Power and Wealth

Chapter 699: Advertising Board

Late morning.

It is a windy day with strong gusts of winds.

Dong Xuebing puts away his notebook. He knows what he should do and is about to return to the Subdistrict Office to investigate it.

Suddenly, Dong Xuebing’s phone rang.

The caller speaks urgently. “Director Dong, I am Xiao Chen from the Office Department.”

Dong Xuebing asked. “What is it? Did something happen?”

“I received news that an advertisement board in Liu Xiang Neighborhood had fallen.”

“Advertising board?” Dong Xuebing’s face changed. “Is anyone injured? Who is at the scene?”

“I had just received a call from them, and I called you to inform you. I don’t know about the situation there.”

“Alright. Notify your Director Zhou and ask her to go over immediately. I am on my way.”

Dong Xuebing put down his phone and frowned. He was about to rectify all the advertising boards, and this incident happened. This means the advertisement boards in his Subdistrict are a major hazard. He grabbed his bag and rushed downstairs to his Santana. He drove it towards the accident site, and he received more information about that accident on his way. He was told that the advertisement board had injured someone.

Slightly more than ten minutes later.

A road in Liu Xiang Neighborhood.

When Dong Xuebing arrived, he saw a five-meter advertisement board hanging dangerously by the roadside. One of the hinges had given way, secured flimsily by a screw on the other hinge. The whole thing might fall anytime.

Zhou Yanru had arrived, and she went over to greet Dong Xuebing. “Director!”

“What is going on?” Dong Xuebing looked towards the commotion and saw two people arguing. A crowd had formed around them.

Zhou Yanru quickly explain. “One of the hinges of the advertisement board had broken because of the wind, and it hit someone when it fell.”

“Is that person ok?”

“Luckily, she only suffered light injuries.”

“Where is she?”

“Inside.”

Dong Xuebing is relieved and walks closer. He looked at the advertising board and Health Wine Factory’s advertisement. He realized that this advertisement board is not only a hazard during an earthquake. It is a safety hazard for everyone in Guang Ming Subdistrict now!

Dong Xuebing walked over to the crowd and saw a middle-aged woman arguing with a middle-aged man in a suit.

The woman had suffered some injuries, and her sleave was torn. She is shouting angrily. “Are you trying to kill me?! If my reaction is slightly slower, I would be dead!”

The man replied emotionlessly. “This is an accident.” 

“What do you mean by accident? How can a gust of wind blow your advertisement board down? You all must compensate me, or I will not let you off!”

The man replied. “I am Song Qingming, the boss of the Health Wine Factory. We are sorry for this accident, but we are not responsible for it. It is the advertising company we hired who had not fastened the advertisement board securely.”

The woman shouted. “Where are the people from the advertising company?”

“Their company had closed down, and we can’t find them.” Song Qingming replied.

The woman shouted again. “This is your advertisement board! How can you claim you all have nothing to do with it?!”

Song Qingming shook his head. “I had explained to you. We did not build and put up this advertisement board, and this accident has nothing to do with us. I hope you can calm down. No one had expected this accident to happen. We are willing to pay for your medical expenses on behalf of the advertising company. But we can’t help with other compensations as we are not a charity organization.”

The woman did not calm down. How can she be calm when almost killed by that advertisement board?

Song Qingming had maintained his composure until he lost his temper. He told that woman coldly. “I think we had done our part. You are not seriously injured, and we are willing to help the advertising company pay for your medical fees. Suppose you are not going to accept, fine. You can pay for your medical fees yourself. This accident has nothing to do with our factory. Go ahead and sue us if you want!”

The woman is mad beyond words.

Song Qingming turns to his assistant. “Let’s go.”

“Stop!” The woman shouted.

Song Qingming sneered. He pretended not to hear her and walked towards a Mercedes Benz by the roadside.

Dong Xuebing looks at Song Qingming and walks over slowly. He stands in front of that black Mercedes Benz and looks at him. “Mr. Song? Where are you going?”

Song Qingming gave Dong Xuebing a stare. “Do I need to tell you where I am going?! Move aside!”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “You are right. You do need to tell me.”

Zhou Yanru interrupted. “This is our Guang Ming Subdistrict Office Director, Dong Xuebing.

“Director Dong?” Song Qingming immediately smiled and extended his hand for a handshake. “Oh, you are Director Dong. I had heard a lot about you.”

Dong Xuebing shook his hand. “Don’t mention it. What happened here?”

Song Qingming calmly replies. “This is the advertising company’s issue. After they put up this advertisement board, their company collapsed. They might have some issues with the fixtures, but don’t worry. I have called other companies, and someone will secure the advertisement board. Such accidents will not happen again. Sorry for alarming you.”

Dong Xuebing smiles. “You still want to put it up? Mr. Song, you are treating this accident lightly.”

“What’s the problem?” Song Qingming laughed.

“There are lots of problems.” Dong Xuebing stares at Song Qingming. “I think you should compensate and send that woman to the hospital first. You don’t need to worry about the advertisement board. We will get people to remove it. If you want, you can remove it yourself.”

Song Qingming’s face changed when he heard this. “Remove it? Is this necessary?”

“What is more important than the residents’ safety? An accident had happened, and a second or third accident might happen!”

“This is only an accident, and it will not happen again.”

“It is not up to you to guarantee that.”

Subdistrict Offices have the power to interfere in many areas. They can interfere in resident disputes, salary arrears, forced eviction, and removal of advertisement boards. This advertisement board is a safety hazard, and the Subdistrict Office has the right to take it down. Moreover, Dong Xuebing knew Song Qingming’s advertisement boards would kill 43 people during the earthquake!

“This advertisement board must be removed.” Zhou Yanru added. “It had caused an accident, and we will not allow this safety hazard to remain here.”

Song Qingming’s eyes become cold. He had been operating in Nan Shan District for more than ten years and knew many people. He often hears about the God of Plagues, Dong Xuebing, during a drinking session with his friends. This matter concerns his interest, and he will not allow anyone to interfere. His factory is not doing well and is facing cash flow issues now. He needs advertisements and marketing to promote his Heath Wine, and he cannot afford to remove this advertisement board.

“I am afraid I cannot agree to it.” Song Qingming shook his head. “We had paid for this advertisement board and gotten the approval to put it up. It is in the contract.”

Dong Xuebing added. “Mr. Song, I think you might have mistaken. I am not talking about this advertisement board. All of your company’s advertisement boards in Guang Ming Subdistrict must be removed. You said this is the advertising company’s fault and we must check every advertisement board. I need to be responsible to our residents. This is not a joking matter!”

Zhou Yanru is stunned. Remove all the advertisement boards?!

Song Qingming’s face changed. “You all don’t have the right to do this!”

“I’m afraid we do have this power.” Dong Xuebing turns to Zhou Yanru. “Go back and check their company’s advertisement board application documents now. Check if their advertisement boards are legal or not.”

“…… Yes.” Zhou Yanru replied and left.

Song Qingming got furious. “Director Dong! Is there a need for these?!”

“Yes!” Dong Xuebing replied. He is confident the Health Wine Factory’s advertisement boards do not have the proper approvals to be put up!

Song Qingming forced a smile. “Can you give me ‘face’ and let this matter off?”

Dong Xuebing shrugged his shoulders. “I do want to give you ‘face,’ but who is giving me ‘face’?”

Dong Xuebing is angry with Song Qingming. Your company’s advertisement board had fallen and almost killed someone. The Subdistrict Office leaders are already here to investigate this accident, and you still want to put it up again? What if the advertisement board falls again? I will be held responsible for it! You are the one not giving me ‘face’ now! Dong Xuebing thinks about his resignation one month later. He knows it must have something to do with Song Qingming’s advertisements!

A Health Wine Factory staff walked over. “Manager Song, ICBC bank’s Director Tang is calling you about the loan.”

Song Qingming gave Dong Xuebing a stare and took the phone from his subordinate. He walked a few steps away and answered politely. “Hello, Director Tang. I am Song Qingming….”

Song Qingming ended his call and turned to his staff. “Contact Manager Yu and ask him to get someone to put up the advertisement board again!”

The staff nodded.

Dong Xuebing had just asked Song Qingming to remove this advertisement board, and he asked his staff to put it up again. This is a provocation. He turns to Dong Xuebing. “Director Dong, I am very busy. I don’t have time to entertain you.”

Dong Xuebing narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Song, you are a businessman, and you should know the consequences of going against the government.”

Song Qingming smiled cockily. “Unless your Subdistrict Office can the official documents to remove it, these advertisement boards are our company’s properties! No one, including the Subdistrict Office, has the right to ask me to remove it!”

Dong Xuebing nodded. Fine. You want to challenge me?!

It’s been a while since I taught people like you a lesson! I am looking forward to it!