Director Li Yuliang from the Petition Office also found it surreal. He first introduced Xu Chunliang’s identity to the participants: "This is our town’s new Town Mayor Xu, who is responsible for solving everyone’s issues. If you have any comments, you can directly give feedback to Town Mayor Xu."

Xu Chunliang smiled and said: "Director Li, no introductions needed. I am a cadre who came out of Changxing Hospital. These are all my old colleagues, old friends. Everyone, don’t be reserved. Feel free to speak up about anything. If I can solve it, I will certainly help. If I can’t, I will report it to the higher-ups." He looked at Internal Medicine Director Zhao Hongda and said, "Director Zhao, the usual protocol, you go first."

Zhao Hongda said: "Town Mayor Xu, we’re not here to cause trouble. We’re here to reflect the current situation of the hospital. It’s not just for ourselves, but for all employees at Weishan Island Hospital. When Changxing underwent restructuring, we wanted to clarify one thing — do we belong to Changxing Hospital or Huayuan Group? But there’s never been a clear explanation from above. Leaders at all levels have promised us that our positions and benefits won’t be affected. Initially, they weren’t, and our income even increased. But recently, the hospital reestablished evaluation methods, significantly affecting our income."

Gynecology Director Luo Chunmei said: "We used to be staff members at Weishan Island Hospital. Later, when we were taken over by Changxing Hospital, we barely had a stress-free day and even faced payroll delays, which you helped us resolve last time. Now, Changxing has been sold to Huayuan Group, and without realizing it, we’ve come under the group’s management. Who manages us doesn’t really matter. We ordinary folks care about our income. As long as our income isn’t affected, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge. But now, our income has also been severely impacted."

Zhao Hongda said: "We are Hu Shan Town’s hospital. We are Weishan County’s Second People’s Hospital. The town initially said you wouldn’t abandon us, saying the hospital is like a child, handed over to someone else to ensure we have enough to eat and wear, with the assurance that we can always come back if grievances arise. Did those words mean nothing?"

Li Yuliang kindly reminded, pointing out that at the time of that statement, Hu Shan Town hadn’t been established, and the leader who said that had long since retired.

Xu Chunliang looked at Jin Yonghao and said: "Dean Jin, say a few words."

Jin Yonghao said: "Since it’s about performance, there must be assessment standards. The hospital’s income reduction is an indisputable fact. Everyone should not only focus on their own interests but also consider the group’s overall interests, sailing together through this difficult time."

Branch Medical Affairs Director Liu Fugui disagreed: "They always talk about sailing together. We were doing just fine at Weishan Island Hospital until Changxing took over, after which we haven’t had a good day. The takeover was a higher-level decision, and we had to obey. But just because Changxing sold themselves to Huayuan Group, why must we be dragged along?"

Zhao Hongda loudly said: "Exactly, did Changxing fulfill its original promises? Their current policies favor joint-stock hospitals. The land for the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital under construction was expropriated from us, yet none of our employees received any benefits. Can a few clear questions be adequately answered?"

Xu Chunliang said: "Director Zhao, feel free to ask. Dean Jin and Secretary Tan are here; they can answer on the spot."

Jin Yonghao and Tan Haiyan exchanged a glance. At their level within Changxing, they were just ordinary middle-level cadres and didn’t dare speak carelessly. Xu Chunliang seemed somewhat sinister, persistently pushing them forward.

Zhao Hongda said: "Is our Weishan Island Branch part of Changxing Hospital or Huayuan Group?"

Jin Yonghao said: "This matter was made very clear long ago. Weishan Island Hospital is part of Changxing Hospital; we are all employees of Changxing. Huayuan Group has invested in Changxing Hospital, currently holding an 80% stake..."

Zhao Hongda said: "You don’t need to mention that. We can’t figure out all these shareholding matters. Since we are part of Changxing, did Huayuan Group and Changxing Hospital seek our opinion when signing the contract? Did they allow employees at our branch to vote?"

Jin Yonghao said: "Your opinions were sought. At that time, representatives were chosen, and the representatives from the branch were Secretary Tan and Dean Xu."

Tan Haiyan nodded, indicating that was indeed the case.

Xu Chunliang instantly felt displeased upon hearing that and frowned, saying: "Dean Jin, I now work at Hu Shan Town, and I’m not familiar with the hospital’s situation. I didn’t attend that meeting."

Everyone was astonished, looking at Xu Chunliang, thinking how audacious. He had just left Changxing for a few days and already acted so detached. Yet, Jin Yonghao wasn’t wise in his speech either, not considering the occasion before addressing Xu Chunliang directly.

Tan Haiyan said: "I attended that meeting. At the time, I represented everyone..."

Branch Medical Affairs Director Liu Fugui asked: "Who allowed you to represent us? Don’t think that just because you are the branch secretary, you can represent our opinions. What gives you the right to sell us out without our knowledge?"

Tan Haiyan said: "Your opinions were solicited, and you signed it."

Gynecology Director Luo Chunmei said: "How would we know what you made us sign? If we knew it was a sales contract, we would never have signed it."

Zhao Hongda said: "This is fraud!"

Tan Haiyan looked hopefully at Xu Chunliang, as he was also there when public opinions were gathered, hoping he would say something.

Xu Chunliang didn’t even look at her, leisurely sipping his tea.

Tan Haiyan pulled out the signed document from a file folder. Though it wasn’t the original, she handed it over to Xu Chunliang: "Town Mayor Xu, take a look. Didn’t we consult everyone’s opinion back then? You agreed too."

Xu Chunliang didn’t take it, leaving Tan Haiyan’s hand suspended in midair, making the atmosphere exceptionally awkward.

Xu Chunliang knew of the document’s existence but questioned why Tan Haiyan brought it out. Was she trying to corner him publicly? 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Xu Chunliang slowly set down his teacup, took out his phone from his pocket, typed a line, cleared his throat, and read aloud: "Contract fraud is using a contract as a means and with the intent to illegally acquire property, using fabricated facts or concealing the truth to deceive and obtain public or private property. The actions of contract fraud are expressed when one party of the contract intentionally makes false statements, distorts, or conceals the truth, leading the counterpart into a misconception and thus making expressions inconsistent with genuine intent to establish or perform the contract. Judicial interpretation is: one party deliberately informing the counterparty of falsehoods or deliberately hiding the truth, inducing the counterparty to make a wrong expression."

Liu Fugui said: "You are committing contract fraud..." Realizing his mistake after speaking, Xu Chunliang was now the Deputy Town Mayor of Hu Shan Town, standing in a middle-ground position; out of habit, Liu Fugui had still considered him as the dean of Weishan Island Hospital. He quickly corrected himself: "It’s Changxing Hospital committing contract fraud."

Xu Chunliang said: "Director Liu, your statement lacks rigor. The contracts Changxing Hospital originally signed with you contained no fraudulent elements, as confirmed by the Hu Shan Town Government. If there’s potential fraud, it might be said that there’s a possibility of fraudulent behavior in the process of Huayuan Group investing in Changxing."

Jin Yonghao blinked, realizing that Xu Chunliang was clearly misleading the matter.

Luo Chunmei said: "Yes, exactly, it’s Huayuan Group. We believe that there was an act of undervaluing national assets in Changxing Hospital’s cooperation with Huayuan Group."

Xu Chunliang said: "Director Luo has raised a very serious matter." He instructed Li Yuliang to invite Secretary Qiu Guixian, who was responsible for disciplinary work.

Everyone could now see what was happening. This guy wasn’t bothered by trouble, trying to escalate the situation.

While waiting for Qiu Guixian to arrive, Xu Chunliang announced a ten-minute recess. Jin Yonghao finally got a chance to approach Xu Chunliang, indicating he wanted to talk privately.

Xu Chunliang very calmly told him to wait until after the meeting.

Jin Yonghao got a bit anxious. He quickly stepped away and called Zhao Feiyang, dialing three times before Zhao Feiyang answered. He was at the funeral home attending his father’s memorial service and was extremely irritated, scolding him harshly: "Why do you keep calling? Don’t you know I’m busy?"

Jin Yonghao thought to himself, how could he possibly know what Zhao was up to without clairvoyance? Facing the leader’s scolding, he didn’t dare retort and humbly apologized, then explained he had something important to report.

Zhao Feiyang didn’t feel like listening to him now, and the branch was already under Huanyan Health’s jurisdiction, so he simply hung up the phone.

Left with no choice, Jin Yonghao called Huanyan Health’s CEO, Pei Lin.

Pei Lin was also at the memorial service. Regardless of how Zhao Feiyang treated her, she had to fulfill her duties as a daughter-in-law in public. Listening to Jin Yonghao’s account, she immediately realized that Xu Chunliang might take advantage of this situation.

Pei Lin instructed Jin Yonghao to observe the situation and keep her informed of the meeting’s progress.

After hanging up, the meeting had already resumed.

Qiu Guixian’s appearance was purely out of necessity. Ever since his two defeated encounters with Xu Chunliang, it was no exaggeration to say that he avoided Xu whenever possible. The man had a solid background and was strongly supported by Qin Zhengyang, the top leader of Hu Shan Town. Going against him further would be unwise.

Even getting him to come over required Li Yuliang to spend quite a bit of persuasion. Realizing he couldn’t avoid it, Qiu Guixian reluctantly went to the meeting room.

Xu Chunliang asked Qiu Guixian to take a seat and let a few hospital employee representatives voice their opinions.

The most uncomfortable now were definitely Jin Yonghao and Tan Haiyan, like sitting on pins and needles. After previously witnessing Jiang Ailian’s suicide incident, they had experienced Xu Chunliang’s strong ability to create a stir. Wasn’t stabbing once enough for him? Was he determined to take another jab at his former employer at the first chance?