Handong: Sha Li wants political achievements? I'll shut down the entire province.

Gao Yuliang's reminder was like a heavy warning.

Just a few hours later, these words quietly came true on the streets of Jingzhou.

Guangming District, High-tech Industrial Park.

The factory area, which is usually bustling with activity day and night, is now eerily quiet.

"Old Zhang, why is the gate locked? Aren't you working today?"

Xiao Li, a fellow worker, rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold. The morning wind in late autumn was particularly biting.

Old Zhang, with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips, stared with a furrowed brow at the tightly closed gates of Lingxiao Infrastructure.

On the two iron gates, the production suspension notice written in black and white was particularly eye-catching, and the bright red official seal made people feel heavy-hearted.

"Still working? It says 'Complete shutdown, layoffs and rest' on the sign."

Old Zhang threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out.

He touched the sweat-soaked bank card in his pocket, his voice muffled:

"I just checked at the ATM, and I only have 38.6 yuan left in my card."

"I'm still two thousand short of my mortgage payment next month. If I can't make up the difference, the house will be in jeopardy."

"My son is still in high school. What will we do if he has nowhere to live...?"

Xiao Li squatted by the roadside, clutching his hair with both hands, his face full of confusion and helplessness.

"My elderly relatives are still living in a hospital that Lingxiao is cooperating with, and we have been relying on subsidies from the company to ease their burden."

"Now that the project has stopped and the subsidies have stopped, I really don't know where I'm going to get the money for tomorrow's medical expenses."

This is not a simple work stoppage; it has suddenly impacted the livelihoods of tens of thousands of ordinary families.

Not far away, Aunt Wang, pushing a lunchbox cart, had red eyes and her tone was full of helplessness.

"Brother Zhang, why did Lingxiao suddenly stop?"

"I still have two big pots of food heating up in my truck, and so many boxed meals. How am I going to sell them all in a short time..."

"It's not just you who's having a hard time." A man operating an excavator next to him sighed.

"With Lingxiao's work stopped, our outsourced team's work also stopped, and everyone was affected."

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Lingxiao Group's sudden contraction of its local operations has far-reaching consequences, extending far beyond the industrial park.

Logistics, building materials, catering, and many upstream and downstream supporting industries have been affected, and the entire industrial chain has suddenly come under pressure.

The news spread quickly, and within half a day, an atmosphere of unease permeated Jingzhou City.

Many workers and employees suddenly lost their income, their living pressure increased sharply, and anxiety quietly spread among the population.

The Guangming District Government Building.

District Chief Sun Liancheng hid in his second-floor office, the curtains drawn tightly, only daring to peek nervously downstairs through a crack.

The square downstairs was filled with anxious-looking people.

The usually hardworking and honest workers, now with solemn expressions, gathered in front of the government building, hoping to get an explanation.

Several white banners with black lettering swayed gently in the wind:

"We need to work, we need basic living security!"

"We earnestly request the government's assistance in resolving our difficulties!"

The crowd was agitated, and some people used megaphones to repeatedly express their demands, their voices echoing across the square.

"District Chief, there are more and more people coming down here!" The director of the district office hurriedly pushed open the door and came in, his forehead covered in sweat.

"Everyone came here because they had no other choice, and their emotions are all very unstable."

Sun Liancheng was so startled that he took a step back, and in his panic, he knocked over his beloved astronomical telescope, causing a thin crack to appear in the lens.

"These people are usually so polite to me, why are they so agitated today...?"

"Anyone would be anxious!" the district office director said urgently. "With businesses shut down and project payments stalled, many families have suddenly lost their source of income, and everyone is panicking."

"So many people need to eat and make a living; if they don't come to the government, who else can they turn to?"

Sun Liancheng's face turned pale, and he couldn't help but resent Li Dakang in his heart.

"Li Dakang is too hasty! President Yan has been operating in Handong for so long, how many jobs has he created?"

"They were pushing so hard just to get the Guangming Peak project going, and in the end, the other party simply scaled back their business!"

"And what's worse, he's sitting in the municipal party committee, leaving all this mess to be dumped on Guangming District!"

He paced back and forth in his office like an ant on a hot plate.

"Quick! Call the municipal party committee!" Sun Liancheng pointed to the landline.

"They said that people in Guangming District were gathering and their emotions were unstable, and the municipal party committee needed to send someone to coordinate and handle the situation as soon as possible!"

Meanwhile, outside the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee compound.

Outside the cordon, thousands of people had gathered, looking anxious and hoping that the municipal party committee could provide an explanation and a solution.

Li Dakang stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of his second-floor office, looking down at the dense crowd below. His face was gloomy, and his eyes were bloodshot.

The Tieguanyin tea in the thermos on the table had long since gone cold.

Secretary Kim tiptoed in, looking nervous.

"Secretary Li, the petition office... the public is quite agitated. Some staff members sustained minor abrasions while communicating with the petitioners, and they have been sent for examination."

She paused, her voice tightening:

"According to preliminary statistics from various districts, more than 80,000 people have been directly affected, and with the addition of upstream and downstream related industries, the number of people affected is about 200,000."

"What's more troublesome is that some of the agitated people have already headed towards the provincial party committee, hoping that higher authorities can step in to coordinate."

"Secretary Sha just called, and his tone was very serious."

"He demanded that you stabilize the situation and handle it properly within an hour, and that you absolutely not allow the situation to escalate further."

Upon hearing the words "Secretary Sha," Li Dakang felt a chill run down his spine and broke out in a cold sweat.

He knew all too well Sha Ruijin's style of doing things—putting the big picture first, valuing stability, and never allowing things to get out of control.

Before any political achievements could be seen, the pressure on people's livelihoods came first.

If this matter is not handled properly, let alone advancing further, he might even lose his position as the municipal party secretary.

Li Dakang suddenly turned around and slammed his fist on the desk.

Documents were scattered all over the floor, and pens rolled onto the carpet.

"Yan Qingfeng!" He gritted his teeth, his tone filled with suppressed anger.

"This is a ruthless move, using the livelihoods of so many ordinary people as bargaining chips to force local authorities to compromise."

He understood that the other party was using pressure regarding people's livelihoods to force the government to make concessions.

But Li Dakang has always been a strong-willed man, and he would never show weakness to the company at this time.

If he backs down, his prestige in Handong will be greatly diminished, giving others ammunition to criticize him.

We must shift public opinion to corporate responsibility and make it clear to everyone that the production halt and downsizing was unilateral by the companies, not a government decision-making error.

His eyes were sharp, like a beast cornered in a desperate situation, as he reached out and grabbed the red landline phone.

The knuckles of my fingers turned slightly white from the force I exerted.

When the call connected, his voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable firmness:

"Zhao Donglai! Come here right now!"

On the other end of the phone, Zhao Donglai, the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau, was directing traffic in his car, listening to the murmurs on the street, and had a terrible headache.

"Secretary Li, I am currently deploying police forces to maintain order and reassure the public, but we are indeed short-handed."

"Maintaining order alone is not enough!" Li Dakang said coldly.

"Unless the root cause is clarified, emotions cannot be controlled!"

He took a deep breath and issued a firm but fully compliant order:

"If Yan Qingfeng wants to withdraw his investment and cease production, he must bear the corresponding responsibility!"

"Immediately arrange for a joint task force from the Economic Crime Investigation Department and the Market Supervision Department to be stationed at the Lingxiao Group's Jingzhou headquarters!"

"Investigate financial transactions, contract performance, salary payments, and social security contributions in accordance with the law!"

"All senior executives who have not yet left the country or been transferred should cooperate with the investigation and be questioned according to procedures to clarify the boundaries of their responsibilities!"

Zhao Donglai was taken aback on the other end of the phone and quickly reminded him:

"Secretary Li, we must follow the proper procedures for filing a case, summoning the suspect, and obtaining approval. There must be a clear cause of action and complete documentation. We cannot force the issue!"

"The other party has already paid the penalty for breach of contract. We can only investigate violations and irregularities; we cannot restrict personal freedom without grounds!"

"If there are flaws in the procedure, it could give others a handle to use against us, and if the higher-ups investigate, we will all be held accountable!"

"I understand!" Li Dakang interrupted sharply, his tone firm yet measured.

"According to laws and regulations, strictly and quickly! I'll approve the procedures, and I'll take responsibility!"

"Once tax evasion, wage arrears, or illegal asset transfers are verified, we will immediately seize, freeze, and pursue the matter to the fullest extent of the law!"

"Even if no criminal issues are found, we must ensure that back pay, social security coverage, and employee resettlement are all properly handled, giving the people an explanation!"