Chapter 292: The Hard Truth (Part 1)

Chapter 292: The Hard Truth (Part 1)

“Show us your press credentials. You are reporters, aren’t you?”

Mr. Wang presented the standard image of a construction contractor, his belly protruding high like a mountain. He glanced at the press cards with a slightly hostile gaze. As he handed them back, he muttered resentfully, “Reporters are no good.”

Liu Ruixue and Du Chenglong’s expressions darkened.

Wang Hui took the credentials back without showing anger. “Does Mr. Wang hold a prejudice against reporters?”

Mr. Wang was Ma Youcai’s brother-in-law. He was the type of person who looked like a pig but had a sharp mind. His rudeness was superficial, like the grass on the heads of PLA soldiers, effectively masking his shrewdness. He had used this tactic for many years, and it often worked. He raised his voice, “A while back, steel was in short supply. Without steel, building houses was impossible. Those damn reporters made a big deal out of it, nearly causing me to lose face at the New Management Committee.”

After venting his complaints, Mr. Wang rested his hand on his belt. “You are reporters from the provincial paper, so your standards must be higher than those of third-rate tabloids. I hope you will reflect the issues truthfully and not jump to conclusions based on rumors. Here is my business card. I am a rough man, and my words may not be pleasant. You are educated people, so please do not take offense.”

The three men got into the car, feeling quite depressed. Liu Ruixue said, “Director Wang, the situation seems completely opposite to what was written in the CPPCC newspaper. The New Management Committee does not seem as terrible as we imagined.”

This time, the provincial newspaper had not notified Shazhou in advance of their visit to Yiyang. Wang Hui had no idea that their movements had already been tracked by the New Management Committee, nor did he suspect this was a setup. He said, “I know Su Jiahao. He is a Chinese teacher at Shazhou Middle School. His writing is excellent, and his character is good. I believe he would not write nonsense. After we finish our interviews in Yiyang, we will go to Shazhou to meet him. Even for something exposed to direct sunlight, there are always shadows and bright sides. The key is the angle from which you view the problem.”

By now, the three were starving. Wang Hui checked his watch. “Good things do not come from rushing. Let’s head back to Yiyang county town immediately. We will rest until three o’clock. Liu Ruixue and Du Chenglong will go to the New Management Committee area, visit villages and households to gather first-hand materials, and compile the data tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will interview at the New Management Committee, and in the afternoon, we will return to Shazhou to meet Su Jiahao.”

At the New Management Committee office, information from all sides was being funneled into Hou Weidong’s office.

Hou Weidong said, “These three reporters from the provincial paper are working very carefully. Director Zhang, what do you estimate they will do next?”

Zhang Xiangyu thought for a moment and replied, “The three of them work in a pragmatic manner. They should be visiting the homes of commune members this afternoon.”

“We must seize the initiative. Let’s continue to wait for them in front of the hotel this afternoon. Let Yang Liu go. Director Zhang, you should go to Su Family Village in advance and try to encounter the reporters there unexpectedly.”

Due to the widespread circulation of American blockbuster movies, everyone had picked up a few tracking techniques while enjoying the films. When the three reporters walked out of the hotel, Hou Weidong’s pickup truck quietly followed. Wang Bing smiled at Yang Liu and said, “Don’t worry, they will definitely not notice. Once we reach the South Gate, you can call Director Zhang.”

When Wang Hui’s Santana from the provincial newspaper undoubtedly entered the small road in the southern suburbs, Yang Liu used a borrowed mobile phone to call Zhang Xiangyu. Around four o’clock, Zhang Xiangyu successfully encountered Liu Ruixue and Du Chenglong unexpectedly.

Liu Ruixue quietly called Wang Hui, who was staying in Yiyang city. “Du Chenglong and I have interviewed four farming households. We have now encountered a deputy director of the New Management Committee. He has invited us to the New Management Committee. Should we go?”

Wang Hui was at the County People’s Hospital. The article in the CPPCC newspaper mentioned that six villagers were injured and hospitalized, but it did not specify the nature of their injuries. He had specifically come to verify this.

At the People’s Hospital, President Jiang happened to be the duty director. Zhu Yan was originally the instigator of the New Management Committee’s actions, so she naturally stood on Zhu Yan’s side. She called the duty doctor, and soon the medical records of the six people from Su Family Village and Yi Zhongcheng from the New Management Committee were brought over.

“I heard there were six people. Why are there seven?” Wang Hui took the medical records handed to him by President Jiang and flipped through them one by one.

“Six villagers and one New Management Committee cadre were hospitalized, making seven people in total. The six villagers have already been discharged, but the New Management Committee cadre is still receiving hospital treatment.”

Wang Hui did not ask further. He took the medical records and examined them carefully. The villagers had suffered soft tissue injuries, while Yi Zhongcheng from the New Management Committee had received sixteen stitches. He was secretly startled. “The CPPCC newspaper did not mention this at all.”

From a doctor’s perspective, President Jiang said, “The villagers likely got injured during the scuffle. The New Management Committee cadre was hit by a stone. Those villagers were too ruthless; they tried to beat him to death. The medical expenses for the six people are still pending on the account. It was the county government that made the call.”

Wang Hui copied down the details from the medical records and said casually, “The root of farmers lies in the land. With land, they have a guarantee of livelihood. If farmers lose their land, they have no way to retreat. It is not difficult to understand why they would have extreme behaviors.”

President Jiang interrupted him, “Even if farmers lose their land, they cannot resort to violence. The beaten cadre is also a human being, a father to his children and a son to his parents. If he were beaten to death, the pillar of his family would collapse. How would the whole family survive?”

Wang Hui said, “Of course, the method of beating is wrong.” At that moment, Liu Ruixue’s call came in. He pondered for a while and said, “Since we have met, let’s go to their office. We will have to meet them sooner or later anyway.”

At five o’clock, Hou Weidong officially met the three reporters from the provincial paper in the small conference room of the New Management Committee. He deliberately put on airs, letting Zhang Xiangyu chat with Wang Hui and the others for a while before entering the conference room with a teacup and a notebook.

Hou Weidong looked at the three reporters he had long admired and said enthusiastically, “Rare guests, truly rare guests. I did not expect reporters from the provincial paper to come to the New Management Committee for an interview. I am deeply honored.”

Zhang Xiangyu introduced, “This is Hou Weidong, Party Secretary and Director of the New Management Committee.”

The materials Wang Hui held about the New Management Committee were outdated. The documents still listed Yang Dajin as the director and Zhang Jin as the executive deputy director. He had not expected the head of the New Management Committee to be so young. He said, “I am Wang Hui, a reporter for the Lingxi Daily. These two are my colleagues, Liu Ruixue and Du Chenglong.”

After sitting down, Hou Weidong offered cigarettes to Wang Hui and Du Chenglong. He said, “It is a great thing that Reporter Wang has come to the New Management Committee for an interview. We welcome you.”

He spoke loudly to Zhang Xiangyu, “Director Zhang, put aside your current tasks for the next two days and accompany Reporter Wang and his team throughout. You must act as both a tour guide and a service provider.”

Before Wang Hui and the others could speak, he added happily, “Reporter Wang, although the New Management Committee has achieved some results, there is still a large gap between our performance and the requirements of the organization and the hopes of the people. I did not expect reporters from the provincial paper to come to publicize these small achievements. On behalf of all the cadres of the New Management Committee and the 36,000 people, I sincerely thank Reporter Wang, Reporter Liu, and Reporter Du.”

Yang Liu took out the newly bought camera at the right moment and flashed a series of photos of the reporters.

Wang Hui, Liu Ruixue, and Du Chenglong looked at each other in confusion.

Liu Ruixue muttered to herself, “So the New Management Committee is still dreaming of good publicity.”

Wang Hui explained, “Our visit to Yiyang this time is part of a series of investigative activities arranged by the Lingxi Daily. Yiyang is only one part of it. It is not about publicity.”

Hou Weidong enthusiastically interrupted Wang Hui. “We are already very proud that the series of investigations has come to the New Management Committee in Yiyang. Please, friends, first visit the exhibition room so you can have a direct impression of the New Management Committee.”

All the officials of the New Management Committee present stood up. Hou Weidong said, “Please, leaders from the province, come to visit the county-level New City Management Committee. Please offer your valuable opinions.”

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. Seeing the enthusiastic cadres of the New Management Committee, the three reporters followed Hou Weidong and the others into the exhibition room.

This was the exhibition room of a section-level New Management Committee, but it far exceeded the standard of a section-level unit. Although the formal detailed plan for the New Management Committee had not yet been released, Hou Weidong, in order to better promote the New Management Committee and to show its future to entrepreneurs, had built this exhibition hall to a high standard according to the preliminary design scheme.

Hou Weidong and others had specifically hired the largest advertising design company in Shazhou. After several revisions to the design drawings, they created this exhibition hall. Leaders like Zhu Yan then proposed further modifications. As the saying goes, three cobblers with their combined wit can match a master strategist. The exhibition hall, which had taken a lot of effort, met at least the provincial-level exhibition hall standard in terms of concept, lighting, and the adoption of modern technology.

When the background music started, the lights on the large sand table lit up one by one. Hou Weidong held a remote pen and personally gave the explanation. Although he had not been at the New Management Committee for long, he knew every detail of the exhibition hall by heart. His introduction was vivid and highly infectious.

Liu Ruixue had originally held a slight disdain for this young head of the New Management Committee, but after listening to the introduction, she could not help but look at him with new respect.

Wang Hui understood that the more enthusiastic the New Management Committee was, the easier it would be for his pen to be softened. Taking advantage of a brief pause in Hou Weidong’s speech, he jumped in and went straight to the point. “The area of the New Management Committee is about six to seven square kilometers. After it is built, how many farmers will lose their land? And how will they survive after losing their land?”

Having opened his mouth, he did not want to leave any room for evasion. He continued, “Regardless of whether it is for development or other reasons, farmers should not bear the cost of reform. The long-standing price scissors difference in agricultural products has already caused farmers to silently bear the cost of development. The new round of reform should not achieve progress by sacrificing the interests of some people. This is an inhumane act.”