The next day, at nine in the morning.
Li Shanglai arrived at the Donghai Grand Courtyard in his signature Rolls-Royce Phantom.
He was there to see Zhang Hong, as instructed by Jiang Wuming.
Zhang Hong was one of Donghai's tycoons, holding a position even higher than Wei Qianyuan's father, Wei Xiang. On the day of Wei Qianyuan's engagement banquet with Huangfu Weixia, both the Wei family patriarch and the Huangfu family patriarch had stood up to greet him.
After entering the courtyard, Li Shanglai registered and then met Zhang Hong's secretary.
"Mr. Li, please wait here for a moment. After the leader finishes meeting his guests, I'll escort you over."
Zhang Hong's secretary led Li Shanglai to the reception room and personally poured him a cup of tea.
"Alright, thank you."
Li Shanglai accepted the tea with both hands and thanked him politely. Although he was the chairman of Longteng Pharmaceutical and a member of the Li family, and the other person was merely a secretary, this secretary was Zhang Hong's, which commanded respect. The so-called "Number Two Leader" was not just an empty title; he possessed considerable influence and was a figure many sought to curry favor with.
Half an hour later, Zhang Hong's secretary brought Li Shanglai to Zhang Hong's office.
Compared to Li Shanglai's office, Zhang Hong's was incomparable in terms of size and luxury. The office was devoid of expensive calligraphy, paintings, or antique vases. Apart from a desk and bookshelves, it contained only simple furniture like a sofa and a coffee table.
"Mr. Li, please have a seat."
Seeing Li Shanglai enter the office, Zhang Hong stood up and gestured for him to sit.
"Certainly, Director Zhang."
Li Shanglai smiled, nodded, and sat on the sofa, placing the disposable paper cup he had been holding on the coffee table in front of him. Zhang Hong's secretary first refilled the tea cups for both Zhang Hong and Li Shanglai, then quietly withdrew, closing the office door behind him.
"Mr. Li, I heard some time ago that Tianyao Group, the joint venture between your Longteng Pharmaceutical and Jiangnan's Su Group, has completed its factory construction and installed the equipment. Is it about to commence production and operations?"
Zhang Hong began with a smile, seated behind his desk adorned with two red flags. On the wall behind him hung the inscription "Serve the People" in five large characters.
"Director Zhang, Tianyao Group officially commenced production and operations a week ago!" Li Shanglai replied.
"Mr. Li, your speed is quite impressive. Congratulations," Zhang Hong praised with a smile.
"Director Zhang, to be frank, I've come to see you today regarding the matter of Tianyao Group," Li Shanglai stated the purpose of his visit upfront.
"Oh? Please elaborate."
Zhang Hong sat up straighter, adopting an attentive posture.
"Director Zhang, it's like this..."
Li Shanglai immediately reported the situation of Tianyao Group to Zhang Hong, including the notice of suspension for rectification issued to Tianyao Group, and how, after rectifying the issues and submitting the rectification results to the Mindong District for inspection by a joint inspection team, no response was received.
"Tianyao Group is the most important project for Donghai City and the Ministry of Health this year. The city has strongly supported it, yet the Mindong District is obstructing it like this? What is Wei Qianyuan doing?!"
Upon hearing Li Shanglai's report, Zhang Hong's expression changed slightly, and he spoke with some annoyance. He then added, "Mr. Li, rest assured, I will handle this personally. I guarantee that relevant personnel from the Mindong District will go to Tianyao Group for inspection and acceptance today!"
"Thank you, Director Zhang!"
Li Shanglai immediately stood up and expressed his gratitude. At that moment, he understood that Zhang Hong's outburst was directed at him, meant to pacify him. He also realized that if Zhang Hong had merely arranged for a prompt inspection of Tianyao Group, the "master" behind him would certainly not be satisfied, and this matter would not end there!
...
An hour later.
Wei Qianyuan arrived at Zhang Hong's office, looking travel-worn. Like Li Shanglai, he was escorted in by Zhang Hong's secretary—this was the rule! It was also why many people brought two sets of gifts!
"Director Zhang."
Although Zhang Hong had a good relationship with the Wei family and had personally attended Wei Qianyuan's engagement banquet, Wei Qianyuan addressed Zhang Hong by his title upon meeting him. This was the rule within the system; no matter how familiar two people were, in public and during work hours, one must address a leader by their title, especially when a junior meets a senior! As the future successor of the Wei family and the helmsman of the Mindong District, Wei Qianyuan was well aware of these rules and would not make such a rookie mistake.
"An hour ago, Li Shanglai from Longteng Pharmaceutical came to see me, complaining that your Mindong District was deliberately making things difficult for Tianyao Group. Not only did you send people to issue a notice of suspension for rectification to Tianyao Group, but when Tianyao Group completed its rectification and applied for inspection, you ignored them!"
Zhang Hong frowned and said sternly, "What is going on?"
"???"
Wei Qianyuan was utterly bewildered! A few days ago, he and Li Shanglai had reached an agreement: using the incident at the Donghai Hotel as a pretext, Longteng Pharmaceutical would terminate its cooperation with the Su Group and monopolize the business of the Qi Blood Pill. Just yesterday, he had spoken with Li Shanglai, who informed him that Li family patriarch, Li Guyi, was in seclusion researching medicine and would report back after emerging. Yet, Li Shanglai was now here complaining to Zhang Hong! He also wanted to know what exactly was going on!
"Wei Qianyuan, I'm asking you!"
Seeing Wei Qianyuan looking dazed and frozen, Zhang Hong's frown deepened.
"My... my apologies, Director Zhang."
Wei Qianyuan snapped back to reality, first apologizing, then explaining, "Due to some recent policies, there has been considerable dissatisfaction among some enterprises in the district. Some enterprises used Tianyao Group to question the district's actions in shutting down those enterprises. Therefore, after deliberation by the district, Comrade Zhou Yun was appointed to lead a joint inspection team comprising relevant bureaus to inspect Tianyao Group. They found that Tianyao Group indeed had some issues, and thus issued a notice of suspension for rectification."
"You should be well aware that Tianyao Group is one of the most important projects for the city and the Ministry of Health this year, and it is also involved in the supply of medicines for the Military Department, with significant implications. Because of this, the city has provided strong support from the establishment of Tianyao Group to the construction of its factory! Did you not inform the owners of those enterprises questioning the Mindong District's work regarding Tianyao Group that Tianyao Group is a special project of the Military Department?"
"..."
Wei Qianyuan was speechless. Before the flourishing of martial arts, the military was the most powerful special department. Enterprises affiliated with the military would receive preferential treatment in many policies. While Tianyao Group was managed by the Ministry of Health, it served the Military Department and could thus be considered a special project.
"Furthermore, even if you issued the notice of suspension for rectification, why did you remain indifferent when Tianyao Group completed its rectification and applied for inspection?!"
Zhang Hong continued his questioning, his tone becoming more severe.
"Director Zhang, this is a dereliction of duty by our Mindong District. I will return immediately and organize a meeting to urge the joint inspection team to conduct an immediate acceptance inspection of Tianyao Group's rectification results..."
Wei Qianyuan took responsibility and proposed a solution.
"At this stage, why bother with meetings?"
Zhang Hong interrupted Wei Qianyuan unceremoniously, "Before six o'clock this afternoon, you will personally lead the team to conduct an acceptance inspection of Tianyao Group's rectification results!"
"Yes, Director Zhang, I will handle it now."
Wei Qianyuan stood up to receive the order. Seeing that Zhang Hong had no further instructions, he picked up his briefcase and prepared to leave.
"Qianyuan, I believe that with your capabilities, you wouldn't make such a trivial mistake. There must be other reasons for this matter. I won't ask for the specific reasons, but I must remind you that some mistakes should not be made."
Just as Wei Qianyuan was about to leave Zhang Hong's office, Zhang Hong suddenly spoke again. Wei Qianyuan's footsteps faltered, his body trembled. He turned back and nodded to Zhang Hong with a hint of guilt, "Yes!" This time, he did not address Zhang Hong by his title. Because Zhang Hong had just addressed him as Qianyuan. This implied that Zhang Hong's previous words were spoken from the perspective of an elder, in a private capacity.
"Go ahead."
Zhang Hong waved his hand. Wei Qianyuan said no more, turned, and walked out of Zhang Hong's office. The moment he stepped out, the guilt on Wei Qianyuan's face vanished, replaced by a ferocious expression! He knew he had been tricked by Li Shanglai. But he did not know who was truly behind all this!
...