Xu Chunliang took two buns and shared them with Cheng Xiaohong and Zhou Wenbin to try.

The freshly steamed buns were still a bit hot. Zhou Wenbin, eating one, said, "Don't you find it a bit strange that Tong Meili and her husband suddenly stopped causing trouble?"

Cheng Xiaohong replied, "What's so strange about it? The appraisal results are out, and it wasn't a surgical accident. Director Cai isn't at fault. They know they're in the wrong, and continuing to make a fuss would only make them look bad."

Zhou Wenbin nodded. Although it wasn't a medical accident, the Tong Meili couple caused significant negative impact on Changxing. The cosmetic center's illegal charging practices were uncovered because of this incident, forcing Zeng Hongwen to prematurely terminate the contract and face huge fines from the relevant departments.

The financial loss is secondary because of this matter, Dean Gu Houyi was affected, leading him to choose to prematurely end his leadership career at Changxing, tarnishing his reputation.

The couple single-handedly ended Gu Houyi's rule over Changxing.

Cheng Xiaohong said, "Director Zhou, there are rumors everywhere saying our Dean Gu is going to the Science Committee. Is there any truth to it?"

"Young people, don't be so gossipy; hasn't our Dean Gu already refuted the rumor?" Zhou Wenbin glanced at Xu Chunliang. In this aspect, Cheng Xiaohong was no match for Xu Chunliang, who never asked things he shouldn't.

Zhou Wenbin had a meeting this afternoon, packed up to leave, but before he did, his old colleague Zheng Peian walked in.

Zheng Peian and Zhou Wenbin were both assigned to Changxing Hospital at the same time. He went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department. Unlike Zhou Wenbin, who has been diligently working at Changxing, Zheng Peian was quite restless, having ventured into businesses like opening a restaurant, selling exercise machines, and engaging in money lending, doing whatever was trending, though unfortunately, he wasn't cut out for business, seldom succeeding.

Ten years ago, he was swindled while lending money, losing hundreds of thousands of hard-earned cash. Resolutely, Zheng Peian handled a suspension of pay and position, heading south to open a healthcare clinic, practically a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. During this period, he rarely showed up at Changxing or kept in touch with colleagues.

Despite their same-year entry into the hospital and once sharing a dorm, they seldom interacted, thus only had an average relationship. Zhou Wenbin was surprised to see him: "Old Zheng, what brings you here?"

"What? Can't I come? I'm still officially an employee of Changxing Hospital."

Zhou Wenbin suddenly remembered that, not long ago at a hospital-wide meeting, Gu Houyi issued an order requiring all employees on long-term leave or suspension to report back to the hospital within a week for a unified medical examination and to sign new agreements.

The reason being someone reported Gu Houyi for exploiting his position to grant employees convenient privileges, allowing many Changxing employees to enjoy hospital benefits while running businesses outside, some earning quite handsomely.

Zhou Wenbin glanced at the dazzling Rolex on Zheng Peian's wrist, thinking to himself that during these ten years of suspension, Peian must have earned quite a bit, "Haven't seen you all these years, where have you been making your fortune?"

Zheng Peian chuckled, "What fortune? I've been working hard, barely surviving. If I were doing well, I would have quit long ago, instead of coming back to be ordered around by Old Gu." He took out a box of "95 Supreme" cigarettes, offered one to Zhou Wenbin, and didn't forget Xu Chunliang on the side, tossing one over to him.

Xu Chunliang took the cigarette but returned it, indicating he didn't smoke, finding Zheng Peian somewhat familiar, but couldn't recall where he'd seen him before.

Gazing at the young Xu Chunliang, Zheng Peian mused, "I haven't been back for so many years, I don't recognize these young people."

Zhou Wenbin quickly introduced, "These are two newcomers in our department. He's Xu Chunliang, and that's Cheng Xiaohong," then introduced Zheng Peian to the younger colleagues, "He is a famous figure in our Changxing Hospital, Director Zheng Peian from the Traditional Chinese Medicine department."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zheng Peian waved his hand, "I'm not any kind of director, just an old employee."

Xu Chunliang thought that Zhu Mingyuan's skills in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department weren't great, let alone this Zheng Peian, who's been on suspension.

After introductions, Zhou Wenbin told Zheng Peian, Xu Chunliang is the grandson of Elder Xu from Huichun Hall. Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Zheng Peian became excited, "Ah, Elder Xu's grandson! That's family! Elder Xu once guided me in acupuncture. I was wholeheartedly determined to take him as my teacher back then, though he didn't accept me. But in my heart, he's always been my teacher. If I remember correctly, your name is Xu Cong?"

Xu Chunliang politely smiled, having never heard his grandfather mention it before, thinking Zheng Peian was merely trying to ingratiate. Now, vaguely recalling, it seemed this person had indeed appeared at Huichun Hall, though it was a distant memory, relatively blurry.

Yet when he went home after work that evening, he found Zheng Peian actually bringing gifts to see his grandfather. The two were chatting warmly, Xu Changshan had prepared a sumptuous meal, and all the dishes were cooked by Zheng Peian himself, who was still busy in the kitchen wearing an apron when Xu Chunliang entered, clearly not considering himself an outsider.

Seeing Xu Chunliang return, Xu Changshan quickly invited him over with a smile: "Chunliang, come, let me introduce you. This is your Uncle Zheng."

Zheng Peian and Xu Chunliang both laughed, with Zheng Peian telling Xu Changshan they'd already met at the hospital today.

Xu Chunliang called him Uncle Zheng.

Xu Changshan asked him to change clothes first and then come downstairs for dinner.

Xu Changshan chose to entertain Zheng Peian in his small courtyard, which he'd organized quite nicely, filled with flowers and herbs. Looking around, it was a riot of color, and the evening air was filled with a faint scent of medicine.

This fragrance was refreshing, also serving the function of repelling mosquitoes and insects.

Zheng Peian recognized some of the plants as Scutellaria, Double Ninth Tree, Mexican Orange Blossom, Chinese Yam Rhizome, Polygonatum, Hibiscus, and Fig, and he couldn't stop praising the small courtyard run by Elder Xu. He also offered some suggestions, such as the courtyard lacking a water feature; the southeast corner might be suitable for a fish pond. He mentioned he would bring a friend who specializes in garden design to have a look another day.

Xu Changshan had Xu Chunliang bring out two bottles of his treasured Feitian Maotai. From the liquor his grandfather used, Xu Chunliang could tell that Zheng Peian held a significant place in his grandfather's heart.

Zheng Peian's gifts were also very valuable, including two boxes of blood bird's nest, two boxes of antler, two fine wild ginsengs, and two bottles of Xiangjiu Neican.

After the three sat down, Zheng Peian took out ten thousand yuan and handed it to Xu Chunliang, saying it was a meeting gift for him. Xu Chunliang refused to take it, promptly declining it and pushing it back.

Xu Changshan laughed: "Chunliang is already working and is not a child anymore. You shouldn't give him money."

Zheng Peian replied: "In my eyes, he will always be a child. What's wrong with giving money to a child as an uncle? I've been working hard outside all these years and missed giving a lot of New Year money. Take it, you must take it!"

Xu Changshan then allowed Xu Chunliang to accept it.

The connection between Zheng Peian and Xu Changshan goes back more than twenty years. Xu Chunliang has two aunts; Zheng Peian and his younger aunt Xu Jiawen were classmates, and he was also a suitor of Xu Jiawen. Unfortunately, the feeling was not mutual. Xu Jiawen, who had always been excellent since childhood, didn't fancy Zheng Peian. Later, Xu Jiawen got married and went to teach at City University in Xiangjiang with her husband.

Even though Zheng Peian lost the opportunity, he remained as he was with the Xu family, often visiting Huichun Hall under the pretense of seeking advice from Elder Xiang.

Xu Changshan treated him well and offered some guidance in medicine, but had no intention of accepting him as a disciple. In this aspect, Elder Xu was extremely traditional, believing that ancestral secret recipes must be passed down to the Xu family's legitimate descendants.

Ever since Zheng Peian went to Xiangxi to open a hospital ten years ago, he rarely returned to Dongzhou. However, on every holiday, he would call Elder Xu and often sent local specialties.

To be honest, Xu Changshan once hoped that Zheng Peian would become his son-in-law. Zheng Peian was tall and strong, and though his looks were ordinary, he was very manly. Moreover, he was in the same profession as Xu Changshan, with an optimistic and cheerful personality. What was most remarkable was that Zheng Peian could cook very well, and today's feast was entirely prepared by him.

Xu Changshan said, "Peian, you've finally come, and yet I had you go to the kitchen. I feel a bit guilty."

Zheng Peian laughed, "I usually enjoy cooking, and you've always known that. Give me the chance to show off a bit."

Xu Changshan nodded, and Xu Chunliang filled their glasses, and they toasted together.

Xu Changshan asked, "When do you plan to return?"

"I'm not leaving!"

"You're not leaving?"

Zheng Peian nodded. The contract for the hospital he managed in Xiangxi had ended, and just as Changxing started tightening the leave-without-pay policy, considering that he was already forty-five, wandering outside was not a long-term plan. After some thought, he decided to return to work in Changxing. He had already talked with Dean Gu Houyi, who agreed to his return to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department and even offered him an associate chief head position in the department.

Upon hearing this news, Xu Changshan couldn't help but smile broadly. He had always hoped for his grandson to enter the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department. Now that Zheng Peian would be the associate head, it would perhaps make it easier for Xu Chunliang to join the department.

Xu Chunliang said, "There don't seem to be many people in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department?"

Zheng Peian replied, "Including me, there will be five. It's the only department in Changxing Clinical Series with a vacancy."

Xu Changshan said, "The current person in charge is Zhu Mingyuan, right?"

Zheng Peian laughed, "Uncle, you're quite familiar with our hospital's situation."

"How could I not be? That Zhu Mingyuan is quite difficult to deal with. When Chunliang got into Changxing, he was originally assigned to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, but Zhu Mingyuan firmly disagreed. Elder Xu later heard about this from Gao Xinhua and was very displeased with Zhu Mingyuan."

Zheng Peian had just returned and wasn't clear on the specific situation. Actually, speaking of it, Zhu Mingyuan was his junior in school, but over the years, Zhu had been diligently cultivating his professional skills. Meanwhile, Peian had been dabbling in various business ventures, which led him to lag significantly behind Zhu professionally.

In terms of titles, Zhu Mingyuan had already been promoted to chief physician, while Peian was still a deputy senior. Upon returning this time, he had originally planned to quietly work as a doctor, but who would have thought that Gu Houyi would arrange for him to be the deputy head, in charge of acupuncture and physiotherapy, essentially splitting the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department into two sections.

Xu Chunliang realized from hearing about Zheng Peian's responsibilities that Gu Houyi was likely dissatisfied with Zhu Mingyuan due to a previous acupuncture incident, thus using Peian's return to dilute Zhu's power. Leaders often play such balancing acts.

Knowing that the two hadn't seen each other in a long time and would have much to discuss, Xu Chunliang accompanied them for a few drinks and then excused himself, saying he had some work matters to attend to, and returned to his room.

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