“After this area is finished, the prefabricated houses can be dismantled and moved. That’s what we do at the mine. There’s no need to build permanent structures.”
"Moreover, the current prefabricated houses have no problem with insulation, which is much more convenient than before," Chen Jianguo offered his solution.
"Yes, that's what I was thinking too. I'll go find Li Dazhuang in a bit and ask him to buy building materials. Once the materials arrive, we'll get started."
Chen Feng actually thought the same thing, but he didn't expect his father to think exactly the same way.
"Okay, don't worry about it. I'll definitely do a perfect job without any mistakes," Chen Jianguo assured him, patting his chest.
Being able to help his son is what makes Chen Jianguo happiest. If his son just stays at home and can't help him at all, that would be the most frustrating thing for him.
After watching for a while, the two drove back, heading straight for Li Dazhuang's house.
Upon hearing Chen Feng's purpose, Li Dazhuang immediately took out his phone and showed him the price quote and sourcing channels without reservation.
The supply channels are in the county; if needed, it can be delivered tomorrow.
The three of them discussed it for a long time before finally deciding on the size of the prefabricated house to build and how much material to buy.
While they were making great preparations for the mining, Village Chief Ma sat in a chair of regret, handcuffed, his face ashen.
"Speak, what else is there? Confess what you can, or it will be too late once you're discovered," the man in the hat demanded, his tone full of pressure.
Since sitting in the "chair of regret," Village Chief Ma has remained silent, because he knows that anything he says will be of no use.
He was quite aware of his fate.
After the verdict is handed down, whether I'll even be able to get out alive is another matter entirely.
But the thought that Chen Jianguo had a warm bed with his wife and children while he could only sit in this cold, regretful chair filled him with resentment.
Why should he be allowed to go back while I have to suffer this treatment!
He knew that Chen Jianguo must have already gone home, and once he left, he would have no more worries.
The more the village chief thought about it, the angrier he became. He was not convinced, of course he was not convinced.
Since you've already come in, you should come in and keep me company too.
"I'm reporting that there's a fugitive in our village."
Thinking of this, Village Chief Ma finally raised his head and spoke.
"Hmm? Tell me, what happened?" Uncle Hat asked.
“This happened twenty years ago. There was a man in our village named Chen Jianguo. He had a weapon and broke four of my ribs before running away.”
"I reckon he's already back in the village. Go and arrest him!" Village Chief Ma became more and more agitated as he spoke, suddenly breaking free of his handcuffs and looking at Uncle Hat.
"Twenty years ago... I broke your ribs?" Uncle Hat frowned deeply upon hearing this.
"Why didn't you call the police sooner? Do you still have any evidence? The statute of limitations for refutation of the crime has expired." Uncle Hat said speechlessly.
A broken rib only gets you a few years in prison, but it's been twenty years already. Putting aside whether there's any evidence, the statute of limitations has expired. How can they arrest you now?
“Maybe I was too lenient, but he also broke Zhang the Cripple’s leg and his brother’s. He hit them both with a shovel and left them paralyzed, and they’re bedridden now!”
"This isn't statute of limitations, is it? Such a serious crime." Village Chief Ma asked with hope in his eyes.
"To paralyze someone outright? That's quite serious. Tell me their names." Uncle Hat was already preparing to investigate.
Village Chief Ma got excited as soon as he heard this and quickly told Uncle Hat everything that happened back then, embellishing the story, of course.
"Okay, we understand. Now continue with your questions." Uncle Hat made a note of it and planned to visit the place tomorrow to see if it was true.
"As long as you can catch him, I'll confess everything." Village Chief Ma was going all out and was about to reveal everything to Chen Jianguo.
Seeing that Village Chief Ma had said that, Uncle Hat didn't ask any more questions and planned to talk about it after he returned from his visit.
The village chief was overjoyed at the thought that Chen Jianguo would soon be coming in to keep him company.
What others may not know is that Zhang Chengbao, who has been paralyzed for twenty years, hates him to the core.
If I hadn't stopped him all these years, he would have called the police long ago. Why would I have kept him around?
Now, it's time to detonate the last bomb. Let's all die together, hahaha!
The next day, two men in hats arrived at Zhang the Cripple's house in a police car.
"Is Zhang Chengbao home?" Uncle Hat asked as he entered the door.
"What are you doing here?" Zhang the Cripple asked, frowning.
"Oh, we received a report that a serious assault occurred here before, so we came to check. You must be Zhang Chengbao's brother?" the hat-wearing man asked.
"Yes," Zhang Chengbao answered honestly.
"How did you get this limp? Was it caused by a guy named Chen Jianguo?" the hat-wearing man asked, looking at his limp leg.
"No, my leg was crushed by a four-wheeled vehicle, it's been over twenty years," Zhang the Cripple said, shaking his head.
"Hmm?" Uncle Hat was puzzled. This was different from what Village Chief Ma had said.
"Can I come in and see your brother?" the hat-wearing man pressed.
Zhang the Cripple hesitated for a moment, but still let the hat go inside.
As he walked, he kept giving the man in the hat a heads-up.
“My younger brother was paralyzed for thirty years after a high fever. Now he has dementia and talks nonsense all the time. You can’t believe what he says.”
Uncle Hat frowned upon hearing this, and went into the room where he saw Zhang Chengbao lying on the bed.
Zhang Chengbao's eyes were vacant, and he looked like he had dementia. After all, he had been lying down for so many years, even a good person would become demented.
But when he saw Uncle Hat, he turned around and a glint appeared in his eyes.
"Are you called Zhang Chengbao?" Uncle Hat asked.
"Yes," Zhang Chengbao said with difficulty.
"How did you become paralyzed?" the hat asked.
"I was beaten by Chen Jianguo. He hit me with a shovel. You must stand up for me..."
Before Zhang Chengbao could finish speaking, Zhang the Cripple punched him hard on the head.
"Speak properly, you idiot! You're spouting nonsense again. You've lost your mind!" Zhang the Cripple shouted.
The punch landed squarely on Zhang Chengbao's face, causing him to see stars from the pain.
"Hey, hey, why are you hitting people?" Uncle Hat quickly stepped forward to stop Zhang the Cripple.
“He’s not very bright, just like a TV. You have to tap him every now and then to make him work properly. Tell me again how you became paralyzed.”
Zhang the Cripple pointed at him, his eyes filled with threat as he asked.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengbao's eyes showed fear. He evasively said, "I was paralyzed due to a high fever before. It has nothing to do with anyone else."
"Are you sure this is true?" Uncle Hat pressed.
"It's true, I'm sure of it," Zhang Chengbao nodded.
Compared to catching Chen Jianguo, the murderer, he was more afraid of his brother. If he really went his own way today, his brother could starve him to death tomorrow, and he didn't want to die.
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