Chapter 047: Contributing Both Money and Effort, Xu Juncong Strikes Back

"Hello, I’m the owner of the late-night eatery," Zhang Tianfeng answered politely, then asked, "Are you doing a live or recorded segment?"

"Recorded," replied the young reporter, Xiao Liu. "I just heard you say you’re heading to the hospital. Is that true?"

"Of course it’s true. A customer has had a problem with our food—whether or not it’s our fault, as the restaurant owner, I can’t just stand by and do nothing. Besides, most of the people who eat at my place are unemployed; some of them might not even be able to afford basic medical care. That’s why I have to go, to see if there’s anything I can do to help. If I can offer money, I’ll give money; if I can offer strength, I’ll give strength."

Facing the camera, Zhang Tianfeng continued, "I also want to say to anyone who’s ever eaten at the ‘Youle Late Night Eatery’ in Tangwan Town: if you really can’t afford to see a doctor, don’t drag it out. Come find me, and I’ll help you with whatever you need."

This was Liu Jue’s first live interview, and right from the start she’d run into someone like Zhang Tianfeng, who liked to take the initiative. She felt a little flustered.

Retracting her microphone, Liu Xiu forced a smile and said, "Mr. Zhang, you really are a philanthropist."

"Don’t call me that. I don’t like the word. I crawled up from the very bottom myself, so I know exactly what people need. I’m just doing what I can to help." Zhang Tianfeng’s tone grew firm. "Alright, that’s enough for the interview. I hope you’ll publish it as soon as possible, so more people in need can get help."

With that, Zhang Tianfeng turned and left.

The cameraman shrugged helplessly. "Not much luck today. If it were me, I’d have a hard time dealing with someone like him too."

After a moment’s thought, Liu Jue said, "Master, you take the camera back. Give me the little handheld one."

"He keeps saying he wants to help people in need, and now all the poisoned folks have been sent to the hospital. I want to see if he’ll actually go check on them."

Liu Jue let out a snort, her eyes flashing with a strange light. If Zhang Tianfeng was lying, she wouldn’t mind exposing him to the whole country. But if he really was going there to help, then she’d have gotten some great material for her story—a job well done.

"Alright then, be careful. I’ll come back around noon."

After a word of caution, the cameraman headed toward the car with his gear, while Liu Jue tucked away the little camera and crept after Zhang Tianfeng. As she reached the temporary rest area, she heard Zhang Tianfeng talking.

"Old Lu, can’t you make an exception and let me in?"

"What would you go in for? People will think you’re trying to destroy evidence. Just wait outside for instructions from above."

"You’ve got some nerve. They took all the patients to the hospital and you didn’t even tell me—made me look bad in front of the reporters."

"I just wanted to see your true colors. What if you were tricking me?"

"Trick you? I’ve only been in Tangwan for a short time, and I’ve already donated ten thousand yuan worth of security equipment to you. Who have I tricked?"

"Last time your shop got trashed, I told you to keep quiet, but you went straight to the labor bureau and filed a complaint."

At the mention of this, Lu Dingqian sounded quite aggrieved.

The last time Zhang Tianfeng’s shop was smashed, he’d launched an investigation right away and even led a team to Deep City to catch the culprit. But before they could make an arrest, the story about the illegal job agencies broke in the Deep City Daily. Because of that, he’d nearly lost his position as station chief and had to write countless self-criticisms—he was exhausted.

Outside, eavesdropping, Liu Jue’s eyes widened: So that’s why he looked familiar—the illegal job agency story was his doing!

She remembered the old-timers at the station saying that Zhang Tianfeng was also involved in job placement services. If the whole mess was really because of internal conflicts in the job market, then maybe their station wouldn’t have to take the blame.

Others didn’t understand, but the people at the TV station knew just how deep a shadow the illegal job agencies had cast over Pearl City. Because they’d missed that huge story, and Zhang Tianfeng had leaked it to Deep City and spread it through their channels, reporters from other provinces now called Pearl City’s TV and news media useless. They could hardly hold their heads up.

While the others were muttering about all this, Zhang Tianfeng had already gotten the hospital’s address. As he left, he spotted Liu Jue but pretended not to, hurrying to the hospital. Liu Jue aimed her camera at him and quietly followed.

...

Outside Tangwan Town People’s Hospital, a crowd of patients had gathered. Cries of pain filled the air, and doctors and nurses were rushing frantically from one to another. Several ambulances from other towns had come to help, but in the face of so many patients, their efforts seemed like a drop in the ocean.

When Zhang Tianfeng arrived, he saw this tragic scene: faces twisted in pain, some clutching their stomachs, some rubbing their temples, a few people even lying on the ground.

"Old Ma, why are you lying here?" Zhang Tianfeng spotted a familiar face and hurried over.

It was Ma Chenggong, a regular at his restaurant who came every night for a free charity meal. After seeing each other a few times, they’d become acquainted. Zhang Tianfeng knew he was from Jin Province and had been in Tangwan for nearly three months without finding work. It wasn’t his fault—factories were only hiring women these days, and jobs for men were snapped up in half an hour.

"Boss Zhang, you’re here?" Ma Chenggong trembled with excitement when he saw him.

"I heard about the food poisoning, and I was worried you wouldn’t see a doctor, so I came to check on you." Zhang Tianfeng looked around and asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Yes. The government is covering the medical costs, but so many people are poisoned that the hospital just can’t cope. Boss Zhang, could you help get me to Pearl City Hospital? The staff say there are plenty of beds there. The wealthy have already gone on their own, but we poor folks can’t afford the trip and have to wait for the shuttle to come back."

"Is that all? Leave it to me!"

Zhang Tianfeng stood up and called out, "Red Hair, get in touch with some drivers and arrange for chartered vans. Sister Lan, go buy some supplies to help them cool down—fans, herbal drinks, whatever you can find. I’ll go inside and take a look."

"Yes, boss!"

With Zhang Tianfeng’s involvement, the chaotic scene quickly began to settle. Thanks to his money, vans soon arrived to ferry patients to other hospitals, and tents, herbal water, and fans were distributed.

All of this was recorded by Liu Jue, who was hiding to the side with her camera.

"This guy is really generous. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was the one who poisoned them," she muttered.

"Young lady, you shouldn’t say things like that," a voice said behind her.

Startled, Liu Jue spun around and paled when she recognized the elderly man.

"Mayor Chen… why are you here?"

The white-haired old man before her was the former mayor of Pearl City, Chen Youcai, who’d only retired last year.

Back then, Liu Jue had just joined the TV station and had even gone with her mentor to interview him.

"I’m just a retired old fellow now," Chen Youcai said. "This young man is willing to spend his own money to help those in need. That’s something good. As a journalist, you should report the truth—not jump to conclusions because of personal feelings."

"Don’t worry, Mayor Chen. I’ll report the facts," Liu Jue promised.

"Good. Go and record as much as you can. Pearl City needs a positive image right now."

"Yes, goodbye, Mayor Chen."

While Zhang Tianfeng was springing into action, Wang Li had also reached his destination. After nearly an hour on foot, he arrived at Xu Juncong’s villa, found the address from memory, and knocked on the door.

"Who is it? Disturbing people so early in the morning," grumbled a voice before the door opened.

Xu Juncong, his hair a wild mess, looked at Wang Li. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Boss Xu, I’ve done what you asked. I’m here for my payment," Wang Li replied.

Xu Juncong was momentarily stunned. "Wait in the yard while I change."

"No time for that—the situation’s urgent." Wang Li was starting to feel anxious, worried that Red Hair would get suspicious and pin the blame on him. He dragged Xu Juncong out into the yard and told him everything he’d done the night before.

"You put laxatives in the water tower—over ten thousand people got sick?" Xu Juncong was horrified.

"Yeah, clever, right? This way, no one will suspect me," Wang Li said proudly.

"Clever? You’re too damn clever!" Xu Juncong gritted his teeth.

Poisoning over ten thousand people—what an enormous crime. If he got implicated, it wouldn’t matter if he was a manager or even the CEO of Yuanli Group—he’d be thrown in jail.

No, he couldn’t get tied up with this any longer. He had to get rid of this guy before he dragged him down with him.

Having made up his mind, Xu Juncong hurried inside to fetch the money. "Now I believe you. Stay close to Zhang Tianfeng and let me know if anything happens, understood?"

"Don’t worry, I’ll find you. That’s ten thousand yuan, after all."

The moment Wang Li left, Xu Juncong immediately called the Tangwan Town police station.

"Hello, I have important information regarding the food poisoning incident."

After giving his report, he rang a friend in Deep City.

"Spread whatever slander you can about Zhang Tianfeng, starting with his arrested employee—accuse him of being behind the poisoning!"

First, he’d report it to clear himself of suspicion, then have his media contacts fan the flames and put all the blame on Zhang Tianfeng.

Xu Juncong was quite pleased with his own cunning, humming a tune as he returned to his room.

Outside the villa, Zhou Runbo emerged from the woods and walked straight toward the town.