Chapter 138: The Equilibrium Point

"Team Leader Liang, Team Leader Yuan, please gather the merchants here immediately. I have something to say."

However, Wu Ya did not state his solution directly.

Both Team Leader Liang and Team Leader Yuan were stunned.

Gather the merchants? He had something to say?

The conflict between the merchants and Chai Yanfen had not yet been resolved!

Once gathered now, what if Wu Ya's method failed?

The consequences that would trigger were completely foreseeable!

Especially right now.

The news that Team Leader Fan and the others had been taken away must have already spread.

This was precisely a time when people's hearts were filled with panic and without a clear direction.

Once gathered, if they failed to get the answers they desired, one could easily imagine that public anger would inevitably boil over!

At that time, not only would this matter remain unresolved, but it would also spark a collective incident!

If it escalated further and emotions overheated completely, it was highly likely to result in a large-scale petition event!

The consequences...

They could not afford to bear them!

"Wu Ya, why don't you share your concept with us first?"

In the end, it was Team Leader Liang who broke the silence.

The two of them had been urging him for ages, yet this kid simply refused to speak.

He only kept telling them to gather the merchants, gather the merchants.

Were those merchants really that easy to assemble?

What they feared most was that once he brought them together, they wouldn't be able to disperse them!

"That's right, Wu Ya. For the sake of safety, I think it's better for us to discuss it first before taking any action."

Seeing Team Leader Liang speak up, Team Leader Yuan quickly chimed in.

After all, Wu Ya was young.

Being eager for quick success and instant benefits was a flaw common to all young people.

If they didn't know his concept beforehand and simply let him act recklessly, once irrevocable consequences were caused, the ones who would have to take responsibility were the two of them!

"The two team leaders are right! Wu Ya, you should tell us how you plan to resolve this matter first! After all, this is of great importance. A single misstep could lead to unforeseen results. It is only natural that Team Leader Liang and the others are uneasy."

Sister Chai naturally saw through the thoughts of the two men.

As for herself, she was also a bit uneasy to begin with.

The reason was the same: Wu Ya was too young.

He lacked exposure and broad experience.

Despite his exceptionally gifted business acumen, tackling matters that even adults found thorny was still, in Chai Yanfen's view, something he couldn't handle with certainty!

In other words...

It was unreliable!

Little did they expect—

"Hehe, if I tell you now, it won't give you any surprise! If you guys don't dare to call them, then I will go."

I will go.

With those words, Wu Ya hesitated no longer.

He pushed open the office door directly and walked out.

"This kid! What on earth are we going to do if something goes wrong?!"

Watching his retreating figure, Team Leader Liang fell into instant despair.

He truly was in the rebellious phase of youthful ignorance!

The more you told him not to do something, the more he insisted on doing it!

"We're finished! We're finished! We've only just taken office, are we going to be stripped of our positions already?"

Team Leader Yuan stomped his feet, his face filled with grief and regret.

Yet, there was nothing they could do.

They couldn't stop him!

The kid vanished from sight the moment he stepped out the door.

Besides, they knew very well that for a child of this age, trying to stop him by force simply wasn't a viable solution.

Setting aside whether he might leave in a huff and render the whole matter completely unresolvable, what good would it do even if they did manage to stop him?

Not only would it be of no help, but it would also deeply offend Wu Ya!

If Director Wang were to find out that the crucial person he hinted at before leaving had been alienated by just a few words from the two of them, they would not escape unpunished either!

At this moment, Wu Ya's arbitrary actions plunged the two men directly into a dilemma.

Meanwhile, a storm had already brewed within the trading market.

"Did you know? Team Leader Fan, who was going to sort out Chai Yanfen for us, has actually been taken away!"

"What? Who took him? Then how are our issues supposed to be dealt with?"

"Word has it that he was taken away by people sent by their grand director! The reason seems to be monopolizing the market and accepting bribes!"

"Then we're done for! Ah! Why couldn't you have trouble either earlier or later, why did it have to happen right at this critical juncture? At the very least, you should have dealt with Chai Yanfen before getting into trouble!"

All the merchants gathered in groups of threes and fives, discussing the news they had just received.

Just over an hour ago, the two team leaders had led them in aggressively to question authority.

Yet in the blink of an eye, how had they ended up trapped in a predicament?

Even in a movie, there wouldn't be such a plot twist, would it?

It was far too dramatic.

"I heard that Wu Ya was helping Chai Yanfen resist the decision made by Team Leader Fan and the others. As a result, Team Leader Fan and his group had no choice and ultimately chose to call the police! But who would have thought that the police chief who arrived actually knew Wu Ya? Not only did he not deal with the kid, but he kept shielding him instead! Having no alternative, Team Leader Fan and the others had to invite their own bureau director. But who could have foreseen that this would be the outcome!"

It was Wu Ya?

Instantly, this name exploded across the entire scene!

"Humph! What a piece of work! A wet-behind-the-ears kid dares to come here and hinder us from making a fortune!"

"Exactly! I bet Team Leader Fan and the others being arrested was definitely a trap set by this kid!"

"Right! It must be! Otherwise, how could everything be fine just a moment ago, only to be arrested the next? Truly a pity for Team Leader Fan and the others!"

For a time, there were nothing but denunciations against Wu Ya and expressions of sympathy for Team Leader Fan and his group.

At this moment, these people seemed to have completely forgotten how Team Leader Fan had been fleecing them!

Interests will forever be the foolproof catalyst driving people to make their choices.

Just like right now.

Since Team Leader Fan spoke in their favor, all past grievances were wiped clean overnight, transforming him into a towering figure fighting for the people.

"Since you all feel that Team Leader Fan has been wronged, shall we collectively go to the authorities and demand they release people immediately?"

Suddenly, someone shouted out from the crowd.

Boom!

It instantly ignited the emotions of everyone present.

"Right! We should collectively petition and demand their immediate release!"

"Ignoring the real unscrupulous merchants who monopolize the market, yet running over here to arrest the innocent at will! Is there still any justice left in this world? Let's go and petition for Team Leader Fan!"

"What are we hesitating for? There is strength in numbers, no one needs to be afraid! Even if we can't save Team Leader Fan in the end, we must seize this opportunity to drive Chai Yanfen out of the market!"

Let's go!

Drive Chai Yanfen out of the market.

This final sentence became the ultimate source of motivation for the crowd.

The moment the words fell, a wave of heads surged forward in a flurry.

Mighty and bustling, they all headed toward the exit of the trading market.

Along the way, such a massive momentum attracted countless onlookers.

"What are these merchants up to? Judging by this look, it seems like a protest march?"

"I heard that Team Leader Fan and the others ran into trouble and were framed by a kid named Wu Ya! These people are spontaneously going to petition the authorities!"

"What? Team Leader Fan got into trouble? Then I must join quickly to further boost the momentum! Otherwise, who am I going to sell my clothes to?"

Amidst the murmurs, more people converged into the crowd.

In the blink of an eye, the procession swelled to a magnificent scale.

Their momentum reached its climax in mere moments.

Each of them held their heads high, spirited and full of vigor.

That posture—

It looked as though they were about to cross some mighty river!

Overflowing with a determination to face death unflinchingly!

Suddenly—

"Everyone, please stop for a moment and listen to what I have to say!"

The iron gates of the trading market were suddenly closed by someone.

Standing right in front of the iron gates was a young boy with an immature yet handsome face!

He had blocked the procession of dozens of people entirely on his own.

"Who are you? What are you doing stopping us?"

Someone in the front who didn't recognize Wu Ya asked angrily.

Absurd!

Could they not see that a large crowd was about to vent their grievances?

A single person, all alone, actually dared to block the road?

"Hello everyone, my name is Wu Ya! I am also Chai Yanfen's sworn brother!"

Wu Ya raised his voice to the maximum, striving to make his sound carry over the surrounding commotion.

At the same time, he felt a million lucky stars aligned in his heart.

Fortunately, he had rushed out regardless of consequences to gather all the merchants.

If he had delayed even a moment longer in the office or explained his plan to Sister Chai and the others?

The consequences would have been terrifying!

These people had actually gathered to petition for Team Leader Fan!

This was something neither he nor anyone else could have anticipated.

It was simply being blinded by greed to an unreasonable degree.

Just to suppress Sister Chai, they had completely forgotten how Team Leader Fan used to exploit them.

Whenever a merchant's goods had even the slightest flaw, those men would pick faults endlessly.

And if a merchant showed the slightest dissatisfaction?

It would instantly be classified as counterfeit and shoddy goods!

Their merchandise would be confiscated, and they would be forced to pay exorbitant fines before they could resume business.

Such experiences had befallen almost every single household.

Yet at this moment, none of them cared anymore.

"You are Wu Ya? The brother of that profiteer Chai Yanfen? Are you the one who plotted a trap to frame and harm Team Leader Fan and the others?"

Upon hearing that the newcomer was none other than Wu Ya—the very person who had caused Team Leader Fan and his associates to face imprisonment—the crowd descended into chaos once again.

"Speak! How did you plot and frame Team Leader Fan? And what is your relationship with that Director Zhou?"

"So young, yet you've learned to be so vicious! If you grow up, won't you become a scourge to the country and the people?"

"No wonder you can collude with Chai Yanfen; turns out you're birds of a feather, both cunning and treacherous by nature!"

In order to rescue Team Leader Fan and subsequently use that momentum to suppress Chai Yanfen, these people didn't even hesitate to blatantly turn black into white and slander him right here and now.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Wu Ya's mouth.

This was the human heart, human nature!

Portraying the pursuit of self-interest to the absolute extreme.

They had once hated Team Leader Fan almost to the bone; yet now, in order to use him to edge out Chai Yanfen, he had instantly become the apple of their eye.

They were even making a grand spectacle of launching a collective incident.

What kind of utter nonsense logic was this!

"Wu Ya, get lost from here right now, and you'd better take Chai Yanfen and get lost with you! Otherwise, when we reach the authorities, we will collectively accuse you of monopolizing the market!"

"Right! And we must add another charge: plotting to harm market management personnel!"

"And one more thing! Colluding with that Director Zhou to wantonly oppress the market merchants!"

To make matters worse, some had already started pressing forward toward Wu Ya.

Giving off the strong impression that if he didn't step aside, these men would take matters into their own hands!

Yet Wu Ya not only showed no trace of fear, but instead took a step forward toward them!

At the same time, his loud voice rang out once more, roaring at the crowd:

"Can everyone quiet down for a moment? I have good news here, good news that can allow all of us to make money together! I wonder if you are willing to listen?"

Good news about making money?

Swish—

The entire scene fell instantly silent!

The procession of dozens of people grew so quiet that even their breathing could no longer be heard.

Everyone held their breath, staring fixedly at Wu Ya.

Willing to listen or not?

Of course they were willing!

Who wouldn't prick up their ears when it came to making money?

The few merchants who had already reached Wu Ya's front also immediately halted their steps.

This kid had an idea?

Then there was no harm in listening to what he had to say first!

Anyway, there was no rush in these few moments.

If he truly had a good solution, it would save them a lot of trouble.

Rescue that thunder-struck Team Leader Fan?

To be honest, they still weren't willing.

But if this kid was merely talking nonsense just to stall them, it wasn't too late.

They could just shove him aside and push forward anyway!

No matter what, it wouldn't take more than these few minutes.

"Hehe..."

Seeing that the crowd had finally quieted down, a smile finally appeared on Wu Ya's face.

Truth be told, this standoff had genuinely made him nervous.

Fortunately, profit was an eternal magnet.

It could drive them to the point of a collective petition, and it could also cause them to be reined right back in the very next second.

"Kid, didn't you say you had news that would let everyone make money? Why are you still standing there and silly-smiling? Waste my time, and I'll break your legs!"

"That's right! Say what you have to say, spit it out!"

Seeing Wu Ya not speaking, but instead laughing to himself, the crowd grew impatient again.

However, the impatience this time wasn't about rushing off to petition.

Rather, they used it as a pretext to urge Wu Ya to speak quickly.

"Alright, alright, everyone quiet down."

Public anger was hard to oppose, especially at a juncture like this.

Wu Ya didn't dare to antagonize them head-on either, so he had to nod and signal for quiet once more.

The crowd quieted down again.

"Didn't you feel that my Sister Chai's business was too booming, affecting you all, leaving your doorsteps desolate and your sales sluggish, thereby bringing you tremendous blows and oppression?"

Wu Ya then adjusted his voice to a moderate level, keeping his tone as calm as possible.

He strove to ensure everyone could hear him without straining too much.

If this matter was to be perfectly resolved in the end,

he had to find a equilibrium point.

An equilibrium point that everyone could accept while failing to compromise Chai Yanfen's interests.

Therefore, he had to take it slow.

He had to make these people accept his idea step-by-step while digesting it simultaneously.

Only then could he achieve the fastest and best results in the shortest amount of time.

"That's right! The pedestrian traffic in the trading market is only that much! If Chai Yanfen's business wasn't abnormally booming, our doorsteps wouldn't be so deserted! Therefore, sharing the meals is the long-term way. Otherwise, the end result will be incurring public anger and being driven out of the market!"

As Wu Ya finished speaking, someone uttered a threat.

"Indeed, if you don't let us eat, then get lost from here."

"Right, let everyone share the wealth! You can't be the only one full while letting all of us starve?"

"You'd better tell us how you plan to let us make money first! Everything else is nonsense! If this doesn't achieve our goal, we certainly won't let the matter rest!"

The crowd followed up with another wave of shouting.

Yet clearly, although a hint of threat remained, much of the fiery temper from before had dissipated.

The only thing keeping them impatient now was Wu Ya's playing hard to get!

Could he not just state his point directly instead of beating around the bush?