Chapter 263: Renegotiating the Demolition Compensation Agreement

Boss, something happened over at Twin Phoenix Town!

What happened?

Those few indigenous people changed their minds again yesterday and don't want to relocate.

Then go find the Party Secretary of Twin Phoenix Town, Hu Tianyu, and have him mediate.

I did. He's now blocked in his office by the town's residents, and I can't even get in.

... Then come pick me up. I'll go check it out.

Sure!

Sunday morning, Chen Yang was still asleep when Ou Yangsheng's phone call woke him up. He hadn't expected that the demolition compensation agreement he had settled the day before in front of Gong Wen, the Party Secretary of East Yang County, would be voided after just one night.

At this point, Chen Yang regretted not signing the contract on the spot, and now he has to make another trip to Twin Phoenix Town.

He got up and washed up. Half an hour later, Ou Yangsheng called again, so he went downstairs directly to meet up with him.

"Boss, why don't you give Secretary Gong a call? He's the bigwig of East Yang County; as long as he shows up, any problem can be solved." Ou Yangsheng gave Chen Yang this advice while driving.

"Let's first go find Hu Tianyu to understand the situation," Chen Yang said. He didn't think approaching Gong Wen would solve this. Rural homestead land is legally protected; if they haven't signed the demolition compensation agreement, even the County Party Secretary Gong Wen showing up would be useless.

Moreover, during yesterday's negotiations, the other side was cheerful. Today they suddenly flipped, and Chen Yang felt there must be some hidden motive.

Ou Yangsheng suddenly recalled something and told Chen Yang, "Boss, outside Hu Tianyu's office I heard the ordinary people shouting for the town government to give them compensation. I don't even know what compensation they want..."

Upon hearing that, Chen Yang immediately understood the cause. He guessed: "Probably the place Hu Tianyu originally arranged already signed the demolition compensation agreement. We didn't expect we'd temporarily change the location. Those people got their hopes up for nothing, so it's normal for them to go cause a fuss at Hu Tianyu's place."

Hearing that, Ou Yangsheng said with a hint of worry: "If we go now, won't we also get surrounded by them?"

Chen Yang laughed: "It's not like they signed an agreement with me, so what right do they have to look for me? Let's go check it out; if things look wrong, we'll just pull back."

Ou Yangsheng nodded. To be safe, he also called Zheng Yun, asking him to bring some people along to Twin Phoenix Town.

Chen Yang didn't say anything about it either. In the countryside, most people are related by clan; if a fight breaks out, it can easily turn into a large-scale brawl. Bringing more people at this point will make the other side wary.

After arriving in Twin Phoenix Town, Ou Yangsheng suddenly received a call from Professor You, telling them to first go to the demolition site of the pig farm. He said they had already learned new information from the indigenous people.

Chen Yang was more concerned about why the indigenous people refused to move; whether the townspeople caused a fuss or not was actually not that important to him. So the group drove again to the new pig farm site they had selected the day before.

When they arrived at the destination, Professor You was chatting with those few households of villagers. Seeing Chen Yang get out of the car, Professor You stepped forward slowly and said in a low voice, "Little Chen, I just talked with them. There are two main reasons. First, the residents of Twin Phoenix Town heard that the pig farm changed its location and won't let them move there. They say they should be given a G homestead in exchange, with at least 100,000 yuan per household. Second, two families don't want to suffer in the countryside anymore. They want our company to directly give them cash compensation. They plan to take that money to the city to start some small business."

Chen Yang didn't expect the residents of Twin Phoenix Town to not even give face to Gong Wen and Hu Tianyu. It seems that when faced with interests, people really do lose their rationality easily.

He walked up to those few villagers together with Professor You and introduced himself: "I am Chen Yang, chairman of Common People Meat Industry Co., Ltd. Professor You has already told me your thoughts. I want to know if you have any other demands. If so, just speak them out; we'll renegotiate a solution. Don't wait until I leave and then change your minds again."

A white-bearded old man said: "Boss Chen, I've lived on this land for seventy years and don't want to move. Could you rebuild my house right here nearby?"

Chen Yang certainly couldn't agree to that request. He earnestly told the white-bearded old man: "Sir, a large pig farm produces a strong odor and serious pollution. Even if we have related wastewater treatment facilities, we can't completely solve the problem. For the sake of your and your family's health, I suggest you still not live nearby."

The white-bearded old man sighed, somewhat reluctant: "We've all lived on this land since childhood; if we leave, where else could we go?"

Chen Yang thought for a moment and said: "I have three solutions; I'll lay them out for your reference."

"The first plan is to have Secretary Hu coordinate a new homestead for you within two kilometers nearby. Our company will bear all the housing construction costs. Additionally, we'll give you 10,000 yuan as a resettlement fee to secure your livelihood before the new houses are built."

"The second plan is for me to buy each household a new home in either Qingshui City or the county seat of East Yang County, help you settle your urban household registration, and then you'll live in the city."

"The third plan is to compensate each household with 200,000 yuan in cash, for you to use as you wish."

After Chen Yang finished speaking, the villagers began to discuss among themselves.

About fifteen minutes later, the white-bearded old man was the first to decide: "Boss Chen, I choose the second option. However, my family has seven people; could the compensated house be a bit larger?"

Chen Yang said: "The house we compensate is a three-bedroom, two-living-room unit; it should be fine for seven people."

The white-bearded old man asked again: "Then when can we move over?"

Chen Yang said: "As long as you sign the contract, I guarantee everything will be settled within a week."

"Okay, then our family agrees to sign." The white-bearded old man nodded satisfiedly.

Chen Yang then turned to the other three households: "Elders, what will you choose?"

"Boss Chen, our two households choose the 200,000 yuan cash. As soon as we get the money, we'll move right away."

"Boss Chen, my family chooses the second option. Since we're unfamiliar with city life, could our house be placed together with Grandma Ma's family?"

"No problem!" Chen Yang said with a solemn expression, confirming again: "You won't change your minds again this time, right?"

"Boss Chen, rest assured, we're not people who go back on our word." The white-bearded old man explained: "Yesterday many people came to the town causing a ruckus, not letting us move over. We had no choice but to trouble you."

Chen Yang could also understand their predicament. In the countryside, it's always the many bullying the few. How could these four households stand up against so many residents of Twin Phoenix Town?

Since the terms were settled, Chen Yang called Song Yajun, asking him to arrange personnel to draft four copies of the demolition compensation agreement and deliver them.