Chapter 151: Mr. Li: This Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu is a lunatic! He's clearly a gangster, so why is he so full of positive energy!

"Bang~~~"

Mr. Li accidentally knocked over his porridge bowl, and the spilled oatmeal scalded his hand, causing him pain.

"How many protesters are there?"

He quickly calmed his mood and asked.

The secretary replied, "At least 3,000 to 4,000 people, including both the elderly and children."

Mr. Li frowned: "How is that possible? Only 1,400 households were burned; did every single one of them take to the streets?"

So united?

I've lived this long and never encountered such a thing!

The secretary didn't know how to answer, because he didn't know either; it was too sudden, and with no prior experience in this area, they hadn't sent anyone to keep watch.

Mr. Li said to the secretary: "Send someone to investigate... mobilizing this many people, someone must be organizing it."

In his experience, as long as you handle the organizers, you can handle the unrest.

That way, the cost is minimized.

"Ring, ring, ring~~~~"

At this moment, the law firm called, informing Mr. Li of the situation they had encountered there.

"Guided by a lawyer?"

Mr. Li suddenly took it seriously.

"Can you find out which lawyer it is?"

"We haven't found out. Last night we already sought out those eyewitnesses, and they are all keeping their mouths shut."

Mr. Li's eyebrows tightened immediately.

At this time, the Electric Light Company's towering, imposing building came into view.

Its exterior design was modern and grand, with soaring floors piercing the clouds, as if declaring its authority and unshakeability to the world.

However, in stark contrast to this polished appearance, the area in front of the building was already clamorous with voices and surging with public indignation.

The entire street was occupied by a crowd of over three thousand angry people, holding various types of banners.

"Clarify the truth," "Restore the old man's innocence," "Electric Light Company, do not let justice be tarnished," "Compensation"... the banners fluttered in the wind, as if they were the unquenchable fires of rage in the hearts of the crowd.

Among the protesters were white-haired elders, mothers holding infants, and strong young men, their faces filled with dissatisfaction and anger.

"Shameless Electric Light Company, return our justice!", "Don't let the innocent take the blame!", "Compensate everyone for their losses"—the slogans rose one after another, echoing through the sky, the angry emotions like a tide, one wave higher than the next.

Officers from the Wanchai Police Station had already received word and rushed over to maintain order.

He He Wenzhan, Fatty Sha, Sir Sir Sir Sir Sir Huang Wang Wang Wang Wang Wang Wang Zhicheng, Hai Ge, Cun Niu, as well as Chen Chen Sanyuan, Wei Wei Yingzi, and others... were all urgently dispatched.

Upon arriving at the scene, they were directly shocked by such a massive demonstration.

"What's going on?"

"It must be the neighbors from Shantou Street; even the children have come."

"I heard the fire wasn't at all like what the Fire Services Department announced—that it was caused by the old man's improper use of fire—but that the cables caught fire, which spread to the building and caused the blaze."

"Ah?"

"Madam, does your Traffic Department know the situation?"

Someone asked Chen Chen Sanyuan; their Traffic Department usually had better information.

Chen Chen Sanyuan nodded and said: "Quite a few eyewitnesses went to the police to give statements, saying the cables caught fire. As for the subsequent announcement from the Fire Services Department, I'm not clear on that."

She certainly knew the specific situation; she was certain it was a cable fire. She was also very angry about how the Electric Light Company and the Fire Services Department handled it, but she was just a small inspector, her voice carried no weight, and she couldn't possibly help with this matter at all.

Soon,

The Hong Kong Island Regional Headquarters also dispatched the Police Tactical Unit from various district stations to support Wanchai and maintain order at the scene.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Guozhong, Ma Jun, and Song Song Zijie all arrived.

Among them, Ma Jun had the ugliest expression, because he was one of the eyewitnesses, though he hadn't given a statement because he was busy with a case.

Since the Fire Services Department's announcement yesterday, Ma Jun had been in a very bad mood.

Who was Ma Jun?

His father was a policeman; he grew up in the police quarters, watching his father drill every day, and was determined to become a policeman himself.

When his father had Ma Jun's fortune told, the fortune teller said: "The 'Broken Army' star sits in your life; to be a soldier is to face disaster," meaning Ma Jun's fate was that of the Broken Army star, and he would inevitably face calamity if he encountered armed conflict.

But Ma Jun didn't believe it; he insisted on being a policeman because he firmly believed in justice.

And now, what was Ma Jun seeing?

A famous tycoon twisting facts, framing the deceased, not wanting to take responsibility, and the Fire Services Department? As a government department, they were actually disregarding the facts like this.

This made Ma Jun feel as if the sky had turned pitch black.

Seeing so many neighbors protesting at the scene, with even many small children present, those angry faces made the fire in Ma Jun's heart burn.

After the police arrived,

Not long after, TVB, ATV, and major newspaper media like the *Oriental Daily News*, *Tomato Daily*, etc., all received the news and rushed over.

"So many people!"

"My god!"

"Big news!"

"How long has it been since something like this happened? What are they trying to do?"

"Didn't you see the banners? These people think the Electric Light Company caused the fire and are looking for compensation from them."

"This is getting interesting, hurry up and take pictures."

Many reporters picked up their cameras and started shooting.

And TVB and ATV were calling their bosses, asking how to handle it.

Report it truthfully?

Or use flowery, evasive language?

Tycoon Shao and Tycoon Lin, as the helmsmen of the two television stations, received the calls reported up through the layers and then called Mr. Li.

Mr. Li's villa,

The phones in the villa had been ringing non-stop for half an hour.

Mr. Li calmly answered several calls, and finally received the calls from Tycoon Shao and Tycoon Lin.

"Please, Mr. Shao, help as much as you can... try to report the news fairly!"

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Shao."

"Mr. Lin, long time no see... those unruly people are just like that, greedy, always thinking that because I have money, they want me to give more... I hope Mr. Lin can report this news impartially..."

After hanging up the phone, Mr. Li was silent for a moment, then grabbed a cup from the table and smashed it angrily on the floor.

"Damn bastards!"

To cause such a big scene, it seems I must show myself.

"Ring, ring, ring~~"

The phone rang again, making Mr. Li feel agitated once more. He answered; this time it was from the government side, and Mr. Li had to waste more breath.

Not long after, the secretary walked in,

"Boss, the person organizing the protest has been investigated."

"Speak!"

"It's Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu from Causeway Bay."

"Who is that?"

Mr. Li felt the name sounded a bit familiar.

The secretary introduced: "Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, a gangster from the Hung Hing, was elected as a district councilor for Causeway Bay last year. Also, last summer, he made several hundred million in the stock market and was hailed as a stock god, but he hasn't played the stock market since."

"It's him!"

As soon as the stock market was mentioned, Mr. Li immediately remembered Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

Then he frowned: "A gangster, what does he want? Not collecting his protection fees properly, running over here to cause trouble?"

Mr. Li clearly looked down on small fry like Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, which made him even angrier.

A tiny ant, also wanting to shake a tree?

I'm so damn angry I'm laughing!

Mr. Li said coldly: "Have the lawyer go over and give him a warning!"

Secretary: "Yes!"

At Mr. Li's command,

Soon,

Lawyer Chen arrived at the boxing gym.

"Stop... what are you here for?"

"Hello, I am a lawyer, representing a Mr. Li to see Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu. Please help me announce my arrival."

"Wait a moment..."

Not long after, the subordinate came down: "Brother Zu has agreed, follow me."

The lawyer Chen followed the subordinate into the boxing gym.

"Bang! Bang! Bang~~~~"

As soon as he entered the boxing gym, he saw a fierce fight taking place on the ring.

Abu was fighting Gao Gang and Da Tou alone; judging by the situation on the ring, Abu was actually suppressing both Gao Gang and Da Tou.

Bang!!

Abu kicked the steel pillar of the ring, and the entire ring shook.

Lawyer Chen watched, his eyelids twitching.

If this kick were to land on him, wouldn't he be finished right then and there?

His original air of arrogance vanished, and at this moment, he became docile, his momentum weakening by a third.

The underhanded tactics he had originally planned didn't seem so easy to use anymore.

He went upstairs.

He happened to see Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu seeing an old man out of the office door.

"Old man, I will consider what you said."

"Ah Zu, let me thank you on behalf of my friend first..."

"You're welcome... Goodbye."

The old man brushed past lawyer Chen and went downstairs.

Only now did lawyer Chen see Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu in person for the first time; he was dressed in a suit and looked as refreshing as a spring breeze.

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan, I am a lawyer from Shengde International Law Firm, representing Boss Li here this time..."

"Hello, lawyer Chen, come in and talk."

The two entered the office and closed the door.

"Lawyer Chen, please sit!"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu gestured, then sat on the sofa, poured a cup of tea for lawyer Chen, and said enthusiastically,

"Lawyer Chen, I've long heard of your name..."

Seeing this attitude from Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, lawyer Chen felt a third less wary. This Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu seemed very easy to talk to.

"Everyone is quite busy, no need to waste everyone's time." Lawyer Chen sat down and got straight to the point, "Today, a group of citizens from Shantou Street gathered and went to the Electric Light Company to cause trouble, which has brought great distress to my boss."

"I heard that this matter was organized by Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan..."

"Wait a moment..."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu interrupted him directly, "I think you might have misunderstood. That wasn't organized by me; they went there themselves. Our Five Star Charity Foundation provided them with water and food out of humanitarianism. As for anything else, we didn't participate at all. How could I possibly offend Boss Li so casually?"

"If Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan didn't participate, then that's good!"

Lawyer Chen sensed Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's fear of Boss Li and stopped wasting words: "Our boss hopes Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan can do us a favor and stop helping those unruly people... As the saying goes, you help me, I help you, and Boss Li will remember you... 1 million, how about it?!"

He had originally thought of 5 million, but seeing that Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu seemed easy to deal with, he dropped it directly to 1 million.

He thought that once 1 million was offered, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu would definitely agree on the spot.

As it turned out,

He was wrong!

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu just smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I'm sorry, I refuse... You just saw it too; neighborhood residents keep coming to beg me, hoping I will stand up for them and speak on their behalf."

!.

"As a councilor elected by the citizens, I must live up to the trust these citizens who elected me have placed in me."

Lawyer Chen was suddenly unable to tell whether Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's words were true or false.

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan, take my advice!"

Lawyer Chen began the temptation of money: "As the saying goes, one becomes an official only for wealth; what do those ordinary people count for? Why do you care about them?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu shook his head: "I also have to live up to my own conscience."

Lawyer Chen laughed: "What is conscience? Without conscience, you will find that making money is faster... Aren't people just living for money?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu still shook his head: "I'm very sorry, I, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, value money the least. In my view, brothers, loyalty, affection, trust... these are what I value."

Lawyer Chen looked disbelieving.

Don't put on an act with your own kind!

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan, I believe everything has its price. Tell me, how much money do you want? Give me a number. 3 million? 4 million?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu shook his head: "I'm sorry, even if it were 10 million or 20 million, I wouldn't agree. I said it before, those neighbors support me as a councilor, so I must live up to their trust."

His words were firm and resonant!

Lawyer Chen wanted to say something else,

But Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu interrupted him directly: "Lawyer Chen, I'm sorry... please return. I can only say that I am caught in a difficult position; I don't want to cause trouble for Boss Li, but if the neighbors need my help, so what if I offend Boss Li?"

Lawyer Chen frowned, sizing up Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu—serious, righteous, and completely unable to see any flaws in his performance.

Could this guy really be a great philanthropist?

That shouldn't be!

A gangster who fights and kills, more positive than me, a lawyer?

"If Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan changes his mind, you can call me."

Lawyer Chen placed his business card on the table and turned to leave.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu apologized: "I'm sorry to have made lawyer Chen make a wasted trip."

He sent lawyer Chen downstairs.

Once lawyer Chen left.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's refreshing, harmless smile vanished instantly.

He sneered.

"If my strength weren't insufficient right now, why would I need to use the neighbors as an excuse?"

Then he made a call to Ah Wah.

"Continue."

"Yes, Brother Zu!"

……

……

Boss Li's villa,

"Boss Li,"

"I'm sorry, my persuasion failed; the other party did not agree."

"According to the information we investigated, this Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu really likes doing charity. Large charitable organizations like the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Po Leung Kuk often receive donations from them..."

"This time, his performance seems like he really wants to help the neighbors. I already offered up to 4 million, but he wouldn't budge at all; his attitude is very firm."

Lawyer Chen reported to Boss Li in person.

Boss Li listened, stunned for a moment,

Are you crazy!

You're a gangster, why act like a philanthropist, not even wanting money?!

……

Soon,

Following the actions on Ah Wah's side, more and more neighbors in Causeway Bay joined the protest ranks and gathered under the Electric Light Company building.

The number rose to 5,000... 6,000...

The government also felt the pressure and sent higher-level officials out.

And on Boss Li's side, the phone rang even more frequently.

……

At noon, TVB and ATV's midday news both reported on the news here.

Wen Wen Huixin: "Next, please turn the screen to the protest scene..."

The camera focused directly on the downstairs of the Electric Light Company building; protest flags and banners were everywhere, colorful, and the chanting was deafening.

Reporter: "I am currently downstairs at the Electric Light Company building. A large number of protesters are holding banners and chanting slogans, demanding the truth about the Shantou Street fire incident. Their emotions are very agitated, and the entire scene is filled with a tense atmosphere."

"Facing such a large-scale protest, the government has also dispatched a large number of police and staff to maintain order. Currently, although the situation at the scene is tense, no serious conflicts or violent incidents have occurred yet."

"As you can see, the number of protesters at the scene is still climbing. Some people estimate that there are at least 6,000 people..."

"Currently, we do not know how this protest will develop, nor do we know how the Electric Light Company and the government will respond... TVB News will continue to follow the latest developments of this incident for you and bring you the most timely reports."

With the broadcast of this midday news,

The citizens of Hong Kong, who were previously unaware, all learned that a large-scale protest had occurred at the Electric Light Company.

Their first reaction was: "???"

Why protest?

And the TV news report did not mention in detail the reason for the protest, only saying it was for the "truth," and one could barely see banners saying something about "restoring innocence."

Only a small number of citizens thought of the explanation from when the incident started a few days ago, "the cause of the fire was aging cables," and suddenly realized, guessing the reason for the citizens' protest.

After the noon TVB and ATV news reports came out,

It ignited the anger of many neighbors in Wanchai.

"These news reports are all avoiding the important points!"

"That person surnamed Li still hasn't appeared to make a public apology and give an explanation!"

"Are we just going to let this incident slide?"

"We neighbors in Wan Chai must stand united!"

"Who is coming with me to protest at the Electric Lighting Company?"

"I'm going too!"

"Count me in!"

Soon, more neighbors set out from various streets in Wan Chai, heading toward the Electric Lighting Company.

Over at the Electric Lighting Company, the crowd grew larger and larger, nearing 8,000 people, and the nearby streets were completely cordoned off by the police, with no vehicles allowed to pass.

And at this moment,

Mr. Li, under the gaze of the masses, finally appeared.

Escorted by several hundred police officers, he entered the Electric Lighting Company, and not long after, he held a press conference at the entrance of the building.

At the press conference,

Facing numerous reporters and several thousand citizens, Mr. Li wore a sorrowful expression and spoke slowly:

"First, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the victims who unfortunately perished in the Shantou Street fire, and extend my sincere sympathies to the affected citizens and their families..."

"As a member of this community, we have an obligation to contribute our strength to alleviate the plight of the affected citizens."

"Therefore, on behalf of the Electric Lighting Company, I announce that we are willing to donate 100 million Hong Kong dollars; each affected citizen will receive over 80,000 Hong Kong dollars in charitable funds to help them return to normal life as soon as possible..."

"In addition, our Li family will hold a charity auction, and all funds raised will be applied to post-disaster reconstruction work and the resettlement of disaster victims..."

"Finally, I thank all my media friends and the public for your attention and supervision..."

Although Mr. Li's statement mentioned a 100 million donation, he did not admit any responsibility for the cause of the fire.

In any case, he would never admit it, even if it killed him.

This response naturally left the seven or eight thousand citizens at the scene dissatisfied and angry.

"We want the truth!"

"Please restore the old man's innocence!"

The voices gradually converged, like a mountain landslide or a tsunami, with great momentum.

Mr. Li did not change his expression: "Regarding the cause of the fire, our Electric Lighting Company is not aware of the specific circumstances, but the Fire Services Department has already provided a conclusion; please trust the professional investigation results of the Fire Services Department."

As soon as these words were spoken, it completely ignited the anger of all the citizens.

The citizens rushed directly toward Mr. Li.

Fortunately, by this time, the Police Force had mobilized over 1,000 officers from all districts across Hong Kong to block this charge.

But this situation gave Mr. Li a huge fright.

Are you all crazy?

I've already given the money, why are you all so angry?

At this moment, Mr. Li could only resort to his second method—diverting attention!

He hurriedly said:

"I understand that every friend present is filled with questions and dissatisfaction... Here, I sincerely invite you all; if you have any specific demands or grievances, please feel free to put them forward to us."

"But considering the large number of people on-site, in order to ensure everyone's safety and order, I propose that we select a few representatives to enter a quieter, more orderly environment for in-depth communication and discussion."

"I promise... every reasonable suggestion will be given serious consideration..."

Under Mr. Li's repeated rhetoric...

Subsequently, the leaders of the Chief Secretary's Office also stood up, stating they would pay attention to this matter...

"Please send your representatives, 5 is the limit!"

The citizens' anger finally subsided.

Next, it was time to select representatives.

"I choose Councilor Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu!"

"I choose Councilor Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu!"

"I choose Councilor Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu!"

Before long, the thousands of protesting citizens at the scene all spoke the same name.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu!

At this moment,

Mr. Li's expression changed.

The police force maintaining order and the various media reporters were all shocked.

And the officials from the Chief Secretary's Office and the Fire Services Department looked at each other—

This Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, who is he?

——————————

PS: Added a chapter, righteously asking for monthly tickets!

Added a chapter...

(End of this chapter)