The two sons of the deceased knelt down and burst into tears. This photo was taken by reporter Zhou Xin.
Migrant workers Li Yongquan from Henan Province and his co-workers had worked for more than half a month in Beijing. On November 2, the foreman refused to pay their wages, citing quality issues. Li Yongquan blocked the car that the foreman was about to get into, demanding an explanation, but was subsequently beaten down with a brick by the other party and eventually died from his injuries.
Currently, four people including the foreman have been criminally detained by the Tongzhou police.
■ Co-worker's Account
Refusal to Pay Wages Led to Conflict
The incident occurred 300 meters west of the Dinggezhuang Village Committee in Tongzhou District, near a clothing processing factory.
Li Yongquan and his fellow villagers were responsible for painting the warehouse of the clothing processing factory, which covered an area of approximately 3000 square meters. According to Li Yongquan’s co-workers, all the work had been completed by November 2. After working for more than half a month, they were waiting for foreman Zhang to pay them their wages.
That afternoon, Zhang came to the construction site for inspection, claiming there were quality issues and the garbage was not cleaned up properly, thus refusing to settle the accounts.
The co-workers said that after working for more than half a month without receiving any payment, and having spent almost all the money they brought from home, it was difficult to even ensure normal meals. When Zhang turned around to leave, Li Yongquan and several co-workers chased after him, blocking his way and demanding immediate settlement of the accounts.
Worker Blocked Car and Was Beaten Down
According to co-worker Mr. Jia, Zhang and a driver got into a white car and prepared to leave. Li Yongquan and others wouldn't let them go and started arguing with them. Li Yongquan even stood in front of the car. At that time, Zhang instructed the driver to drive off. Mr. Jia said: "The car tried to move forward several times, but Li Yongquan kept standing in front of the car. Li Yongquan then said: 'You can't possibly run me over?'"
Li Yongquan's co-workers said that because they couldn't get away, Zhang and the driver became very angry. They got out of the car and started punching and kicking Li Yongquan. The co-workers tried to stop them, leading to a physical altercation.
A co-worker surnamed Li introduced that although their side had five people, they were all older and no match for the younger Zhang and the driver, so they couldn't stop them.
Zhang called on two of his own workers from the clothing processing factory for help. During the struggle, Mr. Jia was knocked down by the other side using a brick. Subsequently, Zhang and others continued to attack Li Yongquan with bricks. Soon after, Li Yongquan suffered heavy bleeding from the head and lay on the ground groaning.
Nearby villagers also confirmed to reporters that on the afternoon of November 2, a conflict indeed occurred, during which a worker in his fifties fell to the ground.
Foreman Accused of Neglecting Victim
Co-worker Zhang Yonghong said that at the time of the incident, he and his wife were present, "It was indeed Zhang who initiated the beating, and even used a brick to attack Li Yongquan and another worker." He tried to stop them, but couldn't, "Zhang and others were already out of control." He immediately called the police.
Zhang Yonghong said that Zhang even attempted to call more reinforcements, but fortunately, the Songzhuang Town Police Station officers arrived, "At this point, Li Yongquan was covered in blood, lying on the ground barely alive."
A co-worker stated, "After Li Yongquan collapsed and his life was in danger," they contacted the ambulance while demanding that Zhang drive Li Yongquan to the hospital. "But Zhang said 'Even if you give me 100,000 yuan, I won't care.'" For this, the co-workers and Li Yongquan's family believed, "Zhang's actions amounted to neglecting a dying person."
After the 999 emergency ambulance arrived on the scene, Li Yongquan was sent to the 263 Hospital, where he later died despite medical efforts.
■ Case Progress
Foreman Detained
After the incident, officers from the Songzhuang Town Police Station in Tongzhou District arrived, taking Zhang, the driver, and two other accomplices away for investigation. At the same time, the car Zhang was driving was temporarily impounded.
After Li Yongquan's death, the police examined the scene and investigated the witnesses. According to Li Yongquan's family, the Tongzhou police informed them that Zhang and three others had been criminally detained and were currently being held in custody.
■ Journalist Investigation
Work Based on Verbal Agreement
It is understood that Li Yongquan was 53 years old, from Nankang Village, Hujizhen, Shangshui County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. Fellow villager Zhang Yonghong had always worked in Beijing. On October 14, at Zhang Yonghong's invitation, Li Yongquan and several fellow villagers came to Beijing and started working the next day. At that time, Zhang Yonghong promised a daily wage of 120 yuan per person.
Zhang Yonghong told reporters that he met Zhang through an introduction. Zhang is from Anhui Province and has many jobs. More than half a month ago, Zhang found him, saying he had undertaken the job of building a warehouse for a clothing processing factory and wanted to subcontract the wall-painting job to him. Zhang Yonghong agreed.
According to Zhang Yonghong, when accepting the job, it was all based on verbal agreements. This time, the painting of the clothing processing factory's warehouse, along with another job, had not yet been paid, totaling more than 20,000 yuan in unpaid wages.
According to the factory manager Mr. Zhang of the clothing processing plant, he knew Zhang through an introduction and handed over the warehouse construction job to Zhang. Mr. Zhang said that he had paid Zhang 165,000 yuan in project funds several times. Currently, there are still several ten thousand yuan left as the final payment, and he doesn't know who to pay now.
■ Post-Incident Handling
Cremation Only After Autopsy
It is understood that on the evening of November 2, after learning about the incident involving Li Yongquan in Beijing, his wife immediately fell ill. On the afternoon of November 3, Li Yongquan's two sons and several relatives came to Beijing.
On November 6, the family saw Li Yongquan's body at the morgue of the Tongzhou Forensic Appraisal Center. Li Shuangjian, Li Yongquan's eldest son, said that the doctor at the 263 Hospital told him that his father had multiple injuries on his head and body, and he died due to severe head injuries.
Li Shuangjian said that in order to determine the cause of death, his father's body would undergo an autopsy at the forensic appraisal center, and the results would be available in two weeks. He also said, "According to local customs, all family members need to see their father one last time. The location for cremation will still need to be discussed among the family." Li Shuangjian served in the army in Nanjing for eight years and could only see his father during family visits. This year, he hadn't seen his father yet.
■ Lawyer's Suggestion
Sign a Contract Before Starting Work
Lawyer Le Xiangli from Jinghua Law Firm indicated that migrant workers should sign labor contracts with the contractor before starting work. The contract should include details such as working hours, number of people, work content, etc., and signed by both parties. In case of unexpected situations, migrant workers can use the labor contract to protect their rights.
They can sue in court or report to the police.
However, in reality, many employers often do not sign labor agreements with migrant workers, relying solely on verbal agreements. In such cases, when migrant workers encounter unexpected situations, they must report to the police and preserve evidence; otherwise, their interests are hard to protect.
■ Close-up
Earning Money to Find Wives for Sons
Old Li, 55 years old, is a fellow villager and co-worker of Li Yongquan. Old Li is about the same age as Li Yongquan, having grown up together since childhood, and they talked about everything. "Whenever there was a wedding or funeral or labor-intensive work in the village, Li Yongquan would always contribute money and effort." Therefore, Li Yongquan had a very good reputation in the village.
When talking about the last days spent with Li Yongquan, Old Li said that he had no particular hobbies, occasionally smoking with him. A few days ago, while smoking, Li Yongquan told him that both of his sons were around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, but neither was married. His greatest wish was to earn more money to build houses back home for his two sons to find wives. Saying this, Old Li wiped away the tears streaming from his eyes.