Chapter 700

Li Hengbo's capacity for action, driven doubly by the will to survive and the desire for revenge, was displayed to the fullest.

Less than a week after the funeral hall incident, a bloody storm targeting Zhengtong Group—and more precisely targeting Lin Dongfan himself—quietly began.

First, it occurred at a top-tier hospital in a certain southeastern province.

A patient who had undergone implantation of a coronary stent produced by Zhengtong Medical suddenly developed a severe infection on the third day after surgery, leading to multi-organ failure and ultimately dying despite rescue efforts.

The family, grief-stricken, raised a white banner at the hospital entrance, wailing, 'A heartless company, treating human lives like trash.'

Almost simultaneously.

In another city, a patient who had received an artificial hip joint produced by Zhengtong Medical developed severe metal-ion allergy and bone dissolution symptoms, facing the risk of a second surgery and lifelong disability.

The two incidents—one death, one disability—are extremely serious in nature.

Immediately afterward, several influential online media outlets and self-media big names almost simultaneously published in-depth 'investigation' articles.

The articles not only detailed the grim conditions of these two medical incidents but also 'cited' the analysis of so-called anonymous industry experts, directly accusing Zhengtong Medical of, to cut costs, long using cheap alloy materials with unstable performance and questionable biocompatibility, and of having serious loopholes in its production process, rendering the sterilization step meaningless.

The wording in the articles was extremely inflammatory, with terms like 'black-hearted enterprise,' 'blood-sucking capital,' and 'treating human lives like grass' shocking to the eye.

Almost overnight.

The slogan 'Zhengtong Medical, murder devices!' shot to the top of the hot search list, triggering a nationwide outcry.

Angry netizens flooded the official social media accounts of Zhengtong Group and its subsidiaries with insults, demanding severe punishment of the responsible parties and an explanation for the victims.

This was merely the first wave of public opinion impact.

Just as public sentiment boiled over, Zhengtong Group's PR department, harried and overwhelmed, issued a statement saying, 'We attach great importance to this, have set up an internal investigation team, and will actively cooperate with the relevant authorities.'

An even more deadly blow followed close behind.

A man who claimed to be the former deputy director of production at Zhengtong Medical, named Zhao Dezhu, proactively contacted multiple media outlets and simultaneously submitted a thick dossier of 'whistleblower materials' to the State Drug Administration and the procuratorate.

He wept bitterly before the media.

He accused Zhengtong Group's senior leadership of, in pursuit of maximum profit, instructing his department to use cheap substitute materials that had not undergone strict certification.

He also alleged that they systematically falsified quality inspection reports, labeling substandard products as qualified and sending them into the market.

'I was forced too!' Zhao Dezhu sobbed before the camera, his acting worthy of an Oscar: 'Lin Dong personally gave me the order, saying costs must be cut or I'd be fired! I have elderly parents and young children, I had no choice. But my conscience is uneasy; now that I see lives have really been lost, I can't stay silent any longer! I have evidence! All the internal orders and the falsified records, I secretly kept them!'

He displayed some carefully forged email screenshots and photocopied meeting minutes.

He even presented an edited, incoherent audio clip that sounded like Lin Dongfan emphasizing 'cost control.'

Both human and material evidence (forged) were complete!

'Former Zhengtong Group executive names names in real-name whistleblowing, Chairman Lin Dongfan suspected of major responsibility accident crime and producing/selling substandard products crime!'—such a headline exploded like a bomb in the financial world and public discourse.

The previously inactive government agencies, faced with 'surging public opinion' and 'solid evidence,' swiftly responded.

The Drug Administration announced a joint investigation team with the Public Security Ministry and other departments, which would be stationed at Zhengtong Group and its medical device subsidiary to conduct a comprehensive investigation.

The procuratorate also announced it would open a preliminary investigation into the relevant leads.

The news spread.

The capital market instantly reacted most intensely.

Zhengtong Group's (stock code: X00265) share price on the A‑share market, like a roller coaster, plunged straight to the bottom.

It hit the limit down at the opening!

Panic‑sell orders surged forth like a collapsing mountain and tsunami, huge sell orders locked the limit‑down board, and funds fled madly!

'It's over! Zhengtong is finished this time!'

'The chairman might even go to jail; this company is beyond saving!'

'Run! Get out while you can!'

On the exchange, institutions and retail investors holding Zhengtong stock cried out in despair, panic spreading.

And at this moment.

In the chairman's office of the Reborn Group, which overlooks the city's prosperity, Li Hengbo was leisurely sipping red wine.

Li Hengbo stared at the glaring large bearish candle of Zhengtong Group on the screen, and a morbid yet satisfied smile appeared on his face.

'Fall! Keep falling, old man!'

He muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with madness: 'Lin Dongfan, just how arrogant can you be this time? Wait till you're ruined and disgraced, locked up, your Zhengtong Group will be meat on my chopping block!'

He seemed already to see Lin Dongfan being taken away by police, Zhengtong Group falling apart, while he could, in the guise of a savior, snap up that fat piece at a bargain price.

At the same time, in Zhengtong Group's headquarters in Jingcheng, the atmosphere was heavy as the stillness before a storm.

In the president's office, Ye Jiaying and others paced anxiously; the phone rang nonstop, all calls from shareholders, partners, and the media demanding answers.

'Dongfan, the situation is extremely unfavorable for us now!' Ye Jiaying frowned, reporting to Lin Dongfan, who sat calmly at his desk flipping through documents: 'Public opinion is completely one‑sided, the investigation team has already moved in, the stock price has collapsed… Should we not launch the strongest legal and PR counter‑attack right away?'

Lin Dongfan slowly closed the documents, lifted his head, showing no trace of panic, even a faint hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

That gaze, deep as an ancient well, gave nothing away.

'Counter‑attack? Of course we must.' Lin Dongfan's voice was unnervingly calm: 'But not now—let the bullets fly a little longer.'

He rose, walked to the huge floor‑to‑ceiling window, and looked down at the vaguely visible crowd of media reporters and noisy people gathered below.

'Li Hengbo is that venomous snake; this time he's finally bared his fangs completely.' Lin Dongfan said softly, as if commenting on something unrelated to him: 'He thinks the net he's woven is flawless? He doesn't realize that from the moment he first entertained this idea, he's been stepping step by step into the grave I've prepared for him…'

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the few core members in the office.

His eyes were sharp and resolute:

'Notify everyone: the Group's operations will continue as normal, and we will actively cooperate with the investigation team.'

'Jiaying, you personally take charge of stabilizing our core customers and suppliers, tell them Zhengtong won't fall! And furthermore…'

A flash of cold light passed through Lin Dongfan's eyes.

He continued: 'It's time for Xu Yaqiu to deliver that "gift." Also, our "hunting" operation in the secondary market can begin.'

Everyone's spirits lifted!

They saw hope for a comeback in Lin Dongfan's composed, even slightly expectant demeanor.

Although the outside world is already dark clouds pressing upon the city, they believe that this man before them surely has the means to reverse heaven and earth!

The storm has already descended, and Zhengtong Group and Lin Dongfan seem to have been forced to the edge of a cliff.

But beneath that bottomless cliff, a heaven-shaking counterstrike that had long been prepared is quietly revealing its ferocious fangs.

Li Hengbo thought he was the hunter, unaware that from the moment he shot the poison arrow, he himself had already become the prey fallen into the trap!

The real good show has just begun!