Chapter 174 Five Years and Ten Years

tacle was cleared.There was infinite beauty outside but no one knew which view belonged to their future.To talk about a commitment that one is willing to devote their entire life to on days when they...Chapter 174: Five Years and Ten Years

The street snacks with He Tianian and others eventually ended unhappily. At the end, the bill was over three hundred yuan. Su Can originally planned to pay for it, but Tianian got up and paid first without saying anything, seemingly stubbornly keeping her previous promise.

Seeing everyone entering the family compound and separating, that Chrysler drove off with everyone inside. Among them were Zhang Xi looking dejected and others who didn't receive a clear response from Su Can. They originally thought meeting him and having some heart-to-heart talk could bring about reconciliation, then pulling him into their camp.

Like Yang Jiaqian and Gu Shurang’s couple, they might have had somewhat calculated thoughts for the future; after all, they needed to walk in Huang City. Su Can was also the son of Vice Mayor Su who ranked third in the city government. Having a mayor's son as a friend, even though their families might have some background, the layers between them were still different. They were ultimately Tianian’s friends and Xu Changcheng's son Xu Dong’s circle; it was distant from them. Adding in Su Can would naturally elevate them.

But today, things weren't as easy as they had imagined, and even instinctively made them avoid the situation for self-preservation. Thinking about possible actions behind the Suz family and their ambitious nature that could burn themselves at any moment, they all wished to be far away from Su Can.

To Zhang Xi, Tianian had also pointed out before that it was unlikely Su Can remained single until now, but what did dating mean It was merely a momentary hormonal impulse between two people. After the passion faded, many cases of them drifting apart were common.

Dating was just about two individuals, but marriage involved not only their families but also more people. Countless couples eventually went separate ways after long-term relationships; did those who ultimately lived far apart and never met again remember the intimate moments and promises Time really was a castrator.

The concepts of dating and marriage had given Zhang Xi, who from childhood to adolescence had experienced over ten or twenty times due to her slightly outstanding looks and emotional intelligence, profound insights. Even during junior high and senior high school, if Tianian was chosen among the two, she certainly wouldn't be the most famous person in her grade; Zhang Xi was often whispered about by boys in her grade, with many even saying she was what men desired most.

Actually, who could truly understand this phrase at that age Nevertheless, Zhang Xi indeed stood out then. She often went off the beaten path and dated the least popular and most silent boy in class, was pursued by the handsomest boy in class, fought over by boys with top grades, and even walked hand-in-hand with a recognized campus heartthrob on green lawns. Even during university and after graduation, Zhang Xi's boyfriends spanned across all regions; she had also been involved in a relationship with an international student. Her ex-boyfriends still remembered her fondly because she was a woman who understood the charm of life, although her looks weren't particularly pretty, but her temperament was impressive—just one encounter could leave a lasting impression.

Despite having numerous dating experiences, Zhang Xi hadn't earned any bad reputation from childhood to adolescence. Primarily because despite being somewhat promiscuous, she maintained self-discipline; truly like bees passing through a swarm without leaving honey stains behind, a quality many girls admired but couldn't match.

So Zhang Xi was definitely not an infatuated, headstrong youth, sometimes even clearer than Tianian about what she desired. And it was the first time she discovered in Su Can that sense of security and certainty that made her want to "remove my makeup, fold my wings, henceforth no longer dance with spring sunshine, only adding fragrance for you," a feeling of reliability that allowed this man to be a harbor where weary birds could seek refuge.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have invited Su Can and his family over after meeting him again through her parents. This was something Zhang Xi had never done before; from childhood until her previous boyfriend, no one ever entered her home, let alone meet her parents.

Knowing their daughter's懂事nature deeply, Zhang Xi’s parents would treat Su Can’s family with great hospitality in full support of Zhang Xi’s decision.

Therefore, all interactions between Zhang Xi and Su Can carried a strong sense of confidence—it was the assurance she had that ultimately, her real-life love could triumph over Vice Mayor Su's unrealistic romance, leading to a life together.

But after seeing Tang Xiaowu and Lin Luoran, everything she had accumulated in self-confidence and grasp on men seemed to crumble like an ant-infested dam. Realizing defeat if either of these girls was her opponent, the sense of helplessness hit home.

This year, for Su Can, spring in Phoenix City was the most disheartening season of his life.

****A Chrysler car carried everyone back on their way home.

The husband of Yang Jiqian asked inside the car, "What kind of person is this Su Can I always feel that his appearance and age can be deceiving; there's a chilly feeling when you talk to him."

"I'm not quite sure either, but what we know for certain is that his father Su Licheng probably has even greater ambitions in Phoenix City. My old man has been keeping an eye on this matter recently and occasionally mutters to himself, saying that the lid of Phoenix City might be about to be lifted." The husband driving the car, Guo Shurang's husband, said.

"Are you sure If it's just a conflict between Xu Dong and Su Can, perhaps things could still be manageable since Xu Dong was at fault first. But if this matter involves the Xu family as a whole, then that would pose a serious problem. The audacity of the Su family is really too much; they've been in Phoenix City for so many years, and the influence of the Xu family has always been quite significant. Could it be that only Deputy Mayor Xu Chenglong's position counts Which one among Xu Dong's relatives doesn't wield some kind of power in every aspect of Phoenix City There are connections with provincial leaders as well; otherwise, how could the Xu family have maintained such a strong hold on everything here for so long If Su Can and his father, Su Licheng, make a mistake, they might end up setting themselves on fire."

Chen Yining frowned and said, "Actually, the Xu family has always had issues. People know about his dad's relationship with Green Mountain Group; over the years, who knows how much he has taken or used If he were to be investigated, would Phoenix City finally see some sunshine"

"Chen Yining, let's just talk amongst ourselves for now. Nowadays, there are very few officials without any problems at all. Even if Xu Dong’s family is replaced by someone else, can you guarantee that the new person won't corrupt in this position and make things even worse The Xu family at least knows their limits; everyone understands how they accumulated their wealth, but over these years, Phoenix City has seen some improvements in various aspects. Those relatives of the Xu family who are successful businessmen have indeed done things to bring glory to Phoenix City, making the situation stable. Stabilizing society is one of the top priorities for the province. At least currently, everything is balanced; if something happens to Deputy Mayor Xu Chenglong, Phoenix City might fall into chaos for a while. Without someone strong enough to suppress them, such turmoil could cause more harm than when Xu Chenglong was in power. The provincial leadership likely knows about these matters very clearly over the years but has tolerated what the Xu family does within certain limits, which might also be part of their calculations. Therefore, at many times, what's needed isn't idealism but realism. Look closely; this is reality."

Chen Yining was momentarily stunned, unsure how to feel, with a heavy sense of oppression weighing on her heart.

The expression on everyone in the car was similarly somber. They were all adults now and no longer naive teenagers dreaming of a better life as they once did during their student days. Those who could achieve their ideals amidst material desires were extraordinary individuals, and they left behind legacies in history. In contrast, most people like those inside the car would never leave a mark in history; they were part of the masses that needed to adapt to the environment and conform to reality.

The husband of Guo Shurang paused before continuing, "So I say that if the Su family delves deeper into this matter, it’s likely that they will find themselves hard-pressed for survival. The most probable outcome is mutual destruction. No matter how idealistic or ambitious Su Can might be, taking this step will inevitably lead to a bad ending. The prosperity of the Su family may have reached its peak."

*****Three teams of seasoned reporters from the provincial newspaper group arrived in Phoenix City and split into three different directions soon after.

The first team went to investigate the illegal occupation of provincial cultural relics villa for private use at the dam lake. Another team investigated the land bundling transfer by the Phoenix City Land and Resources Bureau involving 13 hectares of premium land purchased by Green Mountain Real Estate. The third team headed towards the upstream section of Yan River, which flows into the city, to look into the source of industrial pollution from the main plant area of the Green Mountain Carbonization Industry Company.

The first two teams returned empty-handed as they were blocked at the door; clearly, after the incident with Xu Dong, every aspect in Phoenix City was tightly sealed up.

Green Mountain Carbonization Industry Company is one of Green Mountain Group's subsidiaries. Phoenix City used to be well-known for being surrounded by greenery and having a garden city-like environment. However, this reputation didn't match reality as local authorities mostly neglected the development of gardens; instead, Phoenix City’s carbon industry flourished due to its unique environment. Many chemical exhaust gases produced during the carbonization process were directly discharged into the sky or washed away with water, polluting water sources.

This was one of the main sources of air pollution in Phoenix City.

The Yanchi River, which flows into the urban area and has been reported by local residents for a long time, is polluted due to excessive toxic wastewater and exhaust from traditional industrial production near the Yanran Carbonization Industrial Company. The riverbed is filled with dead fish and waste, causing foul smells year-round. During an investigation by reporters from the Provincial Press Group, they were obstructed by employees of the Qingshan Carbonization Industrial Company, allegedly assisted by individuals resembling members of a criminal gang who arrived in several vans to beat up the reporters; seven staff members, including photographers, were hospitalized, one with critical injuries.

At this moment, in the office of the chairman at the Provincial Press Group building in Rongcheng City, the upper management was shocked. As Wang Shengli entered to hand over a document for Guo Changsheng's signature and review, Guo's phone rang. Upon picking up, hearing the voice, Guo frowned but maintained his smile, saying, "Oh, Minister Lu, what brings you to call personally" His second son and assistant, Guo Mingyao, prepared to leave when he saw Guo wave him off. He stood by as Guo spoke on the phone while flipping through project pages.

Seeing Guo Changsheng communicating with Provincial Publicity Department’s Lu Rumin, his expression alternated between gloomy and bright until hanging up, his hand slightly heavy.

After pondering for a moment, Guo Changsheng looked at his second son and asked, "Do you know why Lu Rumin called"

Guo Mingyao was puzzled and said gloomily, “Is it about the incident in Huancheng”

Guo Changsheng nodded. "Lu Rumin warned me to put out the fire over the Huancheng matter. I told him that Wang Bo, the Secretary, doesn’t allow it. He then asked two questions: how long can Wang Bo stay at his post I said five years. Then he asked about himself; for ten years."

Guo Mingyao’s face darkened. "Father, he is putting pressure on you to see who will win in the end."

"Even Lu Rumin has stepped up for him. This Xuzhenglong of Huancheng must be quite capable," Guo Changsheng sighed before coldly smiling when Guo Mingyao’s spirits sank, "Lu Rumin only thinks Wang Bo can stay in his post for five years while he himself will remain there for at least ten. But what if I relay these words to Wang Bo How long do you think Lu Rumin's position would last then He doesn't know his place!"

The news about the reporters being assaulted during an investigation into industrial pollutants in Huancheng’s Yanchi River quickly spread.

It was as if a fuse had been ignited; three years ago, Qingshan Carbonization Industrial Company was established under Xuzhenglong's leadership and holds shares of the local influential Qingshan Group. If the provincial authorities investigate this company now, it is highly likely that local police might be biased or leak information.

Therefore, when a second batch of reporters arrived, a special investigation team from the Provincial Public Security Department accompanied them. With武警 (armed police) breaking through resistance, they arrested suspects and secured evidence for the reporters.

As a result, Qingshan Carbonization Industrial Company was sealed off for an investigation. News about Huancheng's Deputy Mayor Xuzhenglong being implicated in corruption and embezzlement of state assets began spreading rapidly across Huancheng like wildfire.

***** On this day, Su Can drove to the city with Li Pengyu, Tang Wu, Lin Luoran, and others. The area was an industrial zone adjacent to Huancheng's agricultural and forestry region two years prior. A small charcoal factory could be seen through the trees.

In less than a week, Su Can, Tang Wu, and Lin Luoran’s busy winter holiday would end, and they would return to school, leaving Huancheng behind.

Everyone originally thought that Su Can had left the city early morning amid the tense situation in Huancheng to seek some respite. They drove out to a suburban industrial zone together.

A small factory had four or five middle-aged men in suits waiting at the entrance. The one leading them was around forty, with a somewhat weathered appearance. Despite his dark-colored suit and aged looks, he appeared nervous about the arrival of Su Can's group.

Welcoming everyone into the factory area, the general manager of the charcoal factory, Li Jinsheng, said excitedly, "Mayor Su’s son personally coming here is already a tremendous support for our Jinsheng Charcoal Industry."

"The front-end of our charcoal industry factory is the base production site for Huancheng wooden floors. We have agricultural and forestry waste such as sawdust and straw priced at over 200 yuan per ton. My father was known as a charcoal king in southern Zhejiang. After coming to Sichuan, I started traveling across domestic mountain forests with my father since the age of sixteen, relying on our ancestral techniques for felling trees and making charcoal. Back then, I had timber yards in Xiahai that invested tens of millions. Many people considered me the richest man in Xiahai at that time. But in 1998, when the Yangtze River region suffered from severe flooding, the government banned logging to protect mountain forests. My timber yard investment was suddenly wiped out overnight by policy changes. I struggled for a long time afterward but finally settled in Huancheng and resumed my old business."

As Li Jinsheng led them deeper inside, he became increasingly emotional, his eyes brimming with tears. However, when it came to charcoal production issues, he suppressed those painful memories and said, "Reflecting on past hardships, our charcoal-making machines use agricultural and forestry waste as raw materials without producing any pollutants during the process. Pairs of sawdust and straw are crushed by a shredder, sprayed through pipes into drying furnaces, compressed into rods by pressing machines, then sent into carbonization kilns for carbonization to produce pollution-free mechanized charcoal and technological charcoal. The flammable gases from the carbonization kiln can be used for power generation; another part cools down to become wood tar, wood vinegar liquid, etc., all of which have economic value."

Su Can nodded, "Specific investigators will soon visit your factory. If there are no issues with viable plans, I'll initially invest five million yuan and aim to invest a total of fifteen million over two years, acquiring forty percent shares in Jinsheng Charcoal Industry. I’ll also seek policy support so that you can quickly become the leader in mechanized charcoal production in Huancheng. Mr. Li, your future still holds glory; don’t miss this opportunity. I hope you will continue to strive and expand your family’s charcoal business to not only be Huancheng's richest man but a provincial charcoal king."

Li Jinsheng was overwhelmed with tears at being noticed by Su Can and cared for by Vice-Mayor Su of Huancheng. After years of career setbacks, he finally saw hope, "I don't care about becoming a rich man or charcoal king; I just hope this skill doesn’t die out on me."

Exiting the factory area, everyone was moved. Tang Wu and Lin Luoran were touched by Li Jinsheng’s resilience despite life's ups and downs without ever losing hope. Both girls had the urge to cry with red noses. Lin Luoran also complained, "These days have been tense enough; I thought you would take us to see green mountains and clear waters, treat us to delicious food instead of making me feel bad, Su Xiaocan, you are truly evil."

Climbing up the hillside, below which was Huancheng city, Su Can then addressed Li Pengyu, Tang Wu, and Lin Luoran. “Huancheng has always been a major charcoal production city, but charcoal industry pollution is longstanding; the air quality is poor, with chimneys piercing through clouds in every direction. Most factories are chaotic, high energy-consuming, and heavily polluting. The exhaust gases and acid fumes produced during carbonization severely harm human health. The flames seen burning above Qingshan Charcoal Chemical Factory upstream from Yan Lake are waste gas ignited for combustion, vividly called 'sky lamps'. Villages nearby often have young people suffering from rhinitis, pharyngitis, emphysema due to pollution. Such practices lead to the wastage of by-products that could be profitable during carbonization. This city has borne too much for such a long time.”

"Huancheng's urban planning flaws have been around for a long time; to completely eliminate these pollutants and risks, opening up opportunities in my father’s economic work must start with clean mechanized charcoal production as the absolute top choice. In recent years, national forestry protection policies have become increasingly stringent. If this continues, many charcoal factories in Huancheng might stop operations or change industries. The current wood charcoal market has already started to face supply shortages. Currently, fruit product chemical industry and metallurgy require 6 million tons of wood charcoal annually, while the food service sector requires another 6 million tons. Exports to South Korea and Japan amount to 6 million tons as well. This is a market worth 18 million tons, with export prices ranging from 3,800 to 4,300 yuan per ton, which equals over two hundred billion yuan in exports annually. If Li Jinsheng's advanced clean charcoal production technology were widely adopted, Huancheng might become the largest mechanized charcoal production base in China. This could provide a significant financial boost for the city’s fiscal income of less than one billion yuan per year."

"Perhaps after this transformation, Huancheng’s economic figures might top the provincial rankings within just a few years."

These thoughts were infused with Su Can's reincarnation wisdom. Mechanized charcoal production was the future trend and direction of the charcoal industry. Whoever seized the initiative would be able to take the lead.

To Su Can, improving Huancheng’s environmental issues for a decade, updating its primitive industrial foundation, establishing a solid industrial base, and generating substantial fiscal revenue were indelible marks on his political career achievements.

It seemed this was one of the last things he could do for the city as he prepared to leave Huancheng.

(To be continued)ng Weiwei chuckled, “We’re definitely all being superficial together. Go ahead and look down on us.”At this moment, Wang Weiwei turned around, put the phone on speaker mode, cutting off the music. The...