Shi Zhen never expected that Hong Zhiqi would go to the reporter.

But upon closer reflection, it doesn't seem strange.

Hong Zhiqi definitely wanted revenge.

Simply contacting reporters won't be very effective. Even if a reporter does cover his story, the locals will discuss it, and then the matter will be forgotten.

Shao Baitong may not get any work for a short period of time, but that's about it.

Of course, Hong Zhiqi knew that resistance was a good thing: "You contacted reporters? That's great."

"Boss, will this affect you?" Hong Zhiqi asked. He told Shi Zhen about this mainly because he was afraid that it would affect Shi Zhen.

“No,” Shi Zhen said. “But you should be careful, lest he retaliate.”

"I will." Hong Zhiqi was a little touched.

Shi Zhen was actually more concerned about something else: "You said you saw Shao Baitong's brother at the construction site?"

Hong Zhiqi nodded and explained the whole story, omitting Guan Baiyu's existence, and added, "Sorry, I forgot to mention it yesterday."

He tossed and turned all night the night before last, thinking about Guan Baiyu, and then rushed to see Guan Baiyu this morning...

"It's alright, it's not too late to know now, thank you," Shi Zhen said.

Hong Zhiqi left satisfied.

Shi Zhen's expression, however, was somewhat solemn.

He had always known that Shao Baitong would use some underhanded methods when competing for business.

In his previous life, after he became rich, he had someone keep an eye on Shao Baitong and discovered some of the things Shao Baitong did. He even warned Shao Baitong's competitors.

Now... does Shao Baitong want to use him?

Shi Zhen called Xiao Zhou over and said to him, "Xiao Zhou, I will take you to the construction site tomorrow. When you arrive, find a chance to tell those foremen that I will have someone investigate them soon, and that they should be careful."

He didn't know what Shao Baitong was planning, but it was nothing more than him causing trouble for Shao Baitong in private.

Shi Zhen wasn't sure if the foremen under his command would be loyal to the company, so he simply had Xiao Zhou tell them this in private.

Given the possibility that someone might investigate them at any time... those people certainly wouldn't dare to do anything.

"Boss, don't worry, I'll definitely get things done," Xiao Zhou said confidently.

The next day, Shi Zhen took Xiao Zhou to the construction site as usual, but Xiao Zhou deliberately stayed away from Shi Zhen.

Not long after he left Shizhen, a foreman came to find him and forcefully shoved a pack of cigarettes into his hand: "Assistant Zhou, you've been working hard! Running around with the boss, you must be quite busy, right?"

Foremen have a lot to deal with, and some people's personalities are not suitable for being foremen, such as Shi Daniu. Even if Shi Zhen promoted him, he still wouldn't do a good job.

By now... Shi Zhen's foremen are basically all articulate, principled, and capable of handling things well.

Assistant Zhou followed Shi Zhen around all day, and they all wanted to get along with him.

Assistant Zhou accepted the cigarette: "I've been a bit busy, there's been a lot going on lately..."

Assistant Zhou looked thoughtful.

The foreman seemed to sense something and quickly gave Assistant Zhou two more packs of cigarettes: "Assistant Zhou, take these cigarettes. I'll send you two more packs another day."

Assistant Zhou lit a cigarette and said to the foreman, "Be careful, the boss is planning to have someone secretly inspect all the construction sites these days."

"I'll be careful! Assistant Zhou, please rest assured, I do everything according to our company's rules and regulations." The foreman quickly assured him, but his heart was already in his throat.

Assistant Zhou said, "Do a good job!"

Assistant Zhou followed the same method at the next few construction sites.

Some foremen weren't so smart; they didn't ask him directly, yet he went up to him himself to ask for a reward and told people the secret.

So, after going around in circles, all the foremen knew about it.

As for Assistant Zhou... he took the things the foreman had given him and explained his work to Shi Zhen.

"You did a great job," Shi Zhen liked this about Assistant Zhou the most—he was so quick-witted. "I'll give you all of these things."

Assistant Zhou happily put the cigarettes away.

These cigarettes aren't cheap!

At the same time, the foremen under Shi Zhen also became alert.

I wonder who their boss will hire to investigate them...

They became extremely attentive to the construction site, striving to do their best in every aspect.

This is exactly the effect Shi Zhen wanted.

Given that he might send someone to inspect the construction site... the foremen will definitely be careful, and it won't be so easy for Shao Baitong to bribe them.

That's enough.

Shi Zhen was cautious in his actions, but the final development of this matter... was something he had never expected.

Liu Weicheng was one of Shi Zhen's contractors and also Shi Zhen's fellow villager.

However, the place where he lives is actually quite far from the place where Shi Zhen lives.

Their area is all hills and mountains, one after another, and the mountains are sparsely populated.

Shi Zhen's village is relatively remote, while Liu Weicheng's village is in a better location.

Liu Weicheng and his ancestors fled from elsewhere, settled in the mountains, and began to intermarry with the people around them... He had relatives working in Shizhen, who asked him if he wanted to come along. He came, and then, through his own abilities, he became a contractor.

Liu Weicheng is over forty years old, which is considered old on the construction site, but he is very popular. His only flaw is that he tends to overthink things.

More than 20 years ago, when he was a teenager, he went up the mountain to cut down some trees. He was reported and imprisoned for two years. After that, he had to think more carefully about everything he did.

Having learned of Shi Zhen's plans from Assistant Zhou, he became even more cautious.

So... when someone came to him, trying to bribe him to replace the building materials on the construction site... he suspected that Shi Zhen had sent someone to test him!

He said, "Shi Zhen always sends people to inspect the construction site, why would he need to send someone privately? I guess this inspection is different from the previous ones!"

This is definitely different... This isn't an inspection, it's a test!

Liu Weicheng refused righteously and firmly, and then he even sent his youngest son to keep an eye on them.

This is the boss's man! He plans to make a good impression on this person, which is the same as making a good impression on the boss, right?

Liu Weicheng's youngest son is just as smart as him and keeps a close eye on people.

Unfortunately, after Liu Weicheng refused, the man went to find other foremen under Shi Zhen, not giving Liu Weicheng another chance to prove himself.

Moreover, the other foremen also rejected him, so Liu Weicheng's performance was not outstanding at all.

Liu Weicheng was a little disappointed, but still let his youngest son follow this man.

He even deliberately "bumped into" this person, then praised Shi Zhen in front of him, and said that he would definitely do a good job on the construction site, ensuring quality and quantity!

Shao Baitong asked his younger brother to do some errands, but his brother not only failed to do them well, but also occasionally when they went out to eat together, they would hear people praising Shi Zhen and talking about how great Shi Zhen's construction site was... It made him furious.

When he was in J City, his business was very successful. He thought that when he came to Changxi City, he would be able to do whatever he wanted. But he never expected that he couldn't even get a single business that he thought was worth his attention!

Shao Baitong was furious. He narrowed his eyes and decided to take drastic measures.

At the same time, in the provincial capital, at the Baishi Internet Cafe.

After the local forum was set up, Guan Baiyu had some posts made to generate buzz and promoted the forum in internet cafes.

There were actually people who went there and even posted messages.

The people around them were not quite what Guan Baiyu had imagined... The most lively topics on this forum were not gossip, but... literature.

Many people post essays and poems in the literature section to exchange ideas with like-minded people.

Mu Tian gave herself a pen name and posted many poems on it. She was happy even if there was just one more click.

Guan Baiyu: "..."

However, many people of Mu Tian's age, and even younger than her, are indeed literary and artistic, enjoying writing poetry and articles.

Unfortunately, publishing these things isn't easy. Now that they have access to computers, some teachers from their school and other schools in the provincial capital, as well as some people from other systems, have actually turned the local forum's literature section into their communication space. They painstakingly practice typing, post their own works on it, and praise the works of others.

These people certainly couldn't just post articles, so other sections also gained popularity.

Once you have a large following, other people will join the forum.

Of course, the forum is still not very popular, but some people have gotten into the habit of checking it out every time they go online.

That day, someone from Baishi Internet Cafe went online to the forum.

As soon as he logged on, he saw a hot post on the forum homepage: "I never thought there would be such a despicable and unscrupulous contractor!"

The person clicked on the link and was immediately greeted with a photo. In the photo, a gaunt man, with the leg of his pants tied with a rope, indicating that he was missing a leg, was standing in front of a pile of dirty and messy ruins, eating a steamed bun.

This is a pitiful disabled person.

This photo struck this person's heart almost immediately.

The person scrolled down the post and saw a text that the original poster had written: "I had some old bottles saved up at home, so I took them to a recycling center to sell. I ran into Hong Zhiqi and chatted with him... He's so pitiful! May that heartless contractor die a horrible death!"

The writing style popular at that time was somewhat literary and artistic, but the writing in this post was simple and straightforward.

However, it clearly described Hong Zhiqi's experiences, added many details, and talked about other things Shao Baitong did, which stirred up everyone's emotions.

The eyes of those reading the post became sore.

That Shao Baitong is utterly despicable!