I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

Holding the note, Zhang Dabiao was about to head to the agricultural technology station when he remembered something and stopped.

His trip to purchase fertilizer was a pretense. According to the agreement, having obtained the evidence, he should first go to the Guangming State-run Restaurant for a bowl of noodles.

I was so happy to go eat noodles that I forgot about the important matter.

Along the way, Zhang Dabiao kept thinking to himself that he had to buy the five tons of phosphate fertilizer no matter what.

They're putting on an act; the Yuetang Commune really does need fertilizer.

Upon arriving at the Guangming Hotel, Zhang Dabiao went behind a partition, a private space set up by the hotel and usually reserved for customers hosting banquets.

Zhang Dabiao only needs one bowl of noodles, yet it takes up a huge space; there's truly no one else like him.

Zhang Dabiao went behind the partition and saw Zhou Zhonghai and his secretary Gu Quan.

"Governor Zhou, Governor Zhou." Zhang Dabiao was dumbfounded. He knew someone would come to meet him, but he never expected that the governor would come in person.

"Deputy, Deputy. Please sit down. One bowl of noodles isn't enough, so I've added two fried dough sticks and two meat buns for you," Zhou Zhonghai said kindly.

"Thank you, Vice Governor Zhou."

Zhang Dabiao sat down cautiously, and soon, three bowls of shredded pork noodles, four fried dough sticks, and four meat buns were served.

Zhang Dabiao swallowed hard, thinking to himself, "Even though there are shredded pork noodles and meat buns to eat, it's still a bit stingy for a vice governor. Shouldn't we at least add a plate of braised pig's head?"

The three of them took a bite of noodles, and Zhou Zhonghai asked, "How is it?"

Zhang Dabiao swallowed his noodles hard, took out Li Zhihao's note, and handed it to Zhou Zhonghai: "Director Li asked me to go find Li Jinlong, the head of the agricultural technology station."

"Yes, Li Jinlong is Li Zhihao's cousin."

"Vice Governor Zhou, our commune is willing to buy it for an extra 20 yuan per ton of phosphate fertilizer. Could you finish your business and then I'll buy the phosphate fertilizer?" Zhang Dabiao was still thinking about the phosphate fertilizer.

"Zhang Dabiao, guess why the fertilizer factory doesn't have fertilizer, but the agricultural technology station does?"

"They weren't sold out, were they?"

"You're also a soldier, and you've reported Li Bo for corruption and bribery multiple times. Do you really believe that the fertilizer from the agricultural technology station is of legitimate origin?"

"What? Aren't fertilizers distributed at fixed locations and in fixed quantities?"

"Even with the county party secretary's certificate, you can't buy fertilizer. How come you're on a rationing system? Fertilizer is in higher demand than rice, yet the fertilizer plant loses 12 yuan a year. How can it be losing money?"

Zhang Dabiao had a mouthful of steamed bun stuck in his throat, so he quickly drank some noodle soup and asked, "Can a fertilizer plant really lose money?"

"Yes, we invited you here to find out why the fertilizer plant is losing money. I can't show up at the fertilizer plant myself, so they only dared to give you a note because you're from out of town. Gu Quan will go to the agricultural technology station with you after lunch."

"Vice Governor Zhou, is it possible that the fertilizer was sold cheaply to the agricultural technology station, and then the agricultural technology station resold it to our subordinate counties at a higher price?"

"That's roughly it. I'll understand after going to the agricultural technology station this afternoon."

"I thought Li Bo and He Youcai were greedy enough, but I didn't expect there to be even greedier ones. Adding 20 yuan per ton, how much dirty money must they be making?"

Zhang Dabiao's sense of justice kicked in; he figured they might as well get rid of this phosphate fertilizer.

"Once this is investigated and dealt with, it will be much easier for your county to buy fertilizer in the future. Fertilizer is the foundation of agriculture, and these corrupt officials are treating it like their own private factory."

Zhou Zhonghai put down his chopsticks, picked up a fried dough stick, dipped it in the noodle soup, and ate it.

"Vice Governor Zhou, you are an honest official for us ordinary people," Zhang Dabiao exclaimed sincerely.

"Don't talk nonsense. I just want to get all industries in the province back on track. You're putting too much pressure on me by calling me an incorruptible official," Zhou Zhonghai immediately corrected him.

He wasn't an honest official either; he would still take advantage of any small benefits he felt he could.

"Yes, yes, I misspoke. With a good official like you in our province, the people have hope for the future," Zhang Dabiao said with a simple and honest smile.

"After you finish eating, go to the agricultural technology station with Gu Quan. Agree to whatever amount of fertilizer they offer you. If they only offer five tons, you can increase the purchase amount and see their attitude. After you've reached an agreement, use the excuse of needing to discuss it with Secretary Mao to stay in Huailin City first, and pay the money tomorrow."

"But, but our county doesn't have that much money."

"Zhang Dabiao, you actually bought fertilizer?"

"I...really want to buy it." Zhang Dabiao said, his head drooping.

"Now that Li Zhihao's matter is settled, I promise to give your county 20 tons of affordable fertilizer."

"Really?" Zhang Dabiao stood up excitedly.

"Sit down, sit down, Zhang Dabiao. It's a blessing for your commune to have a cadre like you."

"No, no, I'm far inferior to Vice Governor Zhou."

"Whether it's the provincial governor or the commune secretary, as long as they care about the people, they are good officials, without distinction," Zhou Zhonghai said kindly.

"Not at all, how could I, Zhang Dabiao, dare to compare myself to the Vice Governor?"

Having received Zhou Zhonghai's affirmation, Zhang Dabiao lowered his head in embarrassment.

"Without you, Liuxian County would still be under the control of He Youcai and Li Bo. Grassroots cadres also have their own missions. I should thank you."

"Vice Governor Zhou..." Zhang Dabiao's nose tingled, and he felt like crying.

"Alright, let's finish our noodles and get down to business."

"Yes, hey, Vice Governor Zhou, is there anything special about this note? How come the deputy factory director knew the price of phosphate fertilizer would increase by twenty yuan just by glancing at it?"

Zhang Dabiao was very puzzled. Could it be that the deputy factory director and the factory director were in cahoots? But it didn't seem like it.

Gu Quan pointed to the note and said, "Look, two periods. That must be their code."

"Yeah, two periods. Just like the routine of a spy rendezvous."

After lunch, Zhou Zhonghai drove away. Gu Quan took a tattered piece of clothing with him. Because he followed Zhou Zhonghai around every day, his face was as black as charcoal, making him look even more like a farmer than Zhang Dabiao.

The two arrived at the agricultural technology station and met the station chief, Li Jinlong, without any problems.

"Are you from Liuxian County?" Li Jinlong was much more enthusiastic than Li Zhihao.

"Sit down, sit down, have some tea, have you had lunch?"

"I ate a bowl of noodles, shredded pork noodles. The noodles in the city are delicious, but a bit expensive. A bowl costs one yuan, which can buy two kilograms of noodles."

Zhang Dabiao responded that Gu Quan remained silent, acting like a mere follower.

"It's too frugal to eat just a bowl of noodles while on a business trip. I'll treat you to a restaurant tonight, with braised pork and stewed fish," Li Jinlong said generously.

"No, that won't do. It's too expensive. Noodles are fine."

Zhang Dabiao chuckled sheepishly, looking utterly naive and unsophisticated.

"Alright, let's get down to business. How much fertilizer do you need?" Li Jinlong asked directly.

"Five tons of phosphate fertilizer, plus 20 yuan per ton, I can make the decision."

"Five tons? Just five tons for one trip? That's too little, isn't it?" Li Jinlong said with a smile.

The fertilizer plant didn't have a single ounce of phosphate fertilizer, but here they still complain it's not enough?

"Do you have nitrogen fertilizer and urea?" Zhang Dabiao asked cautiously.

"Yes, we need at least twenty tons. However, urea is in short supply, so it will cost an extra fifty yuan per ton," Li Jinlong quoted a price.

"Do you have ten tons of urea?" Zhang Dabiao was very guilty. Urea was the hardest thing to buy, and the agricultural technology station actually had it.

"I'll give you a maximum of ten tons."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dabiao stood up excitedly, but Gu Quan tugged at him and slowly sat down again.

"Great, great, ten tons! I'll take it. What about the nitrogen fertilizer?"

"Nitrogen fertilizer isn't easy to get either, so I'll add 20%, I'll give you five tons, and another five tons of phosphate fertilizer, a total of twenty tons, is that alright?"

Li Jinlong was much more straightforward than Li Zhihao, immediately asking for twenty tons.

"Okay, I'll take them all. But, but I don't have that much money with me. I need to report to the county party secretary."

"No problem. In business, there's plenty of time. If it's twenty tons this year, it'll be fifty tons next year."

"Five, fifty tons too?"

"Of course!" Li Jinlong said with a proud smile.

Gu Quan spoke up: "Station Chief Li, these fertilizers, could they be fake? We went to the fertilizer factory, and they didn't have any fertilizer."

"Look at what you're saying. I have invoices here stamped with the fertilizer factory's official seal. When you take these invoices to pick up the goods, it's all fertilizer from the factory. How could it be fake?"