Hong Lin was a bit troubled, how to bring back food for so many people?

"Aunt, why don’t we eat out? I didn’t bring so many lunch boxes. I’ll just deliver it to my grandma."

"Sure, let’s all eat out today." Sister-in-law Lu is a straightforward person. She agreed with a smile. It’s understandable, it’s not at home, and it’s normal if it’s inconvenient. Even ordinary families may not have such conditions.

This made the Li family’s father and son sigh in relief. Hong Lin warmly invited them to follow him to the breakfast shop.

Wei Kaiyun and others arrived at Old Yang’s house in the city at seven because it was not work time yet, and they were not in a rush, so they walked over.

They arrived at seven-thirty, told the guard, and then went inside.

They went straight to Xing Zhibin’s office, even if he wasn’t handling it, it still needed his arrangement.

"You guys are here, this matter is the responsibility of our leader, let me take you over."

The eight people from yesterday were already in Xiao Manshan’s office. They were worried, afraid of losing their jobs. The other four were furious with Tang Jianjun for dragging them into this.

Xiao Manshan already knew about yesterday’s situation. He had some disagreements with Li Yunqiao, so he planned to handle the matter severely.

Seeing Xing Zhibin leading several people in.

"Director, Li Hongjun is here."

"Okay, you can go on with your work."

Xing Zhibin nodded with a smile and left.

"I understand the situation. Although they overstepped, your blatant resistance has caused a very negative impact. How can we establish authority in the future like this?"

Jiang Xinyu stepped forward, "Director Xiao, I am a villager from Li Family Village, and I already know about this matter.

Firstly, everything has a cause and effect. There was no unreasonable action; using violence when no issue was present, this matter was witnessed by many nearby. Surely, this affects your credibility, but doesn’t it also dishearten the wider public?

Also, the high-ups have mentioned, where there’s oppression, there’s resistance. What do you think, Director Xiao?"

Xiao Manshan held back his anger, knowing he really couldn’t say it was wrong.

"That could also be explained later when you come back."

"Director Xiao, they definitely didn’t tell you the truth about this matter, right? Our village’s people had decided to come along, but someone had ill intentions. Did they not clarify what caused the conflict?"

Xiao Manshan looked at the eight people and saw from their expressions that there were hidden truths.

He was furious; what kind of people are from Li Family Village? Every word she spoke was sensible and logical, and she knew how to leverage power.

Jiang Xinyu looked at Xiao Manshan’s expression, "Director Xiao, Li Hongjun made a mistake, but looking at it from his perspective, when someone with bad intentions is always trying to persecute, he’d naturally resist stubbornly due to his youth and vigor."

Jiang Xinyu emphasized the words "youth and vigor" and "ill intentions" heavily.

"Returning the permits to Li Family Village, let’s end this matter here. However, if something like this happens again, there will be no leniency."

"Director Xiao, this is the hope of three hundred people in our village. Just one word from you, and the watermelons will rot in the fields?

We arranged the permits when we started growing the watermelons, with your approval."

Xiao Manshan’s anger flared up instantly. "Don’t label this on me; you made the mistake first."

"We made the mistake first? Even though you’re in charge, you can’t label us like that.

We are just poor common folk, selling our labor’s produce legitimately—and it’s permitted—so, where’s our mistake?"

Jiang Xinyu had already decided to avoid bringing up Hongjun’s resistance because of the high-up’s words, knowing they wouldn’t seize on this matter.

Facing this aggressive woman, Xiao Manshan was already on the verge of exploding.

"I’ll revoke your permits right now."

"Alright then. Director Xiao, is there anything else?"

"Nothing."

"Village Chief Li, let’s go back and bring all the watermelons from the fields here.

We’ve worked so hard day and night for months. If they’re going to rot in the field, it’s better to rot here.

Oh right, if there’s no space here, send them to the courtyard."

"Is this a threat?"

"A threat? Director Xiao, if it were a threat, I’d go straight to the province." Wei Kaiyun suddenly spoke.

"Haha, very interesting." Everyone could hear the threat implied.

"Director Xiao, we’ve done nothing wrong." Jiang Xinyu was also in a mood, "The battles between you all shouldn’t implicate the villagers. Those were days of scraping for food, of sweat splitting into eight pieces to earn this."

Xiao Manshan didn’t expect this woman to dare to speak to him like this.

Jiang Xinyu, having already voiced her thoughts, had no more reservations.

"Director Xiao, we also need closure on this matter. Some people’s ethics are too low; they tried to take advantage, and when we didn’t oblige, it resulted in a similar incident last year in the county. They don’t learn from mistakes.

We demand the severe punishment of such unethical individuals; they are unfit to serve the people."

The other seven people were relieved; as long as they weren’t being targeted, it was fine.

Tang Jianjun didn’t dare to raise his head; his family spent all their money to get him this good job. Losing it would be problematic.

"You’re talking nonsense, I never had such intentions."

"Didn’t you? Why did the others stop when they saw the permit, but you still wanted to take us back?

What’s your agenda? Your actions disappoint many villagers; this tarnishes the reputation of government workers.

Our village’s labor products enrich the citizens’ vegetable baskets, and the leaders all approved of this, opening convenient doors for us. How many people’s support has this garnered, only for it to be ruined by scum like you?

Unbeknownst to you, people see you as one using a cudgel for others. Gaining public approval isn’t easy; it takes the leaders’ hard work, but your actions have led to disappointment, and consequently, decreased trust and support for the leaders.

You still say you did nothing wrong? You have the nerve to stand here and argue?"

Xiao Manshan, though detesting Jiang Xinyu, knew she was right. It was true some people acted recklessly.

"Director Xiao, really, I didn’t."

Jiang Xinyu stood aside, sneering coldly. She looked at Tang Jianjun contemptuously. "Don’t slander Director Xiao anymore.

Such a good leader, and you’re tarnishing his reputation. Stop harming others.

Director Xiao, we definitely need an explanation. Our entire village of over three hundred people needs an answer."