Chapter 831 - A Difficult Person
Su Tao and w.a.n.g Xuan had arranged their meeting in a courtyard, and the owner of this courtyard was a local in Beijing, and he made a private restaurant in his courtyard. He would only serve ten tables of customers daily, but due to the fact that his culinary skills were good, he had many loyal customers. So if you would like to eat in his private restaurant, you will have to make an appointment beforehand.
These days, the concept of private was popular, and it was like a secret that everyone would go after. After all, curiosity was within human nature, and many merchants made use of that curiosity.
After Su Tao came down from the vehicle, w.a.n.g Xuan walked over with a smile as they exchanged greetings, as if they were good friends.
When the two of them entered the courtyard, Su Tao could immediately catch the scent of the dishes. As he looked around, it was a typical Beijing courtyard, and the houses were all single floored, with several of them encircling to form the courtyard. The courtyard had fruit trees, and also a desolate aura coming from it.
“This is Li Anbo.” w.a.n.g Xuan introduced as he pointed at a youth who had been waiting here for a long time.
Looking at this youth, he seems to be in his mid-thirties with a smile hanging on his lips. With just a single glance, Su Tao could tell that this youth had ample experience in the government sector, especially his pupils that seemed similar to a hawk, eyeing at Su Tao like he was eyeing at a prey.
With regards to Li Anbo, Su Tao was informed by Ni Jingqiu that this man was the buddy of w.a.n.g Xuan, and also the first ranking on China’s Elite Ranking.
Actually, Su Tao had already guessed that Li Anbo was the one that w.a.n.g Xuan wanted to introduce him to.
Li Anbo was thirty-five this year, and he was the executive vice-governor of a province, which meant that he was actually a sub-ministerial official. If everything goes well for him, he would definitely reach the highest position in the government sector in ten years.
As someone who could be ranked on the first out of so many talents in China, one could see how much potential he had.
During his time in politics, Li Anbo had created many achievements, especially when it came to economic strategy, which garnered him attention from the leaders.
As for Li Anbo’s family background, his background wasn’t as shocking as someone like w.a.n.g Xuan. His parents were both ordinary people, with one working as a teacher and the other as a low-ranking employee in the government sector. But when Li Anbo joined the government sector, he started out as a secretary. The leader that he once served was w.a.n.g Hai, now a Vice-Premier in the State Council.
Li Anbo had a close relations.h.i.+p with w.a.n.g Xuan, because w.a.n.g Hai was a core figure in the w.a.n.g Family’s faction, and Li Anbo was the core figure among the younger generation.
After the three of them sat down, the dishes were all served as w.a.n.g Xuan introduced the dishes with a smile as the host. As for Li Anbo, he would chat with Su Tao here and there as the two of them tried probing each other.
As they chatted, Li Anbo was surprised. From the data gathered, Su Tao belongs to the rash category, as he would always try things against the norm. But based on his observation of Su Tao now, Li Anbo realized that Su Tao’s thoughts were deep, and he couldn’t see through Su Tao.
“I heard that Qin Jingyu’s pretty unlucky recently.” w.a.n.g Xuan purposely tried to divert the question onto Qin Jinyu.
“What do you mean by that?” Su Tao feigned ignorance.
“He had a few orders cancelled, and he had to suffer a huge loss. In the end, he couldn’t even explain to the military side.” w.a.n.g Xuan took a deep glance at Su Tao and continued, “Young Master Su, you can stop your act. Isn’t this all done by you?”
Shaking his head, Su Tao replied humbly, “Brother w.a.n.g, you’re thinking too highly of me. How am I that capable enough to cause such a huge loss for Young Master Qin?”
“Young Master Su, since we’re having a meal together, we’re naturally going to have a better understanding of each other. If you’re always hiding things from us, it’ll only increase the distance between us.” Li Anbo laughed.
As Su Tao smiled, he continued feigning ignorance, “Actually, this is also the reason why I arranged a meeting with Brother w.a.n.g. I have a friend in abroad who’s in control of many resources. So if there’s someone reliable that I can recommend, that person’s future will definitely not be any lower compared to Qin Jingyu.”
When w.a.n.g Xuan heard those words, his eyes lit up as he exchanged a glance with Li Anbo. So it turned out that Su Tao was waiting for him.
They’re all intelligent people, and they knew that Su Tao was trying to groom an opponent for Qin Jingyu.
“Anbo, you know more people than me, so do you have any candidates?” w.a.n.g Xuan asked Li Anbo. Simply putting it, w.a.n.g Xuan was waiting for Li Anbo to make the decision.
Knitting his brows together, Li Anbo smiled, “This won’t be easy to find this candidate. The reason why Qin Jingyu’s business could grow so quickly wasn’t only because of his capability, but he also had the Qin Family behind his back. So if we want to find a candidate, we will have to find someone with similar strength as Qin Jingyu, and they must be someone that can be trusted.”
Although Li Anbo was indirect with his reply, he was trying to say that the candidate must not only be able to compete with Qin Jingyu, but he must also be someone that could be controlled. Otherwise, they would only be grooming a potential enemy for themselves. After all, it would be troublesome if that person turned around and bit them.
Su Tao knew that it was impossible for him to get an answer today as he smiled, “Then I’ll be waiting on your news.”
Since Su Tao had already thrown out the bait, he only needed to wait for the fish to bite the bait, and Su Tao believed that these two wouldn’t make him wait for long.
The entire meal took roughly two hours to finish, and Su Tao did not get w.a.n.g Xuan to send him back. On the contrary, he rode a cab back home.
After the cab disappeared in their view, w.a.n.g Xuan looked at Li Anbo with a bitter smile, “What do you think?”
“He’s a scheming person.” Li Anbo smiled as he went on, “Then again, I’m not surprised that Qin Jingyu would have a headache over him. Su Tao isn’t someone easy to deal with.”
“Well, we were led by him on the meal today.” w.a.n.g Xuan agreed.
Nodding his head, Li Anbo replied, “He might seem to be making a request, but in reality, he’s trying to show his bargaining chips. But if he can groom someone who can hold Qin Jingyu down, it will definitely be exciting.”
“Do you have a candidate in mind?” w.a.n.g Xuan smiled.
“Why don’t we play a game and see if we have the same candidate?” Li Anbo smiled.
The two of them then took out their phones and entered a name. When they both revealed the names that had in mind at the same time, they realized that it was the same name.
After bidding his farewell with w.a.n.g Xuan, Su Tao headed to the National Healer Team’s building, and met Yue Zun, who was receiving a guest.
Yue Zun was chatting with a middle-aged man as he smiled when he saw Su Tao, “Speaking of the devil. Su Tao, let me introduce this person to you. He’s a giant in the Neurologist domain in the country, Mr. Sun Changle.”
Su Tao had heard rumors about Sun Changle. Back then when a leader had brain hemorrhage, it was all thanks to Sun Changle that that leader could survive. Hence, Sun Changle had a high position in the National Healer Team. Su Tao could also tell that Sun Changle and Yue Zun had a good relations.h.i.+p, judging from how they interacted.
Yue Zun had a good relations.h.i.+p with others, and he had his own network within the National Healer Team. Thus, this was the reason why he was one of the popular candidates to be nominated as the leader.
As Sun Changle examined Su Tao, he smiled, “I"ve been hearing that Song Sichen and Dou Fanggang took a new disciple, so I’ve been wanting to meet you. Now that I finally get to meet you, you’re truly a young hero.”
“You’re praising me too much, Senior Sun!” Su Tao became humble as he could sense Sun Changle’s kind intentions.
Thereafter, Sun Changle, Yue Zun, and Su Tao sat in the office as they chatted for nearly half an hour before Sun Changle’s phone rang as he wore a bitter smile, “The leader is calling for me.”
“Get going then!” Yue Zun laughed.
The two of them acted as if it was nothing of concern. But with a new selection coming up, the National Healer Team was bound to fall into chaos. Speaking from his heart, Su Tao naturally supported Yue Zun, because it would be beneficial for him in the National Healer Team in the future.
After Sun Changle left reluctantly, Yue Zun shook his head with a bitter smile, “Yu Youqing has been contacting all the members in the team, but then again, he won’t come looking for you.”
Su Tao naturally knew the reason why. Due to the fact that he and Yue Zun had a good relations.h.i.+p, Yu Youqing naturally knew that he would support Yue Zun.
“Who does Yu Youqing hope to replace him?” Su Tao asked curiously.
“Shao Wentao!” Yue Zun’s eyes flashed with disdain as he continued, “If the National Healer Team is handed to someone like him, it will definitely be doomed.”
“Oh?” Su Tao knew about Yue Zun’s character, and he wasn’t someone who would talk behind someone. Since Yue Zun said those words, then there must be a reason why, “Does he have a problem with his character?”
Wearing a bitter smile as Yue Zun retrieved a doc.u.ment from his drawer, he handed it over to Su Tao, “Take a look at it yourself!”
It was an anonymous report. Although the writing wasn’t impressive and there were even mistakes in it, the content was vividly described.
Shao Wentao made use of the fact that he was a National Healer to rake in money by putting up his name on many hospitals. In the past, he was treating a child with cerebral palsy in Xiangnan Province’s Women and Children Hospital. But not only had he failed to treat the child, the child even started experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea. In the end, the child was sent to the Intensive Care Unit and even nearly died.
In the end, he was t.i.tled the Quack Doctor.
This was only an example, and there were even more unbelievable cases, like how Shao Wentao took advantage of his ident.i.ty as a National Healer to provide protection for some merchants.
Shao Wentao had connections to many hospital leaders, and he made use of those connections to become the middleman between merchants and hospitals. And if the deals went through, he could receive an enormous sum of referral fees.
“If they’re true, then Shao Wentao is truly unsuitable as the leader.” Su Tao sighed and continued, “Where did this come from? Why wasn’t it sent to the disciplinary department?”
“I’m not the only one in the National Healer Team who received this letter, but Yu Youqing doesn’t want the matter to blow up, so it was internally resolved.” Yue Zun shook his head with a bitter smile.
Well, that was truly fitting with Yu Youqing’s style.
Back then when Cao Menglong framed Su Tao, Yu Youqing also did not blow up the matter after he investigated it. He had requested Cao Menglong to resign, and even went as far as resolving Cao Menglong’s family issues for him.
Cao Menglong’s importance for Yu Youqing was definitely not any inferior to Shao Wentao, so Yu Youqing had closed an eye and let this matter pa.s.s. After all, it had always been his style.
“There are many candidates for the position, and even Old Sun is a good candidate himself. But if the team is in the hands of someone like Shao Wentao, it will definitely cause an immeasurable loss.” Yue Zun revealed his own intentions to Su Tao.