Chapter 145: True Heroes Are Always Anonymous!

Chapter 145: True Heroes Are Always Anonymous!

The task of finding the mountain spring water had been entrusted to the Geological Bureau by Zhao Han, so Zhang Lin didn't have to worry about it anymore.

Now, he just had to wait for the results.

The next day, the operations department was bustling once again.

Old Guo was rehearsing a script, the lines of which had been carefully prepared by the county. The county planned to use the wage situation at Zhuhuayuan to boost their publicity, and as a representative, Old Guo was set to be interviewed. The county would send a team over shortly.

Lin Muxue was busy setting up the lighting, background, and camera positions nearby.

To support the county, she had even prepared a cultural background wall featuring bamboo crafts.

Zhang Lin walked in and asked Old Guo, "Old Guo, how’s the memorization going?"

"Mr. Zhang, don't worry. I’ve got it down and won’t let you down," Old Guo assured him quickly.

Soon, Liu Shan, the deputy director of the Tourism Bureau, arrived with a team of photographers and interviewers.

Seeing Zhang Lin, he greeted him warmly, "Mr. Zhang, I’m here to disturb you again. How’s Old Guo’s preparation coming along?"

By now, Liu Shan had learned how to interact with this Mr. Zhang from County Magistrate Liu.

Lowering his stance and being polite would only make Mr. Zhang more courteous in return.

In short, this man was quite approachable.

Zhang Lin shook hands with Liu Shan and smiled, "Old Guo is ready. You’re here just in time, so we can start."

Liu Shan nodded and handed the task over to the photographers, who began setting up their equipment next to the farm's own setup.

The farm would also record the interview with Old Guo, as it would help generate more buzz when the county promoted it.

Once everything was ready, the female host smiled at Old Guo and said, "Old Guo, as a representative of the bamboo craft tradition in Youcheng, could you introduce yourself?"

Old Guo, following the host’s questions, recited his lines: "Hello everyone, my name is Guo Yuansheng, a simple bamboo craftsman..."

For each question the host asked, he recited his lines:

"Preserving the bamboo craft tradition is no easy task. During my toughest times, I earned less than 2,000 yuan a month and could only afford two small meals a day..."

"Many people told me to give up the bamboo craft, especially since even my son didn’t want to learn it, saying he could earn more working in a factory..."

"Many people mocked me, saying that with factories now mass-producing bamboo items, the era of traditional craftsmanship was over..."

"I thought to myself, is the bamboo craft tradition of Youcheng really outdated?"

"I don’t believe it. I’m not willing to give up. This craft is a part of Youcheng’s culture..."

"As a guardian of traditional craftsmanship, I must shoulder my responsibilities..."

"If we give up our cultural heritage at the first sign of difficulty, our nation will never stand tall among the world’s greats..."

As Old Guo spoke, his face grew increasingly red.

He wasn’t that great.

Earning 2,000 yuan a month was because he lacked skills, and he wasn’t good at anything else.

He had given up this craft more than once, working other jobs, but his lack of education and advanced age had made him feel abandoned by society.

Now, these lines were making him out to be a hero.

Zhang Lin and Liu Shan were well aware of the authenticity of these lines.

But did it matter?

Not really.

Once a person succeeds, everything they say is right.

From today on, Old Guo would be known as a guardian of the bamboo craft tradition, and his story of perseverance would be widely known.

Zhang Lin now truly understood what it meant to create a star.

No wonder some people say, "In this world of celebrities, you never know who is the real deal. The only certainty is that true heroes are always anonymous!"

The interview ended quickly, and Liu Shan left with his team.

Old Guo, however, was still uneasy. "Mr. Zhang, was it okay for me to say those things? That’s not who I am, and it makes me feel uneasy!"

"Old Guo, that is you, and you must say it to everyone," Zhang Lin said, patting Old Guo’s shoulder with a smile.

It was normal for Old Guo to feel nervous now, but he would likely grow to enjoy this new identity over time.

The key was to ensure he didn’t get too full of himself.

Most people, when suddenly famous, easily lose themselves.

At that moment, Zhang Lin’s phone rang.

It was Zhao Han.

He quickly answered.

Surely, Director Zhao had some good news for him.

Sure enough, Zhao Han’s slightly excited voice came through, "Mr. Zhang, good news! The Geological Bureau, recognizing the county’s support for your project, sent several teams to explore the mountains around Liyuan Farm yesterday. They’ve already reported two promising locations with mountain spring water, and they’ve found the sources."

"Really? That’s fantastic news," Zhang Lin’s face lit up.

No wonder the Geological Bureau was so effective!

It was always best to let the experts handle the job.

Sending Liu De and his team to search the mountains would have been like sending a bunch of headless chickens, and they might have even gotten lost.

Moreover, this showed that the Geological Bureau was truly going all out.

The real surprise was finding two sources of mountain spring water.

Zhao Han laughed, "Mr. Zhang, I’m bringing some colleagues from the Geological Bureau to show you the two sources."

"Thank you, Director Zhao," Zhang Lin said.

Zhao Han’s efficiency was impressive. He soon arrived at Liyuan Farm with a middle-aged man and introduced him, "Mr. Zhang, this is Deputy Director Han Fu from the Geological Bureau. He will take us to the two mountain spring water sources."

"Thank you, Director Han," Zhang Lin shook hands with Han Fu, smiling.

"Mr. Zhang, it’s an honor. I’ve heard a lot about you and have been looking forward to meeting you."

Han Fu shook hands with enthusiasm, his demeanor humble and respectful.

Normally, he would just instruct the exploration team leader to guide the way, but he had come personally to meet Zhang Lin. His son was entering his senior year next year and would start an internship in the coming semester. If possible, he thought Liyuan Farm would be a great place for his son, and everyone in the county knew the farm's promising future. According to his information, both the Agriculture Bureau and the Industry and Commerce Bureau had already arranged for people to join Liyuan Farm through connections. So, it was worth lowering his stance and building a good relationship with Zhang Lin, hoping to secure a position for his son in the future.

Zhang Lin didn't know what Han Fu was thinking, but he appreciated the deputy bureau chief's personal visit. Besides, it was always beneficial to make new connections, especially with someone of Han Fu's status.

Zhao Han then said, "Director Han, President Zhang, let's not be so formal. We should go check out the two mountain spring sources first."

"Yes, business comes first," Han Fu agreed with a smile.

The three of them quickly climbed into a pickup truck and headed toward a mountain. This mountain was to the north, near the camping site that Kaifeng Investment had built.

At the base of the mountain, a young man in a geological survey uniform was already waiting.

Seeing Han Fu, he immediately greeted him, "Director Han."

Han Fu introduced the others, "Captain Huang, these are Director Zhao from the Tourism Bureau and President Zhang from Liyuan Farm. Please lead us up the mountain."

"Director Zhao, President Zhang, please follow me," Captain Huang said, leading the way up the mountain.

Zhang Lin followed closely behind. The path from the base of the mountain was rough but passable. However, once they reached the halfway point, they entered the dense forest where the path was newly cut and very difficult to navigate.

Seeing this, Zhang Lin knew that geological surveys were no easy task. He was also certain that sending Liu De up here would yield no results.

Zhang Lin, being young, found the terrain manageable. However, Zhao Han and Han Fu were struggling, already drenched in sweat and panting halfway through.

"Director Zhao, Director Han, you two rest here while I and Captain Huang continue on," Zhang Lin said, continuing with Captain Huang.

Watching Zhang Lin's back, Zhao Han and Han Fu were filled with admiration.

Han Fu said, "No wonder everyone in the county thinks so highly of President Zhang. Just this walk shows a lot about him."

Zhao Han added, "You've only just met President Zhang. The more you interact with him, the more you'll realize there's more to him than meets the eye. Think about it, at his age, how many people could achieve what he has? And yet, he remains so steady and grounded. He even came up the mountain himself to check the spring water. His success is not without reason."

Zhang Lin, who had already walked far ahead, didn't hear Zhao Han's praise. If he had, he might have felt a bit awkward. He wasn't trying to show off; he was simply cautious. Everything he did relied on the game system, and he feared that any overconfidence might lead to the exposure of his secret.

As for personally checking the mountain spring, if it weren't for the need to confirm the water's quality with the system, he would have preferred to send Liu De and his team. This was a necessary step.

After about half an hour, Zhang Lin and Captain Huang finally reached a small stream.

"President Zhang, this stream is the source of the mountain spring," Captain Huang explained.

"Alright!" Zhang Lin reached the stream and dipped his hand in the water. The mountain spring was naturally cold, and the stream, being in the shade of the forest, felt even colder.

However, he received a notification from the game system:

【The current mountain spring meets the standards for building a mountain spring wellness center. It can be diverted and used for construction!】

This was clearly good news.

They continued along the stream and soon found the source, where a small pool had formed.

After inspecting the pool, Zhang Lin said to Captain Huang, "Captain Huang, let's go down the mountain and check the other mountain spring source."

"Sure, President Zhang," Captain Huang nodded.

They descended the mountain and met Zhao Han and Han Fu, who were resting by a tree. Together, they headed to the base of the next mountain.

This mountain was to the east of the farm and was no different in distance from the previous one. However, this mountain was a tea plantation, and the path up was much easier, as the tea farmers had cleared a trail. Even Zhao Han and Han Fu could manage the climb.

At the mountain spring, the water had formed another small stream, and many tea farmers had already diverted it to their tea fields.

【The current mountain spring meets the standards for building a mountain spring wellness center. It can be diverted and used for construction!】

This source also met the standards.

Now, they had to choose between the two.

Zhao Han then said, "President Zhang, if we consider the ease of development, this mountain spring is more convenient. We can divert the water directly without cutting through the forest to create a channel. However, diverting the water here might require passing through the tea plantation, which will involve some land acquisition costs."

Zhang Lin nodded, "We'll need to calculate the total costs, including the land acquisition, and compare it with the other site."

Zhao Han, eager to help, quickly volunteered, "President Zhang, leave this to me. I'll have the calculations ready for you by this afternoon!"

Honestly, for the new project at Liyuan Farm, Zhao Han was just as eager as Zhang Lin. He couldn't wait for the new project to start, as it would bring more tourists, and the Tourism Bureau would get a share of the credit.

"Thanks, Director Zhao," Zhang Lin, now quite familiar with Zhao Han, knew the benefits of the farm's development for the Tourism Bureau and didn't hesitate to ask for his help.

After descending the mountain, Zhao Han immediately returned to the Tourism Bureau, gathered Wang Yu, and organized a team to handle the calculations. As promised, by the afternoon, he presented the results to Zhang Lin, "President Zhang, here are the costs for both sites."

“Hmm!” Zhang Lin picked up the results and took a look.

The cost of the irrigation channel from the northern mountain was indeed higher than that from the eastern mountain, by a full 800,000 yuan.

However, the eastern mountain required land acquisition, involving four different plots of land, with a total acquisition cost of 400,000 yuan, averaging 100,000 yuan per plot. Overall, it was still 400,000 yuan cheaper.

After reviewing the results, Zhang Lin said, "So, we still need to acquire the land."

"Mr. Zhang, leave the land acquisition to me. I'll have the results for you by tonight!" Zhao Han immediately took on the task.

"Thanks, Director Zhao." Zhang Lin smiled.

"Mr. Zhang, no need to thank me. If your project succeeds, I'll benefit too." Zhao Han waved his hand and quickly left the office center, calling Wang Yu to ask, "How's it going?"

"Director Zhao, I'm already in the mountains with my team and have found the owner of one of the plots," Wang Yu replied.

"Get it done as soon as possible," Zhao Han instructed.

With the calculation results in hand, it would be foolish for Zhang Lin not to choose the land acquisition, saving 400,000 yuan. So, as soon as he got the results, he arranged for Wang Yu to start the process.

After all, one must think ahead, right?

On the tea mountain.

After hanging up, Wang Yu turned to a middle-aged man beside him and said, "Uncle Ma, please help contact the other three landowners. I'll explain everything to you all together."

"Rest assured, I'll help you contact them right away," Ma Dacheng replied enthusiastically. Everyone knew that land acquisition and relocation were opportunities for wealth, and he was about to benefit.

His son was getting married, and he was worried about the dowry. This was a stroke of good fortune he couldn't resist.

He immediately took out his phone and started making calls.

The other three landowners were from the same village, so he had their contact numbers.

Soon, a group of people hurried up the mountain, including the other three tea plot owners and their families, all excited about the land acquisition.

Ma Dacheng led the group to Wang Yu and introduced him, "This is a county official. He will explain the land acquisition to you all."

The group immediately greeted Wang Yu respectfully, their faces showing both respect and anticipation.

Wang Yu didn't waste any time and got straight to the point, "Everyone, Liyuan Farm wants to introduce mountain spring water to this mountain. The irrigation channel and equipment will pass through your tea plots. If you all agree, I'll arrange for a survey to determine how much land will be affected."

Who didn't know about Liyuan Farm in Youcheng? Ma Dacheng and the others all agreed enthusiastically.

"Of course, we agree, sir!"

"Go ahead with the survey!"

"I agree too!"

"..."

While these plots were planted with tea trees and could bring in a steady income over time, the one-time compensation for land acquisition was a significant amount, and everyone understood the better choice.

This was within Wang Yu's expectations. As long as they weren't dealing with overly greedy individuals, land acquisition wasn't difficult.

He immediately dispatched a survey team and began discussions with the four families. They measured the land and calculated the compensation on the spot. By evening, they had determined the land to be acquired and the approximate compensation for each family.

Ma Dacheng's plot would receive the highest compensation, around 140,000 yuan.

The exact figures would be calculated in more detail later.

Wang Yu concluded, "Everyone, the land has been measured. We will draft the land acquisition and compensation contracts and reconvene tomorrow for signatures."

From the attitudes of the landowners, this task should be completed smoothly.

Ma Dacheng and the others were naturally excited, even the family with the lowest compensation would receive 70,000 yuan.

For these tea farmers, receiving 70,000 yuan at once was a substantial sum.

Ma Dacheng was the happiest, with 140,000 yuan, not only would his son's dowry be covered, but the wedding expenses would also be manageable. He felt like he had struck gold.

He immediately called his son and said, "Son, I have some good news for you!"

Ma Xiaobo, however, replied irritably, "What good news? I'm about to break up with Ruyan."

His mood was terrible, making him short-tempered. At 27, he had finally found a girlfriend he wanted to marry, but his family couldn't come up with the 300,000 yuan dowry.

All his neighbors' parents provided dowries for their sons. He couldn't help but feel resentful.

Ma Dacheng knew the reason and explained, "Liyuan Farm is starting a project on the mountain that will pass through our land. The county will help us acquire some of our tea plots, compensating us 140,000 yuan. With the money we've already raised, the dowry is covered, and we can sign the agreement tomorrow."

Ma Xiaobo, surprised, said, "Dad, don't sign it!"

Ma Dacheng was taken aback, "Why not? Don't you want to get married?"

Ma Xiaobo replied irritably, "Not that I don't want to sign, but 140,000 yuan is too low. The land is worth more than that, and with the project, they can't do without this land. We should demand more."

"But how can we do that? If we demand more, the others will too, and they might cancel the project," Ma Dacheng felt this was unreasonable and unprincipled.

Ma Xiaobo insisted, "Let them sign first. Tomorrow, say you have something else to do and can't come. They'll come to you, and then you can ask for more. At least get enough to buy a BMW 3 Series. That way, we can use it as a wedding car and save face."

"Is that feasible?" Ma Dacheng was skeptical, but his son was a college graduate and might know better.

Ma Xiaobo was confident, "Definitely. Everyone knows Liyuan Farm. They make so much money that 300,000 yuan is nothing to them."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end