Chapter 249: You think I'm made of mud?

Deputy Section Chief Zhou, nobody has it easy.

No one can succeed just like that.

Want to hear our story?

Wang Yingna turned her head and gave a light smile.

That night, Zhou Wanting couldn't sleep again.

Only now did she truly understand Li Jiaci and this group.

She knew how hard-won everything they had was.

With this understanding,

Zhou Wanting felt a bit more guilt toward Li Jiaci.

Because of her appearance, Li Jiaci inexplicably bore these attacks.

She and Li Jiaci are both pawns of Wu Jiangshan.

Success or failure.

It won't cause any loss to Wu Jiangshan.

But they might not be so lucky.

Maybe Li Jiaci's factory will shut down because of this.

Maybe she will suddenly be schemed against and disappear from this game.

Zhou Wanting drank a few glasses of red wine alone.

In the end she drew a conclusion.

She and Li Jiaci are a community of fate.

Only by joining forces do they have a chance to turn the tide.

Two incidents in a row.

Wu Jiangshan's replies always make people angry.

If it doesn't concern them, they just look the other way.

That's his attitude toward the life and death of his pawns.

Then there's no need to report every detail of what comes next to him.

Outside the window, the bright moon had risen.

Zhou Wanting tidied the mess on the coffee table and went back to the guest room to rest.

By noon,

the villa became lively.

Li Jiaci suggested going to South City for a couple of days.

Everyone had no objection.

After all, the factory was shut down, so there was nothing to do but idle around and play.

After discussion,

a group set off for South City.

Li Jiaci had greeted Xiao Cui in advance, so there would be a prepared inn to rest at upon arrival.

He seemed to disdain what was happening.

Meanwhile, in Pingzhou,

an unprecedented public opinion storm was sweeping in.

Shiqiang Mu Cai Chang and the Furniture Factory announced an indefinite shutdown.

Over five thousand employees were left idle at home.

They united to go to the municipal building to hang banners, drawing countless stares.

Media reporters swarmed in.

They blocked the entrance to the municipal building so tightly that not even water could pass.

The security guards who stepped forward were useless.

Because the identities of these employees demanding an explanation were sensitive, the leaders inside the municipal building dared not report it or make a fuss.

They also dared not step forward to respond.

They feared that one misstep would ruin their promising careers.

As the public opinion turmoil kept spreading,

That night's news was basically dominated by the two characters 'Shiqiang'.

The workers faced the camera, tears streaming as they voiced their grievances.

"I'm the only laborer in my family; my mother is paralyzed in bed, my wife died young, and I have two crying babies. If I lose my job, the whole family will starve!"

"And me—my parents died in a mining accident; my three younger sisters and brother depend on me. Now I'm unemployed, so they can only drop out of school to work."

"What are you guys? At least you have siblings. I was born disabled and abandoned by my parents. If it weren't for Boss Li taking pity on me and giving me food, I would have died in the street long ago."

In front of the TV,

countless viewers hearing these heartbreaking words burst into tears of sympathy.

The camera kept moving forward.

A few of the workers holding the banners whispered to each other.

Their discussion was also recorded.

"I heard that Boss Li's timber was detained by the South City Customs Checkpoint, which is why the timber factory can't operate!"

"It's strange—I also heard that a branch of the timber factory caught fire at night, and coincidentally the fire brigade was nearby. After they put out the fire, Boss Li announced the shutdown the next day."

"Is it the Customs Checkpoint that got us unemployed, or the Fire Brigade?"

"What right does the Customs Checkpoint have to seize our timber?"

"It seems they suspect Li Lao Ban of smuggling contraband, using the timber as a cover!"

"Damn it, I handle eight hundred pieces of timber a day—how could I not have noticed any contraband?"

……

The camera cuts to here.

It immediately turns toward the city hall.

The workers' discussion directly pushes public opinion to a new height.

The South City Customs Checkpoint and Fire Brigade immediately become the new focus of discussion.

Now even the people inside the city hall can't sit still.

I originally thought this had nothing to do with them.

But now it seems the connection is significant.

The news' heat continues to rise.

Inside the city hall, telephone rings can be heard everywhere.

But who dares to answer?

Meanwhile, at the South City Bian Mao Shichang.

It is in an atmosphere completely different from that of Peace Prefecture.

Li Jiaci leads everyone to watch the Bei Bang ethnic song and dance performance.

These are all programs arranged by the Colonel.

The purpose is to let them relax and unwind on their own turf.

Xiao Cui explains the meaning behind the dance from the side.

Laughter and cheer fill the surroundings.

Suddenly.

A burst of phone ringing shatters this beauty.

Li Jiaci takes out his phone, looks at it, and sees an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?"

From the phone, a deep voice says: "Are you Li Jiaci?"

Li Jiaci walks behind the crowd and lights a cigarette.

He says in a calm tone: "That's right, I'm Li Jiaci."

"What the hell are you up to, kid? You've stirred up a storm across the city, making the whole Pingzhou lose face because of you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jiaci's calm face shows a hint of anger.

Meanwhile, the person on the other end keeps going on and on.

"No matter what you intend to do, you'd better stop now, or else..."

Without waiting for the other party to finish.

Li Jiaci hangs up with a stern face.

He puffs a few mouthfuls of smoke.

The phone rings again.

He flicks ash, furrows his brow, and answers.

It's still that unpleasant voice.

"Li Jiaci, don't think I can't do anything to you—I'm giving you one day to return to work, or else..."

Li Jiaci decisively slams down the phone.

At this moment.

Wang Yingna stands in the crowd, excitedly waving at him.

"Here I come."

Li Jiaci stubs out his cigarette, slips his phone into his pocket, and quickly walks over.

The ringing continues.

But it is soon drowned out by the music and dance.

All the way until half an hour later.

The lively crowd gradually disperses.

Xiao Cui has arranged a banquet.

He leads everyone toward the restaurant.

The piercing phone ring makes Li Jiaci frown involuntarily.

He waves at the others, indicating they should go ahead.

He then impatiently picks up the phone.

After a 'cool‑down,' the other party's tone is much more polite than before.

"Hehe, Li Lao Ban, there's no need to make this so serious; this matter concerns the livelihood of tens of thousands. Give the leaders some face, make a big thing small and a small thing smaller—just get back to work quickly!"

It sounds as if Li Jiaci is looking for trouble for no reason.

Li Jiaci sneers: "Why should I listen to you?"

"Who the hell do you think you are, calling yourself my father?"

The other party's anger is ignited by that remark.

But his anger, in front of Li Jiaci, was nothing more than an egg hitting a stone.

Li Jiaci said with a grim face: "Let me get back to work? Not a chance!"

You……

Damn it, you tell me to stop work and I stop, tell me to resume and I resume—do you really think I'm made of clay and have no temper?

What do you mean? Who told you to stop work?

Go look into it yourself; if you don't give me an explanation, this isn't over!

Li Jiaci angrily hung up the phone.

He didn't forget to turn it off.