"Old Ding, I know you and that fellow villager want to build your hometown. Our hometown raised us, and this is what we should do. But have you ever thought about what will happen to your wife and children when you leave? Your wife is already in her fifties. She has been with you all her life and has enjoyed nothing. Now you want her to go back to your hometown with you and suffer in her old age? Is this what a human being would do? And there are the children. Your son just started working and hasn't found a partner yet. Have you considered him if you leave like this? Don't be so foolish as to expect your children to give up their good jobs and follow you, and don't even think about leaving your children to me!"

Director Ding was a bit stunned. In his impression, this good friend was wise and kind. He had never heard Jiang Shaoming say such sharp words, nor had he ever seen Jiang Huashu so angry.

"Old Jiang, do you mean I shouldn't support the development of my hometown?"

"Who said that?" Jiang Huashu was even more furious. Was that what he meant? He thought this person was crazy. He didn't consider his family, his job, or anything else and just wanted to support his hometown. He had no sense of responsibility at all.

After thinking for a while, Jiang Huashu decided to persuade him from another angle: "Old Ding, let me put it this way. In fact, you don't have to go back to support the construction of your hometown. Even if you are working in a machine tool factory now, it won't prevent you from helping your hometown become rich."

"How is that possible?" Director Ding didn't believe it at all, thinking that Jiang Huashu had changed his angle to persuade him.

"How is it impossible? When you just told me that your family has no special products but hot springs, I already had several plans in my mind. Lao Ding, I don't mean to criticize you, but you have been thinking about supporting your hometown all day, but you have not considered your own family at all. Should I praise you or scold you?"

"Mr. Jiang, thank you for considering me. I'm actually reluctant to leave my job, and it would be great if you could help me." Director Ding held Jiang Huashu's hands with both hands, his eyes red.

"Ah, ah, ah, we've been brothers for over a decade, why are you still doing this? Quickly wipe those two streaks of cat urine off and tell me about your hometown."

"Hey, Lao Jiang, let me tell you, our township is well-known for being impoverished in the county. In the past, the people relied on relief food to survive. When my village was able to produce a worker like me, the news spread throughout the surrounding villages. You can imagine how poor it was there. There's nothing special about farming. The only thing we can boast of is the hot springs."

"What's the name of your village?"

"Wentang."

Jiang Huashu raised an eyebrow. He knew this place was a famous hot spring resort in later generations. There were many mountains nearby, and the natural scenery was beautiful, but it was relatively isolated from the outside world. Furthermore, the people and customs there were relatively isolated, making it relatively backward compared to rural areas near cities.

Wentang is located in the west of Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province. Before the Ming Dynasty, it was called Lishe.

There is magnetite there, though the reserves aren't huge. But that's not the point at which a town can thrive. Jiang Huashu had visited Wentang twice in modern times and knew the hot springs were exceptional, and the Red Cliff Valley was also incredibly beautiful.

In modern times, Wentang's hot springs have been fully developed, with villas dotting the hillside. Major government agencies have also established offices there. The Railway Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Finance Bureau, and many others all have their own spa buildings. Jiang Huashu visited Wentang twice, both times to meet with an old leader. Although his visits were brief, he left with a positive impression of the area.

Otherwise, the old leader would not go there for recuperation for several months every year.