Lin Chunfeng's words left everyone stunned.
Wang Yu and the others were particularly shocked.
This amiable and down-to-earth middle-aged man, who had shared meals and lived with them, and was on the front lines of disaster relief, was the newly appointed mayor?
Wang Yu himself was somewhat astonished. Although he had guessed the other party's identity might not be ordinary, the mayor's words… still exceeded his past life's understanding. After all, in this era, actions spoke louder than words.
However, he mused, whether it was lucky or unlucky for Elder Lin to encounter such a massive earthquake just a week into his tenure!
While Wang Yu was lost in thought, others couldn't remain so calm.
Especially Han Jun and his group, who felt a pang of guilt upon recalling that they had playfully hit the mayor on the head and kicked his backside when they were busy.
"What? You're the mayor? Stop joking! What kind of leader acts like you…"
Fang Zhongtian's words became increasingly less confident as Lin Chunfeng opened his small notebook, revealing an appointment letter. In those days, everything required proof. Even when Wang Yu and his colleagues traveled for accommodation and hospitality, they needed introduction letters from their units. Thus, Lin Chunfeng presenting an appointment letter was quite normal. No one would dare forge such a document in a public setting, so Lin Chunfeng's identity was established.
"Mayor Lin, what are your thoughts on the current earthquake relief situation?"
"Mayor Lin, an interview!"
"I'm from XX local TV, may I ask…"
The media personnel, the first to react, didn't dwell on who was right or wrong between Fang Zhongtian and Wang Yu. Instead, they swarmed forward, bombarding him with interviews. The scene was no less intense than their earlier pursuit of Wang Yu, perhaps even more so. After all, compared to Wang Yu and Fang Zhongtian, the mayor was the major figure, wasn't he?
However, Lin Chunfeng ignored them, continuing to fix his gaze on Fang Zhongtian, "So, tell me, on what grounds do you think I am?"
"I… I, Mayor Lin, we…"
Fang Zhongtian was speechless, struggling to find the right words. People like him were only capable of bullying those weaker or in favorable situations. When faced with real trouble, they naturally became flustered. However, he was not entirely without cunning. After a moment of thought, he spoke again.
"Oh, perhaps I misremembered the exact time our aid arrived in Jianglin City. But we did arrive, didn't we? As for this young brother Wang, I only heard about his matter. It's common knowledge in Jiangyang County. I was just curious and wanted to verify. Yes, just curious!"
Well, this fellow skillfully shifted the blame and extricated himself completely. His tone, however, had softened. Strictly speaking, Lin Chunfeng could question Fang Zhongtian with Wang Yu as a witness, but he truly had no right to punish him for boasting. Taking credit for others' achievements wasn't an official offense; it was a personal dispute that, at most, would result in condemnation for damaged reputation. But would someone like Fang Zhongtian, who only cared about profit, be bothered by that?
"You can certainly call it curiosity or a joke, but you cannot slander others and claim their hard work as your own!" Lin Chunfeng admonished Fang Zhongtian, who responded with a series of meek apologies and agreements. Of course, whether his apologies were genuine, only time would tell.
"Elder Lin… um, Mayor." Wang Yu adjusted his tone, "What he said is also true. My factory's situation is indeed not optimistic, but I believe it will improve soon."
Wang Yu's words were filled with confidence, earning him praise from Lin Chunfeng.
"Not arrogant, not impatient. I also believe your factory will thrive soon, young brother! Especially your products, they are truly excellent. Yes, you can continue to call me Elder Brother Lin; changing it now feels awkward."
Lin Chunfeng's words were sincere. The products Wang Yu brought had been incredibly useful during the recent days of disaster relief. Especially the dump trucks. He had never seen such small dump trucks before; usually, such large vehicles were only found in mines. Now, it seemed, these smaller ones could be quite useful in urban areas.
"Of course, Elder Brother, I came more to see you off with these disaster-stricken people. You've helped a great deal, and it's only right to express our gratitude before you leave." Lin Chunfeng gestured towards the crowd of residents. Wang Yu and his companions had tried in vain to dissuade them from kowtowing. Now, they stood up one by one, taking out various items.
"Factory Director Wang, these are eggs from our own chickens. Please take them to supplement your health."
"Benefactor, I made pancakes all night. Please try my cooking."
"This is smoked meat from our stove. Take some for the road."
From the crowd, people presented various gifts, simple and unpretentious, much like their faces.
"This… I cannot accept!" Wang Yu waved his hands, intending to refuse. He had come to participate in disaster relief solely out of a sense of responsibility. If he were doing it for reward, what would be the difference between him and trash like Fang Zhongtian? Though it might sound like feigned modesty, everyone holds a pure corner in their heart.
"Come now, young brother, don't refuse." Lin Chunfeng smiled and clasped Wang Yu's outstretched hand. "This is just the goodwill of the common people; it's not worth much money, but you cannot refuse it. After all, just as you brought light through your hard work in restoring power in the dark of night, to them, it represented the hope of their entire family."
"This…" Wang Yu hesitated. Looking at the sincere and simple eyes before him, he was momentarily lost in thought.
"Alright, I won't be overly polite. Esteemed uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, I, Wang Yu, accept your kind intentions." He called out loudly to the crowd, nodding. "Of course, I won't accept your gifts for nothing. In the future, if you need any help, you can come to Jiangyang County and find me. Though I am of humble status and my abilities are average, I will help you to the best of my ability."
Wang Yu's words were met with cheers from the crowd. Hands began placing gifts into Wang Yu's convoy. Han Jun and the others busied themselves accepting them and expressing their thanks. As everyone surged forward, the scene became a bit chaotic, but since it was all from genuine hearts, no one could say anything. The media personnel were pushed to the periphery, forming a circle. However, they were observant and professional, diligently taking photos, while some pulled out notebooks to record information, presumably for news articles. Fang Zhongtian and his group were relegated to the outer fringes, completely ignored. Malice flickered in his eyes.
Soon, Wang Yu and his group bid farewell to the residents. Some spontaneously escorted their convoy for a long distance, only returning reluctantly after they had completely disappeared from view.
"Wang Yu from Jiangyang County Automobile Factory, a truly fine young man," Lin Chunfeng said, watching the convoy disappear in the distance. Recalling Wang Yu's words to him before he left, he smiled slightly. "His suggestion is quite interesting."
Meanwhile, amidst the throng of media professionals, a young man, a reporter from the Jianglin Daily, gently patted his pocket, then took out his notepad and began writing furiously…
After a whole day, Wang Yu and his group finally returned to Jiangyang County. The journey back was much more relaxed than the hurried trip there. Along the way, they shared the pancakes given by the residents, which Wang Yu distributed to everyone. Indeed, they tasted quite good. As soon as they alighted from the vehicle upon reaching the factory, Wang Yu was greeted by a stout face.