Chapter Nineteen: Tempest

Facing several hundred villagers wielding hoes and shovels, the thirty-odd employees of Qiangyuan Company had no temper at all. If they didn't want to be beaten to death, they had no choice but to obediently come out from inside.

"Should we move out the things inside?"

"They're not ours, leave them in there!"

"Where's the rope? Bring the rope over, tie it up, and fasten it. The people behind, listen for my cue. I'll count one, two, three, and everyone pulls together!"

Mu Xiaoxia walked over to Xing Jun, lowered her voice, and whispered, "Captain Xing, are we just going to stand by and watch?"

Xing Jun glanced at her and, in a rare moment of levity, joked, "What, do you want to go up and help?"

Mu Xiaoxia thought they really ought to intervene somehow. Although the villagers of Yutou Village were right in their actions, isn't forced demolition supposed to be the prerogative of the authorities?

With a rumbling crash, the Qiangyuan Company's base at Liangouwa was forcibly pulled down by hundreds of Yutou villagers using ropes and hoes.

By the time people from town arrived, all they saw was a wasteland of ruins.

"Help me tell your company leaders: if you want these things, hurry and send people to haul them away. If not, we'll consider them abandoned, and Yutou Village will help you take care of them," Tang Long said to the Qiangyuan employees, then turned and walked back to the village.

He was somewhat surprised that Liu Meijia hadn't sent reinforcements.

...

Taoyuan County.

Wu Zhengyao had just arrived in Taoyuan County two months ago. As a provincial-level poverty-stricken county, he had volunteered to come here.

To serve as an official is to benefit the people.

This was the vow he set for himself the day he entered public service.

How to raise Taoyuan County's economic level and improve the people's income became the first problem he faced upon arrival.

The 'Qiangyuan Group' quickly entered Wu Zhengyao's sights. Originally, having such a large publicly listed company in Taoyuan County should have been a fortunate event. But as his investigation deepened, the more he learned about Qiangyuan, the more furious he became.

This company was far from the glamorous image it projected, and before it went public, it was hardly 'clean.'

Wu Zhengyao was not without tolerance. If Qiangyuan Company could mend its ways, sincerely lead the local people to prosperity and better lives, he might have overlooked its past.

But after repeated investigation, he discovered that wherever this company went, it acted with utter disregard for the law. Not only did the nearby people fail to benefit, their lives became even more difficult.

Qiangyuan Company had not become the engine of poverty alleviation and prosperity for Taoyuan County. Instead, it had become a malignant tumor festering within it.

How could Wu Zhengyao possibly endure this?

No matter who stood behind Qiangyuan Company or whose interests were entangled, none of that mattered to Wu Zhengyao.

He cared about one thing: could Qiangyuan Company become a force for economic growth and poverty alleviation in Taoyuan County? If not—if it was dragging the county backwards and making people's lives ever harder—then this 'tumor' must be cut out.

This was why, after arriving in Taoyuan County, Wu Zhengyao took the opportunity of the conflict between Qiangyuan Company and Yutou Village to establish a 'special investigation team.'

No one could become an obstacle to the people's path to prosperity.

...

After demolishing Qiangyuan Company's base, Tang Long had no idea how the town, the county, or the company would react; he simply went ahead and tore it down.

"Won't you stay for a drink?" Tang Long asked with a smile.

Xing Jun shook his head: "Another day. When I'm off duty, I'll definitely come find you for a drink. And maybe learn a thing or two!"

"Good, you're welcome anytime!"

Tang Long watched as Old Xing and his colleagues drove away in their police car, leaving Yutou Village.

As evening fell, the sky began to rain again, and the wind picked up. At first, no one paid much attention.

But the rain grew heavier and heavier!

After nightfall, torrential rain and howling winds swept through, raging without restraint.

As the saying goes, misfortune never comes alone. The roof over Tang Long's home couldn't withstand it and began to leak.

An old house—when it rains hard outside, it rains lightly inside.

"Tang Long, Tang Long!"

Late at night, Zhang Xiu'e braved the storm and wind to knock on Tang Long's door.

Tang Long looked at Zhang Xiu'e, drenched from head to toe like a drowned rat, and asked in bewilderment, "Why did you come over in such heavy rain in the middle of the night?"

Her graceful figure was undeniable.

Zhang Xiu'e noticed the unusual look in Tang Long's eyes and scolded, "At a time like this, how can you have such thoughts? Aunt Yang's roof was blown off by the wind!"

Tang Long's expression instantly grew sharp and clear.

"You need to come up with a plan. With wind this strong, I'm afraid Aunt Yang's roof won't be the only one blown off. The other villagers might face trouble too," Zhang Xiu'e said, worried.

Tonight, if the wind could blow off Aunt Yang's roof, it could topple any poorly built house in the village.

"Stay here, I'm going to check!" Tang Long put on his raincoat.

Zhang Xiu'e gritted her teeth. "I'm coming with you."

"Don't make trouble!"

Tang Long refused. "Stay here and keep watch. There might be villagers coming over soon. Keep them calm, don't let anyone panic. I'll go wake people up and organize a rescue. Just stay here!"

With that, he rushed out into the storm.

Zhang Xiu'e pursed her lips. She was the Party Secretary of Yutou Village—how could she be 'making trouble'? But thinking back to nearly being blown away herself, a chill ran through her. This stormy night was truly terrifying.

"Liansheng, how's the village?"

Tang Long encountered Liansheng.

"Village chief, several houses had their roofs blown off!"

"Did any houses collapse?"

"I haven't noticed, but at the west end of the village, Big Zhu, the shepherd, and Liu Guaizi and their families—their houses probably can't hold up!"

In the storm, they had to shout to be heard.

"You go call people, I'll go check first. Tell everyone not to panic. If it gets too bad, see whose house is sturdy—go there and ride out the storm tonight!"

Tang Long's voice reached Liansheng clearly.

"Alright, I'll go now!"

The two hurriedly split up. Tang Long ran toward the west end of the village.

Yutou Village had electricity, but perhaps because the storm was so severe tonight, the town's power station had shut off the supply. The village was pitch dark.

Before nature, human effort seemed so insignificant. Tang Long had never seen rain this heavy in all his years.

"Guaizi Uncle, Guaizi Uncle!"

Tang Long called Liu Guaizi out of his house. Liu Guaizi's legs weren't nimble, but in times of trouble, he moved with remarkable speed.

As a child, Tang Long had heard Zhang Deshun say that Liu Guaizi's skills were unmatched in the area—he had trained under a master in his youth.

"How's the village?" Liu Guaizi asked, donning his raincoat.

Tang Long replied, "It's not too bad. Let's get the villagers out of dangerous houses first, then check on everyone else."

Luckily, most of the able-bodied men were around. If it had been the old days, with only the elderly, women, and children left behind, the consequences would have been grim.

Tang Long and the villagers worked through most of the night, finally gathering everyone and settling them safely...