Chapter 278: Simply Unfit to Be a County Governor

Xiong Qingping and Chen Da still had some matters to discuss, so Zhou Ming left the room first. Reflecting on the recent praise from the provincial governor and the city party secretary for Shen Xin, Zhou Ming felt a strong sense of pride and admiration for her. Chen Da might have been echoing Xiong Qingping's words, but as the provincial governor and someone close to President Du Zhongyuan, Xiong Qingping's judgment of character was rarely wrong. A woman who could earn his admiration was undoubtedly exceptional.

Indeed, Shen Xin was no ordinary woman. In Hong Kong, a place dominated by Chinese financial tycoons, she had become the chief financial reporter at barely twenty years old. While family background and fortunate circumstances might have played a role, her personal capabilities were undeniable.

After all, in a highly free environment like Hong Kong, for a journalist to rise to prominence, they must be able to grasp key points and uncover things others cannot.

Moreover, Shen Xin had interviewed almost all the major figures in Hong Kong, including the Governor and the richest Chinese person in the world, both of whom hold significant positions globally. Gaining recognition from such people would be impossible without genuine skill.

To put it more directly, her series of sharp questions during the meeting with Xiong Qingping, Chen Da, and Zhou Ming was not something an ordinary person could accomplish. It was precisely because of her talent that she would later become a well-known media personality across the country…

"Zhou Ming!"

A sudden shout interrupted Zhou Ming's thoughts. He turned around to see the very renowned journalist Shen Xin standing there. Seeing her nervously looking at him, Zhou Ming smiled and asked, "Reporter Shen, why are you here? Didn't you leave with Sister Muqing and Xiao Han?"

"I suddenly remembered I forgot something," Shen Xin casually explained, then asked, "Zhou Ming, have you finished talking with Governor Xiong and Secretary Chen? How did it go?"

"Reporter Shen, you truly live up to your title as Hong Kong's chief financial reporter, always keen on gathering news!" Zhou Ming teased.

"That's not what I meant, I..."

Shen Xin started to explain, but Zhou Ming quickly interrupted, "I was just kidding. But seriously, Reporter Shen, you were amazing just now. You have no idea how captivating your performance was during the meeting!"

Shen Xin's eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Of course it's true. You have no idea how much praise Governor Xiong and Secretary Chen were lavishing on you. They were practically putting you on a pedestal, making it impossible not to admire you," Zhou Ming said.

Shen Xin responded with an "Oh," her mood seemingly a bit downcast, which left Zhou Ming momentarily stunned, feeling as if he had said something wrong.

But Shen Xin's melancholy only lasted a moment. She quickly looked up at Zhou Ming and said, "Really? Am I that impressive? But I don't think it's my own doing. If it weren't for Representative Zhou giving me face, I wouldn't have achieved that effect. What do you think?"

"I think it's because you have the ability, Reporter Shen," Zhou Ming said.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Ming and Shen Xin left together. They headed straight to the area behind Shenglian Village, where the land allotted to Lin Muqing's company by Nanhui County was located. Today, Lin Muqing and Su Han had gone to inspect it, but something unexpected occurred when they arrived.

A crowd had gathered by the roadside, including government officials, farmers from Shenglian Village, and people from other organizations. They seemed to be arguing about something.

"What are you doing? Wasn't this land allocated to us by the county? How can you refuse to leave and still make such unreasonable demands?" Lin Muqing said angrily.

"That's right, Village Chief Wang, we've met and discussed this. You're well aware that the county's plan to establish a township industrial park and bring in external enterprises is for the development of the area, to improve your lives. How can you be so greedy and insatiable?" Su Han echoed Lin Muqing's sentiment.

Shenglian Village's Chief Wang He was equally unyielding, "Director Lin, Manager Su, how can you speak like this? How are we refusing to leave? How are we being greedy and insatiable?"

The town's Party Secretary, He Qi, was also present, acting as a mediator, "Director Lin, Manager Su, and Village Chief Wang, let's all calm down and discuss this."

This was the scene that greeted Zhou Ming and Shen Xin when they arrived. Zhou Ming pushed through the crowd and approached Lin Muqing and Su Han, frowning as he asked, "What's going on?"

"It's him," Su Han pointed at Wang He, "He's leading the villagers of Shenglian Village to refuse to leave, preventing Sister Muqing's company from moving in."

"What do you mean refusing to leave? Don't slander us!" Wang He shouted.

"Shut up!" Zhou Ming snapped, making Wang He flinch in fear. Zhou Ming then turned to Su Han, "Xiao Han, what exactly is the situation? Don't rush, tell me slowly."

Su Han was about to speak, but Lin Muqing interjected, "Let me explain. Here's what happened: I came here with Xiao Han to inspect the land, and these people were supposed to relocate. I had already arranged to build a factory here, but when we arrived, these people started causing a commotion. I don't even understand what's going on, and they surrounded us, demanding additional compensation."

"Compensation?" Zhou Ming's brow furrowed deeply.

Wang He, seeing Zhou Ming's reaction, was displeased, "Boss Zhou, our families have lived in Shenglian Village for generations. Now that the state wants to develop the land, we should support it, but supporting it doesn't mean being bullied like this. The compensation promised to us before, why is it being withheld?"

"Withheld? What's being withheld?" Zhou Ming asked.

"The relocation compensation! You promised us, but now every household is short by two thousand yuan!" Wang He said.

"That's right, you can't treat people like this!" the other villagers chimed in.

"That's the situation," Lin Muqing said.

Zhou Ming nodded to Lin Muqing and Su Han to indicate he understood. He then asked He Qi, "Secretary He, what's going on? I recall that the relocation compensation was handled by the management committee, wasn't it?"

Faced with Zhou Ming's question, He Qi's expression became awkward. He said to Zhou Ming, "Boss Zhou, I'm not clear on this either. How about we go back to the management committee and check?"

He Qi's response immediately raised red flags for Zhou Ming, who sternly asked, "Secretary He, what's the truth?"

As if to provide Zhou Ming with the best answer, just as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside the crowd: "What's all this noise? You people from Shenglian Village, what do you want? You were told to pack up and leave a long time ago. Can't you understand human language, or are you waiting for me to take action?"

Following this voice, a thug-like man entered. The first thing he noticed was Lin Muqing, and his eyes lit up as he lecherously scanned her from head to toe, deliberately approaching her and saying, "Is this the beautiful CEO from Hong Kong? Hello, my name is Yang. My father is the county governor."

Yang's gaze made Lin Muqing feel sick, and she didn't want to engage with him at all. Zhou Ming immediately stepped in front of Lin Muqing and demanded, "What's going on with the relocation compensation for Shenglian Village?"

With the beauty suddenly out of sight, Yang was naturally unhappy. He opened his mouth and cursed, "Who the hell are you?"

This frightened He Qi, who quickly introduced Zhou Ming to Yang. Upon hearing this, Yang let out an "Oh," and said, "So it's Representative Zhou. My apologies. You're here about the Shenglian Village matter, right? There's no need for you to worry, Boss Zhou. I can handle it."

"How will you handle it?" Zhou Ming asked.

"There's no need for me to report that to you, Boss Zhou. I have my ways," Yang replied.

"Are you the one who withheld Shenglian Village's compensation?" Zhou Ming decided not to beat around the bush and asked directly.

Yang had been speaking calmly with Zhou Ming up to this point, but upon hearing this blunt question, his demeanor changed. Unhappy, he said, "Boss Zhou, the compensation is what it is. What can I do? There's no such thing as withholding. It's just that these villagers are greedy. If you're so generous, why don't you chip in? After all, you're a big boss, and you wouldn't mind such a small amount of money! Or maybe let this beautiful boss chip in?"

"Bullshit!" Zhou Ming cursed, "The compensation was agreed upon with the villagers of Shenglian Village and was funded by the provincial government's allocation. How could it not be enough?"

Yang sneered, "Boss Zhou, you're making it sound easy. There are many things within the government that you don't understand."

"Of course I don't understand. If I did, you wouldn't have had a chance to withhold anything!" Zhou Ming said.

"Zhou Ming!" Yang was also displeased. "Don't push your luck. I told you I've been following the policy, so don't accuse me of talking nonsense. Don't think that just because you're a

 representative, I can't do anything to you."

Zhou Ming coldly smiled, "Talking nonsense? It doesn't matter. I just need to tell you one thing: this township industrial park is under the scrutiny of both the provincial and central governments. If you still have any sense, you'd better return the money you withheld. I can let bygones be bygones; otherwise, you'll bring disaster upon your family!"

Zhou Ming's words seemed prophetic. Just as he finished speaking, a car bearing the license plate of Nanhui County's second car arrived. The county governor, Yang, hurriedly jumped out of the car. Seeing his son confronting Zhou Ming, he immediately slapped his son in the face, scolding him thoroughly before turning to apologize to Zhou Ming, "I'm very sorry, Representative Zhou. This matter was mishandled by me. I'll take care of it."

Despite County Governor Yang's apology, Zhou Ming still said, "Governor Yang, as a national leader, is this how you educate your children? I won't say anything about placing your child in the management committee, but don't you understand how important this township industrial park is? How could you allow such a brat to run amok here? Do you even have a socialist perspective? You are simply unfit to be a people's county governor!"