Chapter 76: The Bridle

Zhang Wentian was the first to voice his opposition: "Everyone makes mistakes, and we can't just condemn a whole group with one stroke! For those companies that have made mistakes and taken detours, I believe we should adopt an attitude of curing the sick and saving the people, giving them a chance to correct their mistakes and make amends."

"Director Zhang, you used a very good phrase: only by punishing the past can we prevent the future," Zeng Yi threw the phrase back at him.

Zhang Wentian was taken aback, his face darkening as he picked up his teacup to drink. Although everyone often talked about punishing the past to prevent the future, many times this phrase became a reason not to punish the past.

"When a company grows large, it's inevitable that competitors will become envious and try to sabotage it, deliberately tarnishing the company's reputation."

"Yes, such things happen quite often. A little flaw in a company is very common."

"There's a saying: 'If you don't provoke jealousy, you're a mediocre talent.' Similarly, a company that doesn't provoke jealousy is definitely not a top-tier company. This time, our health base project is very large. Without a few high-level companies participating, it might not be feasible. If the construction progress cannot be completed on time and to a high quality, who will bear the responsibility?"

These experts could turn black into white. In just a few words, Zeng Yi was portrayed as someone with ulterior motives. The experts subtly accused Zeng Yi of deliberately undermining the base's construction, not wanting it to be completed on time and to a high quality.

Feng Yuqin knew these experts were deliberately misinterpreting Zeng Yi's suggestion, but she didn't speak. Instead, she watched coldly, wanting to see how Zeng Yi would debate with them. If Zeng Yi couldn't convince these experts, it would be difficult for him to play a significant role as the deputy director of the expert committee.

On the other hand, Feng Yuqin also wanted to know the purpose behind Zeng Yi's suggestion. Excluding some companies would inevitably benefit others.

"Do you mean that if we don't use those bad companies, the construction of the health base cannot proceed normally?" Zeng Yi asked in return.

"We never meant that!" the experts quickly distanced themselves, "This is your own interpretation, we never said that!"

Zeng Yi sneered inwardly. If there was one thing he was good at, it was turning things around. Since they were misinterpreting, he didn't mind joining them. "If the base can still be constructed normally without using bad companies, why are you so eager to defend them? It's hard not to think too much about it. Could it be that you..."

He looked at each expert with a suspicious expression.

As his gaze fell on them, the experts became restless, all saying:

"We are not defending bad companies!"

"Right, we are just objectively pointing out both sides of the issue."

"Trust is the foundation of cooperation. I think Director Zeng lacks basic trust in his colleagues!"

Another expert was about to stand up to defend, but Zeng Yi interrupted him.

"Why are you all so agitated? Did I say I suspected you?" Zeng Yi held his teacup, smiling, "I have complete trust in everyone!"

The experts were collectively frustrated. This was like saying something with your eyes wide open. If you didn't suspect us, you were almost saying we had received benefits from bad companies.

Putting down the teacup, Zeng Yi suddenly turned serious, "However, everyone should be more careful with their words in the future. Today is just a closed meeting of the expert committee. If there were representatives from the construction office's disciplinary inspection group present, and they saw that you were not speaking up for good companies but only defending bad ones, it would be hard to say what they would think. If rumors start spreading, it won't be good for anyone!"

The experts who had been speaking heatedly immediately quieted down when Zeng Yi mentioned the disciplinary inspection group. They finally understood why Zeng Yi had mentioned that some companies were already trying to influence things before making his suggestion. Damn, he's young but has a deep mind.

At this point, who would dare to speak up for bad companies? If they did, even Shu Mingliang and Feng Yuqin might suspect they had ulterior motives.

"Since we're on this topic, I have another suggestion. In the future, all major decisions of the expert committee must be made under the supervision of the disciplinary inspection group to be considered valid."

The experts were all stunned. If they had known this, they would have agreed with Zeng Yi from the start. Now, the bridle was already on them. If the disciplinary inspection group was introduced, their autonomy would be greatly reduced.

Zeng Yi had no political experience, but he knew that unchecked power was like a wild horse. After taking the lead, he watched from the sidelines, letting the experts fight for the committee's authority. Once they got the authority, he took the initiative to put a bridle on them.

Feng Yuqin nodded in approval. Although Zeng Yi's methods were still a bit naive, for someone new to the political arena, they were already quite good. Knowing he couldn't gain absolute control over the expert committee, he introduced external forces to balance the power, ensuring the committee wouldn't become a tool for others. This showed that Zeng Yi was genuinely committed to his work.

Zeng Yi was new to Rongcheng and had no ties to any interest groups, which was a crucial reason Feng Yuqin could promote him. She wanted someone who could genuinely work hard to find the shortcomings of the health base and make breakthroughs.

"Now, the whole society is resisting untrustworthy companies. As a key project like ours, we should set higher standards, excluding companies with poor credit and untrustworthy practices. Besides creating a project that meets all standards, we should also set an example for society."

Zeng Yi looked at the experts, "This is the original intention behind my suggestion."

Feng Yuqin nodded, "Well said. We can't just focus on economic benefits; we must also consider social benefits. For a government project like ours, social benefits are even more important."

Shu Mingliang understood Feng Yuqin's meaning. He solemnly wrote Zeng Yi's opinion in his notebook and smiled, "Expert Zeng's opinion is very important. Let's discuss it further along this line."

As he spoke, Shu Mingliang glanced at Zeng Yi, thinking, "This young man is not simple. He dares to speak the truth and do practical things, and he has the means and the mind to manipulate these 'brick experts.' More importantly, Feng Yuqin values him highly, and his future is boundless."

The experts had no choice but to follow Shu Mingliang's instructions and continue to offer opinions. However, they were still the same insubstantial and cliché statements, sounding like they had substance but actually saying nothing.

Shu Mingliang's notebook was filled with two pages. Seeing that no one else was speaking, he looked at Feng Yuqin, "Director Feng, do you have anything else to say?"

Seeing Feng Yuqin shake her head, Shu Mingliang closed his notebook and said, "Today's expert meeting was very successful and effective. I hope everyone will continue to speak up and contribute to the health base. Good, the meeting is adjourned!"

After seeing off Shu Mingliang and Feng Yuqin, Zhang Wentian called Yuan Wenjie and told him about the meeting. The deputy director of the construction committee was directly under the jurisdiction of Yuan Gongping, who was in charge of urban construction. Yuan Wenjie had put in a lot of effort to get Zhang Wentian the position of director in the expert committee.

After hanging up, Yuan Wenjie slammed his fist on the table, "Damn quack!"

He felt that Zeng Yi's suggestion to exclude bad companies was aimed at his Feilong Construction. He wasn't afraid of Zeng Yi's suggestion; after years in the construction business, Yuan Wenjie had many ways to deal with various bidding policies. Feilong Construction had many "accompanying bidding" companies, which were used to create the appearance of multiple companies bidding, making it seem fair and transparent. However, no matter which company won the bid, it was equivalent to Feilong Construction getting the project.

What Yuan Wenjie feared was Zeng Yi himself. The expert committee had supervisory power over the entire project. If someone was constantly opposing him, even with his methods, he would be in a constant state of stress and struggle.

If this quack wanted to exclude him from the project, he would make sure to exclude the quack first.

Yuan Wenjie had long wanted to deal with Zeng Yi, but he was wary of Fang Nanguo, who was behind Zeng Yi, and he still needed Zeng Yi to treat his illness. So, he had been holding back.

Now, he had made up his mind. The health base project was very large and highly profitable. Just the new hospital's outpatient and emergency building was a significant project. The retirement base for senior officials would require at least a dozen buildings, with low technical requirements but high profits. Adding renovation and landscaping, if Feilong Construction won all the contracts, it would have at least 200 million yuan in pure profit.

Faced with such a huge profit, how could Yuan Wenjie give up?

Moreover, after using the medicine, Yuan Wenjie felt his illness was completely cured. The heart defect had disappeared, and his heart no longer hurt. As long as he handled this matter flawlessly, even Fang Nanguo wouldn't blame him.