Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 268 - 8 Rubbish
Chapter 268: Chapter 8 Rubbish
Li Yan glanced ahead, where Mr. Liu was dryly answering Secretary Bing’s questions. He then said to Liu Xuewu standing before him, “Enough, no more discussion. Let’s see things through to the end. I’m curious to find out what exactly Director Bing has up his sleeve.”
While speaking, Li Yan led him further inside, when suddenly his brow felt a searing heat, and two lines of text flashed before his eyes.
“Your Nine Luminaries Walker authority review has been approved, reviewer: Fan Wujiu.”
“Note: Originally wanted to meet up with you to test your abilities. But something came up at the last moment, so never mind. Consider it a favor, no thanks necessary.”
Li Yan was somewhat surprised. According to what Yan Fu had previously stated, with an Awakening Degree of 69%, he was eligible to apply for the “Nine Luminaries” walker certification, but he needed to demonstrate certain abilities to the reviewers. His first review for the Ten Cities walker authority, for instance, involved Yu Shiqie seeking him out on a pretext to probe into matters regarding Yu Shu, all the while granting him approval on the side.
And now, for the “Nine Luminaries” authority certification, this Fan Wujiu, whom he had never met before, also gave him an instant green light.
...
The slackness in fulfilling their responsibilities, along with the audacity of those favored by Yan Fu, was all too evident.
Li Yan narrowed his eyes, unable to suppress a thought that surged to the forefront. What would the situation have been like if a walker from Yan Fu had encountered the kind of incident that Mr. Liu’s family was dealing with?
Mo had previously warned him not to reveal any abilities in public that clearly didn’t belong to this world. Even if his abilities were exposed, it wouldn’t matter – someone would “clean up” after him, but it wouldn’t be free. Initially, Li Yan’s understanding of Yan Fu was shallow, so he didn’t think too much about it.
But now, thinking about it, the walkers of Yan Fu with their bizarre and variegated abilities maybe couldn’t directly confront state violence, but with a more subtle approach, the impact they could have on the original world would be earth-shattering. Without going into detail, just the Voodoo Doll that Li Yan had recently gotten his hands on, which could control minds, presented such vast potential it was tempting to let one’s imagination run wild…
The restrictions Mo talked about, in comparison to the current situation, were far too weak. They simply weren’t enough to hold the walkers of Yan Fu in check.
Moreover, the fruit tree of Yan Fu itself had never expressed any rule forbidding the walkers from doing whatever they pleased in the original world!
No erasure of memory, no altering of recollections. Nothing at all…
The current state of affairs, the walkers of Yan Fu remaining hidden just under the surface, was indeed worth pondering…
“Dayan, Dayan.”
Li Yan looked up. Mr. Liu was calling him over, and Director Bing was sizing him up.
Li Yan walked over to them and called out, “Uncle, what’s going on?”
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Mr. Liu said to Director Bing, “This is my nephew, he’s here to have a look.”
In truth, Mr. Liu and Li Yan were somewhat related; after all, the village wasn’t large. However, the term ‘nephew’ was just a spur-of-the-moment fabrication by Mr. Liu. He couldn’t exactly say, “This is the neighbor’s kid I’ve watched grow up.”
Director Bing’s smile was as warm as always. He nodded at Li Yan with a smile, and Li Yan nodded back. However, Director Bing raised his eyebrows slightly at Li Yan’s response.
“Uh, Director, the person in charge at the factory has invited you to sit over there,” said the young man beside him, eager to intervene.
Director Bing uttered a sound of acknowledgment and waved his hand, “Let’s all sit together, all together.”
The young man laughed in apology, “That wouldn’t be appropriate. You should be the last to take your seat.”
The crowd moved following Director Bing’s footsteps toward the large conference room at the factory. Li Yan found a seat in a corner and overheard the young man grumbling privately to Mr. Liu.
“Uncle, who is this cousin of mine? Why is he so rude? When Director Bing nodded at him, he shouldn’t have nodded back. What kind of attitude is that?”
Li Yan, with closed eyes, pretended not to hear.
Mr. Liu lowered his voice, “He’s here to help our family, so don’t say too much. Tell me, can Director Bing make this happen or not?”
After a brief hesitation the young man replied, “He’s my superior; it shouldn’t be a problem…”
“Don’t just say it shouldn’t. I need a definite answer!”
Mr. Liu was getting anxious. He had lived long enough to understand quickly, even if it took him a moment to come to grips. He’d just have to mull it over with a smoke. Director Bing said he’d come in the afternoon, yet he didn’t arrive until it was dark, and only after having a meeting with Rong Jinfei who’d been dealing with the village’s land.
Upon seeing him, Director Bing was all chummy, but he hadn’t shown any intention of negotiating with the factory side. Instead, he hurriedly wanted to “understand the situation” with the villagers. With such a large factory right in front of them, he didn’t even bother to ask, “Did you dig up someone’s ancestral grave?”
He’d been busy all day, and only came to talk to those involved at night. What was he doing earlier? Besides, the village committee members were present at the meeting, but what about the big businessman, Duan Wu? Not a trace to be seen, not even a mention – just this appointed minister dealing with the situation.
Realizing this, it dawned on Mr. Liu that despite Director Bing’s lively mouth, he didn’t get anything done!
The nephew hesitated for a bit, then said to Mr. Liu, “Uncle, to tell you the truth, Director Bing agreed to come because I told him you were willing to compromise on the land contract issue. You have no idea how big this is. Forget how much money Duan Wu spent; you don’t even know – the equipment is being made for the corps, and people from the city and province are watching. You can’t fight the inevitable. While they’re here, you should take any advantage you can get.”
Mr. Liu was taken aback, “How can this be?”
The land in Gaoxiangpu had been a contentious issue ever since it became known that ancestral graves had been dug up. The villagers had stood guard day and night, preventing any further soil disturbance, and the issue remained unresolved.
The young man looked concerned, “My dear uncle, let me be frank. Director Bing was willing to come only because I assured him that you, the villager Liu, were open to compromising. The problem of contracting out the land would be resolvable. You don’t realize how significant this is. Not to mention how much money Duan Wu has spent – have you even inquired? The machinery being produced here is for the corps, and it’s being monitored by both the city and the province. You can’t win against a thigh with your arm. Make the most of their visit and grab any advantage you can.”
Mr. Liu’s throat moved, his face alternating between red and white.
The young man also had a pained expression on his face, “About this, just bow your head and endure it, okay?”
“Eh, I mean, fellow comrades.”
Sitting at the front, Director Bing began to speak.
“The main reason I am here is that I heard that during the construction of our new rural community, there have been some issues.”
Director Bing paused, then continued, “I learned through Comrade Rong Jinfei that our town is conveniently located which the factory took into consideration for setting up here. It’s been about seven or eight years, and it has solved a lot of employment issues. Over these years, the standard of living in our town has skyrocketed. On behalf of the town, I must express our gratitude to the Dujiangyan Company.”
The minister, quite familiar with such proceedings, immediately replied, “That’s our obligation. Our chairman has repeatedly emphasized the importance of corporate social responsibility.”
Mr. Liu glanced at Director Bing, then at the factory minister, his lips quivering.
After a lot of talk, Director Bing finally said, “So, Comrade Liu Jicheng, since the factory representatives are also here, whatever difficulty or grievance you have, just speak up. We’ll all help you resolve it. Does that sound good?”
Mr. Liu, after hearing this, didn’t speak, and the atmosphere turned somewhat awkward.
In the meeting room, the loudest sound was the beeping of a mobile phone keypad in a corner.
“Don’t wait for me for dinner.”
Li Yan sent out this message, glanced at Director Bing above, and then closed his eyes again.
Mr. Liu thought for a while before speaking, “I’ve consulted a lawyer. Digging up graves isn’t enough to warrant a prison sentence. I just demand that the factory properly bury our ancestors’ bones, restore the gravesite, issue an apology, and compensate for mental anguish. As for the village committee selling the land without our consent…”
He glanced at Rong Jinfei and said with difficulty, “We… might not pursue that.”
“But there is one thing,” Mr. Liu emphasized, pressing his hand down on the table with all his might, “that land is Gaoxiangpu’s ancestral burial ground, and it can’t be sold to the factory.”
After he finished speaking, an elderly man sitting behind with his hands tucked in his sleeves also opened his mouth, “Right, it can’t be sold.”
“Right!”
Where there was one, there were now others, and the villagers’ voices began to join together, growing louder and louder.
Director Bing showed no expression, while Mr. Liu’s nephew who worked in the government grimaced, massaging his temples.
“Comrade Wang,” Director Bing suddenly spoke, his gaze, however, fell on the young man, “The situation, as you reported to me before we came here, seems quite different. And, the opinion of the masses, as you conveyed it to me, seems to have been discounted.”
His tone remained calm, but his expression had soured.
Wang sheepishly smiled, not knowing what to say.
“Comrade Wang, this is deceiving heaven and crossing the sea. I was wondering, why is it that the factory gate is blocked neither early nor late, just precisely when I arrive?” Director Bing’s voice grew louder, “You’re a college graduate and a civil servant. You should overcome narrow-minded and selfish ideas, look to the long-term, and not cling to these minor issues. Of course, I’m not criticizing Comrade Liu Jicheng; I’m talking about our young cadres today. Sigh!”
Wang laughed awkwardly, his fingers clenched around a ballpoint pen.
Mr. Liu thrust his hands into his sleeves, frowning without speaking.
“Also, Comrade Liu, I have to say a few words to you too. As people, we can’t be too selfish. How many years has the factory been here, providing so many ordinary people with job opportunities? How much burden has it relieved for the government? We can’t just beat someone with a stick, we have to see the bigger picture, care for the larger interest, sacrifice the small family for the greater good.”
Mr. Liu bit the dead skin on his lip, and it took a while before he said, “You, what you’re saying is, is sensible. We aren’t trying to cause trouble. No matter what, our ancestral graves can’t just be dug up for nothing.”
“Oh my, Comrade Liu, what kind of talk is that? It’s a bit over the top! If you’re in trouble, just say it, and we will help you solve it.”
The old man didn’t speak again.
Director Bing looked over the faces of the villagers, each one wrinkled and drawn into a tight cluster.
Director Bing let out a long breath, “Alright, alright. That’s all I have to say, the rest, you all think about it yourselves. For today, let’s stop here.”
He said stiffly, and made to leave.
“Take care, Director.”
Wang stood up and gathered his briefcase for him.
Director Bing gave a non-committal grunt, and as he was about to leave, a straightforward male voice came from the corner.
“What a joke.”
