Chapter 478: Is He the Town Mayor Tang?

The next morning.

Tang Ye drove to Pinghu Town, and at the entrance of the compound, he pressed the horn twice.

The security guard recognized the figure in the car and hurriedly raised his hand to let him through.

After Tang Ye parked the car, the security guard chased after him, his face full of smiles: "Town Mayor Tang... I should call you County Magistrate Tang! Why have you come back?"

Tang Ye patted the security guard on the shoulder and pulled two cigarettes from his cigarette case to hand over: "Back to handle some business. Here, have a smoke!"

The security guard took the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear, thanking him repeatedly: "Thank you, County Magistrate Tang."

"Is Chen in?" Tang Ye asked.

"Party Committee Secretary Chen has been at his post since early this morning."

Tang Ye knew that Chen Zhihua must have known he was coming to have arrived early, so he quickly went upstairs and knocked on the door.

Chen Zhihua hurriedly stood up, beaming: "County Magistrate Tang, please, sit! I've already brewed some good tea for you."

Tang Ye took a sip of tea and nodded to himself: the water temperature was just right.

Setting down the teacup, he said in a deep voice: "I am here today because of the land requisition and demolition in Pinghu. Strictly speaking, I no longer hold a position in Pinghu Town, so I shouldn't be meddling in this. But Secretary-General Du asked me to come and take a look. I once held a post in Pinghu, I have feelings for this place, and I also hope the Resort Project can have good development."

Chen Zhihua let out a long sigh: "I didn't expect this matter to alarm Secretary-General Du... Sigh, the situation is too complicated."

"Chen," Tang Ye's gaze was burning, "It's been a long time, and I find you've changed quite a bit. You weren't someone who easily feared difficulties before. Regardless of the reasons for this matter, as the Party Committee Secretary, you must shoulder the responsibility and actively solve the problem. The common people know who is right and who is wrong; we must act in a way that is worthy of the people and worthy of our own conscience."

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, causing the previously dispirited Chen Zhihua to suddenly snap back to his senses, his face showing shame: "County Magistrate Tang is right; I have indeed gone off track recently."

Tang Ye suddenly smiled and teased: "You haven't been fishing lately, have you?"

Chen Zhihua was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily: "How could I! Don't worry, I remember my promise; I will never touch a fishing rod again in this life."

Just as the two were laughing and talking, a woman suddenly burst in from outside, panting: "Party Committee Secretary Chen, it's bad! We just received a call; Town Mayor Gu has been blocked by villagers in Liuqiao Village!"

Chen Zhihua frowned: "What happened?"

"Town Mayor Gu took the Demolition Team to Liuqiao Village this morning to negotiate with the owner's son, but the talks broke down after only a few words. Both sides started fighting, Town Mayor Gu is surrounded in the village, and their car has been overturned!" the woman reported urgently.

Tang Ye immediately said to Chen Zhihua: "Party Committee Secretary Chen, there is no time to lose, we must go over immediately, don't let the situation escalate!"

Chen Zhihua said speechlessly: "This Gu Lanping, I told her specifically not to provoke the villagers."

Tang Ye started the car and drove Chen Zhihua straight to Liuqiao Village.

Although he had left Pinghu for over a year, he was still familiar with this place, especially Liuqiao Village.

Back then, he had solved the land transfer problem for this village and helped them secure compensation.

Liuqiao Village was located in the core area of the Pinghu Resort Project; after this round of demolition, the village would disappear completely.

It was just that a small number of villagers had doubts about the demolition standards and were still unwilling to move.

Tang Ye parked the car at the entrance of Liuqiao Village.

From afar, he could see a sedan lying on the side of the road like an overturned turtle.

A dense crowd was gathered at the village entrance.

Gu Lanping and the Demolition Team members were surrounded in the middle, looking at the angry villagers all around with panic on their faces.

Gu Lanping's right cheek was swollen high, clearly having just been slapped, and her eyes were full of fear.

Someone in the crowd shouted loudly: "It's this bunch of dogs! Giving orders in the middle of the night for the Demolition Team to force a demolition! Old Lady Liu, such a kind-hearted old woman, was held down by them and forced to drink a stomach full of water! Liu Dagen, such a filial and honest man, was driven to a dead end before he fought the Demolition Team with his life!"

"Release Liu Dagen immediately!"

"If you don't release him, none of you are leaving!"

Gu Lanping had not expected the villagers to be so united.

She had wanted to find Liu Dagen's son to negotiate and calm the situation, but who knew the other party would not only refuse to negotiate but also identify her as the culprit who drove his father to death, tearing up the compensation agreement on the spot.

As a result, as soon as she walked out, the car was overturned by the villagers together.

She had ordered people to grab the villagers who were leading the trouble.

Someone suddenly rushed out from the crowd and slapped her hard across the face.

Gu Lanping stared at the angry faces around her and was instantly seized by fear.

She was suddenly a little scared.

Would she be able to walk out of Liuqiao Village today!

"Move aside! Everyone move aside!"

Following a loud, stern shout.

Gu Lanping felt the pressure around her suddenly lift.

The crowd automatically parted to form a path.

Liuqiao Village's Party Branch Secretary Liu Dingyuan was followed by two people.

One of them was Chen Zhihua, and the other had an unfamiliar face, looking very young.

Gu Lanping secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Zhihua had come; he could still suppress these unruly people!

Relying on Shen Mingcheng's backing, she had never taken Chen Zhihua seriously, but seeing him arrive in time, she actually felt a bit of gratitude.

"Party Committee Secretary Chen, you finally came! This bunch of people is too outrageous; someone just hit me, they must be severely punished!" With a backer, Gu Lanping immediately lifted her chin.

Chen Zhihua, however, glanced at her coldly: "You are here to solve the problem, not to escalate the conflict."

"I came early this morning just to communicate with them properly and find a solution," Gu Lanping said aggrievedly, "But the other party wouldn't cooperate at all, cursed a bunch of filth, overturned the car, and wouldn't let us leave. Someone even slapped me... Party Committee Secretary Chen, why are you still speaking up for them?"

Chen Zhihua ignored her complaints and turned to the villagers, making a solemn promise!

"Everyone, please calm down. I am here today to solve the problem, and I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

"Party Committee Secretary Chen, our request is very simple—you must release Liu Dagen!"

"I used to think you were a good Secretary who did quite a lot for us. But regarding the land requisition and demolition in Liuqiao Village, have you really fought for the interests of us common folk?"

Listening to the villagers questioning him from all sides, Chen Zhihua showed a look of shame.

At this moment.

Tang Ye stepped forward to smooth things over for Chen Zhihua.

"Fellow villagers, we are all very saddened that this has happened. Chen has already sincerely apologized to everyone; the Government's work was not done thoroughly, and it has caused you all trouble. But please give us one more chance; we will certainly find a way to make amends and give everyone a satisfactory answer."

"Who is this person speaking?"

"He looks familiar... Hey, wait! Is he Town Mayor Tang?"

"That's right! It's Tang Ye! Didn't he go to the city to be the Mayor's Secretary?"

"He is a Deputy Division Level Official now, serving as a Standing Committee Member and Deputy County Magistrate in Suiyuan County!"

"It really is Tang Ye! Why did he come back? If he is willing to handle this matter, there is hope!"