Chapter 51: Alone and Deep Inside

  The car was driving, and as it got closer to the instrument factory, it became increasingly difficult to move forward.

  The congestion on Yanjiang Avenue has radiated to the surrounding roads, with vehicles forming long queues and impatient horns sounding constantly.

  "They have communicated with the leaders of the factory and also reflected on the letters and visits department, and they came to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission this morning, but none of these have drawn enough attention, so they really have no choice but to do so."

  "Xiao Chu, I didn't think the situation was as serious as you said." Jian Ruoming looked out of the car window at the slow-moving crowd and then glanced at Chu Tian Shu, saying: "If I'm not mistaken, you're very familiar with them."

  Chu Tian Shu said calmly: "I just rented a simple dormitory in the instrument factory, and I lived with them for two years."

  At this time, Jian Ruoming's mobile phone rang, and Huang Rishan hastily asked her where she was.

  In short, the car was blocked on a street not far from the instrument factory. What's the situation at the scene?

  Huang Rishan was like an ant on a hot pot, he told Jian Ruoming that the police had arrested one of the workers who led the trouble, and the family members blocked the police car. The others surrounded Vice Mayor Tang Yifu, the crowd was indignant, and the situation was close to losing control. Executive Deputy Mayor Yi Haitao had also just arrived at the scene.

  Jian Ruoming asked the driver to stop the car and got off with Chu Tian Shu to walk to the scene.

  "Xiao Chu, things are very serious, the police have already made arrests." Jian Ruoming said as he walked.

  "What?" Chu Tian Shu was shocked: "Caught who, do you know?"

  Jian Ruo Ming shook his head.

  Chu Tian's mood became heavy, this was not the result everyone wanted to get.

  Jian Ruoming said, "Xiao Chu, I think the laid-off workers can't continue to make trouble like this. If they continue to do so, it will lead to chaos and instability in society, and people from all walks of life will lose sympathy for them. The intensification of contradictions will lead to an escalation of conflicts, which will only bring unnecessary harm to the families of those who are emotionally agitated."

  Chu Tian Shu thought for a moment and felt that Jian Ruo Ming's words were not unreasonable, so he asked: "Director Jian, if they don't make trouble, what can they do?"

  Jian Ruoming continued to say: "The reform of state-owned enterprises is an irresistible trend, and no one can stop it. Their demands should be brought to the attention of all parties through more rational and intelligent means. At present, the overall transfer plan of the instrument factory has not fully considered the rights and interests of laid-off workers and must be corrected."

  "Correcting, how easy is it? I'm just powerless anyway." Chu Tian Shu said helplessly. "I heard that several companies have been eyeing the land of Yibiao Factory, this fat meat they have been craving for a long time, using all kinds of relationships and resources, and can't wait to swallow it in one bite."

  "It's indeed as you said, with our strength we can't stop the overall sale of the instrument factory, but we can take certain measures to control the process, work hard on the bidding enterprises and strive to exchange time for space."

  "What kind of swap?"

  Jian Ruoming said: "This is not something that can be made clear in one or two sentences. I think it's necessary to immediately stop the extreme behavior of the workers and prevent them from being taken advantage of by people with ulterior motives."

  "Director Jian, the bidding companies have a deep background and we can't underestimate their strength," Chu Tian Shu argued.

  Jian Ruomeng said: "The long-term rights and interests of workers must be protected, but the most important thing now is to protect their personal safety. Let the general public understand the hardships of laid-off workers, let the city leaders hear the people's feelings, and there can be more rational and intelligent ways, such as using the power of media and public opinion."

  Chu Tian Shu couldn't help but look at Jian Ruo Ming with new eyes, the experience of working in a provincial government agency and her calm and meticulous thinking had created a wise and broad-minded person beneath her elegant appearance. He hastily asked: "Director Jian, what should we do now?"

  Jian Ruoming said: "Xiao Chu, you understand the laid-off workers. You must try your best to calm down this storm as soon as possible."

  Chu Tian Shu was quite familiar with the terrain of this area, and led Jian Ruoming through several narrow alleys to arrive quickly at the Riverside Avenue.

  The gate of the meter factory was crowded with people, and it was impossible to get through.

  Workers who learned the news flocked to the scene, growing from dozens to hundreds of people. The crowd of onlookers also grew larger and larger. Even drivers stuck in traffic got out of their cars, smoking and asking around. They were all intimidated by the police, but when they heard that someone had surrounded a police car, they forgot about being late and squeezed into the crowd, cheering and having fun.

  Chu Tian Shu looked around and saw that a group of female workers had surrounded the police car, arguing with them. Because it was on the side of the road, there were many onlookers, and the crowd gathered here was the main cause of traffic congestion. Another group of male workers stood a little further away, their emotions more agitated, shouting loudly at the police who were blocking them.

  In the midst of the crowd, Chu Tian Shu suddenly saw a familiar figure in the distance, slender and agile, with a ponytail swinging back and forth, but for a moment, he couldn't recall who she was.

  There were also some unidentified people in the crowd, pushing and shoving, with thieves lurking about, troublemakers causing friction, and a few sly-looking guys huddled together, seemingly plotting to take advantage of unattended storefronts.

  The situation was on the verge of eruption, leaving Chu Tianyu no time to think twice. He only said one sentence to Jian Ruoming: "Director Jian, take care of yourself, I'll go take a look!" After that, disregarding Jian Ruoming's dissuasion, he quickly rushed into the crowd and squeezed towards the direction of the police car.

  Although Chu Tian Shu was familiar with several staff members of Jian Yi dormitory, most of the workers in the instrument factory did not know him. Squeezing alone into those emotionally excited crowds was no different from walking on a fiery furnace that was burning fiercely, and one carelessness could have led to being scorched by the flames of anger.

  Ke Chu Tian Shu thought to herself that she couldn't let the situation get out of control, and escalating conflicts would only lead to more bloodshed and tears for the laid-off workers, which would bring chaos and passivity. It's better to calm down the storm first, and then express the demands of the laid-off workers through media and public opinion. She believed that Jian Youming would find a way to put pressure on the bidding companies.

  After squeezing to the front of the police car, Chu Tian Shu first saw Tan Yu Fen with her chest exposed and hair disheveled, pouncing on the hood of the police car, trying to block it from moving with her body.

  Chu Tian Shu's heart skipped a beat as he immediately understood that the one who was caught was Zhang Wei. He hastily stepped forward and shouted, "Sister-in-law, what happened to Brother Wei?"

  As soon as she saw Chu Tian Shu, Tan Yu Fen was stunned for a moment, and tears of grievance poured down. She sobbed and said: "Wei Ge, he's been taken away by them."

  Tan Yufen wiped away her tears and lowered her head, only to discover a patch of white flowers on her chest. She raised her head to look at Chu Tian Shu.

  Chu Tian Shu hastily averted her gaze.

  Tan Yufen, who was just fearless and unrestrained, suddenly became extremely shy. She turned her back, pulled up her collar, and buttoned the buttons that had come undone.

  Chu Tian Shu turned his head and asked a young policeman beside him: "Comrade police officer, who is the leader of your team? I want to talk to him."

  The young policeman looked at Chu Tian Shu with vigilance, and when he heard him shouting "Tang Yu Fen, auntie", he thought he was also a worker from the Instrument Factory. He warned: "Please step back, don't make things worse, otherwise, I'll take you in too."

  "Chu Tian Shu shouted loudly: 'I am here to calm the storm on orders, please do not speak irresponsibly. Once the conflict escalates and triggers a large-scale clash, you will not be able to bear this responsibility.'"

  Chu Tian Shu said with great righteousness, the little policeman couldn't figure out what kind of person had arrived and couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated, stretching his neck to look at the police car in front.

  Chu Tian Shu turned around and walked towards the police car in front of him, the crowd was intimidated by his aura and automatically made way for a path.

  Arriving at the police car, Chu Tian Shu knocked on the door.

  Han Li, sitting in the police car, was intently gazing at the crowd not far away. He couldn't take Zhang Wei away and didn't know what to do next, anxiously waiting for Hao Jiancheng's command. Suddenly, a knock on the door startled him.

  "What's going on?" Han Li subconsciously shouted.

  Chu Tian Shu found the voice somewhat familiar, and upon closer inspection, he realized that the police officer sitting inside was none other than the director of the police station he had interacted with just two nights prior. Without hesitation, he swiftly opened the car door.

  At first glance, he thought it was an ordinary citizen wearing casual clothes and was about to get angry, thinking it was a laid-off worker causing trouble. But when he saw the person standing outside the car door, he looked very familiar and stood up straight. After taking a closer look, he realized that the person in front of him was none other than Chu Tian Shu, who had a lot of background. He jumped out of the car excitedly and said: "Wow, how did you come here?"

  Chu Tian Shu didn't make any further explanation, and vaguely said: "I have been ordered to come and handle the group incident, I hope you will fully cooperate."

  Han Li gave Chu Tian Shu a loud "crack" and saluted him, saying: "Please instruct the leader!"

  In Han Li's view, this Chu Tian Shu was even more polite to Hao Jian Cheng, so his energy must be enormous. At such a critical moment, he was ordered to come to the scene to deal with the sudden event, and the background behind him was definitely not small.

  Chu Tian Shu asked: "Han Suo Chang, did you arrest a laid-off worker?"

  Han Li replied: "Yes."

  "Let him go!"

  "This..." Han Li raised his head and gazed at the crowd in the distance.

  Chu Tian Shu's face sank: "Huh?"

  Han Li accompanied by a smile explained: "These guys are too arrogant, if you don't catch a few people, you can't suppress their evil spirit."

  "Now stability is the top priority, contradictions can only be resolved and cannot be intensified, do you understand?" Chu Tian Shu pulled at Han Li's clothes and said sternly: "Do you know that Executive Vice Mayor Yi Haitao has already arrived on the scene? If this matter isn't settled quickly, you won't be able to wear these clothes anymore."

  Chu Tian Shu held up the deputy mayor's placard, startling Han Li into a daze, thinking to himself, could it be that this kid is actually...?

  Seeing Han Li still hesitating, Chu Tian Shu said sternly: "Listen to me, release him immediately."

  "Yes."

  He ran a few steps to the police car behind and gave the young policeman an order to "release him".

  Zhang Wei jumped out of the police car.

  Chu Tian Shu rushed forward, grabbed his hand and said: "Wei Ge, I've made you suffer."

  Zhang Wei was overjoyed, and this strong man who had been a soldier before also got teary-eyed.