Now that they've all been reborn, who wouldn't be living life to the fullest?

October 16th, Wednesday.

The latest issue of the Nancheng City News has quietly appeared at various newsstands in Nancheng.

The front-page headline wasn't particularly eye-catching—"Cases of urinary stones in infants and young children surge, suspected to be related to a certain brand of infant formula."

The article, written in a calm and objective tone, lists similar case data from multiple hospitals in three provinces over the past three months, with highly consistent symptoms: infants and young children crying for no reason, having difficulty urinating, and experiencing developmental delays, ultimately diagnosed with urinary system stones.

The article cites anonymous interviews with three pediatricians, all of whom stated that "the clustering of cases is highly unusual" and "is likely related to a common ingestion of certain substances."

In the final paragraph, the author subtly mentions:

"Some family members have reported that the child had been consuming a certain type of formula for a long time. However, the specific brand, batch, and definitive causal link still require further investigation by relevant departments." The entire document avoids mentioning any specific brand names, employing cautious wording and leaving room for interpretation.

Eight o'clock in the morning, on the streets of Nancheng.

As usual, Old Zhang, the newspaper vendor, placed the newly arrived "Hong Kong Economic Journal" in the most conspicuous position on his stall.

The newspaper usually doesn't sell very well, but today's headline... He squinted at it several times with his old eyes and shook his head.

"What a mess... I wonder which unscrupulous factory it is," he muttered.

The first person to buy a newspaper was an elderly woman who had just returned from her morning exercise, carrying a vegetable basket.

"Old Zhang, a copy of the *Nancheng Evening News*, please... Hey, what's this?"

Her eyes caught the front page of the Hong Kong Economic Journal: "Infant Kidney Stones? Baby Formula?"

Old Zhang handed over the newspaper: "Take a look, it just came out. It says that some babies have gotten sick from drinking formula."

The old lady took the newspaper and stood by the newsstand to read it.

After reading it, she pursed her lips and handed the newspaper back:

"That's utter nonsense! What could possibly be wrong with baby formula? My grandson drinks Sanlu, and the magazine says it's best suited for Chinese babies! I saw my grandson drink it, and his head is bigger than other babies'; he's definitely going to be smart! I don't know which tabloid made this up, just trying to grab attention, right?"

Old Zhang chuckled but didn't reply.

The old lady paid for the evening newspaper, picked up her vegetable basket, and left.

Office workers gradually came to buy newspapers.

"Oh, this headline...is it about baby formula?"

"They didn't name names; they were being vague."

"It's probably some small brand that got into trouble again. Big brands are regulated by the government, so it's unlikely."

"However, families with young children really need to be careful. My aunt's child seems to have been feeling unwell lately..."

"I've never heard of this Hong Kong Economic Journal before. Is it reliable? Or is it just a rumor?"

Discussions arose around the newsstand, but most people remained hesitant or skeptical, and did not immediately associate it with a national brand like Sanlu.

At the same time, related posts also began to appear on online forums.

Warning! Suspected milk powder causing kidney stones in infants; parents should take note!

Is it true or false that a newspaper claims to have discovered multiple cases related to infant formula?

Have any mothers taken their children for a check-up recently?

The posts mostly reprinted or summarized the Hong Kong Economic Journal's report. Since there were no specific brands, the discussion focused on the general topic of "milk powder safety" and questioned the credibility of the Hong Kong Economic Journal.

"Is this another clickbait title? They won't even mention which brand it is?"

"My child drinks XX brand, is it okay? I'm worried."

"Nancheng City News? What kind of shady media is that? I've never even heard of it. It might be paid to smear our competitors."

"In any case, no matter how small the matter is, it is important to the children. I hope the relevant departments can investigate."

"I think it's just creating panic. Major brands of milk powder have strict testing procedures."

The comments were a mix of doubts about the report's authenticity, speculations about industry manipulation, and general concerns, but no concentrated condemnation was formed against any particular brand.

But the seed of "there might be a problem with the milk powder" has been planted to some extent.

……

At 9:30 a.m., in the general manager's office of Sanlu Group's Nancheng branch.

Wang Jianjun stared at the copy of the "Nancheng City News" on the table, his face ashen.

"What the hell kind of lousy newspaper is this?!" He slammed the newspaper to the ground. "Who gave them the nerve?!"

He knows his own business best. Although the report didn't name Sanlu by name, how could he not know it was referring to Sanlu?!

The secretary stood nervously to the side: "Mr. Wang, we have already contacted the newspaper, but they are very firm, saying that the report is based on facts and they are not afraid of confrontation."

"Facts? What utter nonsense!" Wang Jianjun roared. "Our Sanlu products are exempt from national inspection! They're for astronauts only! This is slander! This is malicious competition!"

He paced back and forth in his office like a trapped beast.

"Immediately! Contact the legal department right now and sue this lousy newspaper! Sue them until they're bankrupt!"

"Also, prepare a press release immediately, stating that this is a malicious smear campaign by our competitors! Contact all major media outlets and publish positive reports about us!"

"Notify all distributors to stabilize market sentiment. Anyone who dares to return goods will not be allowed to cooperate with us again!"

A series of instructions were issued, and the secretary nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I'll take care of it right away!"

Wang Jianjun, panting heavily, sat back down in his chair and stared at the newspaper on the floor.

He was actually a little panicked.

Others might not know, but he, as the branch manager, knew best—the group had indeed recently tampered with the raw materials to reduce costs and inflate protein test values…

But how could something that was done so discreetly have been leaked?

And it just so happens to be an obscure weekly newspaper in this small town of Nancheng.

"check!"

He yelled at his secretary, who hadn't left yet:

"Find out the background of this newspaper! Who is the editor-in-chief? Who provided them with the information? Is someone behind them?"

"Understood!" The secretary quickly left.

Wang Jianjun leaned back in his chair, rubbing his aching temples.

This matter must be suppressed at all costs.

……

10:00 AM, Nancheng Municipal Government, conference room.

An emergency meeting is being held.

Representatives from various departments, including the Health Bureau, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Industry and Commerce Bureau, attended the meeting.

Chen Weimin sat in the main seat, his face serious.

On the conference table were several copies of the "Nancheng City News" and a summary of recent cases of kidney stones in infants and young children, compiled overnight by the Health Bureau.

"Everyone has seen what happened," Chen Weimin said, his voice steady.

"The Hong Kong Economic Journal's report may be somewhat radical, but the case data is real. Over the past three months, there has indeed been an abnormal increase in cases of urinary tract stones in infants and young children in our city and surrounding areas."

He looked at the director of the health bureau: "Old Li, what do you say?"

Health Bureau Director Li Jianguo stood up and opened the document in his hand:

"Secretary, comrades. According to our preliminary statistics, over the past three months, hospitals at all levels in our city have admitted 127 suspected cases of infantile urinary stones related to milk powder. Data from surrounding cities is still being compiled, but we estimate the number will be no less."

"The symptoms are highly similar, the onset time is concentrated, and..." He paused, "the vast majority of the affected children had been consuming Sanlu brand infant formula for a long time."

A murmur of discussion broke out in the conference room.

The director of the Industry and Commerce Bureau frowned: "Old Li, you can't just say things like that. Sanlu is a leading enterprise, a national inspection-free product. If there's no solid evidence..."

"If I had solid evidence, I would have arrested them already!" Li Jianguo said irritably. "The trouble is precisely because we lack direct evidence!"

Chen Weimin raised his hand to stop the argument.

"Now is not the time to shirk responsibility."

He said, "It's a fact that ordinary people's children are getting sick. No matter whose responsibility is ultimately found, we, as a government department, must do something."

He looked at the director of the Food and Drug Administration: "Old Zhao, your side, immediately organize sampling and testing. Focus on Sanlu milk powder, but other brands should also be covered. The testing must be fast, accurate, and authoritative."

"Yes, Secretary!" Zhao Lijun, director of the Food and Drug Administration, nodded.

"The health bureau will continue to follow up on the case, do a good job in treating the child, and comfort the family."

"The Industry and Commerce Bureau should strengthen market supervision to prevent panic buying or returns from causing chaos."

"The Publicity Department should closely monitor public opinion trends, ensuring that the public is informed while also preventing the spread of rumors."

Each instruction was clear and unambiguous.

The heads of each department accepted the order.

Chen Weimin concluded by saying, "This matter is not just a problem in Nancheng. I will report it to my superiors. Until the investigation results are released, everyone should perform their duties and ensure the situation remains stable."

After the meeting, Chen Weimin returned to his office, and Secretary Sun followed him in.

"Secretary, what about the Hong Kong Economic Journal..." Secretary Sun asked in a low voice.

"Let them proceed with the second report as planned," Chen Weimin said, "but remind them to have solid evidence."

"Understood." Secretary Sun nodded. "And...what about Young Master Su?"

Chen Weimin remained silent for a few seconds.

"Leave him alone for now," he said. "This kid... he's more troublesome than I thought. Let's see what other tricks he has up his sleeve."

……