He Ya looked cautious, as though she felt considerable pressure in this man's presence.
"Hello, Boss Zhong. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule on the front lines to speak with us."
"It's no trouble. I'm just here to see how things are going. I'm getting old, after all. I can't help out anymore."
"Were the casualties and losses severe this time?"
Zhong Ming shook his head. "Severe. Three dead and over a dozen injured. The financial losses were substantial too. The whole village was buried. Poultry, crops, everything in their homes-all gone. A rough estimate puts the losses for each of these hundred-plus households at tens of thousands. Altogether, we're looking at several million, possibly ten million."
"How is something like this usually dealt with?"
"Dealt with? The government and society pitch in together, of course. Apart from the government and the Red Cross, the rest comes from people like us lending a hand. So far, excluding the government and the Red Cross, I was the first to bring people here. You're the second group. Unless something unexpected happens, I doubt there'll be a third. Because this disaster is 'too small' to generate enough publicity."
When he said "publicity," Zhong Ming's lips curled with undisguised mockery and disdain.
He stopped just short of pointing out those people who made donations, filmed videos to trumpet their generosity, and even took their money back afterward, and reading out their ID numbers.
Ordinary people certainly wouldn't do such a thing, but there were always a few freaks who could. If they were that stingy, they might as well not donate at all!
Xiao Yu, however, knew that Zhong Ming's pointed remarks were aimed at everyone who put on a show.
He Ya looked a little uncomfortable, feeling as though