"This was true before, but now, it’s a problem. Our area, on the surface, is indeed very poor. However, we've now discovered a small coal mine and rare earth deposits, so becoming rich overnight is no longer a pipe dream. The dream of overnight riches can kill anyone!"
The leader of the Xiegu Miao tribe said excitedly.
"Dad, how did you know?"
Mu Chi Ningyun asked with surprise.
As far as she remembered, Chen Feng had just discovered this.
She was certain Chen Feng hadn't mentioned it to her father.
"Someone from the Western multinational corporations told me. They said that as long as they can mine the rare earth, all profits from the small coal mine will belong to us, and half of the rare earth profits will also be ours. However, there's one condition: Chen Feng must be dealt with."
The tribal leader explained seriously.
"Dad, you wouldn't seriously consider killing someone for money, would you?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Mu Chi Ningyun realized how foolish the question was.
Her father had already made a move against Chen Feng, which meant he was blinded by money.
"Ningyun, you're not a three-year-old, why ask such a childish question? In this world, who doesn't like money?"
The tribal leader retorted.
"Everyone in the world likes money. You like it, I like it, Chen Feng likes it too... But, as the Han people say, a gentleman loves wealth and obtains it righteously. We can't disregard right and wrong for money, can we?"
Mu Chi Ningyun questioned Chen Feng.
Mu Chi Ningyun was in pain.
Patriotism was the most basic right and wrong, something even a child knew. How could her father abandon the very concept of patriotism for money?
"Ningyun, don't talk to me about such grand principles. Your father has been through too much poverty. Now that such a good opportunity is before me, I can't let this once-in-a-lifetime chance slip away."
The tribal leader said excitedly.
His eyes were filled with shamelessness.
"I disagree!"
Mu Chi Ningyun objected immediately.
"Ningyun, have you been brainwashed by that Chen Feng kid?"
The tribal leader angrily questioned his daughter.
"If I have been brainwashed by Chen Feng, is there a problem? Chen Feng, for the benefit of the people of Jiomiao County, risked his life to come to the primeval forest. Based on this alone, his vision is much higher than that of most officials. I see no problem with being brainwashed by such a person."
Mu Chi Ningyun stated righteously.
"Don't tell me all this! I've made up my mind to cooperate with the Western multinational corporations."
The tribal leader didn't know how else to persuade his daughter, so he simply gritted his teeth and replied very seriously to Mu Chi Ningyun.
"Dad, you really can't do this. Letting foreign companies control the small coal mine isn't a big issue. Rare earth, even a three-year-old knows, is a strategically important mineral for the nation. Letting Western multinational corporations control the rare earth in the Xiegu Miao territory, isn't that betraying the country?"
Mu Chi Ningyun retorted.
"For money, even being a traitor is acceptable."
The tribal leader replied with a lecherous grin.
Mu Chi Ningyun had intended to confront her father directly, but then she remembered Chen Feng's words: in big matters, one must remain calm, conflict only messes things up, so she absolutely couldn't confront her father at this moment.
"Alright, since you like money so much, Dad, I can't say anything more. However, I have a humble request..."
Mu Chi Ningyun relented and said.
"Speak."
"You can kill Chen Feng, but can you give me a few days? You know, Chen Feng is a handsome young man, it would be such a shame to kill him just like that."
Mu Chi Ningyun feigned seriousness.
"Certainly! Chen Feng will be dead in three days. Once Chen Feng is dead, no one will know about our small coal mine and rare earth deposits."
The tribal leader replied smugly.
Without further ado, Mu Chi Ningyun went to find Chen Feng immediately.
"Deputy County Head Chen, it's exactly as you predicted. There's indeed something fishy going on. My father agreed to cooperate with Western multinational corporations for wealth and to have you killed."
Mu Chi Ziyun spoke truthfully without hesitation.
If her father had just made a small mistake, it wouldn't be a big issue.
However, at present, her father had made a grave mistake.
A single misstep, and he would be a traitor.
Throughout history, anyone who made such a mistake met a bad end.
"Miss Mu Chi Ningyun, since you've come to find me, it means you've already made a choice."
Chen Feng replied with relief.
"I have made a choice. No matter what, I will not be a traitor, nor will I let my father be a traitor. But the problem is, how can I prevent my father from becoming a traitor?"
Mu Chi Ningyun asked with pain.
"This problem is actually quite easy to solve, it all depends on whether you have the resolve."
Chen Feng replied seriously.
"I certainly have the resolve, but after all, he is my biological father. I also hope he dies..."
Mu Chi Ziyun replied quietly.
"I understand. No matter who it is, they have family affection. Although you and I are not husband and wife, we are quite close, like a couple. So, I won't lie. For your father to live, he must step down."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? Make my father step down? Is it that serious?"
Mu Chi Ningyun was stunned.
"Miss Mu Chi Ningyun, you've misunderstood. Making your father step down is not the most serious outcome; it's the least serious. You understand your father's personality. Unless he steps down, no one can dissuade him from his dream of overnight riches. At worst, even if I am killed by your father, your father will still die. China is a vast country. How could it be possible that the multinational corporations smuggling out rare earth wouldn't be discovered? Once discovered, your father's identity as a traitor will be absolutely confirmed. Moreover, once his identity as a traitor is confirmed, do you think your father will be able to live?"
Chen Feng explained word by word.
"In that case, stepping down is indeed the best outcome for my father. But the problem is, how do I make my father step down? We are a Miao tribe, different from your Han officialdom. It's truly very, very difficult to make the leader of a Miao tribe step down."
Mu Chi Ningyun retorted.
"It's not difficult, as long as you are willing."
Chen Feng advised Mu Chi Ningyun calmly.
"As long as I'm willing? Deputy County Head Chen, you mean I can make my father step down?"
Mu Chi Ningyun asked somewhat bewildered.
"Yes, you can make your father step down, and only you can make him step down. As you said, the Miao tribe is very different from the Han officialdom. Using Han officialdom methods will certainly not work on your father. You must use your Miao tribe's traditions..."
Chen Feng paused, as if hesitant.
"Please continue, I feel your analysis is very accurate."
"My meaning is, you find a way to make your father sick, so he cannot get out of bed, and then you can legitimately take his place."
"This method is good, but the problem is, our Xiegu Miao tribe only knows how to kill people or make them sick. We are not good at this kind of thing."
Mu Chi Ningyun asked somewhat dejectedly.
"It's alright. If your Xiegu Miao tribe cannot make someone too sick to get out of bed, our Han Chinese traditional medicine has a way..."
Chen Feng replied calmly.