Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“By the way, I’ve chosen the location for the pharmaceutical factory,” Wang Yao said.
“Really? Have you done all the paperwork?” Su Xiaoxue asked.
“It’s in the process. It should be finished soon,” Wang Yao said.
They walked around the village before returning to Su Xiaoxue’s house in the village. Chu Lian had cleaned the house.
“Hello, Dr. Wang,” Chu Lian said.
“Hello, Auntie Lian,” Wang Yao said.
He chatted with Su Xiaoxue for a short while before leaving for Nanshan Hill.
“Miss, do you want to rest now?” Chu Lian asked after Wang Yao had left
“Yes,” Su Xiaoxue said.
During the past two days, Su Xiaoxue didn’t get to stay with Wang Yao for long as she wanted. Her and Chu Lian had spent a lot of time on the road, and Wang Yao didn’t stay overnight at her place.
The village was really quiet that night. Some people who were used to a noisy environment couldn’t fall asleep quickly in a quiet environment.
Su Xiaoxue’s mind was active while she was lying on the bed. She didn’t fall asleep until 11 p.m. She got up very early the next morning. She put her clothes on and headed to Nanshan Hill.
Wang Yao had been waiting for her at the foot of Nanshan Hill. They then went up to the hill together.
“It is so nice here,” Su Xiaoxue said as she was standing in front of the herbal field.
“You can come here often,” Wang Yao said.
“Is there any precautions you need to take when looking after the herbs here?” Su Xiaoxue asked as she pointed at the herbs.
“Nothing special. I just try not to touch them,” Wang Yao said.
“Why?” Su Xiaoxue asked.
“I want them to grow freely, and some herbs are actually poisonous,” Wang Yao said.
“Can you teach me more Kung Fu?” Su Xiaoxue asked.
“Sure,” Wang Yao said. “Let’s go to the top of the hill.”
Wang Yao normally practiced Kung Fu on the top of the hill. There was a smooth area there that was about 215 square feet. He had planted some trees around it. Even during the hottest hours of the day, it wasn’t too hot under the shade of the trees.
“Come here,” he said.
Wang Yao taught her basic Kung Fu, including the basic movements and how to use her strength. He hadn’t touched the breathing exercise yet. It took time to learn Kung Fu. One had to learn it step by step.
“Have you ever learned Kung Fu from anyone else?” Wang Yao asked.
“Yes, from Auntie Lian,” Su Xiaoxue said.
She was a very intelligent girl. She grasped what Wang Yao taught her immediately. Wang Yao taught her Chinese boxing. She got the essence right away. He was amazed by Su Xiaoxue’s gift.
“Dear fellow villagers. I want your attention now!”
Before 9 am, the broadcast, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly started to broadcast.
“A highway will be passing our village. The government has approved the plan. Please come to the Village Committee in the next few days to check if your house will be affected by the plan. The government has prepared compensation.”
“A highway’s gonna pass your village?” Su Xiaoxue curiously asked.
“Yes, a highway will be built. It shouldn’t pass our village according to the initial plan. However, I don’t know why they changed the plan. Now, the highway is going to pass my village including here.” Wang Yao pointed at Nanshan Hill underneath his foot.
He wasn’t going to tell Su Xiaoxue about it. However, since she was there and happened to hear the announcement, he told her the whole thing.
“It will pass Nanshan as well?” Su Xiaoxue asked with surprise. Since she knew Wang Yao, she was very clear how important Nanshan was to him. “What are you going to do about it?”
“I will never allow it to pass here,” Wang Yao said.
“I see,” Su Xiaoxue said.
She didn’t say much. She would always stand on Wang Yao’s side. Actually, she had thought about who suddenly changed the plan and who could potentially cause trouble. She knew the person in charge of Qi province. What she had been worried about had become real.
She and Wang Yao didn’t talk about the highway. Su Xiaoxue spent the whole day with Wang Yao and his family.
Wang Yao didn’t go the Village Committee to ask about compensation. However, Wang Jianli visited him at night to talk about it.
According to government regulation, all the affected villagers would get $45,000 for one acre of land. Since the highway would occupy quite a big area of Nanshan Hill, Wang Yao would get a lot of compensation. However, Wang Yao wasn’t happy at all when he was told how much he could get.
“Yao, I know how important Nanshan Hill is to you. But, listen to me, you can’t overpower the government,” Wang Jianli said.
Although he knew Wang Yao had some powerful friends, this was not something he could get assistance from. In addition, most people didn’t mind their old properties being demolished or occupied by the government since they often could get a large amount of money as compensation. Farming on several acres of land would never be so profitable.
“I know. Thank you, Uncle Jianli,” Wang Yao said.
“No problem,” Wang Jianli said.
After Wang Jianli had gone, Wang Yao left for Nanshan Hill. It was nice and cool on the hill. He sat in the herbal field looking at the sky.
“San Xian, someone wants our Nanshan Hill,” Wang Yao said.
Woof! San Xian suddenly stood up.
“I know you don’t agree. Me either,” Wang Yao said. “We have to find a way to stop it.
The next day, Wang Yao drove Su Xiaoxue to the airport and flew to Beijing together with her.
“Are you going to Beijing for the highway issue?” Su Xiaoxue asked.
“Yes, I’ll see if I can stop it passing my hill,” Wang Yao said.
“Who are you going to speak to?” Su Xiaoxue asked.
“I want to speak to the Wu Family. You know, I try not to bother you,” Wang Yao honestly said.
“No bother. Leave it to me,” Su Xiaoxue said as she patted her chest.
Wang Yao didn’t know what to say. Sometimes he felt he was useless. He should be the person sorting things out for Xiaoxue, not the other way around.
“Thank you. But, let me speak to Wu Tongxing first,” Wang Yao said.
He wanted to sort it out himself. He also needed to establish his own social network.
“OK,” Su Xiaoxue said, even though it wouldn’t be too hard for her to sort it out.
After they had arrived in Beijing, Wang Yao went to visit Su Xiaoxue’s family. Su Xiaoxue didn’t tell her mother about the highway.
Wang Yao soon went to find Gu Yuanyuan.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Wang. Director Wu has gone to the province he is in charge of. He won’t come back until tomorrow,” Gu Yuanyuan said.
“Never mind. I’ll wait,” Wang Yao said.
In Su Xiaoxue’s house, Song Ruiping asked her daughter, “Xiaoxue, I don’t think Wang Yao came to Beijing to purely visit me.”
“No. He does have other business. However, he wants to sort it out himself,” Su Xiaoxue said.
“Will he be able to sort it out? Is it gonna be tricky?” Song Ruiping asked.
“Not really,” Su Xiaoxue said.
“Can you tell me what is bothering him?” Song Ruiping asked.
“Sorry, Mom, I promised him not to tell you and Dad,” Su Xiaoxue said.
“Seriously? You haven’t married him have you?” Song Ruiping asked.
“Mom!” Su Xiaoxue’s face turned red.
“Fine. I won’t force you to tell me. But, let me know if you need any help,” Song Ruiping said.
“I know.” Su Xiaoxue had decided if Wang Yao couldn’t sort it out himself, she would help him. She also had additional plans.
In the evening, Wang Yao and Su Xiaoxue had dinner quietly in the candle light. Afterward, they had a walk together.
It was very busy at night in Beijing, even busier than during the day. Beijing was a sleepless city. Cars were everywhere. All the shops and restaurants were still open. However, Wang Yao preferred his own village. He couldn’t find peace in Beijing. He didn’t think he belonged there.
He stood in front of the window looking at the cars on the street and the lights in the distance. The city had thousands of years of history. It was old and modern at the same time. However, the part of history had nothing to do with the modern life people were running in the city. Beijing was a city with burden.
The next afternoon, Director Wu returned. Wang Yao met with him in a quiet house, which belonged to the Wu Family.
“You seem to have something urgent to tell me. What is it?” Wu Tongxing asked.
“I need a favor from you,” Wang Yao said.
“Tell me what I can do,” Wu Tongxing said.
He was surprised that Wang Yao asked to meet. He was even more surprised when Wang Yao asked him for a favor. But, he was glad. It meant that Wang Yao was closer to him. He was no longer just a client.
Wang Yao told him about the highway.
“Is that so?” Wu Tongxing was surprised.
“Yes, can you help me?” Wang Yao asked.
Stopping the highway passing Nanshan Hill wasn’t difficult for Wu Tongxing. It was much easier than Wang Yao had expected. Wu Tongxing didn’t need to change the whole plan, just one spot. However, he knew who was in charge of Qi province. He immediately knew what it was about.
“I’ll let you know tomorrow,” Wu Tongxing said.
“OK, thank you,” Wang Yao said.
“You are welcome,” Wu Tongxing said.
On the same night, Wu Tongxing figured out the reason for change the plan through his connections.
“Hmm, no wonder!” he murmured.
Should I get involved or not? Wu Tongxing thought. He knew that even if he didn’t get involved, Su Xiaoxue’s family would easily sort it out for Wang Yao.
I should help him!
Eventually, Wu Tongxing decided to offer help to Wang Yao to do something nice.
