Chapter 596: Mr. Kang, I Feel Your Sincerity

Kang Tianlong’s imposing demeanor instantly evaporated. How could he not understand what was happening?

‘Cheng Peichao is trying to wash his hands of this!’

Kang Tianlong instantly realized the gravity of the situation.

Director Qiao had called him out of the blue, and his old superior had suddenly left for “training” in Beijing.

‘Could all of this really be a coincidence?’

‘This is definitely not a coincidence!’

‘The power behind this Chairman Cheng must be terrifying!’

GULP. Kang Tianlong subconsciously swallowed hard.

Seeing the color drain from Kang Tianlong’s face, Lin Xinghe’s arrogance returned. “Director Kang, what’s wrong? Lost your nerve? Go on, keep inspecting!”

How could Kang Tianlong dare talk back to Lin Xinghe? He forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace. “President Lin, you’re just making fun of me now. What the hell is left for me to inspect?”

With that, Kang Tianlong walked over to Cheng Yuan, looking up at him pitifully like a schoolboy who had been caught misbehaving.

“Chairman Cheng, Yuanxi’s discharged wastewater is in full compliance with Dragon Country’s standards! I apologize for the disturbance today.”

Cheng Yuan looked at Kang Tianlong coldly. “Director Kang, I must raise questions about your bureau’s methods!”

Kang Tianlong caved immediately. “Chairman Cheng, it’s true our environmental bureau has some temps who aren’t quite up to snuff. Why would they test untreated wastewater?”

“Temps? Heh. Director Kang, please don’t blame everything on the temporary staff. Our workshop has security cameras, you know.”

Kang Tianlong’s face fell. ‘It seems Chairman Cheng isn’t going to let me off the hook!’

“Chairman Cheng, to borrow a phrase you used earlier, I was just following orders. My actions were not my own. Please, don’t stoop to my level.”

Cheng Yuan smiled. “Funny, I seem to recall someone saying just a moment ago that he *wasn’t* just following orders, that everything he did was of his own free will.”

Kang Tianlong desperately wanted to slap himself twice. Why did he have to run his mouth like that!

‘How am I going to get out of this?’

Kang Tianlong decisively caved. Gritting his teeth, he said, “I’ll make no more excuses. We were guilty of overzealous enforcement. Please, Chairman Cheng, I await my punishment!”

Cheng Yuan said lightly, “I’m not your superior, Director Kang. I have no authority to punish you. That’s a matter for the Dragon Team Bureau.”

The Dragon Team Bureau?

Kang Tianlong’s mind went blank with a deafening BUZZ.

He knew he was finished.

Utterly and completely finished.

The other directors, seeing things had gone south, quickly scurried over, their faces plastered with ingratiating smiles as they looked at Cheng Yuan.

“Chairman Cheng, we’ve completed our inspection. Every aspect of Yuanxi Pharmaceutical is exemplary, meeting the highest standards for an enterprise in the Dragon Country! It’s a model for all businesses! We apologize for the disturbance!”

Facing these directors, Cheng Yuan’s expression softened. After all, he only needed to make an example of the point man; there was no need to stir up widespread panic.

‘The old guard will be back eventually. If I push these directors too hard, they might jump out and take a bite out of Yuanxi later on.’

Cheng Yuan said lightly, “Yuanxi welcomes routine inspections from you, gentlemen. However, if anyone conducts an ‘excessive’ inspection again and disrupts Yuanxi’s normal operations, I, Cheng, will not be so easy to deal with.”

Everyone subconsciously glanced at the trembling Kang Tianlong, a chill running down their spines. Even if they had the courage of a lion, they wouldn’t dare try something like this again.

“Rest assured, Chairman Cheng, a situation like this will never happen again!”

Cheng Yuan said with false sincerity, “You gentlemen have worked hard. Why don’t you stay for lunch at Yuanxi?”

“No, no, we couldn’t possibly! We have other official business to attend to. Chairman Cheng, we’ll take our leave now.”

How could any of them dare to stay for a meal at Yuanxi?

Weren’t they afraid of being drowned in the workers’ curses?

In an instant, they all scampered away faster than rabbits.

Only the people from the environmental bureau remained, frozen in place. Their director hadn’t given the order, so no one dared to move.

Cheng Yuan turned to look at Kang Tianlong. “Director Kang, what are you gaping at? Go on, continue your inspection. But I will be sending a recording of your bureau’s ‘enforcement’ to Director He and Director Qiao. Let the two of them decide what to make of it.”

SHUA!

A fresh layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Kang Tianlong’s forehead.

Kang Tianlong didn’t want his career to end like this. He knew he had to offer Cheng Yuan a ‘grand gift’ to earn his forgiveness.

Kang Tianlong waved his arm. “Environmental bureau, everyone, pack it up!”

“Yes, sir!”

As if granted a general pardon, the environmental bureau staff scattered, each one running faster than a rabbit.

Only Kang Tianlong remained, looking at Cheng Yuan with an obsequious expression.

Unfortunately, Cheng Yuan was not moved. He said coldly, “Director Kang, it’s useless even if you tell your men to pack up. The surveillance cameras have already recorded your ‘enforcement actions’.”

“Chairman Cheng, may I have a word with you in private?”

Cheng Yuan raised an eyebrow and walked to a corner of the workshop. “Go on, Director Kang. I’m a busy man.”

Kang Tianlong glanced around cautiously. Once he was sure no one was listening, he whispered, “Chairman Cheng, do you know why the old boss ordered a full investigation into Yuanxi?”

This was precisely what Cheng Yuan couldn’t figure out.

‘Logically, a big shot like the old boss shouldn’t bother getting angry with a small fry like me.’

“Go on, Director Kang.”

“Chairman Lin of Huanyu Group is the old boss’s childhood friend! It was Chairman Lin who asked him for this favor! Chairman Lin wants to crush Yuanxi and is already prepared to acquire it!”

Huanyu Group?

Isn’t that the Lin Family?

A dangerous glint appeared in Cheng Yuan’s eyes.

‘The Lin Family has made trouble time and time again, always targeting Yuanxi. If Ruoxi didn’t have their blood running through her veins, I would have wiped them out long ago!’

‘I can’t believe that old bastard Lin Jianan would be so ruthless, even to his own granddaughter!’

‘To even deploy a trump card like the old boss!’

Cheng Yuan’s gaze softened slightly. He said lightly, “Director Kang, I, Cheng, can see your sincerity. I can overlook what happened before as you being forced into it. However, from this day forward, I expect you to enforce the law impartially.”

Kang Tianlong quickly bowed his head. “Please rest assured, Chairman Cheng! From now on, even if I receive orders, I, Kang, will only act strictly in accordance with regulations! I’ll do my best to schedule any inspections after Yuanxi’s business hours, and I will absolutely not disrupt Yuanxi’s normal production.”

Cheng Yuan nodded in satisfaction, then offered a polite dismissal. “Director Kang, how about staying for a quick lunch?”

Kang Tianlong quickly waved his hands. “Thank you for the kind offer, Chairman Cheng, but I, Kang, still have official matters to attend to. Next time, I’ll definitely take you up on it!!”

The moment Kang Tianlong stepped out of the workshop, deafening cheers erupted from within.

“Hooray! Long live Chairman Cheng!”

“Yes! We finally got rid of those pests! We can finally get back to work! Chairman Cheng is the man!”

Yu Dazhi waved his arm and shouted, “Alright, everyone! Back to work! Our inventory is running low! Starting now, we’re on three shifts. The workers can rest, but the machines can’t!”

“SIR!!”

The workshop once again buzzed with feverish activity.

Everyone was beaming with joy, certain that after overcoming this crisis, nothing could stop Yuanxi’s rise.

Just as the mood was at its peak, Shi Shengli, the marketing manager, hurried into the workshop and whispered something in Lin Ruoxi’s ear.

The color drained from Lin Ruoxi’s face.