Yun Hanrui was also well aware that this situation was a hot potato, but there was no way around it—her technicians were now surrounded by villagers at the Biological Park Base, and with Chaoyang Biotech's recent high-profile appearance, everyone knew that the Biotech Park project was a large-scale science and technology park jointly developed by the Municipal Committee and Chaoyang Biotech!

For both public and private reasons, Yun Hanrui didn't want to see anything happen to the technology park! And once reporters caught wind of this, Chaoyang Biotechnology's reputation could truly be tainted—a prospect Yun Hanrui found intolerable!

Soon, Yun Hanrui and her group arrived at the Biological Park Base, which was by then a hubbub of noise. From a distance, a crowd of villagers in heavy coats could be seen yelling with fervor about something, causing Yun Hanrui's heart to sink—it seemed that the situation was much worse than she had anticipated!

"Eh? There's something going on!" At that moment, Mu Ziyi, who was behind Yun Hanrui, sharply focused her gaze, and her hand, which was holding fries, froze: "I smelled something really uncomfortable just now, but it's gone!"

"Uncomfortable smell?" Liu Tingyu sniffed forcefully: "I didn't smell anything... Did someone fart?"

Mu Ziyi shook her head seriously: "No, it was a kind of... discomforting smell that made me uneasy. I hope it's just my imagination."

Yun Hanrui, looking at the crowd outside, sighed and said, "I also smelled an ominous odor."

This area was an old village demolition site where remnants of the original village could still be seen.

As Yun Hanrui and the others walked over, they could hear a man shouting excitedly from afar: "They deceived us, getting us to sign some damn contract, and now we haven't received a cent—all swindled by these unscrupulous businessmen. If we don't get a satisfactory answer today, we're not going anywhere!"

"Right, we're not leaving! We can't swallow this injustice silently!" Another man also said heatedly: "We have to call the reporters, expose their misdeeds! We're going to bring them down in disgrace, we'll have them thrown in jail!"

The crowd below, spurred on by a few, grew even more impassioned!

Yun Hanrui furrowed her brows: "Find out what's happened. Why is everyone gathered here obstructing the construction?"

Suddenly an employee returned, looking grave: "President, it's bad news. According to the villagers here, the demolition compensation has not been paid, and with the lunar new year approaching, they have no houses to live in and are now renting outside!

Furthermore, there's a rumor that the compensation has been embezzled by our company, which is why they've come to surround us and hinder the construction!"

Yun Hanrui was stunned: "Our company embezzled the compensation? What a joke! That compensation is specifically earmarked for this purpose. Who's spreading these rumors?"

Obviously, someone was instigating this behind the scenes, but Yun Hanrui was still unclear about the instigator's purpose.

Nevertheless, no matter their purpose, she couldn't let the villagers continue like this—if the situation were reported by the media, then Chaoyang Biotechnology would really become the scapegoat.

"People inside, come out!" a villager shouted: "We won't make it difficult for you, just call your leaders here. Today we must resolve this issue, and until it's settled, we're not moving. Let's see who can outlast whom!"

"That's right, we'll leave when we get the money! I don't believe there's no justice anymore!" an honest-looking old farmer said angrily: "You demolished my sixty-year-old house, you have to provide me with a place for my old age, right? If this isn't resolved, I'll die at your doorstep!"

"I am their leader. Whatever you have to say, just tell me!" At this point, Yun Hanrui's cool voice came through.

Instantly, everyone's gaze turned toward Yun Hanrui. The leading man looked at her skeptically: "Who are you trying to fool? With such a young girl like you, a leader? What a joke! Stay out of the way!"

Yun Hanrui walked toward the base, and Mu Ziyi, emanating an imposing aura from behind her, involuntarily made the villagers part ways to let them through.

Upon entering, Yun Hanrui stood up high and said: "Fellow villagers, good day to you all! I am the president of Chaoyang Biotechnology, and my name is Yun Hanrui. Whatever issues you have today, I hope we can talk about them calmly and rationally. However, I must tell you that anger and violence will not solve any problems, everyone..."

"Bullshit! You talk better than you sing; we've seen right through you ruthless businessmen!" At this point, the man shouted loudly: "You're just a bunch of capitalists exploiting the people. It's because we believed your words that we haven't received the demolition compensation and have no place to live. We won't believe you anymore!"

"That's right, give us the money, we won't believe anything else!"

"The lunar new year is coming. After the holidays, the children still have to go to school. We can't keep staying in rental houses, right?"

"Yes, you can't keep dragging this on; you have to give us an explanation!"

...

Yun Hanrui furrowed her brows, looked at the agitated villagers, and said loudly: "I understand what's on your minds, and I really get that you all want to receive the money to have a peaceful new year. But you should at least let me understand the situation, right? Please, don't be agitated. Who is your representative? Please step forward!"

"My name is Shitou, and I represent them!" The man stepped forward and said: "I see you're also young, and we don't want to bully you, so as not to be accused of picking on a young girl. So here's the thing—the demolition compensation was supposed to be paid within two months, and now it's been three months with seventy percent still unpaid.

With the new year closing in, we can't let everyone spend it anxious, right?"

"Regarding the compensation issue, I will consult Secretary Lin, and I will give everyone a satisfactory response," Yun Hanrui said: "Please trust Secretary Lin. The Biotech Park is a project that Secretary Lin values highly. It's also the largest biotech park currently planned by the nation. Many eyes are watching this project, so nobody would dare to tamper with it. Please rest assured.

We chose this location hoping to build a mutually beneficial relationship with the locals! Why would we make things difficult for ourselves?"

"Why should we trust you!" Shitou said coldly: "Are the words of businessmen like you trustworthy? Everyone knows that you are nothing but a bunch of profiteers."

Yun Hanrui earnestly said: "I know that gaining your trust is not easy, but please trust me! If you're informed about the compensation, you should be aware that it is distributed by the Municipal Committee and doesn't pass through our company at all. In fact, by surrounding our company's employees and injuring our engineers, you're not helping your case for receiving the compensation.

Moreover, if things escalate, this could even be a criminal act!"

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