Chapter 849

At this moment, Shi Haoyun knocked and entered: "County Magistrate Su, many common people from various townships have gathered outside, having heard that it's because of the road construction matter, they want to demand an explanation."

Su Yang said: "The masses have discerning eyes; they know what policy is most beneficial to them. To bravely stand up for their own interests is not wrong in itself. Our County Magistrate Zhao is full of himself, always wanting to wield the little power he holds; now is a good time to let him experience the overwhelming public opinion."

At that moment, County Magistrate Zhao also saw the crowd of people below, black and pressing. He immediately called Jiao Qiang over: "What's going on? This is the county government, not a vegetable market! Why are there so many people blocking here? What do you want to do?"

"Although you are now a Vice County Magistrate, given that the Deputy Director of the Government Office has not yet taken office, you are still in charge of internal affairs of the Government Office. With this situation arising, shouldn't you give an explanation?"

Jiao Qiang's head was buzzing; he thought: "This isn't something you caused, is it? Now it's a case of passing the buck, everyone pushing the blame onto me."

It seems there is still a difference between people. If it were County Magistrate Su, he would surely take personal responsibility for his own mistakes. This County Magistrate Zhao, however, without a word, first looks for a scapegoat. This way he can intimidate and pressure me, letting me know where to shift my blame in the future; second, it lets me go out and settle this matter.

But Jiao Qiang has been mixing around under Wen Qiren and them for such a long time; to say he has no ability at all is impossible.

He said: "County Magistrate Zhao, I've already looked into it; these people are all from various townships. The reason they came flooding in early this morning is because they heard that our County Party Committee and County Government have halted the publicly announced road widening and repair project."

These people have no foresight, nor do they consider the government's actual difficulties; they only know whether they can benefit and whether travel is convenient for them. Seeing that the Transportation Bureau has finished its on-site measurements, and that construction was about to start, suddenly it was called off—naturally they feel uneasy.

I actually went down once to persuade them, telling them to go back early. If that really doesn't work, my suggestion is to have County Magistrate Su go talk to them, to get them to disperse from here first; otherwise it would be bad for our government's image.

They had also previously approved of County Magistrate Su, especially after toppling Geng Miao. But at this critical juncture, they simply won't buy County Magistrate Su's face, insisting they must see you. County Magistrate Zhao, how do you say we should handle this? Otherwise I'll go down and say you're not here.

Zhao Nanxing had originally wanted to give Jiao Qiang a dressing-down to achieve his own purpose, but Jiao Qiang's words made his face fall flat. How is this? The problem really ended up back on himself?

Moreover, all the good things he had planned to say but hadn't finished were blocked by Jiao Qiang. He had originally thought to make Jiao Qiang back down and listen to him, so that he could let Su Yang handle it. But now, with this statement, all retreat routes are completely cut off.

Moreover, standing in his position, it's impossible to say he's not in the office just because he fears the masses; if that got out, it would be a huge joke. He could only grit his teeth and say fiercely:

"If that's the case, why are you still standing there? Let all the members of the County Party Committee and County Government leadership team go downstairs! I want to see what they intend to do!"

Jiao Qiang looked at this County Magistrate Zhao, who showed a slight loss of composure, and compared him in his mind with Su Yang, finally concluding: As of now, he's just someone who has eaten twenty years more rice than Su Yang.

Su Yang was in the office drinking tea, thinking about how to disperse these people next, while also wanting Zhao Nanxing to know that matters aren't decided by a slap on the thigh, nor can one act recklessly just because they hold power.

Jiao Qiang rushed in and said: "County Magistrate Zhao has ordered all the leading cadres of the County Party Committee and County Government to go downstairs, to properly reason with the common people who have come."

Su Yang said: "Fine, then we'll do as County Magistrate Zhao said."

Five minutes later, all the members of the County Party Committee and County Government leadership team, as well as Li Lingyu and Jiao Qiang, appeared at the county government's main gate. Jiao Qiang ran to the guardroom, grabbed a megaphone, and shouted at the people present:

"Everyone, quiet down! If you have any demands, bring them up! Our County Party Committee and County Government leaders have come out; as long as you raise them, County Magistrate Zhao can answer in person!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Nanxing's face darkened instantly; he felt like kicking Jiao Qiang twice, thinking: "Your cleverness is probably over the top! If this were a face-saving matter, you'd have me lifted up before everyone—I'd certainly be glad—but if mishandled, it could become an embarrassment, don't you have any sense?"

But in such a setting, even if he felt unhappy inside, he could only suppress it.

Su Yang chuckled to himself; it seems his initial judgment was still not bad. As for this person Jiao Qiang, if you wanted him to handle economics or personnel, perhaps not, but if you wanted him to handle these scheming matters, he is absolutely the top choice.

Given this scene, if it were him, he definitely couldn't have said those words, nor would he have thought to directly push Zhao Nanxing forward. The most likely possibility is that he would first ask them about their demands, then come back to report to County Magistrate Zhao in person, solving the problem in the form of on-site office work.

He looked again at the megaphone in Jiao Qiang's hand—this is exactly the one he used before, right? It seems that working in Lieshan Xian, this thing is indispensable.

In the crowd, they shouted in unison: "Why stop the road construction project? Which bastard came up with this idea? We've waited so many years; finally someone said they would build roads for us, the announcement already came out, and now they say they won't build, they won't build!"

"You are leaders of the county government, but you should keep your word—you can't just take back what you've put out there! This kind of disgusting act—who exactly did it? Today I step forward; watch me not kill him!"

If a single common person were made to speak loudly in front of these leaders, they probably wouldn't dare; they'd likely be hunched over, stammering for half a day without managing to utter a complete sentence.

But if they are squeezed into the crowd, they wouldn't just shout a few lines—they'd dare to curse the eighteen generations of the leaders' ancestors present.

Zhao Nanxing's face turned green—this is eight lifetimes of bad luck! Just arrived, wanting the common people to applaud and praise is no easy feat, but surely it shouldn't come to being cursed to their face? Yet with so many people, what can he do? He stared fixedly at the crowd.

At this very moment, that big smart Jiao Qiang picked up the megaphone again and said: "You're making such a racket that County Magistrate Zhao can't even hear you. Why don't you select a few representatives to come over directly, let County Magistrate Zhao talk with you personally, and properly explain why these projects have been halted?"