Chapter 485: How to deal with the Black Fangs? First courtesy, then force

Seeing Lao Xiao and I enter, Mr. Chen put down the documents he was reviewing. Lao Xiao closed the door and went to pour tea. Secretary Ma was tactful and did not come in.

I said, "The situation is clear now."

Mr. Chen was very impressed with my work efficiency and said, "Shanhong, you work wholeheartedly and fight when you are asked to."

Lao Xiao brought two cups of tea over, placed one in front of me, and said, "He has many friends. He called a gangster over and found out everything by noon."

I first explained the situation with the Black Tooth Dog. Mr. Chen listened without saying a word. When I finished, he stared at me and asked, "What should we do? What do you think?"

I said, "I discussed it with Lao Xiao and we believe that this reporter is the backer of the Black Tooth Dog. So there are only two possibilities. One is that the reporter is a good reporter who was used and blackmailed by the Black Tooth Dog and turned into a person who does the evil things for the tiger.

Second, this reporter is not a good person at heart. He is in cahoots with the Black Fangs, colluding with them to specialize in engineering contracting and profiting from it.”

Lao Xiao said, "A serious journalist wouldn't be hanging around with a scumbag in society. Since they're hanging around together, we both think this journalist isn't a good person."

Mr. Chen nodded. "Your analysis makes sense. This reporter must be quite shady. He knows the crackdown is tight, so he's specifically targeting leading officials."

He suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "Oh right, I heard a few days ago that the Beiyue Township Government was caught by reporters. It's New Year's Eve, so there are very few people on duty. I can't find anyone. I heard they're looking for someone to settle this matter. It must be this reporter Guo."

I said, "Regardless of whether it's Reporter Guo or not, there have always been people like this. They just want to establish their own authority. They make a mountain out of a molehill, and then make everyone, big or small, afraid of them. They then exploit people's fear and pursue their own interests."

Mr. Chen said, "Let me make a call. I'm an acquaintance of the head of Beiyue Township."

So, he told us to be quiet and called, pressing the speakerphone. When the call went through, Mr. Chen exchanged a few pleasantries with the other party and then asked about the incident of being caught on the scene by the reporter.

The township head complained that the situation was so strict, who would dare not be on duty? In fact, most of the cadres had gone to the villages. There were indeed only a few people on duty at the township government.

After the secretary and I learned the reporter's last name was Guo and that he was a reporter for a major newspaper, we immediately rushed to the city to explain the situation. We explained each cadre's whereabouts and their specific activities, showing him various screenshots.

He said, even if all of you cadres go down, if the office staff have a bad attitude and don't care about it, is this how you serve the people? ...

Hearing this, Lao Xiao stuck out his tongue.

Mr. Chen asked, "Is it finally settled?"

The township head said, "Boss, listen to me. The township cadres have a bad attitude, and he is the one who framed them. What do you mean by a bad attitude? Just because they are busy and answer a little late, does that mean they have a bad attitude?"

In the end, I asked someone to contact him, but he finally didn't publish the article. If he had published it, the higher-ups would have punished him without any hesitation. Oh, it's a difficult job. I spend money and get humiliated.

Mr. Chen comforted him a few words and hung up.

After hanging up the phone, he looked at me.

I said, "Now it's verified. So, reporter Guo is just looking for trouble everywhere to frighten people. How can a company be without mistakes? If there are mistakes, it would be great if he could just remind people and have them correct them next time. But he just keeps finding fault."

Old Xiao asked, "Why did Secretary Meng say that day that anyone who obstructed the work should be beaten?"

I laughed and said, "Talking is one thing, doing is another. As the boss, how can he not fight if he shows his head? As for whether to fight or not, he has to consider the situation. It's nothing more than us compromising and giving the Black Fangs a break."

Mr. Chen said, "Shanhong, how do you think we should be treated?"

I said, "Don't pay attention to him now. Let's follow the normal procedures. I'll find out the history of this Black Tooth Dog in detail when Mr. Xiao arrives in Nanli Town."

If he insists on unreasonably interfering while we're working, we'll first take down Reporter Guo. Once we take down Guo, the town will have the guts to take action against Black Fang. People like him, with their backers, are easy to catch and have a ton of dirty laundry.

Mr. Chen said, "Well, I don't believe he can do anything."

I said, "Mr. Chen, since you want Lao Xiao to take charge, you should delegate some authority and let him have a certain say."

Mr. Chen said, "For matters under 5 million yuan, Lao Xiao can make the decision."

After getting this promise, Lao Xiao and I said goodbye.

After coming out, we returned to 1701.

Lao Xiao said, "Why didn't you tell Mr. Chen about the second half of your plan?"

I said, "I can't tell you yet. The less you know, the better. Just do as I say and rent a house as soon as possible, set up the headquarters, rent offices, and staff them."

This is the first step. We can then directly contact Black Fang Dog and Reporter Guo. If their demands are not excessive, we'll let them take some advantage. If they are, we'll proceed to the second step, which is to take them down en masse.

Lao Xiao said, "Okay."

I parted ways with Lao Xiao and drove back to Huaxi Lake. I thought to myself, this reporter Guo is the same type as my fellow villager, reporter Sima. But Sima is a more sophisticated version. Very civilized, only showing off photos of important figures. He's a big businessman.

This reporter Guo is a low-profile example. His tactics are too crude and his manners are unsightly. In that case, let Lao Xiao approach him first.

When I got home, I checked my phone and found a WeChat message from Tan Shaojie:

"I wanted to visit Shangzhou but there was no news. Shaojie from Yuzhen was drinking alone."

I laughed out loud and called Tan Shaojie. "Brother Shaojie, come over tomorrow. I'm sure I'll have time. It'd be best if you could pack it in sacks. Then, go to the labor market and find a few people to help move it."

"Okay. I also have good news for you. Someone has bought the film 'Secret Passage to Chencang'."

"How much?"

"2,300 yuan."

"If you install a base, the price will be more than this in the future."

He said: "I didn't expect that I couldn't sell it at this price. It's just like what you said, the stones are sold for culture. The other stones are hanging there, but no one is interested."

I said, "Okay, call me when you get here tomorrow."

I called Mr. Fang, informed him of the situation, and asked him to send me a map of the location. I then forwarded it to Shaojie and left a message:

“Although the fireworks haven’t arrived in March, there is still wine to drink in Shangzhou.”

After a while, he replied: "On the night of the bright moon under the Twenty-Four Bridges, I will drink with you and become Li Qinglian."

To be honest, I like Shaojie not because of his photography skills, but because of his good writing skills. We often chat on WeChat and play some word games with each other.

The WeChat messages he sent me were mostly poems. There weren't so many mundane things, unlike Mr. Chen, who kept asking me to deal with this or that issue.

If life is too tiring, you really need someone like Brother Shaojie, who is a bit idealistic and romantic.