Chapter 30

Chapter 22: Thunderous Handling

A young cadre stepped out from the crowd with a calm expression and said without being humble or arrogant, "County Chief, the trigger for this mass dispute was a peasant woman from Damu Village in Tianma Township attempting suicide by jumping into a pond. After her suicide attempt failed, a large group of Damu villagers and people from several other villages, armed with iron hoes and shovels, surrounded our township government..."

Yang Zixuan knew there were many hidden issues involved. Given the presence of so many heads of Tianma Township, this young cadre probably dared not reveal the truth. He gestured for him to stop.

"Let's go out and see the situation first. The police are probably on their way." Yang Zixuan didn't look at the group of cadres again and walked out...

"No, County Chief, it's too chaotic outside. Your leg is not convenient, and it would be too dangerous if something unexpected happens." Liu Jian quickly blocked Yang Zixuan in front.

Yang Zixuan gave him a cold snort and walked around him, heading straight out.

As soon as he stepped out of the township government gate, he could see a large crowd of people, noisy and chaotic, despite the drizzling rain.

Yang Zixuan strode forward with great momentum, pushing through the crowd and snatching a megaphone from a nearby police officer. "Everyone, quiet down! Quiet down! Listen to me for a moment!"

"You can raise your issues to me on the spot, and I will handle them on the spot!"

The crowd, holding hoes and other tools, saw Yang Zixuan stride out of the township government and speak through the megaphone. They could tell from his demeanor that he was likely a leader.

As long as someone took responsibility, the crowd became quieter after Yang Zixuan started speaking.

Most of the people present in Tianma Township had seen the few key figures in the township government, but they didn't know where this unfamiliar face came from.

"Who is this guy?"

"Is he a new cadre in the township government?"

"No, I've seen most of the cadres in the township government, and they are all from our township. I've never seen such a young person."

"Is he a scapegoat sent by those rascals in the township government to fool us while they slip away?"

"From his demeanor, he doesn't seem like he's trying to fool us!"

A few representatives of the crowd began to raise their heads and shout, "Who are you? You're so young, can you handle this matter?"

"You don't need to question my identity. I am the County Chief of Hongshui County. You can raise your issues now." Yang Zixuan raised his voice to the maximum. He knew that he couldn't show weakness at this moment, as it would easily lead to a lack of trust from the crowd. He needed to present a strong and trustworthy image.

"You are our County Chief, but we can't even afford to eat or celebrate the New Year. Will you handle this?"

"I am the County Chief, and I will handle any major issues concerning the people's interests! I am a Party member, and I cannot ignore even the smallest issues concerning the people's interests!" Yang Zixuan shouted through the megaphone, his voice firm.

"County Chief, I am from Damu Village in the township. I farm in the village, and we are very poor with poor transportation. I used to walk on muddy roads to school every day. My family is also very poor, and the clothes I wear are usually those worn by older children. Now, farming can barely keep us from going hungry, but there are still a few days each month when we can't afford to eat. Our family's biggest expense is not buying things but paying taxes. There are seven people in my family, and we have a little over one acre of land. The annual tax is almost a thousand yuan. There are many taxes, and I don't remember all their names because I haven't had much education. However, I remember one tax very clearly because its name is particularly called the 'head tax.' The villagers don't know what this head tax is, but I heard from the elders that in this world, everyone has to pay taxes to the state. Everyone has a head, and having a head means paying taxes. My father is a simple farmer and pays whatever the township demands. A few days ago, he refused to pay a few hundred yuan in taxes, and several people from the township came to collect it several times, saying some threatening words. There is a widow in the village with several children. She was allegedly forced to pay this year's head tax by people sent by the township government and was driven to jump into the deepest fish pond in our village. If my father hadn't happened to pass by, she would have drowned!"

The voice came from a young man. As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd's emotions were immediately inflamed again, and the scene became chaotic once more!

Yang Zixuan smiled bitterly. The problem was indeed serious. The people in the Tianma Township government were truly scoundrels, even implementing the head tax. No wonder the people were so agitated.

However, Yang Zixuan also noticed a few people in the crowd who were the most vocal, with a strong air of hooliganism, not like honest farmers. They looked more like the rural ruffians of Tianma Township...

Yang Zixuan had good eyesight and secretly watched these troublemakers. The sound of整齐的步伐 (neat footsteps) came from not far away, and it was likely that the riot police led by An Zai were arriving.

Yang Zixuan saw a Beijing Jeep 212 nearby and had Song An help him climb onto the roof, giving him a commanding view to better control the situation.

"Song An, remember a few people for me." Yang Zixuan pointed to a few people in the crowd and had Song An note them down. "Director An and the riot police will probably arrive soon. Tell him not to act rashly and not to engage in physical conflict with any of the people. Have a few people arrest the ones I pointed out to stabilize the situation. Understand? Go if you understand..."

Song An nodded and ran into the township government building, slipping out from the back...

The crowd's emotions were inflamed for a while, and their voices were tired from shouting. They noticed Yang Zixuan standing on the roof of the Beijing 212, neither speaking nor responding to their shouts, but instead looking at the back of the crowd...

Some curious people couldn't help but look back and were startled...

Behind the crowd stood a large group of riot police, forming a line, ready for action!

"Arrest them!" An Zai shouted.

A few agile and tall police officers, like hares, rushed into the crowd and pinned down a few people who were still unaware of what was happening!

"Everyone, stand still and don't move! Don't engage in physical conflict with the police, as it is illegal!" Yang Zixuan also shouted through the megaphone. Hearing about the law, the crowd clearly paused for a moment, and in that instant, a few people were dragged out of the crowd by the police!

The most dangerous situation was temporarily over!

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