Chapter 3883: Chapter 3871: The Difficult Road to Rights Protection

"Who did this? What happened?" Zhou Li asked.

"This isn’t just a simple fight, so the scope is much smaller, and considering the timing, it’s very likely the pharmaceutical company."

"It’s really them!" Both looked surprised; they hadn’t expected the people from the pharmaceutical company to do such a thing before.

"It should be them," Lin Yi said:

"I suspect they found out through some channels that Zhang Laoer reported the pharmaceutical company to us, so they came over, beat him up, took him away for further threats and warnings. That’s also why the two doors weren’t locked. The pharmaceutical people just wanted to warn and threaten him, without caring about what’s happening at his home, leading to this situation."

"Now that makes sense!" Ma Jun suddenly realized:

"We came here once before, and they noticed us. They probably realized someone reported them."

"That’s about right. I guess Zhang Laoer might have done similar things before; now that something happened, the pharmaceutical company thought of him first," Lin Yi said while thinking:

"Also, just now, the villagers said Zhang Laoer doesn’t have a good temper. If the pharmaceutical people asked about this matter, given his temperament and personality, he definitely wouldn’t hold back, making conflict between both sides inevitable."

"If that’s true, the pharmaceutical people are even more outrageous," Zhou Li said angrily.

Ma Jun felt the same, cursing with a cigarette hanging from his mouth.

On the contrary, Lin Yi remained calm.

To him, such minor tricks were nothing; there were far darker things out there.

"What do we do now?" Zhou Li asked.

"Let’s go back to the car and wait. I think Zhang Laoer will be back soon," Lin Yi said:

"If they really dare to detain someone overnight, the situation changes fundamentally; even with several guts, they wouldn’t dare."

"Then let’s wait here; we must find out the truth about this matter today!"

The three returned to the car, waiting for Zhang Laoer.

Just like that, they waited until past seven in the evening, when it was already dark.

Zhou Li got out, bought some bread and drinks, and the three of them had a quick meal before continuing to wait.

"There’s something new," Zhou Li said upon returning with the supplies:

"I just tried calling Zhang Laoer. The call went through, but he hung up on me."

This news was critical for Lin Yi.

"It indicates they might have resolved their matters and have let Zhang Laoer go. We’re likely to see him soon."

Ma Jun and Zhou Li nodded, agreeing with Lin Yi’s perspective.

"But him hanging up on you means he doesn’t want to discuss this matter anymore. I reckon the pharmaceutical people have swayed him," Ma Jun said.

"That’s pretty much it."

The three sat in the car, and after about half an hour, they saw a man limping from afar.

"Take a look at that person. Could it be Zhang Laoer?" Ma Jun said.

"That’s easy. I’ll make a call to find out."

Zhou Li took out her phone and dialed Zhang Laoer’s number.

Though distant, they could see Zhang Laoer pulling out his phone.

"It’s him, after all!"

"Hold on," Lin Yi stopped Ma Jun, who was about to get out, saying, "Let’s wait until he’s home."

"Alright."

A few minutes later, Zhang Laoer, clutching one leg, limped to his front door.

Lin Yi’s eyesight was excellent, allowing him, even from inside the car, to observe Zhang Laoer’s condition clearly.

Besides the injury on his leg, his face was all bruised and swollen.

"These people went too far, beating someone like this; they’ve completely disregarded the law," Zhou Li said.

"They’re used to being arrogant, and since they’re dealing with villagers who have a weak sense of the law, they’d dare be this audacious."

While the three spoke, Zhang Laoer reached his front door.

As he pushed the door open, he glanced at the car of the three, but didn’t react further, simply heading inside and locking the door.

"Wait!"

Just as Zhang Laoer was about to lock the door, the three got out of the car.

"Who are you?"

Seeing the three, Zhang Laoer visibly shivered, fear evident in his eyes.

"We’re journalists from the TV station. My name is Zhou Li; I’m the one who contacted you earlier."

"I won’t report anymore; you should leave," Zhang Laoer said, head hung, waving them off, his gaze evasive and avoiding the trio.

"We understand your situation; the pharmaceutical company’s people must have come and beat you like this," Lin Yi said:

"We just want to have a chat with you; don’t feel burdened."

Zhang Laoer hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but eventually said nothing.

"Don’t ask me anything. You should go, don’t come looking for me again."

"No worries, even if you don’t speak, we have the evidence. But no matter what, as a man, don’t act so cowardly," Lin Yi said:

"If you’re willing to cooperate, I can assure you they’ll be seriously dealt with, and you’ll receive the compensation you deserve, without getting beaten for nothing."

Zhang Laoer stood silent for a long time.

"What did they tell you? Did they warn you not to report the pharmaceutical company anymore?"

"Yes." Zhang Laoer nodded.

"Who hit you?"

"Their security guards."

"Besides that, what else did they say?"

"Not much, really; please don’t ask anymore."

Zhang Laoer lowered his head, ushering Lin Yi and the two away from the door, locking it, and limped inside the house.

The trio watched his retreating figure, a bittersweet feeling in their hearts.

A good man, forced into such a state; the path to justice for common folk is so hard.

"Let’s go back, grab some water samples, so all this effort wasn’t wasted," Lin Yi proposed.

"Okay."

The trio drove away from Zhang Family Village and arrived at the small stream from the previous day.

Lin Yi and Ma Jun, holding three empty mineral water bottles, prepared to collect water samples.

"Damn it, stand there!"

"You got away last time, and now you dare return, truly bold!"

Before Lin Yi and Ma Jun could act, a dozen men jumped out from the surrounding cornfields, like a pack of black bears, moving swiftly.

The sudden change frightened Ma Jun, leaving him clueless for a moment.

But Lin Yi, on the other hand, remained coolly composed.

Once they rushed out, the dozen men surrounded Lin Yi and Ma Jun.

Seeing the situation, Zhou Li also got out of the car.

"What do you want?! We are journalists from the TV! Dare lay a hand on us; have you any concern for the law at all?"

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