Chapter 146: Discussing Wealth on the Cliffside Corridor

It is hardly the villagers' fault; the reality is that Shuangshen Village is simply too insignificant. Even the town-level officials rarely visit more than a few times a year, let alone leaders from the provincial capital. Whenever any issue arises, Lu Ling is the one who has to run all the way to town to handle it.

So, when they suddenly heard that provincial officials had arrived, it was no wonder they were suspicious. "Who are you people trying to scam?"

"Comrade, we really are from the provincial government. Could you please not be like this?" the official's secretary explained with a wry smile.

Standing before him was a brawny, shirtless man clutching a hoe, his face set in a fierce glare. This was Niu Daxiong. Normally, he was a man of few words, even when bullied by the local layabouts, but whenever the village faced a crisis, he was always the first to step onto the front lines. The last time Zhang Tianfeng visited and encountered a wild boar rampage, Niu had been away; otherwise, Zhang would never have had a chance to intervene. Even so, upon returning, Niu had taken his hoe and dug up the boar’s den.

Wide-eyed and menacing, Niu Daxiong growled, "I don't believe you're any kind of leaders. You aren't allowed in until the village chief returns. You can either wait here or leave—don't go looking for trouble."

"Sir, we..."

"Let's just wait. They should be back soon."

What else could they do? They had to wait.

The group had just moved to the shade of a banyan tree outside the village when they heard a laugh like silver bells.

"Uncle Niu, we're back!"

"Oh, Xixi, why are you back so early?" Niu Daxiong smiled, setting down his hoe and nodding at the group behind her. In his eyes, these people were all just fellow villagers.

"Boss, I’m going to take my wife back to rest. I’ll come find you later."

"Now that we're back in the village, there’s nothing urgent. Take care of your own affairs before you come looking for me." After smiling and sending the Yun Tianhe couple on their way, Zhang Tianfeng turned to face the newcomers.

"Boss Zhang, you certainly kept us waiting."

"And you are?"

"My surname is Chen. You can just call me Secretary Chen. The people behind me are high-ranking officials from the province; they came specifically to see you."

"Oh, I see. My apologies. I was out making purchases this morning and only just returned."

Purchases? There wasn't a single cart track in sight, though a few footprints were visible. Being intelligent men, Secretary Chen didn't point it out and led Zhang Tianfeng toward the banyan tree.

There were three officials in total, their expressions solemn and their demeanor dignified, radiating a sense of integrity. The middle-aged man in the lead stood as straight as a spear. He kept his hands behind his back, scrutinized Zhang Tianfeng from head to toe, and gave a slight nod.

"So, you are the young Boss Zhang everyone has been talking about. You truly are quite extraordinary."

"I see in you a level of courage, perseverance, and dedication that many of your peers lack."

Flattery right off the bat? That was fine. Zhang Tianfeng feared nothing less than dealing with officials, as they were usually quite easy to talk to.

"You are too kind. It’s been a long journey; please, come into the village and rest first. We can discuss whatever business you have once you've recovered."

"We are in a hurry; we must return to handle other official duties once we’ve finished our talk."

No sooner had the official spoken than his stomach let out a loud rumble. They had set off immediately after receiving Gao Ran’s call, eating only enough on the road to stave off hunger. After getting out of the car and hiking through the mountains, their energy was depleted, and their stomachs were long since empty.

"How about we eat while we talk? Shuangshen Village may not have much, but we have plenty of pure, natural food. You’re in for a treat today."

"Very well, we'll take your suggestion. Sorry for the trouble."

"It's no trouble at all."

Living in the mountains, one relies on the mountains; living by the water, one relies on the water. Shuangshen Village sat in a gap between two peaks, surrounded by vast, primeval forests, so wild game was never in short supply. Of course, the villagers didn't hunt indiscriminately; they only culled the animals that broke into their fields to destroy their crops.

With the village chief away at a meeting in town, and with the villagers' permission, Zhang Tianfeng arranged for the officials to sit on the cliffside corridor behind the chief’s house. Built against the cliff, this was the highest point in the village. Usually, when the villagers finished their work, they would come here to drink tea, eat, rest, and enjoy the breeze while looking out over the breathtaking scenery of Shuangshen Village.

As they climbed the stairs, the official surnamed Zhang ran his hand over the carvings on the wooden railing, a flash of surprise in his eyes. "Exquisite craftsmanship. Such skills truly deserve to be passed down."

On the way over, Zhang Tianfeng had spoken to him about the philosophy of cultural preservation, and the three officials were now fully in agreement.

"Leader," Zhang Tianfeng said, leading the way, "this isn't a question of whether it should be done—it is a matter of certainty. It must be preserved."

"Could you elaborate on your thoughts and suggestions?"

"Let's go upstairs to talk."

They quickened their pace and reached the upper level. Once the three officials were seated, Zhang Tianfeng said, "Three leaders, I still don't know your specific titles or roles, but I know your words carry great weight. I have a request: I hope you will increase the efforts in poverty alleviation. Many excellent traditional crafts are not found in the cities, but deep in these mountains."

"If I hadn't happened to meet that little girl, Yun Xixi, on the road back then, it would be a question of how much longer the Luban craftsmanship hidden in Shuangshen Village could have survived, let alone the sales miracle at the later Canton Fair."

"Young Comrade Zhang, I understand your feelings, but surely we must prioritize?"

"Then, may I ask, why did the three of you come to see me?"

"To discuss your enterprise. To discuss your company."

The official surnamed Zhang adjusted his glasses. "As the vanguard of reform and opening up, the coastal region is now the largest economy in the country. While all industries are blossoming, we lack a proper enterprise to provide guidance."

The reform and opening up policy had been in official effect for just over a year, with a few years of trial implementation before that—only a handful of years in total. To this day, the vast majority of business operations required borrowing from the Hong Kong model. Every year, they spent significant funds to invite top merchants from Hong Kong to train and guide relevant personnel and the bosses of key enterprises.

The three officials had come specifically to acquire some business experience from Zhang Tianfeng, or, if they couldn't grasp it, to invite him to take on that role of teacher and mentor. After all, with the sales miracle of the Canton Fair right before their eyes, what emerging private entrepreneur would dare to dissent?

"Three leaders, you must have reviewed my background before coming. What are your thoughts?"

"In four words: it's too outrageous."

Arriving at the coast with a million, starting by taking over a late-night snack stall, then having a sudden inspiration to enter the human resources market, and even daring to give away his entire fortune to save a life when a major crisis occurred. All of that was understandable and even commendable. But what followed was harder to grasp. He went to Hong Kong, stirred up the stock market, and unexpectedly became a guest of honor for the Huo family. Then he established a company, acquired a toy factory, obtained raw materials from sea-traders, and acquired machinery and equipment resources from Japan... Every step felt like a legend, impossible to fathom or predict.

"Success is the result of luck and hard work combined. Everything you mentioned was the result of my own efforts. I believe anyone with ability could achieve it."

"And the luck?"

"The luck is this little girl right here," Zhang Tianfeng said, pointing to Yun Xixi as she brought over the tea.

"Three uncles, please enjoy the tea. It’s grown right here in Shuangshen Village, and the village chief brewed it himself."

"Thank you, little one."

"You're welcome. Please take your time; call me if you need anything."

With that, Yun Xixi retreated slowly. This scene left the three officials somewhat stunned. They had children of their own, but at that age, most were unruly or even lacked basic etiquette. The little girl before them had bright, intelligent eyes, spoke politely, and articulated clearly. She was far superior to any of the younger generation in their own families.

"This girl is Yun Xixi. Her mother developed a lung disease from working in an asbestos factory years ago and has been bedridden ever since, unable to do any physical labor. When I met her, she was selling toys on a street stall in Zhucheng. You can imagine how difficult it is for an eight-year-old girl to be out there on her own."

"At that moment, only one thought was in my mind: I had to help her, to help her break free from her plight. As it turned out, my efforts were rewarded. The first big order at the Canton Fair was facilitated by her. Even the products you saw in the advertisements on television were all developed by Lu Ling, the village chief of Shuangshen."

"I am just a businessman who happened to meet them and happened to turn my life around. So, if you are asking for my secret to making money, my answer is: hard work + luck + a clear conscience."

"If you three will excuse me for a moment, I will go down and fetch something for you."

With those words, Zhang Tianfeng stood up and headed downstairs.