A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 742:

Veridia City, located in the northern part of Janton State.

It has two districts and four counties under its jurisdiction.

Total population is around 500.

As mentioned before, Veridia City ranks last in GDP across the entire state of Janton.

And this Helios County.

Is the poorest region in all of Veridia City.

Ten years ago, it was already a poverty-stricken county in Janton State.

To this day.

It remains the state's only provincial-level poverty-stricken county.

Helios County has a population of about one million, with eleven townships, three streets, and one provincial-level economic development zone under its jurisdiction.

Heading to Helios County.

Dirk Carter did not contact the County Committee office in advance.

He planned to spend two days walking around and exploring.

It could count as getting to know the local customs of Helios County.

Idealism is full, reality is skeletal.

Before he even got into the town, Dirk Carter received a blow to the head.

Two people drove down from the highway, smoothly entering the provincial road leading to the county town.

Just drove for about ten minutes.

The road ahead was blocked.

At the intersection, a person wearing a yellow hard hat looking like a construction worker waved a small flag in his hand, directing vehicles to detour via a village road nearby.

At that time, Arlo Yarbrough didn't think much.

Following behind other vehicles, he entered that narrow village road.

After approximately three or four minutes of driving.

The car speed gradually slowed down.

Dirk Carter, who was dozing off, woke up and asked, "What's wrong?"

Arlo Yarbrough pointed forward with his finger and said, "Traffic jam, no idea what's happening."

Driving on the road.

Traffic jams are uncertain factors.

Not surprising.

Creeping forward little by little with the traffic.

Soon.

They saw a few young people standing in the middle of the road.

These young people were wearing yellow vests, saying something to the cars passing by one after another.

As Arlo Yarbrough's car came closer.

A young man eagerly walked over and knocked on the car window.

Arlo Yarbrough lowered the window without suspicion and asked, "Is there something you need?"

The young man glanced inside with a lazy demeanor, saying, "Pay up, ten each, total twenty."

Arlo Yarbrough was stunned.

Asked, "What do you mean? What kind of money is this?"

"Toll money, what else? Hurry up and pay, don't dawdle."

The young man said impatiently.

Dirk Carter was also a bit confused.

Asked, "Young lad, let me ask you, which unit are you from? Isn't this a village road? Why charge money?"

The young man looked down at the license plate and suddenly seemed enlightened, asking, "First time in Helios County?"

"First time."

Dirk Carter responded.

The young man nodded and said, "Twenty-five each, let's call it fifty for you."

What the hell.

Why has the price hiked up suddenly?

Dirk Carter was just about to get angry.

A middle-aged man far away shouted towards here, "Big Dog, hurry up, what are you dawdling for, traffic's jammed."

The young man heard this and directly stretched his hand inside.

Said, "Hurry up, there's a long queue behind."

Arlo Yarbrough looked at Dirk Carter.

Dirk Carter nodded and said, "Pay."

Arlo Yarbrough took out fifty bucks.

Somewhat painfully handed it to the young man's hand.

The young man contently received the money.

Waved and said, "Alright, you can go now."

"No receipt or invoice?"

Arlo Yarbrough asked.

The young man glared unhappily and said, "Leaving or not? If not, I'll hold both people and the car."

When Arlo Yarbrough heard this, he got angry.

Just about to retort.

Got a nudge from Dirk Carter.

Had no choice but to reluctantly drive away.

Through the village road.

Back on the provincial road.

At this time, just noticed a car with an out-of-town license plate parked by the roadside.

The driver was standing at the roadside relieving himself.

Dirk Carter pointed at that car and said, "Park behind him."

Arlo Yarbrough just parked the car.

Dirk Carter got out of the car.

Just then, the driver who was "draining" finished, shivered, tidied up his "tools", and was about to get in the car. Dirk Carter quickly took out a pack of cigarettes, took one out, stuffed it into the driver's hand, and said with a smile, "Boss, could you tell me the way, how do we get to the County Committee yard?"

With cigarettes the talk is easy.

The thirty-something driver warmly helped Dirk Carter point the way.

Dirk Carter enthusiastically offered the lighter, helped the boss light the cigarette, and asked, "Brother, let me ask, it's my first time in Helios County, just now the fee on the village road, what's that about?"

"You mean Ford Village?"

The boss took a puff and asked.

Dirk Carter quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, it's Ford Village."

"Once you come more times, you'll get used to it. People in Ford Village blocked the provincial road, all passing vehicles must go through their village, and then the village sends some youngsters to collect money from each car passing through, the whole village relies on road-blocking to make a living."

Hearing this.

Dirk Carter frowned.

Asked, "Doing so, don't the relevant departments of Helios County intervene? Where's the logic in blocking the road to charge fees?"

The boss burst into laughter.

Asked, "Intervene? How? Arrest all the villagers? Not only will the higher-ups not intervene, even if someone calls the police, they'll turn a blind eye, aren't they all colluding together?"

"Then do passing drivers willingly pay?"

Dirk Carter asked.

The boss laughed again.

Replied, "Willingly pay? How's that possible? No one's money blows in with the wind. Who wants to pay? But you have no choice not to pay, without paying, you won't get through, just a few days ago, wasn't there an out-of-town driver who refused to pay? Not only did he get a senseless beating, but his vehicle is still held in the village, you say, can you not pay?"

After saying these words.

The boss threw the cigarette butt away.

Got in his car and drove off.

Dirk Carter stood there in shock, still finding it hard to believe.

Such things actually happen right before his eyes.

This cast a shadow over his journey to Helios County.

"Should we call the County Committee office?"

Arlo Yarbrough asked.

Dirk Carter waved his hand and said, "No worries, let's keep moving, the issue with Ford Village might just be the tip of the iceberg, exposing our identities now may prevent seeing the whole picture."

With foresight indeed.

Dirk Carter chose not to alert them.

It allowed him to see more perspective-challenging affairs.

After driving about another three or four kilometers.

Both of them saw many small restaurants by the roadside.

Each restaurant had a sign saying "Free Parking, Park and Eat".

Before the car reached them.

These restaurant people sniffed the air and moved out, standing at the intersection, waving at passing cars.

"It's about mealtime, why not eat at a roadside restaurant before entering the town? We can also taste some local specialties."

Dirk Carter suggested.

Arlo Yarbrough was also hungry.

So he parked the car at the entrance of one of the small restaurants.

A filthy big man came out warmly to greet them…