Chapter 572 — Kill One to Warn a Hundred (Part 1)
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"That's exactly what I mean. But Old Zhong, isn't your crew a bit small?" Looking at the crowd of shantytown residents filling the square, Zhao Qibing wondered whether the men Zhong Fabai had brought could really overawe these people. He himself, of course, was not afraid; it was precisely the fear of an incident that had made him ask his father for this capable man at his side. Never mind the few hundred people in this square—even more, and he would still be safe. But after all, using a close guard against these people would make the matter rather too big.
"Young Master Bing, these are just the staff who came with us. There are bulldozers and trenchers behind us too—they'll be here any minute!" Zhong Fabai glanced at his watch. "Should be soon!"
"Good. Then I'll leave what comes next to you." Hearing that Zhong Fabai had more men on the way, Zhao Qibing was reassured.
"In a bit, we'll see who won't submit, and tear down his house first. We should come on strong from the start, or these obstinate peasants will take a mile!" Zhong Fabai was scheming: in a moment, tear down Tang Zhi's house, and better yet make a big noise of it and hurt Tang Zhi—Wei Zhao surely wouldn't stand by and do nothing, would he? Then he would shift all the blame cleanly away and let Wei Zhao go take his revenge on Young Master Bing! Wei Zhao going up against Young Master Bing—wasn't that just courting death?
Young Master Bing nodded and got out of the car. Accompanied by Zhong Fabai, Jin Gubang, and the close guard, he came to the row of makeshift tables set up in the square as a rostrum and sat down.
The shantytown residents below had fallen silent now, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the people on the stage. These were the people who could decide their fate; the words they spoke next would be worth gold. How dared they not be cautious?
"This is Chairman Zhao Qibing of our Qibing Real Estate Development Company—Chairman Zhao, who is in charge of this shantytown redevelopment. If you have any demands, please raise them, and we will study the demolition plan!" Zhong Fabai had kept Zhao Qibing's words firmly in mind—kill one to warn a hundred, shoot the bird that sticks its head out. He had to find someone to make an example of, so he deliberately put out the invitation, waiting for some reckless peasant to make an outrageous demand, whereupon he would deal with that person and leave the others too afraid to raise any demands at all.
Zhong Fabai's words rather stunned the residents present! Wasn't it always the way that a developer came in, forcefully quoted a price, and asked whether they would demolish or not? Why was it negotiation this time? Could it be that this developer really had a conscience and was preparing to bring some real benefit to the shantytown?
So the residents' minds began to stir, but still no one dared to step forward first. After all, no one knew whether the developer's words were true or false.
Seeing that no one spoke, Zhong Fabai was in no hurry. "Take a moment to talk it over among yourselves," he said. "Once you've made up your minds, send a representative out to negotiate with us. We're going off to grab something to eat first."