Tianhai Customs.
Supervisor Xu leant back in his chair, his expression grave; moments ago, a friend from the police station had called to say that Fen Yuan Group’s people had lodged a complaint there, demanding the police investigate whether Fen Yuan Group’s freighter was smuggling arms.
This news was far from good for him; he had never imagined Fen Yuan Group’s people would truly take the matter to the police. Though his friend had suppressed it for now, he knew this was merely temporary.
“Damn Fen Yuan Group; that bitch Hu Yuanyuan is so utterly clueless, must she really blow this up.” Supervisor Xu’s face turned ashen; this affair concerned his future prospects, and Young Master Fu had made it clear that if he handled it well, he could rise further in Tianhai Customs, so he absolutely would not allow any slip-ups.
This was not his first such deed; each time, the other side chose to swallow their pride, unlike Fen Yuan Group’s relentless pursuit.
“Since you seek death, blame me not for being unkind.”
Supervisor Xu’s gaze turned icy, murder flickering in his eyes. He was no soft-hearted sort and knew well how to wield means. Over the years, the foreign trade firms he had ruined numbered more than one or two. Now, with Fen Yuan Group refusing to yield, he was enraged and resolved to teach them a harsh lesson.
With this thought, Supervisor Xu took out his mobile and dialled a number.
“Fen Yuan Group, hmph; this time, see how I crush you.” Supervisor Xu smiled coldly.
Bang.
At that moment, the office door burst open, and a man rushed in panting: “Su, Supervisor Xu, bad, bad news…”
“What bad news; such panic, what decorum is this.” Supervisor Xu glared, displeased.
“Supervisor Xu, some, someone is looking for you.” The man gasped.
“Who.”
“Reporters, masses of them.”
“Reporters, what reporters.” Supervisor Xu started, not grasping it.
“From the television station, the newspapers; nearly every reporter in Tianhai City is here. They have entered the Tianhai Customs gate and are heading straight here.”
“What.” Supervisor Xu’s face changed drastically; before he could react, a clamour rose from the doorway.
“This is Supervisor Xu’s office.”
“Quick, quick; must get the first-hand scoop this time.”
“This is Tianhai City’s bombshell news.”
“…”
Supervisor Xu had no time to react before a horde of reporters surged into his office.
“Supervisor Xu, I am a Tianhai Daily reporter…”
“Supervisor Xu, I am from Tianhai Television; I wish to ask you…”
The reporters, as if on stimulants, thrust microphones at Supervisor Xu.
“Gentlemen…” Seeing the reporters swarm towards him like they were on drugs, Supervisor Xu was thrown; yet with his seasoned composure, he quickly recovered and said, “What do you wish to ask. One by one; I shall answer all without reserve.”
Though he knew not why they sought him, Supervisor Xu saw his chance for fame; if he performed well, promotion and wealth were no dream.
“Supervisor Xu, I am from Tianhai Daily; I wish to ask how you discovered Fen Yuan Group smuggling arms.” A young woman raised her microphone.
Boom.
Supervisor Xu felt a roar in his mind; he had never dreamed these reporters were here for this question. Had it already spread to all and sundry.
“Supervisor Xu, now regarding Fen Yuan Group’s arms smuggling, how do you plan to handle it, how give Tianhai City’s citizens an explanation.”
“Supervisor Xu…”
The reporters’ questions bombarded like cannon fire, leaving Supervisor Xu at a loss for reply. If it were a day later, after his arrangements, he would fear no exposure, but now his call had just gone out, and he knew not how to respond.
What to do.
If he denied it, then claiming Fen Yuan Group smuggled arms later would win no belief, and the frame-up might even be probed. If he did not deny, how produce evidence. Facing these reporters, explanation was no easy task.
After a hesitation, Supervisor Xu gritted his teeth and stuck to the claim of Fen Yuan Group’s arms smuggling; by tomorrow he could arrange everything, and before ironclad facts, Fen Yuan Group would be disgraced while he became Tianhai City’s celebrity.
With this, Supervisor Xu faced the microphone and said resolutely, “You are quite right; Tianhai Customs discovered large quantities of arms on Fen Yuan Group’s freighter, for which we seized their vessel days ago.”
“Supervisor Xu, as I understand, this freighter belonged to the original Sun Group; because Sun Group was acquired by Fen Yuan Group, it became theirs, and Fen Yuan Group was founded less than a month ago. Are you certain they are truly involved in arms smuggling.” The Tianhai Daily reporter pressed on.
Fen Yuan Group founded less than a month, and acquired Sun Group.
Supervisor Xu started at the reporter’s words; he had heeded Young Master Fu’s words to frame Fen Yuan Group not only because Young Master Fu coveted their chemical machines but also because he had never heard of Fen Yuan Group, deeming it a minor firm in his eyes. But Sun Group he knew well: a foreign trade powerhouse dominating Tianhai City for a decade. If it were Sun Group, no matter Young Master Fu’s promises, he would not have targeted them; who would have thought Fen Yuan Group, newly founded, had swallowed Sun Group whole. Did that not mean Fen Yuan Group was even mightier than Sun Group.
At this thought, cold sweat beaded on Supervisor Xu; he had never imagined Fen Yuan Group had such backing.
Damn.
Cursing inwardly, Supervisor Xu knew regret was futile; now he and Fen Yuan Group were locked in mortal strife.
Hmph, Fen Yuan Group or not, this time before iron facts, be you dragon you coil for me, tiger you crouch for me.
With this, Supervisor Xu said, “We know not if this arms smuggling ties to Fen Yuan Group, but large quantities of arms were found on their freighter; that is indisputable fact.”
“And now, how does Tianhai Customs plan to handle it.” The reporter continued.
“Once we complete the procedures, we shall hand it to the police.” Supervisor Xu said solemnly, “This is the largest case Tianhai Customs has uncovered in years; we shall handle it with utmost care and give the people of Hua Xia a proper accounting.”
“Supervisor Xu, that sounds like your one-sided word; you claim Fen Yuan Group smuggled arms, so pray tell, what arms did Fen Yuan Group smuggle.” A voice rose from the reporters.
Supervisor Xu’s face shifted; looking up, he saw a youth eyeing him coldly. At this youth, Supervisor Xu’s heart sank, a bad premonition rising.
“This is confidential; before the case is fully investigated, it is inconvenient to disclose.” Supervisor Xu thought and replied.
“Fine confidential matter; then Supervisor Xu, as I know, Fen Yuan Group’s freighter is detained at Tianhai Customs by many, and you have all along refused Fen Yuan Group’s people access to the freighter. Is it fear they might shift the arms, or some other motive.” The youth pressed on.
Supervisor Xu’s expression changed: “Who are you.”
“What, Supervisor Xu cannot answer, or dares not.” The youth sneered and said, “Since Supervisor Xu insists Fen Yuan Group smuggled arms, and now Fen Yuan Group’s freighter is at Tianhai Customs’ docks, why not have Supervisor Xu take us to see if there truly are arms on Fen Yuan Group’s freighter.”
“Yes, we should go see.”
“Supervisor Xu, take us to see Fen Yuan Group’s freighter.”
“…”
Supervisor Xu, facing the fired-up reporters, paled drastically; the freighter now held only machines, so taking them there would expose everything.
“Gentlemen, before handover to police, no one may view the freighter; that is the rule.” Supervisor Xu said gravely.
“Is there no such clause in Hua Xia law.” The youth eyed Supervisor Xu coldly and said, “As I know, Fen Yuan Group’s freighter is at Pier Two; fellow colleagues, why not we all go see.”
“Good.”
“Go, let us all see.”
“Everyone, quick.”
The reporters followed the youth out of the office towards Pier Two.
“Gentlemen, this is Tianhai Customs, not a place for your antics.” Supervisor Xu’s face changed utterly; he had never thought things would reach this pass. If these prying reporters truly reached Fen Yuan Group’s freighter, then the trap would be laid bare.
But Supervisor Xu was of low standing; how could he stop these reporters, and could only watch helplessly as they headed for Pier Two.
“Damn, these damned reporters.” Gazing at the now-empty office, Supervisor Xu cursed aloud; he had wanted fame, and now he had it truly: exposing that Fen Yuan Group had no arms smuggling would mean not only failing to account to Young Master Fu but facing queries from all sides, and if mishandled, even this post lost.
“Who sent these reporters. Fen Yuan Group. Hu Yuanyuan.”
A cold glint bloomed in Supervisor Xu’s eyes: “Whoever makes my life hard, I make theirs harder; Hu Yuanyuan, you will pay the price soon.”
With that, he dialled a number.
