Chapter 207: Face-slapping Misery

"He's really impressive," Sun Siyu nodded. "I consider myself quite skilled, but Big Brother didn't even touch me. He just pointed at me from a distance, and I was paralyzed in front of the Liu family's gate for a day. Even though I don't blame him anymore, I still get angry whenever I think about it."

"Pointing from a distance!?" Sun Tang and Sun Qing were both shocked. The long-lost technique of distance acupoint pressing had resurfaced in the martial world. What kind of encounters had Li Nianlong experienced!?

Dali, Duan Family.

Seeing the news on TV, Duan Tianming put down his bowl and chopsticks, picked up his herb hoe, and left home with a medicine basket on his back, heading into the deep mountains. Except for the servants, no one from the Duan family showed any concern.

Tianfu, Liu Mansion.

"Hahahaha..." The laughter of the old master Liu echoed through the Liu Mansion. "Those who slandered our Liu family have nothing to say now! Hahahaha..."

Shao Meiyun smiled wryly, "Grandpa, now is not the time to laugh. Although we avoided casualties, the reconstruction work is no small matter. The Liu family just hired a hundred thousand workers to repair the castle, and now we need more workers from outside, which will cost a lot of money."

"What are you afraid of?" The old master Liu still laughed, "This was a natural disaster. When one part is in trouble, aid comes from all sides. Donations will definitely pour in from home and abroad, and then everything will be solved."

"I'm just afraid it might get embezzled along the way," Shao Meiyun said worriedly.

"They wouldn't dare!" The old master Liu's smile turned into anger. "Anyone who dares to embezzle donations meant for Tianfu is an enemy of the people and will be executed! Let them try, and they'll see the consequences!"

Shao Meiyun smiled slightly, "Grandpa is right. Let's set aside the donation issue for now. I'm most curious about the expressions of those who desperately tried to smear our Liu family."

"Hahaha, they must be quite entertaining."

On the other side, Li Nianlong and Zhang Zhenghao were sitting in the Liu Mansion, drinking.

Li Nianlong poured a cup for Zhang Zhenghao. "Fourth Brother, you've worked hard these days. When the earthquake hit, you accumulated immense merit and brought unimaginable benefits to the Liu family. I toast to you."

Zhang Zhenghao had been very tense these days, constantly making models and tests. He hadn't had time to wash his hair or shave, and he couldn't sleep well. In just a few days, he had lost a lot of weight. Li Nianlong felt heartfelt pain and gratitude.

"Big Brother, don't say that." Zhang Zhenghao relaxed after the earthquake, smiled, "I finally repaid your favor."

"You've more than repaid it," Li Nianlong said. "As long as I'm around, you and your family will live comfortably for three generations."

Zhang Zhenghao, moved, spilled his drink. "Big Brother... You will always be my big brother. I'll drink to that."

From that day, Zhang Zhenghao truly devoted himself to Li Nianlong and began his legendary career in geology.

...

"I'm now in Yuyuan County, the epicenter of the Tianfu earthquake. As you can see, the entire county is in ruins, with underground water seeping to the surface. Our soldiers are working hard to clear the rats and insects that might cause an epidemic. Fortunately, all residents had been evacuated ten days ago, preventing any loss of life."

Three days after the earthquake, journalists from around the world flocked to Tianfu to report on the disaster. A reporter from China Central Television was describing the current situation.

"Days ago, everyone criticized the Liu family for forcibly relocating residents and preventing them from returning. But now, no one blames them because the Liu family's actions were the right ones, genuinely protecting lives and property. Those who tried to smear the Liu family should be condemned." A nearby Tianfu TV reporter passionately defended the Liu family and rebuked those who had slandered them.

The CCTV reporter looked embarrassed, having been one of those critics, but there was no choice but to acknowledge the truth now.

Some former residents drove back to their hometowns, seeing the ruins and bursting into tears, feeling grateful to the Liu family for saving their lives.

A foreign reporter approached, smelling a sensational story. "Hello, we're from the American TV network. Can we interview you?"

The weeping people nodded. "Yes."

The reporter spoke a lot of nonsense in English before asking in broken Chinese, "Why are you crying?"

"Because our homes are destroyed, of course we cry," one man said. "But we're very grateful to the Liu family. Without their timely action, we might have died in the disaster. Yet, so many media outlets slandered them. I want to say: go to hell!"

Then he raised his middle finger. "Those who smeared the Liu family, go to hell! I'll never trust anyone but the Liu family again! Damn it, you almost made me wrong a good person and lose my life!"

The American reporter, sweating profusely, quickly censored the offensive words, only mentioning the gratitude to the Liu family. But this wasn't the story he wanted. He pressed on, "The King of China said people should go home before the earthquake, and the soldiers drove them back. What do you think about that?"

"Think? We don't think," the man sneered. "We believe the King was well-intentioned but didn't understand the situation here. People make mistakes, and what's important is no lives were lost. We thank the soldiers for driving us back; otherwise, we'd be dead. They gave us new lives."

This answer drew applause from the nearby crowd and journalists, while the American reporter, unsatisfied, moved on to interview others.

These days, the world's attention was focused on Tianfu, the Liu family, the old master Liu, Shao Meiyun, and Li Nianlong.

With so many journalists wanting interviews, Li Nianlong, the old master Liu, and Shao Meiyun held a press conference at the Liu Mansion.

At the conference, the old master Liu gave a brief opening speech before handing the microphone to Shao Meiyun. She made three points.

First, she thanked the world for aiding the disaster area, believing that Tianfu West would soon turn from ruins to a paradise with everyone's help.

Second, she condemned irresponsible media and called for a global boycott of these unethical journalists who misled the public and created a negative impact.

Finally, Shao Meiyun introduced the real hero who predicted the earthquake: Zhang Zhenghao.

As Zhang Zhenghao appeared, the media's flashlights blinded him until Li Nianlong handed him sunglasses, saving him from embarrassment.