Chapter 2073: Cease

Near the end of 2008, several videos suddenly surfaced on the once-peaceful internet.

In the videos, a group of people dressed like migrant workers stood at a construction site entrance.

"Let us in, we want to work," said the man at the front.

"Brother, there's really no work. Didn't you finish your job?" replied a man who looked like a security guard.

"We finished, but we haven't been paid yet."

The man continued.

"Then go to the foreman. Why come to us?" The security guard looked exasperated.

"I don't care. We worked here, so we're coming to you." Clearly, the other side wasn't going to be reasonable.

Soon, the site manager arrived and said to the group, "We've already paid the contractor."

"I don't care. I haven't received the money."

"How about this: I'll pay you now. It's only over twenty thousand yuan, right?"

"That works, but you also have to give us work, or we won't leave..."

...

...

Several videos had similar content: this group came to the site every day, refused to leave, and forced the company to find them work and pay them.

Moreover, in the videos, no one's face was blurred; they all appeared in person, and even the site's address was clearly visible.

At that time, netizens were even more eager for gossip than later generations.

In later generations, with too many information sources and having been fooled by messy news many times, netizens would more or less let the dust settle and wait for follow-ups.

But now, whenever there was hot news, everyone paid close attention.

"This location seems to be near the capital."

"Right, right, looks like the suburbs."

"But are those people really migrant workers?"

"Can't be, migrant workers aren't that aggressive."

"Why not? Do you think they don't look like farmers?"

"Hard to say."

News spread quickly online, and soon everyone was talking about it, curious whether it was a deliberate setup or the real situation.

Then, major media began reporting on it.

Newspapers and TV stations followed suit.

Some reporters even went to the migrant workers' hometowns, and sure enough, they found information.

They confirmed the identities of these people.

They really were migrant workers.

Public opinion was in an uproar!

No one expected that among the usually simple and honest migrant workers, there could be such people.

"We are also helpless against this kind of extortion."

The general manager of Future Real Estate Development Company said in an interview, "We know that most migrant workers are honest and reliable, but these black sheep damage their image. We call on the state to effectively manage rural migrant workers. For enterprises, if wages are not paid on time, they can be listed as dishonest debtors and denied bank loans. For workers, those who don't meet qualifications should not be hired..."

He spoke at length, clearly showing that Future Real Estate wasn't blaming these workers.

But the problem was that public opinion wouldn't let it go.

For journalists, such a valuable social news event was impossible to ignore.

Thus, even media that had no prior connection to Future Group went wild reporting this story.

...

...

"This has blown up big."

Zheng Yao sat in Zhao Fusheng's office and explained, "Many media are discussing it. I'm worried it might provoke hostility toward us."

"Why would they be hostile toward us?"

Zhao Fusheng sneered, "Because we exposed the despicable side of some weak people?"

Hearing his words, Zheng Yao smiled helplessly.

Having known Zhao Fusheng for so many years, she naturally understood that his temper was always one of yielding to persuasion but not to coercion.

If those migrant workers were truly in difficulty and Zhao Fusheng found out, he might even generously open his purse to help them solve their problems.

But conversely, since these people used such despicable means to cheat him, to Zhao Fusheng they were no longer pitiable weaklings but enemies who needed to be taught a lesson.

Zhao Fusheng had never shown any mercy to his enemies.

Though it might not go as far as uprooting them completely, based on Zheng Yao's understanding of Zhao Fusheng, he would not let this matter go easily.

Come to think of it, Zheng Yao always felt that Zhao Fusheng was sometimes particularly stubborn.

For some things that could clearly be let slide, he would cling obstinately to his own views.

It wasn't that this was bad, but Zheng Yao felt that Zhao Fusheng was a bit too rigid in his thinking.

After a moment's thought, Zheng Yao said to Zhao Fusheng, "I think it's about enough."

"What do you mean?"

Zhao Fusheng glanced at Zheng Yao upon hearing this.

"Regardless, we've achieved our goal." Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng and said earnestly, "Those who deserved punishment have been placed under investigation by the Public Security Bureau. Externally, our company's image has been established. So I think this matter should be allowed to fade away, so it doesn't affect the company's normal operations going forward. What do you think?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned but did not speak immediately.

If it were Liu Yiming saying such things to Zhao Fusheng, he would probably have been shouted down.

But Zheng Yao was different.

As Zhao Fusheng's most trusted confidant and the CEO of Future Group, Zheng Yao's position within the entire Future Group was very special.

Everyone knew that if the chairman was not around, they could report matters directly to President Zheng, and her decisions were essentially the chairman's decisions.

And now, the two had a disagreement.

"I'll think it over."

After a long while, Zhao Fusheng looked up and said to Zheng Yao.

Zheng Yao nodded and said nothing more.

Given Zhao Fusheng's temperament, since he said that, he was seriously considering her words, just still a bit hesitant.

Men, after all, always have a stiff upper lip.

After seeing Zheng Yao out, Zhao Fusheng sat in his office, silent for a long time.

To be honest, Zheng Yao's words had indeed moved Zhao Fusheng.

Just as Zheng Yao had said, no matter what, everything needed a limit.

Even when teaching someone a lesson, it was the same.

It was like if a thief broke into your home, you could scold him, you could beat him, but you couldn't beat him to death, because that would be excessive self-defense.

Now, for the entire Future Group, it was exactly the same.

The group of migrant workers who had caused trouble had already been taught a lesson and had even paid a heavy price for it.

Under such circumstances, if Future Group still refused to let it go, it would make Zhao Fusheng seem rather petty.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly and sighed.

Sometimes people were really helpless.

"Forget it."

Zhao Fusheng muttered to himself, took out his phone, and dialed Zheng Yao's number.

"Do it your way."

Zhao Fusheng said.

"Okay, I understand." Zheng Yao was not at all surprised.

...

...

After finishing the communication with Zheng Yao, Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and then called Zhang Qian to explain how things should be handled.

Zhang Qian, on the other hand, had no objections; his own purpose was also just to teach those people a lesson.

As for actually pushing the other side to extremes, Zhang Qian hadn't thought that far.

"I know you're not reconciled, but anyway, they're just a bunch of petty people, no need to bother with them," Zhang Qian said to Zhao Fusheng.

"That's true."

Zhao Fusheng nodded, quite agreeing with Zhang Qian's words.