Bai Huang sat in the back of the law enforcement van, surrounded by crude and obscene banter from his "colleagues." A bootleg phone played night scene music. The chaotic noise grated on his nerves, prompting him to frown and glance out the window.
His peripheral vision caught sight of a blue-and-white van, emblazoned with the bold words "City Management Law Enforcement." Despite the imposing words, they couldn't mask the true nature of the occupants inside.
Although he felt disdain, Bai Huang's face remained expressionless.
He wouldn't have mingled with these social stragglers if it weren't for the daily wage of 120 yuan. The "City Stray Dog Cleanup Enforcement Team" he was part of wasn't an official city management entity.
Due to the city's participation in the National Civilized City evaluation, efforts were made to overhaul the city's appearance. However, manpower was scarce. Consequently, the Municipal and City Management jointly recruited temporary law enforcement personnel.
Bai Huang, lured by the 120 yuan daily wage, arrived based on a recommendation from a dorm mate's uncle. He shared no common ground with the rest of the team.
While he was a third-year student at Xijiang University, others in the team were either unemployed or acquaintances of the city management team leader responsible for recruitment.
In truth, he had no interest in the company of these people. Once they collected their wages, they'd likely never meet again.
His grandmother, who relied on him from their village home, was aging, and he couldn't just settle for covering tuition and living expenses. He needed to save more to afford her better food and drink.
Summer jobs were abundant, but few offered a daily wage exceeding 50 yuan. Otherwise, Bai Huang wouldn't have resorted to this work.
The job didn't suit Bai Huang's taste. As someone from the mountains, he had an affinity for animals. Moreover, the riffraff were truly repugnant, constantly blabbering about "life being short, all about squeezing money," speaking vulgarly—why would anyone want to be around them?
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
If you factored in the nature of this law enforcement team...
Well, it was a detestable situation, drawing criticism from the public. To many, the clash between city management and stray dogs was simply intra-species conflict.
However, when Bai Huang saw the dog's appearance, his brow furrowed involuntarily.
The large dog's coat was sleek, its build robust and well-proportioned. Yet, there was a pronounced jawbone suggesting a ferocious bite, even to an untrained eye!
It didn't resemble a wandering stray; it had a hint of a fighting dog's demeanor. If this dog belonged to a wealthy person, trouble would ensue if they came looking for it.
"Captain Pan, let's not..." Bai Huang's reaction was keen, yet it couldn't prevent someone from acting.
Among them, Zhang, a dog meat enthusiast, swung a stick that landed solidly on the dog's hind leg.
While others found amusement in the commotion, Bai Huang's heart sank. He hadn't laid a hand on the dog, yet he didn't believe Captain Pan's group would exempt him from blame.
As for what ensued—angry exchanges, threats, and chaos—Bai Huang remained silent. He had lost all hope in the intellect of these idiots.
Could the brainless be categorized? Among this group, some would be considered adept, poised to ascend to the top tier of idiocy.
For the sake of his grandmother, he'd endure a bit longer. After all, payday was in two days; they'd disperse then.
On the other side, while the ferocious dog was subdued by the group, a man abruptly charged forward. This man, Jia, was a prominent figure among the mining bosses in Xijiang.
He was confronting Captain Pan, demanding an explanation for the dog's death. The crowd, sensing trouble, kept their distance, curious yet wary.
The scene turned tenser with the arrival of several more men associated with Jia. Captain Pan looked uneasy, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Jia Wanquan, the mining magnate, was infamous for his aggressive entourage and forceful methods. Bai Huang, recognizing Jia's identity, felt his heart sink further.
This folly of poking a hornet's nest was beyond belief!
Even though Bai Huang hadn't laid a finger, he doubted Captain Pan's group would absolve him.
The situation in Xijiang, renowned for its tourism but also rich in mineral resources, meant wealthy mine owners often paraded their power. And Jia Wanquan was one of the most prominent among them—a man of significant industry, fame, and even a representative of the People's Congress.
Jia Wanquan's only son was named Jia Xudong.