Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

Chapter 19 A Grass Snake

Lin Chen really hadn't expected this.

With just a non-venomous grass snake, Wang Ping turned the office of Director Tan upside down, scaring the deputy director out of his wits, and even turning all the "elites" in the water supply bureau building into cowards.

The scene was so absurd that he almost burst out laughing.

However, Lin Chen was unaware that Wang Ping had entered suspiciously, with a snake hidden in his sleeve. Outsiders assumed he was carrying a weapon and hesitated to act rashly, as no one wanted to get stabbed.

Wang Ping originally came here to target Director Song, but unfortunately, Director Song happened to be at a meeting at the municipal company with Tang Xin from his office today, so Deputy Director Tan Huasheng was inexplicably caught in the crossfire.

Even a deputy director is still a director, right?

Seeing Tan Huasheng's expression, as if he wanted to crawl under the desk, Lin Chen stepped forward and asked in a calm tone, as if chatting casually in a village, "Uncle Wang Ping, what's going on?"

When he was in charge of the water fees for Meihua Village, he often visited Wang Ping's house and sometimes even helped out with chores; they were quite familiar with each other. Wang Ping had a high school education and was considered an educated person in the village, with a certain level of sophistication in his speech.

Unfortunately, once intellectuals get stubborn, nothing can sway them.

"Xiao Lin... Squad Leader Lin? Don't worry about me! I'm here today to ask your bureau chief for justice!" Wang Ping was agitated. With a flick of his wrist, most of the snake's body was exposed, and its head hissed at Tan Huasheng.

Director Tan felt a chill run down his spine, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Xiao Lin! Quick! Make him... get that thing away!"

Some people are naturally afraid of hairless creatures, but Lin Chen really likes them, especially white tigers.

"Wang Ping!" Lin Chen shouted, and at the same time, his hand moved like lightning, accurately grasping the snake's seven-inch mark, and easily "taking over" the grass snake from Wang Ping's hands.

This swift and clean move stunned both Wang Ping and Director Tan.

Lin Chen is quite skilled at handling snakes; he used to play with snakes a lot when he was a child.

"You...you..." Wang Ping pointed at Lin Chen, speechless for a moment.

"Wang Ping, you brought a snake into the leader's office. Did you intend to commit a crime? Have you thought about the consequences?" Lin Chen questioned sternly. These people are really something else, always resorting to extreme measures. Do they really think a snake can do anything?

In the end, it only hurt himself.

Wang Ping, with his neck stiff, argued vehemently, "I'm just here to report a situation! I brought a non-venomous grass snake; what law did I break? You can't possibly arrest me and put me in jail, can you?"

It has to be said that Wang Ping is quite clever. He didn't carry a knife or a gun, and a non-venomous grass snake couldn't be considered a weapon. Legally, it wouldn't constitute a threat with a weapon, and even if the police were called, he wouldn't be convicted of a serious crime.

Lin Chen admired him.

Upon hearing that it was a non-venomous grass snake, Director Tan finally felt a bit better. He slowly straightened up, leaning on the table, trying to remain calm, though his face was a mix of pale and flushed, clearly ashamed of his earlier loss of composure.

Yes, it was just a non-venomous snake, yet it scared him so much.

If this gets out, where will Tan Huasheng put his face?

He has to deal with this behind closed doors; you and I will keep it to ourselves.

He sat back down, cleared his throat, and tried to regain his authority as a leader, shouting, "Nonsense! Lin Chen, you...you hold that thing steady first. And you," he pointed at Wang Ping, "can't you just say what you want? Taking such extreme measures, do you want to go to jail?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping's anger flared up again. Pointing at Director Tan's nose, he cursed, "Your water supply bureau are the real robbers! You dug up my family's ancestral graves, scattered my father's ashes, and then you turn around and say it's a fake grave, trying to extort money from me without paying a single penny. Is this how you treat ordinary people? Even the Japanese devils back then weren't as despicable as you!"

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat.

So that's where the problem lies! No wonder Wang Ping was so desperate.

The Meihua Village project was rushed, and the relocation of graves was only notified one week in advance.

The village chief was perfunctory and the notice never reached Wang Ping's house.

Wang Ping happened to be visiting relatives and hadn't paid attention for a few days. When he returned, he saw that the construction team had demolished his father's grave, and the white bones were still faintly visible at the scene.

Wang Ping burst into tears on the spot. When he tried to reason with them, the construction team, because of the extreme incident involving the village chief, felt that he was extorting money by using a fake grave. They beat him up again without paying a penny. Last night, he went to see Lin Kaidong again, and Lin Kaidong beat him up. This finally provoked him to take such an extreme step.

It's not actually that extreme.

"Uncle Wang, calm down and speak properly. This is our Director Tan." Lin Chen held the docile grass snake in his hand and looked at Director Tan. "Director Tan, you heard it too. Digging up someone's ancestral grave and scattering their ancestors' ashes is a grave wrong no matter where you put it. Uncle Wang Ping's emotional outburst is understandable."

Ultimately, the problem arose from the reckless construction, and Lin Chen shook his head.

Tan Huasheng was a little embarrassed, but he still maintained his composure: "The specific details of the matter still need to be investigated. Even if it's true, you can report it through proper channels. Bringing a snake in like this is just ridiculous."

"Official channels?" Wang Ping was filled with grief and indignation. "What are official channels? I went to the village chief, and he said he couldn't do anything about it. The graves are gone. I went to your police station chief, and he called me a troublemaker. Director Tan, if we weren't driven to the brink, who would willingly bring this thing to you?"

This guy called Director Lin Kaidong last night. Lin Kaidong was making out with him at the time, and Lin Kaidong beat him up. You can only say that everything happens for a reason. No wonder the director was so scared today.

What is Tan Huasheng still struggling with?

Lin Chen quickly said, "Uncle Wang Ping, our Xinhai Group Water Company will always stand on the side of the people and always serve the people. I believe Director Tan will definitely give you an explanation. You can go back and wait."

That was a clever remark. Lin Chen actually wanted him to leave, because if he didn't, it would be troublesome if the police were called.

Tan Huasheng could only grit his teeth and say, "That's for sure... I understand the situation! Don't worry, go back first, we will definitely conduct a serious investigation! If the situation is true, we will compensate those who should be compensated and hold those responsible accountable."

Wang Ping was devastated: "What's the use of compensation? Can my father's ashes ever be found?"

Lin Chen held the snake in his hand: "Director Tan, I suggest that the construction team be ordered to stop work immediately, cooperate in finding the ashes, resolve this matter, and negotiate compensation before resuming work."

Lin Chen had no other choice.

Tan Huasheng looked at the snake in Lin Chen's hand, which seemed to be silently mocking him, and then glanced at his subordinates outside the door, their ears perked up. He knew that without taking concrete action, things wouldn't end well today, so he could only put on a stern face and say, "Do as Lin Chen says. Wang Ping, do you have any other opinions?"

Wang Ping sighed and finally shook his head.

The matter has finally been temporarily put on hold.

Lin Chen pulled Wang Ping out of the office. The group of "elites" who had been timid and hesitant just moments before now focused their complex gazes on him—a mixture of admiration, surprise, and a hint of unspeakable jealousy.

Zhang Junmin chuckled and tried to step forward to say something, but Lin Chen simply waved the snake in his hand casually, and the group of people retreated in unison as if they had seen a ghost.

Lin Chen sneered and said loudly to Wang Ping, "Uncle Wang, let's reason things out from now on. Don't do this again. My colleagues are timid and can't take being scared."

These words, though not spoken in a loud voice, clearly reached everyone's ears, making the leaders and colleagues blush with embarrassment. Zhang Junmin, in particular, gritted his teeth, hating Lin Chen to the core.

Watching Lin Chen take Wang Ping away, Zhang Junmin quickly slipped into Director Tan's office to pledge his loyalty: "Director Tan, I'm so sorry, it was our negligence that allowed him to bring a snake into your office. I hope it didn't frighten you..."

Tan Huasheng interrupted him abruptly, letting out a cold snort, his official authority instantly returning: "Scare me? A tiny grass snake can scare me? If I weren't concerned about my status, I would have broken his legs today!"

Zhang Junmin quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Director Tan, you are so magnanimous, don't stoop to the level of such a lowly commoner."

Tan Huasheng, still furious, lashed out, "Who was the security guard today? Fire him immediately and don't bother coming to work again."

Zhang Junmin went there immediately.

~