Chapter 140: Rely on Tang Ye at the Critical Moment!

At the first light of dawn, just past five o'clock, people began to gather one after another at the entrance of the County Government.

Hong Yu was both a victim of this turmoil and, unintentionally, the organizer who had brought everyone together here.

Having heard that Hong Yu had thrown all their family savings into the water, Song Jin had been unwilling to return home for the past few days.

Hong Yu had gone to Song Jin's workplace many times, even going so far as to kneel and beg, hoping her husband would have a change of heart, but in the end, she failed to obtain Song Jin's forgiveness.

After Hong Yu's own mother learned of the matter, she also stood on Song Jin's side, criticizing Hong Yu for acting too recklessly and boldly.

Now, Hong Yu has resigned from her original job and is also burdened with over one million in debt.

The extravagant hope of once sending her child abroad is now long out of reach; she currently only hopes to recover a portion of her losses—even if it is only fifty percent, it would count as a sliver of comfort.

"The three-day deadline is up! I wonder if Town Mayor Tang can give us an explanation!" someone in the crowd shouted at the top of their lungs.

"If he doesn't have an explanation, we'll block this place every day!" another person immediately chimed in, clamoring.

"What's the use of blocking it? When we invested, the Government didn't sign any written agreements with us!" someone retorted, curling their lip.

"I still hope Town Mayor Tang keeps his word and can come up with a solution for us."

"Don't hold your hopes too high. If the county doesn't care, we'll turn around and go to the city. If the city doesn't work, we'll head to the province. If we don't make a big scene, will the Government take our matter seriously?"

Hong Yu listened to everyone talking over one another and sighed inwardly. She understood that the Government was not originally responsible for this matter, but as things stood, it seemed there were no other options, and they could only do this.

Guo Zhengting arrived extremely early today; seeing more and more people outside, his brow immediately knitted into a knot.

The three-day deadline had arrived, and if these drowning people did not receive a satisfactory answer, they certainly would not let the matter rest.

Qiao Liang stood next to Guo Zhengting and whispered to him, "I've already made arrangements to have them select a few representatives so we can have a talk with them."

Guo Zhengting frowned and asked, "And the solution? Is there any lead?"

Qiao Liang said with a bitter face, "What good solution could there be? That bunch is too slippery; they didn't leave any clues behind. Tang Ye even said he could solve it in three days—that was a huge boast."

Guo Zhengting let out a hum and sneered, "Let him struggle for now. If he can't handle it, then we'll step in and take the initiative into our own hands."

Qiao Liang continued, "I've arranged for quite a few police forces. If they refuse to disperse, we'll have to show them some severity; otherwise, they won't know fear and will really treat the County Government like a park, coming and going as they please."

Guo Zhengting said nothing, which counted as tacit approval of Qiao Liang's idea, and he just added one instruction: "Remember to keep a sense of proportion; don't let things get too out of hand."

To handle this kind of matter, one must use both soft and hard tactics—first apply some pressure, then reason with them properly, so that it will be easier to negotiate later.

As soon as Qiao Liang saw someone unfurling a banner, he immediately ordered people to go and confiscate it.

This caused chaos, and some people began scuffling with the auxiliary police.

Seeing this, Qiao Liang hurriedly ordered his men to arrest those few troublemakers.

He thought that after such a scare, the others would behave, but he didn't expect these people to be completely unafraid; they directly blocked the police car, and some even lay down in front of it, refusing to let the vehicle leave no matter what.

"Release them! Let them go immediately!"

"What right do you have to seize our banner? What right do you have to lay hands on us?"

"We are here waiting for the results. Didn't the Government promise to solve the problem in three days?"

"It seems this County Government really can't be relied upon! We truly have nowhere left to turn!"

Qiao Liang did not expect these people to be so difficult to deal with and was just about to use force.

At this moment, a subordinate ran over in a panic and whispered in his ear, "Director Qiao, someone has secretly climbed onto the roof of the Government building; it looks like they're going to jump!"

Guo Zhengting had been staring outside from the window; he had originally thought Qiao Liang could stabilize the situation, but he didn't expect things to get worse and worse.

"Where is Tang Ye? Didn't he pat his chest and say he would solve the problem in three days? Why is he dumping this mess on us?"

Guo Zhengting was furious and immediately called Tang Ye.

"Tang Ye, where are you? The three-day deadline is up, and these people in Pinghu are making such a scene they're threatening to jump off the building!"

"Jump off the building? County Magistrate Guo, please hurry and have someone persuade them; they must not be impulsive. I am on my way back. We have captured Chu Kun and his whole gang of swindlers!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhengting was stunned and asked, "You caught the fraud gang?"

"Yes! Thanks to Guo Liang, he found a way to infiltrate the gang and told us where they were hiding. Wan Ming led men in a cross-provincial pursuit and rounded up the entire gang."

Guo Zhengting gasped, "When did this happen?"

Tang Ye had reported to Du Chengfeng immediately, but Du Chengfeng hadn't told Guo Zhengting, likely fearing further complications; after all, before interrogating Chu Kun, it was uncertain how much money could be recovered.

"It happened just a few hours ago!"

Guo Zhengting breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "Hurry over here and help Qiao Liang stabilize the emotions of the common people."

"Understood, I'll be there immediately!"

Tang Ye hung up the phone and checked the time; it wasn't even work hours yet, so how had things spiraled so far out of control?

The car was parked a bit far away, so Tang Ye jogged all the way to the County Government and headed straight for the Government building.

Downstairs, firefighters were busy laying out an air cushion.

Tang Ye climbed to the roof in one breath.

Seeing Tang Ye arrive, they automatically cleared a path for him.

"Ma'am, please don't be agitated. Listen to me: Chu Kun has already been captured by us and is being escorted back. Your money will definitely be recovered."

The woman's eyes widened, and she asked incredulously, "Is that true? Town Mayor Tang, don't lie to me."

Tang Ye took out his phone, flipped to the photo, and showed it to the woman: "It's true, absolutely certain!"

Upon hearing this, tears streamed down the woman's face.

Crying and laughing, she said, "That's wonderful, that's wonderful. Thank you, Town Mayor Tang."

Tang Ye successfully brought the situation under control; his taut nerves finally relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

His gaze swept through the crowd, and he quickly caught sight of Hong Yu.

He gave her a slight, subtle nod.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and a police car slowly drove into the Government Compound.

"It really is Chu Kun!"

"Town Mayor Tang really didn't lie to us; he actually caught him!"

"Thank heavens, there's hope for my money to be recovered now!"

Hong Yu saw Chu Kun, wearing handcuffs, step out of the sedan.

Her long-suppressed anger erupted instantly like a volcano.

She rushed forward regardless of everything, used all her strength, and slapped Chu Kun hard across the face!

Chu Kun's face turned slightly from the sudden slap, and he looked at Hong Yu with a complex gaze.

He never expected that he would actually meet this woman, whom he considered extremely stupid, once again.

Tang Ye found an open space and took the megaphone from Wan Ming's hand!

"Fellow villagers, the matter has been resolved. Comrade Wan Ming apprehended Chu Kun across provinces, and a large amount of cash was seized from the hiding spot.

The County Government will form a Special Case Group; take the investment contracts you originally signed with Chu Kun as proof and register your relevant information..."

Tang Ye had not yet finished speaking.

A burst of cheers and jubilation erupted from below...

Standing at the window, Du Chengfeng's eyebrows twitched; at the critical moment, one still had to rely on Tang Ye!