Please, mature women, have some self-respect. I just want a raise and a promotion.

Deng Hong reached out and grasped his hand: "No matter what, I will stand by your side."

Lin Zheng looked at her, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He stubbed out his cigarette and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"Let's go check out the third floor."

The two straightened their clothes and continued upstairs.

The third floor was even more spacious than the second floor; there weren't even any partition walls, just a huge frame.

The two stood by the building and could see the fields and villages in the distance.

Deng Hong pointed to several houses downstairs: "When this land was acquired, it involved the relocation of eight households."

"Those households are right behind the market. They refuse to move because the demolition compensation hasn't been paid."

Lin Zheng frowned: "How much is the demolition compensation?"

"Eight hundred thousand per household, totaling six million four hundred thousand."

"Some of the money Zhang Wenshan deposited with the village committee was intended for them."

"As a result, the money was misappropriated, and the demolition compensation was lost."

"What's the situation with those families now?"

"We've made a fuss, both at the town and district levels, but it's no use."

"Later the project was stopped, and they had no choice but to continue living there."

"Now that the project has restarted, they'll definitely cause trouble again."

Lin Zheng was silent for a moment: "I'll figure out the demolition compensation. You should sort out your relationships with the village first."

Deng Hong nodded: "Don't worry about things in the village. Liu Shanhai is gone, and now I'm in charge."

The two stayed upstairs for half an hour, looking around every corner.

Lin Zheng took photos with his mobile phone and marked them on the planning map.

As they went downstairs, Deng Hong walked in front, with Lin Zheng following behind her.

When they reached the first floor, Deng Hong suddenly stopped and turned around to look at Lin Zheng.

"What's wrong?" Lin Zheng asked.

Deng Hong didn't answer. She walked up to him, reached out and hugged his waist, resting her head on his chest.

"Lin Zheng, thank you." Her voice was very soft.

Lin Zheng hugged her and kissed her on the head: "What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for making me feel like I'm still a woman."

The two hugged for a while until Deng Hong's phone rang.

She released Lin Zheng, answered the phone, and her expression gradually changed.

"What's wrong?" Lin Zheng asked.

Deng Hong hung up the phone, her brows furrowed: "Something happened to Li Qiuping."

Lin Zheng's heart tightened: "What is it?"

"Liu Shanhai's son, Liu Biao, said that Li Qiuping can run away, but she can't hide."

"This morning, someone splashed paint on her front door."

"Liu Biao opened a logistics company in town, and he employed a group of idle people."

"You need to be careful; he might target you too."

Lin Zheng looked completely indifferent.

"I'm not even afraid of his father, why would I be afraid of a thug like him?"

"Let's go and take a look at the village."

The two got into the car, started the engine, and drove out of the unfinished building.

Not long after they drove off, Lin Zheng saw a black sedan turn out from the side of the road and follow them in his rearview mirror.

He frowned and deliberately slowed down, and the black car slowed down as well. He sped up, and the black car sped up as well.

"Sister Deng, do you recognize that car behind us?"

Deng Hong glanced at the rearview mirror and shook her head: "I don't recognize it, and I've never seen the license plate before."

Lin Zheng took out his phone, took a picture, and then dialed Chen Li's number.

"Chen Li, help me check a license plate." He gave her the license plate number.

Chen Li quickly replied: "I found it. The car owner's name is Liu Biao, who is Liu Shanhai's son."

Lin Zheng hung up the phone and his face darkened.

What does Liu Biao want to do by having someone follow him?

"Lin Zheng, should we call the police?" Deng Hong asked.

Lin Zheng waved his hand: "No need, calling the police is useless, he didn't do anything."

"Let's shake him off first."

Deng Hong nodded, then sharply turned the steering wheel and veered onto a side road.

The car sped along the narrow village road, kicking up a trail of dust.

The unlicensed taxi behind hesitated for a moment, but still followed.

"Sister Deng, do you have Liu Biao's phone number?" Lin Zheng asked.

"Yes, 138166*****".

Lin Zheng wrote down Liu Biao's phone number and then dialed it.

The phone rang a few times, and a deep voice came from the other end: "Who is it?"

"Lin Zheng"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a sneer.

"Manager Lin, is there something you need?"

"Liu Biao, tell your men to stop following us, it's pointless."

Liu Biao laughed: "Manager Lin, you've messed with my father, so it's not unreasonable for me to just watch the show, is it?"

"Your father's problems are his own doing, they have nothing to do with me."

"If you want to play, I'll play along to the end."

"But I must warn you, don't go too far."

"Threatening me?"

"Lin Zheng, who do you think you are?"

"In Dianhai Town, no one can stop me, Liu Biao, from making a move."

Lin Zheng wasn't angry; he simply said, "Then give it a try."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Listening to their conversation, Deng Hong looked worried.

"Lin Zheng, Liu Biao is capable of anything when he goes crazy. Aren't you afraid?"

Lin Zheng lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, "What's the use of being afraid? What's meant to happen will happen."

The car drove into the village, and the black car behind it stopped at the village entrance but did not follow.

Lin Zheng glanced at the rearview mirror and breathed a sigh of relief.

When the two arrived at Li Qiuping's house, they could see from afar that the iron gate had been splashed with red paint and had a large "cheap" character written on it.

Several villagers gathered at the entrance to watch the commotion, pointing and whispering.

Li Qiuping squatted at the door, wiping the paint with a rag, tears streaming down her face.

Lin Zheng walked over and helped Li Qiuping up.

"Sister Qiuping, stop wiping."

"Manager Lin, what should I do? They won't let me off the hook."

"I told you I would protect you."

"Have you packed everything?"

"All packed up."

"Leave today, I'll have someone take you to the city."

Li Qiuping nodded, and tears streamed down her face again.

"Manager Lin, thank you... thank you so much."

Lin Zheng patted her on the shoulder and turned to walk towards Deng Hong.

"Sister Deng, please arrange for someone to take her to the city and find her a safe place to stay for now."

Deng Hong nodded: "Don't worry, I'll take care of this."

After settling Li Qiuping in, Lin Zheng returned to his car, dialed Yang Wanshan's number, and briefly explained Liu Biao's situation.

The only option now is to use their strength against them and make it clear to Liu Biao that he is not someone to be trifled with.

Yang Wanshan was silent for a moment, then said, "Liu Biao is not someone to be trifled with, but he's not someone we can't deal with."

"His logistics company in town lacks complete permits and does not meet fire safety standards."

"I'll have the safety supervision station investigate."

Hearing Yang Wanshan's reply, Lin Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zheng leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Deng Hongfa started the car and drove out of the village.

The car hadn't gone far when Deng Hong suddenly braked hard.

Lin Zheng suddenly opened his eyes and saw a black sedan blocking the road.

The car door opened, and a man in his early thirties stepped out.

The leader, Liu Biao, was wearing a black T-shirt, had a gold chain around his neck, and wore an arrogant smile.

He walked to the forestry vehicle and knocked on the window.

Lin Zheng rolled down the car window and looked at him coldly.

"Manager Lin, you're leaving so soon? I was hoping to invite you for a drink."

Liu Biao smiled, his eyes full of provocation.

"I won't drink any more alcohol, I have other things to do," Lin Zheng said calmly.

Liu Biao bent down and brought his face close to the car window: "Lin Zheng, I'll remember you messing with my father."

"We'll settle this score slowly."