บท 8: Chapter 8:Converging Fates and Silent Pursuits
A few wisps of white clouds drifted lazily in the clear sky, polishing the late summer and early autumn heavens to a brilliant blue. The afternoon sunlight, softened by the slightly cooler autumn breeze, radiated a dazzling gentleness, bringing a refreshing delight to the heart and soul.
At Haizhou Airport, a Boeing aircraft made a smooth three-point landing with a thunderous roar. Stepping out of the terminal, Guo Xiaopeng, the chairman and president of Haizhou Pharmaceutical Group, wore a relaxed smile. In his mid-thirties, tall and slender, he was dressed casually in a crisp white shirt without a tie, carrying a nearly empty leather bag. Behind him was Fei Jingwei, the company's chief engineer and head of the R&D department, equally aged but more robust, with a scholarly look marked by his gold-rimmed glasses. He carried a laptop in one hand and a blue travel case in the other.
Rushing to greet them at the exit were Liu Mei and Lin Xiaoliang, Guo Xiaopeng's half-brother. Liu Mei's eyes were moist with emotion as she gazed at Guo Xiaopeng. "You're back, finally back!"
Guo Xiaopeng nodded silently, handing his bag to Lin Xiaoliang, and then shook hands with other key figures from the company who had come to welcome him before heading to the parking lot.
His driver, Duan Hai, started the Mercedes smoothly once Guo Xiaopeng was seated. Liu Mei sat beside Guo, while Lin Xiaoliang took the front passenger seat.
The luxury convoy left the airport avenue, with the car's CD player blasting a lively disco track, to which Lin Xiaoliang bobbed his head in rhythm.
Half-reclining on the back seat, Guo Xiaopeng's eyes were half-closed. Liu Mei leaned softly against him. From the front seat, Lin Xiaoliang turned and jokingly asked, "Second Brother, did you bring back any money from Hong Kong this time?"
Guo Xiaopeng, though stern-faced, wasn't harsh in his tone. "As the assistant to the president and head of the sales center of Haizhou Pharmaceutical Group, you should avoid speaking like a market vendor. You hold an important position now."
Lin Xiaoliang laughed, "I've always had a status. Teach me how an assistant to the president should speak then."
Clearly fond of his half-brother, Guo Xiaopeng advised, "Your status as the child of a high-ranking official is inherited. Now, you should ask like this: 'President, how was the overseas financing? When will the funds be in place?'"
Mimicking his brother, Lin Xiaoliang repeated the question, making everyone in the car laugh, easing the atmosphere. Liu Mei turned to Guo Xiaopeng and asked, "Did you achieve your goals?"
Stretching, Guo Xiaopeng responded lightly, "We exceeded them. The initial investment is thirty million Hong Kong dollars."
Liu Mei beamed, "Does this mean we can get a bowling alley and a mini-golf course for Haizhou Tower?"
Guo Xiaopeng shook his head. "Good steel should be used on the blade."
Pouting, Liu Mei asked, "So what is your 'blade'?"
Guo Xiaopeng launched into an enthusiastic explanation, "A group of scientists in the US and Europe have developed PCR, polymerase chain reaction, which is the greatest invention in modern biology, far surpassing cloning technology."
Lin Xiaoliang interjected, "Greater than Viagra?"
Ignoring the comment, Guo Xiaopeng continued, "Based on this invention, pharmacologists have developed 'smart genes.'"
Both Liu Mei and Lin Xiaoliang listened intently, clearly hearing this for the first time.
"In simple terms, this drug can reach the NRZB subunit at the nerve cell membrane's nerve endings. It's a biological antenna found in all mammals. When it receives signals from the smart gene, the production of neural proteins increases, enhancing human associative abilities." He paused, asking, "Do you understand?"
Lin Xiaoliang shook his head, then quickly added, "I get that it makes a lot of money, right?"
Guo Xiaopeng replied, "Making money is secondary. Now we're talking about investment. No investment, no return."
Straightening up, Lin Xiaoliang exclaimed, "It'll definitely make a lot of money! They say besides robbing, selling medicine is the way to go!"
Guo Xiaopeng shot him a glance, "Where do you get all these sayings from?" He suddenly shifted the topic, "How's the old man doing?"
Lin Xiaoliang replied, "Same as ever. Sometimes his leg isn't good, but he insists on exercising it. I worry it might get worse, but he says it's like fighting poison with poison, meeting difficulties head-on. I told him, at his age, why bother so much?" Everyone in the car laughed again. Guo Xiaopeng's smile was reserved but meaningful.
Encouraged by the laughter, Lin Xiaoliang continued, "The old man praised you too, Second Brother."
Guo Xiaopeng, clearly valuing his stepfather's praise, raised his eyebrows but refrained from asking directly. Lin Xiaoliang, understanding his brother's mind, went on, "He said Second Brother, with his doctorate from America, is much better than Big Brother Qiang."
Guo Xiaopeng's expression darkened, and he said in a low voice, "Don't mention him!"
Lin Xiaoliang immediately fell silent, and the atmosphere in the car grew tense again.
At this moment, Liu Mei's phone rang. She answered, "Hello... Yes, this is Liu Mei. Oh, Captain Li, hello... Yes, I'm on my way back to the tower now... Okay, see you soon!" After hanging up, she turned to Guo Xiaopeng and whispered, "Deputy Captain Li Xinjian of the Criminal Police Brigade."
Guo Xiaopeng closed his eyes. "What is it?"
Liu Mei replied, "Lü An drowned. He wants to know some details."
Guo Xiaopeng leaned back. "Lü An?"
Liu Mei calmly said, "The deputy general manager of Haizhou Tower."
Guo Xiaopeng's eyebrows shot up, eyes open wide. "An accident?"
Liu Mei was noncommittal. "Perhaps."
"Cooperate fully with the police investigation," Guo Xiaopeng instructed firmly. Liu Mei nodded, softly saying, "Understood."
As they exited the airport, a man in a suit and dark glasses followed them at a distance. Now in a taxi tailing the convoy, he had removed his sunglasses, staring intently at the Mercedes ahead. Suddenly, he ordered the driver, "Overtake them!"
The taxi accelerated, speeding past the convoy and signaling to overtake the Mercedes. Guo Xiaopeng and the others noticed a stern face flashing by. Shortly after, a traffic police officer on a motorcycle sped up and forced the taxi to the side of the road. As the luxury convoy sped past, the burly traffic officer approached the taxi, lifting his helmet visor—it was Qiang Min. He extended his hand, "Driver's license."
The driver handed it over compliantly, trying to ingratiate himself, "Sir, you must be busy!"
Qiang Min glanced inside the car, pocketing the license, "Do you know what you did wrong?"
The driver nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, I was speeding."
Qiang Min sternly replied, "Knowingly breaking the law?"
The driver pointed to the back seat, "He told me to speed; he has an urgent matter."
Qiang Min leaned in, looking at the passenger, who turned his face away.
Qiang Min snapped at the driver, "He tells you to speed, you speed? If he tells you to kill, would you do it? Traffic laws are laws! Do you understand?"
The driver wilted, muttering, "Yes, I understand..."
Qiang Min waved them off, "Go to the Traffic Police Division Four to pay the fine!" He rode away. The driver groaned, "Oh no, sir! A fine?" He glared at the passenger, who coldly replied, "I'll pay you five times the fine. Now go!"
The taxi driver smiled.
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