Chapter 5

After leaving the Dongsheng Furniture Store, Lin Xi felt a bit disoriented. Since his rebirth, only a few hours had passed, but strange things had happened one after another.

The incident in his father's office was still manageable, as it had also happened in his previous life. However, he was unsure if the event at the Dongsheng Furniture Store had occurred in his past life. Although He Xuan didn't say anything, her face was full of anxiety, and Lin Xi was 100% sure that something was definitely going on.

Lin Xi promised He Xuan that he would definitely bring the 60,000 yuan by 8 PM the next evening; otherwise, she would have to find another buyer. Although his words were firm, he had no confidence in his heart. He was now approaching the situation with a trial-and-error mindset, and if it didn't work out, it would be a case of things not going as planned.

Lin Xi stayed in the county magistrate's office until around 5 PM. Seeing that there was nothing else to do, he got up and went home. During this time, Lin Xi thought about contacting his father, but after some consideration, he decided not to.

Lin Xi knew his father's personality all too well—his emotions were always clearly displayed. If he told his father about what Niu Quanbao did in the morning, his father would likely go to confront Niu Quanbao immediately. This would ruin the plan Lin Xi, Cao Weiguo, and Liu Gang had devised to wait for the right moment.

In theory, with his father's personality, it would be difficult to succeed in the political arena. However, after his discharge from the military, he started as a communicator in the township and gradually rose to the position of county magistrate. Besides luck, his ability was also a significant factor. However, at his current level, the lack of connections at higher levels became a disadvantage, which is why Zhu Lianshan was appointed as the Party Secretary of Qingyuan County.

Lin Xi spent almost the entire afternoon understanding the current situation in Qingyuan County.

Zhu Lianshan was originally the Finance Bureau Director of Minzhou City. At the end of 1990, he was suddenly transferred to Qingyuan County to serve as the Party Secretary. The position of Finance Bureau Director was highly coveted, and after serving a full term, Zhu Lianshan naturally had extensive connections. He set his sights on becoming the Vice Mayor of Minzhou City.

However, at the critical moment of his promotion, his competitor exposed that he had never served as the top leader in a district or county.

This was not a mandatory requirement for becoming a Vice Mayor, but it was brought up at a crucial time, and the outcome for Zhu Lianshan was predictable.

As a Finance Bureau Director with the qualifications to compete for the position of Vice Mayor, Zhu Lianshan naturally had his own backing. With the help of the Mayor of Minzhou City, Huang Pengcheng, Zhu Lianshan became the top leader of Qingyuan County.

Lin Xi was unsure of the current relationship between his father and Zhu Lianshan, but it was evident that it was not very harmonious. After arriving in Qingyuan, Zhu Lianshan was eager to prove his capabilities and naturally wanted to make his presence felt. On the other hand, his father, who had operated in Qingyuan for many years, was not willing to step back. Thus, a fierce struggle between the two was inevitable.

Lin Xi wanted to understand these dynamics to figure out the two packs of cigarettes Niu Quanbao had given him. It was clear that Niu Quanbao was just a pawn; otherwise, he would not dare to use such despicable means to frame a county magistrate.

After thinking for the entire afternoon, Lin Xi still could not confirm whether Zhu Lianshan was involved, but understanding the current situation would always be beneficial. Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle.

Lin Xi's home was in the newly built dormitory building of the county government, Room 401, which the locals called the "Number One Compound." This building was completed last year, with six floors, three units per floor, and a total of thirty-six households. Only leaders at the level of chief section or above in the county had the资格 to live there.

As he approached the entrance of the building, Lin Xi silently vowed that this time, he would make sure his parents could stay in this building for a long time, and not be forced out as they were in his previous life.

When he got home, as expected, no one was there. His father was always busy and could never be at home, and although his mother was on summer break, she still worked overtime at the school. In Lin Xi's memory, his parents rarely stayed home to accompany him.

Entering the bathroom, Lin Xi gazed at the teenager in the mirror with a middle part hairstyle and a thick mustache. He truly felt that he had returned to the vibrant youth of over twenty years ago.

After taking a shower, Lin Xi put on a white T-shirt and black shorts. At 1.8 meters tall, he looked very spirited. He combed his hair and then left the bathroom.

Lin Xi entered his parents' bedroom and took a few dozen yuan from the drawer. He thought for a moment and decided to leave a note for his mother to avoid her getting overly surprised when she found out. No matter how extraordinary his experiences were, he was still a 19-year-old boy, and taking so much money required an explanation.

Lin Xi didn't need to bring so much money. Hao Xinyan had clearly said on the phone that she would treat him to dinner, and he had already bought the birthday gift. However, he changed his mind. It wouldn't be right to let a girl pay for his dinner, and as a man, he couldn't let himself look cheap, especially since he was counting on her help with something important. So, he decided not to worry about the small amount of money.

After leaving a note for his mother, Lin Xi locked the door and left. Although it was still early, he decided to go early so as not to keep the girl waiting.

When Lin Xi arrived at Qingyuan Mall, he checked his electronic watch—it was only 6:10 PM. Looking at the bustling crowd, Lin Xi felt as if he had stepped into another world.

Qingyuan Mall had always been a landmark in Qingyuan, while the Qingyuan Department Store was a different story. It was not an exaggeration to describe it as deserted. When Lin Xi passed by the department store on his way from the station to the county government in the morning, there were hardly any bicycles.

Lin Xi remembered that in his previous life, the department store later became the Qingyuan Commercial Building, but business was still not thriving. It wasn't until the year 2000 that it became a branch of a large domestic supermarket, and the situation improved. However, it didn't last long, and it eventually succumbed to the fierce commercial competition, barely surviving.

Just as Lin Xi was lost in thought, a soft female voice suddenly rang in his ears, "Lin Xi, you're here so early, hehe!"

Hearing this, Lin Xi turned around and saw a beautiful girl in a pink dress standing in front of him. She had a heart-shaped face, big eyes, and exceptionally fair skin. Her high ponytail was tied up, and her black eyes gazed at him, with a beautiful smile on her lips.