NOVPUBThe school set up hot pot windows in the canteen because students were breaking the rules by using electrical appliances to eat hot pot in their dorms?
Yu Kai nodded, feeling that there was nothing wrong with that.
After all, it’s about serving the students, and opening hot pot windows in the cafeteria can only mean that the Agricultural University is very wealthy, considering the investment in space, equipment, and chefs.
But when Yu Kai heard that the contracting out of the hot pot windows didn’t go through the normal bidding process, his brows immediately furrowed.
"What’s going on, why didn’t it go through the normal bidding process?"
Seizing the opportunity, Ding Qiang explained from the side, "Leader, it’s mainly because the students were so eager to eat hot pot that in order to let everyone enjoy it sooner, we made an exception."
"Nonsense!"
Yu Kai began to criticize after the fact.
Facing the camera, Yu Kai expressed his righteous indignation.
"If the Ministry of Education has given you rules and regulations, then you should abide by them!"
"Behind every rule, there are bloody lessons and summaries of experience. Who allowed you to make exceptions? Who gave you the audacity to do so?"
"Always thinking about making exceptions, that’s favoritism!"
"Just take a look, this is what happens with favoritism—so many students have been sent in here!"
Xu Wenyao nodded repeatedly and clapped in agreement.
"The lesson is correct, leader!"
"Actually, when the school decided to appoint this contractor, I didn’t agree."
"For one, it didn’t follow the process, and second, I thought there were issues with the contractor’s qualifications."
"I had people investigate, and this contractor had food safety issues elsewhere and was involved in a lawsuit with someone else."
"It’s just that Ding Hu, the school director, and several other directors felt there was no problem, opposed the majority, and insisted on appointing Ding Hu as the contractor, which is what led to today’s disaster."
As soon as Xu Wenyao spoke, the netizens in the live broadcast immediately understood.
"Goodness, I knew there was a reason that guy called Ding Hu, who looks just like a ruffian, could contract the cafeteria—it’s all about connections!"
"Ding Qiang and Ding Hu—could they be brothers?"
"Whether they are or not isn’t important now. What’s important is that Ding Hu already had a record, so why did the school still let him be a contractor? There must be something fishy going on!"
"Isn’t it said that the university president has the most power? Why is it that President Xu’s opposition is ineffective?"
"The Board of Directors has the most power, then comes the president. And President Xu must have touched upon the interests of the Board, that’s why his opposition is ineffective. Think about it – that’s the university cafeteria, imagine the profits!"
There were still some insightful people in the live broadcast.
What kind of business is the most profitable?
Monopoly, of course.
Although the Agricultural University isn’t entirely closed off, the cafeteria is on campus, close to several teaching buildings and dormitories, giving it a natural advantage.
Plus, with the school not allowing deliveries to come in, every time students want to order takeout or something, they have to walk at least ten minutes across the big sports field to get to the main entrance of the school.
A round trip takes at least half an hour.
So most students still choose to eat in the school cafeteria.
After all, it’s convenient and cheap.
As long as the taste of the dishes isn’t too outrageous, this business is a sure bet!
Issues which netizens could understand, Yu Kai naturally was aware of the shady dealings as well.
He looked at Ding Qiang and said in a deep voice, "Is this what you call ’making an exception’?" 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝖕𝖚𝖇.𝖈𝔬𝔪
"You, the Board of Directors, don’t consider the students, don’t think about the bigger picture, and just think about how to make money all day long, is that it?"
Hearing Yu Kai say this, Ding Qiang was so scared he couldn’t speak.
There were cameras broadcasting live on the scene, and Ding Qiang didn’t dare to talk back.
"Ding Qiang, tell me, what’s your relationship with Ding Hu?"
Ding Qiang said with an ugly expression: "He’s my younger brother."
Hearing Ding Qiang personally admit it, the live broadcast room erupted.
There was a barrage of comments condemning Ding Qiang, and people also felt sorry for Xu Wenyao in the process.
Yu Kai nodded in agreement.
"I see, it’s nepotism, isn’t it?"
"Principal Xu, rest assured, our Education Department will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"This mass student poisoning incident has had a terrible impact! The people responsible for causing all of this, whoever they are and no matter what their status may be, without exception, must be severely punished!"
As soon as Yu Kai said this, Ding Qiang immediately knew he was finished.
Xu Wenyao’s move to borrow another’s hand to do the deed was ruthless!
He didn’t have to lift a finger, Yu Kai had directly removed the obstacle for him!
But what Ding Qiang couldn’t figure out was why the hotpot cafeteria had issues so quickly.
He had repeatedly and explicitly instructed Ding Hu not to make the same mistakes again!
Could it be that those poisonous mushrooms were all placed there by someone arranged by Xu Wenyao?
Was Tang Xin an undercover agent for Xu Wenyao?
If that was really the case, then it was too explosive.
An Agricultural University version of Infernal Affairs, wasn’t it!
While Ding Qiang was lost in his wild speculations and thoughts.
Xu Wenyao spoke up, "Leader, actually there was only one student who got poisoned this time, named Wu Bin."
"Other than two security guards, all the others are people from Ding Hu, who contracted the cafeteria."
"Wu Bin?"
Hearing this name, Yu Kai furrowed his eyebrows.
"Why does this name sound so familiar to me?"
Xu Wenyao quickly explained, "Wu Bin is the student who had a heart attack in his dorm after eating hotpot last time. I just didn’t expect him to get poisoned from eating hotpot again."
With this reminder from Xu Wenyao, Yu Kai remembered.
"Oh, it’s him!"
Yu Kai was somewhat sentimental.
"I recall that the mistaken consumption of Shang Lu was also by this student, right?"
"Minister, you have a good memory, it was indeed him."
Yu Kai couldn’t help but express his feelings.
"This Wu Bin student is really like a modern-day Shennong!"
"If it weren’t for him getting poisoned by the hotpot this time, there might have been more students affected at your school."
"It’s just that this Wu Bin is a bit too unfortunate, his fate is truly rough."
At this moment, Yu Kai actually didn’t feel as much pressure.
Before coming, he had thought that most of the poisoned were students, which had really worried him.
But now, hearing that the primary victims were people from the contractor, Yu Kai was not as anxious.
The Education Department is responsible for the safety of students’ lives; that’s a given.
Hence, if students were collectively poisoned at school, he, as the minister, couldn’t shirk the blame.
But the Education Department is not responsible for contractors, right?
They are adults; they should learn to be responsible for their own actions!
Now, although it was still a mass poisoning incident, his own responsibility had been significantly reduced; he wasn’t primarily at fault.
Just as Yu Kai felt he could breathe a sigh of relief, Liu Jing rushed towards the emergency room with a group of nurses.
"Quick! Wu Bin is about to go, hurry and call more people over, prepare to do a blood dialysis for him!"
"Head Nurse, other patients’ conditions have worsened as well!"
Hearing what the nurses said, Yu Kai’s face changed instantly, and his heart leaped into his throat.
