Zhang Junke said, "The stuff is a bit heavy, no wonder everyone is complaining. But isn't it because there's more? The total value definitely exceeds 600 yuan. They're not happy if we don't give it, and they're not happy if we give too much. Our union is really in a tough spot."

Yu Xiangdong smiled and said nothing. The value of holiday gifts is subjective; the retail price might exceed it, but the wholesale price definitely doesn't. Otherwise, what do middlemen make money on? Ever since we got a new dean, even the holiday benefits have changed style. It's truly a change in management.

Zhang Junke continued, "It's lively like this, with a festive atmosphere." He was also dissatisfied. In the past, there weren't so many troubles. Just handing out a shopping voucher would do. Now, it makes their union work exhausting and thankless, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Yu Xiangdong said, "The seller is called Yang Dazao, right? The specialty store in the development zone is his. What's your relationship with him?"

Zhang Junke looked over. A middle-aged man in a gray jacket was there directing workers to move goods. The person Yu Xiangdong referred to as Yang Dazao was him. His real name is Yang Feng, involved in the specialty business. Because he mainly sells Shanxi jujubes, he's jokingly called Yang Dazao.

Zhang Junke smiled bitterly, "What relationship could I have with him? Even if I did, it wouldn't matter."

Despite being the union chairman, he's only responsible for distributing the gifts in this matter. As for whose goods to bring in or in what form to distribute them, he has no say at all. It's said that this time the canteen manager, Geng Sijian, helped source the goods.

At this moment, Xu Chunliang and Cheng Xiaohong came over. They were also there to collect their holiday gifts, choosing to take the garden path and happened to meet up.

Yu Xiangdong hadn't seen Xu Chunliang for a while and greeted him proactively, "Director Xu is back."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Section Chief Yu, just call me Xiaoxu."

Yu Xiangdong said, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would've forgotten you're now Dean Xu." He handed Xu Chunliang a cigarette, but Xu Chunliang waved his hand, indicating he didn't smoke. Actually, Yu Xiangdong knew giving a cigarette was mainly a polite gesture, as offering cigarettes has become a form of etiquette among smokers.

Cheng Xiaohong went off to line up first. Zhang Junke let them chat while he turned around to maintain order again.

Xu Chunliang glanced outside. The scene was indeed not small. Just now, Zheng Peian called him, asking him to help pick up his share too.

Yu Xiangdong asked when he would return to the branch. Xu Chunliang told him that he was merely an honorary dean and that the hospital didn't require him to be stationed at the branch. His work position is still in the medical office.

Yu Xiangdong took a drag of his cigarette and kindly reminded him that after the holiday, a new director, Zeng Honglin, would be coming to the medical office.

Yu Xiangdong's attitude toward Xu Chunliang had shifted from disdain to admiration. The Security Department interacts with the medical office frequently, so Yu Xiangdong clearly saw how things changed before and after Xu Chunliang joined the medical office. Ever since Xu Chunliang went there, he handled several disputes one after another, and they were mostly resolved smoothly. That's ability. People with ability are respected wherever they go.

Of course, Yu Xiangdong believed that Xu Chunliang was likely to be given significant responsibilities. But to progress on the administrative path, one's rank needs to be elevated. Whether you're a special assistant to the dean or a deputy dean of a branch, those are just titles not recognized by the system. They only apply within the scope of Changxing. To achieve a substantive promotion, one must first become a deputy section chief. Only by becoming a deputy section chief can one transition from the masses to becoming an official.

Xu Chunliang chatted with Yu Xiangdong briefly, suddenly hearing Cheng Xiaohong start arguing outside.

Cheng Xiaohong was pulling a cart, this time helping to collect holiday gifts for the medical office. Xu Chunliang also asked her to take Zheng Peian's share along.

The person in charge of registration was the canteen manager, Geng Sijian. He became impatient when he heard Cheng Xiaohong wanted to collect items for the TCM department, telling her that everyone received their items according to their department to avoid special treatment and increased workload.

Cheng Xiaohong believed that as they were all hospital employees, a little leniency wasn't too much to ask. But unexpectedly, Geng Sijian waved her off, telling her to hurry up and leave without wasting time. This guy usually had two faces in the hospital, bowing low with a smile for the leaders while being cold towards the ordinary folks. Since contracting the canteen, he acted like a small official, becoming somewhat conceited and clueless.

Cheng Xiaohong lost her temper, shouting at Geng Sijian, "What makes you so arrogant? Aren't you just running a canteen? Can't you just make things a little easier since we're all part of the same hospital?"

"No way!" Geng Sijian shouted loudly, startling Cheng Xiaohong.

Cheng Xiaohong said, "Why can't we collect them on others' behalf? Just now, didn't the Aesthetic Medicine Center pick up items for the Urology Department too?"

"They're a couple."

"So what if they're a couple? Being a couple doesn't mean they should get special treatment."

Geng Sijian felt that Cheng Xiaohong looked down on him. So what if he was running a canteen? As the canteen manager, he controlled the stomachs of the staff and patients. Didn't she understand such a simple principle as 'people live by food'?

At this point, Xu Chunliang came over. Of course, he sided with Cheng Xiaohong. "No means no, what's with all the yelling?"

Geng Sijian, having little interaction with the medical office, didn't care about Xu Chunliang. "What did you say? Who's yelling? Weren't you guys the ones yelling first? After you pick up your things, hurry and leave, don't damn waste our work time."

Xu Chunliang heard him curse and pointed at him, swearing, "Who the hell are you cursing at?"

Geng Sijian was also quite obstinate, yelling with his neck stretched, "What? You want to hit me?"

Yu Xiangdong heard the commotion and rushed over to help mediate, suggesting that Geng Sijian just hand the items over to Cheng Xiaohong. It was a minor issue, after all. Unexpectedly, Geng Sijian insisted on sticking to the rules, pointing out that if everyone bypassed departmental channels like this, chaos would ensue.

Yu Xiangdong also felt a bit awkward about the situation, worried that Xu Chunliang might blow up. He pulled him aside to calm him down, offering to have someone pick up the items and deliver them later.

Although Xu Chunliang was a bit angry, he wasn't about to lose his cool in front of so many colleagues. Instead, he asked Yu Xiangdong about Geng Sijian's background.

Yu Xiangdong informed him that Geng Sijian was recently promoted to the position of cafeteria contractor, having previously worked as a regular logistical staff member. Apparently, he has some connections with Zhao Feiyang. This guy has become quite arrogant lately, sparking conflicts all around. Ever since he took over the cafeteria, the quality of the food has been declining, and staff complaints have been rising.

Zhang Junke, having heard about this, also came over. Everyone in administration knows that Xu Chunliang is not someone to be trifled with.

Zhang Junke discreetly reminded Geng Sijian that Xu Chunliang is the special assistant to the Dean, a favorite of Dean Zhao. Despite this, Geng Sijian stubbornly insisted that even if it were Xu Chunliang, or even the Dean himself, the rules couldn't be changed.

Yu Xiangdong thought to himself how blind this guy must be. There was no way Xu Chunliang would swallow this kind of humiliation.

Originally, Xu Chunliang planned to go home for lunch, but now he decided to get a work meal at the cafeteria instead.

Do not overlook a small good deed because it seems trivial, nor commit a small evil deed because it seems insignificant.

However, for those who show malice towards him, he must reciprocate with the greatest malice. In Xu Chunliang's view, punishing evil is a good deed in itself.

Xu Chunliang wanted to have lunch at the cafeteria with Cheng Xiaohong, but she found the thought of cafeteria food sickening and preferred to order takeout. She reminded Xu Chunliang not to forget to watch them when they swipe cards, as the cafeteria often overcharges.

Recently, relations between Yang Zhen Gang and Xu Chunliang have improved, so they went for lunch together.

The staff cafeteria was on the second floor. They arrived just at lunchtime, and the line was long, filled with numerous familiar faces. Xu Chunliang ran into Yu Mo, the deputy director of the gynecology department, who greeted him with a smile, "Xiaoxu, when did you return?"

"Just got back yesterday. Today's my first day back at work."

Yu Mo offered to pay for him. Xu Chunliang declined. Yang Zhen Gang, standing in front of him, already had his meal. Xu Chunliang ordered the exact same thing, as Cheng Xiaohong had warned. Yang Zhen Gang's meal cost twelve, while Xu Chunliang's was thirteen.

Xu Chunliang glanced at the canteen lady, "What's going on? My meal is identical to his; why is mine a yuan more?"

Yang Zhen Gang also found it odd. The two meals were identical. Either he was undercharged, or Xu Chunliang was overcharged.

The lady gave Xu Chunliang a disdainful look, "Made a mistake, never seen a young man like you, all worked up over a single yuan."

Xu Chunliang placed his tray on the counter. He didn't like what he'd heard. What do you mean by "Is a yuan such a big deal?" A yuan may be small, but it's still money from my card.

Xu Chunliang said, "Get your manager out here. Everyone's charged an extra yuan, and with hundreds eating here daily, doesn't that add up to thousands daily? How's that different from daylight robbery?"

Yang Zhen Gang, always eager for drama, also placed his tray on the counter. "What the hell's going on? I've suspected your cafeteria charges are off. Just a muddled mess, the food's awful, and you charge so damn much!"

Normally, though the hospital staff privately grumbled about the cafeteria food quality, they rarely made a fuss, considering they all worked in the same hospital. But everyone held their grievances. Once Xu Chunliang kicked up a fuss, many joined in, claiming their charges were also incorrect. It had happened many times before. The cafeteria's billing was outrageously non-transparent.

Geng Sijian showed up at the commotion, loudly saying, "Everyone, please calm down. A temporary worker made a calculation error. I apologize. Rest assured, it's just an isolated incident."

"I could forgive a billing error. What's this then?" Xu Chunliang picked a fly out of his dish.

It was only then that Geng Sijian realized it was Xu Chunliang and understood things were not going to end well. He had heard about Xu Chunliang's reputation and somewhat regretted publicly confronting him earlier. He didn't expect Xu Chunliang to follow up on it so soon.

Looking at the fly, he swallowed hard and said, "Our hygiene has always been strict."

"Then explain to me what this is?"

Geng Sijian pinched the thing and popped it in his mouth, saying, "Clearly just a leaf of cabbage."

This guy was ruthless. In handling emergencies, this was his only move; otherwise, the situation could spiral out of control. Even he was impressed by his own audacity and wit. Wasn't it just a fly? Breaking it down, it's all protein in the end.

Xu Chunliang prodded his dish with chopsticks and picked out another fly, "And what's this?"

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