Chapter Four: Qiangyuan Corporation

"I want to talk to you about the Qiangyuan Company."

Tang Long had already asked Aunt Yang about it. Zhang Xiu'e had been in Yutou Village for about four or five months. Because she was a college graduate and educated, the old village chief strongly supported her work, so she knew more about village affairs than the average villager.

"What do you want to know?" Zhang Xiu'e sat down on the short bench beside Tang Long.

He looked at her and said, "The grievances between Qiangyuan Company and Yutou Village center on two main issues: first, the 'Liangou Hollow,' and second, their attempt to seize village land to build a factory."

"That's right."

Zhang Xiu'e nodded. Because of these two matters, Zhang Deshun had worn out the thresholds of both the township and the county offices, but in the end, he never received any satisfactory answer.

"Did Qiangyuan Company get any official approval from the county or township to occupy 'Liangou Hollow'?"

She shook her head. "Definitely not. I went to the county office with the old village chief, and the leader in charge of such affairs made it very clear."

"Did they sign any lease or contract with the village?"

"Also no!"

Tang Long spoke calmly, "Without county or township approval, and no lease contract with the village, that makes things much simpler."

Zhang Xiu'e looked at him, unable to see how it could be simple. If it were as easy as he made it sound, the old village chief wouldn't have had to run himself ragged.

"This matter—leave it to me."

Thinking of how Tang Long had crippled more than a dozen Qiangyuan Company security guards yesterday, Zhang Xiu'e hurriedly warned him, "Don't do anything reckless. Matters with Qiangyuan Company can't be settled by force alone!"

He flashed her a smile, though there was a chill behind it. "Do I look like someone who only knows how to use violence?"

Before she could respond, he changed the subject. "How much do you know about Qiangyuan Company?"

Zhang Xiu'e frowned. "Qiangyuan Company isn’t just one of the biggest firms in Taoyuan County, it’s also one of the few publicly listed companies in the city..."

"You said Qiangyuan is a listed company?" Tang Long interrupted, his gaze sharpening.

"Yes, it’s listed. I’ve heard its market value is several billion."

Tang Long nodded. "Go on."

"Qiangyuan Company used to focus mainly on deep-sea salvage, but now it's involved in aquaculture, seafood processing, and many other fields. Its assets are substantial."

Tang Long pondered for a moment. "Who’s the owner of Qiangyuan Company?"

She shook her head. "I don't know who the big boss is, but the person in charge of Qiangyuan’s operations in Taoyuan County is a woman named Liu Meijia. The person managing 'Liangou Hollow' is nicknamed 'Heizi'—his real name is Liu Jianming. He’s an ex-convict, served time in prison, and has a criminal record."

Tang Long made a mental note of the two names.

"So, the affairs at 'Liangou Hollow' have always been managed by this 'Heizi' Liu Jianming?"

Zhang Xiu'e nodded. "The person you beat up yesterday, Zhang Kang, is just a small leader under Liu Jianming."

"Has Liu Jianming ever personally assaulted villagers?" Tang Long asked.

After a brief hesitation, Zhang Xiu'e gritted her teeth. "He has! Liu Jianming is not just arrogant, he’s ruthless. Last year, Li Ergou got into a dispute with Qiangyuan Company. Liu Jianming led his men and broke Li Ergou’s ribs."

She paused, then added, "There’s a boy in the village named Ermao. He went to bathe and fish at Liangou Hollow. The Qiangyuan people caught him, and Liu Jianming slapped him more than a dozen times, deafening him in one ear. In the end, they only paid a few thousand yuan in compensation."

A sharp glint flashed through Tang Long’s eyes. He took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart.

"Everyone in the village is afraid of this Liu Jianming, aren’t they?"

Zhang Xiu'e looked at him in surprise. He had immediately grasped the heart of the matter.

"Yes," she admitted. The people of Yutou Village had suffered greatly at the hands of Qiangyuan Company these last few years.

Tang Long asked no further questions.

After Zhang Xiu'e left, he took out his phone and dialed a number. "Help me look into Qiangyuan Company. The more detailed, the better. Thanks."

He hung up. The other party would know what to do; there was no need for extra words.

By midday, people began returning to Yutou Village, stopping by the mourning hall to pay their respects to the old village chief Zhang Deshun and greet Tang Long.

Li Ergou and Lian Sheng had called every villager they could reach. Anyone who could return would be back the morning the old village chief was buried.

Over a hundred people—usually the village was only this lively during the New Year.

Officials from the township and the police had also arrived to handle matters. The arrangement was that Qiangyuan Company would not hold Yutou Village responsible, and the security guards who had smashed the old village chief’s mourning hall would either be fired or disciplined.

On the surface, things seemed to favor Yutou Village, but the punishment was light. Aside from paying the medical expenses for the injured security guards, Qiangyuan Company’s people faced no real consequences.

The township’s attitude was that the matter should end there. In their eyes, Zhang Deshun was dead, and that was that.

Tang Long still paid no attention. Until the old village chief was buried, he had nothing else to say.

On the day of the funeral, Tang Long personally shouldered the coffin, silent along the entire route.

Nearly three hundred villagers, young and old, wept as they escorted the procession.

Kneeling before the grave, Tang Long’s eyes were bloodshot as he kowtowed three times, his voice ringing out: "Go in peace. From now on, Yutou Village has me. For the rest of my life, I’ll put down roots here."

A gust of wind swept by, making the wreaths on the grave rustle loudly.

The old village chief’s portrait seemed almost to respond to his vow.

Rising from the graveside, Tang Long faced the villagers. "Everyone, I’ve come back to Yutou Village, and I’m not leaving again. Let’s keep this simple—those who want to stay and help the village, stand to the left; those who’d rather leave for work, stand to the right. Do as you wish—no one is forced."

"Those who stay, go home and fetch your tools. This afternoon, we’re going to 'Liangou Hollow' with me."

With that, he turned to head back.

Zhang Xiu'e hurried after him, her face pale. "Tang Long, what are you planning?"

The moment she heard him tell the villagers to fetch their tools and march to 'Liangou Hollow,' she knew nothing good would come of it. She pleaded, "We can’t confront Qiangyuan Company head-on."

Tang Long walked toward the village, calmly replying, "What do you mean by 'head-on'? 'Liangou Hollow' belongs to Yutou Village—no one can deny that. Since it’s our own land, what does Qiangyuan Company have to do with it?"

Qiangyuan Company didn’t even have proper approval or paperwork. What right did they have to occupy Yutou Village’s land?

"Whatever you plan, you ought to inform me as the village branch secretary!" Zhang Xiu'e stamped her foot in frustration.

Tang Long smiled. "I’m not planning anything. I just want to tell the villagers that 'Liangou Hollow' is our own land. From now on, if the children want to swim or fish there, they can. If any outsider tries to meddle or lays a hand on our people, we’ll deal with those bastards ourselves."

Why should Qiangyuan Company occupy 'Liangou Hollow'? This is our home. You come here to defecate and urinate, forbid the locals from saying a word, and even resort to violence? What kind of logic is that?

There’s nothing more to say. As long as reason is on our side—

We fight!