Dong Xuebing is full of anger from accompanying those reporters the whole morning.
Li Shengbing kept causing trouble for the Yan Tai County’s leaders and did not follow the itinerary prepared by Dong Xuebing. They made it look like they are leaders making their rounds in the County and even made surprise checks on many new projects. These surprise checks caught the investors off guard, and they recorded all the small issues. The investors were worried about their projects and asked Dong Xuebing about them.
Even the mild-mannered Cao Xupeng is furious, let alone Dong Xuebing.
They can tell these reporters were biased from the start.
Dong Xuebing analyzed the situation and felt Li Shengbing and the other two reporters are purposely nitpicking Yan Tai County. What Cao Xupeng said should be true. Yan Tai County should have offended someone, and that person is close with this group of reporters. That’s why the reporters are here to find trouble. Another possibility is this group of reporters had not discovered any issues in the past few days and felt their article is not explosive enough. That’s why they pick Yan Tai County to ‘spice’ up their article and make it more ‘entertaining.’ After all, positive news articles will not attract readers.
But no matter how angry they are, these reporters are from Xin Hua News Agency, a National level newspaper. Cao Xupeng had informed Xiang Daofa and was instructed to host these reporters, especially Li Shengbing. They must not write any negative articles about Yan Tai County in any of their newspapers. Li Shengbing is from the head agency, and if he reported about Yan Tai County, it would be bad news for the whole County.
The interviews were temporarily halted before noon.
Zhao Xinglong said. “We have prepared lunch in our guesthouse, and it’s about lunchtime. Shall we have lunch now?”
Li Shengbing looked at Zhao Xinglong and laughed. “How about we have lunch at the Investment Promotion Agency? We can take a look at the agency too.”
Wang Na agreed. She is Li Shengbing’s former classmate.
Cao Xupeng saw Zhao Xinglong’s face changed and quickly interrupted. “Alright. We will have lunch at the Investment Promotion Agency. Xiao Dong, can you make the arrangements?”
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath to suppress his anger and nodded.
After boarding the car, Dong Xuebing called Luo Haiting to get her to prepare a more sumptuous meal. The County Government cars are to lead the way to the Investment Promotion Agency. When Dong Xuebing was the Chief of the General Affairs Office, he had arranged lunch for leaders. He had hosted Xie Huilan’s father, Xie Guobang, at the State Security Branch, and he is not as troublesome as Li Shengbing. Xie Guobang is a Deputy State level leader with the Central Government!
Dong Xuebing had lost count of the number of times his phone rang on his way to the Investment Promotion Agency.
“Hello, Chief Dong. I am Old Wang from the battery factory. Did Xin Hua Agency’s reporters visit our factory earlier? What is going on? Is it about the environmental issue? But we had agreed that we will follow the environmental standards set by the County Government. How come I heard from my workers that the reporters are talking about international standards? This is not stated in our contract. If we have to change it, we will not bear the losses.”
Dong Xuebing quickly explained. “Mr. Wang, they are only suggesting this. Don’t worry.”
“But this will be reported on the papers. Our factory cannot withstand all these.”
Dong Xuebing almost threw his phone on the floor after hanging up. These bastards are just here to create problems for him. You all don’t understand the situation in Yan Tai County and still dare to talk nonsense. International standards?! It’s easy for you to say! What do you know? Dong Xuebing looked at the reporters’ car coldly.
Cao Xupeng looked at Dong Xuebing. “They will be leaving in the afternoon, and this is not a good time to clash with them. Xiao Dong, you must try to control your temper.”
Dong Xuebing nodded and took a few deep breaths. They better leave soon, or else Dong Xuebing might beat them up.
…….
Noon.
12 pm.
When the convoy is about to reach the Investment Promotion Agency, Dong Xuebing’s phone rang again.
Luo Haiting shouted over the phone the moment Dong Xuebing answered. “Chief! Don’t let the reporters come to the agency first. Something happened!” Someone is shouting in her background.
Dong Xuebing asked loudly. “We are almost there. What happened?”
Cao Xupeng and Zhao Xinglong looked at Dong Xuebing.
Luo Haiting replied. “Wang Shaoyan is here again. The guards saw him and chased him away, but he is lying on the ground, refusing to move. He still claimed we had beaten him up, and a crowd had formed. We cannot remove him by force.”
Dong Xuebing shouted over the phone. “Get rid of him immediately! I give you all one minute! Our cars had crossed the junction and is reaching!”
“Errr… It’s too late. I… I will try my best…”
Cao Xupeng asked. “What happened?”
Dong Xuebing quickly explained and said. “That Wang Shaoyan is an unreasonable hooligan. Secretary Cao, let’s go elsewhere for lunch.”
But it was too late. They could hear shouting from afar and saw a crowd outside the Investment Promotion Agency. Li Shengbing, Wang Na, and Wang Ting had seen the commotion, and Li Shengbing even stuck his head out for a better look.
Cao Xupeng is furious. “Why is this happening now?”
Dong Xuebing can only reply. “I had not done my job well.”
“I know about Wang Shaoyan.” Zhao Xinglong helped Dong Xuebing explain. “He is a local hooligan and had even come to my office to create trouble last year.”
The cars stopped, and everyone alighted.
Wang Shaoyan lies down on the road in front of the Investment Promotion Agency’s main gate. Sun Shuli, Luo Haiting, Lin Pingping, and the rest of the agency’s leaders stood there. Jiang Hailiang, two young staff members, and the security guards were trying to pull him away. But Wang Shaoyan was rolling and shouting on the road. “The people from the Investment Promotion Agency are hitting me! Is there any justice?!”
The bystanders were pointing and discussing Wang Shaoyan.
Luo Haiting and the rest were panicking. They heard the Xin Hua reporters are looking for trouble with Yan Tai County, and nothing must go wrong at this moment. They saw Cao Xupeng, Zhao Xinglong and Dong Xuebing and quickly walked over.
“Secretary Cao.”
“Chief.”
“Mayor Zhao.”
Dong Xuebing pointed at them and was about to scold them, but he knew it’s not their fault.
Cao Xupeng ordered. “Call the Police to bring him away!”
Luo Haiting immediately took out her phone to call the Public Security Bureau.
Li Shengbing, Wang Na, and Wang Ting had already walked over to Wang Shaoyan.
Li Shengbing asked. “Hi, we are reporters from Xin Hua News Agency. What happened?”
Wang Shaoyan’s eyes brighten up when he heard these people are from reporters. He grabbed Li Shengbing. “Mr. Reporter! You are here at the right time. Look! They had beaten me up!” He pretended to hold his elbow in pain. “They almost broke my arm. Is this still a government agency?! Mr. Reporter! You must help me seek justice!”
Dong Xuebing exploded. “Shut up! Who had hit you?!”
Wang Shaoyan is not afraid as reporters from Xin Hua Agency are around. “He… he… and him… had hit me!”
Before Dong Xuebing, Sun Shuli, and the rest can say anything, Wang Na asked. “Why did they hit you?” Li Shengbing whispered to Wang Ting, and she took out her notebook to record.
Zhao Xinglong’s face changed. “Hey! This should not be part of your interview, right?”
Li Shengbing replied. “Someone is hurt, and we must uncover the truth. I am accompanying Wang Na and Wang Ting to interview the Investment Promotion Agency. This is part of our interview.” He turned to Wang Shaoyan. “What happened? Tell us about it.”
Wang Shaoyan looks around and shouted. “The people in the Investment Promotion Agency are corrupted! They are afraid I will expose them, and that’s why they hit me!”
Sun Shuli shouted furiously. “Wang Shaoyan! Stop accusing us!”
Luo Haiting, Jiang Hailiang, and the rest were about to swear at him.
Wang Shaoyan raised his voice. “You all are not corrupted?! Ah?! We had agreed that I will get 50,000 RMB for every investment I bring in! But how come I am not paid after so long?! Where has the money gone?! It must be you all who took my money! I am here to get back my money, and you all hit me! F**k! There must be something going on inside! Mr. Reporter, you must report their wrongdoings in the papers and let everyone knows about what they did!”
Wang Na blinked and kneeled beside Wang Shaoyan. “Can you tell me more details?”
“This person is a hooligan! Why are you all asking him? Can his words be trusted?” Zhao Xinglong said to the reporters. “I will explain to you all about this matter. Let’s go in first.”
Li Shengbing looked at them. “You all leaders can go in first. We want to find out more about this incident.” He took out a camera and started taking pictures. He ignored the Investment Promotion Agency’s staff’s explanations and took pictures of the signboard, bystanders, Wang Shaoyan, etc. He is obviously taking Wang Shaoyan’s account only and even had a smug look on his face.
Wang Na and Wang Ting continued with their interview with Wang Shaoyan.
Dong Xuebing could not stand it any longer. He rushed forward. “Who the f**k had given you permission to take photographs?!”
Everyone is stunned. Chief Dong dares to scold the reporters from Xin Hua New Agency!
