Chapter 116: The Mad Dog

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The Mountain Sacrifice would be held during the Hour of the Snake. Since the Snake corresponded to the earthly branch Si, and the mountain was Snake-Coiled Mountain, the time had been chosen with the future snake-breeding operation in mind. The Hour of the Snake lasted from nine to eleven in the morning, and everything had to be arranged before nine.

Before seven, Uncle Sheng had already arranged for the people going into town to buy vegetables. Li Ying handed one thousand yuan to Luo Yinxiang. Since Luo Yinxiang would be responsible for managing the construction accounts from then on, she would handle the money starting now.

Before nine, the live pigs had to be taken to Snake-Coiled Mountain. Le’er was just about to go to Uncle Sheng’s house when two cars arrived. One belonged to Mayor Wang Chaowei; he had no idea who owned the other.

The moment Le’er saw Wang Chaowei’s car, he felt a headache coming on. Irritation stirred in his heart, but the man was the mayor, and he still had to show him the proper respect.

“Sha Le’er… Ha-ha… I suppose I ought to call you Boss Sha now.”

Wang Chaowei came over with Secretary Yang, laughing jovially. Behind them followed a big man with a huge belly and a greasy head. He wore an ill-fitting suit and carried a black leather briefcase tucked beneath his arm.

“Please, have a seat.”

Le’er laughed along. His skill at dealing with people had long since surpassed that of an ordinary country youth. He knew how to speak to men as men and to ghosts as ghosts. If others laughed superficially, he could do the same.

Li Ying quickly brought out tea.

“Mayor Wang, you talk. I’m going to see Uncle Sheng. There are still plenty of things that need arranging.”

She had no desire to become entangled with these people. When it came to dealing with them, she was clearly less experienced than Le’er. It would be better to find an excuse and leave.

The mayor nodded. The greasy, fat-faced man kept glancing at Li Ying, his lustful gaze practically stabbing into her.

After Li Ying left, Wang Chaowei’s eyes narrowed with a smile.

“Boss Sha, allow me to introduce you. This is Director Yang of the Twin Bridges Brickworks. He is the own cousin of our county’s Deputy Magistrate Yang.”

He placed heavy emphasis on the latter part, as though he were introducing not the factory director but Deputy Magistrate Yang himself.

Le’er smiled faintly and reached out to shake Yang Huamin’s hand.

“Director Yang is an important figure in our town. I heard about the Twin Bridges Brickworks several years ago. I also heard that Director Yang was a leading contributor to poverty alleviation in our town. I was still young back then.”

Le’er sneered inwardly while flattering him aloud.

“Have some tea… Hmm. Deputy Magistrate Yang is certainly an important man. Someone as insignificant as me would never have the honor of meeting him. I’ve only heard that he is an excellent leader in our county. Ha-ha…”

“That’s right. Our Deputy Magistrate Yang is not only capable, he is also willing to accomplish real things for the people. The Twin Bridges Brickworks was established under his care, and it has provided tremendous support for the development of our town. His contributions are beyond dispute.”

Wang Chaowei continued to laugh ingratiatingly. Yang Huamin grew rather pleased with himself, crossed one leg over the other, and began swinging it back and forth.

“Without me, damn it, this town wouldn’t have developed so quickly.” A cigarette hung from his mouth as he shook his head. “The new municipal building was built with my bricks. The school’s new teaching building was built with my bricks… Hmph. Tell me, what construction project around here didn’t use my bricks? Could things have been built so quickly without me?”

He was utterly incapable of recognizing his own shamelessness. Le’er smiled and continued flattering him.

“Exactly. Boss Sha, why don’t you consider working with Director Yang?” Wang Chaowei finally came to the point. “Director Yang wasn’t home yesterday, so everything was just a misunderstanding. Your businesses are both enterprises supporting poverty alleviation in our town. Naturally, you ought to cooperate.”

“That’s right. If Boss Sha works with us, I’ll certainly give you the best possible price. After all, you can’t write the word ‘poverty alleviation’ with only one stroke. Isn’t that so?”

Yang Huamin laughed as well and took out a cigarette, offering one to Le’er. Le’er accepted it and lit up.

“Of course. We’re both enterprises supporting poverty alleviation, so naturally we should cooperate.” Le’er exhaled a plume of smoke. “You saw that I came looking for you yesterday. There was just a misunderstanding, which was why we failed to reach an agreement. But… to be frank with you, Mayor Wang and Director Yang, I’ve already signed a contract with Great Fortune Brickworks. So we’ll have to work together next time.”

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“Uh… How did you move so quickly?” Wang Chaowei’s expression immediately darkened. “Didn’t I tell you to wait?”

“I’m sorry, Mayor Wang.”

Le’er smiled cheerfully and refilled their teacups.

“Have some tea. As you can see, our breeding farm is officially beginning construction today. Director Yang wasn’t here, while the director of Great Fortune Brickworks had been waiting here for me the entire time. His price was reasonable, so naturally I signed the contract. Business depends on timing, location, and harmony among people. This farm has to be completed before the busy spring season next year. How could I afford to wait? Besides, there will be plenty of opportunities for cooperation in the future.”

Wang Chaowei’s face grew darker and darker.

“What the hell is Great Fortune Brickworks? That damn contract is nothing but a scrap of paper. What are you afraid of? Just tear it up!”

Yang Huamin was accustomed to forcing people into buying and selling. In his eyes, a contract was worth even less than a blank sheet of paper.

“Director Yang, you can’t put it that way. The foundation of business is trust. Who would be willing to do business with someone who has no integrity? If I tear up someone else’s contract today, then someone else may tear up mine tomorrow. I’m truly sorry, but I can’t do that.”

Le’er shook his head.

“To hell with integrity! What use is that crap?”

Yang Huamin flew into a rage.

“Sha Le’er, I think you’re deliberately screwing with us!”

Yang Huamin’s words enraged Le’er as well.

“Director Yang, yesterday you had me locked up to force me into submission. Are you planning to tie me up and drag me away today?”

Wang Chaowei saw that matters were about to get out of hand. Yesterday’s incident had not yet been settled, and if something happened again today, it would become even more troublesome. He had not expected Sha Le’er to lose his temper in front of him. Though he was deeply displeased, he still had to play peacemaker.

“Director Yang, Boss Sha, why get so angry? Business is meant to be negotiated. There’s still room for discussion. Boss Sha, Great Fortune can take on the order, but can’t you give some of it to Twin Bridges as well?”

At that moment, the sound of another engine came from outside. It was impossible to tell whose car it was.

“Mayor Wang, it’s not that I don’t want to show you respect.”

Le’er’s anger had not subsided. He paid no attention to who had arrived outside and fixed Wang Chaowei with a dark, cold stare.

“With Director Yang’s character and the way he conducts himself, I will never do a single penny’s worth of business with him for the rest of my life.”

“You little bastard…”

Yang Huamin had never suffered such an insult. Calling someone a damned bastard was not unusual, but “bastard” was a genuine curse. He sprang to his feet and began shouting.

“Yang Huamin, you dare curse me again…”

Le’er was so furious that his fingers trembled.

“Damn you, try it again. If I don’t make sure you enter here standing and leave horizontally, I’ll call you my father!”

Le’er had nothing to fear from Yang Huamin here. He was a ruthless fighter himself and had never been afraid of anyone in a one-on-one fight.

“Sha Le’er… you?”

Wang Chaowei stood up as well.

“Mayor Wang, are you planning to help him beat me too?” Once Le’er lost his temper, he stopped caring about anything else. “What the hell do you want?”

At that moment, a jumble of footsteps sounded outside. Clearly, a large number of people had entered.

“Sha Le’er, I’ll crush you like an ant…”

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“Who’s making such a bold claim?”

The moment Mayor Wang heard that voice, he knew things had gone terribly wrong. He was about to speak when Secretary Huang strode into the room. Behind him came Xie Dapao and Secretary Chen, along with several police officers carrying firecrackers and bundles of banners.

When Secretary Huang saw Mayor Wang and Yang Huamin, his expression darkened.

“Le’er, what happened?”

“Mayor Wang brought Director Yang here to force me to buy his bricks. I refused, and Director Yang said he would crush me.”

“He dares!” Xie Dapao stepped forward. “Damn it, cuff him!”

Several officers moved forward, but Secretary Huang stopped them.

“Sha Le’er, what kind of talk is that?” Mayor Wang cried out in alarm.

“Mayor Wang, did I say it?” Sha Le’er said angrily. “Didn’t you hear what he said? I’m an ordinary citizen, while his elder brother is the deputy magistrate. But I refuse to believe this whole country belongs to the Yang family, that they can crush me whenever they please.”

At that moment, even if Wang Chaowei had eight mouths, he could not explain himself out of the situation.

“Mayor Wang, I’d like to ask what exactly you mean by this,” Secretary Huang said quietly. “And as for you, Yang Huamin, I think you’ve grown accustomed to throwing your weight around. This is the People’s Republic of China, not the Yang family’s private kingdom.”

“Secretary Huang, I came with nothing but good intentions!”

Wang Chaowei had always been under Secretary Huang’s thumb. Now that Secretary Huang had seized upon his words, he could only struggle to defend himself.

“I was merely trying to bring the two sides together. They’re both enterprises supporting poverty alleviation in our town. If they can cooperate, that would be a good thing.”

“Yes, you had good intentions. Unfortunately, good intentions can still lead to disastrous results.”

Secretary Huang’s tone was cold and sinister.

“Didn’t you know that Twin Bridges Brickworks no longer has the capacity to produce? Are you trying to destroy the poverty-alleviation enterprise Secretary Feng worked so hard to bring here?”

The accusation was far too serious. Once it stuck, it could crush Wang Chaowei completely. In the county, Secretary Feng was unquestionably the authority. Although the county magistrate was also fighting for power, true control still rested in Secretary Feng’s hands.

Cold sweat broke out on Wang Chaowei’s forehead. It was the dead of winter, yet sweat appeared on his brow under the immense pressure.

He wanted to curse everyone involved. First, Deputy Magistrate Yang, for forcing this assignment on him. Then Yang Huamin, that useless fool who accomplished nothing but ruined everything. Finally, Secretary Huang Yinhai, for being so vicious.

As for Sha Le’er, Wang Chaowei wanted nothing more than to strangle the little bastard who dared oppose him.

Secretary Huang had thrown his weight around by disparaging the Twin Bridges Brickworks, and that infuriated Yang Huamin. With his own cousin supporting him, Yang Huamin feared neither Heaven nor Earth in Twin Bridges Town. He often cursed the mayor whenever he lost his temper. Though he was somewhat wary of Secretary Huang, when pushed, he would still snap at him.

He probably believed his cousin was greater than Heaven itself.

“Huang Yinhai, don’t think you’re some kind of emperor of Twin Bridges Town. I, Yang Huamin, am not afraid of you! Who says my Twin Bridges Brickworks lacks production capacity?”

Secretary Huang was furious, but he suppressed his anger completely. Xie Dapao was already eager for action. The moment Secretary Huang gave the word, he would have beaten Yang Huamin senseless.

“I’m not the local emperor. You are. I’m not having Sergeant Xie cuff you today only out of consideration for your brother.”

Secretary Huang spoke softly.

“Tomorrow, I’ll demand an explanation from Yang Huarong.”

“What use is it for you to see my brother? If you’ve got the nerve, cuff me!”

Yang Huamin shouted and leaped about.

“Xie Dapao, I’ll give you three times the courage you have. Come on, cuff your grandfather!”

Xie Dapao glanced at Secretary Huang. Secretary Huang said nothing and walked out with a grim expression. Mayor Wang had no choice but to follow him.

Xie Dapao gave a sinister smile and signaled the officers to block Yang Huamin’s path.