Chapter 586: Chapter 557: Another Wave Arises

Jin Yonghao said with some embarrassment, "Over the years, I’ve sought treatment all over for this ailment. So I’m quite knowledgeable in this field. Don’t underestimate it as a small issue—when it hits, it can truly torture you. If it gets slightly more serious, surgery is recommended. However, surgery can be a painful process and often leaves aftereffects."

Xu Chunliang responded, "The biggest difference between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine is the holistic approach. Our treatment plan is more comprehensive." He handed the prescription he’d just written to Jin Yonghao. "Don’t let this matter spread. I don’t want any trouble."

Jin Yonghao nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, Mayor Xu, I’ll keep it to myself."

Xu Chunliang said, "If anything happens at the branch in the future, you need to communicate with me promptly. Changxing’s current situation is very complex, you’re part of the Changxing system, so I believe you should have a clear understanding of the situation."

Jin Yonghao understood that Xu Chunliang wanted him to act as an informant. No one here is foolish—since Xu Chunliang went to Hu Shan Town, all signs have shown that he’s now targeting his former employer for revenge, taking every opportunity to step on them.

In fact, most of the staff employed by Changxing Hospital feel lost. They don’t know what direction their future should take.

Especially after Huayuan Group’s debt crisis erupted, many people at Changxing Hospital felt uneasy. Changxing Hospital changed from public to private shares, from nonprofit to profit-oriented. Even though the policy states that the old methods will apply to the old ones, and new methods to the new ones, in the end, if Huayuan Group collapses, Changxing Hospital won’t remain unaffected.

Now, many people in the hospital are calling for a return to public management, arguing that Changxing is Changxing and the Huayuan shareholding hospital is the shareholding hospital—they shouldn’t be mixed together simply.

Although Changxing Hospital appears calm on the surface, there are undercurrents beneath. The uprising of the medical staff at Weishan Island Hospital is just the tip of the iceberg of these conflicts.

The issues raised by the grassroots employees are objectively present. Employees at Weishan Island Hospital haven’t received any benefits from Huayuan Group’s shares.

Jin Yonghao felt it necessary to explain today’s situation. He said, "Mayor Xu, actually, we did seek everyone’s consent initially. They are causing trouble because their income didn’t meet their expectations. Another reason is that the emergency rescue costs for Jiang Ailian and her husband were included in the branch’s expenses previously."

Xu Chunliang said, "I really don’t know what you all were thinking. The medical staff at Weishan Island Hospital already lack any sense of belonging to Changxing Hospital, and yet you still try to exploit them. Aren’t you just driving them to revolt?"

Jin Yonghao felt wronged, "It’s not something I wanted to do. The financial rights of the branch have already been handed over to Huanyan Health. The expenses and distribution plans are determined by them."

Xu Chunliang said, "I don’t care about your internal dealings. The bottom line is that you mustn’t affect the solidarity and stability of our Hu Shan Town. The city is now highly focused on the construction of Weishan Island. Even if you can’t help contribute, you shouldn’t drag us down."

Jin Yonghao sighed, saying, "Mayor Xu, you understand the situation here. I’m in a no-win situation—I’m asked for money from both above and below, yet as a branch dean, I don’t have real power; just in line to take the blame."

Xu Chunliang said, "They say a good horse doesn’t turn back to graze on old pastures, yet you do the opposite. Knowing you’d have to shoulder the blame, why did you still come back?"

Jin Yonghao said, "We small characters don’t have the right to choose."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Our temperaments are quite different."

Jin Yonghao thought to himself, who could compare with someone like you? Your background is so powerful. He’s aware of Xu Chunliang’s strong background and how he manages to settle so much turmoil. However, he doesn’t know exactly how powerful he is.

Jin Yonghao said, "Mayor Xu, I hope you can give us a bit more time to handle things today. I’ll report to the higher-ups as soon as possible."

Xu Chunliang nodded, "Rest assured, I won’t make things difficult for you. The reason for my impartial public demeanor is mainly for appearances. I have fond feelings for Changxing. You should understand, right? Here, three days—give me your response in three days."

Jin Yonghao looked doubtfully at Xu Chunliang. Anyway, his intuition tells him that Xu Chunliang isn’t just posturing, at least he gave them two extra days.

Xu Chunliang declined Jin Yonghao’s invitation, as he wasn’t in need of a meal at that moment. On his way out, he took the opportunity to visit the demonstration model area of the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital construction site. The site has resumed work with strict management, requiring either card swiping or facial recognition for entry. However, Xu Chunliang knew the internal situation—Huayuan Group initially wanted to complete the demonstration area first and as for the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital’s construction, it was uncertain when that would happen.

Xu Chunliang immediately called Zhang Haitao and assigned him a task.

##

The public bath temporarily turned into a hot spring. Although the environment wasn’t much, the hot spring water was top-notch. After soaking in the hot springs, Mrs. Zhou felt rejuvenated—not only was her body energized, but even her gait became brisker.

Zhen Chun, carefree and outgoing, chatted happily with the old lady in Cantonese, making her laugh.

Even though they wore swimsuits for the hot spring, Zhou Deming still didn’t dare enter the women’s bathhouse. After his soak, he came out first, and Zhang Haitao suggested taking him to see the demonstration model area of the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital across the street. The outdoor gardens there were partly completed, offering a nice place for photos. If Zhou Deming liked it, he could return with the old lady and others.

With nothing else to do, Zhou Deming went with Zhang Haitao to have a look. As they reached the entrance, a group of healthcare personnel in white coats approached. These healthcare workers were walking forward in a neat line without making a fuss.

Zhou Deming asked Zhang Haitao, who was responsible for accompanying him. Zhang Haitao told him that these medical staff were from their hospital, and because the Huayuan Group wouldn’t fulfill their initial promise, they were protesting in this way. He said if he weren’t busy, he would also have joined the protest today.

The medical staff had just arrived when the security at the construction site, led by the security chief Ge Hongqing, came out.

Since the Jiang Ailian suicide incident, the Huayuan Group has taken the security work at the construction site very seriously. All the security personnel have been replaced, and the security chief Ge Hongqing was sent by Pei Lin and belongs to Huanyan Health.

The management is now very strict. Ge Hongqing was not familiar with the employees of Weishan Island Hospital. He pointed angrily at those medical staff, shouting, "What are you doing at the construction site? I’m warning you to leave here immediately, or you’ll face the consequences yourself."

Liu Fugui, who led the group, said, "We are not here to cause trouble, we just want to take a few photos."

Ge Hongqing angrily said, "No photos allowed at the construction site gate!"

Coincidentally, Zhou Deming was holding a camera. Ge Hongqing thought, who is this? He pointed and said, "You, hand over the memory card."

Zhang Haitao thought to himself, he originally wanted to find some trouble, and now someone has conveniently come looking for it.

Zhou Deming glanced at Zhang Haitao, thinking he could help explain, but Zhang Haitao had walked far away in the direction of the restroom.

Seeing him leave, Zhou Deming also turned and followed, not wanting to get into trouble. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

When Ge Hongqing saw him turning away with the camera, he became convinced that this guy had taken unauthorized photos and strode after him, "Stop right there!"

When Ge Hongqing started chasing, the security guards behind him followed suit. Zhou Deming turned around to see so many people chasing him and, terrified, made a run for it.

In his panic, Zhou Deming tripped and fell to the ground with a thud. Before he could get up, Ge Hongqing and a group of security guards surrounded him. Ge Hongqing ordered them to seize his camera.

Although Zhou Deming wasn’t worldly, he wasn’t timid by nature. When he saw a group trying to snatch his camera, he held it tightly, "What are you doing?"

In his resistance, he took a couple of kicks. The security guards, with Ge Hongqing backing them up, felt that unless they taught this kid a lesson, he wouldn’t know his place.

At this moment, Zhen Chun came over. Thankfully, the elderly woman was still resting inside the bath and was unaware of the situation outside.

Zhen Chun saw Zhou Deming being surrounded and attacked by a group and instantly got furious. Bold and brash, she grabbed a coal shovel from the doorway and charged at them, swinging at Ge Hongqing’s face, "Get lost, let him go..."

Ge Hongqing, being well-trained, easily caught the coal shovel and kicked Zhen Chun in the abdomen, knocking her to the ground.

Seeing Zhen Chun get hit, Zhou Deming’s eyes reddened, and he swung his camera at Ge Hongqing, "You hit a woman! I’m going to fight you!"

Ge Hongqing knocked the camera out of his hand, but Zhou Deming charged at him like a tiger, tackling him to the ground and hitting him. The security guards, seeing their chief being attacked, rushed in and punched and kicked Zhou Deming.

Fortunately, Zhang Haitao and the local police station staff arrived in time. Ge Hongqing recognized Li Chengbo and thought the police were there to help resolve the dispute, so he said confidently, "This kid was secretly photographing our construction site without permission."

Zhou Deming, disheveled and dirty, got up from the ground and pointed at Ge Hongqing and his group, "They tried to snatch my camera and beat people up." He helped Zhen Chun up, who was clutching her stomach; the kick from Ge Hongqing wasn’t light.

Zhang Haitao said, "Yes, they tried to snatch his camera and beat people up."

Ge Hongqing said, "Zhang Haitao, stop making false accusations. He was the one taking illegal photos first. We just asked him to delete them, we didn’t snatch..." but the camera was clearly in their hands.

The group of medical staff surrounded them, pointing at Ge Hongqing and the security guards, saying, "We all saw it. They did try to snatch the camera and beat people up."

Ge Hongqing, feeling overwhelmed, thought, damn, so many people ganged up on him. He hurriedly explained, "That crazy woman attacked me first, and this guy, he’s like a mad dog."

Li Chengbo glared at Ge Hongqing, "What do you take Hu Shan Town for? Do you think you can just bully people because you have more people, snatching people’s things?"

Zhang Haitao had already told him that the girl who was hit was Town Mayor Xu’s cousin. Zhang Haitao still didn’t know Zhou Deming’s identity.