Chapter 1002: Must Take Action

Chapter 1002: Chapter 967: Must Take Action

Xue Anning still wanted to stay underground for a while, so Xu Chunliang asked Wang Jinwu to accompany her while he returned to the surface. He went to the hot spring area and saw Ye Qingya sitting with her mother in a pavilion soaking their feet. Xu Chunliang didn’t go over to disturb them immediately.

Seeing Zhang Haitao smoking in the distance, he went over to Zhang Haitao first.

Seeing him coming, Zhang Haitao quickly extinguished his cigarette and respectfully called out to him as Town Mayor Xu. Although Xu Chunliang no longer worked on Weishan Island, Zhang Haitao still held genuine reverence for him.

Xu Chunliang laughed, “I’m no longer a town mayor.”

Zhang Haitao said, “I don’t care about others; in my heart, you will always be Town Mayor Xu.”

Xu Chunliang, laughing and crying, said, “Are you hoping I never get promoted in my life?”

Zhang Haitao quickly explained, “You misunderstood me; I didn’t mean it that way.”

Xu Chunliang laughed, “I understand, you don’t need to explain, just joking with you.”

Zhang Haitao said, “Xu… Director.”

Xu Chunliang said, “Just call me Director Xu.”

“Sure!” Zhang Haitao wiped the sweat from his forehead, “Director Xu, I heard there’s a strategic adjustment in the Culture and Tourism Bureau, and the command post set on Weishan Island is being withdrawn?”

Xu Chunliang asked, “Where did you hear this information?”

Zhang Haitao said, “Director Liu, Liu Deshun said so. He mentioned that the bureau transferred him back to Dongzhou, and the command post’s work was handed over to the town government. The town also notified us to move our personal belongings quickly.”

Xu Chunliang frowned. Hu Shan Town doing such a thing is a bit unkind; Qin Zhengyang just left a few days ago, and now they’re turning their backs? The things Qin Zhengyang established should at least continue for some time, considering he is now a favorite of Secretary Wang. Hu Shan Town’s actions demonstrate that the successor’s emotional intelligence is quite high.

Xu Chunliang said, “So, you temporary workers are just disbanding?”

Zhang Haitao nodded, “Exactly, I’m not formally employed by the Culture and Tourism Bureau; how could they care about someone like me?”

Xu Chunliang knew what he wanted and smiled, “If you’re willing, you can go to the Dongzhou Infectious Disease Hospital. We need people for the new hospital construction.”

Zhang Haitao felt very grateful, as Xu Chunliang was still very considerate, “No, my parents are old, and they won’t leave. Among my siblings, I’m the only one who stayed on Weishan Island. If I leave, what will they do?” Despite his usual competitive nature, he’s still a filial son.

Xu Chunliang said, “Then I’ll talk to Mu Tian Group over there.”

Zhang Haitao nodded, “Thank you, Director Xu.”

Xu Chunliang said, “No need to be polite with me.”

Zhang Haitao said, “By the way, you still have some things in the office. We never dared to touch them; now that we’re moving, I’ve sorted everything out. Why don’t I bring them over to you later?”

Xu Chunliang asked, “What things?”

“Some documents, I sorted them into two boxes, and there’s also a pot of begonia flowers.”

Xu Chunliang felt suddenly moved when he heard about the begonia flowers, “Let’s go, I’ll come with you to check it out.”

Zhang Haitao drove Xu Chunliang to the town government, and when they arrived, he was dumbfounded. The area outside the office building was a mess.

The command post currently only had a few temporary workers arguing heatedly with someone there.

The cause was that Liu Deshun received the notice and left immediately, and the town government, seeing only a few temporary workers left, told them to move out quickly. Due to a verbal disagreement, a conflict ensued, and the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office was alarmed, directly sending people over to throw their remaining items down from the building.

Although the temporary workers were dissatisfied, they only vented their frustration with a few shouts and didn’t dare take any actual actions. After all, they were not formally employed, and now, with no one to lead them, previously being a subordinate unit of the Dongzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau, the command post being withdrawn meant that they no longer had a reason to stay.

These temporary workers were not even as fortunate as children without parents. Zhang Haitao was furious upon seeing the scene and rushed to confront Fang Yonggui from the newly arrived Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office, “Director Fang, what’s the meaning of this? Didn’t you say the deadline is the day after tomorrow?”

Fang Yonggui, with a sullen face, said, “The command post has been withdrawn, why are you temporary workers still hanging around here? Using our electricity, using our water, why should we put up with you people?”

Zhang Haitao said, “This office building was initially promised to us as a work location by Secretary Qin. We didn’t use the water and electricity for free, all expenses were borne by the Culture and Tourism Bureau.”

Fang Yonggui sneered, “Don’t mention Secretary Qin, who are you trying to scare? The current Hu Shan Town belongs to Secretary Lin. And as for ‘expenses borne,’ you people haven’t paid a single cent, alright?”

“Director Fang, this is a breach of agreement.”

Fang Yonggui said, “Breach of agreement? With a bunch of temporary workers with no official status? Is it worth it? Do you deserve it?”

Xu Chunliang watched from a distance, took out his phone to record a video. He planned to send it to Qin Zhengyang later, to show him what it means when a person leaves and the tea gets cold. How they could bring up the topic that Qin didn’t charge for the water and electricity bills—these bastards just don’t want it to be easy.

While Xu Chunliang was filming, someone noticed him and shouted, “What are you filming? I’m talking to you! What the heck are you filming?”

Xu Chunliang walked over with his phone.

Although the leaders of the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office had changed, there were still people here who recognized Xu Chunliang. Quickly, they restrained the shouting temp worker. Generally, in these setups, those with official positions sit in the office, while runners are most often temps.

The loud-mouthed kid earlier was an impulsive fool who wanted to snatch Xu Chunliang’s phone. Luckily, his companion stopped him. This kid didn’t know Xu Chunliang. If he had any understanding of what Xu had done in Hu Shan Town, he wouldn’t dare be so brash in front of Xu Chunliang.

Someone whispered Xu Chunliang’s identity into Fang Yonggui’s ear.

Fang Yonggui squinted at Xu Chunliang. He had heard of Xu’s reputation but he wasn’t from Hu Shan Town. Even if Xu Chunliang was powerful before, he’s a former phoenix; now he’s gone to Dongzhou, what influence could he possibly have here? Moreover, he was only a deputy mayor by position back then.

Fang Yonggui said, “Comrade, this is the town hall. You entered without permission and filmed our law enforcement process; isn’t that inappropriate?”

Xu Chunliang said, “When did the threshold of the town hall get so high? If you’re conducting lawful enforcement, there’s no need to fear oversight from the public.”

Fang Yonggui nodded with a laugh, “I know who you are. Just delete it, and we can pretend nothing happened.”

Xu Chunliang put away his phone and asked Zhang Haitao, “Where are my things?”

Zhang Haitao pointed at two cardboard boxes nearby. Next to them, a pot of seven-star begonia was overturned on the concrete ground, the pot was broken, and soil was scattered everywhere.

Xu Chunliang frowned. This pot of begonia was originally on Mei Ru Xue’s desk back when he took over her office after she left.

Actually, this pot didn’t hold any special meaning. Xu Chunliang never thought much of it, but faced with today’s situation, the anger within him flared up instantly.

He coldly said, “Who did this?”

Xu Chunliang swept his gaze across the group with a murderous look. Fang Yonggui flinched at his gaze—it was frighteningly intense, this guy was not to be trifled with.

The brash kid shouted, “Me! I did it! What’s… wrong…”

His words were cut short by a crisp, loud slap. Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Chunliang shot forward with lightning speed, slapped the guy hard, and swiftly retreated to his original spot.

The kid was completely stunned by the slap. Though the physical harm wasn’t great, the insult was. The key issue was Xu Chunliang’s speed—even those who had intended to film couldn’t catch his swift movement.

Xu Chunliang said to Zhang Haitao, “Stay aside. No one’s allowed to intervene. Film their attempt to gang up on me.”

The brash kid dashed out furiously, “You, damn it, I’ll kill you!”

Among Fang Yonggui’s group, at least half recognized Xu Chunliang, so they didn’t follow up. However, those who didn’t know him, the recently recruited batch keen to impress the leader, all charged forward eagerly.

Xu Chunliang started to flee, and everyone followed suit. He ran into the office building, heading toward the unmonitored toilets.

The brash kid was first to follow inside, aiming to dunk Xu Chunliang’s head in the toilet, humiliating him in retaliation for the slap.

Ideals are beautiful, but reality is often harsh. The moment the kid dashed into the restroom, he was met with a punch to the face.

Zhang Haitao followed to the men’s restroom entrance but didn’t go inside. He could imagine the outcome although the process was undoubtedly one-sided. He heard thuds and clatter, followed by successive screams.

One by one, all seven temp workers from the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team charged into the men’s restroom.

One minute later, Xu Chunliang walked out, stopped by the sink, leisurely washing away the blood stains from his hands. He checked his clothes in the mirror and noticed a drop of blood on his T-shirt. Taking out a tissue, he dampened it to wipe clean, frowning with disgust, “They got into a fight in there, don’t even know why.”

Zhang Haitao and the temp workers from the command center simultaneously said, “It’s probably internal conflicts among the temporary workers.”

Xu Chunliang had just cleaned his hands when Fang Yonggui finally arrived with half the team, only to find none of his people left outside the restroom. Hastily, he pushed open the men’s restroom door, revealing a chaotic scene: seven team members lay sprawled on the unsanitary floor, groaning in pain.

Fang Yonggui was infuriated, anger bubbling up—Xu Chunliang was too insolent. He roared, “Call the police! Call the police!”

Xu Chunliang exited the building, sending Fang Yonggui’s disdainful comment about Qin Zhengyang to the source.

Soon, Qin Zhengyang called, “Chunliang, did you make a move?”

Xu Chunliang laughed, “I wasn’t planning on it, but they were name-calling you, and I can’t sit back as a brother.”

Qin Zhengyang said, “They have guts, damaging the Cultural and Tourism Bureau’s command center. You too, should’ve stopped it right away when you saw it. How can you let them cause such a fuss before stepping in? What’s the Cultural and Tourism Bureau to think? What’s the city to think? What’s Secretary Wang to think?”