Chapter Seventy-Four: The Villain

“I told you, we need to use tough measures. Reasoning with these people is useless!”
During the internal meeting at the Relocation Office, Director Qian’s face was aglow, his gestures animated.
After the decision to cut off water and electricity, the previously stagnant demolition work in Gaogang Village began to loosen.
In less than half a week, over a hundred households voluntarily came to the Relocation Office to sign the compensation agreements, sixty-five had already handed over their keys.
“People are herd animals. If this momentum continues, more and more residents will be willing to move. I reckon these two thousand households—within a month, we’ll have most of them settled.”
Director Qian was elated, leaning across his desk to speak to Old Li. “Next, we must strike while the iron is hot. We can move even faster. Let’s aim for over eighty percent of households in Gaogang Village to sign agreements and turn in their keys within a month. Once most are gone, the few remaining won’t make a difference. We can deal with them one by one, apply pressure, persuade them. If, in the end, there are still a few stubborn ones—hmph…”
“Director Qian, let me report on the current progress. Including previous signings, we have three hundred twenty-eight agreements signed, two hundred twenty-one households have moved out. We’re off to a great start!”
Old Li was also pleased with the current progress. The city’s requirement was “fast and effective”—normally, speed and quality conflict, but the situation in Gaogang Village seemed to be moving in the right direction.
“Excellent!” Director Qian waved his hand. “Next, let’s cut off the water and electricity for the other half of Gaogang Village…”
Director Qian was still speaking passionately when the office door was suddenly pushed open. A staff member from the Relocation Office, dripping with sweat, entered with a troubled expression. “Sir, there’s been an incident downstairs…”
“What’s going on? Can’t you see we’re in a meeting?” Director Qian slapped the table.
“Sir, there’s a large group causing trouble. You’d better come take a look.” The staff member spoke awkwardly.
Director Qian turned to leave, calling to Old Li, “Come with me, let’s see what’s happening!”
Following the stairs, they had barely reached the first floor when Director Qian and Old Li were startled by the scene before them.
The not-so-large lobby was packed. A swarm of elderly men and women had made themselves at home in the Relocation Office.
Some lounged on the sofas listening to the radio, others played cards beneath the electric fans; a few were filling their cups at the water dispenser…
An old man, dressed in a faded military uniform and limping, carried a tin bucket. Zhao Zejun was holding a barrel of drinking water he’d found in the office, pouring it into the bucket.
Outside the main entrance, layers of Gaogang Village residents gathered. Some were just there for the spectacle; others had come to sign agreements and hand over their keys but, seeing the situation, lingered at the doorway, reconsidering.
“What’s going on? Who brought beds in here?!”
Director Qian pointed at two metal beds placed diagonally in the middle of the lobby, glaring.

“Good day, Sir!” Zhao Zejun, sweating profusely, put down the water barrel and greeted them with a smile.
“Why did you bring all these people here?” Director Qian jabbed his finger at Zhao Zejun’s nose, scolding loudly. “Let me tell you, this is an office. Take them away now or I’ll have you all arrested! You included!”
“Zhao, have you lost your mind? Look at the trouble you’re causing!”
Old Li glanced at the crowd at the door, pulled Zhao Zejun aside, and whispered urgently, “Quickly take them away. If there’s anything to discuss, we’ll do it privately!”
“Sir, there’s nothing else I could do. It’s unbearable!”
Zhao Zejun replied miserably. “There’s no water or electricity in the village. It’s June and over thirty degrees—no one can live there. I’m young, I can manage, but these elders can’t take it.”
“Even so, you can’t just bring them here! This isn’t your home; you can’t come and go as you please!” Director Qian barked.
“If the Relocation Office hadn’t dug up the pipes!”
Zhao Zejun argued stubbornly. “You disconnected the water and electricity and won’t fix it. Who else should I come to? Besides, if these elders stay at my place in this heat and something happens, I’m just an ordinary citizen—I can’t bear that responsibility! I’m young, it’s fine, but the elders can’t stand it. They’ve discussed it, from today onward, they’ll eat and sleep here—after all, your office has water and power!”
Before Director Qian could explode, Zhao Zejun added, “Of course, I don’t want to burden the office too much. I’ve been persuading them—if everyone comes, you won’t be able to support them. From now on, only half will come each day, the other half will stay at my place, and switch the next day. Sir, I’ve done my utmost…”
Utmost? Old Li shot Zhao Zejun a fierce glare—wasn’t he just afraid all the elders would leave and the office would seize the chance to tear down his house?
Inside, chaos reigned; outside, the crowd grew restless. Upon hearing this, some started shouting: “Sir, my house is without water too. If they can stay here, I’ll bring my whole family tomorrow!”
“Yes, my house lost power, and my children need to do their homework! We’ll come too!”
“Me as well!”
…
Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Director Qian’s face darkened. He signaled to Old Li.
“Come on, colleagues, let’s help the elders back home to rest!” Old Li called loudly.
The office employed a group of young men. Hearing this, they appeared and, without further ado, began escorting the elderly outside.
Two young men with dyed blond hair, one on each side, pressed down on Zhao Zejun, hissing in a low voice, “If you cause more trouble, you’ll find yourself locked up!”
At that moment, amidst the commotion in the lobby, a sharp smack echoed—a senior slapped one of the young men trying to carry him away.

Though the old man could barely stand, his strength was impressive. The young man, in his twenties, staggered from the blow.
“You rotten old bastard…” The young man clutched his face and cursed obscenely.
Before he could finish, the elder raised his cane and thrashed him soundly, shouting, “Damn it, even the Japanese couldn’t capture me, but you’re restraining me?! You little bastard, worse than those Japanese devils!”
Zhao Zejun recognized the old man—likely the eldest in Gaogang Village, a WWII veteran, at least eighty or ninety years old.
The first slap broke the fragile peace.
An old woman stretched out her claw-like hand and scratched a young man’s face, then sat down heavily, wailing, “There’s no justice! The Relocation Office is killing people! Sir, please stand up for us!”
The lobby devolved—some threw tantrums, some rolled on the floor, some wailed, others clung to the staff’s legs and refused to let go.
“Enough!”
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the second floor. A man with graying hair appeared at the stairway.
“Director Feng, what brings you here?” Old Li hurried over to greet him.
“I’ve seen everything. Zhao, isn’t it? Come here,” Director Feng beckoned to Zhao Zejun.
Old Li quickly introduced, “Zhao, this is Director Feng from the district, the head of this demolition project.”
“Director Feng, good day. As you can see, there’s no water or electricity—it’s impossible to live…”
Director Feng frowned, cutting him off in a deep voice, “Have them go home first. By tomorrow night at the latest, I guarantee the water and power will be restored.”
“Sir, there’s no water now. How about we wait until it’s fixed, then I’ll have them leave?” Zhao Zejun finished and addressed the elders in the lobby, “Everyone, let’s get up. The director agrees you can stay here temporarily while they restore the water and power!”
No amount of words from the Relocation Office could match Zhao Zejun’s announcement. The place, just moments ago as chaotic as a market, suddenly quieted down.
“Alright.” Director Feng nodded and turned upstairs, calling, “Director Qian, Old Li, come with me.”