Chapter 761 The Trip to Clearbrook
Kevin turned around to see a man in his forties standing in front of him. The man was dressed in a black jacket, white shirt, gray trousers, and a pair of worn-out sneakers. He was smiling warmly and reached out a hand to help Kevin up.
"Of course I can read it," Kevin said, pushing himself up from the ground and dusting off his pants. "I'm in high school now, I know these characters."
"Oh?" The man smiled slightly. "Then can you read it out loud for me?"
"What's so hard about that?" Kevin said, looking at the stone tablet. He began to read aloud, though somewhat haltingly, as the characters were weathered and hard to decipher. Nevertheless, he managed to get through the text and then looked at the man with a tilted head.
"Not bad," the man nodded approvingly. "Better than my daughter, at least. But do you understand what it means?"
"Of course I do," Kevin said confidently. His English was excellent, and he was equally proficient in classical Chinese. His teacher, Alissa, had even taught him many ancient texts outside the curriculum, explaining each character in detail. The inscription was essentially about the historical significance of the place.
"Very good." The man's smile deepened, and he asked with interest, "Young man, are you from this village? Where do you go to school?"
"I'm here visiting relatives," Kevin replied casually, then suddenly felt something was off. He looked at the man warily and asked, "What's your name, and what do you do?"
The man was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. "What do you think I do?"
Kevin scrutinized him and hesitated before saying, "You're definitely not a farmer or a businessman. You look like a leader."
The man looked surprised. He had come to Clearbrook in disguise, hoping to avoid recognition. Yet, this high school student had guessed his identity right away. Could there be something wrong with his disguise?
Kevin continued, "My dad used to dress like you when he went to the countryside."
The man was taken aback and instinctively asked, "Your dad worked in government too?"
Kevin's face darkened slightly. "He had an accident a few years ago while working in the countryside."
"I'm sorry," the man said, his expression turning somber. He stepped forward and patted Kevin's shoulder. "Your dad must have been a good leader. What's your name?"
"My name is Kevin."
"Kevin?" The man looked thoughtful, feeling the name was familiar. City school, Kevin... Suddenly, he remembered his wife often mentioned a boy named Kevin, who had been spending a lot of time with their daughter recently. Could it be the same Kevin? The man scrutinized Kevin closely, relying on his years of experience dealing with people. He decided the boy wasn't waiting for him intentionally. His visit was highly confidential, known only to his driver and secretary. How could a high school student have known?
"Uncle, are you a government official?" Kevin asked, seeing the man frown and remain silent. "Are you here to visit relatives in Clearbrook?"
"I'm here for an inspection," the man said with a smile. "The people here are living too hard. Even after all these years, their lives are still so difficult. We can't ignore that."
Kevin was curious. Although he didn't fully understand the man's words, he felt this man was different from other officials he had met. He had an aura that made his words convincing, much like Angus.
"Uncle, are you here to help the poor?" Kevin asked instinctively.
"Helping the poor isn't easy," the man smiled slightly. "Kevin, let me ask you, why do you think people here are so poor?"
"Because... they're lazy?" Kevin said, recalling his mother's conversation with Audrey.
"You're not entirely wrong, but that's not the essence," the man said, raising his eyebrows. "No one is born lazy. People become lazy when they lose hope. The key is to give them hope, to make them truly believe the government is here to help them."
"I get it. It's about gaining the people's trust," Kevin said, his eyes lighting up.
"Exactly. Gaining the people's trust," the man nodded, as if talking to Kevin and to himself. "Without the people's trust and support, a country cannot prosper. We must learn from history."
Kevin and the man had a pleasant conversation, during which the man asked Kevin many questions. Finally, he nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you, Kevin. It's getting late; you should go find your relatives. I'll continue my inspection."
They walked out of the church, and from a platform in front, they could overlook most of Clearbrook. The man looked at the dilapidated mud-brick houses on the hillside, his face serious. "We have to make sure everyone prospers, or we won't be worthy of those who sacrificed for us."
The man was Armando.
Armando felt that Kevin was an excellent young man and took a liking to him after their conversation.
Kevin didn't know who the man was, but he felt the man spoke with authority and was likely a high-ranking official.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Clearbrook, a seductive woman stepped out of a red BMW. She wore a black low-cut strap dress that accentuated her curvy figure, flesh-colored stockings, and red high heels. Her alluring face was partially hidden by black sunglasses, but her captivating eyes shone through. The woman exuded an irresistible charm.
This seductive woman was Natalie. She had visited a bar in the morning and, feeling bored, remembered that Kevin was visiting relatives in Clearbrook. On a whim, she decided to drive to Clearbrook, hoping to get closer to Kevin and also to enjoy a change of scenery.
Recently, Jasper had become increasingly irritable and suspicious of her, making their relationship strained. Natalie was desperate to break free from Jasper, but without a powerful backer, leaving him was a pipe dream.
She had built some connections in the county over the years, even among the police, but no one dared to offend Jasper for her sake. Although Mark, the head of the criminal investigation team, had the power to help, he looked down on women like her. Natalie had set her sights on Armando, the deputy director, who had a strong background and wasn't entangled in the local politics. If she could secure his support, she would have the confidence to confront Jasper. However, Armando was a shrewd man who wouldn't easily accept someone with her complicated background.
Natalie knew she had only one chance and had to take a roundabout approach. She tried to befriend Albert and Ivan, noticing Kevin's close relationship with Fiona. She decided to target Kevin, knowing it was her last resort.
"What a godforsaken place," Natalie muttered, looking at the row of dilapidated mud-brick houses. She shielded her eyes from the scorching sun with her arm. It was her first time in Clearbrook, and it felt like stepping into another world. She couldn't believe people still lived in such conditions.
Since the village was built on a hillside, Natalie's BMW couldn't drive up, so she had to walk. Despite the village's poverty, the natural environment was beautiful, with blue skies, white clouds, and lush greenery.
After walking for a while, Natalie grew tired. She looked at the scattered houses on the hillside and felt troubled. With so many houses and no one in sight, how would she find Kevin? She couldn't knock on every door. Just then, she noticed a familiar figure in the distance—it was Kevin.
Natalie's beautiful face lit up with a smile, but she froze when she saw the man standing next to Kevin. The man wasn't tall but had an imposing presence, with a square face and piercing eyes, exuding authority. At that moment, he looked like he was surveying his domain.
"Isn't that Deputy Director Armando?" Natalie thought, stunned. "What's he doing with Kevin?" She confirmed it was indeed Armando, recognizing him from the frequent news broadcasts on city TV. Although she had never met him in person, she had a photographic memory.
Why would a deputy director be in such a remote village with Kevin? An incredible thought crossed Natalie's mind—could Kevin's relative be Armando?
Natalie was both shocked and delighted. It seemed her trip wasn't in vain. She resolved to secure her connection with Kevin, seeing it as her only chance.
However, Kevin, despite being a high school student, was as slippery as an eel, much harder to deal with than Albert or Ivan. And with a beautiful cousin by his side, her usual charms might not work. She needed a new strategy to win him over.
A confident smile appeared on Natalie's face, her ample bosom rising and falling like an island in the sea. She had seduced countless men over the years. If she couldn't win over a high school boy, it would be a disgrace.
She had made up her mind. If securing Armando's support meant sacrificing a bit of her dignity, so be it. She would even let Kevin have his way with her for a year if necessary.
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