Chapter 320: His Gentleness, Her Trust!

Zhao Fei had been burning the midnight oil in Lu Qingshan's office all day; the clamor faded, leaving only the faint hum of the light bulb.

Zhao Fei remained stiff before the map, body taut like a wooden stake, fingertips pressed hard against the coarse blueprint, their nail beds turning a bit blue from the strain.

Lu Qingshan pushed the door open, entered without urging, sat back in his chair, poured a fresh cup of cool boiled water, and placed it before Zhao Fei.

The cup clinked against the desk, emitting a soft sound.

The sound was like a needle, jolting Zhao Fei's shoulder sharply.

"Brother Qing Shan…" he began, his throat dry as if sanded, trembling in a way even he didn't notice, "These drawings are just me, unable to sleep at night, idly musing."

"Idly musing?" Lu Qingshan picked up the worn-down pencil, tapped it lightly on the map, "Then tell me, why must this commercial district be placed here?"

Zhao Fei froze for a moment, eyes instinctively following the pencil tip.

"This… this spot is the center of the three residential zones; no matter where you live, the distance to shop here is roughly the same." His voice remained low, but his thoughts suddenly cleared.

"Moreover, it backs onto the main road into the village, so future incoming traffic and deliveries can go straight into the commercial district without cutting through the residential zones, sparing the big folks' rest."

Lu Qingshan said nothing, then drew a small circle on the map, enclosing a vacant lot beside the commercial district.

"And this spot? Why leave it empty?"

"The terrain here is slightly higher; I imagine… as our village grows, children can't walk too far to school, and if an elder gets a headache or fever, they'll need a place. This plot could be kept for a school or a clinic."

The more Zhao Fei spoke, the brighter his eyes became, their glow nearly outshining the dim yellow bulb overhead.

The prior bone‑deep inferiority and panic now felt like a blaze ignited in his chest, burning away completely, leaving only scorching excitement and an unprecedented Sense of Mission.

"Children can walk to school nearby, and elders can get medical care easily!"

Lu Qingshan finally set the pencil down and leaned back against the chair.

He looked at Zhao Fei, his gaze showing unabashed admiration.

"See, this isn't idle musing."

"What you're musing about is how to make the big folks live comfortably and conveniently."

"That is the core of planning."

He shifted his tone, his voice deepening.

"The engineers from the city know technology and standards, but they don't understand Shanwan Village."

"They don't know which plot will become damp in spring, nor which ditch will flood in summer."

"They also don't know what kind of home our Shanwan villagers truly want."

"Zhao Fei, your task is to turn all these 'don'ts know' into lines on their drawings, into individual squares."

"The process will be hard. They are city experts and may think a rural kid is babbling, questioning you, dismissing you."

Lu Qingshan leaned forward slightly, staring into Zhao Fei's eyes.

"Are you afraid?"

Zhao Fei's chest rose and fell violently, the surge of hot blood to his head scorching his whole body. He shook his head sharply, and the knuckles of his clenched fist snapped with a crisp 'clack'.

"Not afraid!"

The two words rang out like a thrown stone.

"Good!" Lu Qingshan pulled a brand‑new notebook and an unopened fountain pen from the drawer, slapping them onto the desk.

"From now on, write down every one of your ideas, big or small, good or bad, all of them."

"Starting tomorrow, you won't need to go to the factory. Each day just walk around this plot, observe with your eyes, think with your mind, and note it down."

"When the Design Institute folks arrive, this notebook will be the leverage you slam the table with!"

Zhao Fei took the notebook; the pristine pages and the heavy pen felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds in his hand.

He nodded heavily, his lips pressed into a firm straight line.

"I understand, Brother Qing Shan!"

As night deepened, the office door was nudged open a crack.

Lin Yue'e poked her head in, the soft light outlining her gentle face.

"Not done yet?"

Seeing his wife, Lu Qingshan's tense expression from the day melted instantly.

"Almost there." He turned to Zhao Fei, "That's it for today. Go home, get a good sleep, clear your mind, and recharge."

Zhao Fei nodded, carefully slipping the notebook and pen into his coat, as if cradling a priceless treasure. He bowed deeply to Lu Qingshan and Lin Yue'e before turning to leave.

The office now held only the couple.

Lin Yue'e walked over, naturally smoothing his slightly disheveled collar, her fingertips warm.

"Earlier outside, I heard villagers gossiping, saying you made Zhao Fei into some… designer?" she asked, curiosity in her tone.

"He's the Planning Manager." Lu Qingshan smiled, gripping her hand, "That kid is good material; he can't be wasted."

Lin Yue'e nodded, half‑understanding; she didn't grasp the planning blueprints, but she trusted her husband.

"Let's go home. I'm starving."

"Okay, home."

The two walked side by side out of the office, the evening breeze carrying the unique scent of mountain flora and coolness, instantly dispersing the day's heat and fatigue.

The village lay tranquil and peaceful, only occasional dog barks and distant insects from the fields weaving a lullaby of night.

Warm amber light spilled from every household window, and the air was scented with each family's dinner— the crisp aroma of fried eggs, the rich stew, the most grounded, earthly fireworks of home.

Lu Qingshan inhaled deeply; the day's strategic scheming and sharp words now turned into surrounding calm and the warmth held in his palm.

The couple returned home, and the neighbor ZhangShen, who was coaxing her daughter, greeted them with a smile. "You finally made it back; XiaoBao just finished her milk and is being good."

Lin Yue'e took her daughter, her face showing motherly tenderness. "Thank you, ZhangShen, go back and have your meal."

After seeing ZhangShen off, the family had just savored a moment of warmth when the courtyard gate slammed with a loud 'clang', as if kicked open, and a figure burst in in a hurry.

"Brother‑in‑law! Sis!"

It is Lin Yueqiang.

His face is flushed, his forehead drenched in sweat, and he clutches a sweat‑soaked, crumpled piece of paper tightly in his hand, so excited that his speech is a little breathless.

"I… I got it done! The Supply and Marketing Cooperative approved it! Approved my long leave!" He rushed forward, spread the paper out as if displaying a huge certificate, "I wrestled with our director for two days! He finally approved! He said if I don't get it, I'll flatten the threshold of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative office!"

Lu Qingshan lifted his daughter from his wife's arms, gently patting her back, while his gaze sharply fixed on the little brother‑in‑law whose excitement had made him a bit reckless.

"Just right."

His voice is soft, even a touch leisurely, yet it falls like a bucket of icy water in a waning moon, dousing Lin Yueqiang from head to toe, instantly quelling all his excitement and vigor. Lin Yueqiang's smile freezes on his face, he even forgets to breathe, standing there like a statue whose pressure points have been struck, rigid and motionless.

Lu Qingshan looks at him and calmly announces.

"Tomorrow you go back home, tell our dad and mom, and pack your things neatly."

"Early the day after tomorrow, we set out together back to the Capital City."

As the words finish, the crumpled leave slip that Lin Yueqiang treasured slips from his stiff fingers, drifting lazily to the ground.

He opens his mouth, but no sound emerges from his throat; his eyes are filled with stunned disbelief.

Back… back to the Capital City?