Song Jinshu parked his motorcycle, walked over to Song Changquan, and both of them squatted down.
"Uncle, what is this all about? Isn't this a bit too heavy-handed?" Song Jinshu asked respectfully.
Song Changquan glanced at the two of them and smiled. "Jinshu, you're also a boy from Song Village. It's good that you're back. Come along with everyone else later and let's go have a word with the new secretary!"
Song Jinshu smiled bitterly. "Uncle, there's no need for that. Jinfafa is like a brother to me—we grew up together. If he made a mistake, I'll figure out a way to help him. But leading a crowd like this straight to the township government to snatch someone away is definitely out of the question. That's a crime!"
Song Changquan was taken aback. He snorted, "So you didn't come back to stand with your people; you came to plead for that greenhorn of a new arrival."
Song Jinshu was about to explain when Li Mengyu pulled him back and smiled at Song Changquan, "Uncle, please don't blame Jinshu for this. He had no other choice."
Song Changquan let out a cold snort and said nothing.
Li Mengyu continued, "Li Qingshan has powerful connections. We can't afford to offend him."
Song Changquan sneered, "I don't care how powerful his connections are. As long as he comes to Shuanghe Township, a dragon has to coil, and a tiger has to lie down!"
"The sky in Shuanghe Township is surnamed Song! Who does he think he is?"
Li Mengyu gave an awkward smile and said, "You're right, Uncle. Who in all of Shuanghe Township doesn't know you hold the most weight?"
"But taking people to storm the township government is going a bit too far. Even if you manage to snatch him back, do you really think the police are just going to let Jinfafa go?"
Song Changquan snorted, "We're bringing Jinfafa back to Song Village, and not even the police will be able to take him away once he's here. My word stands!"
Song Jinshu and Li Mengyu looked at each other and shook their heads. The old man was far too stubborn; there was simply no reasoning with him.
Song Jinshu stood up and said in a deep voice, "Uncle, I can't stand by and watch you lead everyone into a fire pit. I'm sorry."
Song Changquan demanded angrily, "What are you trying to do?"
Song Jinshu had always commanded considerable respect in the village, and now, as a township government official, many villagers still listened to him.
He searched through the crowd until he found his father and his close cousins, pulling them all aside.
"Do you even know what you're doing? Uncle is leading you to storm the government offices and snatch someone out of police custody!"
"This is a crime! Are you not afraid of going to prison? Everyone, come back with me!"
Song Jinshu rebuked them loudly. Taken aback by his words, his relatives and clan brothers all obediently stood behind him.
Pointing at him, Song Changquan cursed furiously, "Song Jinshu, are you still a descendant of the Song family? This is outright treason!"
Ignoring him, Song Jinshu shouted again, "All veterans, Party members, and cadres, step forward! Get behind me!"
As a township government official, he still retained a certain level of authority. Several veterans and Party members automatically walked over to his side.
By now, at least two to three hundred people were standing behind Song Jinshu. Although it was still a small fraction compared to the thousand-plus people on the other side, it was enough to cause a stir in the crowd's minds.
Li Mengyu hurried to pull out all the relatives from his parents-in-law's side, leading them to stand behind Song Jinshu as well.
Li Mengyu whispered a few words into Song Jinshu's ear. Song Jinshu's eyes lit up—that was right, he was also the militia commander.
Song Jinshu shouted, "Everyone who has registered as a militia member or received militia training, step out and stand behind me!"
At that, Song Changquan lost his composure. Wasn't this going to be the death of him?
Furious, he pointed at Song Jinshu, dancing with rage and cursing, "Song Jinshu, you ungrateful dog, I'll skin you alive sooner or later!"
Song Jinshu ignored him. His seniority was high anyway, so a few curses didn't matter as long as he achieved his goal.
"Think this through! I am now representing the township government. In my capacity as the head of the Shuanghe Township Armed Forces Department and militia commander, I order all militia members to step out immediately and stand behind me!"
"If anyone still wants to follow Uncle to besiege the township government, they can forget about passing my review when they sign up for military service!"
In this era, for those who couldn't get into high school or university, joining the army was a very good way out. Many people were still afraid of Song Jinshu's threat.
Another one to two hundred people stepped out and came over to stand behind Song Jinshu.
Realizing the situation was turning against him, Song Changquan knew that if this continued, morale would collapse before they even set off.
Unable to wait any longer for the rest of his clansmen who were still hurrying this way, he shouted, "All you Song men, people have literally dumped filth on our faces—can we really just swallow this and stay silent?"
"If you've got any backbone, follow me and bring our Song family boy back home!"
One had to admit, Song Changquan's influence was no joke.
Even though it was clearly an illegal undertaking, with just these few simple words of his, the villagers began howling and howling as they followed him off!
Song Jinshu wanted to send the crowd behind him back home and chase after the main group to keep an eye on things, but Li Mengyu stopped him in time.
Both of them knew very well that if these people were sent home, quite a few of them would secretly sneak back out to join Song Changquan's massive force.
Li Mengyu said softly, "Leave things here to you. I'll go take a look and see if I can figure out a way to buy some more time."
Song Jinshu nodded and said, "Be careful, then. Watch out for your safety."
...
On the surface, Li Qingshan appeared calm, but inside he was extremely nervous.
Every single person who could be dispatched from the township government had been sent out; he had no cards left to play in his hand.
Unable to sit still any longer, Li Qingshan hauled a chair downstairs.
He reached the front entrance, set the chair right in front of the door, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest and collect his thoughts!
The gatekeeper looked at the new secretary's bizarre behavior, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Cautiously, he stepped forward and asked, "Secretary Li, what are you doing?"
Li Qingshan asked, "Old man, don't you think I look a bit tragic and heroic?"
The gatekeeper said doubtfully, "Secretary Li, I just think sitting like this blocks vehicles from coming and going. Why don't you come inside my room to rest?"
Li Qingshan burst into laughter. "You see right through it after all. Sitting here really does block people from getting in and out."
He carried the chair back into the guard room, then strolled leisurely out of the township government compound, heading in the direction of Song Village.
The gatekeeper muttered to himself, "I, Li Chungang, have watched this gate all my life, and this is the first time I've ever seen a secretary block the door with a chair. Truly a rare sight."
The time had reached exactly 12:00 noon.
Song Changquan's procession had already set out from Song Village.
Thanks to the disruptions caused by Song Jinshu and Li Mengyu, the crowd was short four or five hundred people, but it still numbered around fifteen hundred strong.
Walking right in the middle of the procession, Song Changquan smiled complacently at the people around him. "Our Song clan is still as united as ever."
The people around him echoed his sentiments in unison, declaring that it was entirely due to Patriarch Song's immense prestige and popularity that everyone was willing to follow him.
Deeply gratified, Song Changquan quickened his pace, feeling lighter on his feet.
They had only walked for about ten minutes when the front of the procession suddenly slowed down. As the people in front came to a halt, those in the back had no choice but to stop as well.