Before work resumed that afternoon, all employees of the Weishan Island Branch received their wages for August, which somewhat helped to stabilize morale.

Vice Director Yan Huaiyi felt relieved, as the urgent crisis was finally resolved.

Meanwhile, they also received the latest appointment from the hospital for Xu Chunliang, appointing Xu Chunliang as the Special Assistant to the Dean.

This appointment was quite intriguing. In the past, there were positions called Assistant to the Dean, which were generally equivalent to a department head level, assisting the Dean in handling various internal and external affairs. Gu Houyi never established this position during his term.

Zhao Feiyang added the word "Special" before Assistant, giving this position a particular significance. It could be understood as an appointment specifically to resolve issues at the Weishan Island Branch or as a promotion beyond the usual level, considering Xu Chunliang was just an ordinary staff member. Zhao Feiyang had to be cautious with his appointment.

Recalling how Xu Chunliang voluntarily went to the town to resolve the unrest among the branch's employees, Yan Huaiyi realized that this guy came with a mission. Zhao Feiyang was playing tricks, first assuring the salary payment and then backtracking, leaving him in a difficult position.

In the end, it was Xu Chunliang who managed to secure a month's salary, and Yan Huaiyi believed it was all Zhao Feiyang's doing, a way to help Xu Chunliang build his reputation, making him out to be the good guy.

Yan Huaiyi felt somewhat frustrated, but since he was about to leave Changxing, there was no need to let such trivial matters affect his mood. Xu Chunliang was, after all, Zhao Feiyang's person; regardless of his stance, his personal abilities were commendable, and besides, he had helped cure his hiccups.

The wage dispute temporarily settled, Yan Huaiyi decided to host a quality control meeting to convey higher-level instructions and specifically invited Xu Chunliang to attend.

Xu Chunliang received the call while wandering around the branch's premises.

As he passed by Daping's Hardware Store, a basin of water was suddenly thrown out. If not for his quick reflexes, he would have been drenched.

Xu Chunliang looked up to see Xu Daping, who rolled her eyes at him. She blamed Xu Chunliang for her brother Xu Daqing's detention and naturally disliked him. The dirty water was intentionally aimed but missed its mark.

Xu Chunliang hung up the call and entered the hardware store, which occupied two storefronts, totaling over a hundred square meters.

He had inquired about the prices, and similar premises in town rented for about thirty thousand a year, meaning Xu Daping owed the hospital approximately ninety thousand in rent.

That was just her shop; there were currently thirteen operational storefronts, and since Changxing took over, not a penny in rent had been collected.

Upon seeing him enter, Xu Daping asked gruffly, "What do you want?"

Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "Can't I come to our hospital's premises?"

Xu Daping said, "I rented it."

"And the rent?"

"Mind your own business, you busybody."

Xu Chunliang didn't bother to argue with the shrew, and seeing that time was almost up, he headed to the hospital for the meeting.

The hospital's meeting room was quite basic, with most of the quality control team already present. Jin Yonghao wasn't there; it was said he had an emergency leave, suffering from hemorrhoids. He had heard that a traditional Chinese doctor named Liu in Shiliang Village had a secret remedy, so he went to check it out.

Vice Director Zhang Haibin was the last to arrive, and since the quality control team's arrival, he had been noticeably uncooperative.

Once everyone was present, Yan Huaiyi announced the start of the meeting. He first addressed the recent events at the branch; since August's wages were paid, everyone's mood had noticeably calmed.

He then handed the floor to Tang Mingmei, who read aloud the specific files and regulations for this quality control inspection from Changxing.

Zhang Haibin habitually took out a cigarette. Before he could light it, Xu Chunliang stopped him: "Dean Zhang, no smoking during the meeting."

Zhang Haibin ignored him and lit the cigarette nonchalantly, saying with a smile, "I'm used to it; I feel uneasy without smoking." He took a deep drag, thinking, "You're picking a fight with me in public, and I haven't settled the score with you over Xu Daqing yet."

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side, grabbed the cigarette from his mouth, and stomped it out on the floor.

Everyone was stunned, and Zhang Haibin was a bit dumbfounded. This guy was too arrogant!

Xu Chunliang said, "Didn't you hear? Nurse Chief Tang just announced that during the quality inspection, no employees are allowed to smoke in the work area. As Vice Director, shouldn't you set an example?"

Zhang Haibin was so angry his face turned green: "Is this a work area?"

Xu Chunliang looked at Yan Huaiyi, who thought that Xu Chunliang was trying to drag him into trouble, so he coughed and said, "Comrade Haibin, please observe the discipline."

Zhang Haibin was furious: "Can't we do something practical? What's all this 6S, 5S nonsense? This Weishan Island, not Dongzhou. The situations are different, and we can't use their standards to measure ours."

Yan Huaiyi knew he was exploiting the situation. He had always been dissatisfied, and many of the branch's troubles were related to him.

Yan Huaiyi said, "Isn't Weishan Island Hospital part of Changxing? Aren't you part of Changxing? As a member of Changxing, you must comply... comply with Changxing's discipline."

Zhang Haibin said, "Dean Yan, you all should go outside and listen to the voices of the people. Instead of quality checks, think about how to quickly pay off the delayed wages."

Xu Chunliang said, "Vice Director Zhang, you're very dissatisfied with Changxing."

Zhang Haibin shook his head and said, "That's not true, I'm just telling the truth."

Xu Chunliang said, "Since you like telling the truth so much, I want to ask, where has the rent for the storefronts around the hospital gone over the years?"

Zhang Haibin said, "They don't pay, I can't collect it, Dean Jin can't collect it either, what can I do? If you have the ability, go ask for it yourself!"

"What about the lease agreements?"

Zhang Haibin pretended not to hear, picked up a teacup, and took a sip.

Xu Chunliang said, "As far as I know, you rented out those storefronts. Are there lease agreements? If there are none, I'll report this to the disciplinary department."

"Of course, there are!" Zhang Haibin exploded in anger, glaring at Xu Chunliang, "What do you mean by this? Are you targeting me?"

Yan Huaiyi hurried to intervene, "Everyone, calm down, we're all here for the benefit of the hospital. Let's speak calmly."

Xu Chunliang said, "Comrade Zhang Haibin, I represent Changxing in demanding that you immediately provide the lease agreements for the surrounding tenants."

Zhang Haibin laughed, "Xiaoxu, although Changxing has taken over Weishan Island Hospital, we're currently in a leasing relationship. Changxing does not own the property rights to this hospital, and you have no right to demand the lease agreements from me."

"You may choose not to provide them. I hope you never do."

"It seems there's no need for me to participate in this meeting. Changxing has always been exclusionary and suspicious of us." Zhang Haibin angrily left.

Seeing the situation escalate like this, Yan Huaiyi had no choice but to adjourn the meeting. Afterward, he found Xu Chunliang and blamed him for being too hasty, saying he should have at least discussed it with him beforehand.

Xu Chunliang told Yan Huaiyi that there was something fishy about this matter, that Zhang Haibin was a troublemaker, and Xu Daqing, Zhang Haitao, and their group all followed his lead. To carry out quality control work smoothly, Zhang Haibin, the source of trouble, must be removed first.

Yan Huaiyi just wanted to safely get through this period. Once he returned to Dongzhou, his transfer order should come through, and he'd leave Changxing for good, wanting to avoid any further issues.

Now he somewhat regretted actively bringing Xu Chunliang over. This guy is a troublemaker wherever he goes, and Zhao Feiyang's assistant is certainly something special.

Zhang Haitao was washing his car in the backyard when suddenly a bucket of water was poured over his head, soaking him completely. The key issue was that this bucket of water was the dirty water he used for cleaning the car.

Rubbing the dirty water from his face, Zhang Haitao shouted, "Who the hell..."

He was already kicked hard on his bottom, causing him to lunge forward and bang his forehead on the car window. Through the reflection, he saw Xu Chunliang behind him.

Xu Chunliang grabbed his hair and pressed his face against the car window, flattening Zhang Haitao's facial muscles: "Let... go..." He spoke incomprehensibly because his mouth was pressed against the window.

Xu Chunliang said, "Didn't I tell you already? I would definitely come looking for you."

Zhang Haitao struggled with all his might, but unfortunately, he had no ability to fight back against him.

Xu Chunliang released him, and Zhang Haitao turned to lunge at him, only to be kicked in the stomach by Xu Chunliang, making him clutch his belly and kneel: "Xu Chunliang... you... you just wait..."

Xu Chunliang chuckled, "It's not scary to be stupid, what's scary is being stupid and unaware. As long as I report last night's matter to the police, all three of you are going in."

"I'm not afraid of you!" Zhang Haitao, despite his tough words, was already panicking inside.

Xu Chunliang opened his phone, replayed last night's recording, and looked down at Zhang Haitao, "Still not admitting it? Do you want me to bring those two out to confront you?"

Zhang Haitao gritted his teeth, "At worst, I'll be detained for a few days. If you dare call the police, I'll make sure you can't go back to Dongzhou..."

Smack!

Xu Chunliang slapped him hard, making Zhang Haitao see stars. Covering his face, he didn't dare to retaliate, already intimidated psychologically. That slap left him completely daunted.

"With behavior like yours? Don't brag if you don't have the skills. Do you think it's just a few days in detention? Xu Daqing has already been fired. You're the same. Look at how young you are, how can you be so brainless? Whatever Zhang Haibin tells you to do, you do? If he told you to eat shit, would you go?"

Zhang Haitao stayed silent.

Xu Chunliang said, "Let me tell you something, Zhang Haibin is in trouble. The hospital is investigating him. In the past, when he was the director, he accepted bribes, violating multiple laws and regulations. He's probably going in. If you have any brains, you'll cut ties with him quickly."

Zhang Haitao was a simple-minded person with a strong build. His little brain couldn't compete with Xu Chunliang's. Holding his face, he said, "Stop trying to fool me."

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