20: Chapter 20 Villagers' Protest

The middle-aged woman beside them also chimed in.

Xiao Bei smiled a bit embarrassedly and waved his hand: "Everyone, please don't praise me. People like that just need to be taught a lesson."

Standing to the side, Qin Ruoxi watched Xiao Bei being praised by the crowd, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

She lowered her voice and said: "Little Xiao, you performed well just now."

Xiao Bei turned his head and saw Qin Ruoxi looking at him with a smile; his face instantly felt hot.

He scratched his head and said in a low voice: "Sister, are you okay? That guy didn't hurt you just now, did he?"

Qin Ruoxi shook her head, her tone relaxed: "I'm fine. With his level of courage, he couldn't hurt me. However, that move of yours just now was quite handsome."

Xiao Bei felt a bit embarrassed by her words and muttered in a low voice: "Sister, please don't tease me. I just couldn't stand watching him bully people."

Qin Ruoxi chuckled, her tone tinged with teasing: "I couldn't tell. You usually look quite gentle, but you're pretty swift when it comes to taking action. It seems I haven't just gained a secretary, but also a bodyguard."

Xiao Bei couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this: "Sister, if you put it that way, then I'll have to apply for double pay."

Qin Ruoxi rolled her eyes attractively and said: "Oh, I've only just praised you twice, and you're already starting to haggle? Fine, the day you can block a bullet for me, I'll give you double pay."

Xiao Bei pretended to think seriously for a moment, then said with a straight face: "Forget it then. Blocking bullets is too dangerous. I'd better just honestly be a secretary."

Qin Ruoxi was amused by him and covered her mouth, laughing: "You, you're really becoming more and more glib."

After chatting for a while, the bus slowly drove into Bishi Town. Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei got off the bus. As soon as they reached the entrance of the village, they heard a commotion ahead.

They saw a large crowd of villagers gathered together, confronting a team of construction workers with great agitation.

"This is our land! By what right do you occupy it just because you say so?"

An old man with a wrinkled face waved the hoe in his hand, his voice raspy but filled with anger.

"Exactly! You developers only have money in your eyes; you don't treat us common folk as human beings at all!"

A middle-aged woman also echoed loudly.

The person in charge of the construction team was a middle-aged man in a suit. He frowned and said impatiently: "This land has been legally requisitioned, and the paperwork is complete. It's useless for you to cause trouble! Move aside quickly and don't delay our construction!"

"Legal? How come we don't know about it? Did you ever ask for our opinion?"

The villagers clearly didn't buy it and pressed forward one after another. The atmosphere was suddenly tense, like swords drawn and bows bent.

Seeing this, Qin Ruoxi frowned slightly and walked forward quickly.

"Everyone, please calm down. If there are any problems, we can discuss them properly. Don't be impulsive."

Her voice was clear and bright, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The villagers turned back to see Qin Ruoxi. Seeing her extraordinary temperament, they all stopped in their tracks.

"Who are you? Can you handle this matter?"

The old man asked suspiciously.

Qin Ruoxi smiled slightly: "We are staff from the Municipal Government. We came here today to understand the situation. Whatever requests you have, you can tell me, and I will do my best to help you solve them."

Upon hearing that they were leaders from the city, the villagers immediately felt as if they had found a backbone and gathered around.

"Leader, you must stand up for us! They want to occupy our land without saying a word, and they haven't even given us an explanation!"

"That's right! We have farmed this land for generations, for decades. How can they just occupy it whenever they want?"

Qin Ruoxi listened patiently to the villagers' grievances, nodding from time to time to show her understanding.

After everyone's emotions calmed down a little, she turned to look at the person in charge of the construction team, her tone serious: "May I ask, is the requisition paperwork for this land complete? Has it been publicized and compensated according to the law?"

Hearing Qin Ruoxi's questioning, the person in charge looked impatient and said coldly: "I'm just following orders from above to do the work. I don't know anything about the paperwork. If you want to ask, wait until our boss arrives."

Just as he finished speaking, the roar of a car engine came from a distance. A black Mercedes-Benz slowly drove over and stopped outside the crowd.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man wearing a flashy suit and sunglasses stepped out, followed by two burly bodyguards.

"What's going on? Why haven't you started working yet?"

The middle-aged man took off his sunglasses, his tone carrying obvious dissatisfaction. This person was none other than Liao Sanjin, the boss of Aolan Real Estate.

The person in charge hurriedly went up to meet him, bowing and scraping: "Boss, these villagers refuse to move and are causing trouble, saying they want an explanation. These two seem to be from the city."

Liao Sanjin snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd and finally landing on Qin Ruoxi.

He looked her up and down, his tone contemptuous: "Where are you from? Meddling in business here?"

Qin Ruoxi was not afraid at all. She stepped forward and said: "Who I am is not important. I want to ask you, is the requisition paperwork for this land legal? Has it been agreed upon by the villagers? If there is no legal paperwork, you cannot force the construction."

Seeing that Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei were very young and dressed like ordinary people, Liao Sanjin naturally regarded them as meddlesome nobodies.

He sneered, his tone extremely arrogant: "Legal paperwork? Let me tell you, this land is for a key municipal project, and the paperwork was finished long ago! You villagers, stop causing trouble here. If you delay the construction schedule, can you afford the compensation?"

The villagers became even more agitated upon hearing his words.

"You're lying! We haven't seen any paperwork at all!"

"Exactly! You never discussed it with us at all!"

Liao Sanjin waved his hand impatiently, his tone fierce: "Enough nonsense! I'm telling you, I'm determined to occupy this land today! Whoever dares to stop me, don't blame me for being impolite!"

After he finished speaking, he turned and waved to the bodyguards behind him: "Go, call the bulldozer over! Whoever dares to block the way, just run them over!"

The bodyguard nodded, immediately took out a walkie-talkie, and spoke a few words in a low voice.

Soon, a roar came from the distance. A huge bulldozer slowly drove over, approaching the crowd aggressively.

Seeing this, the villagers retreated one after another, expressions of fear appearing on their faces.

Qin Ruoxi's face darkened, and she said sternly: "You wouldn't dare! In broad daylight, you still want to resort to violence and hurt people?"

Liao Sanjin sneered, his tone carrying a threat: "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. If you're sensible, leave quickly; otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Qin Ruoxi did not back down at all: "I don't care whose project this is. As long as there is no legal paperwork, I have the right to call a halt to it! Just try moving, and I will call the police immediately!"

Liao Sanjin was stunned by her imposing manner, and his face turned gloomy.

He gritted his teeth and said viciously: "Fine, fine, you've got guts! I'd like to see how long you can hold out!"

After he finished speaking, he turned and roared at the bulldozer driver: "Drive it over! Whoever dares to block the way, just run them over!"