It was 8:30 p.m. in a small private room on the fifth floor of the Xinglan Hotel in the provincial capital.

On the table were a plate of peanuts, a plate of braised beef, and a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor). An old man and a young man were drinking and eating.

"Xiao Peng, do your uncle a favor and get Huang Xiaolan a job at your shop. It's an order from my superiors. Huang Xiaolan wants to work at your tobacco and liquor store. Please help your uncle out." Feng Dali looked worried and downed a glass of baijiu in one gulp.

People view AIDS patients as vile and venomous, and discrimination is rampant.

Wang Peng smiled wryly, "Uncle, I really want to help you, but I'm powerless to do anything. I don't discriminate against her, Du Lei doesn't discriminate against her, and I can guarantee that Mingzhu and Shishi don't discriminate against her either. But if the news gets out, who will dare to buy cigarettes and alcohol from my shop?"

"Dare? I'd like to see who dares to spread rumors about me." Feng Dali gritted his teeth.

"Uncle, you can't hide the truth forever. Just wait and see, rumors will be flying everywhere in less than three days." Wang Peng put down his chopsticks, raised his glass, and invited Feng Dali to drink.

The father and son raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp. Feng Dali grinned and said, "I won't let you help me for nothing. The higher-ups said that as long as you hire her to work, they'll arrange for the media to interview you. The topic of the interview will be: why would a small business owner who runs a tobacco and liquor store spend a huge sum of money on public service advertisements for condoms?"

These words struck a nerve with Wang Peng.

After this period of advertising, public opinion about condoms has been stirred up, and relevant departments must have already taken note of the situation.

However, public opinion isn't strong enough, and relevant departments haven't formally considered this topic yet. If the news media gets involved, it will definitely push public opinion to a climax.

"Uncle, you're forcing me into this. Which media outlet do you want to interview me with? The provincial capital's daily newspaper?"

"The provincial capital's daily newspaper is nothing. I'll coordinate with the provincial TV station to get you on the provincial capital's news."

"Okay, I'll have Huang Xiaolan start work tomorrow. You need to arrange the interview immediately."

"Don't worry, I keep my word. Let's drink, let's drink, haha."

The father and son finished a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), ate two bowls of braised noodles, paid the bill, left the hotel, and boarded the bus home.

The night bus was crowded. Since people don't have smartphones now and can't read storybooks clearly at night, they pass the time by chatting.

"Aunt Liu, have you heard? The whole provincial capital is cracking down on prostitution and illegal publications. All the police officers have been mobilized."

"Of course I heard about such a big commotion. Everyone who was arrested by the police was taken to the epidemic prevention station for a physical examination. I heard that fifteen people have been diagnosed with HIV."

"Fifteen is old news, the latest news is thirty-five, and there are many more that haven't been found yet. The police officer at the epidemic prevention station has been suspended, and the police officer at the Public Security Bureau will be soon."

"That disease is really terrible. The advertisement on the bus is good; I'll wear a condom when we do that in the future."

"Come on, Sister Liu, ordinary people can't buy condoms; they're all in the hands of the Family Planning Commission."

“That won’t do. I’ll call the mayor’s hotline tomorrow and ask the health bureau to sell condoms to the public.”

The two middle-aged women's voices grew louder and louder, but the other passengers, instead of finding it noisy, actively joined in the conversation. Suddenly, someone started explaining the terrible symptoms of late-stage AIDS, instantly causing panic among the passengers.

Feng Dali whispered, "Xiao Peng, the public is pressuring the relevant departments to open up the condom market. Isn't that your ultimate goal?"

“Uncle, even though we’re close, I’ll still sue you for defamation if you slander me like this.”

"Go ahead and sue me! Believe me or not, I'll beat the shit out of you!"

"Oh dear, I'll report you to the disciplinary committee tomorrow."

The father and son chatted quietly while listening to the conversations of the other passengers in the car.

A week later, public opinion was completely ignited, and the hotlines of relevant departments such as the health and epidemic prevention station and the family planning office were overwhelmed with calls, with the public demanding that the relevant departments sell condoms to the public.

Two or three days later, a reporter from the provincial capital's news came to the Brothers Tobacco and Liquor Store to interview Wang Peng. A pretty female reporter sat opposite Wang Peng with a microphone in hand, while the lighting technician turned on the lights and the cameraman recorded the video.

"Mr. Wang, you are just a small business owner selling tobacco and liquor. What prompted you to spend 30,000 yuan of your own money to put up a public service advertisement on a bus?"

“In my hometown, there was an elder who contracted HIV from selling blood and was tormented to death by the disease. I received the news of his death just a month ago, and I was deeply moved at the time. It is said that there is no effective treatment for this disease, and prevention is the only option. I want more people to pay attention to sexual health.”

"Mr. Wang, experts say that using condoms is the most effective way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. What do you think?"

"I think the experts are right."

"Many citizens are now strongly demanding that condoms be commercialized. What are your thoughts on this?"

"I think we should listen more to the voices of ordinary people."

"..."

At 7:30 p.m., prime time, the provincial capital's news broadcast the interview footage. Wang Peng, dressed in a suit and tie, spoke eloquently to the camera.

“Brother, you really have the air of a millionaire, haha.” Li Mingzhu said, pointing at the TV screen.

“Xiaopeng, your plan is very close to success. The public opinion has become so big that not only the provincial capital will pay attention, but the capital city may also take it seriously,” Li Kefan said. “I hope the country will take it seriously as soon as possible.”

"I hope so," Wang Peng smiled.

As soon as the government decides to marketize condoms, they will be included in the customs import catalog, and that will be the time to make a fortune.

"Xiaopeng, you should fire Huang Xiaolan. I get chills every time I see her." Duan Cuilu scratched her arm, goosebumps rising all over her body.

Huang Xiaolan has been working at the tobacco and liquor store for half a month. She is in a stable mood and greets customers with a smile.

“Mom, she’s doing a good job, we can’t fire her for no reason. Besides, as long as you don’t have blood contact with her, you won’t get infected, don’t worry,” Wang Peng said.

“Child, I just can’t rest easy. Who can stand working with a ticking time bomb every day?” Duan Cuilu sighed in a deep voice.

Wang Peng said, "Once the condom policy is relaxed, I will open a family planning supplies store, and she can work there then."

Just then, the TV that Li Kefan liked to watch turned on. He coughed and said, "Don't talk. Giving Huang Xiaolan a job is to give Lao Feng face. Cuilu, just stay away from Huang Xiaolan from now on."

The TV was showing the martial arts film "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," a very classic film, and everyone fell silent.

Over the next month, the topic of opening up condoms to the public spread beyond the province and to first-tier cities like Beijing, and the discussion about the marketization of family planning products grew louder and louder.

On the eve of National Day, Wang Peng finally received inside information that relevant departments in Beijing had discussed the topic and the results of the discussion would be released soon.

Waiting is boring, but all Wang Peng can do now is wait.