Xu Chunliang laughed, "Old Pan, don’t just make sarcastic remarks. We have an old saying in Dongzhou: ’As long as you’re alive, the debt won’t disappear.’ Tonight’s meal is on me."

Wu Fajun said, "You can’t take this from me. I’ve worked hard to set this up, and you want to just benefit from it? No way." It was clear he was trying to actively integrate into this group.

Yu Xiangdong said, "Chunliang is far from benefiting from it. The cafeteria was established when he was in charge."

The eyes of the public are discerning; everyone knows who is benefiting from others’ work. Wu Fajun’s comment was thoughtless. Among those present tonight, Wu Fajun was an outsider; everyone else was genuinely from the Changxing faction.

The main body of Huanyan Health consists of Weishan Island Hospital and some departments poached from Changxing. Despite the high-profile external publicity, all the internal staff know what’s really going on.

After the formation of the Health group, the decision-makers weren’t from the Changxing faction. The president was Pei Lin, and the vice president was this Wu Fajun, who was hired from somewhere. Compared to Wu Fajun, they could accept Xu Chunliang more as the vice president.

Later, it was heard that Wu Fajun was also involved in the fight Xu Chunliang participated in, but in the end, Xu Chunliang took on all the responsibility alone. Wu Fajun, who was the first to strike, got off scot-free, causing conspiracy theories within Changxing.

Not many people knew the inside story of the fight. The story actually spread from Gao Xinhua. Gao Xinhua wasn’t a conspiracy theorist; he just felt it was unfair to Xu Chunliang. He believed that Huanyan and Changxing didn’t handle the incident impartially, leaving Xu Chunliang to bear all the responsibility alone.

Director of the Physical Examination Center, Wu Ruiying, keenly sensed the disharmony at the scene and quickly invited everyone to take their seats. At this moment, Zhang Haitao accompanied He Qiweng in.

Xu Chunliang invited He Qiweng to the seat of honor, deliberately being polite with Wu Fajun. Wu Fajun, of course, knew they were now on Hu Shan Town’s turf, and he had some sense to immediately invite Xu Chunliang to sit.

Wu Fajun said, "Let the two leaders sit first, and then we’ll arrange ourselves." He sat next to He Qiweng, with Wu Ruiying sitting next to Xu Chunliang.

Tang Mingmei and Wu Ruiying sat together, and the others sat down one after another.

Ding Si lowered his status today, after all, he was the only businessman present, and in such occasions, businessmen actually have no status.

Ding Si proactively opened and poured wine, Zhang Haitao stood up to help him, and they each poured half. The wine used today was the Dream Six brought by Ding Si.

Although it was arranged by Wu Fajun, in the end, the bill would surely be calculated on his account, so Ding Si was still conscientious.

Wu Fajun said, "Secretary He, would you say a few words?"

He Qiweng said, "This is your home court, President Wu, you should speak."

Xu Chunliang said, "Since when did Hu Shan Town become their home court? Secretary He, you should speak."

Unable to refuse, He Qiweng had to say a few words. His speech wasn’t very skilled, merely thanking Huayuan Group for their generous hospitality, wishing everyone a happy new year, and calling for everyone to raise their glasses together.

Wu Fajun said, "We invited the two leaders today to promote communication and deepen relationships. It’s also to express our stance. After Town Mayor Xu decided for us to stop work for rectification, our group leadership took this matter very seriously. A special rectification team was formed, and the team members are the backbone of our Changxing Hospital."

Xu Chunliang smiled, "Let’s only talk about relationships during the meal, not business."

Yu Xiangdong said, "Town Mayor Xu is right, eating is eating, let’s not talk business."

He Qiweng raised his glass, saying, "Then let’s drink the second glass." He also noticed that Wu Fajun wasn’t welcomed by the middle management of Changxing Hospital.

Actually, the Changxing faction led by Yu Xiangdong was resistant to externally hired personnel like Wu Fajun. They were divided into two factions: one actively joined Huanyan Health, like the Physical Examination Center’s Wu Ruiying, whose biggest benefit from joining was earning from both sides.

The other kind was like Yu Xiangdong, responsible for security, still a part of Changxing, and did not rely on Huanyan Health for wages. When facing Pei Lin, he still had to consider Zhao Feiyang’s presence. Who was Wu Fajun? An outsider, making no contribution to Changxing Hospital. I don’t rely on you for my salary, so why should I care about your stance?

Nursing Department Director Tang Mingmei actually also didn’t welcome Wu Fajun. When Huanyan Health was just established, they thought it was a new beginning and a new elevation, but soon they realized it was merely shifting resources around. What Huanyan Health? It just took a few departments from Changxing, still using Changxing’s medical resources.

The most infuriating thing was that when they caused problems, the hospital had to clean up their mess.

As the cooperation deepened, the uneven distribution of benefits would make internal divisions more and more apparent, and Zhao Feiyang didn’t seem to realize this problem.

However, some people saw opportunities, like Pan Hongwei, Director of External Affairs. With Huanyan Health, the resources in his hands could be exchanged for more benefits.

For example, there’s a medical examination center—Changxing Headquarters has one, and now a new one is being established. One is public, the other private, and the latter offers much higher business commissions. Once the shareholding hospital is set up, it’s said to have a complete and advanced diagnostic system with fully-equipped departments. The business commissions for the shareholding hospital will definitely be more flexible.

This was the first time Xu Chunliang and Wu Fajun drank together, and to his surprise, his drinking capacity was quite impressive.

Xu Chunliang realized that one of the greatest benefits of being in a leadership position is that you can drink less. While others drink a full glass, you only need to drink a small cup, or even just take a sip.

This was exactly what He Qiweng did, of course it also had to do with his poor drinking capacity.

With Xu Chunliang’s drinking ability, there was no need to hold back. Zhang Haitao still remembers when Xu Chunliang first came to Weishan Island. At that time, the vice president, Zhang Haibin, took him and Xu Daqing to show strength, but ended up being completely crushed by Xu Chunliang’s absolute power.

Now Zhang Haibin has left for a private hospital to find work, and Xu Daqing has also left Weishan Island. They brought it upon themselves for not knowing how to gauge the situation and choosing to oppose Xu Chunliang.

In this regard, Zhang Haitao knows how to follow the trend. Since he decided to join Xu Chunliang’s camp, he has been loyal and diligent, and Xu Chunliang hasn’t treated him unfairly. However, recently Zhang Haitao hasn’t felt secure.

Xu Chunliang left Changxing Hospital to become the deputy mayor of Hu Shan Town. Zhang Haitao lost his backer within Changxing Hospital, and he senses that Xu Chunliang is unlikely to return. As the saying goes, a good horse doesn’t go back to the same pasture, especially since Xu Chunliang is moving upward.

From Zhang Haitao’s perspective, Hu Shan Town Government appears to be more upscale than Weishan Island Hospital.

Even if Xu Chunliang returns after his temporary transfer ends, he won’t return to his original position. It’s likely he won’t be able to stay long as the head of the logistics department and security section. He’s always wanted to talk to Xu Chunliang about his issues, but hasn’t found the right opportunity.

During these few days Xu Chunliang returned to Weishan Island, he was constantly busy, and Zhang Haitao didn’t dare to trouble him.

Xu Chunliang had two drinks with everyone, and when he got to Tang Mingmei, he smiled and said, "Sister Tang, I must toast you properly, you are the guide on my path forward."

Yu Xiangdong, who was in the habit of joking and had a few drinks, happily said, "What did Director Tang teach you? And why is she your guide?"

Tang Mingmei glared at him and jokingly scolded, "Old Yu, don’t joke around in front of the leaders; if you make mistakes here, be careful or we’ll have you arrested."

Pan Hongwei said, "Old Yu, what Director Tang wants to teach is none of your business."

Tang Mingmei laughed and said, "Drinking can’t seem to shut your mouths. Just wait and see if I don’t pour drinks down you later." She drank this toast with Xu Chunliang, and ever since she knew Xu Chunliang was Xu Jiaxuan’s son, she’s been even more affectionate towards him.

After Xu Chunliang finished his drink, he said, "Director Tang is like my sister. Did anyone bully her just now? I’ll throw a ’bomb’ at you."

Yu Xiangdong said, "Go ahead, who’s afraid of whom?"

In the coaxing and cheers of everyone, Yu Xiangdong and Xu Chunliang had a drinking contest, and Xu Chunliang didn’t let Pan Hongwei off the hook either, having a contest with him as well.

Ding Si surprisingly didn’t drink in the evening. He and Zhang Haitao have something in common—they’re both rough on the outside and meticulous inside, knowing how to weigh importance. This wasn’t an occasion for them to perform, and of course, it’s not like no one tried to drink with Ding Si. Ding Si excused himself, saying the wound on his nose wasn’t healed and he was on antibiotics, so no one pushed him further.

Yu Xiangdong, already somewhat tipsy, looked at Ding Si and said with a grin, "President Ding, you’re famous for being a skilled fighter in Dongzhou, so how did you get injured by a pen-pushing reporter this time?"

Ding Si laughed and said, "If I really took it seriously, even ten of him couldn’t get close to me."

Tang Mingmei thought to herself, don’t brag, others might not know, but I do. Back in front of Min Nan Seafood City, I personally saw you kneeling to Xu Chunliang. However, she also wondered when Ding Si got along so well with Xu Chunliang, and Zhang Haitao too; both were well-known troublemakers, probably scared by Xu Chunliang’s dominance.

Of course, it could also be Xu Chunliang’s personal charm; seeing Xu Chunliang is like seeing Xu Jiaxuan back in the day. Thinking of Xu Jiaxuan, Tang Mingmei’s gaze softened.

Wu Ruiying, the director of the medical examination center, noticed Tang Mingmei’s change and secretly wondered if there was something between them. She remembered that they came to Weishan Island together for quality inspection work, and Tang Mingmei went back first.

Such things happening in the hospital are quite normal, especially since there’s not much entertainment on Weishan Island. Although Tang Mingmei is somewhat older, she still maintains her charm.

Not to mention men, even she found Tang Mingmei’s sparkling eyes very attractive, and Xu Chunliang is a young, hot-blooded guy; it’s understandable if something happens between them.

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