Chapter Thirty-Two: You Cannot Stop It

The middle-aged man, plump and honest-looking, seemed nervous the moment he saw Lin Fan. Although he was a contractor, his business was small, employing only a few dozen brothers from his hometown. Over the years he had made some money, but to secure more jobs, he had gritted his teeth and taken out loans to buy several engineering vehicles.

With his status, he could not possibly compare to Lin Fan. In fact, Lin Fan’s words were like commands to an ordinary citizen like him.

Yet when he heard what Lin Fan said, he paused for a moment, and somehow, from nowhere, found the courage to chuckle and reply, “Boss, how could you say that? How can you just tell us to go back?”

He still didn’t dare openly contradict the chief commander. But ordinary people have their own wisdom.

Seeing Lin Fan remain silent, the plump man grinned and began to forge connections. “Boss, let me introduce myself. I’m Old Wang, leader of the Wang Family Village Engineering Team from Heizhou. The dark, skinny fellow next to me is Old Li, leader of the Li Family Village Engineering Team. This one is Old Wu, leader of the Wu Family Village Engineering Team.”

“The rest behind us are our brothers.”

“We’ve all seen you on TV, Boss. And Elder Jin, too. Elder Jin was at the press conference this morning…”

But Lin Fan did not linger in conversation. He repeated, “Everyone, go back.”

Old Wang’s face twisted with indecision.

After a long moment, this little contractor somehow summoned his courage and, looking at Lin Fan, spoke neither arrogantly nor humbly, “Boss, I really can’t go back!”

“Can’t go back?” Lin Fan frowned.

Old Wang smiled wryly. “Boss, if you want me to go back, I’ll obey. But these brothers behind me… they’ll beat me to death.”

He turned and called out, “Brothers, the boss wants us to go back. Should I take you all back?”

“Old Wang, you try going back and see what happens!”

“That’s right! We agreed to come and help. Are you chicken now?”

“If you’re short of money, just tell us. We’ll help you out! But if you dare take private jobs now, I won’t work with you anymore!”

The workers spoke in simple words, but Old Wang could only respond with a bitter smile.

He looked at Lin Fan. “Boss, you see, I really can’t go back.”

Lin Fan gazed at the crowd—over a hundred workers, packed together—and explained earnestly, “Everyone, I know you want to help, but please trust us…”

“Boss, what you said isn’t right,” a worker suddenly shouted, raising his voice. “We trust you, but how can it be that only the country protects us? We should protect our country too!”

“Exactly! We didn’t study much, but there’s a saying: ‘When the nation prospers or falls, each citizen bears responsibility!’”

“This is all voluntary!”

These workers didn’t care whether Lin Fan was a commander or not. They only knew they came to help.

How could they be sent back?

For a moment, Lin Fan was at a loss for words.

Old Wang smiled. “Chief Lin, we all know you mean well.”

“But,”

“We’re all citizens of Great Xia. Why shouldn’t we help our country?”

“You endure hardship and fatigue. We can’t just hide behind you, can we? Would that even make us citizens of Great Xia?”

“Yes, I admit, my heart isn’t strong. Years of socializing have worn my body out. I can barely run five hundred meters, can’t make it to the battlefield.”

“But engineering—this is our work!”

“You fight on your battlefield. We fight on ours. That’s how a family should be!”

As Old Wang spoke, his phone rang. He glanced apologetically at Lin Fan, then answered.

“Yes, yes, it’s me.”

“Oh, Boss Zhang, I brought the crew back from the site… I have to go to Ludong and help.”

“Go find another engineering team for your project. I’ll refund your payment later.”

“What? You can’t find anyone? The others are all headed to Ludong too…” Old Wang was surprised. “Well, don’t wait for me. After Ludong, I hear there’ll be big projects all along the eastern coast. That means we definitely can’t go back!”

“No, I’m not crazy. I know I still have ten thousand a month in loan payments, but don’t worry, I’ve got some savings. I can hold out for a year or so.”

The other end was silent for a long time.

Finally, a single sentence emerged.

“All right, go ahead. I’ll wait for you.”

Old Wang was surprised: “No, you don’t have to wait for me. Like I said, after Ludong, there’s all the eastern coast…”

“Enough. I know. When you’re all done, come back and fix my pool. Don’t bother refunding me. That’s it.”

The other party ended the call without letting Old Wang speak further.

“Boss,” Old Wang grinned at Lin Fan, “see, I’ve pushed all my other projects aside. How could I explain it if you send us back now?”

The workers behind him began to shout as well.

“That’s right, Boss! When I left home, my wife cried her eyes out, but she still let me go. If I go back now, she’ll curse me!”

“I’ve already bragged to my family that I’m going to help Great Xia. If I just go home now, I’ll be laughed at!”

For a moment, looking at this “wily” contractor and his steadfast crew, Lin Fan found himself unable to argue.

These ordinary people seemed so small.

Yet it was because of them that Great Xia had flesh and blood—stood tall and unyielding!

Just as they said: Great Xia protects them, but isn’t it true that they protect Great Xia as well?

Though their status differed, in essence they were all people of Great Xia. By what right could Lin Fan stop them from helping their country?

Elder Jin muttered, “See, I told you we couldn’t stop them. They’re determined to go… Their wives can’t keep them home, even agree to let them come, so how could we?”

Lin Fan took a deep breath. “The project is complex, you…”

“Don’t worry, Boss, we’ll follow orders!” Old Wang replied quickly. “Whatever the organization tells us to do, we’ll do it, strictly by construction standards, never cutting corners! We’re ready for inspection at any time!”

“If it’s really tough…”

“We’ll do it even without pay, but you have to provide food and lodging! It doesn’t have to be fancy, just the usual site meals and dorms…”

He chuckled.

Lin Fan scratched his head.

He really couldn’t stop them…

Just while they were talking, another three or four private engineering teams’ vehicles thundered past.

Lin Fan even saw trucks plastered with signs reading “XX Company Supporting Ludong,” loaded with rice, flour, oil, and salt, heading to Ludong.

All of this was spontaneous—no mobilization, no organization!

Why shouldn’t the people of Great Xia help their own country?

By status, Lin Fan was now second only to the head of state, as chief commander.

By strength, he was only half a step away from becoming a demigod among men.

Yet he could not stop these honest workers!

Because—

Though they had little education, they possessed a spirit, a soul!

A five-thousand-year legacy, the spirit running through Great Xia!

When trouble strikes one place, aid comes from all directions.

The rise and fall of the nation, every citizen bears responsibility!

Great Xia’s people have never shied away from facing danger for their country!

In times of peace, some chase profit, some chase power, but when storms gather, all the people of Great Xia stand up as one!

This spirit, this soul—cannot be stopped!

“In that case,”

Faced with these humble workers, even Lin Fan had to yield, bowing deeply, “Then, I must trouble you all!”

Afterward,

Lin Fan said directly to Elder Jin, “Call the Ministry of Construction. Register these civilian engineering teams, assign tasks rationally, and pay them according to the national engineering team’s wage standards. Ensure everyone’s food and lodging are the same.”

“Also, grant tuition reductions for their children—all such measures must be implemented.”

“As for other civilian donations, like rice, flour, oil, and salt, they may be accepted, but only if purchased at fair value! No one is allowed to take anything for free!”