94: From Technological Warfare to Space Empire

Two days passed after the incident.

Lin Yu submitted an academic report on lead poisoning and gasoline-related issues to Guangming Daily through Song Shu, but has yet to receive a response.

In March, Beijing still carries the lingering traces of winter in the wind; the spring sunshine is warm, but the spring wind is chilly.

Lin Yu waited in his office for two days, but the news he received chilled him to the bone.

When Zhang Guoqiang pushed open the door, his face was even more grim than it had been two days earlier when he discovered the problem with the gasoline.

"Comrade Lin, the health and epidemic prevention station... is stuck."

Lin Yu raised his head, his forehead furrowed into a cross.

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Guoqiang took off his hat, clenched it in his hand and rubbed it a couple of times to vent his anger, then said somewhat helplessly:

"The test results are out. The gasoline from those gas stations had tetraethyl lead levels that exceeded the standard by three to five times. But the people at the epidemic prevention station said that this stuff... has no national standard."

Lin Yu was stunned.

There are no national standards?!

That's not right. He checked these past two days and found that a mandatory national standard for lead content in gasoline was issued last September. How can you say there's no national standard?

Upon hearing this question, Zhang Guoqiang's face showed anger:

"Those people said the document hasn't reached its effective date yet, so this standard doesn't count."

"Moreover, there are only prescribed content standards, not testing standards. They have no idea what constitutes a violation, so they used this to cover it up."

Lin Yu slammed his fist on the table. "This is fucking allowed?"

Many national policies are ruined by the implementation of lower-level officials. For example, in later times, there are green channels for agricultural products on highways, but the implementers insist that potatoes are seeds, not products, and want to fine truck drivers. But when a reporter is contacted, they immediately change their tune.

"What about the police?"

"It's stuck too." Zhang Guoqiang's voice was even lower:

"The police said there was no evidence that Wu Xiangrong knew that tetraethyl lead was toxic."

"He said the additives he imported from the United States were legal, and he had all the necessary documents, including customs declarations, contracts, and invoices."

"The US hasn't completely banned this yet; they import it as an industrial raw material to improve oil quality..."

Lin Yu leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes tightly, and felt a little dizzy.

Yes...that's true.

The United States began promoting unleaded gasoline in 1975 and completely banned the use of leaded gasoline in new cars in 1986.

But that applies to the US domestic market; as for exports...

American companies don't care about that.

They'd love to clear out all their inventory.

It's simply impossible to write that your product has a problem on the export declaration.

"Where is the Environmental Protection Bureau?"

Zhang Guoqiang smiled wryly:

"The Environmental Protection Bureau inspected the soil and water sources around those gas stations, and the lead content was indeed high. But the problem is the same: there are no standards, no basis, and no way to punish this. And..."

He paused:

"And they discovered that 100% of the gas stations in Beijing were using leaded gasoline."

"If they really want to investigate, all the gas stations in the city will have to be shut down."

Zhang Guoqiang gritted his teeth and finally said:

"Chief Hou's opinion is also that this matter has too many implications, and he is worried about your personal safety if you continue to investigate."

Lin Yu fell silent; so this was the crux of the problem.

It's not that Wu Xiangrong had a powerful protector, but rather that the era itself was on his side.

In 1994, China was just beginning to popularize automobiles on a large scale.

Santana, Xiali, Alto – one new car after another drove onto the streets.

Without this leaded gasoline that can prevent explosions, these cars simply cannot run.

The oil refinery's technology is so outdated that without adding tetraethyl lead, the octane rating won't be high enough, and the cars will break down.

Lin Yu recalled the information he had found in the past two days: China's complete ban on the sale of leaded gasoline was in 2000.

It's only 1994 now, a full six years earlier.

"Comrade Lin..."

Zhang Guoqiang was about to say something when Lin Yu raised his hand to interrupt him.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the factory had already stopped operating. Workers were pushing carts around the material yard, but they were just idly sorting out the products.

Nothing will change until someone brings it up.

We can still breathe air, attend classes, and eat meat.

Compared to chronic diseases caused by poisoning the body, what people fear more is actually poverty.

What I fear is not having a present, but having no future.

This is just BJ, but it will definitely not be limited to BJ.

This type of leaded gasoline is used throughout the country.

He knew that under the same sky, millions of children were inhaling lead-containing exhaust fumes.

The lead they inhaled will stay with them as they grow up.

But there's nothing he can do now.

Lin Yu clenched his fists and punched the wall with some resentment.

It's the same old story: because of a lack of money, one has to bear the consequences.

He is a child of later generations, a child who grew up under the great tree that his predecessors painstakingly built.

The price was paid by those who came before, while he enjoys the happiness of modern life.

He admitted that he hadn't done anything significant in building society in his previous life, but as an orphan, he had genuinely enjoyed a lot of happiness.

So now, he loathes this impoverished era that forces those who build society to sweat, bleed, and weep.

The tetraethyl lead issue was bigger than anything he had ever encountered before.

Extracting titanium from steel slag represents a breakthrough in knowledge and technology, and it can help control some pollution. But at best, its only use is to clean up the environment sooner and make some money, while at most offending a few competitors.

Cracking GPS signals is a military secret, at most a high level of secrecy. There's no war going to break out now; at most, it's about preserving national defense pride.

But this gasoline...

This is a public nuisance!

The entire city of Beijing, with tens of millions of people, breathes lead-containing exhaust fumes every day, causing their blood lead levels to rise daily.

Children become less intelligent, adults become more irritable, memory declines, and reactions become sluggish.

These symptoms are so common that no one would suspect poisoning.

This matter was so significant that he found it difficult to bear.

"Hold."

Lin Yu cursed, stood up, and walked to the window.

Outside the window, several workers who had just finished get off work were riding their bicycles home, their baskets filled with steamed buns they had brought from the canteen.

They chatted and laughed, completely unaware of what was in the air they breathed every day.

Xiao Zhao, who had been beaten by thugs, was among them.

Lin Yu could hardly contain his anger.

Unable to challenge the entire industry...

At least...

Wu Xiangrong must at least pay the price!

His gasoline is of good quality, so let's start with him!

At least when regular gasoline is usable, we shouldn't let it produce more toxins.

This old dog that added excessive amounts of tetraethyl lead!

Have any of the children of the drivers who refueled at Wu Xiangrong's oil refinery had their blood lead levels checked?

Has anyone tested the lead content in the drinking water of residents living near the oil refinery?

Lin Yu put the report on the table, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.

"Uncle Hou, it's me."

A deep voice came from the other end of the phone: "I understand the situation. What are your plans?"

Lin Yu remained silent for two seconds.

I'd like to borrow someone.

"Who?"

"From a health and epidemic prevention station. Preferably one that can test blood lead levels."

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.

"What are you going to do?"

Lin Yu looked at the darkening sky outside the window and said, word by word:

"I'd like to get a free medical checkup."

"For the residents near Xiangrong Refinery, and the drivers who often refuel there."

"It's free."