Chapter 462 - This Is a Robbery!!


    Everyone was stunned.


    Many sighed and shook their heads in resignation.


    Raising the funds for the surgery seemed possible, given the hundreds of households in the vige. With enough people contributing, they could surely pool together sufficient funds to lend a hand. However, they were at a loss when it came to finding a doctor.


    They were simple vigers, ustomed to seeking medical care at the county hospital. A city hospital was already a challenge for them to navigate, much less a prestigious institution in the capital.


    “Ouch!”


    In the midst of their worry, a jarring voice cut through the silence.


    The young man who had been watching Zhang Qianqian closely spoke up, “Coincidentally, I have some friends in the capital who could get in touch with a surgeon.”


    “Really?”


    Upon hearing this, Lee Xiuhua''s spirits lifted. “Mr. Ning, please, we need your assistance. We''re prepared to offer generous gifts to both you and the doctor.”


    “Aunt Lee, there''s no need for such formalities! We''re old acquaintances, after all. Why talk of money? Besides, to be frank, they might not even be interested in the amount you''re offering.”


    He offered a slight smile.


    “How can you speak like that? Show some respect!”


    Zhang Tao bristled at thement. What did he mean by that? Was he belittling themon folk?


    “Quiet!”


    Lee Xiuhua shot her son a stern look, then quickly turned back to Ning Zhiyuan with a cating smile. “Mr. Ning, my son is just concerned for his father''s life. Please, don''t take offense.”


    “Aunt Lee, rest assured, I''m not upset. But you understand that seeking someone''s helpes with a cost, right?”


    Ning Zhiyuan hinted at an underlying condition.


    “Yes, of course! Mr. Ning, you''re absolutely right. I understand. What is it that you require?” Lee Xiuhua asked anxiously.


    To her, any price was worth paying if it meant saving her husband''s life.


    “Aunt Lee, since you''re so forting, I''ll be straightforward. I''m interested in the plot ofnd at the vige entrance.”


    Ning Zhiyuan stated calmly.


    Upon hearing this, Lee Xiuhua''s face fell, and she was visibly distressed. Thend at the vige entrance was a sizable vacant lot owned by Vige Chief Zhang.


    Vige Chief Zhang had purchased thend when he was younger, intending to build greenhouses and grow crops. But after bing the vige chief, he found no time to realize his ns, and thend remained undeveloped and unused.


    Certainly, he hadn''t let that plot ofnd go to waste.


    Vige Chief Zhang had leased out those several dozen acres. Come autumn, when the harvest was gathered, thatnd transformed into the vige''s granary, with vigers spreading their crops to dry in the sun.


    A year prior, Ning Zhiyuan arrived in the vige expressing his desire to purchase thend to construct a fertilizer factory.


    Initially, Vige Chief Zhang was quite pleased with the idea. He figured that building a factory would create jobs, and the vigers could certainly find employment there. This would allow the vigers to both tend to their farms and hold down a part-time job, surely boosting their ie. Additionally, the establishment of a factory would undoubtedly stimte local economic growth. It seemed like a win-win situation.


    But upon closer investigation, Vige Chief Zhang discovered that Ning Zhiyuan had boughtnd for fertilizer factories in other viges as well.


    Far from benefiting thosemunities, he had actually caused them considerable distress. This was because Ning Zhiyuan hired his workers from the city, leaving the vigers out of the equation. The most significant issue was the severe water pollution he brought to the viges. He hadn''t invested in any pollution control equipment, allowing untreated wastewater to flow directly into the nearby rivers.


    The contract was nearly finalized when Vige Chief Zhang promptly refused to sign.


    Ning Zhiyuan, incensed, quarreled with him and stormed off.


    Over the past two or three years, he periodically returned, employing various tactics to persuade Vige Chief Zhang. Yet, the vige chief remained steadfast in his refusal to sign.


    Now, Vige Chief Zhangy bedridden, his life hanging by a thread.


    Seizing the moment, Ning Zhiyuan brought up the contract once more, leaving Lee Xiuhua torn and uncertain about the right course of action.


    “Aunt Lee, Vige Chief Zhang''s condition is quite serious. Even if he were to go to the capital and the surgery were sessful, he would need several years to recuperate and regain his strength. If he can''t undergo the operation, I fear he won''t survive much longer,” Ning Zhiyuan pressed.


    “Once he passes, thend will revert to the state. I can simply purchase it from the town government. If I build my factory there, none of you can stop me. But by then, Vige Chief Zhang will have passed away. You''ll end up with nothing, and you won''t have saved Vige Chief Zhang''s life either.”


    “Why not sell thend to me now? I''ll offer you more money, which will cover your surgery costs. Plus, I can reach out to the doctors in the capital, and we could save Vige Chief Zhang''s life. It''s a win-win situation,” Ning Zhiyuan said with a confident smile.


    Lee Xiuhua was torn.


    She had spent a lifetime with Vige Chief Zhang and knew her husband''s temperament well.


    If she sold thend, once Vige Chief Zhang recovered from surgery and learned of the sale, the shock might be too much for him.


    Zhang Tao stood by, teeth clenched, facing a dire choice. He could lose everything—his father, the money, and thend—or he could sell thend, scrape together some funds, and get a doctor from the capital. Maybe that would save his father''s life, but at the risk of his father''s wrath once he awoke.


    What was the right move?


    “Sell!” After much hesitation, Lee Xiuhua finally mustered the resolve and forced out the word.


    “Haha! Aunt Lee, you certainly know how to make things happen. I''ve got the contract right here. Just sign it, and I''ll transfer the money immediately and get you in touch with the doctor,” Ning Zhiyuan said, pulling out the contract. Lee Xiuhua and her son exchanged a look, and with no other options, prepared to sign.


    ”Hold on!”


    Just then, Su Ming stepped forward.


    Lee Sumei was taken aback upon seeing him, thinking, “When did this kid show up? I didn''t even notice him.”


    “Do you have a solution?” Su Tao asked, hope in his voice.


    They all knew their son hade into money and had shown himself to be resourceful. Su Ming had demonstrated his capabilities when his uncle was in the hospital, an event the couple remembered vividly.


    ”Don''t worry, Mom and Dad. I''ve got this,” Su Ming reassured them. Approaching Lee Xiuhua, he continued, “Grandma Lee, rest assured, I have a way to treat Vige Chief Zhang''s illness. Here''s what we''ll do: I''ll cover the medical expenses and arrange for the surgery with the top doctors in the capital.”


    Lee Xiuhua paused for a moment, lifting her tear-filled eyes to look at Su Ming. “Are you the son of the Su family?”


    “Yes, it''s me, Grandma Lee,” Su Ming replied with a smile.


    ”Oh my! How you''ve grown!”


    In a disy of affection typical between elders and the younger generation, Zhang Tao yfully punched Su Ming on the arm, careful not to use too much force.


    “Brother Ming!”


    Zhang Qianqian, momentarily taken aback, suddenly brightened and impulsively hugged Su Ming.


    Despite the years apart, their childhood bond remained as innocent and strong as ever.


    Their friendship hadn''t faded in the slightest over the years. “Qianqian!”


    Zhang Tao, feeling a bit awkward, fidgeted and rubbed his nose.


    His daughter was no longer a child, and there she was, embracing Su Ming in front of everyone. It seemed somewhat inappropriate.