Wan Zhongshan hung up Tian Jing's phone and dialed the informant in Ling County.
Upon learning the whole story, he was furious. He told them to go all out to contribute their abilities while suppressing their husbands. Who wouldn't resist under such circumstances?
He switched to an internal line and called, stating that the person in charge of the nursery in Kushanli had health issues and he had granted him three years of leave.
The deputy group leader's temples twitched. He had just pacified one group of people, and now Wan Zhongshan was causing more trouble:
"The Kushanli nursery is of utmost importance. Since the person in charge has health issues, I will immediately arrange for the best doctors in Kyoto to treat them."
Wan Zhongshan sneered, "The person in charge of the nursery encountered problems during their cultivation. Since the deputy group leader has a solution, please proceed quickly."
"Comrade Wan Zhongshan!" the deputy group leader said sternly, "I am aware of Captain Tian's situation. You cannot yield to her threats, or there will be a next time."
"That's right, there will be a next time," Wan Zhongshan agreed. "Captain Tian accepted that iron plaque after the New Year. And now, the next time has arrived so soon, hasn't it?"
"Even a clay figurine has a temper, let alone a capable person? Don't forget, she is the deputy captain of the special team."
"Don't forget, Kushanli was developed by her and Comrade Li Zhengguo. Not a single bit of 'poverty alleviation' from the state was used. Instead, they 'poverty-alleviated' Ling County and the entire nation."
"Li Zhengguo alone has sufficient merit. The contributions he has made over the past decade surpass any local leader. It's so convenient to discard the mill after grinding the flour, isn't it? They even want to squeeze out his last bit of value."
"It's disheartening! Even I am disheartened to hear this! I have approved Captain Tian's leave. If you are not satisfied, then dismiss me and expel me from the party!"
"Wait, wait," the deputy group leader quickly called out to Wan Zhongshan, who was about to hang up after his outburst. "What do you mean by expulsion from the party?"
"You don't know?" Wan Zhongshan was surprised.
"I don't know." The deputy group leader was genuinely unaware. "In just this short time, I've received several calls blaming us for not being considerate enough to our member units, saying we're being bullied."
"The content of what I've heard is that Captain Tian's husband, the person in charge of the Kushanli nursery, has been dismissed from his post for opposing local development."
Wan Zhongshan had to admire these people's methods. "This is all muddying the waters and discrediting Captain Tian."
Wan Zhongshan recounted everything he had heard from the local informant to the deputy group leader.
The deputy group leader was also enraged. "They've even expelled him from the party? They're really bullying us."
"Good riddance!" Wan Zhongshan gloated. "You just sit in your office and listen to others. If you only listen, you'll end up thinking Captain Tian is ungrateful."
"Heh, if I didn't have real information, you would have been played for a fool."
The deputy group leader said testily to Wan Zhongshan, "Do you think you were transferred here for nothing? We manage the whole country. Do we have to go and see everything ourselves instead of listening to reports?"
"However, this is a good opportunity. I'll go and see for myself."
"It's good to go and see," Wan Zhongshan agreed. "I heard this isn't the end of it. Li Zhengguo has only been dismissed; he is still a member of the town government and has been assigned to the current relocation group."
"His job is to visit each household and ensure that all villagers accept this relocation."
"This is why I said those people want to squeeze out his last bit of value. Aren't you angry?"
"Bang!"
The deputy group leader slammed the table. "This time, no matter who it is, no one will be able to plead for mercy."
Wan Zhongshan was skeptical. "I hope you keep your word and don't just use an iron plaque to deal with people."
Speaking of the iron plaque, the deputy group leader also felt annoyed. "It's not that... Forget it, it's useless to talk about this now. I'll call in for leave, and you book my ticket. We'll go together."
...
When all the villagers learned that Li Zhengguo had been dismissed and expelled from the party, their hearts grew cold.
If a good cadre who had dedicated himself to public service for over a decade met such a fate, what about them, the villagers at the lowest level?
All the villagers fell silent, a silence tinged with anger.
This included Village One and Village Two of Kushanli, the village head and some villagers of Zhangshan Village, and the village head and some villagers of Zhonghe Village.
This group of villagers refused to accept the relocation; they were farmers and they wanted their land.
There were also some villagers willing to accept the relocation. They could live in new houses, receive money, and have their household registration converted to urban residency. Where else could they find such a good deal? Only a fool would refuse.
Wang Zhongfei was assigned by Li Zhengguo to be the village head of Zhangshan Village. After becoming the village head, he felt that no matter how much effort he put in, he couldn't lift this pile of mud that was Zhangshan Village.
He was tired, especially when Mayor Li encountered such injustice when he applied to step down. He also wanted to step down this time.
Without the clear stream of Secretary Ji and Mayor Li, the darkness of officialdom was fully exposed.
However, this was not the time for him to step down. If he stepped down, the entire Zhangshan Village would definitely agree to the relocation. Even if some villagers disagreed, they wouldn't be able to resist the powerful.
He walked out of the office and looked at the two groups of villagers outside, sighing.
"Relocation requires the unanimous consent of all villagers; it cannot be achieved by one or a few people agreeing. There will be follow-ups to this matter, so don't rush. Just wait."
He didn't believe it, didn't believe Captain Tian would agree to Mayor Li being treated this way.
Tian Liwen, among the villagers who agreed to the relocation, was one of the happiest when he heard that Li Zhengguo had been dismissed and expelled from the party.
So what if he was the village head? So what if he was the mayor?
Without Secretary Ji as his backer, he was immediately bullied like a stray dog.
Wasn't Tian Jing powerful? Didn't she look down on the Tian family from a high position? This time, why wasn't she jumping out?
At this moment, seeing Wang Zhongfei, Li Zhengguo's lackey, telling them to wait, he was unhappy.
"Wait for what? The notice said the first family to voluntarily relocate will be rewarded with 80,000 yuan, the second with 50,000 yuan, and the third with 20,000 yuan."
"Why aren't you letting us sign and measure the land? Who are you planning to secretly give the first to third rewards to?"
Tian Liwen's words ignited the dissatisfaction of the villagers who agreed to the relocation.
"Exactly, exactly. Is Village Head Wang trying to engage in favoritism?"
"It's possible. He has relatives in our village. Although they are distantly related, no one would waste such easy benefits."
"No! I want to be the first to sign and measure the land."
"Right! We want to sign. It's their freedom not to sign, and it's our freedom to sign."
Tian Liwen gave Tian Liwu a look. Tian Liwu immediately understood and raised his arms and shouted,
"Yes! We want freedom, we want to sign, we want to strive for the bonuses."
The villagers who agreed to the relocation, hearing this, ignored who was beside them, pushed left and right, and rushed towards the office, fearing they would be the last and the bonuses would be taken by others.
The people on the left and right did not expect to be pushed suddenly. Their bodies immediately tilted to the left and right, instantly pressing down a dozen villagers.
The villagers who were following behind them, stepping forward, fell onto these dozen villagers.
The villagers behind them fell onto these villagers...
A stampede occurred in an instant. Wang Zhongfei didn't even have time to react before the villagers fell into a heap, their screams filling the air.
Even on the edges of the other group of villagers who disagreed with the relocation, several people were caught in the chaos.
They hurriedly supported those who fell towards them, retreating, to avoid falling into piles like those lunatics.