Chapter 572 — Kill One to Warn a Hundred, Part One

Later, the city carried out a unified garbage collection and disposal renovation project, setting up several temporary garbage collection points in the shantytown, which finally eliminated this dump for good. Otherwise, once summer came, the smell was simply unbearable.

After the area was cleared, it became a place where the elderly of the shantytown gathered daily to play chess and exercise, and an open space for children to play. Today, however, it had become the venue for negotiations with the developer.

Between the two large trees behind the open space, a banner had already been strung up: Welcome Qibing Real Estate's Renovation of the Shantytown!

Zhao Qibing sat in the back of an Audi Q7, with Zhong Fabai serving as temporary driver, Jin Gubang in the passenger seat, and beside Zhao Qibing sat a middle-aged man—a middle-aged man whose identity was impossible to discern, who had suddenly appeared at Zhao Qibing's side early that morning.

Zhao Qibing offered no introduction, and the middle-aged man said little. But Zhong Fabai and Jin Gubang guessed that this person must be a bodyguard Zhao Qibing had brought along, one who simply hadn't arrived until a few days ago.

Behind the Audi Q7 followed a black van, carrying Zhong Fabai's underlings—the enforcers for the negotiation, whose purpose was to deal with any relocation households who refused to cooperate.

The car stopped near the open space. Zhao Qibing spotted the banner on the plaza at a glance, and his heart swelled with satisfaction. It seemed these relocation households had been longing for demolition for quite some time. That being the case, he held the initiative, and when the time came he could drive the price down even further.

"Young Master Bing, these people look like they're all welcoming you!" Zhong Fabai said fawningly, while secretly calculating his plan to redirect the trouble elsewhere.

"Hmph. Wait until you announce the price—then we'll see if they're still so welcoming." Young Master Bing was no fool; he knew these people had no idea what compensation price he was offering. Once the price was out, they likely wouldn't be so welcoming anymore.

"So what if they don't welcome it? It still has to be demolished, doesn't it? This is the first project of your grand venture in Songshan City, Young Master Bing—you can't let a few obstinate commoners ruin it!" Zhong Fabai said.

"Of course I won't halt it because of them, but if these obstinate commoners refuse to let us demolish, that's a real hassle." Zhao Qibing looked at the crowd filling the plaza and frowned. "These people have clearly coordinated in advance. The price negotiation later probably won't go smoothly."

"That depends on your resolve, Young Master Bing!" Zhong Fabai said with a smile. "Since Brother Cihua brought me in, I understand a thing or two. I've got methods, but you need to give me a limit—how big a mess can you cover for?"

"As long as these people aren't killed, there's no problem." Young Master Bing spoke indifferently. To him, the residents of this shantytown were like ants—a powerless, vulnerable group. Young Master Bing didn't believe they could stir up any real trouble.

"With your word, Young Master Bing, this becomes easy!" Zhong Fabai patted his chest. "Young Master Bing, just you watch! Dealing with these obstinate commoners is my specialty. If all else fails, we roll in the bulldozers and to hell with the consequences—that'll scare them stiff!"

"Mm, as long as no one dies, anything goes!" Young Master Bing nodded. "But later, I'd best see a kill-one-to-warn-a-hundred. If the impact is too broad, I'm afraid I won't be able to suppress it. But injuring or crippling one or two—that's collateral damage, isn't it?"

"Understood!" Zhong Fabai nodded. "Young Master Bing, let's see if anyone steps out of line later. Take down the troublemaker first, and the rest will be easy."

"That's exactly what I mean. But Old Zhong, don't you think you've brought a bit few men?" Seeing the shantytown residents filling the plaza, Zhao Qibing wondered whether the people Zhong Fabai had brought could really intimidate these commoners. Of course, he himself wasn't afraid—it was precisely the fear of trouble that had made him request this skilled man from his father. Never mind the few hundred people on this plaza; even more wouldn't pose a threat to his safety. But after all, deploying a personal guard against these people would escalate matters considerably.

"Young Master Bing, these are just the staff who came with us. The bulldozers and excavators are behind—they'll be here any moment!" Zhong Fabai checked his watch. "Should be soon!"

"Good. I'll leave the rest to you." Hearing that Zhong Fabai had more forces, Zhao Qibing felt reassured.

"Later, whoever won't submit—we'll demolish their house first. We need to start strong, or these obstinate commoners will take a mile if you give them an inch!" Zhong Fabai schemed inwardly. In a moment, he would demolish Tang Yun's house, and better yet, make a big scene of it. If Tang Yun got hurt, Wei Zhao surely wouldn't stand by and do nothing, would he? Then he would shift all the blame cleanly onto others and let Wei Zhao go seek revenge on Young Master Bing! Wei Zhao going up against Young Master Bing—wasn't that just courting death?

Young Master Bing nodded and got out of the car. Accompanied by Zhong Fabai, Jin Gubang, and the bodyguard, he walked to the row of tables hastily assembled into a podium on the plaza and sat down.

The shantytown residents below had now fallen silent, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the people on the stage. These were the people who could decide their fate—every word they spoke next would be worth gold. How could they dare not tread with utmost caution?

"This is Chairman Zhao Qibing of our Qibing Real Estate Development Company. This shantytown renovation is Chairman Zhao's responsibility. If you have any demands, feel free to raise them, and we'll study the relocation plan together!" Zhong Fabai had kept Zhao Qibing's words firmly in mind—kill one to warn a hundred, shoot the bird that sticks its head out. He needed to find someone to make an example of, so he deliberately threw out this invitation, waiting for some reckless commoner to make an outrageous demand, then deal with them and ensure no one else dared raise any demands either.

Zhong Fabai's words stunned the residents present! Wasn't it always the case that the developer came, forcefully announced a price, and asked whether they'd demolish or not? This time it was negotiation? Could it be that this developer truly had a conscience and intended to bring some real benefits to the shantytown?

So the residents' hopes stirred, yet still no one dared step forward first—after all, no one knew whether the developer's words were true or false.

Seeing that no one spoke, Zhong Fabai wasn't in a hurry. "Discuss it among yourselves first. Once you've reached a consensus, send a representative to talk with us. We'll go grab a bite to eat in the meantime!"