Hu Chaoyang, with his nose in the air and a face full of disdain, snatched the wad of money from Hu Baima's hand, didn't even glance at it, and threw it directly at Zhang Cheng.
Paper money was scattered all over the ground.
Zhang Cheng remained motionless, quietly looking at him: "Your father has agreed. Are you going to back out?"
Hu Shangquan stamped his feet in frustration and bent down to pick up the money: "Chaoyang, what are you doing!"
Hu Baima's face darkened. His youngest son had probably completely offended Zhang Ergouzi. He didn't dare think about what Zhang Ergouzi might say to his eldest son's boss later.
Hu Chaoyang scoffed, looking Zhang Cheng up and down: "Zhang Ergouzi, don't think I'm some country bumpkin who can be easily dismissed with a few hundred dollars? Dream on! Even my brother Zhao Daming is wary of me, I'm not afraid of you!"
Ignorance is bliss.
Zhang Cheng shook his head inwardly. Hu Tianan had probably spoiled his younger brother rotten. Not to mention Hu Chaoyang, even Hu Tianan himself wouldn't dare to talk back to him like that now.
Hu Shangquan and Li Hongzhuang hurriedly picked up the money and stuffed it back into Zhang Cheng's hand.
Li Hongzhuang's face turned ashen as he glared at Hu Baima: "Brother Ma, you really need to discipline your son!"
"Old man, are you looking for death?" Hu Chaoyang's eyes flashed with malice.
"You!" Li Hongzhuang was filled with anger, but Zhang Cheng raised his hand to stop him.
Zhang Cheng, still sporting that harmless smile, handed the money to Hu Chaoyang: "This is your last chance. Take the money, and I can pretend today's events never happened."
"Smack!"
Hu Chaoyang waved his hand again, and the money flew out once more.
Hu Shangquan closed his eyes and resignedly bent over.
"You've got guts." Zhang Cheng's smile finally faded. "I hope your brother thinks so too."
"Trying to intimidate me with my brother? Zhang Ergouzi, you're nothing! You just got lucky and managed to curry favor with Zhao Daming. In my eyes, you—" Hu Chaoyang held up his little finger, making a contemptuous gesture.
At nineteen, achieving some success in the county can easily lead to arrogance.
"Okay." Zhang Cheng nodded, said no more, and turned to leave.
Li Hongzhuang and Hu Shangquan picked up the money and silently followed.
Hu Baima remained silent throughout, only letting out a long sigh after Zhang Cheng and the others had walked away: "Fourth brother, you've gotten your brother into big trouble!"
"Dad, what are you afraid of!" Hu Chaoyang waved his hand dismissively. "Would Zhao Daming really do anything to my brother for the sake of an outsider like him?"
Hu Baima shook his head, said no more, and turned to enter the courtyard. He couldn't reason with his son anymore.
On the other side, Li Hongzhuang and Hu Shangquan caught up with Zhang Cheng.
Zhang Cheng took the money, put it in his pocket, and stretched.
"Er Gouzi, what should we do?" Li Hongzhuang asked with a worried expression.
"We'll do what needs to be done." Zhang Cheng smiled. "Uncle Hongzhuang, you go back to the village first and tell Yangyang that I'm going to the county."
"middle."
Zhang Cheng didn't explain further and went to the county town alone.
More than three hours later, at Nanyang Street Police Station.
Zhang Cheng knew the way well and went straight to the director's office on the second floor.
Zhao Daming was engrossed in writing a report on the Jincun incident, and he was overwhelmed with headaches.
"elder brother."
Zhao Daming looked up and saw Zhang Cheng. He put down his pen and smiled wryly, "You little rascal, you're such a troublemaker."
Zhang Cheng ignored that and went straight to the point: "Brother, isn't there a policeman named Hu Tianan in the station?"
Yes. What's wrong?
Zhang Cheng then briefly recounted the events in Shanghu Village.
After hearing this, Zhao Daming slammed his fist on the table: "They've gone too far! They dare to obstruct a government project! Brother, I'll send someone to arrest Hu Chaoyang right now!"
"Brother, don't rush." Zhang Cheng waved his hand. "We don't do things that involve forced buying and selling."
"So what do you mean?"
"Hu Tianan, can you fire him?" Zhang Cheng asked calmly, but his eyes turned cold.
Zhao Daming was taken aback, then understood Zhang Cheng's meaning and raised an eyebrow: "Firing him is not a big problem."
“That’s fine then.” Zhang Cheng’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Since Shanghu Village doesn’t support government projects, the government doesn’t need to rush to support them. Brother, I’ll go find Zhou Yuanhang later and have him change the route to bypass Shanghu Village. I’ll cover the extra cost.”
"Go around it?" Zhao Daming's eyes widened. "Not give them electricity? What if this causes a commotion..."
"Who said we wouldn't give them power?" Zhang Cheng scoffed. "Let's go around that for now. The electricity will definitely be restored, but when it will be restored is not up to them."
He paused, then asked, "Hu Tianan has two younger brothers. Do you know where they are?"
“His second brother works at a cardboard box factory; I helped him get the job. His third brother, I think, works as a security guard at the Construction and Renovation Bureau.”
"Thanks, brother." Zhang Cheng stood up. "I'll go to the cardboard box factory first."
Zhao Daming watched Zhang Cheng's retreating figure, his lips twitching. That kid, he really went all out, leaving no room for retreat.
Sheng Changnan, the factory manager of the cardboard box factory, was also an acquaintance of Zhang Cheng.
Zhang Cheng didn't waste any words, only mentioning one sentence. Sheng Changnan agreed on the spot to expel Hu Tianan's second brother, Hu Dining, without saying a word.
Zhang Cheng didn't know anyone at the Construction and Reform Bureau. So he went directly to the Public Security Bureau and found Director Yu.
Director Yu owes others a favor regarding the matter in Jincun.
When Zhang Cheng mentioned wanting the Construction and Reform Bureau to fire a security guard named Hu Anbang, Director Yu paused for a moment, then smiled wryly. He certainly wouldn't refuse Zhang Cheng over such a trivial matter, especially after witnessing Zhang Cheng's influence and his "righteousness" during the Jin Village incident. It was just a matter of a phone call.
Nanyang Street Police Station.
Hu Tianan was completely stunned as he held the termination notice in his hand.
He wanted to find Zhao Daming to get some answers, but he couldn't even get into the office.
Hu Tianan was trembling with anger and prepared to go to the municipal government to demand an explanation. He knew that even if he got justice, he would lose his police uniform. But he couldn't swallow his anger!
As soon as I stepped out of the police station, I saw my second brother, Hu Dening, and my third brother, Hu Anbang, running over with long faces.
"Brother! I've been fired from the cardboard box factory!"
"Brother! I've also been fired by the Construction and Reform Bureau!"
Upon hearing that the two brothers had also lost their jobs, Hu Tianan was struck dumb and instantly realized that all three of them had been taken down!
But which deity did they offend?
In a flash, a thought struck Hu Tianan: "Fourth brother! It must be the fourth brother!"
In Shanghu Village, Hu Chaoyang was boasting to several peers about how "tough" he was, and how he had humiliated the people who came to discuss the utility poles.
"...Let me tell you, that Zhang guy is nothing! He thinks he can get rid of us with a hundred yuan a pole? Dream on! I threw the money in his face! Let me tell you, for these utility poles, don't even think about letting them pass through our village for less than five hundred each! And then, that money will be..."
He was speaking with great enthusiasm when the courtyard gate was kicked open with a loud bang.
Hu Tianan, his face ashen, stormed in with Hu Dening and Hu Anbang, who were equally furious.
"Fourth Brother!" Hu Tianan's eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at Hu Chaoyang's nose, his voice trembling, "Who the hell did you offend?!"
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