Chapter 270: Chapter 268: Descendants and a Flourishing Age

“Mr. Lian, take a look, this is the stretch of tidal flat that is about to be developed, it covers roughly…” Wang Liansheng stood beside Mr. Lian, pointing at the endless coastal tidal flats, his tone calm.

Lian Zhaowen glanced back at the young man beside him, smiling slightly, “The successful launch of this project owes much to Section Chief Wang’s great assistance. This is Tingyu’s achievement, and even more, it’s Section Chief Wang’s achievement.”

Wang Liansheng slightly bowed, smiling, “Mr. Lian, you’re too kind.”

While speaking, someone brought over several pairs of high boots. Mr. Lian, undeterred by age, wore the boots and walked onto the tidal flat. Wang Liansheng, on the other hand, simply took off his shoes, rolled up his trousers, and walked down, simultaneously attending to Mr. Lian and casually reaching into the sand, lifting a slow handful of clams.

“Mr. Lian, this stretch of tidal flats, nurtured for hundreds, even thousands of years, holds a staggering amount of marine life,” Wang Liansheng said, turning back to look at Mr. Lian, his expression solemn. “I hope you can implement the terms of the contract that balance development and nurturing, truly allowing this treasure land to remain abundantly fertile for generations, so future generations don’t find themselves without resources.”

Behind his lenses, Lian Zhaowen’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile deepened a bit, “Future generations?”

Contrasting with Lian Zhaowen’s slightly teasing tone, Wang Liansheng’s expression remained solemn as he nodded, “Yes. Our country should be protected by all of us together.”

Just like the soldiers in the south at this very moment, using flesh and blood to defend every inch of land, this land’s wealth and beauty should be guarded by the people.

The soldiers defend the territory and the peace of the nation; the people guard the nation’s prosperity, a bountiful harvest, and everlasting glory.

Lian Zhaowen didn’t speak immediately, instead casting his gaze over the somewhat desolate and barren tidal flats, and further to the sea, and after a long while, said softly, “Alright, for the sake of future generations.”

Along with Lian Zhaowen today, besides Secretary Jenny Feng, was also the representative Chen Xiong, who had been sent to Huicheng by Lian Zhaowen.

Lian Zhaowen, being elderly, felt somewhat exhausted after not having walked far in the muddy tidal flats.

Chen Xiong stepped forward to remind him, and Lian Zhaowen then turned and stepped out of the tidal flat, smiling and instructing people to have lunch at the seaside purchase station that had already been built.

“All freshly caught from the sea, absolutely fresh and good things.”

Jenny Feng stepped forward to help Lian Zhaowen change out of the rain boots, wiping his hands and face, while Chen Xiong came over to discuss with Wang Liansheng, asking for help to contact local fishermen to buy some other sea catch.

“The chairman wants to eat seafood, we can’t have him eating just shellfish.” Chen Xiong spread his hands and laughed.

Wang Liansheng understood and invited Chen Xiong to drive, heading all the way to Sea Village a dozen miles away. There, fishing boats go to sea, and with the good weather these days, there must be fresh catches.

Wang Liansheng said, “It’s the wrong season for crabs, but the prawns are plump, and there are plenty of fish…”

Chen Xiong chuckled, “Where I’m from, autumn is the season when crabs are the plumpest, as the saying goes, ’Chrysanthemums are yellow, crab legs are itching.’

The two laughed for a while, then Chen Xiong’s expression turned serious, “There’s something I want to remind Section Chief Wang of…”

Wang Liansheng raised his brows slightly, “Please go ahead.”

Chen Xiong said, “Although Mr. Lian has a billion-dollar fortune, his offspring are not thriving. His only son went missing several years ago, and his grandchildren are technically from his daughter’s side, not directly in the Lian bloodline.”

Wang Liansheng looked at him, and after a moment, nodded, “I see. Thank you.”

The fact that Mr. Lian was allowed to return home, of course, meant his family situation had been thoroughly investigated. As the main person responsible for hosting him, Wang Liansheng was already aware of the main family members.

Both of Mr. Lian’s grandsons are quite talented—one has joined the Lian Family’s company and is now the general manager of a branch, reportedly very good at managing, inherited from Mr. Lian’s excellent skills; the other joined a bank, and is now in upper management, making his mark, also very outstanding.

With such two grandsons, and a harmonious family, Wang Liansheng felt that Mr. Lian could be quite content and not worry about things like whether grandsons or granddaughters carry on the family line, as Chen Xiong suggested.

However, Chen Xiong’s words were meant as a reminder without any malice, and Wang Liansheng accepted the sentiment.

The two of them reached Sea Village and indeed managed to purchase a basket of top-quality fresh fish and prawns, along with the unexpected bonus of half a basket of sea urchins.

Chen Xiong looked at the still-moving sea urchins with excitement, exclaiming, “These are really great, Mr. Lian loves them. When prepared the Japanese way, they’re exquisitely delicious.”

Huicheng District is coastal, with Fucheng County being the main source of seafood harvests. Having grown up eating seafood, Wang Liansheng had never tried anything as unsightly as spiky sea urchins and had no expectations about them. Moreover, hearing him mention ’Japan’ with eyes full of gleeful light, he instinctively felt uneasy, involuntarily furrowing his brow.

The two returned with the fresh catch to the purchase station by the tidal flats. Mr. Lian had already had two cups of tea while seated in a single sofa, and seeing their return, came out to inspect their haul. Upon seeing the sea urchins, he smiled slightly, then let out a somewhat disdainful snort, “Those Japanese love this thing. During their occupation of the Three Eastern Provinces, they found that the sea urchins from our Liao Island were of superior quality to those from their own country, and they often had people dive to fetch them for eating. Then, after being driven out, even decades later, there are still some Japanese who can’t forget the sea urchins from Liao Island…”

Upon hearing this, Wang Liansheng’s frown slightly relaxed, “Our country’s vast land and abundant resources are incomparable to their tiny nation.”

Mr. Lian glanced at him and laughed heartily, uttering between laughs, “Well said, just a tiny nation.”

“In the past, some sages likened them to silkworms, with our country as large a mulberry leaf upon which they long coveted our rich resources and bountiful products, from the Sino-Japanese War to the Eight-Nation Alliance, and the over-a-decade-long Anti-Japanese War… Alas, that tiny nation nearly wrought disaster unto our very extinction and displacement!”

Everyone remained quiet, only for Wang Liansheng to speak calmly, “A century of decline, the sick man of East Asia, those various humiliations have long become history. Although our nation remains poor and backward now, it’s at last embracing national rejuvenation, a prosperous era.”

Mr. Lian watched him for a while before breaking into a hearty laugh.

Upon leaving the tidal flats and returning to Huicheng, it was discovered that the children who had gone to Island City to see the sea had returned. Since he wasn’t home, they had gone to his cousin Wang Lianfa’s.

Coincidentally, Wang Liansheng had brought back some seafood. After cleaning up and changing into a fresh set of clothes, he carried the seafood and first went to his second brother’s house to drop off part of the seafood, then carried the other half next door to the Ling Family.

Little Shi Tou ran up and knocked on the door, “Grandpa, Grandpa, open the door quickly, I’m Little Shi Tou, I’ve come to see you!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep