Chapter 1004: A Major Move to Reverse Public Opinion!

"The meeting will begin in five minutes; please wait a moment.

I ask that everyone please turn off your mobile phones or set them to silent mode."

Not long after, Tang Ye led Xie Zhiming to the press area.

Tang Ye picked up the microphone and said in a slightly heavy tone,

"First, I must use the voices of you reporters to say sorry to the netizens across the country who care about Dayu County. Because of a lapse by our Dayu County Government, this matter was not handled in a timely manner.

However, this afternoon we invited the victim back to Dayu County, and after our communication, he is willing to participate in this press conference.

Secondly, I hope to use this platform to earnestly request that you all show tolerance toward Dayu County.

Dayu County is a National-level Poverty-stricken County. We have been working continuously for local development, and Dayu County has always received the attention of many caring individuals. For example, the victim, Mr. Xie, is himself a caring individual.

He came to Dayu County for tourism to deliver a charitable donation to the Dayu Women's High School. That is why we are holding this press conference, to use this opportunity to clarify the issues and make the resolution plan public.

Below, I would first like to invite Mr. Xie to say a few words to everyone."

Xie Zhiming took the microphone from Tang Ye's hand,

"I am very surprised, because I did not expect that the post I published online would be known by so many people.

I am very uneasy, because this is not the outcome I wanted to achieve. This post might punish the bad people, but it will also affect many innocent people. I am feeling some regret now.

I am also very moved, because this afternoon the leaders of Dayu County came to my workplace to have a sincere communication and apologize to me, so I am willing to participate in the press conference. I hope everyone will not look at Dayu County through colored glasses."

The reporters in the audience remained silent.

Xie Zhiming's attitude and stance were completely on the side of Dayu County, which made them feel a bit troubled.

Because from the perspective of readers and netizens, they did not want this matter to end like this.

Without the buzz, what is the point of this news?

Tang Ye took the microphone back from Xie Zhiming,

"I am extremely grateful to Mr. Xie. He suffered grievances and was harmed, yet he was still able to express his concern for Dayu County with a calm heart.

However, our attitude toward handling this matter cannot be satisfied with just this.

Moving forward, we have the following arrangements.

First, we have already taken action against all personnel involved in this incident, including the shop owner, the Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Public Security Bureau, and the shop owner's backers; the results of these actions will be made public.

Second, we are going to establish a Comprehensive Tourism Order Governance Office, with me serving as the Team Leader of the working group.

Third, we will post reporting hotlines and relevant reporting channels in prominent locations on all light boxes, billboards, bus stops, and inside every restaurant and taxi throughout the county.

Fourth, we will promote this widely and implement rewards for reporting, and they will be heavy rewards. As long as someone reports a violation of tourism order within Dayu County, once verified, we will reward them with 500,000 in cash."

Hearing the 500,000 reporting reward, the reporters' emotions fluctuated.

"A 500,000 reporting reward—Dayu County is really determined this time."

"Is it too extravagant for Dayu County to put up 500,000?"

"This isn't a reward expense, it's a publicity expense. Once this gimmick is put out there, people will definitely pay attention."

"The Dayu County Government understands the code for generating buzz!"

Tang Ye continued, "Some people might question this. Dayu County is a poor county; is it too much to take out 500,000 as a reporting reward?

I don't think it is too much at all!

This can serve as a very good deterrent for supervision. With this reward measure in place, combined with our strict crackdown and disciplinary measures, I believe no merchant will dare to engage in this kind of price-gouging behavior again.

Of course, this money was not something I proposed to give, but something an enterprise voluntarily offered to pay.

Many enterprises have settled and taken root in Dayu County, intertwining their own development with the fate of Dayu County.

The Zhao Group is one of them.

After this public opinion crisis occurred in Dayu County, the Zhao Group contacted me at the first opportunity, hoping to help Dayu County emerge from this storm.

Next, I invite the General Manager of the Zhao Group,

he will announce an important decision."

The reporters were completely confused.

How could a press conference involve an enterprise?

It was baffling!

Zhao Hui, under the guidance of Ma Ran, sat to the right of Tang Ye.

At this very moment, Shi Yao was also at the venue.

It was just that she was in a blind spot where the reporters could not see her, closely monitoring the development of events.

When she heard Tang Ye say that he would take out 500,000 for reporting rewards, she was skeptical in her heart.

Because 500,000 is not a small amount, and it would usually require collective deliberation.

However, when Tang Ye indicated that the Zhao Group would pay this money, she understood instantly.

With such huge buzz, the Zhao Group could also be considered to be riding the wave.

This 500,000 in reporting funds could be counted as a publicity expense.

The Zhao Group's annual publicity expenses are so high that this 500,000 is nothing.

Zhao Hui steadied the microphone, picked up a prepared speech, and began to read, "Respected reporters, respected leaders! I am the Regional General Manager of the Zhao Group, Zhao Hui.

We have always maintained good cooperation with the Dayu County Government.

We are full of confidence in the future of Dayu County.

Therefore, when we learned that Dayu County was deeply trapped in a whirlpool of public opinion, we felt very shocked and worried.

Dayu County is a National-level Poverty-stricken County. From the Municipal Government to the county level, many people have been silently working hard for the poverty alleviation of Dayu County.

We finally saw the dawn of hope, only to have it labeled with a terrible tag because of negative news; this is something that I and other enterprises do not want to see.

Therefore, the Zhao Group is willing to provide 5 million as a complaint initiation fund to mobilize the power of the masses to supervise the merchants of Dayu County and put an end to the occurrence of similar incidents.

Furthermore, to express our condolences and compensation for the harm caused to Mr. Xie."

"We will provide him with ownership of a five-million-value detached villa at the Heiniu Mountain Scenic Resort for free."

Zhao Hui spoke these words.

The scene exploded in an instant.

"Did I hear that right? They're actually giving away a villa."

"That Xie guy is so lucky!"

"This is definitely super explosive news."

"I've already thought of the headline! After getting ripped off at a meal, he unexpectedly receives a five-million villa!"

"Tomorrow, this news will definitely attract a lot of attention."

"Although five million sounds exaggerated, it's actually quite cost-effective if you look at it as an advertising fee."

"The Zhao Group is so good at marketing! To think they could come up with using the heat of this incident to advertise the Resort Project."

"No wonder the Dayu County Government dared to hold this press conference; it turns out they were holding a trump card to turn the situation around!"

Xie Zhiming stood there in surprise.

Because he did not know about this news.

In order to make the news have an effect beyond imagination, only Tang Ye and Zhao Hui knew about the idea of compensating with a villa on the spot.

Besides Zhao Hui, Zhao Hui's father, Zhao Guosheng, also knew.

Upon learning of Tang Ye's idea from his son, Zhao Guosheng immediately gave his promise.

As a businessman, he had a premonition that this matter would have an unexpected effect.