Chapter 5: A Cliché Encounter

"Young man, could you lend a hand?" said the middle-aged man, holding a large box

One is a stunning beauty in her twenties, wearing a polyester shirt, with two braids, her forehead glistening with beads of sweat, her cheeks flushed with heat, and looking quite fierce from the neck down

Under the blazing sun, the carriage has seemingly turned into an oven, and coupled with the crowding of passengers, the experience is simply beyond description.

The social security situation in the early 1990s was extremely chaotic, with a continuous emergence of violent crimes

As Song Weiyang approached the ticket counter to queue for tickets, he noticed someone using a blade to cut open a bag. He did not speak up to remind the person, as it was beyond his control; he could only be more vigilant in watching over his personal belongings

The train station is very dilapidated, with its exterior stained by dark coal dust. The coal from the only state-owned enterprise in the city has to be transported from here

Carefully boarding the train, it was already past 3 PM when the train departed. In this day and age, the tourism industry is underdeveloped, and there are very few passengers during the summer vacation, making the seats spacious enough for Song Weiyang to lie down.

Liu Bin took advantage of the situation and immediately pulled out his business card to chat: "I am familiar with Kangnan, having gone on research trips with the leadership many times. You know Kangnan Foundry, right? Director Wei is my buddy"

After all, this is the provincial capital, and passengers from all over the province need to transfer here to go to the coast

The young lady fanned herself a few times with her palm, then stood up and pushed the car window with force, saying to the old man, "Uncle, come sit over here. It's by the window, the wind is strong, and it's very cool."

There are certainly wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice, but it is necessary to take action; the prevalence of unhealthy trends and corruption has reached an intolerable level

Since the 1980s, the industry in Rongping City has been in a state of stagnation, barely surviving

Sòng Wéiyáng sat on the bus as it passed by the department store, feeling a deep sense of emotion. If his father had not acted so aggressively, he could have comfortably stayed at home and lived as a wealthy second-generation heir. The ten-story building, located in the city center, would be valued in billions twenty years from now, but unfortunately, it has already been nationalized.

At ten o'clock, Song Weiyang, holding a backpack and a briefcase, with a sheathed Type 81 military dagger tucked at his waist, was sweating profusely in no time.

Liu Bin stared at the young woman's chest for quite a while, only withdrawing his gaze when the train started moving. He then took the initiative to strike up a conversation: "From your accents, are you from the southern part of Jiangsu?"

The young woman, completely unguarded, replied: "Go to the deep city"

The young lady, feeling somewhat panicked, turned to the old man and asked, "Uncle, what should we do?"

Song Weiyang had no choice but to stand in the aisle, helping to lift the other person's suitcase onto the luggage rack, casually remarking, "It's quite heavy, must be around 100 pounds."

Deception and trickery abound, and lawlessness prevails

Song Weiyang racked his brains for a long time but could not recall when he met a beauty named "Chen Tao". Perhaps it was just a coincidence; with such a large population in China, it is quite normal to have a few people who look alike.

The young lady seemed quite unaccustomed to the handshake, retracting her hand halfway and shyly nodding as she said, "My name is Chen Tao"

The old man squinted and said: "We have the certificate, it has been taken care of long ago. Taozi, there are many bad people outside, do not speak carelessly"

During the Republic of China era, Rongping City was still characterized by impoverished mountains and treacherous waters, with unruly citizens emerging one after another

No air conditioning, no air conditioning, no air conditioning, an important matter needs to be stated three times

"What pass?" the girl asked in confusion

Liu Bin immediately patted his chest and said: "Familiar! The director of the cotton spinning factory is named Zhong Yuanchao. I have drunk with him before, how could I not be familiar?"

We have arrived at the station, we have arrived at the station, quickly get off the bus! Do not waste time!

Liu Bin adjusted his glasses and said somewhat arrogantly: "Being a junior section chief is meaningless; it's better to venture into business where there is potential. You know Mu Qizhong, right? The one who traded cans for airplanes. I've had dealings with him; as long as I get my business up and running, he promised to invest 10 million in me."

Upon hearing this, the young woman was also intrigued and quickly asked, "Are you familiar with the cotton spinning factory?"

The small section chief who has ventured into business may not have made any money, which is acceptable; however, if he truly manages to get the business off the ground, he will undoubtedly be driven to the brink of despair by the exploitation of others.

The young woman was suddenly delighted and said to the old man, "Uncle, he really knows Director Zhong."

Song Shumin is undoubtedly a star entrepreneur in the local area. Under his leadership, several state-owned enterprises have been successfully revitalized. If it were not for his overly ambitious ventures, the city leaders would have treated him like a revered ancestor, as provincial leaders consistently prioritize visits to Song's winery during their inspections.

Even after the establishment of the new China, there was still a local ruler in a remote mountain village who proclaimed himself emperor, appointed empresses and concubines, and conferred titles upon prime ministers and nobles. Ultimately, he was pursued by local police over a distance of ten miles, leading to his downfall and the destruction of his regime, leaving behind a legendary tale that is both amusing and absurd

Ahem! The old man cleared his throat twice, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation

Song Weiyang took his elder brother's Type 81 military dagger when he went out, as a precaution. If someone were to attempt to rob him of his startup capital, he would back down when outnumbered, but would fight fiercely when outnumbered. Killing two people would not be considered excessive self-defense. After all, during a crackdown, the police might even reward him for his bravery in upholding justice

Song Weiyang sat silently beside her, occasionally stealing glances at the young woman. He felt that she looked very familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere in a past life, but he could not recall where at that moment

The ten-story department store in the city was also invested in by Song Shumin two years ago. The eighth, ninth, and tenth floors are designated for a hotel, and whenever distinguished guests come to Rongping City, they inevitably choose to stay here, greatly expanding Boss Song's social connections

Liu Bin said: "To enter the special zone, a pass is required; without a pass, one cannot go through"

Song Weiyang glanced down at the business card, which bore the words "General Manager Liu Bin of Shenlan Trading Company." He did not take it seriously; in this day and age, managers are everywhere, and there are as many bosses as there are dogs. A single billboard falling could crush ten people, and nine and a half of them would be managers, with the remaining half being deputies.

After a few casual exchanges between the two, the passenger sitting opposite also arrived

It is precisely for this reason that, ten years after the strict crackdown of 1983, the central government initiated another strict crackdown in 1993

"My skin is tender, and I am already 25 years old," Song Weiyang casually remarked, "My humble surname is Ma, Ma Qiangdong."

The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "Brother Ma really doesn't look old at all"

Oh. The girl immediately lowered her head

After the two men had placed their luggage, the middle-aged man took out a business card and said: "A little local specialty, just a sample, to take to the coast and explore the market. What is your surname, young man? You look like a student."

Fortunately, the person sitting next to me is a cultured middle-aged man; had it been someone with body odor, it would surely have led to Song Weiyang's premature demise before even starting his mission

The young lady did not speak, and the old man replied: "Kang Nan has come."

Liu Bin cast a few suspicious glances at the old man, but did not think much of it; being cautious when going out is indeed advisable

Around the late 1960s, the country began preparations for the Third World War, initiating large-scale relocation for the construction of the third line. The remote city of Rongping finally experienced a revival, not only attracting central enterprises but also opening up railways, and even expanding its administrative area by more than double.

One is a little old man in his 50s, wearing a suit that is somewhat oversized, and despite the sweltering heat, he refuses to take it off, with sweat soaking through and clinging to his body.

Liu Bin, with a thick skin, casually asked: "Are you going to Huadu or Shenzhen?"

The ticket seller shouted fiercely, one hand grabbing the money and the other pulling the ticket box, her eyes fixed on the direction of the train door. It seemed that if any passenger moved too slowly, she would kick them off. The passengers, accustomed to this scene, instinctively quickened their pace, pouring out through the door that had not yet fully opened.

"It's nothing, I can handle the heat," said the old man.

"What a coincidence, I am also going to Shenzhen," Liu Bin reminded, "Do you have the border pass?"

Song Weiyang put away his business card and asked, "Brother Liu has gone into business, hasn't he?"

Hello, my name is Ma Qiangdong. Song Weiyang suddenly extended his palm

It is precisely for this reason that Song Shumin committed such a serious offense, yet the proceedings dragged on for nearly six months, ultimately resulting in a hasty sentence of only eight and a half years of imprisonment

Impressive! Song Weiyang gave a thumbs up in admiration, silently mourning for this gentleman for 30 seconds

Nothing happened along the way, and they probably arrived at the provincial capital in the evening. Song Weiyang managed to sleep in the waiting hall for a night, and early in the morning, he was queuing to buy tickets while gnawing on a steamed bun. After much effort, he finally managed to grab a seat.