Chapter 117 Forced Demolition
"Generally speaking, there are two problems, and they are quite tricky."
Ethan sighed lightly and said, "The first problem was caused by myself, which is the issue of violent forced demolition.
"I entrusted the demolition work of a certain area in the slum to a person named Caleb and signed a contract with him. He has a demolition team under his command. I admit, I gave him a bribe before, which is why I entrusted him with the demolition of that area.
"But I didn't know that he specializes in violent forced demolition and takes advantage of the compensation for demolition. The residents in that area suffered greatly because of him."
Noah nodded, but he didn't get angry. Ethan was from a place like the slum, so it was natural for him to have some shortcomings and make mistakes.
"Even if you signed a contract and outsourced the entire area to him, you should still have some say as the overall person in charge. If you intervened in the violent forced demolition, would Caleb dare to do such a thing?" Noah asked.
"In theory, it should be like that." Ethan sighed, "But Caleb is not an ordinary person. There’s someone behind him."
"Someone?" Noah's gaze flickered.
"Yes, a gray zone figure named Ryan is behind him." Ethan's face became more serious.
"Ryan?" Noah shook his head. He had never heard of that name.
"Behind Ryan is Luke, the boss of the Oceanbridge City gang," Ethan added.
"So it's Luke," Noah said.
Noah had heard that name before.
He was a big figure in the gray area of Oceanbridge City, running loan sharks, casinos, red-light districts, and had connections to many online loan sharks as well.
In terms of status, he could be considered on par with Mason.
But Mason was semi-retired, while Luke was still active.
"I can't touch Caleb because of his association with Luke, and he won't listen to me either," Ethan sighed.
"Because of his violent demolitions, there have been incidents of bloodshed in that area. Yesterday, they broke both a resident’s legs. He couldn't afford to go to the hospital, so he’s paralyzed and waiting to die at home."
Noah frowned. One of the most important things to avoid when dealing with compensation was bloodshed. If fatalities were involved, things would become even more troublesome.
"Does my wife know about this?" Noah asked. He didn't want Lisa to hear about it and be upset.
"I'm keeping it suppressed for now. Lisa doesn't know," Ethan replied. "But I suspect if Caleb continues like this, there will definitely be fatalities. When that happens and the matter reaches the government, Lisa will face immense pressure. If the media gets hold of it, the massive public opinion pressure might affect the progress of the poverty-stricken area redevelopment project."
Noah nodded, understanding the severity of the situation.
"Noah, there's a second problem..." Ethan began.
"Let's solve the first one first, then we can talk about the second," Noah interrupted Ethan, raising his hand. "Take some people with you, let's go to the area Caleb is responsible for."
"Okay!"
Ethan immediately made a phone call and soon over ten people arrived.
"Ethan!"
The people called out when they saw Ethan.
They were dressed in blue work uniforms, wearing safety helmets, and holding hammers, shovels, and chainsaws. They looked like ordinary workers. Their previously colorful hair had been cut off.
"Say hello to Noah!" Ethan said expressionlessly.
"Hello, Noah!"
The ten-plus people bowed their heads and shouted in unison.
"These people were originally small-time hoodlums. They were always idling around, indulging in drinking, gambling, and illegal activities," Ethan explained. "After I took over the compensation work, they were still idle, so I let them work on the construction site like normal workers. They work every day and receive a monthly salary. Of course, if there's any trouble, I’ll discipline them."
Noah nodded, thinking that Ethan had done a good job.
"Lead the way!" he said casually.
"Okay, Noah, follow me," Ethansaid, leading the group toward the depths of the impoverished area.
They walked into the impoverished area, where the demolition had not yet started. Many residents were still living there.
"Noah, that's it." Ethan pointed ahead.
Noah saw a large area in front of him, where seven or eight excavators were working.
Roar...
The engines roared, and the bulldozers swept across.
Crash...
They crushed large pieces of houses and walls, which fell to the ground, kicking up dust.
There were also several houses with white banners hanging on the walls, with words written on them:
"I want food, I want a home, reject forced demolition."
"Reject violent evictions."
In a corner of the houses, several residents looked up at the excavators and cried out loudly.
Noah frowned, realizing that the violent demolitions were more serious than he had imagined.
"Waaah, don't demolish my house!
"Please don't demolish it!
"If you tear it down, how can I do business? How can I live? Waaah!"
They heard wailing cries.
In front of a breakfast shop, a mother and daughter knelt on the ground, embracing each other and crying in pain.
"Why are you crying? You’re so annoying! You’re just poor people in the impoverished area, you should be satisfied if we demolish one of your houses and give you one hundred thousand dollars! You wouldn't even earn this much money in ten years of selling buns!"
An impatient voice echoed.
A table was set up next to the breakfast shop.
Four people were sitting around playing cards, with beer, melon seeds, and roast duck on the table. They were watching the forced demolitions while enjoying themselves.
The leader was a middle-aged man named Caleb. He wore a gold necklace around his neck, had a receding hairline, and was wearing a dusty gray suit. His eye sockets were deep, and there were occasional flashes of cunning in his eyes.
"I have to say, that mother looks pretty good." Caleb's gaze finally fell on the woman when he saw the mother and daughter.
The woman was in her thirties. She was wearing a thin white shirt and had a full chest and a plump figure, but at this moment, her face was full of tears as she wailed loudly, her eyes filled with despair.
Her daughter, who was around three or four years old, was also crying in her arms.
"Don't tear it down!
"I beg you not to tear it down!
"Why do you want to demolish my house?!"
As they watched the roaring excavator approaching, the mother and daughter knelt in front of the breakfast shop, their cries growing louder, their expressions filled with despair, and their cries filled with misery.
Roar...
The excavator drove up to the mother and daughter, and the driver looked at Caleb.
"Captain, what do you think? These two are blocking the way, we can't demolish the house."
"You idiots, since you can't demolish the house, then just demolish the people. Isn't that easy?" Caleb took a sip of beer, completely unconcerned.
"Alright!"
The driver nodded, and the excavator's bulldozer approached the mother and daughter.
"Ah!"
The mother and daughter looked up in shock, their faces turning pale.
"Mom!"
The little girl closed her eyes and hugged her mother tightly.
"Oh dear God, why are you treating us so unfairly!
"If you want to demolish my house, you'll have to do it over my dead body!"
The woman hugged the little girl, closed her eyes, and didn't move.
As the bulldozer was about to land on the mother and daughter, a swooshing sound came.
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