Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1245 - Chapter 1245 Chapter 1200 The Frustrated Yang Yicheng

Chapter 1245: Chapter 1200: The Frustrated Yang Yicheng Chapter 1245: Chapter 1200: The Frustrated Yang Yicheng Hearing Peng Yihua’s words, Yang Yicheng also became somber. If what Peng Yihua reflected was true, then, to be objective and fair, the people of Majia Manor were indeed being somewhat excessive.

In most talks about demolition, you only hear about the residents being wronged, pushed to a dead end; but it was really rare to hear of the current situation.

“Isn’t this just asking for the moon? How can this be acceptable? If we compromise on this, then can the government still function in the future? When it comes to demolitions and expropriations, everyone will follow suit. Will the Party and government still maintain any credibility?” Yang Yicheng was getting angry.

The compensation for expropriation is clearly stipulated by the state. What places, what standards. Naturally, Longxi cannot be measured by the standards of Jingcheng. In Jingcheng, just any small courtyard home is still shared by several families. One family at most has about twenty-something square meters. The least, ten-something square meters. When it comes to compensation for demolition, millions, even tens of millions, that’s completely possible.

But can this comparison even be made? What are the housing prices in Jingcheng, and what are they in Longxi? Take Ancient City and Liangzhou for example, the difference is huge. At this time, within the urban area of Ancient City, inside the Second Ring Road, a slightly better location has house prices that have risen to over six thousand, and that’s with effective regulation of the housing prices.

If it weren’t so, seven or eight thousand, or even over ten thousand would be possible. And what about Liangzhou City? In the most bustling areas of the city, the average price for an apartment with an elevator is about four thousand. Villas, a bit more expensive, are around seven thousand.

Now, these people are demanding the highest price for compensation; isn’t this clearly asking for the moon?

Yang Yicheng’s words and stance at last provided Peng Yihua with some solace. Nodding, he said, “Secretary, that’s exactly what I was thinking. The new houses in Majia Manor, according to preliminary calculations, cover an area close to one hundred thousand square meters. If we calculate by seven thousand, just this aspect alone would mean we’d have to pay an additional seven billion in compensation and resettlement funds. Among them, each household in Majia Manor has built at least an extra hundred square meters. For some families, it’s as much as four or five thousand square meters per household. Just in compensation, that’s tens of millions. Moreover, those houses are said to be bungalows, but in fact, they might not even be as good as pigsties. They’re all built with concrete bricks, the adhesive isn’t even cement, lime, or sand but just local mud. Additionally, these houses are neither electrified nor have doors and windows, nor a cemented floor. The covering is substandard asbestos tiles. Considering the construction cost plus labor, I estimate it doesn’t exceed two hundred yuan per square meter.”

Having vented all of this, Peng Yihua felt a sense of relief, and at the same time, a lot more settled. Now that he has the Secretary’s approval, his position was fundamentally safe.

However, Yang Yicheng was feeling troubled at the moment. Although unreasonable, the issue still needed to be addressed. An outright refusal was definitely unrealistic. Demolishing those houses now was also unrealistic. With so many media journalists standing and watching outside, any reckless action could have a negative impact.

In this era, after the strict prohibition on forced demolitions were enacted, forceful demolitions have always been criticized by the media. Many places within the country have exposed issues with forceful and violent demolitions. One can imagine that, now, if any problem occurred in Liangzhou City, as soon as the media exposes it, regardless of the facts, if reporters even slightly biased, the overwhelming public pressure would be aimed directly at the Liangzhou Municipal Committee and city government. Who can blame this era where many harbor resentment towards officials?

Moreover, no matter how you look at it, it would appear that the Party and government are definitely the stronger party, and the farmers naturally the weaker party. Who would understand that the order here has, in fact, been reversed?

Pondering for a moment while looking through the window at the impassioned crowd that occasionally shouted a few slogans, calling out their grievances, Yang Yicheng stood up and said to Qin Weiran, who was beside him, “Mayor Qin, leave this to you. No matter what, I must go there myself.”

Yang Yicheng’s visit was inevitable. Now, the party committee and government were blocked by the people. Inside the city, in the Development Zone, it wasn’t good for everyone to stay out of the fray.

“Secretary, otherwise let me go. As the mayor, I am fully in charge of this area,” Qin Weiran suggested.

Appearing at this time, especially as the top official of Liangzhou City, Yang Yicheng would have to bear immense pressure, and the slightest mishap could have severe consequences. If anything went wrong and caused any undesirable effects, the first one to suffer would definitely be Yang Yicheng.

“No, Old Qin. At this time, with these people displaying their slogans, their aim is to wait for us. It’s better for one person to go rather than both of us. Besides, there are certain promises you’re not in a position to make. Let me go alone,” Yang Yicheng immediately rejected Qin Weiran’s proposal.

“Secretary, for safety reasons, I think we should bring more comrades with us. In case something happens, it’s always good to be able to respond in time,” Qin Weiran didn’t insist any longer and turned to bring up the issue of safety.

Yang Yicheng waved his hand. He hadn’t learned much from Secretary Nie, but he had certainly acquired this kind of courage and boldness. Under these circumstances, one must never appear aloof and disconnected. It would lead to misguiding public opinion.

Yang Yicheng also felt troubled in his heart towards these people’s dissatisfaction. Although he didn’t know how to solve the problem, or whether to stand firm or compromise, he still knew how to minimize the impact. He waved his hand and said, “There’s no need. This is Liangzhou City, this is Liangzhou and Longxi under the leadership of the Party and the government, I believe. There will absolutely be no problems.”

After his words fell, Yang Yicheng stepped out of the Development Zone’s office building.

The moment he appeared at the main entrance, the already restless crowd outside started boiling over. It was like a drop of water in a frying pan, exploding immediately.

Many people began to shout loudly. The city leaders have come, the city leaders have shown their faces, folks, we should now take the opportunity to ask them, how exactly are they going to solve our problems and difficulties.

Upon reaching the entrance, Yang Yicheng took the megaphone handed to him by a nearby police officer, across the riot police’s cordon, and spoke loudly, “People of Majia Manor, be quiet!”

As the Municipal Committee Secretary, Yang Yicheng had the necessary authority and composure. As he spoke, a natural aura emerged, gradually quieting the scene down.

In the midst of the crowd, someone shouted, “Don’t trust them! We want a clear response–will the government compensate for our houses or not?”

Yang Yicheng’s gaze immediately located the person who was shouting and he spoke again, “There will definitely be a response, but it will not be given in this kind of setting. What kind of behavior is this? besieging party and government offices? Provoking the authority of the state and government? Forcing the government? What are you doing? A collective rebellion? Every issue has its rules, without rules nothing can be squared or rounded. Demolition and land requisition negotiations are akin to business negotiations. Are you not even allowing to bargain? Where is such a domineering business? We can talk but not in this setting. We need to sit down, talk calmly and patiently, not in the way you are acting; this isn’t negotiation, this is blackmail. Are the village cadres of Majia Manor present? Are there highly respected representatives who have the full support of the villagers? Choose among yourselves. Form a group of eleven village representatives. Let’s talk frankly and sincerely in the Development Zone’s conference room, with all media friends invited to witness and certify the process. That’s my attitude, Yang Yicheng, and it’s also the stance of the Municipal Committee and Municipal Government. If you’re dissatisfied, you are free to complain about me, Yang Yicheng, to the Provincial Committee or to Secretary Nie. But I must say, if you continue like this, it will be considered a disruption of social order, causing panic among the public–an illegal act. According to legal provisions, those with minor involvement can be punished according to the Public Security Administration Law, and those with serious offenses will face serious consequences, including criminal detention or even sentencing, for gathering crowds to make trouble, picking quarrels and provoking disputes, as well as disturbing government and social order.”

Under a combination of carrot and stick, the people of Majia Manor also became somewhat fearful. Eventually, after discussing for half an hour, the village representatives were elected, and seeing this, Yang Yicheng waved his hand, signaling the police to let the representatives and media journalists come in. Meanwhile, the crowd outside also dispersed under the persuasion of local government leaders.

In the auditorium of the Development Zone, there were now over a hundred people sitting. Originally, the large conference room was chosen, but the space was too small, so it was finally moved here. The middle of the auditorium was cleared out, with chairs arranged in a circle. Eleven village representatives plus officials from the Development Zone, Yang Yicheng, and Qin Weiran all sat in a circle. Around them, journalists from over a hundred media outlets aimed their cameras this way.

Yang Yicheng pondered for a moment and then slowly said, “It’s best to talk while sitting down. Now that the representatives from Majia Manor are here, I will express my opinion, which is also the decision after careful consideration and research by the Municipal Committee and Municipal Government. For this round of land requisition, we will adhere to the national regulations strictly. For the existing houses in Majia Manor, compensation will be made at three thousand per square meter. In addition, each household will be allocated a corresponding foundation for resettlement. For the newly-built houses, compensation will be based on the construction costs combined with current prices, at twice the current standard construction costs.”

As his words concluded, a bald man in his thirties from Majia Manor stood up abruptly, glared at Yang Yicheng with anger, and shouted, “Secretary Yang, are you trying to fool us by burning newspapers on a grave? With this price, there’s no need to talk. Majia Manor will not be demolished.” (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to cast your recommendations and monthly votes at Qidian (NovelFire.net). Your support is my greatest motivation.)