MGASC -Chapter 229 Confronting Them Face to Face

As the year drew to a close, Lin Tianyue returned to Xiangshui County to distribute holiday gifts to the workers at the feed factory and the pickled vegetable factory. While he was there, he also paid visits to the veteran leaders who had always supported him.

Although his business focus had shifted to his trading and transportation companies in Jiangcheng, he still felt that, as someone who had risen from Xiangshui County, he had a responsibility to do something for his hometown.

Unlike Zhang Qiao, who cared a lot about appearances—even when giving employee benefits, choosing things like curling irons—Lin Tianyue believed that in the countryside, food was what mattered most. So the benefits he handed out were practical necessities: pork and flour.

Each employee received ten jin of pork belly and two large bags of white flour. It wasn’t a huge amount, but it would at least improve their meals during the New Year.

After everything was distributed and he drove away, every worker carrying their holiday goods greeted him warmly, calling out “Factory Director Lin” again and again. This was a scene he would never have dared to imagine in the past.

Lin Tianyue then visited several retired county leaders, bringing them small gifts. Finally, he went to see Zhou Junlin.

Zhou Junlin was already on holiday and planned to take his daughter back to the capital in a few days to visit Xiaoxiao’s grandparents and maternal grandmother.

Zhou Xiaoxiao came out, greeted him with a cheerful “Hello, Uncle Lin,” then skipped back to her room, her ponytail swaying. When she came out again, she was holding three greeting cards.

“Uncle Lin, these three cards are for Lin Xun, Lin Ran, and Lin Jin. The top one is for Lin Xun, the blue one underneath is for Lin Ran, and the green one is for Lin Jin. You have to remember to give them to the boys when you get back!”

“Of course. No problem.”

Lin Tianyue knew Xiaoxiao was close with his three little troublemakers. He carefully put the cards away with a serious expression. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao smiled sweetly and ran back to her room to read.

Zhou Junlin and Lin Tianyue chatted happily in the living room. At one point, they even played a round of Go. Just as they were discussing where to go for dinner that evening, someone suddenly started pounding loudly on the door.

Zhou Junlin frowned at the rude knocking and went to open it. Outside stood Chen Gang, looking travel-worn and out of breath.

“Xiao Chen, come in. Are you here to see Factory Director Lin?” Zhou Junlin asked kindly.

Chen Gang was panting heavily, nearly exhausted. The moment Lin Tianyue heard it was Chen Gang, he sensed something was wrong. Before Chen Gang could even step inside, Lin Tianyue was already at the door.

“What’s happened? Did something go wrong at the factory?”

“No… Sister-in-law called. She said her factory and restaurant with Su Yin have both been sealed up. They’re saying she’s illegally selling and producing ‘three-no’ products. Brother Yue, you should hurry back and take a look!”

Lin Tianyue’s eyes turned icy at once. He grabbed his coat immediately.

“Did you call Gu Yu?”

“I did. No answer!”

Right—Gu Yu had gone out of town on a business trip and wasn’t in Jiangcheng.

Grandma Gu was there, but she was elderly and in poor health. Lin Tianyue didn’t want to trouble her.

He put on his coat. Though he was anxious inside, what he felt most was worry for Zhang Qiao. On the surface, however, he remained calm.

“President Zhou, I’ll head back first to check on things. It’s the end of the year—there are always people looking to stir up trouble. I’m afraid Qiao can’t handle it alone.”

Zhou Junlin nodded, then called out as Lin Tianyue turned to leave. “Xiao Lin, wait a moment. I’ll go with you.”

Lin Tianyue politely declined at first, but thinking of Zhang Qiao, he nodded. “Then I’ll trouble you. Let Xiaoxiao stay with Yingzi for a while. Chen Gang, make sure you look after President Zhou’s child!”

Chen Gang immediately pledged solemnly, “President Zhou, don’t worry!”

…

At the Quality Inspection Bureau, Zhang Qiao and Su Yin arrived almost at the same time.

They brought their documents to confront the staff member named Li Yu. Before entering the office, Zhang Qiao discreetly pressed the record button on the tape recorder in her bag.

“Sister Li, you promised me that once your leader returned, you’d approve our paperwork right away. You said it wouldn’t delay our production. But now the Industry and Commerce Bureau has come to seal us up, claiming we’re selling and producing ‘three-no’ products. Could you please help explain? You know we submitted all our materials. There’s absolutely no issue of non-compliance.”

Su Yin had previously had some personal rapport with this Sister Li; otherwise, she wouldn’t have trusted her so completely.

But faced with their questioning, Li Yu flatly denied everything.

“Comrade Su, our work follows procedure. Without a compliance certificate, you cannot produce. And don’t slander me—I would never make such irresponsible promises.”

“You… you clearly…”

“Don’t frame me! If your products are non-compliant, pay the fine and rectify the issue. As for your claim that we received your materials but didn’t process them—that’s nonsense. From start to finish, we never received any documents from you. If you didn’t submit them, how could our leaders process your paperwork?”

Su Yin had never expected her to deny even receiving the documents.

Her face flushed red with anger and panic. “That’s not true! I personally handed them to you that day—you sealed them in a brown envelope…”

“No. I didn’t receive anything.”

“I… you…”

Su Yin looked at Zhang Qiao, helpless and despairing, feeling both wronged and ashamed. “Qiao, I really did submit them. If she hadn’t guaranteed it, how could I knowingly do something wrong and drag you into this? Hurting you would be hurting myself.”

Hearing this, Zhang Qiao became even more certain that they had fallen into a deliberate trap.

She smiled faintly and steadied Su Yin, who was on the verge of breaking down.

At this point, Zhang Qiao was no longer in a hurry.

She pulled over a chair and sat down across from Li Yu.

“Sister, Su Yin isn’t lying. I believe the materials we submitted may have been lost or damaged due to mistakes in your office. You can’t explain it clearly and are afraid of taking responsibility. But I’m sure there are people who can clarify the matter. You think you can just dismiss us like this? That’s impossible. I’ve already called the police on my way here. Let’s invite your leader and go to the Public Security Bureau together.”

A flicker of panic crossed Li Yu’s eyes. “What… you called the police? This is a matter for the Industry and Commerce Bureau. Why involve the Public Security Bureau?”

“Because we’ve been framed and treated unfairly. Of course we’ll seek help from the judicial authorities. Is there a problem with that? Or do you think you and the Industry and Commerce Bureau can act as judge and jury? As far as I know, without operating illegally, the Industry and Commerce Bureau has no authority to seal our stores and factory.”

Seeing the panic in the other woman’s eyes, Zhang Qiao became even more determined.

There was definitely something fishy going on.

“Or perhaps you can call your leader out now, and we can confront this face to face?”

“Nonsense! Why would our leader meet you? Who do you think you are?”

“Fine. Then we’ll talk at the Public Security Bureau. That way, it’s fair to everyone.”

Just as Zhang Qiao finished speaking, the door was suddenly pushed open forcefully from the outside.