Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

As we left Wen Boyan's courtyard, the sun was already setting.

Instead of returning to the guesthouse to rest, Liu Ming and Xi Wanqing had their driver take them to the south of the city. That was a new district that Liu Ming had built up with bulldozers and ruthless methods when he was serving as deputy county head, braving countless open and covert attacks.

Qingyun County International Logistics Port.

What was once a toxic area plagued by sewage and illegal shantytowns has now been transformed into a steel metropolis stretching as far as the eye can see. Rows of massive, modern, fully automated warehouses stand in neat rows, and countless heavy trucks with license plates from all over the country shuttle back and forth on the wide asphalt roads, like tireless metal dragons.

Driverless AGV transport vehicles move between warehouses, emitting a soft electronic buzzer.

"Your planning document, which Diao Deliang tampered with back then, has now become a complete reality." Xi Wanqing looked at the stunning industrial scene before her and couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

"This is thanks to Nangong Yao's capital injection and these people who get things done." Liu Ming pointed to a very modern dispatch building in the distance. "Let's go take a look."

As soon as the two reached the building entrance, before they could even ask anything, they saw a fat man in gray overalls and a hard hat leading a group of people out of the building.

The fat man walked along, shouting and cursing at the top of his lungs.

"You bunch of good-for-nothings! What's wrong with the temperature control system in cold storage room number two? If even a little bit of that imported seafood spoils, I'll make sure you all pack your bags and leave! We absolutely cannot ruin the reputation of 'Jiuqiang Logistics'!"

The sound was as loud as thunder, making the glass door next to it vibrate.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Liu Ming stopped and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

The fat man was cursing enthusiastically when he suddenly caught a glimpse of two people standing by the roadside out of the corner of his eye, and casually glanced at them.

The next second, his fleshy face froze instantly.

He looked as if he had seen something extremely terrifying; his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his mouth was agape enough to fit a duck egg. The rage that had been raging just moments before vanished instantly, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

"Qiang... Brother Qiang, what's wrong?" A supervisor next to him looked in the direction of his gaze, but did not notice anything unusual.

"Get out! Shut up, all of you!"

The fat man slapped the supervisor's helmet hard, and then, to everyone's astonishment, he scrambled towards Liu Ming with an agility far beyond his size.

He took off his helmet, and the muscles on his oily face twitched violently from extreme tension and excitement.

"Master Liu...Master Liu!"

The fat man stammered a shout, and then, in full view of everyone, he bent his knees and was about to kneel on the ground.

"Alright, Qiangzi." Liu Ming quickly grabbed his arm. "What era are we living in? Stop with these old-fashioned rules of the underworld."

This fat man was none other than Nine-Fingered Qiang, the underworld boss who once held sway in Qingyun County, monopolized the sand and gravel business, and even dared to stop Liu Ming's car.

However, although he is still huge, his fierce aura and tattoos have disappeared.

"Liu...no, leader! I...I didn't know you were coming today, I'll go and get someone to clear the area right now!" Nine-Finger Qiang was sweating profusely and incoherently tried to reach for his phone.

"Clear what? I just came to take a look." Liu Ming patted his shoulder, her tone gentle. "I heard you cursing earlier. Was this 'Nine Strong Logistics' your doing?"

Nine-Finger Qiang rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly, and a simple, honest smile appeared on his fierce face.

"It was...it was you who showed me the way back then." He lowered his head, like a child who had done something wrong reporting his grades to the teacher. "Back then, you crippled all ten of my fingers and sent me to prison."

During those years in prison, I figured things out. After I got out, I took my old gang of brothers, paid all the dirty money we had in exchange for fines, scraped together some capital, and took on the toughest and most tiring loading and unloading jobs at the logistics park.

"Later, Nangong Group saw how hard we worked and invested in us. Now, our 'Jiuqiang Logistics' is the largest cold chain transportation company in this port. Those guys... have all settled down and started families, and nobody does those petty thievery anymore."

Nine-Finger Qiang became more and more excited as he spoke, and his eyes even turned a little red.

He looked at the man in front of him who had once crippled him and then pulled him back from hell to earth.

If it weren't for Liu Ming's ruthless methods back then, he would either be dead in the street amidst a hail of knives, or spending the rest of his life in prison.

Where would I be today, walking in the sunlight and being respectfully addressed as "President Qiang"?

"Well done." Liu Ming looked at his hand, which only had nine intact fingers left, and nodded slightly. "As long as you walk the right path, this land will provide you with a livelihood."

"Yes! I, Nine-Finger Qiang, will remember your words for the rest of my life!" Nine-Finger Qiang straightened his back and bowed deeply and respectfully to Liu Ming.

"You are a benefactor to our whole family!"

Liu Ming didn't linger. After offering Jiu Zhiqiang a few words of encouragement, she left the logistics park with Xi Wanqing.

sunset.

The car drove along the wide riverside avenue, with newly built waterfront parks and upscale residential areas on both sides.

"I never imagined that the wicked Nine-Fingered Qiang would become a major taxpayer in the city." Xi Wanqing looked out the window, her voice filled with emotion.

"People are forced into their current state by their environment." Liu Ming gripped the steering wheel, his eyes deep. "In a dark and corrupt environment, they can only become monsters in order to survive. But if you give them a fair and transparent legal environment, even monsters can become the cornerstone of building this country."

The car drove onto a newly built overpass.

Looking down from the bridge, you can see the entire panorama of Qingyun County.

The desolation and mud of yesteryear are gone. Towering buildings gleam golden in the sunset. The streets are bustling with traffic, and people's faces beam with hope for the future.

The mine that was once used as a tool for exploitation by corrupt officials like Li Yuankui has now been transformed into a scenic mine heritage park.

The malignant tumor has been eradicated, and this land has finally ushered in a true rebirth.

Liu Ming stopped the car.

He stood at the bridgehead, looking at the bustling and vibrant land before him, and took a deep breath of the evening breeze carrying the scent of the river.

In his mind, it was as if the vow he made ten years ago on that rainy night, when he stood alone at the gate of the county committee compound, was echoing again.

"Qingyun County, I, Liu Ming, am back."

Now, he can finally say with a clear conscience that he has not let down this land or its people.

"What are you looking at so intently?" Xi Wanqing walked to his side and stood beside him, following his gaze.

Liu Ming withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and looked into his wife's eyes, which were even gentler than the setting sun.

He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"Behold my masterpiece."

Xi Wanqing chuckled, leaning on his shoulder as she listened to his steady heartbeat.

"Manager Liu, are you bragging?"

"No."

Liu Ming looked at the myriad lights in the distance, her voice soft yet firm.

"This is the masterpiece of all the people on this land."