Although he didn't explicitly agree to take on the wind power company's public relations, seeing the pile of wind power company materials on his desk made Ping An realize that while he could ignore the case itself, as it wasn't his responsibility, he had to handle the public relations. That was a requirement for his livelihood.
Thus, three days after accompanying Su Tang for her interview, with no excuses or reasons left, Ping An got into a high-end car sent by the wind power company and set off for its headquarters.
As the largest wind power company in the northern region, its headquarters comprised two buildings. One was located in the city center of Hecheng City, housing departments like the General Manager's office responsible for operations, the sales department, and the business department. The other was situated on the grasslands outside the Hegou District, housing the company's Party Committee, the Board Office, the Technical Department, the Engineering Department, and the Research and Development Department.
Ping An was heading to the downtown headquarters, where he was to be received by Vice President Ma Dazhi, in charge of external propaganda, and Vice President Liao Yuan, in charge of sales.
"Teacher Ping An, we've finally managed to invite you! It's truly a rare occasion!" As they entered the building and before he could even get a clear look at the lobby, Liao Yuan and Ma Dazhi, who were waiting inside, surrounded him.
"Please, don't say that. It's just work. In my opinion, this is just an ordinary interview, and I will approach it with an objective and fact-seeking attitude," Ping An extended his hand and shook hands with both Ma Dazhi and Liao Yuan.
In the small reception room with the air conditioning on, Ping An sat in the guest seat, patiently waiting for President Ma, who was seated in the main seat, to finish his pleasantries. Liao Yuan, seated on the other side, was looking down at a stack of materials with a rather stiff expression, likely not pleased.
"Let's get down to business. Personally, I believe we should separate the explanation of the wind power company's development from the wind power community case. They are not the same thing," Ping An stated directly. "Specifically, I'd like to hear the explanations from both of you."
"Hehehe, no rush. To be frank, besides inviting Teacher Ping An, we've also invited another media person. We'll discuss it together once he arrives," President Ma said with a chuckle.
As soon as he finished speaking, a staff member hurried over and whispered something to President Ma.
"Well then, if that's the case, I'll go to the restroom first," Ping An said somewhat sheepishly, patting his stomach.
After a clean visit to the restroom, Ping An returned to the reception room whistling a relaxed tune.
By then, there was an additional person in the reception room.
He was a man who looked very elegant, wearing a vintage waistcoat and a pair of custom-made wooden-rimmed glasses. Although he carried a brightly colored Gucci clutch that seemed a bit out of place with his attire, it still attracted a lot of attention.
"Teacher Ping An, come here. Let me introduce you. This is a renowned media personality in our city, a commentary writer, and the lead writer for 'Hecheng Voice' – Mr. Zhan Dou," President Ma enthusiastically pointed Ping An towards Zhan Dou. "And this is our city's well-known reporter, Director Ping An of Hecheng Daily!"
"Hello!" the man named Zhan Dou turned around, took a few steps towards Ping An, and without offering a handshake, simply spoke a greeting.
"Hello!" Ping An touched his hand and replied somewhat awkwardly.
"Alright, today, it's truly a rare opportunity to have both gentlemen here. I hope you will both offer many suggestions to our company," President Ma gestured for everyone to sit down.
"Reporter Ping An's reputation precedes him. Meeting you today, I can see it's well-deserved," Zhan Dou said with a smile. "I often travel for plein air painting and don't return often. It's only in the past few years that I've become aware of rising stars like yourself, Reporter Ping An!"
"You are too kind, sir. It is I who am ignorant. Having been in the industry for so long, I never knew there was a figure like you. My apologies!" Ping An replied with a smile as well.
These two men, upon meeting, were like sharp swords clashing!
President Ma watched with delight!
This was exactly the effect he wanted to achieve by bringing them together.
This Zhan Dou was, of course, the writer who had been attacking the wind power company with his articles in recent days. President Ma had decided to arrange this meeting to pit Ping An and Zhan Dou against each other, hoping to divert Zhan Dou's bias against the company towards an argument with Ping An.
"I've written a few commentary articles recently, and I wrote them with a fact-seeking attitude. However, President Ma seems to have some differing opinions. That's why I've invited Reporter Ping An. What are your thoughts on this, Reporter Ping An?" Zhan Dou asked.
"Well written. The words flow like water, and the arguments are striking. The first time I read it, I read it three times in a row. After reading, I had tea, and I didn't even taste the tea!" Ping An said.
"So, Reporter Ping An agrees with my viewpoints then?" Zhan Dou asked.
"Yes, if you ask me, what you wrote was a bit too conservative. I didn't get enough out of it!" Ping An said with a chuckle.
Hearing Ping An's response, Zhan Dou was somewhat dumbfounded. His incredulous gaze seemed to convey, 'Why isn't this guy playing by the rules?'
"Reporter Ping An, what you mean is..." President Ma was also a bit taken aback. This wasn't right; why was Ping An siding with the outsider?
"President Ma, please don't be anxious. Mr. Zhan Dou's commentary articles are indeed brilliant and very engaging. I truly can't understand how articles can be written like that without evidence or a fact-seeking premise!" Ping An maintained his smile.
"Oh, so you're implying my articles are all fabricated?" Zhan Dou asked, detecting the undertone in Ping An's words, with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Does Mr. have any evidence?" Ping An asked.
"That depends on whether President Ma is willing to provide it!" Zhan Dou shifted the topic, turning it towards President Ma.
"What?" President Ma, who had been listening with great interest, was stunned by the sudden question.
"Mr. Zhan Dou means that for the articles he wrote, President Ma needs to provide the evidence!" Ping An helpfully clarified.
"No, uh, Mr. Zhan, I thought we had already discussed this matter. Many of the arguments in your articles are incorrect..." President Ma began.
"Almost everything in my articles is conjecture. I haven't explicitly stated that certain outcomes will definitely occur. For example, regarding the murder case in the wind power community this time, until the police solve it, all possibilities are conceivable. My articles are my conjectures. I inferred that it would affect financing. Is that also incorrect?" Zhan Dou argued.
"But your articles will fan the flames and complicate matters," President Ma still attempted a pale explanation.
"That has nothing to do with me. If you believe my conjectures are wrong, then provide evidence, or—" Zhan Dou gave Ping An a provocative glance and then said arrogantly, "—or, you can write an article using your conjectures to prove mine wrong!"
"Reporter Ping An, what do you think about this matter..." President Ma was starting to get anxious.
"I am a professional journalist. I only write articles that conform to objective facts, so I will not speculate!" Ping An said after some thought.
"But as far as I know, isn't another one of Reporter Ping An's detective skills precisely to deduce case developments through conjecture?" Zhan Dou continued to probe.
"No, no, news is news, commentary is commentary, and detective work is detective work. They cannot be conflated," Ping An stated. "Mr. Zhan, let's be straightforward! What is your objective?"
"As my name suggests, to battle with you, and to battle against the conspiracy and illegal activities behind the wind power company!" Zhan Dou declared firmly.
"I have no connection with the wind power company, and my visit today is merely an ordinary interview. Why are you being so aggressive towards me?" Ping An asked, frowning.
"You are unworthy of the sacred title of reporter. I look down on you!" Zhan Dou had completely dropped the pretense.
"You son of a bitch, don't push your luck! I've been polite to you, I haven't owed you money, nor have I slept with your girl, so why do you look down on me?" Ping An's temper flared.
"You scoundrel! You've been a terrible director of the social news department. In the past year, the wind power company has set up a financial product called 'Fengdian Bao' under various pretexts, absorbing a large amount of private funds, up to 1 billion yuan according to my investigation. But what has this money been used for? Nothing!" Zhan Dou exclaimed. "No one knows how the money was spent, and there's no news about the promised dividends to customers. Do you know that the customers are almost all ordinary people? Now, when they want to withdraw their money, they are restricted by a so-called contract. You, not investigating such matters and speaking for them today, aren't you incompetent?"
"..." Hearing Zhan Dou's accusation, Ping An was hearing this news for the first time and was momentarily speechless.
"Please do not make baseless claims. 'Fengdian Bao' is a legitimate financial product under our company and is still operating in an orderly fashion..." Liao Yuan, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward to try and explain.
"It's been three months! It's been three months since dividends were paid to customers! And they can't withdraw their money either! Has the cash flow broken? Are you desperately seeking venture capital and financing, patching holes from one place to another?" Zhan Dou continued relentlessly.
"We've been having some difficulties recently, but we are resolving them. The return on investment for wind power projects is inherently slow, and then there was an issue with R&D..." President Ma said, his face flushed. He was interrupted by a tug on his arm from Liao Yuan.
"President Ma! Watch your words!" Liao Yuan reminded him.
"So? Was I not correct in my conjecture? I said the proof was with you all! There was a problem with the research and development, wasn't there? Wasting the hard-earned money of the people, wasn't it?" Zhan Dou said triumphantly. "No wonder you're so eager for financing, hmph!"
"Reporter Ping An, say something!" Liao Yuan looked at Ping An helplessly.
"I think Mr. Zhan Dou is right, except for the parts where he slandered me!" Ping An said, looking like he was enjoying the spectacle and stirring the pot.
"Don't think you can buy us off!" Zhan Dou looked at the dejected President Ma and then at Ping An. "And don't think about finding someone to deal with me! I'm giving you three days to voluntarily disclose the operational status of 'Fengdian Bao' to the public, or my next article will be sensational!"
With that, Zhan Dou snorted dismissively and turned to leave without another word.
"Mr. Zhan, wait a moment!" Ping An suddenly stood up, calling out to Zhan Dou, who was about to leave.
"Is there something else?" Zhan Dou looked at Ping An with the demeanor of a victor.
Ping An walked up to Zhan Dou, said nothing, and suddenly extended his right hand, as if to shake hands.
Zhan Dou hesitated for a moment, looking at Ping An's calm demeanor and outstretched hand, and then extended his own.
Their hands clasped, and the atmosphere finally softened.
"I didn't wash my hands after going to the restroom to poop. Is that disgusting?" Ping An whispered to Zhan Dou.
"What! You, you! You're so unhygienic! It's utterly disgusting!" Zhan Dou's germophobia kicked in. He quickly withdrew his hand and took out tissues to meticulously wipe it.
"Alright, you disgusted me once, so don't blame me for disgusting you back!" Ping An said nonchalantly. "Tell me, what exactly is your objective! You can fool those two, but you can't fool me! I've seen many people like you. Stop playing coy with your words. Tell me your real objective!"
"We just want to speak up for the people of Hecheng!" Zhan Dou maintained his condescending attitude.
"Don't be ridiculous! Your articles, and your words today, already carry suspicion of stealing state secrets. You seem very interested in the R&D of wind power projects? What exactly are you trying to do?" Ping An suddenly dropped his lazy demeanor, his eyes fixed on Zhan Dou.
"Don't play coy. I'll say it again: three days!" Zhan Dou squinted at Ping An for a long time before speaking each word and then turned and left.
Although their first encounter left him thoroughly berated, Ping An seemed unfazed.
"Is everything Zhan Dou said true?" Liao Yuan asked, having appeared behind Ping An without him noticing, as he watched Zhan Dou walk away.
"Reporter Ping An came alone today, but did he bring his skills?" Liao Yuan seemed unconcerned about Zhan Dou's threat and even joked with Ping An.
"If President Liao isn't worried, why should I be?" Ping An rubbed his chin and extended his hand to Liao Yuan. "Give it to me. I officially inform you now, although it's not the so-called public relations, I have become interested in your company!"
Liao Yuan chuckled softly and then took out a stack of documents from his briefcase.
"Reporter Ping An is indeed extraordinary!" Liao Yuan said. "Zhan Dou's articles aren't much of a threat to our company. It's just that this time, the financing is based on an important project. At this juncture, whether Zhan Dou is disrupting things or seeking attention, it won't cause us substantial harm. However, if he or those behind him are after our project's confidential information, we must be wary."
Ping An listened attentively to Liao Yuan's explanation and casually flipped through the documents, finding an introduction to a project.
"A combination of photovoltaic power generation and wind power generation?" Ping An looked at the documents with a puzzled expression and then at Liao Yuan.
"What are your thoughts on wind and solar power, Reporter Ping An?" Liao Yuan waved his hand and led Ping An towards his office, talking as they walked.
"I haven't really researched it! I just know they are a form of new energy!" Ping An thought for a moment and said.
"Then have you heard that wind and solar power are called 'garbage electricity' by many electricity-consuming enterprises?" Liao Yuan pushed open his office door and led Ping An to a model.
"Garbage electricity? Electricity can be garbage? Impossible!" Ping An asked curiously, hearing this for the first time.
"Although they are new energy sources, wind power generation is intermittent because we cannot control the speed and duration of the wind in nature. Photovoltaic power generation can be erratic when it's cloudy. In other words, these two types of electricity are unstable, and connecting them to the grid presents distribution challenges. The national grid is manageable, but some electricity-consuming enterprises have to suffer losses due to the unstable power supply," Liao Yuan explained helplessly. "To achieve real-time stability requires energy storage, but that increases costs, and businesses are unwilling."
"Ah, no wonder even with today's mature wind and solar power technology, we still rely on thermal and hydropower!" Ping An remarked.
"Yes, although our company is a wind power company, we are actually sustained by our three coal mines, one iron ore mine, and two oil fields in Africa. True wind power, lacking stable customers, can only be sold cheaply to the state grid," Liao Yuan said. "Our company invests a large amount of R&D funding annually, and we've finally solved the problem of unstable new energy sources: building 'wind storage walls' and 'solar storage panels' to achieve stability through planned release after storage. The combined wind and solar power generation equipment in your hand is a 'smokescreen' we prepared!"
"Wind and sunlight can be stored?" Ping An asked in surprise.
"Yes, this is the result of our over ten years of research. Specifically, we provide wind power generation sites with a 'thermal wall' heated by a heat source. This 'wall' will automatically form a 'microclimate' based on the natural wind speed, and through algorithms, it will release a certain amount of hot air to achieve stable wind power transmission." Liao Yuan explained. "For photovoltaics, we've designed a light-absorbing coating that achieves 'storage' of natural light..."
"Alright, alright, you don't need to say any more. My head is starting to ache from listening! Such important confidential information, it's not just commercial secrets, and you're casually telling me? Aren't you afraid of disciplinary action?" Ping An rubbed his head.
"That's why, Reporter Ping An, we urgently need this financing to turn our R&D achievements into reality. Besides trusting you, I have no other option," Liao Yuan said.
"Don't put such a heavy burden on me!" Ping An frowned. "Then what about that 'Fengdian Bao' that Zhan Dou mentioned?"
"The information you have clearly states that we have already signed new contracts with over 90% of our customers. The invested funds will be converted into shares. As for the remaining 10% of customers who didn't want shares, we have already refunded their money," Liao Yuan said. "Zhan Dou can only talk now because he can't find any so-called victims."
"Then what are you afraid of?" Ping An asked.
"What if Zhan Dou's intentions, and even the murder case in the community, are aimed at this R&D achievement?" Liao Yuan said. "We don't know for sure. We hope these are isolated incidents, but we must be prepared!"
"Okay, I understand!" Ping An finally grasped Liao Yuan's "well-intentioned effort."
"Thank you!" Liao Yuan managed a rare smile.
"But why not directly explain your R&D achievements instead of using this smokescreen?" Ping An asked, pointing at the document in his hand.
"It's a trap, isn't it! Isn't Reporter Ping An a renowned investigative journalist?" Liao Yuan said.
"Alas, I suspected as much. But I really don't want to take on new cases. I'm investigating something else right now!" Ping An said.
"Reporter Ping An, we were hesitant at first to entrust you with these troubles. For such a significant matter, we also consulted Director Xiang Wanfeng of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and he suggested this approach," Liao Yuan said somewhat sheepishly.
"Damn it, so that's how you've set me up!" Ping An said helplessly. "Even so, I'm still not willing to take it on!"
After careful consideration, Ping An put down the documents and prepared to leave this troublesome situation.
"Wait, Reporter Ping An, there's one more situation I haven't told you about..." Seeing Ping An's decisive intention to leave, Liao Yuan seemed to make a big decision and quickly stopped him.
In the parking lot outside the wind power company headquarters, Zhan Dou sat in his car, checking his watch while making a phone call.
"This Ping An seems a bit foolish!" Zhan Dou said.
"How was your first encounter? Were you amazed?" a male voice asked from the other end of the phone.
"Not so much amazed, but truly disgusted!" Zhan Dou said, looking at his hand with some disdain.
"You're out?" the man on the phone asked.
"I'm out of the building, in the parking lot. That Ping An should have come out by now, but it's been an hour, and he's still not out," Zhan Dou said. "I feel like that kid really doesn't want to get involved in all this. Are we being overly cautious?"
"The best thing would be if he doesn't get involved. We continue with our plan!" the man on the phone said. "However, you also need to be careful. Appearing openly today means you're exposed. You haven't experienced Ping An's capabilities yet. Last year, in that major case, he was pushed to the brink..."
"I know, you don't need to say more. I'll wait for him a bit longer!" Zhan Dou said. "Tell me, if I invited him to dinner, would he grace me with his presence?"
At noon, the white-collar workers in business attire began their lunch break. Ping An slowly emerged from the building. Zhan Dou, who had been waiting for a while in the parking lot, got out of his car as soon as he saw Ping An emerge, pretending to be passing by.
"Reporter Ping An, you wouldn't still be coming out now, would you? How is it, have you figured out how to deal with me?" Zhan Dou asked politely, his aggressive demeanor from earlier replaced.
"..." Ping An glanced at Zhan Dou, said nothing, and suddenly turned to walk away.
"Hey, hey! Ping An, I'm talking to you!" Zhan Dou was taken aback by Ping An's decisive departure and quickly chased after him.
Ping An ignored Zhan Dou, who was chasing behind him, still saying nothing. He dodged and weaved, eventually entering a panoramic elevator in a shopping mall.
"Wait!" Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Zhan Dou, who had been chasing Ping An, finally caught up at the last moment.
Inside the elevator, there were only Ping An and Zhan Dou.
"You're hiding...!" Zhan Dou, having caught his breath, was about to speak when—
"Pfft—" Ping An let out a fart unexpectedly.
"You!" Zhan Dou covered his nose and looked at Ping An with an incredulous expression.
"What, do you have a fetish for that? I'm trying to hide from you, and you chase after me to smell my farts!" Ping An looked at Zhan Dou with pity.