Chapter 319: A Blueprint That Draws a Hundred‑Year Legacy!

A few people spoke up one after another, each flushed with excitement.

Lu Qingshan raised his hand and gently pressed down.

The office fell silent again in an instant.

"We already have the ideas, the funding is fine, the policies will fully support us, but we must eat the meal bite by bite, and walk the road step by step," he looked at the crowd, his expression turning serious. "The city has issued policies, but how to build and how to use the land still has to be decided by us."

He pointed at the map. "You are all locals; you know which plots are solid, which are low‑lying, which gullies flood in the rainy season. You know better than the engineers from the city. Speak up—how should the land within this circle be used most appropriately?"

Lu Qingshan's words gave these men an unprecedented sense of respect and responsibility.

The most simple‑hearted Zhao Er Zhuang was the first to speak: "Brother Qing Shan, the slope at the east side of the village is yellow clay, the soil is the most compact. When our village builds houses we always take soil from there; the houses will be solid."

Zhao Qiang immediately added: "Right, that mountain hollow on the west side won't work. It may look dry now, but a heavy rain will fill it with water like a small reservoir; the bottom is rock, so water doesn't seep down."

Liu Fugui pointed at a tiny spot on the map: "And here—when I was a kid I used to fish; it used to be an old riverbed, the ground is all sand, dig a few shovelfuls and water comes out. Building a large factory here would be unstable."

Zhao Tiezhu also pointed at a patch of forest: "This forest is a wind tunnel; the wind is strong. If we build the plant here, the chimney smoke will be blown into the village, choking people."

One remark after another, these plain and practical pieces of information kept being offered.

Lu Qingshan and Lu Qingjun listened attentively, occasionally marking the map.

Zhao Fei, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up.

"Brother Qing Shan, I think we can't just look at which plot is useful."

His voice was low, but like a stone tossed into a still lake, it quieted everyone, and they all looked at him. Zhao Er Zhuang and Zhao Tiezhu wore puzzled expressions, thinking that this kid is usually sharp, why is he spouting nonsense today, not speaking properly?

Zhao Fei, stared at by so many eyes, felt his cheeks flush instantly; his hands unconsciously clenched his garment's hem, yet he mustered courage and stepped up to the map.

"We should... first divide the zones."

He picked up another blue pen of a different color, inhaled deeply as if making a resolve, and drew several large circles on the map.

"The factory zone should be concentrated at the downwind side, that is the western mountain hollow Zhao Tiezhu mentioned. The terrain there is low, which will contain all the factories' noise and possible dust. It should be farther from the village and the future residential area, minimizing impact."

After drawing a circle, he looked up at Lu Qingshan, saw him encouragingly watching, and his confidence swelled a bit more.

"The residential area should be placed on the high ground east that Zhao Er Zhuang mentioned—good sunlight, elevated, dry, backed by a hill, open in front, comfortable to live in."

"The commercial and service zone can sit between the factory and residential zones, built on both sides of the future main road, so both workers after shifts and families shopping will find it convenient. Moreover, this spot connects directly to the old road leading to the village, making future village traffic easy."

His reasoning was clear and his logic tight; even Lu Qingjun, who always prided himself on being shrewd, leaned forward unconsciously, his gaze shifting from casual to focused and scrutinizing.

Zhao Fei didn't stop; he even drew a winding line on the map, linking the zones together.

"The road can follow this ridge, minimizing construction work and avoiding all the water‑prone lowlands. From this main road, branch roads can lead to each zone, forming a circular loop, so traffic congestion won't occur even when there are many cars later."

He finished in one breath, and the office fell utterly silent.

Zhao Er Zhuang opened his mouth, stared at the three clear circles and a line on the map, then at Zhao Fei, his face full of disbelief. Liu Fugui was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped; only then did he realize that Zhao Fei was thinking on a completely different level.

These men were only saying "where it can be used," whereas Zhao Fei was already pondering "how it should be used" and "why it should be used that way."

This is no longer a simple suggestion; it's planning! It's a blueprint!

Lu Qingjun stared at the zones and routes on the map, eyes full of amazement. He couldn't help leaning close to Lu Qingshan's ear, lowering his voice, though his tone trembled with excitement: "Brother, this kid... is a genius! Look at the ring road he drew—it already accounts for future traffic congestion! And the location of the commercial zone is practically a golden ratio point! This layout is a hundred times more sensible than the plans drawn by the county's planning department who only talk on paper."

Lu Qingshan looked at Zhao Fei, his eyes showing unabashed approval.

Zhao Dazhi's nephew truly was exceptional. This kid, usually fond of tinkering, had once been mentioned by Zhao Dazhi as someone who treasured every issue of the People's Pictorial that featured city‑building illustrations, pulling them out to sketch whenever he could. No one expected him to actually develop such a layout and vision.

He stepped forward and gave Zhao Fei's shoulder a firm pat; the shoulder was still tense from nerves.

"Zhao Fei."

"Good kid," Lu Qingshan said, his voice tinged with an uncontrollable smile. "Knowing how to hunt is fine, but you can't build a city that way."

He turned around and announced to everyone.

"From today onward, the planning and design of this industrial park will be handled by Zhao Fei."

"The city will send engineers and designers from the design institute. Zhao Fei, your task is to represent our Shanwan Village, review their drawings, and convey our requirements, everything everyone just said, and your own ideas to them!"

Lu Qingshan's voice rose sharply, resonant and forceful.

"Make them know that on this land, we call the shots!"

Zhao Fei jerked his head up, his face full of disbelief, his lips trembling with excitement. "Can... can I do it, Brother Qing Shan? I'm just the kid who tinkers on the side, I've never done this..."

"I say you can, so you can," Lu Qingshan said, looking at him with unwavering eyes. "You're not just tinkering; what you hold in your heart is not merely a brick or a tile, but the future of all of Shanwan Village."

"You have to shoulder this burden. Do you dare?"

Zhao Fei looked into Lu Qingshan's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and at the surrounding brothers whose gazes had shifted from shock to trust and expectation. A surge of hot blood rushed to the top of his head. His clenched fists trembled slightly from the effort, and his back straightened a little more.

He summoned all his strength and answered in a roar, "I dare! Brother Qing Shan, I dare!"