Flip the table and divide the family property! Take his wife and daughter into the mountains and eat

The ward fell silent once again.

Li Yuanchao listened to these words, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

Although I had a premonition, hearing Zhao Shanhe lay out these blood-stained accounts before me still made my heart ache.

"In the past, the situation was too chaotic, and Chen Jianguo held absolute power, so we were constrained at every turn."

"But things will be different in the future."

"With Chen Jianguo down, all the malignant tumors in the factory will be uprooted. The city will see the light of day again."

Li Yuanchao raised his hand and patted Zhao Shanhe's broad shoulder forcefully, his voice steady and resolute: "I'm putting this out there today, and I assure you, the mistakes I made in the past will never happen again."

He paused, his gaze becoming extremely weighty.

"Now that the situation is settled and the province's attitude is clear, I, Li Yuanchao, will protect you all in this city and at the Hongxing Factory!"

Zhao Shanhe looked at Li Yuanchao's bloodshot eyes and shook his head very slightly.

"Director Li, I believe what you say."

Zhao Shanhe withdrew his gaze, his tone calm, revealing a sense of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. "But I really can't get used to all the twists and turns of the city. This place is fundamentally unsuitable for me. It's much more reassuring to be in the forest, where I can hunt when I'm hungry, drink from springs when I'm thirsty, and not have to worry about being stabbed in the back."

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at the gradually brightening sky outside the window.

The fierceness that had lingered in those eyes all night had faded, replaced by a warmth tinged with a rough, earthy quality.

"Besides, I've been away from home for several days because of this mess."

Zhao Shanhe stretched lazily, his joints making a soft crack, like a beast finally breaking free of its cage.

"Lin Xiu is all alone at home, she must be so worried, waiting for me at the village entrance every day. Niu Niu must be crying and looking for her father every day too."

He gave a very slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"No matter how good the food is in the city, it can't fill my stomach. After being away for so long, I'm craving Lin Xiu's pickled cabbage and pork dumplings."

The ward fell silent.

Li Yuanchao opened his mouth, but all the long-prepared speeches about the overall situation and future of the Red Star Factory were forced back down his throat by this plate of sauerkraut and pork dumplings.

Just as he was wondering how to respond, Song Qingshan, who had been silently listening while leaning against the hospital bed, suddenly let out a very soft sigh.

"Go to Korea, stop trying to persuade me."

Song Qingshan put down the glass of water that had long since gone cold, and a complex smile appeared on his aged face.

He gave Zhao Shanhe a deep look with his cloudy yet sharp eyes, then waved to Li Yuanchao.

"I think this young comrade has already made up his mind."

"Your heart isn't here anymore; nothing you say can keep you."

"This young man is a family man and a smart man. He's eager to go home, to hug his wife and children, and to eat hot dumplings. Let's not be the bad guys here and make him unpopular."

Song Qingshan turned his head, looked at Zhao Shanhe, softened his tone, and made the decision directly for Li Yuanchao.

"Go back, sort things out at the factory, and make sure all the necessary procedures are completed. Say a proper goodbye to the people you know at the factory, and leave cleanly."

Upon hearing his former leader speak, Li Yuanchao's tense shoulders finally relaxed completely.

He looked at Zhao Shanhe, took a deep breath, and spoke with utmost solemnity.

"Shanhe, since you have made up your mind, I will not stop you."

Li Yuanchao stood up, supporting himself on his knees, his gaze fixed intently on his eyes: "But remember this. When you go back, whether it's you or the brothers from Kaoshantun, if you encounter any insurmountable difficulties, come to the city to find me anytime. As long as I, Li Yuanchao, am still in this city, I will never let you suffer any injustice."

"Also, there's what the factory owes you. The injustice Da Niu suffered, Er Zhu Zi and the others' medical expenses and lost wages, and the compensation due this time—each and every one of them is accounted for. I will have someone calculate everything clearly and send every penny to your village."

Li Yuanchao paused, his voice steady yet sincere: "If you ever get tired of staying in the mountains, or want to bring your brothers out to find another way out, come back anytime. The doors of Hongxing Machinery Factory will always be open to you."

Zhao Shanhe looked at the tired but sincere old director in front of him, and his eyes flickered.

Song Qingshan, who had been leaning against the pillow, slowly began to speak at this moment.

The old leader looked at this young man, who was as aloof and pure as a wild wolf, and his cloudy eyes made no attempt to hide the rare appreciation he had for him.

"Oh, the mountains and rivers."

For the first time ever, Song Qingshan used a more affectionate form of address and added in a kind tone, "If you ever have time to come to the city for business or just stroll around, feel free to come over anytime and have some tea with me, and let's chat, if you don't mind this old man being bored."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchao couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart.

To receive a personal invitation from a former leader for a casual chat is a privilege that is probably unparalleled in the entire city these days.

Zhao Shanhe looked at the two important figures within the system in front of him, his eyes flickering slightly.

He didn't refuse the offer with any affectation, but simply nodded decisively, a slight smile curving his lips.

"I'm gone."

Without any further formalities, Zhao Shanhe opened the door to the ward and strode out.

The cool morning breeze blew in along the corridor.

As the steady, powerful footsteps faded into the distance until they disappeared completely, Li Yuanchao sat alone on the sofa and turned to look at the brightly lit sky outside the window.

The ward remained quiet for a long time.

Li Yuanchao withdrew his gaze, leaned back on the sofa, and let out a long sigh.

"Old boss, after hearing what this kid just said, I'm starting to think about taking off these clothes and finding a quiet, secluded place to hide away for a few days."

He raised his hand and rubbed his stiff, cold cheeks vigorously, his voice revealing undisguised exhaustion, "After so many years, fighting and scheming every day, I really feel a bit tired."

"Foolish!"

Although Song Qingshan's voice was weak, it suddenly turned serious, carrying a ruthless severity.

He leaned against the hospital bed, his cloudy yet sharp eyes fixed on Li Yuanchao.

"Zhao Shanhe can complain about being tired and just walk away because he's never really belonged in this world of fame and fortune! What about you? Where are you going?"

Song Qingshan tapped his fingers hard on the edge of the bed, making a dull sound.

"The city is in such a mess right now, and tens of thousands of people at the Hongxing Factory are starving. Governor Liu personally appointed you to stabilize the situation, and now you're complaining to me about being tired? Political maneuvering is always a meat grinder. Once you're on this table, as long as you have a breath left, you have to grit your teeth and keep things going! Now you're complaining about being tired, do you have any respect for the lives that have been sacrificed?"

Song Qingshan's reprimand was merciless, shattering the slight weakness that Li Yuanchao had just shown.

Li Yuanchao listened in silence. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and the brief fatigue he felt quickly vanished under the old leader's admonition.

He lowered his hand, slowly sat up straight, and the toughness in his bones returned to his weary body.

Seeing that he had tensed up again, Song Qingshan's tone softened slightly.

"Cheer up. The situation has just stabilized, and there are plenty of people watching you. What are you planning to do next?"

Li Yuanchao stood up and walked to the window.

Looking down at the hospital grounds where things were already bustling with activity, all emotion had vanished from his eyes.

"I want to go to the detention room first and see Chen Jianguo."

This veteran leader, who had been navigating the political landscape for decades, instantly understood Li Yuanchao's thoughts.

He leaned back against the pillows and asked in a low voice, "Do you suspect he's faking insanity to escape trial?"

"right."

Li Yuanchao turned around, his voice low and deep, as if suppressing some kind of storm.

"Chen Jianguo has been scheming for half his life, climbing all the way from a workshop director to the municipal party secretary. This kind of cunning old fox is more ruthless and more unyielding than anyone else."

He paused.

"I don't believe that someone like him would go completely insane at this critical juncture."