Li Rui was baffled as he asked, "More? Why? "
Long Baoyu winked, "She's going to be my sister-in-law in the future, so I have to pester her to introduce me to a few celebrities. Haha."
Li Rui didn't know whether to laugh or be angry. However, he suddenly recalled the important matter and instructed with a solemn expression, "When we reach the village later, just follow behind me. Don't say or do anything, just watch the show."
Long Baoyu replied, "Okay, I got it. I also want to see the capabilities of a Deputy County Head."
As they chatted along the way, they arrived at the entrance of the Guyang Village Government's Courtyard roughly twenty minutes later. However, they couldn't get in as the entrance was filled with people.
Li Rui got out of the car and entered the courtyard. When he saw the situation in the courtyard, he felt a headache. How could the ability of the village's officials and Su Tao be so bad? Since yesterday afternoon, they still couldn't persuade the villagers to leave. Not to mention that, the corpses of the two unfortunate villagers weren't removed, and they were still placed under the steps of the government office. Wasn't this a little too unsightly?
At this moment, there were close to a hundred villagers sitting, standing, squatting, or lying in the courtyard. There was practically no space for anyone to stand as the villagers gathered in groups of twos and threes. Some were whispering, some were cursing, and some were wailing. There were even some that were confronting the Village Government's Officials … The entire courtyard was in a mess. Su Tao was standing on the stairs with his secretary and the leaders of the village party committee. He was trying his best to persuade the villagers, but to no avail.
When Long Baoyu saw this scene, he was greatly alarmed. His mouth was agape and his jaw was about to hit the ground. He had lived in the capital for a long time and had never seen the suffering of the people. When he saw the villagers gathering and the scene of people dying, it was truly an eye-opener for him. He muttered, "Damn it, what are they doing? It's a temple fair! "
Li Rui replied, "Just watch and speak as little as possible." When he finished speaking, he walked towards the stairs with a trace of relief in his heart. Regardless of how incompetent the Village Government's Officials were, at least they did not call for the Village Police to chase them away. This prevented a bigger conflict from happening.
Su Tao was trying his best to persuade the villagers with the loudspeaker. When he saw Li Rui walking over with a grave expression, he was baffled and looked at Li Rui.
Li Rui walked over and said, "County Head Su, the County Head sent me over to deal with this matter with you. I would like to understand the situation here first."
Su Tao in disbelief as he knitted his brows, "The County Head sent you over? Am I not to to deal with this matter? Why did he send someone over? Isn't this place chaotic enough? "
Li Rui could hear the unhappiness in Su Tao's words. But thinking about it, he was a Vice-County Head, and even if he couldn't deal with this matter perfectly, he could at least deal with it. But before he could even deal with it, Bo Yubing sent another Vice-County Head to assist him. Rather than saying that the County Head was treating this matter with importance, it was more accurate to say that the County Head did not have confidence in him. It would be weird if he felt comfortable in his heart, since no one would feel comfortable in this matter. Speaking of which, he could be unhappy as long as he could deal with it perfectly. Thus, Su Tao made up his mind to not interfere and watch how Su Tao handled it. It would be best if Su Tao could deal with this matter. But if he couldn't, then Su Tao wouldn't blame him for snatching the job. Since Su Tao couldn't deal with it, he had to leave it to someone else. Thus, he said, "County Head Su, go ahead and do what you need to do. I'll watch from the side."
Su Tao was worried that Li Rui would snatch his job, so when he heard Li Rui's words, he felt relieved in his heart and replied, "Then, you can watch from the side."
Li Rui stood to the side as the Township Committee's Secretary and Village Head came up to greet him. Li Rui wasn't in the mood to make friends with them, so he only nodded his head as a greeting before ignoring them.
Long Baoyu squeezed her way to his side and smiled. "You're pretty impressive as a Vice-County Head. Look at how many people are trying to curry favor with you. Tsk, tsk. Even I want to be an official now."
Li Rui bitterly smiled. You're only looking at my appearance, but you're not looking at the distress in my heart. If you're really an official, then you wouldn't be saying these words.
"… Aiya, fellow villagers. I've been trying my best to persuade you for so long, but why aren't you guys listening to me? I'm the most amiable County Head in this county, and I've already treated you guys as my fellow villagers. I'm even more gentle to you guys than my wife, so why aren't you guys listening to me? Do you guys think that I'm easy to bully? I'll be frank with you guys. I also have a temper, and if you guys continue to gather here, it'll be difficult for me. If you guys push me too far, then I'll lose my temper. If I lose my temper, then you guys won't be able to bear the consequences. I'm not trying to scare you guys. I'm only trying my best to persuade the kind citizens. But for those who have ill intentions and want to extort me, I'm an official. Do you guys hear me? "
Su Tao was truly at his wit's end. His voice was already hoarse, but he still couldn't persuade a single villager to return. He had lost his last bit of patience and issued an ultimatum. He was planning to call the police to maintain order if the villagers didn't listen to him. Of course, he had actually called for the police from the village police station to come over and help. However, the police station had just sent four or five police officers over when they heard that another house had collapsed in Xi Kuang Village. They had to evacuate the villagers immediately, so the police officers were transferred away.
Li Rui wasn't aware of this change, so he was deceived by his eyes. He thought that Su Tao was good at dealing with this matter, and he didn't call the police to avoid a bigger conflict.
When the villagers heard Su Tao's threat, they became even more unhappy. Their emotions were stirred up and they started to voice out their opinions one after another.
"We're not going anywhere if we don't pay with our lives!"
"Yeah, pay with our lives and money!"
"Stop trying to scare us. We're already dead, so why would we be scared of you?!"
"Yeah, do you think that we're easily scared? You have to give us an explanation today! "
"County Head Su, you're a good person, but those coal miners are bastards. You have to arrest them and execute them!"
"My wife is still lying in the hospital. Why should I leave just because you want me to? You have to give us an explanation! "
Scratching his head, Su Tao sighed, "Didn't I already promise you guys to compensate? Why are you still mentioning it?"
"You have to compensate us today!"
With a bitter expression, Su Tao replied, "How is that possible? I say, fellow townsfolk, compensation also needs to go through the procedures. It's impossible that I'll give you the money immediately after I agree. When it comes to money, responsibility, property, and lives, it's all very complicated. It will take at least a few days to complete the procedures. Don't be anxious, and go back and wait, okay? I guarantee that the compensation will be in place. "
"We don't care about the procedures, we have to compensate you today. If you don't compensate us, we won't leave the village!"
"Yeah, since we'll be smashed to death if we go back, we'll just stay in the village!"
"We told you to go through the procedures, so go ahead. We'll only leave when the procedures are completed and the compensation is in place. Hmph!"
"Yeah, don't be cheated by those officials. They act one way in front of you and another behind your back. They might make a promise in front of you, but they'll go back on their words the next day. You have to be alert! "
When Su Tao heard those words, he felt that his head was about to explode. His face turned red from anger and he shouted, "So you guys are being unreasonable? If you guys are being unreasonable, then I'll talk to you guys about the law. "After that, he instructed the village police chief," Call someone over to maintain order! "
The village police chief bitterly replied, "The police force has already been sent to Xinguang Village to evacuate, and there's no police force coming over for the time being …"
Su Tao snorted and instructed his secretary, "Then give a call to the County's Public Security Bureau and get them to send someone over. I don't believe that I can't deal with these unruly people. Do they really think that I'm easy to bully? "
Just when the secretary was about to make a call, Li Rui raised his hand to stop him and said to Su Tao, "Mr. Su, calm down. I would like to ask if the Village Secretary and Village Director of Xinguang Village are here?"
Su Tao first nodded before shaking his head. "The Village Secretary was originally here, but the villagers were complaining that he was bribed by the coal mine owner. He was too embarrassed to stay here, so he returned to the village. The Village Director is here, and he was just here a moment ago … Village Director, Village Director of Xinguang Village …"
"Hey, Mr. Su, I'm here!"
A rough man's voice sounded from the back of the crowd. Then, a man in his forties with a dark complexion and an ordinary appearance came forward. He was dressed in decent clothes.
Li Rui asked with a cold expression, "Let me ask you, can the villagers listen to the words of the Village Director?"
The Village Director awkwardly replied, "So there are still people listening. But this time … this matter has blown out of proportion. Two people have already died, and we don't even know if there will be more deaths. The villagers are too agitated, and no one will listen to me. I told them to go back first, and the county will deal with this matter, but they all refused to listen."
Li Rui nodded and said, "That's understandable. How about this? You go to the villagers and choose or let them choose a few representatives. Let them come and talk to me. I will represent Bo Yubing and give them the most satisfactory solution."
Ma Yuming introduced from the side, "This is the County Magistrate Li of the County Government. He was sent here by the County Magistrate to help resolve this matter."
The Village Director looked at Li Rui as if he was looking through a mirror and inwardly smacked his lips. He couldn't believe that there was such a young County Magistrate in the world. He did not dare to be negligent and immediately went to the villagers to convey Li Rui's message.
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