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Chapter 162 - 162 156 153 Facing the Wrath of the Masses

162: Chapter 156 Chapter 153: Facing the Wrath of the Masses 162: Chapter 156 Chapter 153: Facing the Wrath of the Masses A question immediately stunned Jiang Zhonggen.

After regaining his composure, he said, “Actually, this is a historical issue.

The construction of the sewer system can’t be completed in just one or two days.

The imperfections and even blockages in the sewer system were what triggered this flood disaster, but you must believe that the City Government will resolve this issue within five years.”

“Can it really be done within five years?” the reporters questioned in disbelief, “Isn’t this just an empty promise?”

Faced with everyone’s questioning, Jiang Zhonggen hurriedly left the scene, while Secretary Zhang responded, “Ladies and gentlemen, Secretary Jiang still has many public duties to attend to, so let’s conclude this press conference for now!”

The reporters chased after him, but they were intercepted by the security guards at the scene.

Faced with such an attitude from the City Government, everyone had no choice but to leave helplessly.

The statement from the Jianghuai City Government immediately angered all the citizens.

The death toll of thirty-six people sparked everyone’s suspicion.

Soon, a large number of posts appeared on Tianya, Maopu, and Facebook, questioning the statements made by the Jianghuai City Government.

The anger of netizens ignited a storm on the internet.

Some cyberactivists hacked into the Jianghuai City Government’s website and posted a list of hundreds of deceased people’s names.

For a while, the entire Jianghuai City was abuzz, and someone said, “The Wenzhou train crash concealed the number of deaths.

This is because the state regulation dictates that once the death toll exceeds forty people, it is considered a major accident and must be reported to the Central authorities for handling.

And the Jianghuai City Government is actually following the railway department’s example.”

The fury of the people of Jianghuai City was ignited, and everyone took to the streets, rushing onto the streets still not cleared of water, protesting continuously.

The public relations of the City Government faced a crisis, with large numbers of citizens taking to the streets in protest.

This caused the City Government to worry.

The spokesperson for the City Government immediately stood before the public, offering a sincere apology and emphasizing again that they would not let the same tragedy happen; they would resolve the sewer issue within five years.

Unfortunately, among the public were related government officials.

Meanwhile, the related posts on Tianya and Maopu were ordered to be deleted, or else they would be charged with crimes of threatening national security and disrupting social order.

Soon, under the carrot and stick policy of the City Government, the situation quickly subsided.

The deaths of those children made many parents plan to go to the Provincial Committee or even to Beijing to petition.

“Hmph, let them go and not come back!” Liu Jiangqiu said with a cold smile, “Jiang Zhonggen is about to be promoted to the Provincial Committee, and he’s just walking away without care.

But in the future, Jianghuai City will be mine, and if anyone dares to cause trouble on my turf, I will have them killed!”

Compared to Liu Jiangqiu, Jiang Zhonggen was already considered a more benevolent leader.

At least, Jiang Zhonggen often protected the image of the City Government and the nation.

However, under Liu Jiangqiu’s rule, he would definitely become a cancer to Jianghuai City, this guy being not only ruthless but also very domineering.

“Secretary Liu, what should we do now?” the secretary asked anxiously.

“Notify those parents and the relatives of the deceased immediately to come to the City Government to discuss compensation,” Liu Jiangqiu said with a cold smile.

“Yes!” the secretary nodded immediately.

The next day, the families of the deceased arrived at the scene one after another.

Liu Jiangqiu, as the person in charge of the negotiations, received these family members.

In total, more than three hundred people came, some of whom had their entire families wiped out in the flood.

Many lost all their family members.

Some family members were not there, being out of town.

So, in total, there were more than three hundred people.

Liu Jiangqiu started off very politely telling everyone, “To the families, I express my deep condolences for the accident.

After death, a dignified burial is important.

The City Government will prioritize your compensation issues.”

“How do you plan to compensate?” the families questioned.

“According to the national compensation regulations, two hundred thousand for each adult, one hundred thousand for each child,” Liu Jiangqiu declared grandly, shocking everyone.

Shit, such compensation was too outrageous, right?

Let alone two hundred thousand, no one would agree even to three hundred thousand or four hundred thousand.

“No, absolutely not,” protested the family members, “Since when has a human life become cheaper than a dog’s?”

Not long ago, a foreigner’s golden retriever had accidentally wandered into the City Government building and was accidentally killed by security.

Following this, the foreigner immediately filed a lawsuit demanding compensation from the Jianghuai City Government.

After negotiations, the City Government paid out 350,000 yuan to settle the matter.

And now, here we were, with actual people dead, being offered only 200,000 yuan in compensation—value less than that of a dog.

How could the families accept this?

“It’s okay, if that’s not acceptable, we can still negotiate,” Liu Jiangqiu said with a faint smile, “300,000 for adults, 150,000 for children.

Those who agree, sign the contract immediately.”

“No way!” the crowd refused again.

This time, Liu Jiangqiu’s expression wasn’t as pleasant as before.

With a cold smile, he said, “If that’s still not acceptable, then feel free to leave.

But let me be clear, if you expect compensation from the City Government after walking out that door, forget it.

If any of you dare to make trouble, I will have you all thrown into a mental hospital.

Hmph, thinking of petitioning?

Dare to go and make an official complaint, just try it!”

Liu Jiangqiu’s threats indeed stunned everyone present.

The relatives whispered to each other; after all, the idea that commoners should not contend with officials had been ingrained in the hearts of the Chinese for thousands of years.

Fear of officials was in their bones; no one dared to fight against them.

Finally, two elderly men who looked like farmers stepped forward and said, “Let’s just drop it, 300,000 it is.

We’ll accept it!”

“Good!” A gleam flashed in Liu Jiangqiu’s eyes.

As long as someone took the lead, there was no fear.

The real worry was if no one stepped forward, which could be troublesome.

Liu Jiangqiu, having been prepared to raise the offer, immediately steadied himself.

With a grin, he said, “Elders, please come this way to sign the agreement!”

Then, 300,000 in cash was handed to the old men.

Holding three wads of money, they sobbed uncontrollably.

They had lost a son and all they got in return was a paltry 300,000.

Although resentful, they had no choice but to submit in face of Liu Jiangqiu’s intimidating authority, especially as farmers who dared not fight against officials.

With the two elderly men leading the way, others started to come forward.

Liu Jiangqiu’s face showed a satisfied smile.

Half an hour later, over a hundred people still showed no signs of submission.

As they planned to leave after unsuccessful negotiations with the City Government, they found the doors locked by security, and the signal inside was blocked—no cell phone service, no way to make calls.

“Damn it, what are you trying to do!”

“Let us out, we’re going to report you!”

The citizens inside roared in anger, shouting furiously.

However, Liu Jiangqiu stood at the entrance, sneering, “You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.

We offered you money, you didn’t want it, insisting on suffering instead.

You brought this on yourselves!”

Over a hundred people were then locked in the pitch-dark conference room, with no one aware of the shameless actions being taken by the Jianghuai City Government.

Soon enough, they discovered that it wasn’t just that; some dark shadows climbed in through the windows and, using the cover of darkness, dragged some of the women into corners to rape them.

The men were simply beaten black and blue.

These actions were all instigated by Liu Jiangqiu.

Inside the conference room, lecherous laughter echoed along with the women’s mournful pleas and the tortured cries of men being beaten.

Liu Jiangqiu stood outside the room and coldly said, “Chinese people, nothing but spineless creatures.”

Before long, the group chose to submit; they opted for compromise, and the women who had been violated left the conference room, dragging their weary bodies behind them.

A woman, chaste in body and soul, went directly to Liu Jiangqiu and killed herself with a head-butt.

“Secretary Liu, what should we do now?” the secretary asked nervously.

“Drag her away, send her straight to the crematorium, inform the relatives to come collect money!” Liu Jiangqiu took a drag of his cigarette, then flicked the butt onto the ground, stamped it twice, and sauntered off.

With that, the matter seemed to be resolved, but what Liu Jiangqiu didn’t know was that this very incident would become a hidden danger for his eventual downfall.

“Yes!” The secretary immediately nodded in agreement.

This incident was handled with extreme discretion by the Jianghuai City Government.

The women who sought death were persuaded and comforted by their neighborhood committees and given a symbolic compensation.

Many were dissatisfied with the City Government’s actions, with some still resolute in their desire to go to the Provincial Committee and petition in Beijing.

But those who left never returned.

There were rumors they were bagged and taken away by unidentified individuals just after leaving the city; others said they were locked up in mental hospitals; some even claimed these people had been dumped in burial grounds.

In any case, the incident eventually died down and no one else dared to petition.

People just took the several hundred thousand yuan compensation from the City Government and stopped making trouble.

Liu Jiangqiu had already had Yan Bu’er’s men spread the word to the troublemakers: if anyone dared to continue, the crematorium would be their final destination.

This statement alone was enough to quiet everyone down.