Chapter Seventy-Five: The Ambush

  The mountain and countryside villages didn't care about the tobacco company's sales of fertilizers and pesticides, this news gradually spread to neighboring towns. The tobacco company saw that farmers were about to start buying fertilizer and pesticides, knowing that if they continued like this, their losses would be even greater. They had no choice but to lower their prices to the same level as the supply and marketing cooperatives.

  However, the tobacco company took the initiative to invite a TV station to produce a program: Tan Xing'an appeared on TV and said that in order to achieve the goals of the county party committee and government, and to increase the enthusiasm of tobacco farmers for planting flue-cured tobacco, the tobacco company decided to make a big concession to the people. This news was repeatedly broadcast in the county and towns, and what was originally a way to make black-hearted money suddenly became a welfare measure by the tobacco company. It's really just a matter of talking nonsense, and it doesn't take any effort to put on a show.

  On TV, Tan Xing was outspoken and eloquent, but in private, he said to his phone:

  "County Magistrate Lu, you're indeed young and promising, with a strong desire for progress. I, old Tan, must learn from you!"

  Tan Xing'an's words were laced with hidden meanings, implying that this matter was far from over. He would definitely look for an opportunity to regain the upper hand, and it was only a matter of time before he made his move.

  Lu Zhengdong was also calm and collected. What's done is done, and there's nothing to regret. When the flood comes, the earth will cover it; when the soldiers come, the general will resist...

  The mountain and countryside planting tobacco things due to measures in place, the task is basically implemented, the fruit factory's preparation also progressed smoothly, the highway has been opened for a long time, many families with some savings and flexible minds are also planning to open brick yards or quarries or do some small business, Shanhe Township is a scene of prosperity.

  Things in the countryside have basically returned to normal, and Lu Zhengdong has also relaxed a lot. Now his work focus has shifted to how to do a good job in spring plowing production, as well as guiding the common people to become rich, but He Mingsheng came to find him instead.

  "Director Lu..."

  Standing awkwardly in front of him.

  "Old ginger, discharged from the hospital? I've been busy to the point where my feet are about to fly away, and I haven't had time to visit you in the hospital. If your body doesn't feel well, just pay more attention to resting, I'll take care of the work in the countryside for a while..."

  Lu Zhengdong nodded slightly and invited He Mingsheng to sit down.

  Lu Zhengdong looked at He Mingcheng in front of him, guessing that He Mingcheng was still waiting for him to ask, but seeing that the work of the entire township government had not been affected by his "illness", on the contrary, it was carried out vigorously. If he continued to be ill, when he returned to the township government, even his position would be gone, so he might as well recover and leave the hospital quickly.

  "Prefect Lu, I have come to investigate..."

  He Ming hesitated for a moment before finally speaking out.

  Lu Zhengdong's ability is very strong, he can't help but admit it. Moreover, everyone knows about his illness, and even if they want to use it as an excuse, it won't work. Besides, bringing up the topic of his illness might even lead Lu Zhengdong to take advantage of the situation and make him idle. It's better to be sincere and ask for Lu Zhengdong's forgiveness instead.

  "I... was momentarily confused and said some confusing words, did some confusing things. Please forgive me, Director Lu."

  Lu Zhengdong smiled and said:

  "Old He, where did you think you were going? You're still in charge of that area. From now on, this whole section will be relying on you."

  Lu Zhengdong seemed affable and pleasant, He Mingsheng was fundamentally unable to pose any threat to him. For someone like that, as long as he is willing to humble himself in front of you, it's not necessary to always strike back. Sometimes one needs to be magnanimous, He Mingsheng would be grateful to the point of tears, and in others' eyes, that would be repaying resentment with virtue, showing great tolerance and demeanor. This is also the way of being a person, the way of being an official...

  He Mingsheng finally softened, and Lu Zhengdong's prestige in the countryside rose with the tide. In April, when the spring breeze was blowing gently, the village held an election meeting, and Lu Zhengdong was almost unanimously elected as the village head, while Hu Litong was also elected as the deputy village head, and the village government team was fully equipped.

  The time for tobacco planting is approaching, and the county has once again convened a special meeting to urge all towns to speed up the implementation of progress. Shanhe Township has basically fulfilled its tasks.

  Lu Zhengdong then took some of the better-performing staff from the agricultural extension station and the agricultural technology station to receive training at the county's agricultural technical school.

  Originally, Lu Zhengdong was going to take them to the Agricultural Technical School in the afternoon after the meeting and also pay a visit to the school's leaders. Since they were going to set up training, Lu Zhengdong hoped that they could really learn something.

  However, after the meeting it was already evening, so Lu Zhengdong had to bring them to the countryside and stay at the county's guest house, preparing to take them to the County Agricultural Technical School tomorrow, then returned to the city to see how Lin Donghe's decoration was going.

  It wasn't until the second day that Lu Zhengdong arrived at the county guest house early in the morning, only to be told by the staff that a few people from their hometown had been caught gambling by the police station the night before and had already notified their hometown.

  Lu Zhengdong's face sank as soon as he heard this, these few people were all relatively young, usually in the countryside and supply and marketing cooperatives, and also elementary school teachers, etc. young people often played cards together.

  Wu Zhonghe and others had also heard about it, mentioned it many times, but after all, this was outside of work hours. These guys played cards very secretly and hadn't been caught by the village leaders, so they only reminded them verbally, didn't expect these guys to be incorrigible, even daring to play cards in a county-level reception hall!

  Lu Zhengdong took a deep breath, things had already happened, getting angry was useless, no matter what he still had to go and get the person out. Lu Zhengdong carefully inquired about the situation with the hotel staff, for such a place, they would normally conduct routine checks, but this time the police station directly rushed into the room where several people were playing cards. Lu Zhengdong felt that something was off, this room was booked by him, could it be that they were targeting him?

  Lu Zhengdong felt that something was off in his heart, but he didn't dare to be certain. He made a phone call to Wu Zhonghe using the public telephone at the reception office, and then went to the police station to bail someone out.

  The arrest was not smooth, the director of the police station gave him a half-day lesson with a gloomy and strange tone, until the afternoon before releasing the person, and the fine to be paid was not reduced by a single cent.

  After leading a few people out, Lu Zhengdong did not scold them. They would remember this for the rest of their lives after staying inside for a while. How to deal with it will be said when they return to their hometown.

  Lu Zhengdong asked about the situation, and several people inside were beaten, especially Yang Lifeng from the Agricultural Technology Station, who was similar in age and height to him, and was beaten the most severely.

  Lu Zhengdong keenly sensed from Yang Lifen's words that someone had obviously mistaken Yang for him.

  The police station suddenly raided, Lu Zhengdong originally suspected that someone was making trouble, and the target might be himself. Lu Zhengdong sorted out the attitudes of those people from the reception office, from the countryside, and from the police station, and he became even more certain in his heart that this time's crackdown on gambling was aimed at him.

  Lu Zhengdong had offended people in the county, apart from Tan Xingan and others at the tobacco company, there were no others. This matter was definitely done by Tan Xingan and others colluding with the police station.

  Lu Zhengdong couldn't help but think that if he, the township head, were to be taken away by the police, the leaders of the county party committee and government would definitely have a very bad impression of him. If it weren't for the upcoming election, he might even be removed from his position as township head.

  Although Lu Zhengdong was clear about what was going on, this kind of thing would definitely not be brought up for discussion at the table. Tan Xingan's revenge had come quickly and fiercely!...

  After this incident, the training matter naturally came to nothing. Lu Zhengdong was about to call Wu Zhonghe to relieve his worries and then planned to take a few people back to their hometown.

  Wu Zhonghe told him that Xin County knew about this and wanted to talk to him. Wu Zhonghe didn't fully understand the situation, and was somewhat agitated on the phone:

  "These guys are really incompetent! Our village had just made some progress and left a good impression on the county leaders, but these guys have ruined it!"

  Lu Zhengdong also sneered in his heart, it seems that this time, although he didn't get caught, the government staff gathering to gamble is a very bad influence in these times. Tan Xingan still reported this matter to the county leaders, wanting to use this to make things difficult for him...

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