Chapter 328: Finance as a Weapon, the Nation

In the corridor, the staff of the Foreign Exchange Administration Bureau peered out of their offices one after another; some dropped their pens with a "pat" onto the floor, others gasped a cold breath like a flock of startled quails, watching their usually dignified, unsmiling minister, who now, like an eagle snatching a chick, clutched a young man's arm and rushed outward with great haste.

"Oh my god, is that… is that Bureau Chief Zhang?" a young clerk rubbed his eyes, unable to believe.

"Minister, is this… grabbing someone? Who is that young man? What heinous crime did he commit?"

"No, look at the minister's expression—flushed bright red; rather than anger, it's more like… extreme excitement?"

Amid murmurs, everyone's jaws dropped. What on earth was this young man's background that could make Bureau Chief Zhang act so out of character?

Lu Qingshan was yanked by Zhang Jianshen, feeling the astonishing force emanating from the other's arm—the rugged vigor honed by a military career that an ordinary person could not break free from. Of course, if Lu Qingshan wished, it would be a matter of a flip of the hand. Yet he could only laugh helplessly, letting himself be pulled—what on earth was this?

"Bureau Chief Zhang, take it easy; my arm is about to be dislocated by your pulling."

"A dislocation is perfect, saves you from running wild!" Zhang Jianshen didn't even turn his head, his voice booming, chest full, making the corridor hum, "Listen, if you dare slip away under my watch today, I'll bind you and still drag you to my office!"

The two made their way unimpeded to the building's exterior. A sleek, jet‑black Hongqi sedan bearing a special license plate had already been waiting at the steps; its dignified, flowing lines reflected a steady gleam in the sunlight. When the driver saw Zhang Jianshen emerge, he hurried over, opened the door, and his eyes showed a hint of intense curiosity about Lu Qingshan's identity.

Zhang Jianshen unceremoniously shoved Lu Qingshan into the car, slipped in himself, and shouted to the driver, "Back to the bureau!"

With a "Bang," the heavy car door shut, sealing off any outside prying.

As the Hongqi sedan rolled smoothly, Lu Qingshan looked through the privacy glass and happened to see not far away Lu Qingjun anxiously sticking his head out of a Tiger‑head sedan, his face full of worry.

Their eyes met; Lu Qingshan, expression unchanged, raised his hand, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and lightly tapped toward the car's direction of travel.

With that simple gesture, Lu Qingjun instantly understood. The anxiety in his eyes faded, replaced by clear comprehension. He turned his head back and said in a low voice to Ahu in the driver's seat, "Follow that Hongqi ahead."

Ahu, sparing words, nodded, steadied the car, and moved like a silent black shadow, trailing the Hongqi sedan at just the right distance.

Inside, the cabin was spacious. Thick pure wool carpet covered the floor, and a faint genuine leather scent lingered in the air. The Hongqi sedan's rear seat could comfortably accommodate two grown men.

As soon as Zhang Jianshen got into the car, he released Lu Qingshan's arm, yet remained in a highly excited state. He first took a few heavy breaths, then slapped Lu Qingshan's thigh, producing a crisp "Snap" sound.

"Good kid! You really are my lucky star!"

His eyes shone astonishingly, like two spotlights, scanning Lu Qingshan up and down as if admiring a freshly unearthed national treasure.

"I've heard all about the commotion you caused over on Hong Kong Island! You beat those foreign devils into crying for their mothers, soiling themselves and peeing! You vented the decades of humiliation we've endured in one breath! You've brought honor to us Huaxia people! Thrilling! Truly unprecedented exhilaration!"

Zhang Jianshen grew more animated as he spoke, couldn't help but pat Lu Qingshan again, "I've been looking for you for a long time; you, the elusive dragon—only the head seen, the tail unseen—this time you've finally been caught!"

Lu Qingshan rubbed his tingling thigh, the muscle lines under his slacks tightening slightly, a helpless smile on his face: "Bureau Chief Zhang, your grip is truly strong. Two more slaps and my leg will meet the same fate as Bureau Chief Wang's cup of tea."

Zhang Jianshen was startled by the remark, then quickly recovered, bursting into a deafening laugh: "Hahaha! You kid, you kid! Your tongue is still so sharp!"

The car resonated with his hearty laughter. After laughing for a while, he gradually restrained his mirth, his expression suddenly turning a few degrees serious, his body leaning forward slightly, and the entire cabin's aura shifted. He lowered his voice, yet that excitement turned into a scorching flame burning in his eyes.

"Qing Shan, I'm not kidding. This incident caused a stir far beyond anyone's expectations." He paused, then dropped a bombshell, "I've already gone to see Old Chen."

Hearing the name "Old Chen," Lu Qingshan's smile vanished instantly, his expression turning solemn. He straightened his back, and the previously relaxed muscles involuntarily tightened. It was more than a name—it was a symbol of an era, a compass that had steered the nation countless times in critical moments. Across lifetimes, the name embodied an almost religious reverence. An indescribable surge erupted deep within his heart, far more shocking than Bureau Chief Zhang's thigh slap.

"Old Chen couldn't stop praising your strategy on Hong Kong Island!" Zhang Jianshen said, his eyebrows dancing with excitement, his tone brimming with proud honor, "Old Chen himself said, we always thought about defending, about tightening the fences to keep wolves out. But you, kid, are different!"

Pointing at Lu Qingshan, his fingers trembled slightly from the force, "You just took the gear and rushed into the wolf's den to snatch the meat! That mindset, that boldness—perfect!"

At this point, Zhang Jianshen's voice even acquired a tremor, a mix of extreme excitement and reverence. He looked at Lu Qingshan as if gazing upon a pioneering general.

"Old Chen finally said," he inhaled deeply, steadied his stirred emotions, and recited each word slowly, each landing like a hammer on Lu Qingshan's heart, "Lu Qingshan, this is no longer simple merchant thinking; you are using finance as a weapon, striking without bloodshed, and have fought a splendid counter‑defense for our nation!"

As his words faded, the cabin fell into a brief silence.

Lu Qingshan's hand hanging at his side involuntarily clenched into a fist. The phrase 'national counter‑defense' weighed as heavy as Mount Tai. He had lived a second life, protecting his family and building a commercial empire, yet deep inside, the blood‑born patriotism never waned.

Everything he had done was for the first time given such lofty meaning. A scorching surge surged from his chest to the crown of his head, a massive shock of being understood and recognized, and a heavy responsibility. From this moment, his path seemed truly bound to the nation's destiny.