"Mayor, we didn't say anything wrong. Do you really think Jiang Hai is sincere? He invited us here, but he didn't show up. Is he just playing games with us?"
"Mayor Wallis, I respect you, but are you really not going to say anything?"
As the car drove into the town of Winthrop, Jiang Hai heard these voices echoing from the square ahead.
He had arrived late, so some criticism was to be expected, but it was clear that certain people were deliberately shaping public opinion.
Listening quietly, Jiang Hai chuckled to himself. This was a typical American scene—people so easily manipulated, just like the netizens in China. Usually, after something is posted online, it quickly turns into a storm of verbal attacks, even though few truly understand what happened. Those who stir up trouble online are known as the "water army."
In the real world, these agitators aren't called water armies—they're called advocates. And Jiang Hai had no intention of letting them off easily.
"Jiang Hai is here!" someone shouted as Jiang Hai's armored vehicle rolled into town.
Many heads turned toward the car. After the shout, people parted to let Jiang Hai and Connorson Peters out. They walked straight to the podium. Even those who had been stirring up the crowd stepped aside respectfully.
"Sorry I'm a bit late," Jiang Hai said with a smile as he approached Mayor Wallis.
"No worries. You're here now," Mayor Wallis replied with relief. Cindy Clive, seated beside him, looked at Jiang Hai hesitantly, seeming unsure whether to speak.
"Hey! Did you say the meeting starts at 6:30? Don't you have a watch? Don't you care about time? Look at the clock now!" a burly man from the crowd shouted.
Jiang Hai calmly turned to face him.
"Who are you?" Jiang Hai's indifferent gaze silenced the man instantly. Jiang Hai didn't know him and clearly didn't care. The man felt as if he'd been slapped in the face.
"Remember this—my name's Caraway Rush, you bastard!" the man snapped.
Jiang Hai shrugged. "If you need to use the bathroom, it's over there—there's a public restroom."
"You bastard!" Caraway fumed, embarrassed by Jiang Hai's disregard.
This man fancied himself an important figure in Winthrop, someone with social standing and pride. But Jiang Hai's indifference crushed that.
Caraway took a step forward aggressively. Connorson Peters immediately moved to stand beside Jiang Hai, ready to intervene.
Seeing Connorson's stance, some in the crowd tensed. If a fight broke out between Connorson and Caraway, they'd be the first to rush in and declare Winthrop theirs—ideally with Jiang Hai defeated.
"Wait, Callaway! We're not here to cause trouble," a young white man suddenly stood up and stopped Caraway's advance. He stepped forward and addressed Jiang Hai. "Jiang Hai, hello. I'm Augustine Wilson. I guess you remember me."
Jiang Hai glanced at him coolly. "No, I don't."
Augustine smiled faintly. "Well, if you don't remember, that's fine. I'm just a nobody. But today, we want to talk about Winthrop's future."
He didn't want a fight with Jiang Hai—that would solve nothing. What they really wanted was to pressure Jiang Hai into accepting the chemical plant moving into town. Violence was too risky; cold intimidation was better. Besides, Jiang Hai's bodyguards were no doubt armed. A fight would be dangerous.
"Jiang Hai, why must you stop the chemical plant? Don't you know it will bring more tax revenue and increase the town's income?" Augustine's voice grew passionate.
"Augustine, he's heartless," Caraway interrupted. "He doesn't care about the townspeople. He wants them to stay poor so he can control them better."
"What a selfish man," another voice joined in from the crowd.
"Look at the simple townsfolk around you! You manipulate them like this—don't you feel guilty?"
"You control the town's economy, tourism—everything. You act like a tyrant, riding on the backs of the people!"
"Winthrop belongs to the people, not to some outsider who thinks he can boss everyone around!"
One voice grew into many, cascading through the crowd.
Jiang Hai said nothing, simply watching the crowd below with calm eyes.
The crowd's whispers grew louder. Many began to waver. They had thought Jiang Hai would come to reason or compromise, but it was clear he wouldn't.
"Yes! Why not let the chemical plant in? It's a chance to increase income. You can't stop us from making money just because it might pollute your estate—we all have to live," a young man finally shouted, joining the chorus.
Augustine's lips curled into a smile. "You've taken the bait."
For Augustine and his allies, it was perfect. They didn't want to physically defeat Jiang Hai; they wanted him to drown in the sea of public opinion.
"Did you hear that, Jiang Hai? We're not against you personally, but you can't starve the town of money just because of your own reasons. Today it's the chemical plant, but tomorrow it could be any factory! You're cutting off our financial lifelines. There's a saying in China: cutting off someone's finances is like killing their parents. What you're doing is cruel," Augustine shouted, face flushed with fervor.
"You don't represent Winthrop. You can't block the townspeople's path. Jiang Hai, you better step aside!"
"Step aside! Step aside!" the crowd echoed.
The square erupted into chaos, shouts filling the air.
Yet among the crowd, many still stood firmly with Jiang Hai. Seeing them, Jiang Hai smiled faintly. He wasn't everyone's enemy. And even if he were, he wouldn't care.
"Looks like the plan's working well," a voice said from a nearby block.
A group of Celanese employees gathered there, listening to the escalating noise.
Peter-****** chuckled. He hadn't expected such a strong effect. Jiang Hai's reputation here was supposedly solid, but clearly it was fragile.
"The crowd's turning against him. His confidence is shattered. This time, we'll stop him," Peter-****** said proudly.
Others around him nodded in admiration. The boss had handled Jiang Hai easily, and next was to pressure the old mayor to vote in favor of Celanese's entry.
Jiang Hai, standing on the platform, seemed helpless. Peter-****** smirked, confident this was the biggest hurdle cleared.
Meanwhile, Cindy Clive watched Jiang Hai's back with concern.
"You saved this town, Jiang Hai, but these reactions from the people are harsh realities. You're powerful—the most powerful I've ever seen. You'll find a way," she whispered anxiously.
Their relationship was complicated, but her heart was with him. Seeing him suffer made her want to take his place.
Suddenly, Jiang Hai's calm voice cut through the noise.
"You guys sure are noisy..."
(To be continued)