My sister broke off her engagement to marry someone richer? My older sister married me and became in

The news brought by Wang Jianguo was like a bucket of ice water poured over someone in the twelfth lunar month, instantly dissipating the festive atmosphere that had just begun to rise in the room.

"That Qian Zhenyu isn't from our county, nor is he from the city."

Wang Jianguo lowered his voice, his tone carrying a tension he himself was unaware of.

"He is a sharp knife in the provincial criminal investigation team, nicknamed 'Cold-faced Yama.' None of the people who went to jail after handling the cases could claim innocence."

Last year, a deputy director of the regional supply and marketing cooperative uncovered a corruption case because of a discrepancy in the handwriting on an expense report. Three people were executed as a result.

He paused, looked at Lu Qingshan, his expression more solemn than ever before.

"This man is impervious to reason, ruthless, and a master at finding problems in the most obscure corners. On the surface, he's here for that batch of weapons, but who knows how deep he'll investigate. Qingshan, be extremely careful when you meet him tomorrow; you can't say a single wrong word."

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

Even Grandpa Lu stopped adding tobacco to his pipe, frowning and staring sharply at Wang Jianguo.

Lu Qingshan's expression remained unchanged after hearing this.

He picked up the teapot on the table and refilled the empty teacup in front of Wang Jianguo. The rising steam blurred the expression in his eyes.

"Director Wang, don't panic."

He spoke, his voice steady and devoid of any emotion.

"The tea's gone cold, have some hot tea."

His composure in the face of imminent collapse surprised Wang Jianguo, who was burning with anxiety.

Is this kid out of his mind?

"I have nothing to hide, so let him ask whatever he wants."

Lu Qingshan pushed the teacup in front of Wang Jianguo.

"We cooperated with the police to eliminate the ruthless criminals; we deserve credit and have done nothing wrong. If he were truly capable, he should have investigated how that batch of weapons got in, instead of targeting us who risked our lives."

His words were spoken casually, yet they acted like a reassuring pill, inexplicably calming Wang Jianguo's wildly beating heart.

He picked up the teacup, took a big gulp, and only after the scalding tea went down his throat did he finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"You little brat... alright. I got it." Wang Jianguo stood up. "Anyway, I'll go with you tomorrow. If anything happens, I'll cover for you."

"No need." Lu Qingshan also stood up and saw him to the door. "I can go by myself. Director Wang, the more you get involved, the more suspicious he will become."

Wang Jianguo looked at him for a long time, then nodded heavily.

"Okay. Then you must be very careful."

After Wang Jianguo left, only the howling wind remained in the courtyard.

Lin Xiulan walked over and gently tugged at Lu Qingshan's sleeve, her eyes filled with worry that she couldn't hide.

"Qingshan, how about... we go to the provincial capital later?"

Lu Qingshan grabbed her cold hand and pulled her back into the house, pressing her down to sit on a chair by the kang (a heated brick bed).

"No."

He shook his head, his gaze fixed intently on her.

"Especially at times like these, we must focus on our own tasks."

He turned around and took out the provincial capital map from the cabinet, which took up almost half the table when unfolded, and pointed at it with his finger.

"Our opponent isn't some task force, it's time."

"Before you go to the provincial capital, I must pave the way for you thoroughly."

He pulled up another chair and sat opposite Lin Xiulan, his gaze softening yet becoming more profound.

"Xiulan, let me ask you, why are those hawthorn appetite stimulant pills I told you about last time selling so well?"

Lin Xiulan was taken aback by his sudden question and paused for a moment before trying to recall the question seriously.

"Because...because it's not medicine, it's candy. It solves the problem of children not liking to take bitter medicine."

She organized her thoughts and spoke slowly.

"Moreover, its packaging is also nice, wrapped in oil paper and placed in a small box, clean and presentable, unlike those pills in pharmacies that are just wrapped in paper."

"That's right!" Lu Qingshan nodded approvingly.

"So, it doesn't solve the 'illness,' it solves the 'trouble.' It solves the trouble of parents feeding their children medicine."

"When we go to the provincial capital, we can no longer do what we did in the county, hauling a truckload of mountain produce and waiting for others to pick it up. We want to make our own 'Hawthorn Appetizer'."

Lin Xiulan's eyes lit up for a moment, then looked somewhat confused.

"Our own...? But all we have are mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and honey..."

Lu Qingshan smiled and continued to ask questions patiently.

"Then think again, who is most willing to spend a lot of money to buy these mountain products? Is it people who buy them to eat at every meal at home, or...?"

He paused deliberately.

Lin Xiulan's breath hitched as a thought flashed through her mind.

"...It was bought as a gift!"

"That's right!" Lu Qingshan slapped his thigh.

"During holidays and festivals, when visiting relatives and friends, who doesn't bring a gift? Cigarettes, alcohol, candy, and tea are the same for everyone, nothing new. But what if you brought a beautifully packaged box of dried mushrooms and wild fungus labeled 'Changbai Mountain Delicacies'? Wouldn't that make a difference?"

These words, like a bolt of lightning, cleaved through the fog in Lin Xiulan's mind.

She suddenly understood.

"I understand!" She stood up excitedly. "We'll pick out the best mountain produce, wash and dry it carefully, making sure there's not a single impurity. Then we'll wrap it in the prettiest oil paper and put it... put it in a little wooden box!"

"Like a dessert box!"

"In this way, we're not just selling a few pounds of mountain produce, but a respectable 'gift'! The price will naturally go up!"

"Moreover, this will completely separate it from the mass-produced goods sold in bulk at state-run supply and marketing cooperatives!"

She became more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes sparkling with an unprecedented brilliance.

Lu Qingshan looked at her, his eyes full of admiration and pride.

His Xiulan was born to do this.

"Well said." He stood up, walked to her side, and gently patted her shoulder. "This project will be called 'Green Mountain Gift Box'."

"From today onwards, you are the overall person in charge of this project."

"You decide how to design the packaging, how to set the price, and how to negotiate with people in the provincial capital. I will only offer suggestions and will not interfere."

Lin Xiulan was somewhat dizzy from being hit by this sudden heavy responsibility.

"Can...can I do it?"

"Of course you can do it." Lu Qingshan's voice was filled with unquestionable certainty. "I will assign you Monkey Three, the most clever of Scarface Liu's men. He will be responsible for running errands and doing odd jobs, and will be at your command."

"The money is the five thousand yuan you have. Monkey Three will come with you first. The rest is up to you."

Complete delegation of authority, complete trust.

Looking at the clear blueprint drawn by her husband and the firm support in his eyes, Lin Xiulan felt her last trace of fear and confusion completely dissipate with a surge of burning fighting spirit.

She stopped talking, turned around and went back to the table, taking out a small notebook and a pencil stub from her cloth bag.

She sat down and, under the kerosene lamp, began to write and draw, stroke by stroke.

"The wooden box needs to be custom-made by a carpenter, it needs to have clasps, and it would be best if the words 'Xiushan Industry' could be engraved on it..."

"The oil paper needs to be bought in the county; it needs to be thick and not allow oil to see through..."

"For the first batch, prepare 100 portions of each of mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and honey..."

"The costs need to be calculated clearly: how much does the wooden box cost, how much does the oil paper cost, labor..."

As she muttered to herself, she quickly listed items and calculated numbers in her notebook, already fully embracing the role of the lady of the house.

Lu Qingshan didn't disturb her, but just stood quietly to the side, watching his wife's focused and beautiful profile under the lamplight.

He knew that a rising star in the business world named Lin Xiulan was about to emerge from this snow-covered Hongshitun.

And he will be her strongest and sharpest support.

The wind outside seemed to have subsided a bit. The couple, one writing furiously and the other gazing with a smile, seemed to have forgotten that there was an "iron-faced judge" outside the door who could decide their fate at any moment.

The next morning.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Three rapid and forceful knocks were heard clearly.

A calm, emotionless male voice pierced through the door and entered.

"The special task force of the Provincial Public Security Department, find Comrade Lu Qingshan to learn about the situation."