Chapter 124 - 104: Evil Meets Its Match

Zhang Haibin, knowing he was at fault, repeatedly apologized, indicating that it was his oversight in personnel matters and promised to handle it sternly. On this point, he couldn’t shirk responsibility. Xu Daqing was brought into the hospital during his tenure. When Changxing took over and planned to dismiss these contract workers, it was Zhang Haibin who strongly advocated for his retention.Xu Chunliang added insult to injury: "Vice Director Zhang, this time it’s not up to you to handle it; the law will handle it. You’re truly keen-eyed for talent, choosing an old rogue as the security captain. How many female colleagues has he secretly photographed over the years? If it were your wife or daughter who was photographed, wouldn’t you be angry?"

At this point, Zhang Haibin knew he could no longer protect Xu Daqing. Pointing at him, he yelled, "Have you no shame? You’ve disgraced our hospital, and I will discipline you!"

Xu Chunliang said, "Disciplining him isn’t your decision. You’re only a vice director; Dean Jin is the person in charge here. Dean Jin, in such a civilized hospital, for such despicable and shameless things to happen, our inspection team hopes you’ll provide an explanation. Who recommended Xu Daqing? How did he become the security captain? Was this an individual act or a group activity? You must give an account to all the leaders of Changxing."

Jin Yonghao thought to himself, "Why drag me into this?" Yan Huaiyi felt that Xu Chunliang’s words were reasonable. Jin Yonghao also had the fault of being derelict in his duties; if it weren’t for his negligence, Zhang Haibin and his group wouldn’t be so arrogant.

Jin Yonghao glared at Zhang Haibin: "Comrade Haibin, you need to profoundly reflect on your issues and quickly write a report for me... for Dean Yan."

Xu Chunliang had stirred up the matter and planned to leave. The scorpions were local ones, slightly poisonous but not lethal. Xu Daqing was bound to suffer, and such a person deserved to be unlucky, meriting no sympathy.

Tang Mingmei left with Xu Chunliang. After exiting the emergency room, she said to Xu Chunliang, "Director Xu, thank you!" She was genuinely grateful to Xu Chunliang. Initially, asking for his help was somewhat presumptuous, yet Xu Chunliang was selflessly righteous and resolved the issue immediately. However, she couldn’t fathom why Xu Daqing was stung by scorpions and wondered if it had any connection to Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang told her not to mention it, as they were colleagues in the same hospital and naturally should unite against a common enemy. He insisted that he wasn’t a director and she could just call him by his name or simply Xiaoxu.

Tang Mingmei reminded him to be careful, as Xu Daqing and his group were local toughs who might retaliate.

Xu Chunliang didn’t care; if they dared to retaliate, he would give a tenfold response.

He had researched relevant legal provisions. In a case like Xu Daqing’s, a detention of over five days and under ten days, with a fine of 500 yuan, was typical. Such punishment seemed too lenient considering his vile actions. However, there was still the matter of the hospital, and the next steps depended on how the hospital handled it.

After everyone dispersed, Zhang Haibin found Jin Yonghao. He still wanted to protect Xu Daqing, reasoning that he had drunk a lot of alcohol that night which allegedly led to his misbehavior. Since entering the hospital, Xu Daqing had been diligent and industrious, treating the hospital as his home, and was nearly always rated as an exemplary employee each year.

Jin Yonghao had been here for a year and was well aware of Xu Daqing’s character. Treating the hospital as his home was literal for him; he occupied two storefronts and consistently defaulted on rent. As for his exemplary status, it was entirely orchestrated by Zhang Haibin.

Jin Yonghao told Zhang Haibin that this matter wouldn’t easily blow over. The inspection team led by Dean Yan was in the hospital, and even if he wanted to do someone a favor, Dean Yan wouldn’t approve. By tomorrow, the issue would be reported to the upper echelons of Changxing, who would not tolerate a morally corrupt individual in their ranks.

Zhang Haibin knew that Jin Yonghao’s words didn’t settle things and thought to find Yan Huaiyi, but Yan Huaiyi had already left. It was now midnight, so it wasn’t convenient to disturb him.

At the bedside, looking at the desolate Xu Daqing, Zhang Haibin sighed, "Xu Daqing, oh, Xu Daqing, what can I say about you?"

Xu Daqing still couldn’t move, but fortunately, speaking wasn’t affected: "Dean Zhang, you have to help me. I drank too much. I just stole a few glances; it was so dark I couldn’t see anything. I’m wronged..."

"Wronged my ass! I can’t understand; what’s there to see in an old woman? Isn’t your own woman enough for you to look at?" Despite these words, Zhang Haibin also found Tang Mingmei attractive. According to Xu Daqing’s view, could city women and rural women be the same? Could a canary be likened to a country sparrow?

Compared to the lust-driven Xu Daqing, Zhang Haibin had a certain political savvy and started having a bad feeling. This quality inspection wasn’t so simple; the inspection team had just arrived, and such a big issue had arisen.

Xu Daqing and Zhang Haitao were his left and right arms. Zhang Haibin had specifically asked friends in the police station, and given the solid evidence against Xu Daqing, detention was inevitable. From the current stance of Yan Huaiyi and others, it was almost certain Xu Daqing would be dismissed, equating to one of his arms being broken.

Xu Daqing told Zhang Haibin that he’d never seen scorpions in the duty room before and suspected someone had deliberately planted poison on his bed.

Zhang Haibin thought he was suffering from paranoia.

Xu Daqing recounted the two incidents that night with Xu Chunliang in detail, reasoning that there couldn’t be so many coincidences in the world. Why did Xu Chunliang always appear at critical moments?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Haibin felt it made some sense, yet Xu Daqing lacked evidence. He advised Xu Daqing not to stir up more trouble and to be mentally prepared for the worst.

Early in the morning, Yan Huaiyi was awakened by shouting. Upon stepping out, he discovered five women standing in the courtyard, berating them abusively.

Xu Chunliang also emerged from his room then, greeted Yan Huaiyi, glanced downstairs, and said, "Xu Daqing’s family."

Yan Huaiyi said, "A bunch of shrews."

The way those old women cursed was really unbearable. Yan Huaiyi couldn’t take it and called Jin Yonghao, asking him to get the security department to drive them away quickly.

Jin Yonghao told Yan Huaiyi that Xu Daqing was the head of security and the whole department was under his control, so he couldn’t do anything.

Yan Huaiyi got angry and told Jin Yonghao to call the police.

Jin Yonghao had no choice but to comply, but he knew calling the police wouldn’t be much help either. The local police station didn’t want to deal with these shrews, and their behavior wasn’t severe enough for an arrest.

Yan Huaiyi had no better solution, and after listening for a while, he realized they were all cursing Xu Chunliang for being greedy and ruthless. He was about to advise Xu Chunliang to hide in his room, but Xu Chunliang had already gone downstairs in his tracksuit to go running.

Xu Chunliang strode past the group of old women, immediately catching their attention. Even though they had been cursing him by name for a while, they didn’t recognize Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang smiled at them and said, "Ladies, you should go upstairs to curse. Xu Chunliang lives in room 203." After saying that, he strode out of the hospital. Why stay and get cursed?

One of the old women said, "Let’s go! Curse him! Does he think we’re afraid?"

"Yeah, let’s smash that bastard’s door, 203, go!"

Xu Chunliang did live in 203, but he had already left. The group of old women gathered at 203 and began cursing, with some bold ones knocking hard on the door. However, they didn’t dare to smash it as they had some awareness of the law; damaging public property would mean compensation and possibly breaking the law.

Yan Huaiyi watched the whole thing, admiring Xu Chunliang’s cleverness. This young man, just in his twenties, was so shrewd! He wisely took off, leaving the shrews to curse at an empty room.

Yan Huaiyi hurriedly left too. Tang Mingmei and the others followed suit quickly, though the cursing was aimed at Xu Chunliang, no one wanted to hear those vile words.

Jin Yonghao brought two security guards to persuade the women to leave. However, the old women were persistent, staying at 203 and cursing for nearly an hour until they were hoarse, finally realizing they had been tricked.

As Xu Chunliang returned from his run, the angry women surrounded him instantly. Leading them was Xu Daping, Xu Daqing’s fierce and bold second sister. She pointed at Xu Chunliang’s nose, "You..."

"You what? Xu Daqing was caught peeping in the women’s bath. Do you still have the nerve to complain?" Xu Chunliang said with high spirits.

"You’re talking nonsense!"

Actions speak louder than words. Xu Chunliang produced a photograph he had printed in the hospital’s printing room, showing a naked Xu Daqing lying on the ground.

"Oh dear!" The group of women scattered, covering their eyes; it was too much to bear. Still, curiosity got the better of some, who peeked through their fingers.

Xu Chunliang said, "Are you ladies brave enough? Curse one more time, and I’ll post this photo everywhere."

"You wouldn’t dare! You’re invading... invading my brother’s privacy... I’ll... I’ll sue you..." Xu Daping was clearly flustered.

"Not bad, huh? You understand what privacy means. Do you know the law? You’re shouting it out loud, isn’t that embarrassing? Still calling him your brother? You should consider your family’s children. If the disgraceful things Xu Daqing did get out, your family would never be able to hold their heads high. And you, what’s your relationship with Xu Daqing? Aren’t you afraid of getting involved in a scandal?"

The group of women fell silent, regretting their actions. In fact, they were all called over by Xu Daping to help curse without knowing the full story. Once they heard that Xu Daqing was caught peeping in the women’s bath, they regretted deeply and didn’t want to be associated with a rogue.

Xu Chunliang said, "You should go about your business and not get involved in senseless drama. You might end up being sold out and counting money for the seller. If you don’t believe me, check with the police if what I said is true."

The women scattered, leaving only Xu Daping behind, who glared at Xu Chunliang with a hatred so deep she seemed like she could devour him.

Xu Chunliang said, "The hardware store at the entrance is yours, right? Have you paid the rent?"

"None of your business!" Xu Daping’s words were tough, but her confidence was lacking.