Li Long was well known in the County Seat. When he went to the People's Armed Forces Department to report the matter, the cadre on duty immediately went to inform the director after hearing him introduce himself.
At the time, the People's Armed Forces Department was in a special period of reform. Although it was under both military and local administration, its cadres were on the civilian establishment, not military personnel.
It was not until after the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1996 that the state reformed the armed forces administration system, turning these departments into military organs and transferring their cadres to the military establishment, directly enlisting them.
That was why there had been a group of people in the military with many years of employment but very few years of military service.
Li Long met the director, exchanged a few pleasantries, then explained what had happened.
"You mean you dug up dozens of crates of weapons in the mountains?" The Minister of the People's Armed Forces Department took it very seriously. After hearing Li Long out, he immediately stood up to go take a look.
Li Long took him and another cadre from the department to the Purchasing Station.
People had already come to sell medicinal herbs at the Purchasing Station, and there were even more buying agricultural supplies. The Li Family's Farm Supply Store had quite a reputation in the County Seat, and seemed on the verge of surpassing the state-run stores.
Li Long drove into the Purchasing Station, turned into the back courtyard, and stopped.
"Comrade Li Long, you've done a fine job with this Purchasing Station." The Minister of the People's Armed Forces Department looked around and remarked, "You're doing business on quite a scale."
"Oh, nothing special." Li Long smiled and pointed to the storeroom