Chapter 124: Chapter 0124: Is the Villa Going to Be Demolished? _1
Liu Ruolan pulled the infuriated Zhang Bin aside and said coquettishly, "Alright, don’t be angry. Don’t you know my sister has always had a tongue sharp enough to kill?"
Her voice was like a clear spring, instantly dissolving the resentment in Zhang Bin’s heart. He ignored Liu Ruomei and went to greet the other guests instead.
Meanwhile, Liu Ruolan and Xiao Fang went to tour the villa.
As for Liu Ruomei, she was still whispering poison into Tian Bingbing’s ear, speaking ill of Zhang Bin. Her obvious goal was to prevent Zhang Bin and Tian Bingbing from reconciling.
"Sister Mei, besides being a bit of a womanizer, how is Xiao Bin as terrible as you make him out to be?" Tian Bingbing retorted, clearly displeased.
"Isn’t being a womanizer bad enough? A man with a wandering eye, juggling several women at once—that’s a terrifying thing," Liu Ruomei said.
"If that’s the case, then why did you become his girlfriend?" Tian Bingbing asked in surprise.
Liu Ruomei was struck speechless, her frustration boiling over. It was true; back at Tian Bingbing’s Longyin Martial Arts Hall, she had publicly declared herself Zhang Bin’s girlfriend. She was still carrying the blame for that to this day.
That had been the unluckiest night of her life, and it was all because of that scoundrel Zhang Bin. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
"Huh? Why are so many police cars coming?" Tian Bingbing’s expression suddenly turned to one of surprise.
"Police cars?" Liu Ruomei’s eyes widened as she looked.
Sure enough, a convoy of police cars was speeding down the road, sirens blaring. Following behind them were other vehicles, which appeared to be official cars from the Land and Resources Bureau and trucks from a demolition team. They were heading straight for Sanchahe Village.
It was an imposing procession.
Sanchahe Village was just a small village; its residents had never seen such a spectacle. All the villagers stared with wide-eyed surprise and curiosity.
The many guests did the same, their gazes drawn to the approaching vehicles.
Zhang Bin’s expression changed slightly, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. He had a feeling these people were here for him. Could it be that the Diao Clan has made its move?
Soon, the fleet of vehicles arrived in Sanchahe Village. Dozens of police officers and nearly a hundred burly men from the demolition team poured out.
"Captain Liu, what is all this?" Liu Ruomei demanded, rushing up to the police officer in charge.
"We’re just here today to cooperate with another department. I don’t know the specifics myself," Captain Liu said. He certainly recognized Liu Ruomei. She was a special police officer, whereas he was just a regular officer from the Sanchahe Town Police Station.
"Whose villa is this?" Director Diao of the Land and Resources Bureau asked, pointing menacingly at Zhang Bin’s villa.
"It’s mine. What about it?" Zhang Bin said coldly as he walked over.
"Do you have a homestead permit?" Director Diao asked, his tone as cold as ice.
Zhang Bin’s heart sank. This was bad. He had tasked Liu Qian with getting the permit, but it still hadn’t come through. It was obvious the Diao Clan had been obstructing the process behind the scenes, waiting until today to make their move.
"Director Diao, I applied for the permit long before construction on the villa and factory began. I expect it will be approved very soon. Could you perhaps see your way to making an exception?" Liu Qian said, hurrying over with a deferential bow. He was a deputy county mayor, yet he had to bow and scrape before this Director Diao. It was a clear sign of just how powerful the Diao Clan had become.
"Building a house without a permit is illegal. It must be torn down immediately," Director Diao said coldly. "The same goes for the villa on the hill and the factory over there. Tear them all down."
"Alright, boys! Get to work!" the captain of the demolition team roared murderously.
The team members grabbed their tools and rushed toward the villa, ready to tear it down.
Everyone was so furious they could have coughed up blood. Zhang Bin, in particular, felt a towering rage surge through him. "Anyone who dares touch my house will end up like this!" he roared.
With that, he launched a kick at a tree as thick as a man’s thigh.
CRACK!
The massive tree snapped and crashed to the ground.
Everyone was stunned, especially the members of the demolition team. Terror filled their faces. They had demolished countless illegal structures but had never encountered such a formidable homeowner.
Director Diao, however, was unfazed. He sneered, "You troublesome peasant, you dare defy the state? Do you think the police’s guns are just for show?"
"You’d better behave, or we’ll arrest you!" Captain Liu yelled, leading his officers to block Zhang Bin’s path.
Seething with rage, Zhang Bin was about to retaliate, but Liu Ruolan grabbed his arm. "Xiao Bin," she whispered in his ear, "they’re waiting for you to make a move so they can arrest you. That police captain already warned you. He’s not with the Diao Clan; he’s just following orders."
Ma Rufei also hurried over. He looked at Director Diao and sneered, "Director Diao, you certainly like to throw your weight around."
Tian Guangjin, Qin Xiaolong, and Yue Xing also walked up, standing proudly and staring at Director Diao with contempt.
"Young Master Ma, you’d best not get involved in this mess," Director Diao said arrogantly. "These illegal structures must be demolished today. No one can stop it."
"Clever. The Diao Clan deliberately holds up the permits, waits for the villa to be built, and then shows up to settle the score. Impressive, truly impressive," Ma Rufei said sarcastically. "Do you really think your Diao Clan can blot out the sky with one hand and do as you please?"
"That’s slander and libel," Director Diao said with an air of stern righteousness. "Ma Rufei, watch what you say."
"So you’re with the Diao Clan?" Zhang Bin’s body radiated a frosty killing intent as he stared fixedly at Director Diao.
"Indeed, I am. Get the permit if you can. Without it, this is what happens when you build a villa," Director Diao said contemptuously. "Demolish it! Arrest anyone who gets in the way!"
All the villagers were outraged. Mother Zhang and Father Zhang were furious, too. They stood defiantly in front of the villa, refusing to budge and shouting curses.
"You’re a bunch of beasts! You think you can just walk all over the people of Sanchahe Village?"
"Just you try it! We’ll fight you to the death today!"
"If anyone dares to lay a finger on Xiao Bin’s villa, I’ll die right here in front of them!"
Livid with humiliation, Director Diao shouted, "A bunch of rabble-rousers! Arrest them all!"
The police officers surged forward, ready to make the arrests.
Zhang Bin, however, was lost in thought. Why would the Diao Clan do something so stupid? All I have to do is release the mountain of evidence I have on their crimes, and they’ll be in serious trouble. And yet, they did this anyway.
Could they be trying to lure the snake from its hole? Are they hoping the Hacker Rabbit King will make a move, so they can confirm a link between him and me? Then they could take appropriate action. After all, they’re technically in the right today, so it would seem forced and suspicious if the Hacker Rabbit King intervened.
The thought made Zhang Bin break out in a cold sweat. The Diao Clan wasn’t simple; there was a brilliant strategist behind this. It was a well-played move. If I were just some brainless country boy, I might have already sent the Rabbit King into action, falling right into their trap.
It looks like I can’t rely on a hacker to get out of this mess. I’ll have to find another way.
But what other way is there?