The scene shocked the old man as if a bomb had exploded next to him.
The old man had been selling for years, and whenever he saw city managers, he acted like a mouse who had seen a cat. It was always the vendors pandering to the city managers, never the other way around where a city manager apologizes to a vendor.
What's worse, the person apologizing is the director.
He was at a loss for words.
Stammering, he said: "Director… Director sir, I… I won't set up stalls randomly anymore, I… I know my mistake…"
"Old man, don't we have the Starlight Night Market in Silvercrest District? It's meant for you to set up stalls there. Why don't you go to the Starlight Night Market instead?"
Dirk Carter asked curiously.
The old man glanced at Bridget Goodman.
A bit hesitant to speak.
Seeing this, Arlo Yarbrough stepped forward and said: "Old man, this is the secretary general of our municipal government."
"What's a secretary general? Is it a big position?"
The old man was taken aback and asked.
"To put it simply, other than the mayor and deputy mayor, he is the highest in the municipal government."
Arlo Yarbrough explained.
Upon hearing this, the old man became a bit emotional.
Tightly gripping Dirk Carter's hand, he said: "Young man, you're a good official, you're truly good. Without you, my old bones would be gone today…"
Finished speaking.
He wiped his tears.
Said: "I know about the Starlight Night Market over on Industrial Road, I want to set up there, but I simply can't afford it. The rent for one day is a hundred, even selling watermelons all night wouldn't earn me that much. How can we afford it?"
Dirk Carter froze.
Turned to look at Bridget Goodman.
Seeing Bridget Goodman looking embarrassed, avoiding eye contact, he knew something was off.
Asked: "Comrade Goodman, I've seen the project files for the Starlight Night Market, didn't it say it was symbolic to charge a small fee? Charging a hundred per night, that's three thousand a month, isn't that more expensive than some storefronts? If these vendors have this kind of money, why are they setting up stalls?"
Bridget Goodman paused.
Said: "Secretary General Carter, you can't calculate it like that. Charging daily is flexible; you pay rent every day with a storefront, but stalls close with bad weather. So compared to opening a store, this stall fee isn't high."
"I'm asking you, the project file says symbolic fee, but you won't address the hundred-a-day issue, I'll ask someone else, and all consequences, you'll bear them."
Under such intimidation.
Bridget Goodman dared not dawdle.
Stammered a bit.
With a sigh, said: "Secretary General Carter, I'll just be honest with you, the Starlight Night Market has already been outsourced, it's no longer our government's project."
"Outsourced? To whom? At what price?"
Dirk Carter asked again.
Bridget Goodman glanced back at the crowd, ordering everyone to leave.
Then softly said to Dirk Carter: "The contractor is Shaun Shelby, Mayor Vincent's brother-in-law. As for the price, roughly the cost for one stall per day is five to ten."
Hearing this.
Dirk Carter was stunned.
The public pays a hundred a day.
But the outsourcing cost from the government was only five to ten a day.
A profit margin of ten to twenty times.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, asked: "Did you receive any benefits?"
Bridget Goodman quickly waved his hand: "No, no, I didn't take any benefits, it's just…"
"Just what?"
Dirk Carter asked.
Bridget Goodman pursed his lips, said: "It's just that Mayor Vincent has instructed me to strengthen the crackdown on unauthorized stalls, I couldn't help but…"
This remark was indeed an attempt to exonerate himself.
Dirk Carter understood.
The high-pressure policy against street stalls.
Was solely serving the interest of the Starlight Night Market.
The public needs to make a living.
If they can't freely set up stalls on the street, they can only pay high prices to go to the Starlight Night Market.
This money naturally goes to Shaun Shelby and Kanes Bates.
Under the guise of maintaining city cleanliness, it's really to line private pockets.
No wonder when Dirk Carter was still in Koryn City, Rexton City's tourism bureau vigorously promoted the Starlight Night Market, claiming it would boost Rexton City's night market economy, but ultimately it served interests.
Kanes Bates is the deputy mayor for the municipal supervision bureau.
Within his power scope.
The Starlight Night Market was freed from price regulation.
So, setting rents was entirely up to him.
Dirk Carter pondered for a moment, nodded, said: "Alright, I know, tomorrow I'll go see Mayor Vincent."
"Secretary General Carter…"
Bridget Goodman suddenly called out.
Dirk Carter looked at him, seeing Bridget Goodman hesitant, seemingly wanting to speak.
Paused, said: "Secretary General Carter, that… some things… oh! Never mind, I'll still speak… you know about the Starlight Night Market project, nearly 400 stalls, not a small scale, it involves all kinds of interests, aside from the one who initiated it, Deputy Mayor Kanes Bates, it also crosses into supervision, tourism, city management, I… I advise you not to get involved…"
Though unsaid completely.
But Dirk Carter understood.
Bridget Goodman wanted to tell him.
With Dirk Carter's ability, he wouldn't be able to move the Starlight Night Market.
If moved, a chain reaction would ensue.
At that time, it would be Dirk Carter who would suffer the consequences.
Dirk Carter sighed deeply.
Patted Bridget Goodman's shoulder.
Said: "Okay, thanks Director Goodman, I understand, I'll think it through carefully. Alright, you handle the remaining matters, I'm leaving."
"Secretary General Carter, the weather forecast says there will be a heavy storm starting tonight, should I send a car to take you back?"
Bridget Goodman asked.
Dirk Carter shook his hand: "No need, my secretary drove over."
Finished speaking.
Dirk Carter helped the old man into his car and drove away.
"Director Goodman, Director Goodman, do we… do we still have room to recover?"
Once Dirk Carter left.
Hector Hall eagerly approached and asked.
Bridget Goodman glared.
Angrily said: "Fool, no sense of reading the room, you all be suspended first, and then see what happens next."
"What happens next? What do you mean?"
Hector Hall asked.
Bridget Goodman angrily replied: "Don't ask about things you shouldn't, finding you annoying, get lost!"
Helplessly.
Hector Hall could only leave sullenly.
With no one around.
Bridget Goodman took out his phone, dialed a number.
As soon as the call was answered, Bridget Goodman immediately said: "Mayor Vincent, sorry to disturb you so late, there's an urgent situation I'd like to report…"
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