"The news can be absolutely sealed. I've already instructed Zhao Hongyan to handle it. But the problem is, how do we appease the families of over sixty people? If they can't be appeased, and someone runs out and causes a scene, all our efforts will be in vain."
Chen Feng asked with a serious expression.
"It's difficult. When it comes to Chinese people and death, no matter whose fault it is, they will absolutely cause a scene. Not long ago, a thief fell to his death while climbing a water pipe, and the thief's family demanded compensation from the property management and the owner. With over sixty people dead, it's impossible not to have an uproar."
Qin Yan replied with a serious expression.
"It's precisely because of this that I've come to discuss with you how to proceed."
Chen Feng sighed.
"After thinking about it, the only way is to throw money at it. If the families cause trouble, they are basically looking for money. The dead cannot be resurrected. Their actions can't possibly be to bring the deceased back to life."
Qin Yan said earnestly.
"I also thought of the 'throw money' approach, but there's a big problem. If one person dies, we can throw a lot of money. But with so many dying at once, how do we throw money? If we throw it limitlessly, even astronomical sums won't be enough."
Chen Feng replied glumly.
"That is indeed a problem. Therefore, the money must be thrown artistically, so they feel they've made a big profit after receiving it."
"'Throw money artistically'? That's a good idea. Hmm, let me think..."
Chen Feng was inspired by Qin Yan's words.
Chinese people do indeed have this mindset.
No matter how much money it is, as long as they feel they've profited, they won't cause trouble.
However much money they get, if they feel they've lost out, they will definitely cause trouble.
It's like
Demolition. If they were told beforehand that a certain area wouldn't be demolished, and it was deliberately demolished next to it, those people would be extremely envious and resentful.
Once their envy and resentment reach a certain point, they would directly declare that the adjacent area would not be demolished, but this area would be.
If they agree, they would be compensated at market price.
If they don't agree, they would continue to demolish the adjacent area.
With this small stratagem, no one would object to the demolition.
The reason is simple: when they hear that the adjacent area is not being demolished, and their area is, it feels like a windfall.
If this method weren't used, there would be endless arguments, and the demolition might not even be completed successfully.
"Qin District, do you think this method is feasible? Let's arrest all sixty-odd family members overnight..."
Chen Feng said in a low voice.
"Wait a minute. Arresting all sixty-odd family members? Won't that escalate the situation even further?"
Qin Yan broke out in a cold sweat.
"If handled poorly, it will indeed escalate. But if handled well, it will turn a major issue into a minor one, or even make it disappear entirely."
Chen Feng appeased Qin Yan.
"The problem is, if you arrest sixty-odd people and send them to prison, how can you handle it well?"
Qin Yan asked, confused.
"Qin District, here's my thinking: first, arrest them for the crime of damaging national mineral resources, then specially educate them about the law. Unauthorized mining is the crime of damaging national mineral resources. This is a serious crime, with a minimum sentence of ten years. Even if the family members are not sentenced, they must compensate the state for economic losses on behalf of the deceased."
"Isn't it a bit wrong to scare ordinary people like this?"
Qin Yan asked, frowning.
"Qin District, I know that scaring ordinary people with this method is not good, it's despicable, and very cruel. But the problem is, a benevolent heart cannot command an army. If we don't do this, this matter will only get worse. Once it affects the good economic development prospects of the Wuzhou District, it will truly be a case of losing more than it's worth. Therefore, there's no other way; for the sake of the bigger picture, this villain must be played."
Chen Feng explained with a pained expression.
This is how the power game is played; there are never two perfect solutions. The bigger picture and a portion of the populace must have one sacrificed.
"Yes, that makes sense. I'll call the police station right away and have them mobilize everyone to handle this matter."
After speaking, Qin Yan immediately called the police station.
After the call, Qin Yan asked Chen Feng again.
After arresting the sixty-odd family members, should they discuss compensation immediately?
"Absolutely not. If compensation for the deceased is discussed immediately after their arrest, all our efforts will be in vain."
"Then what should we do?"
"Keep them locked up for two months first. Once the rumors die down, and the families are scared from being detained, then, under the guise of the state providing compensation to the deceased's families out of humanitarianism, discuss the compensation. They will absolutely not make exorbitant demands."
Chen Feng explained patiently.
"Chen Feng, you really have many ideas. To be honest, with your approach, a compensation of five hundred thousand per person could completely resolve this."
The stone in Qin Yan's heart was finally lifted.
"Compensate them at a standard of one million per person."
Chen Feng said with a solemn expression.
"Chen Feng, they illegally mined. Is one million compensation per person too much?"
Qin Yan was taken aback for a moment.
"From the nature of the incident, not paying a single cent would be the correct operation. However, these sixty-odd deceased individuals were sixty-odd living lives. If they hadn't been living in hardship and urgently needed money, who would have risked illegally mining? The suffering of the grassroots has caused over sixty people to lose their lives. Let's consider the compensation of one million as a mercy for their difficult lives at the bottom. As for the Zhao family, they can afford this amount. It also provides an opportunity for the Zhao family to make a significant compensation for their past mistakes through this incident."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yan looked at Chen Feng with deep respect.
He was indeed decisive and ruthless in his actions.
However, on the other hand, he possessed an uncommon warmth of humanity.
"Chen Feng, don't worry, I will handle this matter perfectly. The one million compensation will be delivered to the deceased's families without a single cent missing."
Qin Yan said emotionally.
"Then I'll leave this matter to you. Now, I need to go down to the mine."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"Going down to the mine? No, absolutely not. It's too dangerous. Over sixty professional miners died down there at once. How can you, a non-professional, go down to the mine?"
Qin Yan quickly tried to dissuade him.
"Qin District, I know that it's very dangerous for non-professionals to go down to the mine. But I must. This incident of over sixty deaths feels too strange, and I must get to the bottom of it."
Chen Feng said with determination.
"Investigating the truth of the matter is important. However, there's no need for you to go down to the mine personally; you can ask an investigation team to go."
Qin Yan continued to persuade Chen Feng.
"If an investigation team goes down to the mine, the conclusion they reach will only be a whitewash. If I'm not mistaken, the members of the investigation team for this Zhao family mine disaster have already been heavily bribed. Their going down to the mine is just a formality, and then they will issue a high-sounding official announcement, and the matter will be left unresolved."
Chen Feng explained earnestly.
"That's true, but my point is, forget it. Since the matter has already calmed down, there's no need to relentlessly pursue the truth. You must understand that pursuing the truth in the mine is very dangerous. Moreover, the bad people behind the truth are even more dangerous."
Qin Yan advised Chen Feng.
"Qin District, to be honest, if the truth behind the mine disaster isn't revealed, I won't be able to sleep. These people are too insane, disregarding human lives as grass for the sake of profit. Please don't try to persuade me anymore. This time, I will definitely go down to the mine to investigate the truth. If anything unexpected happens..." Forget it, I won't say it.
Chen Feng retracted the words he was about to say. If he died this time, he couldn't even imagine how the women around him would spend the rest of their lives.
Let's leave the rest to fate.
Since he chose the goodness in his heart, he must be prepared for sacrifice.
"How about this, Chen Feng, I'll recommend someone to accompany you down to the mine to investigate the truth. With him there, the safety factor will be much higher..."
Qin Yan's eyes flashed with brilliance.