Pharmaceutical Negotiator - Chapter 9

When Qi An came out of the bedroom, Zhang Si Tan had already washed up and was patting powder onto her cheeks.

“You’re up,” Zhang Si Tan tilted her head towards Qi An. “I boiled a few eggs. Let’s eat and then head to the factory.”

“Mhm.” Qi An shuffled into the bathroom in her slippers.

Zhang Si Tan didn’t cook often, and the apartment didn’t have a proper kitchen. The only box of eggs they had was one that came with a promotional scan.

She set them to boil in plain water, then hastily applied some essential oil to her hair, meticulously separating the strands, as she watched Qi An move from the bathroom to the dining table.

The pot of boiled eggs was placed directly on the table, steam bubbling out. Zhang Si Tan glanced at it and instructed:

“Can you fish the eggs out? Be careful, it’s hot.”

“Oh.”

Qi An agreed, took a plastic spoon, and began to scoop out the eggs. The boiled water was slightly yellowish, dripping down the edges of the spoon.

Zhang Si Tan was already neatly dressed, stuffing a large stack of documents into her black leather bag.

She hadn’t applied lipstick. She sat down at the table, gently rolled a boiled egg on the surface, and then peeled it.

The smooth egg white slid down her throat, washed down with plain water.

Qi An meticulously peeled the eggshell, took a small bite, and slightly frowned.

Zhang Si Tan noticed her little expression and asked, “You don’t like eggs?”

“Mhm.” Qi An swallowed another difficult bite. “Sister Si Tan, can I pour some soy sauce?”

“Go ahead with the soy sauce. It’s in the cupboard.”

It was the first time Zhang Si Tan had seen someone eat an egg with soy sauce. She watched as Qi An took out a small dish from the cupboard and filled it with soy sauce.

The dark brown colour spread across the dish. Qi An used chopsticks to pick up the egg and relentlessly dunked it in the dish until it was completely soaked in soy sauce.

“I feel like eggs have a chicken poop smell,” Qi An explained sheepishly, seeing Zhang Si Tan looking at her.

Zhang Si Tan curled her lips, watching with interest the way Qi An marinated the egg, mentally noting that Qi An disliked eating eggs.

“Mhm. Next time, I’ll prepare some rice and make congee for you.”

“Next time!” When Qi An heard Zhang Si Tan say “next time,” her eyes curved into a smile, and she eagerly replied, “Great, great.”

After eating, the two of them hurried off to the pharmaceutical factory.

This was the last site survey before the negotiation. The negotiation with the Eyre company was scheduled for the 23rd, just over a week away.

The documents related to the drug production had been verified, and the company’s audit and financial reports had been submitted. But Zhang Si Tan remained uneasy. Without Qi Shenli’s nod, she didn’t dare to detonate that time bomb.

Upon arriving at the factory, Su Wei and Zhou Yang Le were already on site. Zhang Si Tan greeted them and joined the team to listen to the factory manager’s introduction.

The factory’s leadership formed a small square group. Zhang Si Tan and Su Wei led the way, observing the sample production line for the drug.

“Teacher Su, I saw General Manager Qi yesterday,” Zhang Si Tan was wearing flat shoes today, making her steps lighter than usual.

Su Wei looked at Zhang Si Tan when she heard her. Since she was at the front of the line, she had to turn her head back slightly.

“Did General Manager Qi state her position?” she asked. With her refined makeup and gentle short hair, one could imagine her in a white coat, holding a scalpel, as pure as moonlight.

“No.” Zhang Si Tan shook her head. “But I think she will relent.”

The group consisted of both men and women, each carrying a notebook. The taller individuals at the back deliberately slowed their steps to match the pace of those in front.

“Mhm, she is a decisive person,” Su Wei sighed.

Qi An heard them discussing her mother and curiously stared at Zhang Si Tan.

Zhang Si Tan deliberately ignored her blinking, wide eyes, looking straight ahead and continuing to walk.

Yet, she couldn’t ignore the faint shadow by her side in her peripheral vision.

Qi An was wearing a white silk dress today, covered by a light purple suit jacket with the cuffs rolled up, revealing the white lining inside the jacket.

She wasn’t wearing a hat. Having stayed overnight at Zhang Si Tan’s place, she hadn’t prepared anything and probably hadn’t applied sunscreen.

Zhang Si Tan herself was wearing a large sun hat and had meticulously applied sunscreen before leaving.

The weather wasn’t scorching, but the June sun was still not to be underestimated.

As Qi An followed the team, sweat was already beading on her nose. She had only simply washed her face and brushed her teeth with a disposable toothbrush in Zhang Si Tan’s bathroom this morning.

Zhang Si Tan offered her her own lotion and moisturizer, but Qi An didn’t dare to use it, so her face was completely bare and in a severely dehydrated state.

The person responsible for the introduction had stopped speaking and was waiting quietly on the side.

The factory was very large, and the packaging, shipping, etc., were all outdoors, so the group had to endure the strong sun for a little longer.

The sun’s light covered the ground in concentric circles, and the concrete road surface began to heat up rapidly.

Zhang Si Tan was annoyed at her misplaced sympathy.

Her attitude towards Qi An, this temporary assistant, had gone from disapproval to a slight change of heart, and now to sympathy for her father’s impending imprisonment.

Zhang Si Tan scoffed internally. Qi Zhiguo engaged in academic fraud, illegal drug manufacturing, and violated national laws and regulations; any penalty was deserved.

This was her job, and reporting a citizen’s illegal behaviour was her right and obligation. What did she have to hesitate about?

Qi An…

She was just an assistant. She would be returning to Beijing at the end of the month. Qi Shenli had already paved the way for Qi An…

Zhang Si Tan still couldn’t convince herself…

She untied the elastic cord of her sun hat, turned around, and placed the hat over Qi An’s head.

The sudden shadow startled Qi An. Her upper eyelashes fluttered quickly, and then she realized that Zhang Si Tan had put the hat on her.

The team paused momentarily. Zhang Si Tan faced Qi An, drew the elastic cord of the hat around Qi An’s ears, and gently tied a knot under her chin.

Qi An stared at Zhang Si Tan. Having just removed her hat, her hair was slightly pressed against her scalp. Her lips were tightly closed, the lip lines not very pronounced, suggesting a very soft texture if touched. Placing her fingertip between her lips, she might feel a gentle softness, tracing the outline of her mouth, slowly stroking it.

Qi An was startled that she was suddenly fantasizing about Zhang Si Tan’s lips. Her gaze met Zhang Si Tan’s, and her palms were already sweating.

The person behind her stepped on her heel, causing her to stagger slightly.

Zhang Si Tan turned around: “Walk faster.”

Suddenly without her sun hat, Zhang Si Tan felt her eye sockets become heavier. Even straining, she could only squint her eyes into thin slits.

Su Wei gave her a meaningful look.

Zhang Si Tan pretended not to notice.

Qi An whispered softly, “Thank you, Sister Si Tan.”

Zhang Si Tan also pretended not to hear.

Lunch was eaten in the factory’s staff cafeteria.

The cafeteria was very common. A simple single story building with metal tables and orange chairs inside. The serving window was like a high school cafeteria, with a few aunties and several very long-handled ladles.

Qi An was already ravenous. She had forced herself to eat one egg that morning. The egg dipped in soy sauce was salty and bitter, and after walking so much all morning, her stomach was empty.

When she arrived at the cafeteria, she immediately found a line with fewer people and asked the serving auntie to fill her tray with food.

During the meal, everyone sat opposite each other at the metal tables.

One of the leaders asked Zhang Si Tan while eating, “Team Leader Zhang, what are your thoughts on the upcoming negotiation?”

Hearing the question, a few people put down their chopsticks and looked at Zhang Si Tan, anticipating her answer.

Usually, Zhang Si Tan might analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both sides and then encourage everyone.

But this time, Zhang Si Tan knew that the focus of this battle was not on the negotiation itself.

The issue regarding the Atenolol statement hadn’t been resolved. If they truly pushed Qi Zhiguo forward, carefully managing public opinion would be challenging.

She lowered her shoulders slightly, flexed her index finger, and tapped her fingertip on the table surface.

“To negotiate a lower price, we need sufficient leverage. Considering the restrictions on drug patent terms and China’s gradually increasing international influence, the Eyre company will definitely want to break through the blockade, seize this negotiation opportunity, and enter the Chinese market. This means we hold significant initiative.”

At this, everyone’s faces brightened. Zhang Si Tan briefly clenched her fist, wanting to give them a pre-warning.

“However,” she stated, “various situations might arise before the negotiation. No matter what happens, we must be careful to control the direction of public opinion. Please trust the corporation, trust General Manager Qi, and trust the power of the government…”

After Zhang Si Tan finished, everyone nodded repeatedly, mumbling, “Of course, that’s a given.”

Su Wei then continued Zhang Si Tan’s words, introducing some of the Eyre company’s clinical trial progress.

It wasn’t until five in the afternoon, when the sunlight was no longer so strong, that Qi Shenli finally appeared.

She stepped out of the car, smiling as she shook hands with Zhang Si Tan and Su Wei “Si Tan, Su Wei, thank you for your hard work.”

She was wearing a business suit and looked very energetic.

It was as if the heavy conversation she had with Zhang Si Tan yesterday hadn’t happened.

Zhang Si Tan and Su Wei followed Qi Shenli into the conference room.

Qi Shenli declined to have meeting minutes taken. Only the three of them were at the conference table.

After the door closed, Qi Shenli’s smile vanished.

She clasped her hands and looked at Zhang Si Tan: “Who can you contact in the media?”

Zhang Si Tan hadn’t expected Qi Shenli to be so straightforward and couldn’t help but feel respect for her decisiveness and courage.

She listed a few names, all influential figures in mainstream media.

Qi Shenli nodded, and then listed a few names herself: “Most of the people I can find are on the business front…”

Finally, Su Wei also mentioned a name, a big shot in clinical practice.

Qi Shenli was clearly a little excited: “If he can publish an article, that would truly be best.”

They discussed for a long time.

Qi Shenli finally sighed, “Go ahead and handle it.”

Zhang Si Tan felt a sense of pity and asked with concern, “General Manager Qi.”

“Haha, it’s nothing,” Qi Shenli gave a dry laugh. “Only by removing the harm can one be free from its constraints. I’ve been his wife for many years, so it’s impossible to claim complete ignorance. I bear some responsibility myself.”

“I am the decision-maker for the corporation, and I must be responsible for the corporation. If this is the best way to handle the situation, then we will proceed this way.”

After leaving the conference room, Su Wei suddenly asked Zhang Si Tan: “If one day you had to make a similar choice, would you be like General Manager Qi?”

Zhang Si Tan didn’t hesitate: “I would.”

“As expected.” A wry smile appeared on Su Wei’s face. “Feelings, they are the most worthless things.”

Zhang Si Tan looked at the lonely expression on Su Wei’s face and tilted her head.

“It’s not that feelings are worthless. We are human, and everything we do is self-serving. So-called feelings whether friendship, love, or family are actually all serving ourselves.”

“Maybe.” Su Wei composed herself, deep in thought.

Returning to the apartment that evening, Zhang Si Tan leaned by the window and made several phone calls.

“Sister Liu, long time no see,” Zhang Si Tan said into the phone, her hand resting on it.

“Si Tan, it has been a while.” The voice on the other end replied. “I saw on your Moments that you’re in Qingdao now?”

“Yes, I’m leading a project here, so I was hoping Sister Liu could help me with something.”

“Haha, don’t be a stranger with me, just tell me what you need.”

The two chatted for a while. Zhang Si Tan finally emphasized that the focus of the public opinion must be centered on Qi Zhiguo, to establish an image for Qi Shenli as someone who puts righteousness before family and deeply considers the corporation.

After hanging up, Zhang Si Tan leaned by the window for a while before returning to the bedroom.

The next day, Zhang Si Tan woke up half an hour earlier than usual. She quickly got up, washed, and went to the park for a run.

Music was playing on her phone, with constant news notifications, but Zhang Si Tan had set her phone to silent.

Because she woke up early, there weren’t many people in the park.

Occasionally, a person walking a dog would pass by. The dog was large, with a thick, short leash firmly held by its owner.

Zhang Si Tan understood the difficulty of owning a large dog and deliberately gave them a wide berth, not wanting to make things difficult for the owner.

After running a large circle around the park, Zhang Si Tan finally slowed down and checked her phone.

A flood of messages poured out, including several missed calls, with the red exclamation marks particularly striking.

All the missed calls were from Qi An.

She was looking for her.

Zhang Si Tan cleared the message interface. She didn’t reply to anyone’s messages, instead opening Weibo first.

At the top, the topic “Tai Yong Corporation exposes red pill scandal” was also tagged with the “Hot” symbol.

Clicking in, the official Tai Yong Corporation Weibo statement was widely reposted and commented on by many influential accounts (big Vs).

In the statement, Tai Yong Corporation first apologized to the public, explaining the reason why the red pill couldn’t be launched to the market the actual components of the drug differed greatly from the components described in Qi Zhiguo’s paper.

Qi Zhiguo had used the factory’s drugs to extract and synthesize many components that were not allowed for registration and use by the country, and these substances had become some of the components of the red pill.

The official Weibo did not close the comments section, allowing the public to comment freely.

Zhang Si Tan clicked on each one, read the statements of a few big Vs, and scrolled through the latest comments.

One comment with a relatively high view count was criticizing Tai Yong Corporation. The spouse of the corporation’s CEO had illegally manufactured drugs, the proudly announced red pill was based on falsified data, and the confrontation with the Eyre company had failed before even negotiating.