Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1063 Pandemic (rd update, please subscribe)
For all pharmaceutical companies, developing new drugs to save lives is important, but profits are also extremely important. After all, companies need to make money.

That night, after leaving Jianmin Pharmaceutical Company in a BMW driven by a driver, Zhu Huayun was thinking about drug development all the way. From the research of new antibiotics to the research of other drugs, as the general manager of the company, he had a lot to worry about, from the company's operations to profits to stock prices.

Sitting in the car, he leaned back, lit a cigarette, and smoked silently. When the car drove into the city, he gave an order.

"If there is a newsstand on the roadside later, please buy me a newspaper."

After a while, the driver stopped the car near the roadside, and handed him a copy of Chang'an Evening News after he got in the car again. The news in the newspaper immediately caught his eye. Although the news was published in the middle of the newspaper, he turned his head to look at it, and then read it several times in a row.

"Could this be..."

Looking at the bustling pedestrians outside the car window, some of them dragged their heavy feet towards the subway station, while others walked towards the bus, preparing to return to their homes after a day of work in Chang'an's central business district, to have dinner with their families and enjoy family happiness together.

As he looked out the window, an idea began to form.

If it were someone else, they might be extremely worried about the news, or they might just laugh it off.

But Zhu Huayun was not that kind of person. Although the news in the evening paper seemed unclear, the title was printed in nine-point type. The title of the news was:

A new type of influenza is spreading in Hong Kong Island.

……

Every festive season makes people miss their families more. Although the Spring Festival has passed, like many people, Tang Feifan's homesickness has become even stronger.

Nine years ago, when Tangshan was in the midst of war, a staff member of Jianmin Pharmaceutical Company came to visit him and hoped that he and his wife would go to Nanyang to work. For many reasons including career, he decided to work in Nanyang for the time being.

After arriving in Nanyang, like many people, Tang Feifan signed a ten-year contract with the company. Later, the situation in Tangshan changed.

Although his homesickness has become stronger over the past nine years, as the son-in-law of Hunan warlord He Jian, all he can do is sigh. In order to relieve his homesickness, he can only devote his energy to work - focusing on the research of trachoma pathogens. Two years ago, he successfully isolated Chlamydia trachomatis and became the first person in the world to isolate trachoma virus. His development shocked the world medical community. Last year, after his father-in-law died of illness in Wandao, he felt even more homesick when he thought of his father-in-law who died in a foreign land.

Especially last year, at the meeting of the International Ophthalmology Organization held in Geneva, he unexpectedly met old friends and colleagues from China. His friends introduced him to Tangshan’s new ideas and the booming construction, etc. They hoped that he could return to China to participate in the construction of the motherland, and said that Tangshan’s construction needed scientific and technological talents like him.

Faced with the invitation from his friend, Tang Feifan was indeed tempted, but considering that his contract with the company had not yet expired, he did not agree immediately but only said that he would consider it.

Finally, as the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was about to pass, Tang Feifan came to the Personnel Department. As soon as he entered the door, he stated his purpose - to resign, and at the same time asked the Personnel Department to calculate the resignation penalty.

"Dr. Tang, if you break the contract now, you will need to pay a penalty equivalent to 30% of the salary you received in the past nine years, and you will also need to return the company's shares and corresponding dividends..."

Zhao Chuanhai, the head of the Human Resources Department, adjusted his glasses, looked at Tang Feifan in front of him, and persuaded:

"I know you definitely want to go back to Tangshan, but you have to think carefully. This is a considerable sum of money. From any perspective, my suggestion is that you wait until the contract expires next year. By then, at least you can avoid personal losses."

"It's just a loss, Minister Zhao, please help me calculate a number as soon as possible."

Tang Feifan said directly.

"This may take a long time. You know, it involves human resources, finance, legal affairs, and several other departments. There are salaries, bonuses, and dividends. Oh, and we also need an audit of the projects you have presided over..."

Zhao Chuanhai gave a series of reasons. In fact, they had encountered such things before, but HR always found ways to prevent or delay their resignation, and sometimes, they even went to court.

In short, there are almost no people who can quit their job within a year!
"Please help me, Minister Zhao. Please help me."

It is not easy to resign in Nanyang. Tang Feifan, who was sure that he would not be able to handle things well in one go, left the Human Resources Department and returned to the laboratory. Work had to go on, but as soon as he arrived at the laboratory, he received a call from the general manager. After hanging up the phone, Tang Feifan muttered to himself.

"Is it because I want to resign?"

Although he was doubtful, Tang Feifan still went to the manager's office. When he saw him, Zhu Huayun pointed to the soft chair in front of the desk and said:

"Dr. Tang, please take a seat."

Although he had learned from the HR department that Dr. Tang was going to resign, Zhu Huayun was not worried at all. The HR department had plenty of ways to stop him from leaving. If the HR department couldn't do it, there was still the legal department. To deal with similar things, Nanyang's companies already had a set of effective procedures. Just follow the procedures. Five years ago, someone wanted to resign, and the relevant matters have not been handled until now. For large companies and large enterprises, it is inevitable that there will be some bureaucracy, and it is inevitable that there will be some disputes between the two sides.

Therefore, Zhu Huayun would not intervene in such matters. In fact, even if he needed to intervene, he would express his understanding and support and tell the other party that this would always be his home.

"Manager Zhu, I..."

As soon as Tang Feifan sat down and was about to speak, Zhu Huayun interrupted him, took out a report and said:
"Dr. Tang, there is an emergency that needs your attention."

"Emergencies?"

After taking the report and just taking a few quick glances at it, Tang Feifan raised his eyebrows and said solemnly.

"Manager, a new influenza virus has been discovered in Hong Kong Island... It looks like the situation is not optimistic. This is a deadly influenza virus. According to the report, it should have been introduced to Hong Kong Island from outside. In the future, it is very likely to spread to all parts of the world and become a global pandemic."

As a microbiologist and virologist, Tang Feifan realized that this could be a pandemic just from this simple report.

Nodding, Zhu Huayun said.

"That's what I'm worried about - I'm worried that this will be a deadly flu pandemic, like the 1918 flu pandemic."

After these words were spoken, Tang Feifan's expression became even more solemn. The influenza pandemic claimed the lives of tens of millions of people!
Thinking of the damage that the influenza pandemic brought to the world, Tang Feifan said without hesitation:
"Manager, what can I do for you?"

Zhu Huayun looked at Tang Feifan and said:
"That's right. As we speak, the company has already sent investigators to Hong Kong Island. They will investigate the source and spread of the virus locally, collect virus samples, and then bring the samples back to Southeast Asia. Dr. Tang, you are the best virology expert in our company. I hope you can lead the research and development of related vaccines."

After a pause, Zhu Huayun's tone became serious.

"I don't know if this flu will develop into a worldwide pandemic, but I hope we can be prepared before it spreads, before it sweeps the world! Facing diseases, we can't always passively defend, we have to take the initiative to attack, and the development of vaccines is an active attack!"

Faced with such a request, Tang Feifan naturally could not refuse, and his resignation had to come to an end.

……

On February 2, a C21 landed at Kai Tak Airport and passengers walked out of the plane one after another. Among the group of passengers, a dozen passengers were particularly conspicuous. When they passed the customs inspection, the customs officer just glanced at their passports and said.

"Welcome to Hong Kong Island. Mr. Thomas from the Hong Kong government has been waiting for you for a long time."

Soon, the group walked out of the customs, and several Hong Kong government officials came up to them and said.

"Dr. Fang, welcome,"

"Mr. Thomas, when can we start work?"

Fang Jingzhi asked. He was an investigator sent by the Nanyang Health Department to investigate the influenza pandemic in Hong Kong Island. Two days ago, a report from Jianmin Pharmaceutical was sent to the Health Department. After the director saw it, he immediately ordered him to lead an investigation team to Hong Kong Island.

Thomas pointed to the Chinese official standing beside him and introduced:
"Any time. This is Mr. Charles. He will accompany you throughout the investigation."

After a brief greeting, they got into the car. The car was not the British car that the British usually drive, but a BMW. In the past five years, BMW has been conquering the UK and the entire Commonwealth and colonies. It is not only popular with official agencies, but also very popular among the rich, especially in tropical regions. The reason is simple - it has air conditioning. It was not until last year that Rolls-Royce launched its first car with air conditioning, and even so, its car air conditioner was imported from Southeast Asia.

After entering the car, it was warm inside compared to the cold outside. As soon as he got in the car, Li Xingjie said.

"Doctor, it's nice to meet you. My Chinese name is Li Xingjie, you can just call me Ajie. Are we going to the hotel now, or..."

Although Li Xingjie's Mandarin is a bit stiff, there is no problem with basic communication, Fang Jingzhi said.

"Where are the people from Jianmin Company? I want to meet them first. They have already arrived here. Let's get in touch with them and get the first information first..."

(End of this chapter)