Chapter 675 Breaking the Silence

Chapter 675 Breaking the Silence

Qi Tongwei was the first to break the silence. He frowned slightly, his eyes still following the direction where the old man disappeared: "Liangping, don't you think this matter is a bit strange? The old man's words may seem simple and encouraging, but in my opinion, there may be a deeper meaning behind them. Our hometown may seem calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging inside. There are so many eyes watching and so many interests entangled. It's difficult to break a new path."

Hou Liangping nodded gently, picked up the teacup on the table, but did not rush to drink it. He just rubbed the rim of the cup with his fingers: "That's right. Over the years, those complicated networks of relationships have become tangled and tangled. For example, the cases we investigated before, as soon as we reached out, they touched the nerves of all parties, and all kinds of resistance came one after another. But since the old man has said this, we can't be timid, we have to do something."

Under the lights, Qi Tongwei had a complicated expression. He laughed at himself and said, "Sometimes I really want to just quit. How much can we do with just the two of us? But every time I see those villagers who are eagerly looking forward to a better life, I can't bear to do it. Just like today, the expectation in the old man's eyes was scorching."

Hou Liangping patted Qi Tongwei on the shoulder and said, "Old Qi, don't lose heart. We have come a long way and have seen all kinds of storms. Do you remember when we first started working, we were so passionate about the first case we handled, even though the evidence was destroyed and the witnesses were threatened? We still did not back down, even though there are more difficult things now, but there are always more solutions than problems."

Qi Tongwei raised his head slightly, as if lost in memories: "Yes, I was so naive back then, I just wanted to punish evil and bring justice to the world. Now, there are more and more times when I can't help myself. But, Liangping, we must stick to our original intentions, no matter how difficult it is, don't become the kind of person we once hated."

Hou Liangping's eyes were firm: "Need I say that? I, Hou Liangping, have lived my life with a clear conscience. By the way, when I get old, will I be like this old man, looking at young people with full of expectations, but also with a little worry, afraid that they can't handle the pressure."

Qi Tongwei pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I hope that when I am old, I can see my hometown renewed and young people will not have to struggle as hard as we do. If we pave more roads now, their roads will be easier to walk in the future. As for having someone to rely on in old age, it is not only about material security, but also spiritual satisfaction. Seeing this land full of vitality, we will feel at ease."

Outside the pub, the night deepened, and the occasional barking of dogs could be heard. The two discussed the next plan, from improving educational resources to give children more opportunities to go out of the mountains, to introducing industries to drive employment and make the villagers' pockets fatter; from rectifying the officialdom and creating a clear political ecology to restoring the ecological environment and restoring the green mountains and clear waters of the hometown... one by one, one by one, gradually became clear under the dim light.

Before they knew it, the sky in the east was turning pale. Although their eyes were bloodshot, they were full of hope. They knew that the road ahead was still long and full of difficulties, but as long as they worked together, there would always be a day when the clouds would clear and the sun would shine. Qi Tongwei stretched and said with a smile: "Liangping, a new day has begun, let's get to work!"

In the early morning, Qi Tongwei said, "Liangping, a new day has begun, let's get to work!" He strode towards the door, expecting to start working. But Hou Liangping seemed to have lost all his energy, still slumped in his chair, staring at the table with empty eyes.

Seeing this, Qi Tongwei paused and turned his head with a puzzled look on his face: "Liangping, what's the matter? We were talking fine last night, why are you so listless after waking up?" Hou Liangping slowly raised his head and pulled a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth: "Tongwei, do you really think we can succeed in doing this? Just talk about introducing industries. Now all places are scrambling for projects. Our poor and remote area has inconvenient transportation and backward infrastructure. Why would they come to invest? Cleaning up the officialdom involves the interests of all parties. It's like stirring up a hornet's nest if you touch anyone. You might even get yourself involved."

Qi Tongwei frowned, took a few steps back to the table, and slapped the table: "Hou Liangping! Where are your ambitions last night? There will definitely be difficulties, but if you don't do it, you will only watch your hometown become poor for the rest of your life. When we leave this pub, there will be so many eyes staring at us. Have you forgotten what the old man said?" Hou Liangping turned his head away and snorted coldly: "The old man means well, but the reality cannot be changed by a few passionate words. Look at the cases we handled before. There was so much resistance. There was pressure from above and obstacles from below. Every time we ended up in disgrace."

Qi Tongwei sat down with his hands on his head, his voice lowered but with a hint of stubbornness: "I know it's difficult, but I won't give up. I walked out of this mountain when I was young, and I have been struggling all the way. I have suffered so many cold eyes. Now I have the opportunity to do something for my hometown, and I will never back down. Liangping, if you are afraid, I won't force you." Hou Liangping seemed to be irritated when he heard this, and turned his head abruptly: "Qi Tongwei, who do you say is afraid? I, Hou Liangping, have never been afraid of anyone! I have seen through it. Sometimes you put in a lot of effort, but it's good enough to have a little effect in the end. Just like restoring the ecology, how much money do you have to invest in the early stage, where does the money come from? Don't you have to beg for alms everywhere? When it's done, the credit may not be ours. If there is any mistake, we have to bear all the sins."

The two of them were in a stalemate, and the atmosphere was tense. Qi Tongwei's forehead veins were throbbing, and he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down: "Liangping, I know you have a lot of concerns, but we can't back down at the beginning. To introduce industries, we can use the unique resources of our hometown to carry out deep processing of agricultural products and have the advantage of natural ingredients; to rectify the officialdom, we should start from the grassroots level and set up a few positive examples to let everyone see our determination; for ecological restoration, we should find a professional team to plan and attract sponsorship from charity organizations. There are always more solutions than problems, as long as we are of one mind."

Hou Liangping was silent for a long time, the resentment on his face gradually faded, replaced by helplessness: "Tongwei, it's not that I don't want to do it, but I've been worn out by reality. I understand what you said, but when it comes to doing it, every step has to be cautious. I'm afraid that in the end, all our efforts will be wasted and we will fail the trust of our fellow villagers." Qi Tongwei looked at Hou Liangping with earnestness in his eyes: "Liangping, I'm afraid too, but what I'm more afraid of is that I don't even dare to try. Let's just think of it as a fight for the ideal self we once were. Whether it succeeds or not is another matter, at least there will be no regrets."

Outside the window, the sun gradually filled the streets, and occasionally a fellow villager passed by and greeted them warmly. The two looked out the window, feeling mixed emotions. After a long time, Hou Liangping slowly stood up and stretched out his hand: "Tongwei, then believe in your ideals again and do it!"