Chapter 60 Upon hearing Li Xingzhou's words, Li...
Upon hearing Li Xingzhou's words, Li Mingsheng's eyes, apart from a slight flicker, remained fixed on Shen Nanfeng, who was walking towards them from a distance.
It was clear that he hadn't expected the man who suddenly appeared in the studio to be a judge.
He rarely interfered with Li Xingzhou's decisions, but the man walking in front of him made him very uncomfortable at first glance, and he had a feeling that something big was going to happen, so he asked Li Xingzhou a question.
"Xiao Zhou, don't you think it's inappropriate to have a judge present here?"
As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Shen Nanfeng. "Let me speak first."
"No problem. Since we've made up our minds to do a live broadcast, in addition to the reporters from the Capital TV station, the credibility of the judges in the People's Court is even stronger."
Li Mingsheng understood what Li Xingzhou meant. He was implying that if Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group could capitalize on this surge in demand, not only would their stock price rebound overnight, but the market would also react accordingly.
Li Xingzhou believed that Li Mingsheng would understand these brief remarks, so he didn't say anything more. Instead, he looked at Shen Nanfeng, who was standing in front of him at the podium, and said, "Judge Shen, please speak."
Shen Nanfeng's gaze, which had been fixed on Li Mingsheng, now shifted to Li Xingzhou's face. He looked at Li Xingzhou and couldn't help but recall the scene of Li Xingzhou coming to see him that day.
"Mr. Li, I apologize for bothering you, but I would like to ask you for a small favor."
He paused, then said, "Can I speak during the live broadcast from Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group later?"
Seeing that Li Xingzhou remained silent but did not show any sign of refusal, he asked again, "Could you do me this small favor?"
Li Xingzhou smiled and said, "Does Judge Shen have a bad memory? I am a member of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group. How could I let you speak, especially knowing that you would say something detrimental to the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group?"
"Then, as you said, why would you come to see me? I don't think Lin Shuyu can persuade you to come."
Shen Nanfeng knew very well that no matter how powerful Lin Shuyu's background was, Li Xingzhou wouldn't be limited by that background if he didn't want to do something. He had also heard about her internship at KKR back then.
Li Xingzhou glanced at him: "That's because it was Judge Shen's invitation, how could I not come?"
Although it was just a simple glance, it gave Shen Nanfeng a different feeling.
Those bright, clear peach blossom eyes, deep and dark in the dark, enclosed room, were like a scythe that could kill instantly, sharp and terrifying.
Shen Nanfeng was somewhat surprised, but he remained outwardly calm. He was always extremely cautious in his actions, and he tentatively said, "In that case, I'll take it as President Li agreeing."
His eyes darted around Li Xingzhou's face, trying to figure out if Li Xingzhou had agreed to help him with this favor.
He hoped he hadn't misunderstood; that what he said to Li Xingzhou that day was a gamble, and now he was witnessing the odds of winning in that gamble.
However, Shen Nanfeng was also very clear that for someone like Li Xingzhou, who was immersed in the top of the financial chain, choosing to help him was not the option that would bring him the most direct benefit, and he was also easily affected.
The conference room door was closed. The two stood at opposite corners of the conference table. Li Xingzhou asked him, "I'm curious, what has sustained you in investigating this matter for so many years? It's not just because you're a lawyer, is it?"
"It's a belief."
"belief?"
“Hmm.” Shen Nanfeng responded, paused, looked at Li Xingzhou for a few seconds, and then said, “I don’t see being a lawyer as just a job, although it is a job, just like Mr. Li is a businessman. Doing business is about making money, and I am a lawyer to pursue the truth.”
Li Xingzhou pulled out a chair, sat down, leaned back, and raised an eyebrow. "Is this your belief?"
"Um."
Li Xingzhou chuckled softly, almost breathily, "You wouldn't care even if it cost you your future?"
"Yes, if everyone is concerned with gains and losses and only thinks about their own interests, then there will be no one in this society who will fight for their beliefs and ideals for their entire lives. It is because I do not want to be a slave to it and do not want to become one of them."
His eyes revealed his willingness, and his bold words were tinged with fearlessness. He was well aware of the consequences of failure, but if he did nothing, who knew what the outcome would be?
If, perhaps, maybe, it really will succeed.
Shen Nanfeng looked at Li Xingzhou, who was sitting at the conference table, with a determined gaze. His voice seemed to pierce through the darkness of the conference room.
"Therefore, I must always be prepared to risk my future for this. It is my duty to do so. For justice and for a belief, I have no choice but to do it."
In the enclosed space, the air was quiet, and the two stared at each other for a long time without either of them speaking first.
After a long silence, Li Xingzhou sighed, "I don't have your noble thoughts. I'm a businessman, and a speculative one at that. I don't have the righteous spirit of Judge Shen. I only like things with high returns." Then, he brought up a topic unrelated to the present, "For example, the currently popular smart healthcare, which can be said to be a great money-making machine."
He knew about the hot smart healthcare that Li Xingzhou mentioned. It was the current trend. Although he didn't study finance, he was very clear about the "trend" in the market. It seemed like you could just throw money in and get a share of the pie, but in reality, it was often not so simple and could be a bottomless pit.
"Economics have cycles, and markets fluctuate. Right now, we can only say that smart healthcare is a booming trend. With so many investors flocking to this market, can we guarantee that it will be a great way to make money?"
Hearing this, Li Xingzhou smiled and looked at him, saying, "I'll just switch to another one when it stops making money. This is my primary principle for making correct judgments as a businessman. And Judge Shen, don't forget that I'm an investor. What I need to do is to be able to see the growth potential behind each project."
When Li Xingzhou said this, Shen Nanfeng could sense his confidence. It was clear that Li Xingzhou was always confident in his ability to strategize and command the market.
"Can I interpret this as disrupting the ecological balance of the market?"
Shen Nanfeng wasn't deliberately trying to provoke Li Xingzhou; he simply wanted to ask a question. Because if something in a field shows signs of growth, the speed at which capital rushes in and the level of price gouging also increase progressively.
Therefore, many diligent and conscientious companies are often brought to ruin by the entry of capital, resulting in their demise before they even get off the ground.
Li Xingzhou raised his eyelids, looked at him, and curled his lips into a half-smile, saying, "I'm not destroying the market, but enriching it. Haven't you noticed that the smart healthcare market has become much more diverse after so many investors have flocked in?"
Shen Nanfeng was completely taken aback by his words. He thought Li Xingzhou would say that he only cared about things that could bring him profit, but what he just heard was the humanistic spirit that an entrepreneur should have. It was clear that Li Xingzhou was not the "heartless capitalist" he appeared to be on the surface.
He then heard Li Xingzhou continue, "Besides, Judge Shen, this isn't something you should be concerned about. Or perhaps you're looking to invest in some new projects? If so, you've come to the right place. I'm an expert in investment analysis, and I guarantee that the outcome will be mutually beneficial."
“Speaking of which, you are a good investor.” Shen Nanfeng looked at him, thinking of something, “I just don’t know if Huang Shiyu’s project can be successful with your help.”
Li Xingzhou was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Shen Nanfeng to ask him this question. After a moment, he slightly parted his thin lips and said, "Whether I do it or not, it won't cost me anything."
That sounds pretty callous.
Shen Nanfeng looked at Li Xingzhou and scoffed, "President Li is truly ruthless; any sentiment must yield to absolute interests."
Li Xingzhou adjusted his posture, casually placing his hands on the conference table, ignoring Shen Nanfeng's sarcasm. "This has nothing to do with feelings. I am an investor, and my first priority is to protect the interests of the group. The resources have already been given to her. If she can make the project work, that is her own ability. If she can't, it just means that she is not suitable for entrepreneurship. A good leader can transform all available resources around him into his own and use them for his own benefit."
Interests, it's all about interests.
It seems that for him, nothing can be separated from the word "profit".
It still has value.
After that, Shen Nanfeng asked him another question.
"I'm curious why Mr. Li is willing to help me, since it goes against your belief in prioritizing profit."
He remembered that day vividly. After hearing his question, Li Xingzhou stared at a point in the void for a long time, as if searching for an answer. After a long while, he slowly said, "Someone once told me that businessmen are all profit-driven. I don't want to be just a profit-driven businessman. I also want to do my part for society."
Shen Nanfeng stood up and said to him, "Mr. Li, thank you very much."
Li Xingzhou nodded slightly and stood up as well. "You should keep your resignation letter safe. It shouldn't be used here. Your decision to stay or leave shouldn't be made in this way. There will be a lot of media present later. Do what you want."
The memory abruptly ended.
Shen Nanfeng turned around, facing the studio camera, her eyelashes slightly raised, her eyes fixed on the direction of the camera. "Excuse me, please allow me a few minutes to introduce myself."
“I am a judge working at the Shanghai People’s Court. My name is Shen Nanfeng, and I am also a victim of the poisoning incident involving the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group twenty years ago.”
His voice was strong and clear, and his point of view was very obvious. A short sentence conveyed a wealth of information.
Not only were the studio staff stunned, but even Huang Shiyu, who watches the financial news channel on TV every day, was taken aback for a while. After all, this information was too significant and too unexpected.
Huang Shiyu had no idea about this part of Shen Nanfeng's story, and she was sure Lu Xiao didn't know either.
Before she could think it through, Lu Xiao called.
She knew perfectly well that Lu Xiao's call at this time must mean she had also seen the news.
The phone kept ringing, but she didn't answer it immediately. Instead, she looked at the TV screen and watched Shen Nanfeng begin to speak.
It must be said that Shen Nanfeng is very good at controlling the pace. He did not continue speaking, but cleverly stopped there, just like when he was in a state of high control in court.
Li Mingsheng, standing on the studio stage, narrowed his eyes and glanced at Shen Nanfeng, who was facing the camera. In front of him were rows of cameras in operation. Li Mingsheng knew that the entire nation was watching.
"Li Xingzhou, what do you mean?" Li Mingsheng was still staring straight at Shen Nanfeng.
Li Xingzhou showed no reaction to this, and said calmly, "Let's hear what Judge Shen has to say first."
Faced with so many cameras, Li Mingsheng was unusually anxious, "Li Xingzhou..."
Before Li Mingsheng could finish speaking, the last syllable of his voice faded into the studio with a snap of Shen Nanfeng's fingers.
All eyes were fixed on Shen Nanfeng's face. If it were a thin-skinned person standing here, receiving such a barrage of gazes, they would have been so frightened that their teeth would have been chattering.
But the one standing here now is Shen Nanfeng, and the one facing the several cameras is also Shen Nanfeng.
It was Judge Shen, who was known as "Bao Qingtian" in court.
Facing the camera, Shen Nanfeng straightened his back a little more, the gleam in his eyes clearly visible. "Twenty years have passed since the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group poisoning incident. I believe that those who read the reports back then or those who received this vaccine should be quite clear that twenty years ago, Li Mingsheng, the chairman of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group, and his medical team developed a vaccine that could resist the virus. Once it was launched, it was highly regarded for its high quality, low price, guaranteed quality, and international professional recognition. Many people trusted Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group and this vaccine because of these factors."
Everyone in the studio listened attentively to Shen Nanfeng's account of the matter, quietly waiting for further developments.
Shen Nanfeng swallowed hard and continued, "After that, the public received this vaccine one after another. It was because of this that on October 8, 2014, a report that suspected the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group's toxic vaccine had harmed hundreds of thousands of infants and young children attracted widespread attention from the public. Subsequently, after various tests and investigations, it was found that the source was this vaccine from the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group. Under the pressure of public opinion from all sides, the head of the medical team was eventually arrested, but the culprit is still sitting here unharmed, living a peaceful life for decades, enjoying multiple honors and adoration from the industry, and thus obtaining a steady stream of high profits."
Shen Nanfeng's words were like a sharp sword piercing the air, striking Li Mingsheng's most vulnerable spot, as well as the deepest part of the hearts of the staff on site and the audience watching on television, bringing with them the bloody truth.
Li Mingsheng wanted to say something in this silent moment, but found that it was too late to open his mouth; someone else had already done it.
Shen Nanfeng's voice rang out once again.
"Those children are still suffering terribly. Some are intellectually disabled, some have kidney dysfunction, and some can't even see this beautiful world. These victims have been suffering for ten years. Who can seek justice for them?" He turned slightly and pointed to Li Mingsheng, who was sitting upright on the stage. His voice was full of accusation as he listed these crimes. "Li Mingsheng disregarded human life, violated citizens' right to life and health, and openly challenged the authority of the national law. He also severely damaged the reputation of our country's pharmaceutical industry. If he is not brought to justice today, how much pain and despair will hundreds of thousands of infants and their parents suffer?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room held their breath for a moment. Li Mingsheng, sitting on the anchor's desk, stared intently at Shen Nanfeng's hand, which was hovering in mid-air and pointing at him.
Even if he was completely unaware of the situation, he knew that everything happening now was contrary to the outcome he had anticipated.
"Li Xingzhou, what exactly do you want to do?!" He spoke almost in a low voice, "Make that guy surnamed Chen stop right now!"
Shen Nanfeng's lashing wasn't over yet; he continued, "Seven years ago, a large part of the reason I applied to study law was so that one day I could thoroughly investigate the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group's poison case and give all the victims of that time justice and the truth."
Every word Shen Nanfeng spoke was like a blood-soaked stone tablet, each stroke imbued with the accumulated despair and helpless pain of years past.
It stood there, relentlessly covered by the dust of time, but then there was someone who personally unearthed the events that were about to be buried in the long river of time.
“Li Xingzhou!” Li Mingsheng turned his head and said through gritted teeth in a low voice, “I don’t know what you’re thinking or what you’re going to do, but I want to remind you that this is a live broadcast.”
Hearing this, Li Xingzhou could sense that Li Mingsheng wanted to tear him apart. He simply sat in his chair, seemingly oblivious. Only when Li Mingsheng glared at him did he appear to snap out of his daze and slowly say, "Shen Nanfeng is a judge. His every word and action represents the authority of the law. If even a single word or action of his is nonsense or exaggeration, the judiciary will not let him off the hook."
Li Mingsheng was calm, and should have been calm, but he was still stunned when he heard Li Xingzhou say that. He obviously didn't understand what Li Xingzhou was up to today.
He was puzzled, and a surge of anger rose in his chest. Before he could calm himself down, Lin Shuyu picked up her phone, and her sweet voice was transmitted through the microphone to the entire studio and even to the viewers watching on television.
"I've received the list of victims from back then and their testimonies." Lin Shuyu's gaze slid from her phone to the director's face, and she instructed, "Project it onto the big screen."
The director reacted incredibly quickly. Upon hearing Lin Shuyu's words, he immediately opened his phone and, without lingering for long, projected the information Lin Shuyu had sent him onto the large screen behind the studio.
Li Mingsheng stared in surprise at the screen behind him, and the staff present were just as astonished as Li Mingsheng himself.
The camera was constantly working, so viewers in front of their televisions could also see what was on the screen.
The opening screen was truly a critical hit.
Without exception, the images show parents of victims holding tiny infants, their faces filled with sorrow and tears streaming down their faces. The infants in their arms are covered in tubes, their faces are abnormally pale and even bluish, and some have ulcers on their skin. In short, none of the infants in the images have a single unharmed part of their bodies; they all have some kind of problem.
The scene was shocking and heartbreaking.
For the next few minutes, everyone stared at the words on the screen.
It roughly describes how this vaccine has harmed these young children, how it has caused them to contract diseases that should not exist in them, and how it has destroyed happy families.
In that instant, everyone seemed to forget to breathe, frozen in place, staring blankly at the large screen. The black words gave the illusion that they were a spell, pinning everyone present to the spot.
Lin Shuyu lifted her eyelids, holding up her phone, "Could you please ask Chairman Li to explain?"
Li Mingsheng did not answer.
Instead, he stared at the content on the screen, wondering who had come up with the idea and why Lin Shuyu was speaking up for Shen Nanfeng. They were clearly in cahoots, inseparable. The sudden turn of events filled him with a sense of fear.
Li Mingsheng's body stiffened slightly. He slowly turned his head, looking rather embarrassed and angry. "All nonsense! What evidence do you have?"
Li Xingzhou, who was standing to the side, did not react to this, as if the person standing there and speaking was not his father.
Under the watchful eyes of so many people, Li Mingsheng showed no fear whatsoever, nor did he show any expression on his face. Instead, he smiled at Lin Shuyu, a smile that Lin Shuyu saw as devoid of malice, but rather as the kind and gentle face of a kind old man she usually saw.
She heard Li Mingsheng say, "This is a live broadcast right now, so you'd better think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say, otherwise I'll have my lawyer send you both lawyer's letters later."
Li Mingsheng smiled not only at Lin Shuyu, but also at Shen Nanfeng.
Shen Nanfeng narrowed his eyes slightly, completely disregarding Li Mingsheng's words. "Evidence, is it? I have it."
He pointed to the studio door with lightning speed, drawing the attention of everyone present and watching on television. Li Mingsheng didn't even have time to utter a single word; perhaps Shen Nanfeng simply didn't give him any time to speak.
"Open your eyes and take a good look."
As soon as Shen Nanfeng finished speaking, the studio door was pushed open again.
Li Mingsheng looked in the direction Shen Nanfeng was pointing, and his pupils dilated in shock.
As the door was pushed open, the dimly lit corridor seemed to be infused with a fresh spring, like a withered tree trunk being injected with fresh water. Li Mingsheng could clearly see the person's face.
It is the 19th century.
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