Chapter 125 - 105: Protest

Xu Chunliang said, "You probably don’t know what I do, right? I’m sent by the city to investigate the hospital’s asset situation, specifically responsible for dealing with long-term delinquent tenants who don’t pay rent.""I’m not afraid of you!"

"It’s okay if you’re not afraid of me, but aren’t you afraid of the law? Is your brother capable? Ended up detained like a thug. One of you siblings has to be outside delivering meals, don’t you think?"

Xu Daping, being a rural woman, was already intimidated and lost her confidence by Xu Chunliang’s threats. She had used her brother’s connection to occupy two storefronts and opened a hardware store. The business had been okay, and although she never paid rent to the hospital, it didn’t mean she didn’t spend money; she often spent money on smoothing things over.

Good deeds don’t go beyond the door, but bad news travels a thousand miles. Xu Daqing’s incident of peeking at people bathing couldn’t be covered up, and there were all kinds of rumors outside. The most circulated version was Xu Daqing peeking at the women’s bathhouse and getting bitten by a scorpion.

There were several versions regarding the women’s bathhouse, some saying it was the hospital’s bathhouse, and others the town’s bathhouse. The town had two bathhouses, and this incident caused panic among people. Not to mention the women’s bathhouse, even the men’s bathhouse was out of business today, and the bathhouse owners cursed all of Xu Daqing’s ancestors.

The local police station conducted a safety inspection of the bathhouses to prevent similar incidents from happening again, which only fueled the rumors.

When Xu Chunliang went to the cafeteria for breakfast, Yan Huaiyi and the others had already started eating. Seeing Xu Chunliang return, Tang Mingmei quickly waved him over to sit next to her. After last night’s events, she was both grateful and impressed with Xu Chunliang, treating him with extra warmth.

Although the Weishan Island Branch’s medical conditions were not great, the breakfast offered was quite abundant, thanks to Jin Yonghao’s special arrangements. During the quality control group’s inspection, special care was given to meals.

Yan Huaiyi asked Xu Chunliang if those women had given him a hard time. Xu Chunliang said it was fine; everyone is reasonable, and he persuaded them all with virtue.

No one believed this. Reasoning with those shrews was impossible. But facts spoke louder than words; no one outside was cursing anymore. The security department couldn’t do it, the police couldn’t do it, but Xu Chunliang did it.

Everyone eating together was from their own side, so Yan Huaiyi didn’t hold back. He told everyone he would report last night’s incident to the higher-ups and that they would show no leniency towards the troublemakers.

Jin Yonghao knew what "no leniency" meant. The hospital was certainly going to fire Xu Daqing. This decision was expected, and he agreed with firing Xu Daqing, but it was bound to create a huge uproar. Xu Daqing was local, and the group of women who came shouting just now was only the beginning; more trouble was sure to come.

The quality control group was only going to be on the island for less than three weeks. Once the inspection was over, they’d leave, leaving the mess for someone else to clean up. Thinking of this gave Jin Yonghao a headache; he couldn’t stay here anymore. He had to smooth things over and try to leave early.

Yan Huaiyi hadn’t even finished his porridge when he received a call from Dean Zhao Feiyang.

Yan Huaiyi went to the courtyard before answering the call, deliberately letting it ring for a while to vent his dissatisfaction with Zhao Feiyang over trivial matters, as he had no other way to deal with him.

"Old Yan, good morning!"

Yan Huaiyi was a bit taken aback; Zhao Feiyang’s sudden politeness made him uncomfortable. Could it be politeness before criticism? He immediately greeted Zhao Feiyang. Though his transfer was certain, until the order was issued, he was still a subordinate.

Before Yan Huaiyi could report last night’s incident, he wondered if someone had beaten him to it. It could be Jin Yonghao, Tang Mingmei, or Xu Chunliang, especially Xu Chunliang, who was under Zhao Feiyang’s watch, with every move monitored.

Zhao Feiyang didn’t mention last night’s incident. His call was to ask Yan Huaiyi to contact the Hu Shan Town Government proactively. According to their agreement from back then, Changxing took over the Weishan Island Hospital for three years as a lease operation, after which the town government was supposed to cooperate with them in handling the property rights, meaning the government would transfer the hospital’s ownership to them.

Zhao Feiyang reviewed all the documents signed back then. Gu Houyi didn’t take over this mess without reason; the details were clearly written.

In simple terms, Changxing had a three-year trial operation of Weishan Island Hospital. During this trial period, Changxing had to cover all expenses of the Weishan Island Branch and bear any losses. According to the initial agreement, after three years, Changxing could apply for property rights changes, making Weishan Island Hospital truly belong to Changxing.

Through connections, Zhao Feiyang found out that in the next ten years, the Dongzhou City Government plans to focus on developing a national resort centered on Weishan Island. They are in talks with the country’s most powerful developers. Once the project is implemented, Weishan Island will become a hot spot for investment in Dongzhou and the entire Jianghai Economic Zone, and land prices will soar.

Zhao Feiyang didn’t believe Gu Houyi had such foresight, but he had to admit that Gu Houyi’s decision back then had already laid the foundation for Changxing’s future development. The biggest regret was not securing the property rights three years ago. Before Weishan Island becomes a hot spot, the hospital’s property rights must be secured, or the situation could become unpredictable. He ordered the relevant documents to be faxed over immediately.

Of course, Zhao Feiyang wouldn’t share all the information he had with Yan Huaiyi. To Yan Huaiyi, Zhao Feiyang seemed to make a big deal out of nothing. The Weishan Island Branch had become completely superfluous, worthless even as an attachment, a burden to Changxing Hospital. If he were the dean, he would decisively cut ties, shedding the burden to move forward lightly.

But Yan Huaiyi wouldn’t offer advice to Zhao Feiyang. If he liked to seek glory, let him sink deeper into the quagmire of Weishan Island. He said he’d visit the town government, but noted the Weishan Island Branch’s situation was a bit complicated, and took the chance to report last night’s events to Zhao Feiyang.

Zhao Feiyang expressed that garbage like Xu Daqing must not be tolerated. Those who bring harm to Changxing, those who eat from Changxing and then betray it, must be purged thoroughly, not a single one left.

Yan Huaiyi then asked about the delayed wages. Zhao Feiyang told him they would be in within two days, instructing him to announce it to all employees immediately to stabilize them.

While relieved about the wage issue being resolved, which made quality control work easier, Yan Huaiyi was also puzzled about why Zhao Feiyang was so quick to release the funds. Did he really intend to continue managing this mess?

Before Yan Huaiyi could hang up, employees of the branch came over with banners. Faced with the crowd of staff, Yan Huaiyi was somewhat panicked.

Xu Chunliang and the others eating in the cafeteria also realized something was amiss and hurriedly went out to check.

These employees are here to demand their wages, clearly organized and premeditated. They’ve gathered so many people, prepared banners in advance, and have a clear target, directly blocking the working group having breakfast.

Jin Yonghao shouted loudly, "What are you doing? What are you all doing? Go to work, all of you, go back to work!"

"No pay, no work!"

"Exactly!"

"Our family is running out of food, we can’t work on an empty stomach."

"We can’t even pay our kid’s tuition fees."

"Pay us!"

"Pay us!"

Among them was Li Jinxia, the financial director, whose voice was particularly sharp and high-pitched.

Jin Yonghao panicked a little; it was the first time he’d seen such an agitated scene. He couldn’t find Vice President Zhang Haibin in the crowd. The more it was like this, the more he suspected Zhang Haibin was causing trouble from behind the scenes. He must be the one stirring things up.

In fact, even before the arrival of the quality control team, Jin Yonghao had a storm-brewing feeling, with wages delayed for two months, all employees had reached their breaking point, and their anger needed to be released.

Bravely, Jin Yonghao stood in front of Yan Huaiyi. Though there’s a degree of understanding he had, it’s not a battlefield where real bullets were flying.

Jin Yonghao said, "Everyone calm down, if you have any concerns, express them reasonably. Regarding the wage issue, we have already..." Before he could finish, a rotten egg flew from the crowd.

Splat! It hit his face, and the egg liquid splashed onto his glasses, his vision blurred. No bullets didn’t mean there was no risk.

"Heartless Changxing, get out of Weishan!"

"Heartless Changxing, get out of Weishan!"

They chanted in unison, the momentum was terrifying.

Jin Yonghao’s face turned pale with fear, worried the agitated employees would tear them apart.

Yan Huaiyi gestured for Jin Yonghao to step aside; he didn’t need Jin Yonghao’s protection, not that Jin Yonghao could protect himself. He had the confidence now, as Zhao Feiyang had just promised that the wages would be paid within two days.

"Everyone, please quiet down!"

Even Yan Huaiyi failed to get everyone’s attention.

The crowd’s emotions couldn’t be quelled, shouting for them to get lost.

Yan Huaiyi’s repeated calls had no effect, so Xu Chunliang somehow fetched a megaphone and handed it to Yan Huaiyi.

Finally, Yan Huaiyi could clearly convey his voice this time.

"Listen to me, everyone!"

"Listen to what? You have the audacity to speak without paying us."

Thankfully, with the megaphone’s help: "I... I promise everyone, within two days, your wages will... will... all be credited."

"Don’t listen to his nonsense, it’s all lies!"

"Even he doesn’t believe it, stuttering when he lies."

Yan Huaiyi said, "I... I’m not lying to you. If... if... the wages aren’t credited within two days, I’ll be re... re... uh... uh..." At the critical moment, he stuttered again. Though he wanted to say he’d take full responsibility, he couldn’t get those last two words out, and instead, he started hiccuping, making the megaphone sound like a hen laying eggs.

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