "Didn't expect Shanwan Village to have real ability, didn't expect your little trick to be exposed?"

Li Jianye gritted his teeth: "Consider yourselves lucky! But don't get ahead of yourselves; there are many people like me, and someday…"

"Enough!"

Zhang Xincheng shouted angrily, "Comrade Zhiguo, leave this scum to you to handle!"

Chen Zhiguo nodded, signaling his subordinates to take Li Jianye away.

Before leaving, he said to Lu Qingshan: "Qing Shan, such matters may arise again; you must be careful."

The expert team and the merchants present saw the scene and all wore expressions of indignation.

Team Leader Sun even slammed the table: "Such vile conduct is downright outrageous! Secretary Zhang, a good project like Shanwan Village, we must give it greater policy support and financial assistance!"

"Yes! We must make Shanwan Village the province's benchmark, slapping these speculative merchants hard!" other experts also voiced their support.

Zhang Xincheng cleared his throat: "Experts, leaders, since everyone approves of Shanwan Village so much, I will announce a major piece of news."

He paused, scanning the crowd: "After careful study, the province has approved establishing the 'Shanwan Model'—that is, the 'Northeast Mountain Area Agricultural Products Deep Processing Pilot'—in Shanwan Village, with an interest‑free loan of 800,000 yuan for the first phase! Comrade Qingshan will serve as factory director!"

This news exploded among the crowd like a thunderclap.

The villagers were stunned for a few seconds, then burst into earth‑shaking cheers.

Even the several technical experts were excited, their faces flushed red.

"Great! Now we can really show what we can do!" Li Jianqiang excitedly patted Qingshan's shoulder.

"I will realize all my technical ideals here!" Qian Jin was also overcome with excitement.

Qingshan was stunned by this sudden huge surprise, feeling a bit dazed.

An interest‑free loan of one million yuan, the directorship of the demonstration base—these things, which just a few hours ago were utterly unimaginable, have now become reality.

But he quickly calmed down, realizing this was both an unprecedented opportunity and a sign of greater challenges and responsibilities.

The villagers gathered around Qingshan, cheering and jumping for joy, while Zhao Lao San sat collapsed on the ground, his face filled with regret and despair.

At that moment, Qingshan suddenly walked up to Zhao Lao San, extending his hand before everyone's astonished eyes.

"Zhao Lao San, get up. Knowing one's mistake and correcting it is the greatest virtue. For Shanwan Village to develop, we need the strength of every villager."

Zhao Lao San lifted his head, tears blurring his vision as he looked at Qingshan, unable to believe that this person he had vilified in every way was still willing to give him a chance.