Chapter 2
Edward Quan ·
“The system really did pass the first preliminary inspection.”
“But when I looked at the data, something was wrong.”
“We investigated. A new junior employee was related to some senior executive at Shenghao.”
“He took a payoff, altered the data, and stamped it approved.”
Reading, I understood.
He must have been Lin Tingting’s inside man.
More messages arrived.
“Our department head spotted it during review. The boy was fired immediately.”
“The preliminary pass report has been revoked.”
“The real failure notice goes to Shenghao tomorrow morning.”
“Heavy metals in that water are far over the limit. Drink enough, and people will die!”
I took a deep breath and replied, “Thanks. Understood.”
Tomorrow was their thousand-person investment conference.
As far as I knew, every supplier within ten kilometers was fully booked.
A thirty-six-story building without one jug of water.
I wanted to see how their new director cleaned up that mess.
**Part 4**
The crew and I worked until five in the afternoon.
At last, all eighty jugs had been relayed to the pantry on each floor.
We were so tired we sat on the lobby floor, without even the energy to talk.
Lin Tingting sneered at our bedraggled state.
“Oh, exhausted already?”
“Just a bunch of lower-class laborers, then.”
“Get out. You won’t even be qualified to enter Shenghao again.”
I clenched my fist quietly. I wouldn’t quarrel. I would wait for tomorrow.
Outside, I sent another message to the industry group I had established.
“Effective immediately, my station is ending all supply cooperation with Shenghao.”
“Colleagues, their administrative director Lin Tingting abuses her position and deliberately makes things difficult for delivery workers.”
“Thirty-six floors, no lifts, mandatory carrying up the stairs. Be careful dealing with a company like that.”
The group erupted. Fellow suppliers responded that no amount of money would make them take Shenghao’s mess.
The next morning, the conference began as scheduled.
The building was decorated throughout. I heard even the chairman, who lived abroad, had come personally.
I sat at my station drinking tea and watching the time.
The show was about to begin.
At ten thirty, the conference reached its break.
A thousand guests and partners poured into pantries and corridors, seeking water.
In a business suit, Lin Tingting stood radiantly beside the new dispensers.
“Honored guests, this is our newly installed imported drinking-water system.”
“The water is absolutely pure. Please enjoy it without concern.”
A major client smiled, filled a cup, and took a great mouthful.
The next instant, he spat it all over her face.
Coughing, he shouted:
“What the hell is this water?”
“Why does it reek of chemicals? And rust?”
Nearby clients hurried to spit theirs out too.
“Something’s wrong! My tongue’s numb!”
“Are you trying to poison us?”
The hall descended into chaos.
**Part 5**
Wiping her face, Lin Tingting shouted:
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
“There’s nothing wrong with the water! We have a third-party pass report!”
Just then, the lobby doors burst open.
Several uniformed inspectors strode in.
My old classmate led them.
Holding an official document with a red stamp, he went to the dispensers and looked coldly at her.
“You’re Shenghao’s administrative director, Lin Tingting?”
“We’re from the environmental testing center.”
“You are formally notified that this system’s water quality fails severely. Heavy-metal levels exceed the limit by more than ten times.”
“The previous pass report was falsified by an employee violating procedure. It has been revoked.”
“The system must be sealed immediately.”
He waved. The inspectors stepped forward and affixed seals to the dispensers.
The entire hall fell silent.