Chapter 029: The Fall of the Illicit Employment Syndicate

Qin Lin’s help was certainly not free; either he wanted to hurry Zhang Tianfeng into finishing the business plan, or there would be some other price to pay. The more one said, the greater the chance of making a mistake.

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Tianfeng shook his head. “No need, it’s just a few petty thieves. I can handle it myself.”

“Alright, as long as you’re confident. The day after tomorrow, I’ll bring Ranran over for school. We can meet and have a meal then.”

“That’s fine, just let me know when.”

The day after tomorrow was also the agreed deadline. It seemed Qin Lin was growing impatient, personally coming to push him along.

“It’s better if he’s anxious. If he’s not in a hurry, how can I make money off him?” Muttering to himself, Zhang Tianfeng returned to his shop and continued working.

The repairs were completed by three in the afternoon, and it was only by six that the preparations were barely finished, allowing for a rather haphazard reopening.

The locals seemed to sense something unusual. After closing their stalls for the day, many who were out of work chose to stay behind and help out—some cleaning, others napping in corners.

It’s said that those with righteous hearts are often rough sorts. These people weren’t much for words, but they knew how to prove themselves through action.

Elsewhere, at Cangyue Restaurant, Tang Liqi and his crew roared with laughter at the news.

“Those street rats are so frightened they don’t dare leave the shop. Even after closing, they’re guarding the place, some even sleeping on the floor!”

“Let them keep watch. When they lower their guard, we’ll strike the fatal blow. No one can beat me at dirty guerrilla tactics,” Mouse said with a sip of tea and a faint smile.

...

Liu Jialin was an operator at the Zhucheng Labor Bureau. Though the position was low-ranking, it was one many coveted—decent pay, little work, and hardly any worries.

But since yesterday afternoon, her nightmare had begun.

A laborer called to say he’d been cheated. All Liu Jialin could do was offer comfort, record the incident, and wait for follow-up staff to investigate.

She hung up, thinking that was the end of it.

But then came a second call, a third... Over the afternoon, 170 calls flooded in, all weeping over the rampant dark employment agencies in Tangwan Town.

After work, Liu Jialin felt dazed, too upset to eat, barely washing before bed.

Today, the bureau arranged for two extra operators to share the burden. Liu Jialin waited half an hour before daring to sit at her desk.

No sooner had she sat than the phone rang. Reflexively, she answered, “Hello, Zhucheng Labor Bureau.”

“Help! I’m being hounded to death by a crooked agency. They’ve stolen my money, broken my leg, and won’t let me find work. I haven’t eaten in three days!”

“When will this ever end?!”

Same story, same voice, same subject of complaint. On her period and at her wit’s end, Liu Jialin finally shouted, startling the departing supervisor.

She glanced at the senior official, tears streaming. “Sir, I beg you, please let me off. The bureau’s already sent people to verify your complaints, but it takes time.”

“I spent all yesterday on the phone, had nightmares all night, couldn’t sleep at all.”

“Please, have mercy. I really can’t take it anymore.”

The red-haired caller paused, surprised that the operator was in tears. This must be what the boss meant by “breaking through the defense.” Good, it was time to unleash the next move.

He hesitated, then said, “Alright, I won’t trouble you anymore. As it happens, a reporter from the Deep City Daily is here. I’ll go give an interview.”

“Wait—Deep City Daily? You called them too?”

“Of course. Among us cheated workers, a few are Chinese teachers. We had them draft a report and mailed it to the Deep City Daily headquarters yesterday. Their reporter is here today.”

“Sorry, miss, for causing you such stress. I promise we won’t bother you again.”

“No, no, wait, handsome, don’t hang up yet—my supervisor wants to speak with you.”

The word “handsome” hit the redhead right in the heart. He agreed, then hung up as soon as the other side went quiet.

He glared at his companions. “You see that? That lady just called me handsome, and I stayed cool. That’s what it means to have resolve! The boss gave us this task, and we must see it through. Understood?”

“Understood,” the underlings replied in unison.

“How’s it going on the other side?”

“A few over there have gone mad too. Some even cursed us, saying they’ve quit and can curse us as they please.”

“No matter, as long as we get attention!”

The redhead did a headcount and waved grandly. “Alright, brothers, let’s eat and drink our fill, then keep calling!”

“Long live the boss!”

“No, long live the Big Boss—he’s the one who hired us.”

“Long live the Big Boss!”

In high spirits, the group went off to eat, leaving the Zhucheng Labor Bureau in turmoil.

Every coastal city was competing for the title of Civilized City. If this news reached the other cities, there would be an uproar.

Especially since among the scammed workers were Chinese teachers—scholars who, with a stroke of the pen, could destroy a reputation forever.

It wasn’t just Liu Jialin; even her balding supervisor was panicking, rushing back to the office to report up the chain.

In fact, he had already reported the crooked agencies yesterday, but today’s developments were like a bombshell, leaving everyone stunned.

Fortunately, the higher-ups had both insight and quick reflexes. They immediately ordered the arrest of the suspects, aiming to apprehend them before the Deep City Daily published its story, turning a passive situation into an active one.

At Cangyue Restaurant, headquarters of the crooked agencies, Tang Liqi was lounging in a wooden chair, enjoying a warm footbath, when his brick-sized cell phone suddenly rang, startling him.

“Who is it?”

“It’s your brother,” came the reply.

Lin Wushuang wasn’t an official, but he had sharp intelligence and often got advance notice of important developments.

It was thanks to Lin Wushuang’s information that Tang Liqi and his group outlasted their competitors in the underworld of employment agencies.

To them, Lin Wushuang was their source for sensing the authorities’ intentions. If there was ever a crackdown coming, they would drop everything and flee.

Tang Liqi sat up, smiling. “Brother Lin, what brings you to call?”

“Cut the nonsense. Have you pissed someone off?”

“No… I don’t think so?”

“Are you sure? I’m not joking. Think carefully.”

“Really, no one, Brother Lin. We’ve been keeping our heads down lately.”

“Then listen carefully—tell your boys that if they go inside, they’d better keep quiet. If I can’t deal with you, I can still deal with your families.”

“Wait—inside? Why would we go inside?”

“How should I know? The city’s task force just mobilized, and their target is your lot—the crooked agencies. They’re probably almost there by now. That’s it—goodbye!”

A city task force, a sudden crackdown… Tang Liqi was baffled. Had he angered someone powerful enough to stir up the city?

No time to think. He had to run! He’d made enough money anyway; he could always set up shop in Harbor City.

Without alerting anyone, Tang Liqi discussed business matters with his partners, then hurried home.

He’d barely packed his valuables and was about to leave when the door crashed open. Armed police stormed in, guns trained on him.

“Freeze! Move and you’re dead!”

“Report, Gray Wolf. The target has been apprehended. The informant, Mr. Lin, provided accurate information. The reward can be issued.”

Informant Mr. Lin… That bastard Lin Wushuang! Didn’t he fear his own dirty deeds being exposed?

Tang Liqi had misunderstood. The informant’s full name was Lin Tianlu—Redhair’s name.

Yesterday, after an afternoon of phone calls, the group had burned through a thousand yuan and Redhair went to ask Zhang Tianfeng for more. They chatted about the situation.

When Zhang Tianfeng heard the operators were at their limits, he guessed there would be an official response. He instructed Redhair to investigate the agencies’ hideouts that night and prepare a report for the city police as a precaution.

This accidental dog-eat-dog feud ended up eliminating a major hidden danger in Zhucheng, making an outstanding contribution to the city’s campaign for the Civilized City award.