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

Wang Jianguo's jeep kicked up a trail of dust and disappeared at the village entrance, leaving only a strong smell of exhaust fumes.

On the stone steps in front of the village committee, the pool of filth mixed with blood and stench was particularly glaring in the morning chill.

The villagers were a dense, dark mass, yet no one dared to breathe loudly.

The look in her eyes as she looked at Lu Qingshan was extremely complicated.

There was a sense of relief and catharsis, but more than anything, there was an overwhelming sense of worry and fear.

"This... this guy Qingshan beat someone up like this, and the police aren't going to investigate?"

"Didn't Director Wang already say it was self-defense?"

"That's true, but Zhao Erhu's legs... they're terrifying to look at. Won't he come after us later?"

Whispers arose from the crowd.

Lu Qingshan just stood there, motionless.

His old cotton-padded jacket, worn smooth and shiny from years spent in the mountains, now stood out more conspicuously than the Zhongshan suits worn by the county leaders.

Lu Qingshan shouted to Li Erniu, who was in a state of extreme excitement behind him.

"Erniu".

"Hey! Brother Qingshan!"

Li Erniu jumped up, puffing out his chest.

"Go to the village committee to borrow paper and a pen."

Lu Qingshan's voice was not loud, but it was like a needle, piercing through the buzzing discussions in the room.

"Invite Third Uncle over as well."

Everyone was stunned by these words.

Borrow paper and pen? Should I ask my third uncle?

What's going on here? Writing a self-criticism? Or signing a written agreement to pay compensation?

Although Li Erniu wasn't quick-witted, he was a man of action. He responded and ran off to the village committee.

Before long, he dragged and pulled his third uncle out.

The old man looked serious, clutching his old pipe in his hand, thinking that Lu Qingshan had gotten into trouble and needed him to act as an elder to mediate.

"Qingshan, you..."

Lu Qingshan didn't let him continue.

He took the paper and pen from Li Erniu and spread the paper out on the peeling octagonal table in the village committee office.

He didn't write a single word, but spoke to Li Erniu.

"remember."

"From the entrance of our village to the 'Ghost's Sorrow' pass, this dirt road is seven miles long and is designated as Route No. 1."

"From the pass to the east gate of the county town, it is twelve li long, designated as Route No. 2."

As he spoke, he had Li Erniu write it down clearly on a piece of paper.

He described every place name, every mileage, and even a few crooked trees by the roadside with perfect clarity.

The villagers were completely dumbfounded.

What time is it? How can he still be measuring land here?

Third Uncle puffed on his pipe, his cloudy old eyes filled with incomprehension.

After finishing writing, Lu Qingshan picked up the paper, blew on the still-wet ink, and turned to hand it to his third uncle.

"Third Uncle, please take a look."

Third Uncle took it, brought it close to his eyes, and read it word by word.

"Register of Transportation Routes for Collective Property in Hongshitun Village..."

He muttered to himself, then looked up in confusion.

"This is……"

"This is the road through which our mountain goods are transported out."

For the first time, Lu Qingshan's voice carried a hint of warmth as he addressed all the villagers.

"If we want to sell our mountain products, we have to go through this route."

"Zhao Erhu isn't just blocking my, Lu Qingshan's, path today."

"It cuts off the entire village's source of income!"

The villagers fell silent, then a buzzing sound erupted from the crowd, as if a hornet's nest had been stirred up.

"Yes! He's right!"

"This is the road where we all make money!"

"Damn it, Zhao Erhu wants us all to starve!"

Lu Qingshan waited until they had finished discussing before raising his voice slightly.

"Therefore, I have invited my third uncle and everyone here today to be witnesses."

He pointed to the piece of paper.

"Register this source of income."

"From today onwards, it belongs to the collective property of our Hongshi Village!"

He took a red inkpad box out of his pocket, opened it, and handed it to his third uncle.

"Third Uncle, you are the elder, so please take the lead and sign your name here."

"Anyone who dares to touch this road again is going against the entire Hongshitun village!"

Third Uncle's hand trembled slightly.

He looked into Lu Qingshan's bright black eyes and suddenly understood.

This kid isn't venting his personal grievances.

He's setting the rules!

"good!"

Third Uncle tucked his pipe into his waistband, took the inkpad, and pressed his bright red fingerprint heavily onto the back of his name!

"I'll press it too!"

Count me in!

The crowd erupted in cheers!

One by one, villagers rushed forward, vying to press their fingerprints on the paper.

Those red fingerprints looked like clusters of burning flames.

After doing all this, Lu Qingshan locked the heavy register, along with the axe, animal trap, and cigarette butts left by Zhao Erhu, into the old tin cabinet in the village committee office.

He solemnly handed the key to his third uncle.

"Third Uncle, please keep it safe."

Then he turned around and looked at a villager in the crowd who had just been muttering that he would get into trouble.

"Next time something like this happens, you can do what I did: catch the person and preserve the evidence."

"I, Lu Qingshan, am giving you a personal bonus of fifty yuan."

The villager's face flushed red instantly, down to the roots of his neck, and he almost buried his head in his crotch.

There was not a single sound from the crowd.

All that remains is awe.

……

When I got home, the lights in the yard were already on.

Lu Qingshan took off his coat, which was covered in cold air and the smell of blood, and casually draped it over the pile of firewood in the yard.

He went into the house.

Lin Xiulan was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), waiting quietly.

Seeing him come in, she didn't ask anything, but silently got up and brought over a bowl of piping hot brown sugar ginger soup that had been prepared beforehand.

The rising steam blurred her face.

"Drink it to dispel the cold."

Lu Qingshan took the bowl, but instead of drinking, he held her cold hand in his own.

It's very soft and warm.

The murderous intent in his heart seemed to melt away inch by inch by this warmth.

"From now on, I want to stay at the forest farm regularly."

Lu Qingshan looked at her and said in a low voice.

"The business of selling mountain products here will likely see similar incidents again today."

"Only when everyone's interests are tied to one vehicle will you be safe when I'm not around."

Lin Xiulan listened quietly and nodded.

She raised her other hand and gently placed it on the large hand that was holding hers.

"I'll wait for you to come back."

That night, Lu Qingshan slept exceptionally soundly.

Early the next morning.

Wang Jianguo's green Jeep arrived again.

This time, not only was Wang Jianguo on the bus, but there was also gong and drum banging, making it a lively scene.

In front of the entire village, Wang Jianguo personally handed Lu Qingshan a large red banner inscribed with "Wise and Courageous, Dedicated to Serving the People" and fifty yuan in cash.

"Comrade Lu, this is what you deserve!"

Wang Jianguo grasped his hand and shook it vigorously.

"Also, I have something to announce."

He cleared his throat, and his voice carried throughout the entire threshing ground.

"Starting today, the transportation route from Hongshitun to the county seat has been officially registered with our county public security bureau!"

"This will be a key route for protection!"

"Anyone who dares to have any ulterior motives on this path..."

Wang Jianguo's gaze turned sharp as a knife.

"Then it's not just going against Comrade Lu Qingshan, it's going against me, Wang Jianguo, and our county public security bureau!"

The whole village was filled with jubilation!

The last vestige of the shadow of Lu Qingshan's vigilante justice was completely dispelled by this official banner!

After the ceremony ended, Wang Jianguo didn't leave immediately. He took Lu Qingshan's hand and led him to a quiet corner.

His smile faded, and he lowered his voice.

"That kid Zhao Erhu is spineless; he confessed everything."

"It was Lin Xiumei who instigated him."

Wang Jianguo paused, his expression turning somewhat strange.

"But... Yu Bo sent someone to deliver a message to me."