Chapter 136: The First in the Southeast
Chapter 136: The First in the Southeast
Barely two hours after the Meining prosecutors announced a travel restriction on Bai Wensheng, he was taken into police custody that very night!
The reason: over the past seven years, he had bribed Deputy Director Ou of Yuetian District with more than six million yuan in cash to cover up various criminal acts committed by him and his son.
Soon after, it was exposed that Bai Wensheng had been rebranding domestic drugs as imported ones and selling them at inflated prices.
His long-term mistress even came forward, revealing that he had been evading taxes.
Based on the current evidence alone, it was enough to ensure Bai Wensheng spent the rest of his life behind bars.
As soon as this news broke, Bai Pharmaceuticals’ stock price immediately plummeted the next morning. Within just half an hour of market opening, it hit the limit down. Companies like Yongfeng Group, Hitter Biotech, and Puke Group—all of which had heavily invested in Bai Pharmaceuticals—got dragged down with it.
In a single day, their stock prices nosedived, especially Top Summit Group, which dropped from 28.32 yuan per share to 27.78, marking its worst record in history.
Seeing this, Puke Group was the first to panic. Its chairman hastily held a press conference to clear the air.
“I hereby declare that my sexual orientation is normal, and I am absolutely not in any sort of bromance with Bai Wensheng, Chairman of Bai Pharmaceuticals. I will sue any media that slanders me.”
“As for the acquisition of Bai Pharmaceuticals shares, we admit it was a mistake. However, we have already cut all ties with Bai Pharmaceuticals. To all shareholders and Puke supporters—please trust us, Puke Group will build a brighter future.”
No sooner had Puke finished its statement than Hitter Biotech issued its own clarification, declaring it had also severed ties with Bai Pharmaceuticals and strongly asserting that its chairman had never solicited prostitutes with Bai Wensheng, nor participated in any threesomes.
Once those two companies spoke up, the rest of the implicated corporations scrambled to issue their own statements, announcing the termination of any cooperation with Bai Pharmaceuticals. Even Chrysanthemum Country’s Shitendo Pharmaceuticals released an exclusive statement declaring that once existing contracts were fulfilled, they would no longer work with Bai Pharmaceuticals.
The entire business world of the Southeast Province was thrown into chaos. The stock market turned completely red, and investors wailed in despair, uncertain when the scandals surrounding Bai Pharmaceuticals would finally end.
*****
Mingzhou, the Du family estate, during dinner time.
The grand dining hall was brightly lit. At the head of the table sat a bald elderly man around sixty-seven or sixty-eight years old wearing reading glasses. On his left was a sharply dressed middle-aged man in his mid-forties, and across from him sat another middle-aged man in a cotton jacket, slightly younger. Beside the two men sat their wives and three young family members.
Seated around the table were the core members of the most prominent family in the Southeast Province—the Du family: patriarch Du Hong, his two sons and their wives, along with two grandsons and one granddaughter.
Du Hong’s eldest son, Du Dingyu, aged forty-five, was acting mayor of Mingzhou City and expected to become the official mayor next year. The second son, Du Dingcun, was chairman of Hongxin Group, ranked among the top 100 corporations in Huaxia. One daughter-in-law was a bank president; the other was CEO of Hongxin Group.
It was a rare occasion for the Du family’s core members to dine together, and the old man’s face clearly showed satisfaction.
After dinner, a maid came to clear the table. Just as the family was about to disperse, Du Hong coughed lightly and said calmly, “Dingyu, Dingcun, and Yuheng—stay.”
Du Dingyu and Du Dingcun exchanged glances, respectfully agreed, and sat back down. Du Yuheng, however, looked a bit uneasy, glancing at his father before obediently sitting down. Technically, he wasn’t yet qualified to participate in such discussions.
Du Hong took out his reading glasses, put them on, folded his hands on the table, and scanned the three faces before him, his gaze finally settling on Du Yuheng. Without changing expression, he asked, “Were you involved in the Meining incident?”
Du Yuheng’s eyes darted, his gaze evasive. “I’m not sure which incident you mean, Grandpa.”
“You insolent brat, which one do you think? Do I need to spell it out for you? You thought you could hide something this big from me?” Du Hong’s icy stare locked on his grandson. “If your third uncle hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known you had the guts to contact an organization like Spade Eight.”
“Third Uncle told you?”
“Hmph! If he hadn’t, were you planning to keep it secret forever? Look what a mess you’ve made of the entire Southeast business world!”
“Grandpa, it’s all Zhang Yang’s fault! If not for him, none of this would’ve happened.” Du Yuheng argued, “Everything was peaceful until that troublemaker showed up. I only stepped in to help Second Uncle since, as the Business Alliance President, he couldn’t handle it all.”
“Yuheng isn’t wrong,” Du Dingcun chimed in. “That Zhang Yang’s no ordinary man. Word is he’s registered five companies already—covering pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, electronics, and heavy industry. His ambitions are massive. With both Nanxing One and Lingguang One under his control, who knows what he’ll stir up next.”
“At least you’re not a fool, Dingcun,” Du Hong said slowly, taking off his glasses. “Tell me, what’s Zhang Yang’s background? Why must Nanxing One and Lingguang One be produced by his Nuwa Company? Put them anywhere else, and they’d be goldmines.”
“That proves Zhang Yang has deep ties to the Dragonborn Project Research Institute—and likely more secrets behind the scenes.” Du Hong poked a finger at Du Yuheng. “As a Du family descendant, can’t you see that?”
“Of course I can. Zhang Yang only got where he is through connections. Without Qiao Xier’s help, he’d just be another pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?” Du Hong chuckled. “Then tell me—if he’s just a pretty boy, why did Qiao Xier choose him and not you? What do you lack compared to him?”
Du Yuheng protested, “I’m better than him in every way! Qiao Xier must be blind—”
“Nonsense! You’ve no ability and still blame others. How can you inherit the Du family legacy like this? You’re not even as capable as Yuyuan or Yuting!” Du Hong slammed the table in anger. “Do you know the biggest difference between you and him?”
Terrified, Du Yuheng shook his head quickly. “Please enlighten me, Grandpa!”
“He’s younger than you but far more experienced. And most importantly—something none of you would’ve guessed,” Du Hong said, glancing at his sons and grandson. “It’s very likely that Zhang Yang himself is the true developer of Nanxing One and Lingguang One.”
Raising an eyebrow, Du Hong’s tone softened. “So, drop the matter with Miss Qiao, and stay out of the Bai family’s business. Leave the loose ends to your third uncle.”
“Ah…” Du Yuheng scratched his head, puzzled. In his memory, his grandfather was always domineering—why back down now?
“Ah, what? You can go back to your room,” Du Hong said firmly.
Even Du Dingcun looked puzzled by this decision, about to speak, but Du Dingyu glanced at him, signaling him to stay silent. Then he said calmly to Du Yuheng, “Listen to Grandpa. Go.”
Though dissatisfied, Du Yuheng didn’t dare argue. He quietly left the dining room and closed the door. The family had an unspoken rule: important decisions were always made at the dining table. He wasn’t yet qualified.
Once Yuheng left, Du Hong turned to Du Dingcun and said casually, “Do you know why your brother is Mingzhou’s acting mayor, while you’re still relying on the family?”
Du Dingcun’s face turned red with shame, but he didn’t dare argue. “Please, Father, enlighten me.”
“You were involved in Yuheng’s mess, weren’t you? Otherwise, why would your third brother meet with the Spade Eight people on his behalf?”
Du Dingcun gritted his teeth and nodded. “Yes. I couldn’t just watch our Du family get pushed around. Since you and my brother couldn’t step in, I had to.”
“It’s not that simple, is it?” Du Hong snorted coldly. “Last time the Qiao family’s eldest son came to Mingzhou, you and Yuheng were the ones who hosted him, right?”
“Yes.”
Du Hong shot him a disappointed glare. “You like gambling, so you should know cards well. Let me ask you something.”
“What makes a good hand?”