Chapter 401: The Hypocritical Zhang Daguo

Zhang Daguo now has a terrible headache!

He just wanted to stage a fake groundbreaking ceremony opposite Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd. to scare Chen Yang, but he didn't expect it would trigger a mass incident.

The worst part was that idiot reporter from the Qingshui Daily, who clearly only told the other side that a crematorium might be built opposite Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd., yet the article made it sound as if it were already a done deal.

Now his people have been beaten, not to mention he still has to face the combined anger of Secretary Zhou Zhixiang and Mayor Kong Jie.

On the way to the scene, his mind was full of how to shirk this responsibility.

And as soon as he arrived at the scene, he immediately rushed over to Secretary Zhou, face full of self-reproach, saying: "Secretary Zhou, ladies and gentlemen leaders, sorry, it's all my lax management that's caused you trouble!"

Secretary Zhou Zhixiang's face turned ashen as he questioned Zhang Daguo: "What's going on with this groundbreaking ceremony? Who approved you to build a crematorium here?"

Zhang Daguo immediately made excuses: "Secretary Zhou, I was just joking with my subordinates; I didn't expect them to take it seriously. If I really wanted to do it, I would certainly have needed your and Mayor Kong's permission first!"

Secretary Zhou Zhixiang pointed toward Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd. and snorted coldly: "This is a residential area; you want to build a crematorium here—I'm the first to object!"

Zhang Daguo immediately put on a smile: "Secretary Zhou, I really was just joking offhand. I didn't expect my subordinates to take it seriously. Rest assured, when I get back I will definitely deal with those responsible seriously!"

Upon hearing that, Secretary Zhou Zhixiang's expression eased slightly, and he continued to reprimand Zhang Daguo: "A ruler should not jest; you, the boss of a company with several thousand employees, how can you joke around like that? Do you know how serious the impact of this joke is?"

Zhang Daguo immediately put on a sincere appearance and assured Secretary Zhou: "Secretary Zhou, sorry, I guarantee I will never joke like that again."

Secretary Zhou Zhixiang pointed at Chen Yang and said to Zhang Daguo: "What's the use of apologizing to me? You should apologize to Chen Yang and the employees of Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd."

Zhang Daguo immediately said to Chen Yang: "Mr. Chen, I apologize on behalf of the employees of Zhang Group to your company's staff."

The implication was that Chen Yang was not among those being apologized to.

Chen Yang didn't care; he just felt sick seeing Zhang Daguo's hypocritical act. He spoke bluntly: "Mr. Zhang, one should still have a conscience. If you do too many wicked deeds, watch out for karmic retribution when you go out."

Zhang Daguo pretended not to hear; all he wanted was to give Secretary Zhou an attitude.

Secretary Zhou Zhixiang also worried about further trouble, and immediately issued an order for the municipal party and government leaders and the public security bureau staff to return to their respective posts.

After everyone had left, Secretary Zhou Zhixiang then continued to Chen Yang and Zhang Daguo: "Qingshui City is now in dire need of revival; as representatives of the city's private entrepreneurs, you should discard past prejudices, work together to contribute to the city's construction, rather than tearing each other down!"

Zhang Daguo immediately swore to Secretary Zhou: "Secretary Zhou, rest assured, for the future of Qingshui City, our Zhang Group will certainly devote ourselves body and soul, to the point of death!"

Chen Yang struggled to suppress the urge to vomit. The once high-and-mighty chairman of Zhang Group had unexpectedly become a fawning lapdog.

However, the thigh this lapdog is clinging to belongs to Secretary Zhou Zhixiang, the top official of Qingshui City, whom Chen Yang must guard against carefully.

He deliberately let Secretary Zhou Zhixiang know today that Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd. might relocate to Xingcheng, just to make the secretary wary and not overly favor Zhang Daguo.

After all, if a major taxpayer suddenly moves out during one's term, even if it's due to being poached by a provincial-level city, the higher-ups will also assess Secretary Zhou Zhixiang's leadership ability. A municipal party secretary who can't keep enterprises will find it hard to advance further.

From Secretary Zhou Zhixiang's reaction, Chen Yang's move was a winning bet.

Of course, he isn't afraid of Secretary Zhou Zhixiang going to confront Sun Changqing, because the latter actually wants Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd. to move to Xingcheng.

After the farce ended, Chen Yang held an employee meeting at the company. First he praised their determination to stand united and defend their homes, then he criticized their rash behavior of acting impulsively without investigation.

After the meeting, Chen Yang also gave an order to Song Yajun: at the end of work, he was to give each employee one jin of meat.

Doing this served no other purpose; it was purely because they had beaten up the people from Zhang Group badly, which made Chen Yang feel satisfied.

And shortly after the meeting ended, Chen Yang was quickly summoned to Mayor Kong Jie's office.

"Chen Yang, you're not joking with me about moving Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd. to Xingcheng, are you?"

In front of Mayor Kong, Chen Yang had no intention of hiding it, and said directly: "Senior leader, the companies here in Qingshui City will definitely not move, but I have indeed already selected a site for a branch office over there; the contract has been signed."

Mayor Kong hadn't expected Chen Yang's expansion to be so fast—he was about to open a branch office in just half a year. He sternly reminded Chen Yang: "Whether or not you build a branch office in Xingcheng, the plans here in Qingshui City must not be disrupted. Otherwise, even if Old Hu steps in, I won't let you off!"

Chen Yang understood Mayor Kong's meaning. The development of Qingshui City directly affects Secretary Zhou Zhixiang's political future, and likewise affects him as the mayor of Qingshui City.

Moreover, as the mayor in charge of economics, Mayor Kong's responsibility is even greater than Secretary Zhou's.

"Senior leader, rest assured, investment here in Qingshui City will only increase from now on."

Upon hearing that, Mayor Kong let out a long sigh of relief. He gave a light snort and said: "Zhang Daguo thinks that by climbing onto a high branch he can ignore national laws and regulations. I want to see just how much clout his money has, whether it can overpower me, the mayor in charge of economics."

Chen Yang added fuel to the fire, saying: "Senior leader, from the time I got to know the Zhang family, I've known they only like to solve problems with money. You really shouldn't underestimate them!"

Mayor Kong said: "There are always people better than you and skies beyond the sky. Some people and some matters cannot be settled simply with money."

Chen Yang roughly understood Mayor Kong's meaning. In the face of power, money is just a pile of paper. Zhang Daguo has offended Mayor Kong; for now he might be able to rest easy, but once Secretary Zhou Zhixiang is transferred, he will become a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Mayor Kong needs only to give a casual greeting, and all of Zhang Group's industries in Qingshui City will shut down. What awaits Zhang Daguo is nothing but the road to bankruptcy!

After leaving the municipal government, Chen Yang called Shen Anna and told her to finalize the branch office address in Jiangmen Town as soon as possible.

Because his war with Zhang Daguo has only just begun. To avoid unforeseen crises, Old Hundred Meat Industry Co., Ltd. must lay out an escape route in advance.