Chapter Eighteen: Forced Demolition

“Forcible demolition? Let them try!”
Liu Meijia’s face turned pale with rage as she received word that the villagers of Yutou Village were planning to forcibly tear down the company’s base at Liangou Hollow.
No one could say for certain whether they would dare or not. Wang Chengwei didn’t even dare to breathe as he stood there, let alone anyone else.
“Contact the leaders of Donghe Town and have them come up with a solution!” Liu Meijia stood up and paced twice around the meeting room, shouting furiously, “Make sure they stall for time. Don’t let those backwater bumpkins from Yutou Village run amok.”
She looked up and bellowed at Wang Chengwei, “Gather all available security personnel and rush to Liangou Hollow—the more people, the better.”
Her expression darkened. “I refuse to believe we can’t handle a bunch of troublemakers from Yutou Village.”
Her fury boiling over, Liu Meijia couldn’t help but consider resorting to force to settle the dispute with Yutou Village.
Wan Daqiang stood up hurriedly and said, “President Liu, please calm down.”
“Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? They’ve turned the world upside down—tell me, how can I calm down?” she retorted, her face contorted with anger.
Wan Daqiang offered a bitter smile. “The county’s investigation team hasn’t disbanded yet. The relevant authorities have made it clear—they’re reviewing our past dealings.
“Also, while I’ve managed to keep the financial news reporters in check, that Xie Anran seems very interested in Liangou Hollow and Yutou Village.
“The conflict between our company and Yutou Village must not be made public. I just got word from my contacts at the police station: because we reported the incident after Zhang Kang and his men were beaten, Yutou Village is pushing back.
“They’re planning to seek help from the media. The party secretary of Yutou Village has some influence in the provincial capital. If the media gets involved, we’ll have no way to explain ourselves to the group headquarters.”
Zhang Kang was beaten purely out of his own recklessness—after drinking himself senseless, he didn’t even know his own name.
Forget a few broken ribs—even if he’d been beaten to death, we might not have had anywhere to appeal for justice.
They assaulted villagers and desecrated Zhang Deshun’s corpse first—if this scandal breaks, the more people who know, the worse it will be for Qiangyuan Company.
We could try to pass Zhang Kang’s actions off as his own, but would the public believe that?
So, regarding Zhang Kang’s case, it would be best for Qiangyuan to keep it under wraps and minimize the fallout.
After hearing Wan Daqiang’s words, Liu Meijia gradually regained her composure and returned to her seat.
She glanced around at everyone present in the meeting room, then fixed her eyes on Wan Daqiang. “What do you suggest we do?”
Wan Daqiang gritted his teeth. “The conflict with those Yutou Village ruffians must not be linked to the publicly listed group. This is a sensitive time—we can’t give the county any leverage over us, nor can we afford any negative publicity. As long as we keep the share price stable, everything else can be dealt with later.”
He paused briefly, then added, “President Liu, this is also the chairman’s view.”
Liu Meijia’s expression remained sour, but her anger was no longer as explosive as before.
“So you’re suggesting we abandon Liangou Hollow?”
Wan Daqiang nodded. “As long as Qiangyuan’s main interests are protected, as long as we weather the county’s investigation and satisfy the exchange’s inquiries, and as long as the company’s market value remains steady, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to settle scores with those Yutou Village scoundrels in the future. After all, they can run, but they can’t hide.”

Liu Meijia found it impossible to swallow this indignity. According to Wan Daqiang’s proposal, the ten million that Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e had taken was as good as thrown into the river, never to be seen again.
Not only did it fail to bring about reconciliation with Yutou Village, now she was expected to give up Liangou Hollow as well. Suffering such a loss—how could Liu Meijia possibly accept this?
Wan Daqiang spoke softly, “It might actually be better for Qiangyuan to sever ties with Yutou Village. If there are things we can’t do openly, we can always do them in the shadows.”
“I’m tired. Handle this matter as you see fit.”
Liu Meijia fell silent. After about three minutes, she stood up, turned around, and walked out of the meeting room without looking back.
In the empty corridor, she took out her phone and, her face expressionless, dialed a number.
“Get in touch with ‘Little Flower’ for me.”
After a few seconds, a voice came through the receiver. “What’s the job?”
Liu Meijia’s tone was cold and grim. “Eliminate Tang Long, the village chief of Yutou Village.”
“The village chief?”
There was a note of surprise in the voice on the other end.
“Yes, the village chief. Used to be a soldier—just returned from service.” Liu Meijia replied tersely.
“Do you have any detailed intel?”
“Photo, age, address. Nothing more,” she replied icily.
After about three seconds, the voice on the other end said, “Five million.”
“Deal.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Liu Meijia hung up.
Getting money from Qiangyuan wasn’t easy, but getting it from her, Liu Meijia, was even harder.
Since you’re so eager to die, let me oblige you.
…
Tang Long led his people to Liangou Hollow, to Qiangyuan Company’s stronghold.
“Listen up, everyone inside. You’re surrounded. You have ten minutes to leave. If you stay, bear the consequences yourself!”
Wang Youfu shouted through an old-fashioned megaphone at the Qiangyuan employees.
“Do you really think this will work?” Old Xing, standing next to Tang Long, asked.
Tang Long shrugged, grinning nonchalantly. “Who knows? I have no plan right now—just taking it one step at a time.”

But today, the villagers were determined to demolish Qiangyuan’s base at Liangou Hollow.
Yutou Village didn’t want Qiangyuan’s property. If the company wouldn’t tear it down themselves, the villagers would do it for them.
“President Tang, Qian Youwang from the town office just called me!”
Zhang Xiu’e hurried over to Tang Long, looking troubled.
“Mhm.”
Tang Long was not surprised; Qiangyuan would definitely try to resolve this through the town officials. No doubt Liu Meijia had spent plenty on the Donghe Town leadership.
In the past, as long as money exchanged hands, everything could be negotiated—even conflicts with the villagers weren’t insurmountable.
But now, things were different. This was a blood feud—money couldn’t solve it.
Yutou Village might not have the power now, but once they grew stronger, this would be a fight to the very end.
“What should I say?” Zhang Xiu’e was at a loss.
Tang Long chuckled, “Say what? Just turn off your phone—if anyone wants to talk, let them come find us.”
…
Hesitating a moment, Zhang Xiu’e decisively followed Tang Long’s advice and switched off her phone.
Let them do as they please. Today, no one could stop them.
The villagers of Yutou Village were ready to take action. In the past, it was always Qiangyuan’s thugs bullying the villagers. Now, it was the villagers’ turn to forcibly demolish Qiangyuan’s property—just the thought was satisfying!
What is forcible demolition?
It means flattening it, no matter what.
Yutou Village didn’t have machinery, but they had people!
Hundreds of villagers, men and women, young and old—even if they had to pull it down with ropes, they could bring it to the ground.
Give everyone a hammer—how could it possibly stand?
“Time’s up!”
Tang Long raised his hand calmly. “Drag everyone inside out. Make sure no one gets killed—we’re here to demolish the place, not to murder anyone. Even if Qiangyuan’s people are contemptible, they’re still human lives.”
“Demolish it!”