Chapter 75 - 60: Scapegoat

"Getting into a conflict with anyone is fine, but don’t be in conflict with yourself. I think he might not have told you the truth." Xu Chunliang explained the whole situation.He Jinmei truly didn’t know about Lin Yougang framing Zheng Peian. After hearing it, she exclaimed, "This bastard! How could he do something so treacherous? Let’s see if I don’t tear his mouth to pieces."

At that moment, Dean Zhao Feiyang was inspecting the outpatient department accompanied by a group of people. Xu Chunliang intended to avoid him, but Zhao Feiyang already saw him and waved him over, saying, "Xiaoxu, come here for a moment."

Being called out in front of so many people, Xu Chunliang could only walk over with a smile on his face.

Accompanying Zhao Feiyang were Deputy Dean Geng Wenxiu, Outpatient Department Director Xing Guohua, Personnel Department Head Ma Hongmei, Hospital Office Director Liu Dengke, Conduct Department Director Qian Haiyan, and several heads of outpatient departments.

When Xu Chunliang approached Zhao Feiyang, he smiled and said, "Dean Zhao, do you have any instructions?"

"Why didn’t you, as the acting Medical Affairs Director, participate in today’s major outpatient inspection?"

Xu Chunliang was taken aback: "No one informed me!" He told the truth, but someone in the crowd felt uneasy about it.

The major outpatient inspection was supposed to be notified by Hospital Office Director Liu Dengke. Generally, the Medical Affairs Director should definitely be informed. However, ever since Zhou Wenbin was removed, the position of Medical Affairs Director has remained vacant. Xu Chunliang was temporarily in charge, but there hasn’t been an official announcement for him to be the Director.

Liu Dengke deemed Xu Chunliang unqualified, so he bypassed him. The inspection was nearing its end, and Zhao Feiyang hadn’t said anything until he encountered Xu Chunliang and brought it up in public.

In fact, it wasn’t just Liu Dengke; those participating in the inspection also generally believed Xu Chunliang wasn’t qualified to participate.

Liu Dengke quickly stepped forward and told Zhao Feiyang, "Dean Zhao, it was my oversight."

Under normal circumstances, the matter would be brushed aside, but Zhao Feiyang frowned and said, "How did you carry out your duties? How could you conduct an outpatient medical work inspection without notifying the Director of Medical Affairs, who’s responsible for medical management?"

Everyone heard it clearly; Zhao Feiyang publicly acknowledged Xu Chunliang’s position as the Director of Medical Affairs.

Being reprimanded in public, Liu Dengke’s face turned red up to his neck. Anyone with insight could see the implications; the new dean was seizing the opportunity to exert his influence. Liu Dengke was a confidant of the former dean, Gu Houyi. After Gu Houyi left, everyone assumed he would be the first to be replaced.

The new dean had not been in office long, but everyone experienced his assertiveness. From the beginning, he made sweeping reforms to the hospital’s organizational structure. For a time, the previous team of Gu Houyi felt insecure, and the seemingly calm leadership of Changxing Hospital was secretly buzzing with activities. Some would fall out of favor; others would rise. In such a transitional period, endless opportunities brewed, and no smart person could remain indifferent.

Xu Chunliang felt somewhat displeased in his heart. Once again, Zhao Feiyang used him, but he couldn’t say anything in front of so many people. He joined the inspection team while listening to Zhao Feiyang pointing out issues ahead.

Xu Chunliang could sense Liu Dengke’s overwhelming resentment towards him, finding it somewhat helpless. "Why are you mad at me? It’s not like I wanted to trouble you; it’s Zhao Feiyang who can’t stand you."

Luckily, the inspection was already nearing its conclusion. The group made a round to the Department of Functional Examination and then dispersed on the spot, throughout which Liu Dengke begrudgingly noted down Zhao Feiyang’s instructions.

Zhao Feiyang told everyone to return to their posts, then called Xu Chunliang aside. Now, even if Xu Chunliang jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn’t clear his name. Whether he liked it or not, he had become the new dean’s confidant in other’s eyes. While envied by some, others admired him for aligning himself with the powerful Zhao Feiyang at a young age, promising a bright future.

Zhao Feiyang said, "Xiaoxu, I heard you have some feelings about the outcome of the Aesthetic Center incident?"

Xu Chunliang guessed that Yan Huaiyi had already communicated his and Yu Xiangdong’s opinions to Zhao Feiyang. "Dean Zhao, I don’t have any feelings; I just don’t want to take the fall for others."

Zhao Feiyang laughed: "That depends on the pot. What if it’s a gold pot?"

Xu Chunliang thought to himself, a gold pot is still a pot; trying to fool me, you’re still too naive.

Zhao Feiyang, seeing him silent, assumed he was interested: "I just arrived at Changxing and must secure Changxing’s essential foundation, trying to retain all the lead scientists and core talents from various departments. Only with their dedicated work can Changxing’s future development be secured."

"So you’re saying they are important."

Zhao Feiyang smiled, "No one is more important than anyone else, and no one is irreplaceable, including myself." He glanced at the old inpatient building. "For now, stability is paramount. If our hospital’s core talents lose confidence in me as their new leader, with their qualifications, they won’t have trouble finding better opportunities."

Xu Chunliang agreed with what Zhao Feiyang said, but he disliked the way Zhao Feiyang used him to suppress others.

Zhao Feiyang said, "You’re smart. You should be able to understand what I mean."

"I’m listening to you." Saying this, Xu Chunliang felt a deep sense of hypocrisy within.

Accompanying Zhao Feiyang back to the administrative office building, many people saw them along the way.

When he returned to the Medical Affairs Office, Cheng Xiaohong had already heard the news. Her gaze no longer had the unwillingness of a few days ago but showed more reverence. Zhao Feiyang publicly established Xu Chunliang as the person in charge of the Medical Affairs Office, but without a formal document from the Organizing Department, Xu Chunliang still had no official standing.

Many within the hospital had their eyes on the vacancy at the Medical Affairs Office and were actively pursuing it, as the Director position, which is a department head level, was the ultimate goal for some people’s careers.

The resistance by Xu Chunliang and Yu Xiangdong bore fruit. Ultimately, Zhou Wenbin took responsibility for the Aesthetic Center incident because he was the Medical Affairs Director when the dispute occurred, and Cheng Xiaohong was directly responsible for this matter, so it was unreasonable to punish Xu Chunliang.

Zhou Wenbin had already returned to his work unit, currently assigned to the Medical Records Office, a secondary functional department under the Medical Affairs Office. When he first came back to work, he mostly hid in the Medical Records Office, trying not to go outside to avoid contact with colleagues.

After about a week, he gradually adjusted his mindset. After all, there was nothing to be embarrassed about; he wasn’t the only one having affairs in the hospital—who would laugh at whom? The hospital’s additional sanctions against him made him more inclined to accept his fate.

Having fallen to this point, how much worse could it get? Zhou Wenbin had left quite a few personal items in the Medical Affairs Office, and naturally, he would run into his former subordinates when he went to collect them.

When Cheng Xiaohong saw Zhou Wenbin entering, she was quite surprised and didn’t know how to address him.

Xu Chunliang reacted much faster than her, immediately getting up and greeting, "Director Zhou is here! Please have a seat while I go fetch you some tea."

Zhou Wenbin felt a rush of mixed emotions. He thought he had let it go, but returning to the Medical Affairs Office made him realize he still couldn’t face these young people: "No need to bother; I’m just here to pick up some stuff and will leave shortly."

Xu Chunliang had already swiftly poured him a cup of tea and invited him to sit: "Director Zhou, please sit for a while."

Zhou Wenbin’s appearance made Cheng Xiaohong feel awkward. She didn’t know what to say, with both a former leader and the current supervisor present. She excused herself, claiming she needed to deliver documents, and quickly left the Medical Affairs Office.

Upon reaching his desk, Zhou Wenbin began tidying up his belongings from a drawer, not daring to look Xu Chunliang in the eye, fearing he might bring up some embarrassing topic.

"Director Zhou, is it busy over at the Medical Records Office?"

Zhou Wenbin shook his head, "It’s alright." He wondered, was this kid making fun of him? He also heard about the special relationship between the new dean and Xu Chunliang; otherwise, how could he be in charge of the Medical Affairs Office? Remembering he hadn’t congratulated him on his promotion, he squeezed out a smile and said, "Xiaoxu, congratulations!" saying it with sourness in his heart.

Xu Chunliang said, "What’s there to congratulate? I’m just holding down the fort until a suitable candidate shows up. When the time comes, I’ll go back to doing what I do best. You know me; I’m clueless about the operations of the Medical Affairs Office."

Zhou Wenbin said, "You can’t say that; I know you do have the ability, and Dean Zhao is good at recognizing talents." He hastily packed his things, accidentally dropping a box of Ailida.

Xu Chunliang quickly picked it up for him, and Zhou Wenbin, embarrassed, blushed and hurriedly took it to stuff into his plastic bag.