Chapter 615: Take back what you just said

Su Yang was shocked at the time; these were the most powerful people locally, or rather the local top tier, eating and drinking here.

Anyone outside this circle, in today's setting, even if they wanted to come in for a round of drinks, would have to be cautious and also need to get approval beforehand from the person in charge here.

Yet this tattooed, rough guy simply pushed the door open and walked in; even more absurd, he demanded to replace the Maotai they were drinking with the local specialty Shuanggou Daqu.

Does he have no regard for leaders? He's treating them as less than human.

But in an instant he figured out who the newcomer probably was.

Sure enough, Ye Xianggao said: "Director Geng, you're swamped with work; we didn't want to disturb you, so we didn't greet you. We were actually planning to send someone shortly to check if you're here, and if so, invite you to join our welcome banquet for this new comrade."

As his words fell, Geng Biao turned his gaze to Su Yang: "Oh, you're the deputy county magistrate sent down from above, right? You look quite young."

"Being an official is good, especially being a young official—you get to eat what you should, sleep when you should, and climb when you should; I really envy you. Unlike us, who lack education, lack quality, lack status, just trying to make a little money, and even that gets us reported everywhere and targeted."

"Do you think people like us have it easy? Back when the whole county had so many people on the verge of drinking the northwest wind, it was our Geng family, pouring heart and soul, that expanded the distillery and led the county's folks out of poverty and hardship—yet not a single word of thanks? I hear they even want to settle accounts. Young comrade, you tell me, isn't that so?"

Geng Biao has long been accustomed to arrogance in Lieshan County; aside from his older brother, he looks down on everyone. Hearing that the new standing committee member was at the hotel, he came straight over, and as soon as he entered he began spouting all kinds of sarcasm and mockery. He just wanted to see how many brains the young cadre sent down from above really has, daring to cause trouble right on the emperor's head.

Su Yang didn't even glance at Geng Biao, instead looking at Ye Xianggao: "Secretary Ye, who is this? How could we let someone like this barge in so recklessly at an occasion like this? Even if it were just at the township level, such a nobody wouldn't dare storm in, no matter how wildly they acted in the countryside."

Upon saying that, everyone was shocked. They had just been wondering, in the face of Geng Biao's sudden provocation, whether Su Yang still had the courage to confront him directly; if he simply backed down, all their careful preparations… but they never expected that he wouldn't yield at all—instead he fired back with sarcasm as well.

No second person in the entire Lieshan County could say such a thing—not even Su Yang, let alone the former county magistrate who originally backed the Geng brothers; he never spoke like that, and naturally the current Ye Xianggao lacks that courage. He seethed, thinking, "Su Yang, you're courting death—don't drag us down with you."

Sure enough, Geng Biao's face darkened instantly; he coldly asked Su Yang: "I'll give you a chance—take back what you just said. Also, down this bottle of wine in one gulp, and I'll pretend this never happened."

As he spoke, he slammed the server's just-brought Shuanggou Daqu hard onto the table. For a moment, the county Party Committee leadership members who usually looked imposing and high‑and‑mighty didn't dare speak, and some even edged back half a step.

Ji Minjia, who had wanted to speak up for Su Yang, saw this posture and didn't dare open her mouth.

In their minds, Geng Biao was a thug capable of any misdeed—laying hands on ordinary commoners was nothing, and even laying hands on these cadres was just a flick of the wrist. No one had ever dared to treat him this way before, and certainly no one had truly provoked him.

Unexpectedly, Su Yang replied calmly: "What status, what rank, do you think you have to shout at me here? Do you know what crime it is to publicly intimidate a state functionary? Or do you really think our Lieshan County Public Security Bureau is vegetarian?"

As expected, Su Yang chose to meet force with force. Frankly, he hadn't even figured out how to make contact with Geng Miao; his plan was to wait until after the government team's work meeting, then visit the distillery on official business. But he never imagined that Geng Miao's brother, Geng Biao, would dare show up at his door.

Upon hearing this, Geng Biao flew into a rage, bellowing: "Do the police dare arrest me? Nobody dares talk to me like this! What now?"

While shouting, he snatched the ashtray from the table and prepared to hurl it at Su Yang; but Su Yang didn't move—not because he was afraid, but because he was waiting for the ashtray to come down.

As soon as it landed, he would have a hundred reasons to lay hands on Geng Biao. In such a setting, this wasn't his first encounter, and compared to the people he'd faced before, Geng Biao was practically insignificant—less than an ant. Back then he'd dared to take on far tougher characters, let alone this sort.

The others didn't dare utter a sound, fearing the blow might hit their own heads. Normally, when Geng Biao picked up the ashtray, anyone opposite would already be scared stiff, kneeling and begging for mercy.

. In Lieshan County's little patch of land, nobody fails to fear him. Yet Su Yang stuck his neck out, behaving nothing like the old foxes of the system—purely a hotheaded youth! But with the ashtray clenched in his hand, if he doesn't smash it down, won't Geng Biao's reputation be broken?

At that moment, everyone's breath held—especially Ye Xianggao, whose face darkened. Su Yang is a deputy county magistrate sent down by the superior department, on a mission, and a focus of provincial leadership's attention.

If, on his very first day in office, he got beaten at the welcome banquet while Ye Xianggao was present, that head of office would truly be hard-pressed to avoid blame. But if Su Yang, this hotheaded youth, lets his blood rush to his head and turns around to take out Geng Biao, he wouldn't fare any better either.

At this critical juncture, a hoarse shout suddenly came from outside the door: "Stop! What do you think you're doing? What kind of place is this? Can it tolerate your recklessness? Hurry up and apologize!"

Hearing that voice, some in the room let out a sigh of relief, while others felt slightly disappointed. Ji Minjia blinked her big eyes, wondering what she was thinking. The people who had been glued to their seats all sprang up at once upon seeing the arrival: "Director Geng!"

"Director Geng, good!"

Su Yang glanced briefly and saw that these people were all bent over. If he hadn't seen it himself, he could hardly imagine the county's true leadership bowing and scraping before a merchant. Of course, at this moment his focus was mainly on the person who had arrived.

At this moment, Geng Miao still sported that big pompadour, a pipe clenched in his mouth, a green thumb ring on his hand, wearing a black Tang suit, slowly walking up to Geng Biao's front. Though he hadn't yet reached close range, he already exerted a tremendous pressure on everyone—indeed, he lived up to his reputation!