143: Chapter 143 A Storm is Brewing

"Leader, here is the sales report for Qingshan Township you requested."

Team Leader Zhang Yining pushed the door open and placed a stack of documents on the desk. "Yesterday's orders have all been shipped. Party Secretary Wang says the villagers are full of enthusiasm."

Xiao Bei forced a smile: "Thank you for your hard work."

He opened the report. The numbers were indeed gratifying—sales had exceeded 500,000 in three days. Qingshan Township could not only escape poverty; it could practically become wealthy.

"Oh, right," Team Leader Zhang Yining hesitated for a moment, "Zhang Laosan came looking for you earlier, but seeing you weren't here, he left. He seemed... not in a good state."

Xiao Bei frowned: "Did he start drinking again?"

"It's worse than that." Team Leader Zhang Yining lowered her voice, "I heard from the villagers that his wife's condition has deteriorated, and the surgery costs have become even higher. He went to the County Hospital this morning and caused a scene, claiming that the poverty alleviation funds were embezzled, leaving his wife without money for treatment."

Xiao Bei's heart sank. He remembered the sight of Zhang Laosan kneeling on the ground, weeping bitterly, and he remembered his own solemn promises. But now, there was still no response regarding the evidence he had handed to Fu Chuanyi, and Liu Fuzhi remained at large. A terrifying thought swirled in Xiao Bei's mind...

"Ready the car. I'm going to Qingshan Township."

The afternoon sun in Qingshan Village was scorching, and the golden rice fields rippled in the breeze. In the open space in front of the village committee office, a dozen villagers were packing goods for shipment, their laughter filling the air. However, this bustling scene stung Xiao Bei's eyes—Zhang Laosan was not among them.

"County Magistrate Xiao!" Secretary Wang Dehai trotted up to meet him, beads of sweat on his forehead glistening in the sun, "You've come at the right time. Some of the commissions have already been settled. We've made money..."

"Where is Zhang Laosan's house?" Xiao Bei interrupted, his voice urgent.

Secretary Wang Dehai's smile froze: "He... he didn't come today. I heard he drank too much again last night and is lying at home."

"Take me there."

Zhang Laosan's house was at the end of the village, a low-lying brick house with weeds growing in front of the door. Before they even got close, they could hear the sound of things being smashed and a man's angry roar from inside.

"Get out! All of you, get out! I don't need your hypocritical concern!"

Xiao Bei pushed open the door, and a heavy smell of alcohol hit him. In the dim room, Zhang Laosan was slumped on the floor, surrounded by several empty liquor bottles. His wife lay on the bed, her face as pale as paper, eyes closed, motionless.

"Big Brother Zhang." Xiao Bei called out softly.

Zhang Laosan raised his head, his bloodshot eyes full of despair: "Why are you here?"

He struggled to stand up, stumbled a few steps, and then fell back down, "The evidence was submitted. Has Liu Fuzhi been arrested? Is there any hope for my wife's surgery fees? You said you would find a way for the remaining money. Where is your solution?"

Each question was like a knife stabbing into Xiao Bei's heart. He crouched down to look Zhang Laosan in the eye: "The situation is more complicated than imagined, but I promise you—"

"Promise?" Zhang Laosan suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter choked with sobs, "All you do is make empty promises! Don't you know my wife is dying? The doctor said if she doesn't have surgery soon, she'll..."

His voice cut off abruptly. He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking violently.

Xiao Bei's gaze fell on a stack of hospital receipts on the bedside table.

"Party Secretary Wang," Xiao Bei turned to Secretary Wang Dehai behind him, "How much money can the village scrape together?"

Secretary Wang Dehai looked troubled: "This... we've only settled a portion of the commissions, and that belongs to the fellow villagers. This..."

"Forget it, everyone just started making money." Xiao Bei interrupted him, took out his wallet, and took out all the cash inside—about 3,000 yuan. He then took out his phone and quickly operated it: "I'll transfer 20,000 to you first for emergencies."

Zhang Laosan looked up abruptly, staring at him in disbelief: "You... but I haven't paid back the money you gave me last time..."

"This is my responsibility." Xiao Bei's voice was soft, but every word was firm, "But I have one condition—from today on, you cannot touch a single drop of alcohol."

Zhang Laosan's lips trembled, and tears rolled down his rough cheeks: "But... it's still far from enough..."

Xiao Bei looked around and his gaze fell on several bags of rice piled in the corner, "Is this your harvest?"

Zhang Laosan nodded: "It didn't sell last year. It just wouldn't sell..."

"It will sell now." Xiao Bei took out his phone and dialed Team Leader Zhang Yining's number, "Contact the livestream team. Add an extra session tonight, featuring Zhang Laosan's home-grown rice. All profits go to him."

After hanging up, Xiao Bei patted Zhang Laosan on the shoulder: "Go wash your face and put on clean clothes. You will go on the livestream yourself tonight and tell your story to the national audience."

Zhang Laosan was stunned, as if he couldn't understand what Xiao Bei was saying. His wife on the bed opened her eyes slightly and called out weakly: "Old Zhang..."

At this moment, the man who had been crushed by life finally broke down and cried again. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to Xiao Bei: "County Magistrate Xiao, I... I..."

"Get up." Xiao Bei helped him up, "Thank me when you've earned the money yourself. Life must move forward. Even if the wicked haven't been punished, life must go on! Money won't fall from the sky! We have to earn it! Consider that money a loan for your emergency. Once you've earned the money and handled the emergency, you still have to pay me back..."

That night's livestream was unexpectedly successful. Zhang Laosan's clumsy but sincere story moved countless viewers. His 500 jin of rice sold out within ten minutes, and with the viewers' voluntary donations, the surgery fees were actually covered. When Zhang Laosan saw the payment notification on his phone, the man who had been an alcoholic for years was so excited he couldn't speak for a long time; he just kept bowing to the camera.

"Thank you... thank you everyone..." He choked up, turned to look at Xiao Bei standing outside the camera frame, and hope for life rekindled in his eyes.

After the livestream ended, Xiao Bei's phone rang. It was a message from Team Leader Zhang Yining: [Leader, there's a problem over in Hongtu Town. The livestream data is abnormal; it is suspected to be fake orders. County Magistrate Lin has already rushed over.]

Xiao Bei's brow furrowed. Hongtu Town was another pilot project, mainly selling fruit. Because it was relatively affluent, he had never personally intervened and had only sent an e-commerce team to provide guidance.

He dialed Team Leader Zhang Yining's number: "I'm going to Hongtu Town tomorrow."

After hanging up, Xiao Bei looked out at the night sky. Dark clouds obscured the moon, and a storm seemed to be brewing. He vaguely felt that he was standing on the edge of a massive whirlpool, and at the center of the whirlpool, a darkness he couldn't see clearly was hidden.

The County Government building had gradually quieted down in the evening, and only the light in Xiao Bei's office remained on in the hallway. He rubbed his temples. He had been staring at the data report on the computer screen for two full hours—the livestream data for Hongtu Town was indeed abnormal; orders were concentrated in a few fixed accounts, and the return rate was as high as 60%.

"Fake orders..."