In the greenhouse, the villagers were a bit nervous seeing the deputy leader and his entourage. The deputy leader assured them he was just there to pick some vegetables.
The villagers, flustered, offered to pick them out, saying it was hot and dirty in the greenhouse.
Wan Zhongshan waved to the villagers, telling them to step aside. He said it was a rare occasion for the deputy leader to visit the countryside and he should experience the life of a modern farmer and the unique greenhouse produce of Kushan.
The deputy leader took the lead into the greenhouse. He picked a tomato himself, wiped it, and took a bite. As the sweet and sour juice filled his mouth, his heart felt a pang of sadness. This was all thanks to Tian Jing, yet some people didn't appreciate it.
If such fruits and vegetables were no longer cultivated, not only would the people's tables lose their deliciousness, but the path to prosperity for the impoverished villages would also be cut off.
He looked through the plastic film towards the vast expanse of greenhouses to the west. These greenhouses would be abandoned after Tian Jing stopped nurturing seedlings.
The losses would not only be for Kushan, Ling County, and the province and city where Ling County was located, but also nationwide.
That metal plaque! Alas, one wrong step led to a cascade of errors.
No, he had to try harder.
Wan Zhongshan continued to pick and eat, and seeing the deputy leader lost in thought, he walked over to him. "What are you thinking about?"
The deputy leader sighed. "I'm thinking about the extent of the national loss."
Wan Zhongshan shook his head. "If you can think of it, others can too. They are gambling that you won't be able to bear the national loss and will use your position and sense of righteousness to force Captain Tian to compromise again."
"Do they really not know Captain Tian's status? What exactly are their objectives? Have you considered that?"
The deputy leader's gaze sharpened. "If there are deeper schemes brewing in the shadows, then the national loss is indeed something we cannot afford to consider."
Wan Zhongshan looked at the deputy leader. "So?"
The deputy leader glanced at Wan Zhongshan. "How confident are you in your assessment just now?"
"Sixty percent," Wan Zhongshan replied, then waved for Zeng Jingrong to come over.
When Zeng Jingrong arrived, Wan Zhongshan asked him directly, "What is Captain Tian's rank?"
Zeng Jingrong looked at both of them. "Much higher than mine. Why are you asking?"
Wan Zhongshan and the deputy leader's eyes narrowed. Higher than Zeng Jingrong's rank?
Wan Zhongshan pointed to the greenhouses. "If these are no longer cultivated, how much would be lost here?"
Zeng Jingrong said dismissively, "A few million."
Wan Zhongshan asked, "And nationwide?"
Zeng Jingrong became even more indifferent. "What does that have to do with me? Our team members can't possibly do everything for the entire country, can they? Poverty alleviation isn't a one-person job."
Wan Zhongshan's gaze was fixed on Zeng Jingrong. "What if the purpose of this incident is to use the poverty alleviation team to pressure Captain Tian with righteousness?"
"What if they want to exploit Captain Tian's temperament, make her dissatisfied with her superiors, create a rift between her and you, and make her heart no longer dedicated to the special team or even this country?"
Zeng Jingrong's expression suddenly changed. This incident happened after Tian Jing significantly improved the overall abilities of the team members...
Within this...
It seems like the entire special team and Jing Chu need to be thoroughly investigated, Zeng Jingrong's expression turned serious.
"Group Leader Meng, Tian Jing is our special team's deputy captain. She is our reliance in confronting foreign ability associations. The national loss cannot be compared to her."
"She is too important to the special team. You cannot touch her."
Reliance in confronting foreign ability associations?
The deputy leader's heart skipped a beat. If that were the case, they truly couldn't use national poverty alleviation efforts to pressure an ability user and make her unhappy.
Wan Zhongshan also hadn't expected Tian Jing's rank to be so high. His assessment should now be adjusted to eighty percent confidence.
The three of them fell into a thoughtful silence.
After picking enough, Ouyang Meihua picked up her basket and left.
Li Zhengguo paid and then took the deputy leader to see the nursery.
There were still two men on duty at the nursery. Upon seeing the deputy leader and Wan Zhongshan's group, they immediately saluted.
Looking at the two men, once the pride of the army, now sitting on scooters that replaced their legs, Wan Zhongshan's eyes turned red. He snapped a salute back to them.
The deputy leader hadn't been a soldier, but seeing these two men who had lost a leg and now used scooters made his eyes sting. He bent down and shook hands with them. "I'm sorry, the country owes you."
"Not at all," the two men replied, shaking the deputy leader's hand. "We lack nothing. We are very rich."
The deputy leader felt a lump in his throat. He stood up.
"Wan Zhongshan, let's go see their dormitory."
"Alright."
...
In the two dormitories, over thirty men were orderly engaged in their respective activities. Kushan was their home, and they had no intention of leaving, so their daily routines continued as usual.
All the men recognized Wan Zhongshan. It was Director Wan who had gathered them here, allowing them to live together and find a second home.
The men saluted if they could, and those who couldn't called out "Director Wan."
Wan Zhongshan introduced the deputy leader to them, and the men all called out in unison, "Hello, Group Leader Meng."
Hearing their spirited and unified greeting, the deputy leader's earlier heaviness vanished. Yes, these people were indeed very rich.
He smiled and asked about their plans.
The men shook their heads, stating they had plans and wouldn't leave, nor would they be a burden to the country.
Had plans?
Wan Zhongshan turned to look at Li Zhengguo, whose expression was calm.
The deputy leader also looked at Li Zhengguo.
Li Zhengguo looked bewildered.
Wan Zhongshan smiled. Calm turning to bewilderment, didn't it seem abrupt?
The deputy leader also smiled. He asked the men, "Do you need any support?"
The men put forward their leader, Wei Xiaoyong. Wei Xiaoyong said, "Could we get a loan of two million?"
"Yes!" the deputy leader immediately agreed. "I'll do it in my private capacity..."
"No need!" Wei Xiaoyong shook his head. "We can take out the loan in the name of our forty members, with a guarantee from the local poverty alleviation office, and repay it within five years."
"Agreed!" the deputy leader nodded. "I will notify the county poverty alleviation office."
After settling this matter, the deputy leader and Wan Zhongshan asked if they had any personal or family difficulties.
The men shook their heads, stating their families were happy and they themselves were content.
Leaving the men's dormitories, the deputy leader returned to the nursery. He had noticed earlier that the nursery was still lush and green, clearly having been cultivated for a season.
Each greenhouse housed different vegetables, some of which were already fruiting. It should have been time to harvest seeds at the end of the month...
The deputy leader glanced at the exit of each greenhouse before leaving. He knew that without Captain Tian, even if the seeds were harvested this time, it wouldn't solve the problem.
The difference in one greenhouse near the guardhouse caught the deputy leader's attention. He thought of the matter concerning the Ginseng Root Strengthening Pills. Perhaps some families who were unhappy with the Shen family were also involved...
He stared at the spot in the middle of that greenhouse, surrounded by vines, pondered for a moment, and then turned to leave.
...
In the courtyard, Mother Li was cooking dinner with her eldest son, daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters.
Ouyang Meihua returned with her basket and called Li Min to select the vegetables.
Soon, the kitchen and its entrance were bustling with activity.
In the east wing room, Xuanxuan woke up, looked around, couldn't find her familiar great-grandmother, and started crying.
Yu Ziyu changed her diaper and tried to coax her, but couldn't calm her down, breaking out in a sweat from anxiety.
Tian Jing asked Yu Ziyu to bring Xuanxuan to her to be comforted.
In Tian Jing's arms, Xuanxuan opened her eyes, looked around, and then stopped crying with Tian Jing's gentle coaxing.
Shen Jianrong helped prepare the milk powder. While drinking, Xuanxuan still hiccupped intermittently, which made Shen Jianrong's heart ache.
"She usually doesn't cry like this. I didn't expect her to be so hard to soothe when she does."
Tian Jing nodded. "She's used to smells and recognizes people. When her mother went to Kyoto, she cried for two days."