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

The news about Yangshugou spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the surrounding area in less than half a day.

The villagers were all saying that Zhao Shanhe from Kaoshantun was a "God of Wealth descended to earth," driving a big truck and carrying a gun, taking down the arrogant Zheng Dapao, and even giving everyone cash.

But Zheng Dapao disagreed.

He was used to being a tyrant in Yangshugou, and he couldn't swallow this insult.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set.

Zheng Dapao, his face swollen like a pig's head, rode a lame chestnut horse with two trusted confidants, striding menacingly along the snow path leading to the commune.

"Zhao Shanhe...you bastard, you just wait!"

With each word Zheng Dapao spoke, his cheek twitched with pain, yet the resentment in his eyes grew ever stronger.

"Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have a little money! This is Xiangyang Commune! So what if you have an official document? That belongs to the county, and the local official has more power than the county magistrate!"

"Director Wang of the commune is my godbrother-in-law! How many wolf pelts and pheasants have I given him over the years? I refuse to believe he'll just stand by and watch me get bullied like this!"

The more he thought about it, the more confident he felt.

In his view, Zhao Shanhe was just a "nouveau riche" who didn't know his place because he had a little money.

If Director Wang just lifts a finger and accuses him of "committing a crime with a gun" or "disrupting the market," wouldn't all those cars and goods be his?

Thinking of this, Zheng Dapao even laughed out loud, as if he could already see Zhao Shanhe kneeling in front of him begging for mercy.

……

The director's office in the Xiangyang Commune compound.

The house was warm and cozy, with a stove burning inside.

Director Wang was holding an enamel mug, legs crossed, reading the newspaper.

The county has been cracking down on foreign trade lately, and he's figuring out how to get more targets in his year-end report.

"Bang!"

The door was suddenly flung open, bringing in a blast of biting cold wind.

Director Wang frowned, about to get angry, when he saw a fat man with a face covered in blood and swollen beyond recognition rush in.

"Brother-in-law! You have to stand up for me!"

As soon as Zheng Dapao entered the door, he knelt down, tears streaming down his face. He was really crying, partly because of the pain, but even more so because he felt wronged.

Director Wang was startled. After carefully examining the body for a long time, he finally recognized it as his good-for-nothing "brother-in-law".

"Cannon? What happened to you? Did a bear lick it?" Director Wang put down his teacup, looking astonished.

"Even more ruthless than a bear!"

Zheng Dapao gritted his teeth and slapped his thigh: "It's Zhao Shanhe from Kaoshantun! He's gone too far!"

"Early this morning, he led a dozen militiamen in two large Liberation trucks and stormed into Yangshugou! They were carrying real guns! They started shooting at anyone they saw and wrecked my place!"

"What? Real guns? Big trucks?"

Director Wang's heart skipped a beat.

These days, can someone who can mobilize Liberation trucks and real guns be an ordinary person?

But Zheng Dapao was blinded by hatred at this moment, and he continued to add fuel to the fire:

"Brother-in-law, this is banditry! It's robbery! He even said the commune is nothing, he's the boss here in the surrounding area!"

"Brother-in-law, quickly send the militia to arrest him! Seize his car and his gun! Then we can get our hands on those goods..."

"Wait a minute!"

The more Director Wang listened, the more uneasy he felt.

Zhao Shanhe? Kaoshantun?

Why does this name sound so familiar?

He suddenly remembered that a messenger from the county committee had delivered an urgent official document on horseback that morning, but he had been too busy drinking tea to read it.

A sense of foreboding washed over Director Wang. He quickly opened the drawer and pulled out the document.

The file title is long and jarring:

[Notice on designating Kaoshantun Purchasing Station as a key protected unit for foreign trade in the county]

Director Wang's hand trembled slightly, and he quickly looked down.

Upon seeing this, cold sweat instantly poured down his forehead.

It is clearly stated in the document:

"...Comrade Zhao Shanhe is hereby specially appointed as the county's foreign trade commissioner..."

"...allocate two Jiefang trucks and five Type 56 rifles..."

"...County Chief Chen is personally overseeing the task, and all departments at all levels must cooperate unconditionally..."

County Head Chen personally oversees the project!

Unconditional cooperation!

Director Wang felt dizzy and his throat went dry.

My goodness, this isn't some bandit; this is a model set up by County Chief Chen! A "red flag" for the entire county's foreign trade work!

Just then, Zheng Dapao, oblivious to the danger, came over and grabbed Director Wang's trouser leg:

"Brother-in-law, what are you standing there for? Give the order! We need to go arrest him right now, or that guy surnamed Zhao will get away..."

"Arrest them?"

Director Wang slowly turned his head and looked at the pig-headed face that disgusted him. The fear in his heart instantly turned into a raging fire.

This isn't a complaint; this is clearly a trip to send him to the guillotine!

If we actually listen to this idiot and send people to arrest Zhao Shanhe, that would be openly defying the county committee and County Chief Chen! At that point, forget about his official position; whether he can even go back to farming will be a question!

*Smack!*

A crisp, clear slap echoed through the office.

Director Wang used all his strength in that slap, sending Zheng Dapao rolling twice on the ground before crashing into the stove and screaming in pain from the burns.

"Sister...brother-in-law? Why did you hit me?" Zheng Dapao covered his face, completely dumbfounded.

"Hit you? I'd rather kill you!"

Director Wang's face was deathly pale. He looked at Zheng Dapao as if he were a plague carrier, his finger trembling as he pointed at his nose:

"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!!"

"Who's your brother-in-law? Don't call me that! I have nothing to do with a tyrant like you who oppresses the people!"

Director Wang slammed the document into Zheng Dapao's face:

"Open your dog eyes and look! This is an urgent document just issued by the county committee!"

"Zhao Shanhe was personally awarded a medal by County Chief Chen! He's a hero who brings foreign exchange to the country! Those guns were specially approved by the county!"

"You want me to arrest him?" Director Wang trembled with rage, kicking Zheng Dapao in the stomach. "You think my job is too secure?"

Zheng Dapao was dumbfounded.

Ignoring the pain, he picked up the document with trembling hands.

Looking at the bright red official seal and the four big characters "Key Protection", he felt as if the sky had fallen.

It’s over.

I kicked a steel plate.

No, this is like kicking a nuclear bomb.

"Director Wang... I didn't know... I was just confused for a moment... Please, for the sake of our friendship..." Zheng Dapao was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground and kowtowed desperately.

Director Wang's eyes turned cold.

He was a shrewd and experienced figure in officialdom.

He knew that this was not the time to talk about friendship; this was a moment of life and death.

If Zheng Dapao isn't dealt with, and Zhao Shanhe sues County Chief Chen, claiming the commune is protecting a local tyrant, then he'll be finished.

It must be cut! And it must be cut cleanly and neatly!

"Zheng Dapao, the people have long reported you for engaging in market manipulation and forced buying and selling in Yangshugou. I hadn't verified it before, but I didn't expect you to escalate your actions and even dare to disrupt the country's foreign trade!"

Director Wang straightened his collar with an air of righteous indignation, yanked open the door, and roared down the corridor:

"Someone come here! Call the security department!"

Splash!

Several commune officers in uniform rushed in, looking completely bewildered at the scene inside.

"Director Wang, this..."

"Detain Zheng Dapao! Put him in isolation for investigation!"

Director Wang pointed at Zheng Dapao, who was sprawled on the ground, and said sternly:

"Investigate exactly how many bad things he's done in Yangshugou over the years! Investigate every single one, and show absolutely no leniency! Gather the materials and send them directly to the county public security bureau tomorrow!"

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, spare me! I don't want to go to jail!"

Zheng Dapao let out a pig-like scream, but Director Wang didn't even glance at him and simply waved for his men to drag him out like a dead dog.

The screams in the corridor gradually faded away.

Director Wang slumped into a chair, wiping the sweat from his brow; his hands were still trembling slightly.

That was close.

I almost got killed by this idiot.

He took a sip of herbal tea to calm himself down.

The matter is not over yet.

Taking down Zheng Dapao was only the first step; they also needed to appease Zhao Shanhe.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath, forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace, picked up the phone, and dialed the number of the Kaoshantun Brigade Headquarters.

……

Kaoshantun, village office.

Outside the window, the setting sun painted the snowfield golden.

Zhao Shanhe was discussing expanding the warehouse with the old Party Secretary.

"Ring ring—"

The black hand-cranked telephone rang.

The old Party Secretary answered the phone, listened for a couple of sentences, then his expression turned strange. He handed the receiver to Zhao Shanhe: "Shanhe, it's for you. It's Director Wang from the commune."

Zhao Shanhe was smoking and didn't seem surprised when he heard this.

He slowly flicked off his cigarette ash, took the receiver, and spoke calmly:

"Hello, Director Wang, this is Zhao Shanhe."

On the other end of the phone came Director Wang's voice, warm to the point of being obsequious, yet tinged with a sense of trepidation:

"Oh! Commissioner Zhao! Hello, hello! I'm Old Wang from the commune!"

"I have an important report to share with you. That Zheng Dapao from Yangshugou not only bullies the villagers regularly, but this time he even dared to confront your purchasing team. His actions are extremely egregious!"

"The commune has just arrested him! They're preparing for a severe punishment! The materials will be sent to the county bureau tomorrow! So... are you satisfied with this outcome?"

Zhao Shanhe listened to the ingratiating voice on the phone, his expression remaining calm.

He neither mocked nor gloated.

When you stand at a high enough position, the "ghosts" around you will naturally turn into "people".

This is the logic of power.

"I admire Director Wang for upholding the law impartially."

Zhao Shanhe spoke into the microphone in a businesslike tone, devoid of any personal grudges:

"The commune's foreign trade procurement work will be demanding and stressful in the future, and we will need Director Wang's continued support."

"Definitely! Definitely! From now on, the commune's resources will be prioritized for you! I won't disturb your work any longer, you're busy! You're busy!"

hang up the phone.

"How is it? That Zheng Dapao..." the old Party Secretary asked tentatively.

"Arrested. Take him to the county police station."

Zhao Shanhe spoke succinctly, casually stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray.

He stood up and walked to the window.

In the courtyard, Erga was leading his men to unload truckloads of mountain goods, which filled the newly vacated warehouse.

The laughter of the villagers mingled with the roar of trucks—it was the sound of hope.

Zhao Shanhe looked at the bustling scene with a deep and calm gaze.

Yangshugou has been leveled.

The road to the commune is now open.

But this is just the beginning.