Chapter 704: The Public Security Department

Led by Geng Le, the others began to clamor one after another: "That's right! You smashed our rice bowls, so we'll smash yours too!" "Su Yang, if you don't give us a way to live, don't think you'll have any peace!" "If you don't give us an explanation today, don't think you'll have an easy time!"

These people were different. The common folk from earlier who couldn't buy daily necessities like oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar were mostly just here to join in the commotion and watch the fun. Even if they really couldn't buy daily goods, the dozens of truckloads of cargo Su Yang had brought in were enough, and the prices were cheap; those who had been cursing earlier were now grinning from ear to ear.

This group was different; they were genuinely worried about being laid off. Regardless of anything else, being able to work at the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery was, for them, not just a high-and-mighty honor, but a solid, decent job.

Not to mention working at the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery, even working in other industries under Geng Miao, such as the Shuanggou Grand Hotel, those nightclubs, or the small commodity wholesale mall, was considered a cut above the rest.

Not only were the wages and benefits good, but they also had priority rights in various aspects like their children's schooling and medical care. Moreover, once you could work at the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery, it was equivalent to having a protective talisman, because no matter how scummy the security at the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery was, they wouldn't bully people like them.

But now, the factory had released news saying that Su Yang had repeatedly sabotaged the winery, making it impossible for the production lines to operate normally, and therefore they had to lay off staff. It would be strange if they didn't come to cause trouble for Su Yang.

Su Yang said: "Regarding the layoffs at your winery, it has nothing to do with me; that is a decision made by the winery itself. Also, the reason your winery stopped the production lines is not because of me, but because Geng Miao wants to use such means to pressure our County Party Committee and County Government to achieve his other goals and demands."

"Since you are all here today, I might as well tell you the actual situation at the winery. What is the current state of the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery? Some of you know, and some of you might not. The Shuanggou Large Koji Winery can no longer hold on; its sales volume in the market is already very, very low, and there is a lot of white liquor piled up in the warehouse that has become unsalable."

"The reason Geng Miao released such news is to prepare for the real layoffs he intends to carry out. The Shuanggou Large Koji Winery will sooner or later return to the government's hands; it might go bankrupt, or it might be restructured, but no matter what, I will do my best to protect your jobs."

"But there is one prerequisite: those of you who came today should register. Only by registering will you be given priority for employment protection regardless of what happens in the future."

"As for anyone who doesn't register and continues to make a scene here, I can completely wash my hands of it, and whatever consequences occur in the future, you shall bear them yourselves. Furthermore, I am a person who has always valued promises; I do what I say."

The people present were not fools. Some did indeed know the situation at the winery, and they came to join the commotion just to show they were working hard in front of Geng Le and the others, thereby preparing for their future at the winery. But in reality, the winery might go cold sooner or later, and now they weren't even paying wages; what could these people do?

But since Su Yang was guaranteeing them employment opportunities here, how could they not accept? In the end, they were just small people who only looked at the immediate benefits; as for how the winery would develop in the future, they didn't care, as long as they had a mouthful of food. Moreover, Geng Miao wasn't that friendly to those workers, especially in the last two years, where he almost treated them like livestock.

Someone in the crowd had already walked over to Su Yang to start registering. Once someone took the lead in such matters, others would follow, and no one wanted to fall behind.

Seeing this scene, Geng Le became anxious: "What are you doing? What are you all doing? Su Yang is just deceiving you! Our Shuanggou Large Koji Winery is the financial pillar of the entire Lieshan County; the wages of the county cadres are all paid by our winery. How could the winery possibly have operational problems?"

However, just at this moment, Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Hou Junlai walked in from outside. He picked up the megaphone from Su Yang's hand and said: "You probably don't know yet, but your factory owes raw material suppliers tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of yuan, and has been in arrears for a year or two without paying. Now, they have already reported you to the Discipline Inspection Commission and have simultaneously started a lawsuit in court."

"So don't make a scene anymore. County Magistrate Su is trying his best to solve the problems for everyone, and if you keep making a scene like this, you are just intensifying the conflict. When the winery really can't hold on anymore, who will guarantee your employment?"

After being told this by Hou Junlai, those who were originally wavering also rushed over to line up and sign their names with Su Yang.

Geng Le was so angry that his nose was crooked—he had finally come up with such a trick to deal with Su Yang, only for it to be easily resolved by Su Yang again. Although he was very angry, he also knew that if he rushed out now, it would only increase his own embarrassment, and he had to go back and discuss it with his eldest brother to think of another way. At the same time, he cursed that raw material supplier who reported them to the ground in his heart.

Previously, everyone up and down Lieshan County was their person; even if this raw material supplier reported them or sued them, it was like a stone sinking into the sea. Moreover, as long as the court and the Discipline Inspection Commission received news of such matters, they almost knew about it simultaneously. All this damn thing had changed because of Su Yang's arrival.

Standing upstairs watching the crowd below gradually disperse, Ye Xianggao's expression turned completely rigid—Geng Miao had lost this round again. If things continued like this, the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery definitely couldn't be saved; if the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery couldn't be saved, it would be difficult for Geng Miao to retreat unscathed, and those of them who had been working for Geng Miao all along would probably suffer as well.

And just at this moment, the landline on his desk rang. As soon as the call was answered, he heard a very cold voice on the other end say: "Hello, we are from the Provincial Public Security Department. May I ask if this is Comrade Ye Xianggao, Secretary of the Lieshan County Party Committee?"

Ye Xianggao's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Obviously, he had already thought of something, and he immediately said: "Yes, it is me. May I ask what the matter is?"

The person on the other end of the phone said: "Two days ago, comrades from the Audit Department went to your county to carry out audit work and encountered a car accident on the way back. Now we are taking full charge of investigating this case. Please have your County Party Committee and County Government provide cooperation."

Ye Xianggao said: "Yes, yes, yes, please rest assured, leaders, we will definitely provide full support and cooperation."

The person on the other end of the phone said: "We have already arrived in Lieshan County and will be at the Lieshan Public Security Bureau immediately. Please have the relevant responsible comrades from your county and the relevant personnel from the Shuanggou Large Koji Winery come to the Public Security Bureau." ===== CHAPTER 705 =====