After careful consideration, Zhang Yangshen decided to believe Lin Yao's promise. Meeting Lin Yao's demands would at most offend a high-ranking figure, and might negatively impact his career advancement, but it wouldn't be fatal. He could still cultivate relationships through other channels, and ultimately, there would be room for progress.
But once the material in front of you is handed over to the disciplinary committee, the sky will fall. Forget about pleasing the big shots above, you won't even have the right to live a normal life, let alone talk about promotion and advancement.
"I'll arrange for someone to handle it immediately, according to your wishes." Zhang Yangshen regained his composure. At least on the surface, he regained his composure. At this moment, his years of experience in officialdom showed, which made Lin Yao admire him.
"You promise you won't cause trouble?" Suppressing his fear, Zhang Yangshen asked the most crucial question. He felt like he was about to collapse. He barely managed to support himself on the edge of the table with his arms, which were starting to tremble slightly. His eyes were filled with longing as he looked at Lin Yao.
“Of course.” Lin Yao nodded firmly. “We are not the Discipline Inspection Commission, nor any other state institution. These matters have nothing to do with us.”
"The reason for preparing these materials is entirely for self-protection. I think Director Zhang can understand the good intentions and difficulties involved." Lin Yao's tone was very calm, without the arrogance of someone who has gained power. "I have reservations about Director Zhang's personal actions, but I will not get involved. As long as Director Zhang doesn't become famous for helping refugees in the future, we can continue to deal with each other as before, and nothing will change."
“Okay, I believe you.” Zhang Yangshen made a decision immediately and decisively picked up the phone on the table to dial. “Section Chief Shen, please check Min Hong’s situation again, and also conduct a self-examination to see if the enforcement was too strict and if the attitude during the enforcement process was inappropriate. Before the matter is determined, we cannot easily issue a suspension notice, let alone a penalty notice. If there are any work mistakes, correct them immediately.”
"Report the results to me before you leave work this afternoon." Zhang Yangshen hung up the phone after giving his instructions in a stern tone without waiting for a reply.
Looking up at Lin Yao, he said seriously, "This matter was entrusted to me by a leader in Beijing. I originally thought I could use this to build a personal relationship and gain benefits, so I took care of it. I am very sorry for causing trouble for Min Hong."
"That leader at the State Price Bureau wasn't a big shot; he was just in charge of the functional management of our system in various provinces and cities. Perhaps to curry favor with the higher-ups, he assigned me the task of asking Min Hong for 'Life-Giving Pills,' at least a hundred, the more the better."
"The provincial price bureau also arranged the same work, but it was only a verbal arrangement and no written notice was issued. Deputy Director Liu personally instructed the leaders of our municipal price bureau, and we even held a meeting to discuss it. The municipal price bureau did not approve it, believing that Minhong Pharmaceutical's work could be based on regulations and was not a violation, so it was suppressed. It was only because I received orders from above that I wanted to do it as well, and also to curry favor with Deputy Director Liu of the provincial bureau."
Zhang Yangshen explained the whole story in just a few words, which made Luo Jimin and Lin Hongmei realize that it was the "Life-Giving Pill" that caused the trouble again.
Luo Jimin felt even more remorseful for his previous reckless behavior. He was furious with his comrade Yang Wei and thought that he had already repaid the kindness of helping him get rid of the poison during the survival training. The care he received at the academy and the three "Life-Giving Pills" he had given Yang Wei last time had ended their comradeship. He would never associate with such a person again.
"Director Lin, do you need me to tell you the name of the leader above?" Zhang Yangshen asked Lin Yao cautiously, his expression very nervous.
Explaining what happened is not a big problem, but directly betraying one's superiors would have serious consequences, as it would be blatant betrayal.
Although his appointments and promotions are currently mainly decided by local authorities, and his efforts to cultivate good relations with leaders in the capital are merely to leverage his influence over the provincial and municipal bureaus, he cannot afford to directly betray them, even those far away in the capital, as the anger and repercussions from above would be unbearable.
Noticing the pleading look in Zhang Yangshen's eyes, Lin Yao thought for a moment, then shook his head and refused, "No need, it's enough that I know what happened. I don't need to know the other party's name. I hope Director Zhang will take good care of me in the future. Minhong welcomes you to visit and guide our work often."
"Definitely, definitely." Zhang Yangshen nodded vigorously, a huge weight lifted from his heart. "Oh dear, I was so busy talking that I didn't even make tea. I'm so sorry. I have some Pu'er tea that a friend brought over last time. It's quite good. Please, Mr. Luo, Mr. Lin, and Director Lin, taste it."
Lin Hongmei repeatedly said, "You're too kind, no need." Luo Jimin remained lost in thought and didn't offer any opinion.
“Director Zhang, we still have things to attend to. We’ve already bothered you for quite a while today, so we won’t keep you from working any longer. Let’s get together another day.” Lin Yao said with a smile, stopping Zhang Yangshen’s enthusiastic hospitality, and turned to his parents, “President Luo, President Lin, let’s go back.”
Zhang Yangshen personally escorted Luo Jimin and the other two downstairs and waited for them to get into the Toyota minivan and drive out of the city price bureau before returning to his office, drenched in sweat.
He locked the office door, slumped back in his chair, and let out a long sigh. All his strength had vanished, leaving him with a vague sense of emptiness and muscle aches. Recalling his previous experience, he felt a wave of fear.
What if, what if I had been a little more assertive just now? Maybe my life would have been over.
Zhang Yangshen was convinced that if he could not meet the other party's demands, Lin Yao would hand over the materials on the table to the Discipline Inspection Commission without hesitation. Since Min Hong had already taken this step, there was no possibility of backing down, especially since Lin Yao's performance and attitude at the time were very decisive.
He barely escaped detection. It seems he needs to be more discreet in the future. Even a private company could uncover his secrets; he had been too complacent before. Zhang Yangshen wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a sense of unease. He felt as if he were surrounded by surveillance equipment, and the office was shrouded in an extremely oppressive atmosphere.
He took out his phone, dialed a number, and decided to go out and vent his frustrations. Compared to the issues with the documents, his personal conduct was a minor matter, and he didn't need to worry about it at the moment.
Oh, and the personal documents!
Zhang Yangshen's eyes caught sight of a stack of materials he had stuffed into his desk drawer. He suddenly sprang into action as if wound up, tearing the materials into tiny pieces the size of fingernails. He then rushed to the office building's restroom, dumped all the shredded paper into the toilet, flushed it clean with hot water, and only then did he relax.
*****
The Toyota minivan was rather somber; no one spoke. Only the bright sunlight from the sky, filtered by the buildings lining the street, created varying degrees of intensity, making the interior less monotonous.
"Ge Yong, drive the car to the grove behind Tianfu Square. Let's get out and take a walk," Luo Jimin suddenly said, just as the minibus was about to enter the road leading to Tianfu Square.
The environment around the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum behind Tianfu Square is very nice. Behind it is a large, dense forest, in which a small area is planted with towering ginkgo trees, making it quiet and comfortable.
There were several long stone benches in the woods, and few people were relaxing there, mainly because there were no residential areas nearby. The bustling roads and commercial districts meant that there were no leisurely people enjoying life in this woods, which made it convenient for Lin Yao's family to talk.
"Yao'er, your behavior today went too far. This kind of behavior is disgraceful and can only be described as despicable." Luo Jimin stood beside the stone bench, frowning as he looked at his son Lin Yao, his tone very harsh.
Although the trip to the Municipal Price Bureau yielded satisfactory results, the methods and approaches taken by his son, Lin Yao, were clearly inappropriate. Luo Jimin worried that such matters would influence his son's habits, and that if he became accustomed to using such coercive methods, he might go astray and turn bad in the future.
“Dad, there’s nothing we can do.” Lin Yao sighed, understanding the worry in his father’s eyes.
"What do we have? We have nothing!" Lin Yao continued, his emotions becoming somewhat agitated. "No background, no powerful connections, no support from influential people. Min Hong has too many mothers-in-law; any one of them could easily ruin us. If we let them continue like this, how can we possibly survive?"
“I know my behavior today was wrong; I acted like a thug. But if I didn’t do this, how would I solve the problem? Should I just wait for them to take pity on me and let Minhong go?”
“It’s true that Minhong has gained a good reputation and the public supports it, but that can’t be eaten or relied upon. Since we’re surviving in a market economy, we have to follow market rules. But what we’re doing is breaking those rules. Breaking certain bad rules comes at a high price. Aren’t you already prepared for that?”
Luo Jimin's eyebrows furrowed even more, squeezing the center of his brow into a "川" (river) shape.
Lin Hongmei remained silent, standing quietly beside Lin Yao and listening to the conversation between the father and son. She didn't think there was anything wrong with her son's previous behavior, nor did she think he had gone bad. As a mother, Lin Hongmei had never doubted her own flesh and blood.
“Dad, I know what you’re thinking. You value reputation, Minhong’s reputation, and our family’s reputation. But is reputation really that important?” Lin Yao continued to express his opinion. “Reputation can’t put food on the table. The treatment Minhong received has already proven this point. I believe that even Shen Liquan and Zhang Yangshen, whom we met today, will definitely admire Minhong’s previous disaster relief efforts. Even if they don’t agree with them, they will still admire her. After all, we have given so much.”
"But what's the use? The leaders and employees of major chain pharmacies in Chengdu will also support Minhong, right? But as long as the distributors collectively restrict the supply, they will abandon us, and they will have no choice but to abandon us. After all, everyone needs to eat, and how many people would turn their interests away just to support Minhong?"
"Don't say that all drug distributors are bad people. They only choose to fight against Minhong in order to protect their profits and interests. Look at our Xingrentang Pharmacy, now we can't even get medicine anymore. If we didn't have our own medicine to support us, we would have closed down long ago."
“We were even refused when we tried to buy directly from other pharmaceutical companies. Which pharmaceutical company that sells in Sichuan would be willing to supply us, Xingrentang, directly? It’s because they don’t dare to offend the distributors. With the experience of Xingrentang, I can foresee that our hospitals and clinics in various places will be blocked in the future. If we can’t even get the medicine, what’s the point of running a hospital?”
“Yao’er, what you said makes sense, but I feel very uncomfortable watching you do that. I don’t want you to become that kind of person.” Luo Jimin sighed softly, expressing his concerns.
“Jimin, you have to have faith in Yao’er.” Lin Hongmei walked to her husband’s side, took his arm, and said softly, “We’ve watched Yao’er grow up, how could he possibly turn bad? You’re overthinking it. I support Yao’er in what he did today. If we didn’t do it this way, Minhong wouldn’t be able to start production properly. In the future, we’d have enough headaches just dealing with all these messy things.”
"It's all my fault for being careless last time and believing Yang Wei's words, giving him the 'Life-Giving Pill,' otherwise we wouldn't have gotten into so much trouble," Luo Jimin said remorsefully, his mood somewhat downcast. "Yang Wei is a complete scoundrel, actually cursing his own parents to gain my sympathy, what a disgrace to being a son!"
“Dad, don’t blame yourself. Even if you hadn’t given the pills to that Yang guy, someone would have found out sooner or later. Those people will cause trouble sooner or later. It’s easier for us to deal with things if things happen first. If we wait until the whole country has expanded, the influence will be much wider, and it will be more troublesome to deal with.” Lin Yao comforted him softly. He had already understood and accepted the matter of giving Yang Wei the pills after his mother, Lin Hongmei, explained it to him. The virtue of repaying kindness should not be criticized under any circumstances.
"Yao'er." Luo Jimin walked to his son's side, put his hands on his shoulders, and stared intently into Lin Yao's eyes. "Promise your father that you will be a good person and not turn bad."