Chapter Forty-Four: Chairman Zhang’s Connections

After the people from the Food Bureau left, Daguang turned to Chen Huajiang and asked,
“Brother Jiang, what are we going to do now? How long will this closure last?”
“Don’t worry. I have my own way. You should head home first.”
Chen Huajiang sat alone at the entrance of the snack shop, lost in thought.
He knew Wu De had done this on purpose, but he had no proof in hand.
The urgent task now was to resolve this problem; the snack shop had to reopen.
His brother-in-law’s house was nearly finished, and Liang Long’s house was close to completion as well.
At this moment, closing the snack shop would be extremely detrimental to the two branch stores.
If the Food Bureau released an announcement, regardless of whether Chen Huajiang had used poppy husks, customers would assume he had.
Therefore, he needed to resolve the issue swiftly.
When Zhou Guoan sealed the shop, he immediately thought of Zhang Donglai.
Zhang Donglai also worked at the Food Bureau, though he wasn’t sure if Zhang’s position was higher or lower than Zhou’s.
With this in mind, Chen Huajiang went to the Food Bureau.
Everyone on duty was inside the office building, except for an old gatekeeper sitting at the entrance.
“Sir, excuse me. May I ask if there’s someone here named Zhang Donglai?”
“Young man, are you teasing me? Zhang Donglai is the president here.”
The old man smiled at Chen Huajiang, thinking the young fellow was just joking with him.
Chen Huajiang was taken aback, then felt a weight lift from his heart.
At least he had saved Zhang Donglai’s son; surely Zhang would help him.
That evening, Chen Huajiang brought some gifts and went to Zhang Donglai’s home.
Seeing Chen Huajiang, Zhang Donglai and his wife hurried to invite him inside.
“Ah, Chen, you didn’t need to bring anything! We should be the ones giving you gifts.”
Zhang Donglai’s wife was still deeply grateful to Chen Huajiang.
“Come, Chen, sit over here and have some tea.”
Zhang Donglai led Chen Huajiang into the living room.
“Director Zhang, I’ve come to see you about something.”

Chen Huajiang wore a look of grievance.
The moment he addressed him as Director Zhang, Zhang Donglai realized the other knew his identity.
“What’s happened? Are you in trouble?”
“The Food Bureau sent a group today and shut my snack shop, saying I used poppy husks in my mutton soup. I swear I’ve never touched that stuff, let alone used it.”
Chen Huajiang gave a brief account of the matter.
Zhang Donglai was puzzled; he hadn’t heard of any investigations lately.
Why had they suddenly smashed up Chen Huajiang’s snack shop?
“Do you know who led the team?”
“I think his name was Director Zhou. The most crucial thing is they took all my medicinal herbs. I bought them from Yunnan—they’re not available here in Nanming City.”
Zhang Donglai was visibly displeased. Chen Huajiang had saved his son, after all.
To close someone’s shop without investigation, and he hadn’t even heard about it.
“Don’t worry, Chen. Tomorrow when I go to work, I’ll look into this. I’ll see you get justice, as long as you can guarantee you haven’t used anything forbidden.”
“Director Zhang, I wouldn’t dare use such stuff. I know it’s banned. You can examine the herbs they took—there’s absolutely none of what they claim.”
Zhang Donglai trusted Chen Huajiang’s assurance.
If such things were discovered, the consequences would be dire.
Frankly, almost no one in the food business would risk such a thing.
“Rest assured, tomorrow I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Thank you, Director Zhang.”
After chatting a bit more, Chen Huajiang took his leave.
Meanwhile, Wu De and Gou Weidong took Zhou Guoan to eat at Weimeixian.
“Uncle, you really made us proud today. Tell me, what would you like to eat? It’s my treat.”
Wu De was quite generous.
“That little snack shop? It’s nothing to me. We’ve already confiscated his medicinal herbs. Didn’t you say you wanted them? Come get them tomorrow morning.”
Previously, Wu De had told Zhou Guoan to seize all of Chen Huajiang’s herbs.
Those herbs weren’t available in Nanming City, and once they were handed over, their own shop could use them.
“Alright, I’ll come pick them up tomorrow.”

The next morning, Wu De went early to collect the herbs.
Back at his own shop, he began experimenting with them, wasting quite a bit in the process.
At eleven o’clock, Zhang Donglai summoned Zhou Guoan to his office.
“Director Zhang, is there something you need?”
“I heard you closed a snack shop yesterday, correct?”
Zhou Guoan thought Zhang Donglai was about to praise him and replied proudly, “Yes, the shop was using poppy husks. I found it and shut them down.”
“But I’ve already checked, and they didn’t use that substance. Let me tell you, Director Zhou, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. I’m well aware of your motives. This afternoon, return the herbs and reopen the shop. Otherwise, you won’t keep your position here.”
Zhang Donglai had already asked Zhou Guoan’s subordinates, and indeed, there was no poppy husk among the herbs.
Zhou Guoan was stunned. He had expected praise, but instead received a scolding.
“And another thing: the owner of that snack shop, Chen, is a close friend of mine. You’d better handle this properly.”
Zhou Guoan was even more shocked. He had never imagined Chen Huajiang was connected to the president.
“President, I understand. I’ll handle it immediately.”
Leaving Zhang Donglai’s office, Zhou Guoan hurried to Wu De’s place.
“Where are the herbs? Something big has happened. Chen Huajiang is linked to our president, and now the president wants the shop reopened and the herbs returned, otherwise I’m finished.”
Zhou Guoan was truly helpless.
People talk about betraying their parents, but betraying your uncle is something new.
He’d been thoroughly set up by Wu De.
Wu De and Gou Weidong were still tinkering with the herbs. On hearing Zhou Guoan’s words, they were both stunned.
“What are you waiting for? Pack up the herbs!”
The two finally came to their senses and hurriedly stuffed the herbs into burlap sacks.
Zhou Guoan waited at the entrance of the snack shop for Chen Huajiang to arrive.
Chen Huajiang only arrived at two in the afternoon, and on seeing Zhou Guoan, he was clearly displeased.
“What now? Are you here to inspect my shop again? Haven’t you already checked?”
“Boss Chen, I truly apologize. We didn’t know about your connection with Director Zhang—please forgive us.”