Chapter 563: Chapter 534: The Winds Are Changing

Qin Zhengyang received a call from Secretary Lin, thinking that the top official of Weishan County might want to blame him for the winery hot spring incident. However, upon answering, he realized it wasn’t the case.

Secretary Lin’s tone was very amiable. Although he proactively mentioned the winery hot springs, he didn’t emphasize that Dongzhou’s hot spring resources should be exclusively developed and operated by the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group. Instead, he unusually suggested that this time, they must turn the Weishan Island Winery Hot Spring into a tourism hallmark of Weishan Island. They shouldn’t limit the development and construction enterprises of the hot spring to Dongzhou, but rather look nationwide, even globally, to create a first-class hot spring resort in the country.

Qin Zhengyang understood immediately that Secretary Lin was changing his stance.

Secretary Lin conveniently informed Qin Zhengyang that the Ecological Environmental Investment Group had decided to give up the development rights of the winery hot springs.

Qin Zhengyang felt like laughing. They never had the rights in the first place, so how could they give them up? Back in his office, He Xingjian had made a fierce statement, claiming that only he in Dongzhou had the development rights. Now, he’s not so arrogant. Qin Zhengyang was well aware of what had happened at the winery today. He chose not to intervene, letting the dust settle a bit. He had confidence in Xu Chunliang and believed Xu could handle it well.

As expected, Secretary Lin’s call was essentially informing him that He Xingjian had voluntarily waved the white flag.

Qin Zhengyang understood Secretary Lin’s intention, hoping that the matter of the winery hot springs would end here and that they should be lenient when they can.

Qin Zhengyang entrusted the entire matter to Xu Chunliang. It was best to let the person who caused the problem resolve it. After ending the call with Secretary Lin, he immediately summoned Xu Chunliang over.

Xu Chunliang arrived at Qin Zhengyang’s office, where Qin had already brewed tea: "Xiaoxu, come over and have a taste. See how my Pu’er compares to that from Xianhong Farm?"

Xu Chunliang sat down next to him, took a sip from the cup, and asked, "Who gave this to you?"

Qin Zhengyang purposefully put on a stern face: "Can you chat properly? Can’t I buy it myself?"

Xu Chunliang replied, "No, opportunities to curry favor with leaders must be reserved for me."

Qin Zhengyang laughed heartily, "With a mouth like yours, no wonder you charmed Mei Ru Xue away."

Xu Chunliang said, "We are mutually in love; there’s no question of who charmed whom."

Qin Zhengyang added, "You’ve worked hard these past two days. Your girlfriend came, and you didn’t even have time to accompany her, busying yourself with matters here."

Xu Chunliang stated, "Work comes first. If a man can’t even do his job well, how can he have the face to find a girlfriend?"

Qin Zhengyang remarked, "Your understanding even puts me to shame. Chunliang, I just received confirmed news that the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group has decided to abandon the development rights of the winery hot springs."

Xu Chunliang scornfully replied, "How does He Xingjian even have the face to say that, give up? How can you give up something you never had?"

Knowing he would react this way, Qin Zhengyang laughed, "Everyone needs a way out. Who doesn’t care about face?"

Xu Chunliang said, "If they care for face, they shouldn’t do shameless things. They’ve made a mess of the winery. Now they want to call it off? Impossible. Where in the world is it so easy?"

He looked at Qin Zhengyang and asked, "Secretary Qin, did someone reach out to you to mediate?"

Qin Zhengyang, not hiding anything, nodded and said, "Several leaders called. We should be lenient when possible and focus our primary efforts on development and construction."

Xu Chunliang said, "If I tell you that the troubles facing Eco-ring Invest aren’t stirred up by me, would you believe it?"

Qin Zhengyang smiled at Xu Chunliang, clearly not believing it, knowing this guy was too full of mischief.

Seeing that he wasn’t believed, Xu Chunliang said, "It should be Mo Han. The workers’ disturbance at the winery must have angered her. This is clearly He Xingjian’s scheme, having the workers cause trouble while arranging for TV reporters to come over and interview people. They want to make a story about the loss of state assets. Secretary Qin, if they succeed, it’s not just my reputation that’s at stake."

Qin Zhengyang knew Xu Chunliang wasn’t crying wolf and inwardly cursed He Xingjian for being too insidious. All for a winery hot spring, he resorted to all means, even slandering our Hu Shan Town officials, but recalling Secretary Lin’s previous call, Qin Zhengyang still aimed to calm things down, saying, "We are focusing on the development of Hu Shan Town as a whole. There’s no need to deal with an unscrupulous developer."

Xu Chunliang replied, "I didn’t pick a fight, but Mo Han got involved. Now it’s not me having it out with him; it’s Mo Han seeking justice. Secretary Qin, this matter really has nothing to do with us. Let’s just wait and see."

Qin Zhengyang said, "Chunliang, your role here is to attract investments, not engage in conflicts."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "The history of humanity is a history of struggle. How else does progress happen?"

Seeing that Xu Chunliang would not easily let He Xingjian off the hook, and knowing he couldn’t change him, Qin Zhengyang could only say so much.

The damaged gate of the Weishan Island Winery had been repaired. Xu Chunliang specially made a trip to check the damage at the site personally.

Pu Jian informed him that the losses were minimal. After yesterday’s disturbance, no one would likely dare cause trouble again for a while.

Ding Si came over gleefully, having just received news that He Xingjian’s two hot spring resorts in Dongzhou had been ordered to cease operations due to substandard water quality. It’s reported that legionella levels at Han Yuan Hot Spring Resort were over five hundred times above the limit.

Ding Si was full of admiration for Xu Chunliang, giving him a thumbs-up and saying, "Town Mayor Xu, I’m truly impressed. This time, He Xingjian suffered a major setback because of you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t credit me for this, this guy brought it on himself."

Pu Jian said, "Well, that’s just great. Still thinking about the hot springs at the winery, and now his hideout’s been busted."

The helicopter remained parked in the yard, motionless since it arrived yesterday. Mo Han was currently accompanying Wang Hongfeng and Yamamura Ningji on a comprehensive investigation of Weishan Island.

Bai Mushan was sticking his butt up in the air, busy with archaeology in the pit. No matter what this guy’s motives are, his dedication is truly admirable.

Xu Chunliang followed Pu Jian into the underground through the entrance of the thief’s tunnel, heading towards the ancient cellar pool. Because the tunnel was not large, they had to walk hunched over. Temporary electric lights were installed at intervals to light the way.

Bai Mushan and two archaeologists were excavating and clearing below the ancient cellar pool. Bai Mushan was an industry expert, having only been there for half a day before discovering an ancient well in the pit. The three were currently cleaning this well.

According to Bai Mushan, the well is likely from the Song Dynasty. Originally, the area of Weishan Lake wasn’t this large; this area was once Zhang Liang’s fief, historically known as Liu City.

Liu City was once the political, economic, and cultural center of Lunan, bustling with markets, crowded with buildings, attracting wealthy merchants and famous dignitaries, with people and vehicles passing in a flourishing scene. This prosperity continued until before the Great Tang dynasty.

Between the fifth year of Song Shaoxi and the late Ming period, the Yellow River frequently breached and flooded south, merging into the Si River and failing to drain well, causing sedimentation and waterlogging that formed lakes amid the surrounding ninety-nine hills. The peaks underwent countless rises and falls and weathering erosion, becoming small ridge-like hills, transforming Liu City into today’s Weishan Lake. Marquis Liu’s city submerged underwater, with its battlements collapsing and lush with moss and vines.

Now tourists boating on the lake occasionally glimpse remnants of the ancient city shimmering in the lake’s heart.

The relics preserved on Weishan Island have suffered tremendous damage throughout history. Thus, the only prominent historical monument remaining on Weishan Island is a monument commemorating a railway hero.

The discovery of this well adds evidence to Weishan Island’s history, possessing significant historical value.

Bai Mushan explained why the well appeared underground. The lake surface once covered this area, and later, as the water level dropped, silt buried the ancient city. A new city was then built atop the silt. This situation is quite common in the Pinghai region, with Dongzhou having a saying about cities built upon cities.

Though Weishan Island’s history cannot compare with Dongzhou’s, discovering this well pushes its city-building history back to the Song Dynasty.

Xu Chunliang was concerned about whether his town-level key cultural relic protection unit could be upgraded. "Professor Bai, can this well be rated as a county-level key cultural relic?"

Bai Mushan said, "No problem at all. Xiaoxu, you really have foresight."

Pu Jian leaned over by the ancient well, praising, "Professor Bai, you’re the one, we searched for so many days with no results, and you came in and found the well immediately." Saying this in front of two archaeologists from Dongzhou Cultural Relics Bureau left them a bit embarrassed.

Bai Mushan said, "It’s not just my credit; it’s the result of everybody’s collaboration, and you contributed too."

Xu Chunliang asked, "Is it enough for a Dongzhou key cultural relic protection unit?"

Bai Mushan laughed, "It’s just a well for now, so it’s hard to say. However, I can predict that we’ll discover other relics at this layer since the grave robbers didn’t dig this deep."

Pu Jian exclaimed with delight, "We’re going to find treasure."

Bai Mushan said, "Don’t get your hopes too high. This well was likely civilian, so even if there are relics, ordinary households wouldn’t have valuable items."

Pu Jian sighed, "Just like now."

Xu Chunliang felt there wasn’t anything too novel, so he climbed out of the pit first. Just as his head emerged, he saw Mo Han standing by the pit, making him worried she might kick him in the face.

Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Mo Han said, "You know archaeology too?"

Xu Chunliang replied, "Why not ask if I know women too?"

Mo Han slightly regretted not kicking him earlier when he was still climbing up, having missed the perfect opportunity.

Xu Chunliang said, "We discovered an ancient well."

Mo Han showed no interest in the ancient well, "Didn’t you say there were dragon bones down there?"

"I also said there was a dragon down there."

Mo Han glared at Xu Chunliang, as if she wanted to swallow him whole.

Xu Chunliang said, "You have no sense of humor, can’t tell I’m joking?"

Mo Han said, "I’m not interested in joking with you. Xu Chunliang, how dare you lie to me?"