"Director Kong..."
The thousand-plus TCM practitioners in the hall all rose and turned their heads, watching Kong Jingguo and his entourage walk directly onto the stage. This caused a strange and confused atmosphere, with countless speculations swirling in their minds.
After all, Kong Jingguo had never attended a national TCM conference before. His sudden appearance made people wonder about his intentions.
Sima Wentang, who was on stage, and Sima Xuanyu, seated behind him, only reacted when Kong Jingguo walked onto the stage. Their hearts sank as if plunged into an ice cellar, completely chilled.
Gu Shiren, Liu Pingyi, Li Tiangui, and Xue Dongshan, also seated on stage, along with Wan Yunting, Gu Yuanbai, Xiao Renliang, and Zhang Fenglin seated below, saw Kong Jingguo's arrival. While it was somewhat unexpected, they felt excited, their eyes shining with anticipation.
"Director Kong, what brings you here?"
Sima Wentang, having regained his composure, maintained a calm exterior, but a hint of unnaturalness appeared on his face.
Kong Jingguo, accompanied by Xia Xinhou, the deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, faced Sima Wentang and Ma Debao who came to greet him. Kong Jingguo gestured to Xia Xinhou, then stepped forward, producing a summons. "Sima Wentang, based on reports and our commission's investigation, you have been found to be in violation of regulations, including abuse of power and market monopolization. You are hereby summoned back for investigation!"
Upon hearing this, Sima Xuanyu, Ma Debao, and Feng Yuanliang on stage had a drastic change in expression. Even Gu Shiren and Liu Pingyi looked surprised. They hadn't expected Kong Jingguo's sudden appearance at the conference to be to summon Sima Wentang back to the Health Commission for investigation.
Meanwhile, the thousand-plus TCM practitioners in the audience, although Deputy Director Xia Xinhou did not have a microphone, they immediately understood what was happening from the summons document presented to Sima Wentang and Kong Jingguo's presence. The entire venue erupted in a clamor, with discussions breaking out everywhere.
"It's over, the Sima family is finished..."
Wei Xiuqi and others aligned with the Sima family's faction saw this scene, their expressions instantly shifted, and their hearts felt like they had plunged into an ice cellar, turning completely cold.
Sima Wentang stood stunned, his gaze fixed on the summons document held by Xia Xinhou. Upon regaining his senses, his expression didn't change much; instead, he calmly nodded.
It was evident that Sima Wentang had anticipated this outcome, which explained his composure.
Immediately, two young men stepped forward and escorted Sima Wentang away, with Xia Xinhou taking him back for investigation. Kong Jingguo remained on stage, observing the murmurings of the crowd. Sima Xuanyu's face was grim and silent, while Ma Debao and Feng Yuanliang, their expressions and gazes unable to conceal their tension and panic, had never expected Kong Jingguo to act in such a direct manner to pull Sima Wentang down from his pedestal.
Regardless of whether Sima Wentang had abused his power, from the moment he was escorted off stage, it was clear that the Beijing TCM Association was about to undergo a transformation, no longer dictated by the Sima family.
"It seems it's not about the Lingnan TCM Association, but rather the higher authorities want to bring down the Sima family!"
Xiao Yi, sitting beside his father Xiao Renliang, narrowed his eyes as he watched Kong Jingguo on stage, understanding the situation.
Zhang Fenglin and Wei Datong nodded. The reason given by Kong Jingguo for investigating Sima Wentang was abuse of power and other offenses, leading to his summons for investigation. This matter had been reported by people for a long time, but Sima Wentang had always remained unscathed.
This indicated that this time, it was a swift and decisive action from the higher authorities!
Sima Boyong had left Beijing early in the morning for South Korea. Clearly, the Sima family knew last night that the Health Commission was going to investigate them. Sima Wentang's continued presence at the national TCM conference today was his way of sacrificing himself to protect his family.
Kong Jingguo was also only targeting Sima Wentang. If the intention was to suppress the entire Sima family, they wouldn't have allowed Sima Boyong, who left today, to depart.
Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai, sitting together, exchanged glances, feeling both surprised and greatly exhilarated. With Kong Jingguo's actions, the Sima family was effectively finished.
Beneath his eyes, Sima Xuanyu cast a resentful and sinister glare at Kong Jingguo. He turned and walked off the stage, heading towards the main entrance of the hall.
He knew that his staying any longer would have no possibility of altering the outcome. It was better to return early, pack his belongings, and proceed with his grandfather's plan!
"Director Kong, here's the microphone..."
Ma Debao and Feng Yuanliang, like fence-sitters, instantly put on ingratiating smiles and handed the microphone to Kong Jingguo. He remained expressionless, not even glancing at them. Taking the microphone, he turned to face the thousand-plus TCM practitioners below and said, "Esteemed colleagues, today's events are quite sudden. This national TCM conference will be temporarily suspended. It will reconvene tomorrow at the same time and place, at which point I will announce important matters! Meeting adjourned."
After speaking, Kong Jingguo handed the microphone to Ma Debao next to him. He then said to Gu Shiren, Xue Dongshan, and others, "Elder Gu, Elder Liu, please attend a meeting at the Health Commission at noon. Remember to bring Gu Yuanbai and Wan Yunting!"
Li Tiangui and the others who had reacted nodded. Kong Jingguo said no more, his gaze falling on Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai in the audience, as well as Xiao Renliang. He then turned and descended the stage.
Instantly, the scene descended into chaos. Everyone was in an uproar; some were exhilarated, others dejected.
Especially those who sided with the Sima family, their faces were ashen, filled with despair. For years, they had been associated with the Sima family, monopolizing the Chinese medicinal materials market and profiting immensely.
Now that the Sima family had fallen, Kong Jingguo's formidable influence would surely turn towards them.
"Haha, the Sima family's downfall is their own doing. Good riddance!"
"Exactly! For years, we TCM practitioners have endured the Sima family's oppression. They monopolized the market, demanding over a hundred thousand yuan for even half of a practice license. The authorities should have dealt with these unscrupulous individuals long ago."
"Indeed. It seems the higher authorities couldn't stand the Sima family's rampant behavior any longer. They wouldn't have chosen to arrest Sima Wentang in such a manner, right before our eyes, at this year's national TCM conference. This is a severe blow to the Sima faction!"
The TCM practitioners present, who had long disliked the Sima faction's dominance, were now filled with excitement and joy.
"But with the Sima family down, who will succeed Sima Wentang as the association chairman?"
As this question arose, everyone exchanged glances. Finally, their gazes fell on Wan Yunting in the front row. Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Everyone has been discussing for the past two days that Director Kong has chosen Wan Yunting. Now that he has pulled down Sima Wentang in front of so many people, it seems he really intends to let Wan Yunting take over as the chairman of the Beijing TCM Association!"
"It's possible..."
The others immediately nodded in agreement, but some shook their heads and said, "Although Wan Yunting is young and promising, he is still too young. I don't think it's possible for him to succeed as the chairman of the Beijing TCM Association. Instead, I have more faith in Principal Gu Yuanbai!"
"Yes, I agree with your view!"
Another TCM practitioner nodded and said, "Gu Yuanbai has accomplished many significant things in the industry this year. He reformed TCM education under immense pressure, founded the Lingnan TCM Association, and supported medical services in rural towns. These are all observable achievements. Therefore, I also believe Gu Yuanbai is the most qualified to succeed as the chairman of the Beijing TCM Association."
"Hmm, but I have a question. If Gu Yuanbai truly takes over as the chairman of the Beijing TCM Association, what will happen to the Lingnan TCM Association they founded?"
"Nonsense, of course, it will be disbanded. Since Gu Yuanbai will become the chairman of the Chinese Beijing TCM Association, why would the Lingnan TCM Association need to continue to exist?"
"Exactly, they founded the Lingnan TCM Association precisely to replace the Beijing TCM Association...!"
Everyone was discussing heatedly. Gu Shiren, Liu Pingyi, and others on stage also came down, called Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai, and along with Xiao Renliang and Wei Datong, they left the hall.
Kong Jingguo had instructed them to attend a meeting at the Health Commission at noon. It was still early, so Gu Shiren and his group walked along the main road of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. However, the university was already on holiday, and the students had all returned home for the New Year. Only a scattered few students who had special reasons to stay at school for the New Year were encountered on the road...
"I never expected Director Kong to pull off such a move. It truly caught us off guard, we had no preparation whatsoever," Zhang Fenglin said.
Centered around the two elders, Gu Shiren and Xiao Renliang, Li Tiangui nodded and said, "Director Kong asking us to attend a meeting at the Health Commission at noon clearly indicates that they will be discussing the issue of the Beijing TCM Association!"
Liu Pingyi nodded and said, "With Sima Wentang taken away for investigation, his term as association chairman is over. Their Sima family's reign has also ended!"
"However, who will succeed Sima Wentang to the position of chairman of the Beijing TCM Association?"
Xue Dongshan looked back at the people around him. Xiao Yi and Shen Tong, among others, also cast their gazes upon the two senior figures, Gu Shiren and Xiao Renliang, hoping to hear their opinions!
After all, the selection of the chairman of the Beijing TCM Association was not solely decided by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, but rather by the election and voting of colleagues to choose the most suitable candidate.
Gu Shiren and Xiao Renliang exchanged glances. Their gazes fell upon Gu Yuanbai and Wan Yunting.
Liu Pingyi, Li Tiangui, Xue Dongshan, Shen Tong, and everyone present also focused their attention on these two. Wan Yunting was taken aback, and he gave a wry smile, saying, "Senior colleagues, may I speak?"