Chapter 306 A New Beginning
“Stop work!”
"Give the order to stop work immediately!"
Chai An went to the construction site instead of Qi Lang, found the temporary person in charge, and asked them to stop the work.
Carrying out construction in such heavy rain is a violation of Coral City's safety regulations.
Now that such a big thing has happened, there are still dozens of corpses that have not been dug out in the ruins, and the matter in the cathedral on the other side has not been completely resolved.
We will not start any work until the problem is solved. This is the due explanation to the deceased.
After receiving the order, the rumbling sound of machinery on the ruins gradually died down, and the workers left one after another, leaving only the sound of rain in the sky.
In the cathedral, Qi Lang sat awkwardly on a stool, holding the list in his hand. Facing the countless relatives of the dead, he coughed twice and comforted them: "This time... it's our fault. I didn't discover the situation here in time..."
The crying in the church continued, and someone cried out sadly, "Lord City Lord, please make the decision for us!"
Qi Lang's forehead was covered with sweat, and he immediately replied: "Yes, yes... Don't worry..."
He wiped the sweat off his face and looked towards the church entrance, feeling very uncomfortable.
Why hasn’t Chai An come back yet?
Qi Lang felt uncomfortable as he had to face these grieving and angry poor people alone, with Pharmacist Su watching him.
He was more accustomed to sitting in a clean and warm office and reading the summary reports submitted by his subordinates, rather than facing these tedious and complicated problems directly.
"Don't worry, don't worry..."
At this moment, hearing everyone's requests, Qi Lang was a little at a loss, and for a moment he didn't know where to start.
Should these people be given lawyers immediately?
Or should we arrest the evil team headed by Wang Hong first?
Or should we distribute some relief food first?
When should we deal with the people who are still buried in the rubble?
All kinds of questions like these flashed through his mind, making him panic.
Fortunately, I brought Chai An with me this time. If he had to face the whole thing alone, he might have collapsed on the spot and found an excuse to run away.
"Master Su, please say something."
Qi Lang swallowed, his fingers almost turned white as he held the list of the dead, and he looked at Su Xia beside him for help.
Su Xia nodded slightly and said softly: "Lord City Lord, the key to solving the problem is not on your side, but on the family of the deceased. Solve their primary needs first, and other problems can be put aside."
"Oh yeah, that's right!"
Qi Lang suddenly realized, and his mind became clear instantly.
What’s the point of him thinking about so many questions?
If the family of the deceased is not satisfied, these people will continue to make trouble.
Just now, all these family members were shouting at Qi Lang to make the decision, which made Qi Lang a little confused for a moment. He didn't know what decision to make.
Just throw the problem to the family of the deceased, let them form a team, select representatives, put forward specific demands, and then slowly communicate with their own team...
"Master Su is worthy of being a person valued by Lord Yutuo. Are you willing to come to the city to work?" Qi Lang asked in a low voice.
He thought that having Chai An could solve most of his problems. If Su Xia was willing to help him again, he could be at ease and become a hands-off boss.
Of course, this is based on the premise that Su Xia will not take away his position as city lord.
Su Xia shook her head and replied to Qi Lang: "Did you forget, Lord City Lord, that I already have a position in the city?"
"Oh, the one from the intelligence department?"
Qi Lang remembered and said, "Master Su, you are absent every day."
"I don't really like getting involved in politics. I hope the city lord understands."
"I understand, of course I understand." Qi Lang nodded repeatedly. "Given Wu Zhonggui's personality, he probably wouldn't get along with Master Su. I heard there were some minor frictions between you two?"
"Yeah, it's not a big problem."
"That's it, I will help Master Su solve the problem of absence in the future."
"Thank you, Lord City Lord."
"No thanks, it's my duty." Qi Lang laughed dryly. He had the highest authority in the employee system and could change the status of any employee. This was just a trivial matter for him.
And Su Xia's attitude also confirmed what Chai An had said to him before.
Genius pharmacists like this often have strange personalities and only care about medicine. It is impossible for them to stay in the department for a long time.
Not long after, Chai An also came back and informed the news from the construction site.
"Lord City Lord, it's safe over there."
With this assistant's help, Qi Lang felt a lot more relaxed.
Afterwards, Chai An began to arrange follow-up affairs in an orderly manner. His work was meticulous and serious, which was many times better than that of Qi Lang, the city lord.
If this man were allowed to become the city lord, Coral City might be able to get on the right track.
During this time, Su Xia asked Qi Lang: "Lord City Lord, why do you have to flatten the homes of these poor people?"
Qi Lang was stunned: "What does Master Su mean?"
"I see there are still a lot of vacant lands in the city, such as the huge ruins in the south of the city." Su Xia narrated slowly, "That area is uninhabited and overgrown with weeds. It is the perfect location for the reconstruction project."
"this……"
Qi Lang looked embarrassed and whispered, "Master Su, you don't know that the ruins have an owner."
"Who bought it?"
"Qin Fan, a wealthy businessman."
"oh?"
Su Xia had heard something about it and asked, "Is it the biggest grain merchant in the city?"
Qi Lang nodded: "Yes."
"When did he buy that land?"
"It was just after the war," Qi Lang explained. "The price of land was very cheap at that time. Many were bought by private individuals, and a large amount of land in the suburbs was also bought."
"Where are the original inhabitants of that ruin?" Su Xia asked.
"After so many years of fighting, all the cities have been destroyed and there are refugees everywhere. There are no indigenous people left. Now more than half of the residents in the city came from other places."
"Why not let the businessmen who bought the land develop it themselves? They could grow some food, too."
"I have urged them about this as well."
Qi Lang's tone was full of helplessness as he continued to explain: "But they refused and would rather let the land remain idle."
"Why?"
"Master Su... you also understand that food is worthless once there is too much of it."
"oh."
Of course Su Xia understood. He had thought there might be other reasons, but it seems there are none now.
If it is his turn to start the reckoning in the future, he will not feel any psychological pressure and will kill everyone who should be killed.
After a while, Su Xia thought about it and asked again: "Can you get any evidence against these businessmen?"
"Of course, I have plenty of leverage." Qi Lang nodded, "I know what Master Su means, but... what Master Su doesn't know is that they also have leverage over me. I can't use it to threaten them. I can only check and balance each other and maintain a balance."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, I am the lord of my city, and they make their money. When necessary, they will support me with money."
Having been in this position for so many years, Qi Lang's hands are certainly not clean, and he has countless handles.
Once it breaks out, Su Xia won't even have to do anything, the anger of the city's civilians will consume him.
The city can only remain as it is now.
If any part is moved, the whole body will be affected, leading to the complete collapse of the existing order.
By then, we might be afraid that the mechanical race would be attracted and another purge would take place, which is something no one wants to see.
"Mr. City Lord, have you ever thought about slowly taking those things back?" Su Xia asked him.
"How to collect?" Qi Lang asked.
"Win over one group and suppress another."
"This is... easier said than done."
Qi Lang waved his hands. He didn't have that kind of courage.
Su Xia said: "Energy, food, medical care, public transportation, etc., these must be taken back, otherwise you, the city lord, will always be like a puppet on the stage and let others laugh at you."
Hearing this, Chai An next to him had a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He put down what he was doing, looked at Su Xia seriously, nodded in agreement and said, "Pharmacist Su is right. I have mentioned this to the city lord before."
"What's the result?"
"Of course the city lord won't agree." Chai An glanced at Qi Lang.
Qi Lang spread his hands and said, "I haven't lived long enough. If I make such a fuss, you will see the news of my assassination the next day."
"Oh? Lord City Lord is afraid of this?" Su Xia asked.
"Of course, who in this world is not afraid of death?" Qi Lang admitted frankly, "Before me, the previous city lord did this, but before he could take back what you said, he was shot in the head while driving a convertible one day."
“…”
After a brief exchange, Su Xia no longer mentioned such topics.
When doing great things you must not cherish your body, otherwise you will never accomplish anything.
After all, Qi Lang serves the rich people in this city. Asking him to change something is tantamount to asking him to die. He is not born to do great things.
"What is the Lord City Lord going to do with these orphans?"
"Send them to a children's welfare home." Qi Lang said, "I will allocate more money to welfare homes across the city, and ask those wealthy businessmen to put on a show, and then find a few media to interview them, and ask all parties to donate...try to ensure that these orphans can live to adulthood."
"Can."
This is the only solution at the moment.
Su Xia moved her eyes and looked at Zhao Xiaobai in the corner of the church.
The child also heard their conversation and learned that he would go to a place called Children's Welfare Home in the future. He wiped his tears, his eyes were still red and swollen. He looked at his mother's body sadly and held his mother's already cold hand tightly.
He didn't want to go to that strange place, nor did he want to leave.
After leaving, I may never see my mother again.
Su Xia walked over, squatted down, and said calmly: "There is an independent school in the welfare home. Study hard in the future and at least learn to write and recognize words."
"Uncle, I... I can write and read." Zhao Xiaobai's voice was choked with sobs and his throat was hoarse.
"Have you learned it before?"
"Well, there is an old man who taught us."
"Where's the old man?"
"There... Grandpa also..."
Zhao Xiaobai pointed sadly at another corner, his eyes red and tears rolling down again. He was so sad that he couldn't stop sobbing.
There was a bloodstained white cloth covering the corner.
Su Xia looked over and a string of character descriptions appeared before her eyes.
[He Qiubai: A teacher at Chengdong Primary School. After retirement, he sold his property and went deep into the slums to set up a school. He taught children from poor families for twenty years.]
[Many students got out of the slums with his help, and gave feedback to this barren area when they grew up, making the slums better and better]
After all, there is no shortage of kind-hearted people in this city. It's a pity that this old man didn't live to see the day when this area becomes completely better.
Su Xia retracted her gaze, sighed softly, and asked, "Besides writing and recognizing characters, what else did you learn?"
"Mathematics, drawing, and singing..."
"Can you understand what's on this piece of paper?"
Su Xia took out a recipe for a first-level potion and placed it in front of Zhao Xiaobai.
The recipe records the various materials needed to refine the medicine, the origin of the materials, the material ratio, the time required, the steps, etc. There are not only text descriptions, but also sketch picture descriptions.
At this time, Qi Lang also came over to take a look curiously.
Just one look at the densely packed words and numbers on the formula made him feel dizzy and he sat back down, thinking that all pharmacists were monsters.
But Zhao Xiaobai nodded seriously and said, "I can understand a little bit."
Su Xia was relieved: "Okay, how about following me in the future?"
"Uncle, are you a pharmacist?"
"Um."
"I, I want to...but..."
Zhao Xiaobai lowered his head, looking sad, and held his mother's hand tightly.
Su Xia said gently: "I will allocate a cemetery area behind the Pharmacist School, and your mother will be buried there. She will always accompany you to learn and grow."
"Thank you...thank you uncle..." Zhao Xiaobai's tears dripped down, his nose sniffled, and his tears wet the formula in front of him.
"You're welcome. I once made a promise."
Su Xia stood up and looked outside the church. The rain outside gradually subsided and the sky became more hazy.
Now that he has dealt with things here, it's time for him to deal with the Zero Point Tavern.
At the tavern, Yi Yi kept asking him when Yi Mo and Shen Yu could recover.
"Lord City Lord, I still have some things to do at the store, so I'll go back first." Su Xia said to Qi Lang.
"Okay, Pharmacist Su, take care." Qi Lang immediately stood up from the stool and escorted Su Xia out of the cathedral.
But at this moment, Zhao Xiaobai suddenly pulled the corner of Su Xia's clothes.
Su Xia looked down at him and asked, "Anything else?"
"Uncle, can you take them away with you?" Zhao Xiaobai stepped back. Behind him, there were more than a dozen children with red and swollen eyes from crying. All of them became orphans in this accident.
Seeing this, Su Xia thought about it for a moment and quickly agreed.
"Okay, from now on you will be my first batch of apprentices."
In this way, Su Xia was alone when she came, and was surrounded by a group of children when she left.
Including Zhao Xiaobai, there were twelve people in total, both boys and girls, aged between 5 and 13. They were all thin and dark, and some were severely malnourished.
Qi Lang handled all the shelter procedures for Su Xia.
The bodies of these children's family members will also be transported to the vicinity of the school later.
For these children, their lives have ushered in a new beginning.
On the way back, Su Xia called Su Jianshe and changed the school construction plan: "Mr. Su, all the construction waste at the school should be piled up at the back and used as the school's back mountain."
"Back mountain?" Su Jianshe on the other end of the phone was stunned.
"Well, I want to bury some people."
"I understand. Master Su, don't worry."
Su Jianshe was capable and intelligent, and he immediately understood what Su Xia meant.
At the same time, at the entrance of the cathedral.
Chai An looked at the direction where Su Xia left, and a hint of doubt flashed across his face.
"strangeness."
"What's strange?" Qi Lang asked him.
"The character of Pharmacist Su is a little different from what I thought." Chai An replied.
"What kind of person do you think he is?"
"People like Wang Yongqiang."
"this……"
Qi Lang also looked outside the door and said, "Wang Yongqiang is indeed a bit of a jerk, but they are all about the same. They are all selling out their teachers for fame and fortune."
"No, that's what's weird."
Chai An explained: "I don't think this Pharmacist Su is that kind of person."
