Chapter 1042: Formation of the Task Force

Wang Lichuan nodded and prepared to leave.

Xu Chunliang took a sip of tea and said, “Wang Lichuan, right.”

Wang Lichuan stopped and turned back: “What about me?”

Xu Chunliang said, “You will soon receive a lawyer’s letter.”

Xue Meizhen gave Wang Lichuan a look to hurry up and leave. Wang Lichuan got angry: “Director Xue, what’s wrong with reporting the truth? You asked me over here, aren’t we listening to an outsider pointing fingers?”

Xue Meizhen was worried about a conflict between the two: “Enough, say less, I’ll explain to you later.”

After Wang Lichuan left, Xue Meizhen said, “Xiaoxu, Wang Lichuan is a leading figure in our news center. He has some arrogance, but he is capable and upright.” She didn’t clarify that Wang Lichuan is Director Hou’s son-in-law, which gave him some confidence.

Xu Chunliang said, “Being upright doesn’t mean not making mistakes. If you make a mistake, you have to take responsibility. Sister Xue, this matter is not small, you need to be mentally prepared in advance.”

Xue Meizhen panicked when she heard this: “Xiaoxu, I am helping you.”

Xu Chunliang said, “I know, that’s why I’m giving you a heads-up. If it’s proved that this batch of herbs is indeed from Mulan Group, then there’s no problem; but if these herbs aren’t from Mulan Group, or if someone tampered with them, you will bear major responsibility.”

Xue Meizhen said, “Why us? It’s clearly the inspection team from the Provincial Pharmaceutical Supervision Bureau that found it. We are just responsible for reporting.”

Xu Chunliang sighed and said, “Sister Xue, you’ve been in management for many years, but your political sensitivity isn’t sharp. If it were just an issue within our province, it would be fine, but Mulan Group is a key enterprise in Nanwan, and it was just listed as a key support entity by the National Medical Administration. It’s normal for the inspection team to find problems, but you exposed Mulan Group without thoroughly investigating the issue. This move is too reckless; you are embarrassing Nanwan and the National Medical Administration.”

Xue Meizhen panicked when she heard this. She initially thought it was just a routine report, but didn’t expect it to involve so many departments.

Xu Chunliang said, “Actually, I’m just helping a friend out with this matter. How to handle it specifically has to be her decision. Sister Xue, that Wang Lichuan is quite arrogant; I estimate he will have no place in the journalism world in the future.”

“That’s how he is, young and talented, often confrontational at the station.”

Xu Chunliang said, “Sister Xue, we have known each other for a while. I can’t bear to see you being greatly implicated by this matter. As things stand, you need to swiftly resolve the situation, clear yourself of responsibility, and deal with the culprits. Maybe that way, you can minimize your own responsibility.”

Xue Meizhen was still a bit hopeful: “It can’t be that serious, it’s just an ordinary report.”

Xu Chunliang thought, I’ve said all I can. You report recklessly without investigation, and now you’ve provoked Xiahou Mulan. And who is Xiahou Mulan? She’s my woman; when she has issues, how could I not step in?

Xu Chunliang bid farewell and left.

Just after Xu Chunliang left, Wang Lichuan came back, angrily saying to Xue Meizhen, “Director Xue, our work in journalism is already hard enough. How could you let an outsider dictate to us?”

Xue Meizhen said, “Xiaowang, don’t be agitated. I think what he said makes some sense. Although the inspection team discovered the issue, as journalists we need to be rigorous. We shouldn’t publicly involve the enterprise before thoroughly investigating, or else we might become passive if there are hidden truths.”

Wang Lichuan said, “What could be the problem? The evidence is clear. Those scorpions and centipedes mixed with sand are Mulan Group’s products. Shouldn’t such a blameworthy enterprise be exposed?”

Xue Meizhen said, “Anyway, I think you were a bit too hasty. We can wait until everything is verified before broadcasting, or we can blur the enterprise’s name. This is also a form of protection for ourselves.”

Wang Lichuan insisted, “News relies on timeliness. If we are late, others may beat us to it. Since they dare to sell inferior products, why can’t we expose them? You’re afraid of their retaliation, but I’m not.”

Xue Meizhen understood Wang Lichuan’s ambition for achievement. He’s the son-in-law of the station director, Director Hou wants to promote him, just needs a suitable opportunity. Wang Lichuan certainly works hard, and the station can see his drive for advancement.

Initially, Xue Meizhen didn’t consider this report a big deal until Xu Chunliang approached her. She realized the matter might be troublesome. She understands Xu Chunliang’s style well; his warning was not exaggerated. It showed that Wang Lichuan’s report already infuriated him, prompting him to take action against Wang Lichuan, or he wouldn’t have said such harsh words about Wang Lichuan having no future in journalism.

Xu Chunliang’s words contained advice for her, urging her to prepare in advance.

Xue Meizhen naturally couldn’t execute a swift and decisive resolution because Wang Lichuan isn’t without background.

Mulan Group has already obtained samples of the substandard herbs, and they can confirm that someone tampered with them. The tampering isn’t just simply a matter of inferior quality; take scorpions and centipedes for example, they are indeed produced by Mulan Group, but after being procured by middlemen, they underwent sand-filling and repackaging.

On the surface, they appear as Mulan Group’s products, but through this unscrupulous operation, the weight is increased, and selling at normal prices, they can double or even more than double their profits.

Although Mulan Group acted swiftly, their opponents, with malicious intent, didn’t idle either. After Dongzhou TV Station’s news exposure, major video platforms appeared flooded with videos smearing Mulan Group, pushing Mulan Group quickly to the eye of public opinion. Because of Mulan Group, even Qiaocheng, the largest inland Chinese medicine base, was affected.

People uninformed of the truth started accusing Qiaocheng of being a distribution center for counterfeit medicines. The leaders of Qiaocheng City held an emergency meeting this morning, and sought clarification from Mulan Group about the situation. After Mulan Group provided evidence of their innocence, Qiaocheng City reported to the Provincial Pharmaceutical Supervision Bureau, as this surprise inspection was carried out by the Pinghai Provincial Pharmaceutical Supervision Bureau; they couldn’t communicate over levels.

Nanwan Pharmaceutical Supervision Bureau also quickly responded, requesting Pinghai Pharmaceutical Supervision Bureau to handle the matter cautiously. If it’s proven that the inferior herbs came from Mulan Group or Qiaocheng, they will seriously address it. If the final inspection shows it’s unrelated to Mulan Group, they will seek accountability from the responsible parties.

Even the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine was disturbed; Lin Sijin called Xu Chunliang specifically to inquire about the situation in Dongzhou. As Mulan Group was suggested for entry into the country’s key support list by Xu Chunliang, although they qualified, this connection was crucial for selection.

Xu Chunliang told Lin Sijin about the circumstances he understood. Mulan Group also promptly drafted a detailed report and dispatched personnel to Capital City.

Xu Chunliang considered that this wasn’t a bad thing. Although Mulan Group was pushed into the vortex of public opinion, uninformed people harshly accused them. But the more it happened, the more it highlighted the Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration’s role, questioning how these key enterprises on the national protection list can defend themselves against deliberate defamation.

Xu Chunliang wasn’t solely protective due to his personal connection with Xiahou Mulan. He had a reasoned basis: all the substandard herbs originated from Changsheng Chinese Medicine Chain, headquartered in Xia Pi.

After thoroughly understanding the situation, Lin Sijin immediately decided to deploy a joint investigative team led by Li Kaiqiang. The team included not only staff from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration but also external experts, among them Huiren Hall’s shopkeeper Huang Gongxian. Unexpectedly, Xu Chunliang from Dongzhou was also included in the joint investigation team.

Even before the investigation team arrived, the Pinghai Provincial Pharmaceutical Supervision Bureau was already in turmoil. They sent out the group for the surprise inspection originally to be responsible to the consumers, not intending to create such a big situation. Such inspections occur annually, typically catching some cases, issuing fines, and serving as a warning, but this time was different; it alarmed the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Xiahou Mulan arrived in Pinghai ahead of the others, accompanied by a powerful legal team. “An old bad luck can be good luck,” sometimes negatives turn into positives.

Xiahou Mulan went by herself to the Infectious Disease Hospital’s office without revealing her identity, just saying she was there to discuss investment.

Several female staff members heard she was looking for Director Xu and asked her to wait a moment. Kang Yueqi dialed Xu Chunliang’s small office phone, informing him that an investor wanted a conversation.

Xu Chunliang was discussing the situation with Li Kaiqiang. As per their schedule, the investigation team would arrive in Dongzhou tonight, staying at the Dongzhou Second Hostel. Li Kaiqiang asked him to prepare the available materials for analysis and investigation by the expert group.

Xu Chunliang picked up the phone and asked Kang Yueqi to tell the guest to wait a moment.

Xiahou Mulan waited for fifteen minutes until Xu Chunliang finished his current matters and recalled the visitor, instructing Kang Yueqi to bring the guest over.

When Xiahou Mulan entered, Xu Chunliang was stunned because Kang Yueqi hadn’t mentioned her actual name earlier, leading him to think she was just a regular investor.

After Kang Yueqi left, Xu Chunliang cheerfully approached with open arms, ready to give Xiahou Mulan an enthusiastic hug.

Xiahou Mulan raised her hand to stop him at his chest: “Director Xu, your air is quite large, isn’t it?”

Xu Chunliang glanced at her chest: “Not as big as yours. You didn’t announce your name, so I didn’t know it was you. Otherwise, I would have come out to greet you earlier.”

Xiahou Mulan said, “Who are you flirting with?”

Xu Chunliang said, “Isn’t it for your matter? The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine set up a special joint investigation team for this matter, arriving tonight in Dongzhou to investigate.”