Chapter 43: Reassessment

After today's incident, Zeng Yi began to reassess his attitude towards power.

In the past, Zeng Yi had always been very indifferent towards power. He never fawned over those in power, nor did he keep them at a distance. He treated everyone as he would treat ordinary patients. Therefore, when Director Feng promoted Zeng Yi to the expert group, he did not show particular gratitude. When he encountered a scheming and opportunistic official like Director Chen, he did not show disdain or contempt.

No matter whether you had power or not, or whether your power was great or small, when the demon of illness came knocking, it would not spare you just because of these things. This was Zeng Yi's previous view. However, the current reality was that without power, not only could you not open a clinic, but you could not even use the herbs you wanted.

Zeng Yi felt the power and influence of authority for the first time. That section chief of the Health Bureau could find any reason to confiscate licenses and impose fines, relying on the medical supervision authority he held.

If Zeng Yi had no power and no strong network of relationships, the outcome of today's situation would have only two possibilities: first, pay the fine and close the clinic; second, pay the fine, use the herbs designated by others, continue to operate the clinic, and face various inspections from different departments in the future.

The three great doctors in history all died at the hands of those in power. Wen Zhi was boiled alive by King Min of Qi; Bian Que was assassinated by the imperial physician of Qin; and the story of Hua Tuo and Cao Cao is well-known to all.

Although society has made great progress, as a doctor, you no longer have to constantly worry about the safety of your life and property. However, with the progress of society, power has become even more pervasive, seeping into every corner and forming a vast network. In this network, if you cannot stand at a higher level, you will only be controlled and dominated by those with higher power.

Previously, Zeng Yi did not take his advisory role in the preparatory group seriously, but now he began to take this title and the power it contained seriously.

Zeng Yi did not take a small section chief of the Health Bureau seriously. To solve today's problem, he only needed to make a phone call, and either Du Ruo or Tang Haoran could easily get his license back.

However, Zeng Yi did not want to do this. To deal with a small section chief, if you had to use a relationship as powerful as the provincial party secretary's secretary to resolve it, it would show that you were incompetent and lacked ability. Such a person would be looked down upon wherever they went, and in the political arena, no one would want to deal with a wimp.

Moreover, relationships are like bank deposits. The more you deposit and the longer you keep them, the greater the dividends you will receive in the future. Conversely, the more you withdraw, the less you will have. If you trouble others for such trivial matters, it might be fine once or twice, but if you do it too often, your account will be depleted. When you need to handle something important in the future, even if you use your deposit card a hundred times, you might not get a single cent.

Zeng Yi had never been involved in politics, but he was very familiar with human relations.

The reason he let the Health Bureau take his license today was not because he could not stop them, but because he did not want to. These grassroots officials, due to their distance from the higher-ups, were often quite arrogant. In their own small territories, they were like local emperors, with few people they feared. You had to show them your most powerful side, the one they feared the most, to make them respect and even flatter you.

Just like Chen Long, if he had not seen Zeng Yi's relationship with Du Ruo and Tang Haoran with his own eyes, he would not treat a clinic doctor like a brother.

Zeng Yi was scheduled to accompany Feng Yuqin to inspect the health bureaus in several districts of the city the next day, to check and supervise the health care work of the district officials. This had been arranged long ago, and Feng Yuqin's secretary had confirmed it several times. Therefore, he let the other party take his license.

It was easy to imagine the shock that would be caused when Zeng Yi, Feng Yuqin, and a group of leaders from the Health Department appeared in front of them the next day. That small section chief would likely be scared half to death, never expecting to have confiscated the license of a leader. Without Zeng Yi saying a word, he would hurriedly return the license and apologize.

Seeing that it was getting late, Zeng Yi got up, locked the door, and prepared to go eat.

Chen Long's police car appeared on time. "Brother Zeng, I've arranged everything for tonight. We're having fish, and I brought two bottles of good wine from home."

"Always freeloading, I feel a bit embarrassed," Zeng Yi smiled. "I'll treat you tonight!"

"What are you talking about? Who made you open your clinic in my territory? As your big brother, if I don't take care of you, people will laugh at me!"

"But you can't always treat me, it's my turn this time!"

"Look at you, it's just a meal!" Seeing Zeng Yi being polite, Chen Long quickly changed the subject. "I heard from my people that someone from the Health Bureau came to your clinic today. Nothing went wrong, right?"

"Are you putting a camera in front of my door!" Zeng Yi looked up, scanned the area, and laughed. "Just a small section chief, who brought people to confiscate my license. It's not a big deal, I'll get it back tomorrow."

"Unbelievable!" Chen Long was immediately furious, putting his hands on his hips and jumping up. "Which bastard has the nerve to confiscate Brother Zeng's license? I think he's tired of living. Leave it to me, I'll take care of it!"

Zeng Yi waved his hand. "No need, no need, it's a small matter, I can handle it myself!"

Chen Long was no longer in a hurry to eat. He slammed the car door and said, "Whoever dares to make things difficult for Brother Zeng is making things difficult for me! Just tell me who it is, and I'll break his legs!"

"Several of them, the leader has a beer belly..."

Chen Long immediately knew who it was. It was Guo Sanliang, the section chief of the Medical Administration Department of the district Health Bureau. He knew this guy very well; he was not a good person, with a big belly full of bad intentions.

"Turns out it's this scoundrel, I've been wanting to deal with him!" Chen Long took out his phone. "I'll take care of him right now!"

He called the station. "Bring people and equipment, and bring Guo Sanliang back. Catch him in the act, you know what to do. If you mess this up, I'll make you guard the gate!"

As a local authority, Chen Long was very familiar with the affairs in his territory. He knew that Guo Sanliang had a habit of going to Huaxi Bay Bathhouse every two days. Huaxi Bay was not just a bathhouse. If Guo Sanliang said he was just there to bathe, Chen Long would bet his head. After confiscating the license and expecting a fine, this guy would definitely go to Huaxi Bay today. Chen Long knew this without a doubt.

After arranging this, Chen Long opened the back door of the car. "Brother Zeng, don't let this fly ruin our appetite. Let's go eat. I promise that before the dinner is over, I'll make this guy return your license!"

Zeng Yi originally did not want to trouble Chen Long, but since he had already taken action, he could not stop him. If he tried to stop him, it would make Chen Long feel bad and seem inconsiderate.

"Alright, I'll treat you tonight!" Zeng Yi smiled and got into the car.

In the luxury room at Huaxi Bay, on a comfortable massage bed, Guo Sanliang was engaged in vigorous activity.

Guo Sanliang laughed. "Little slut..."

Before he could finish the word, the door of the room opened with a loud "bang," and several burly police officers rushed in. Without a word, they took out their cameras and snapped multiple photos of Guo Sanliang from different angles.

Guo Sanliang was stunned for several seconds before he reacted. He shouted loudly, "Who allowed you to do this? Do you know where you are? If you know what's good for you, delete the photos and get out of here, or I'll make you pay!"

The police ignored him. After taking the photos, they took out a plastic bag, used tweezers to pick up the condom on the ground, and carefully placed it inside, sealing it. It contained the section chief's "achievements."

Guo Sanliang broke out in a cold sweat. It was clear that they were well-prepared. He had not heard of any surprise inspections today. "Which police station are you from? I know your chief!" His voice was no longer as confident, trembling with fear.

"Section Chief Guo!" After finishing the evidence collection, the police officer looked at Guo Sanliang coldly. "Are you going to come with us voluntarily and cooperate?" He showed his handcuffs, indicating that if Guo Sanliang said another word, he would be taken away in handcuffs, naked.

Guo Sanliang's heart sank. Since they knew his name and position, they were clearly targeting him. He was drenched in cold sweat, unable to think of which bigwig he had offended. Being caught in the act meant he was in deep trouble.

Guo Sanliang wanted to call for help, but who would bring a phone into a bathhouse? His clothes and phone were locked in a locker downstairs.

After some thought, Guo Sanliang accepted the reality. "I'll cooperate, I'll cooperate!"

He was not a fool. If they were willing to let him cooperate, it meant there was still room for negotiation. Acting tough at this moment would be useless, and being taken away naked would be a complete disaster.