Chapter 9: Flattery and Bullying

Zeng Yi woke up in the afternoon. After eating something, he went to the Special Ward No. 1 with Zhang Renjie to follow up on Feng Yuqin's condition.

After taking her pulse, Zeng Yi said, "Your illness has already improved, and you don't need to take any more medicine. All that's left is to rest and recuperate. However, your complexion seems even worse than this morning. You must pay attention to getting enough rest."

Feng Yuqin handed an apple to Zeng Yi and said, "I would like to rest, but this morning, seven or eight groups of people came to visit. They can really find reasons. When you first enter the hospital, they come to wish you a speedy recovery. When your condition improves, they come to congratulate you on your recovery."

Zeng Yi laughed, "I didn't realize that being a leader also has its troubles."

"Who says it isn't so! When you become a leader in the future, you'll understand."

Zeng Yi waved his hand, "I'm just a doctor; how could I become a leader?"

Feng Yuqin changed the subject, "I was thinking, if my condition allows, I plan to go home to recuperate. What do you think, Zeng Yi?"

Zhang Renjie hurriedly opposed, "Director Feng, the hospital's equipment and conditions are much better. Although your condition has greatly improved, for safety, it's best to stay in the hospital for a few more days. I'll instruct the staff to strictly control who comes in, so no one else will be allowed up."

After saying this, he glanced at Zeng Yi, blinking several times, hoping Zeng Yi would help persuade her.

"Going home is also good!" Zeng Yi seemed to completely ignore Zhang Renjie's hints. He said, "At home, you can relax and be in a good mood. Your daily life will also be more convenient and free, which will help your recovery. I think it's fine. Let Director Zhang send a nurse to take care of you, and there won't be any problems."

Feng Yuqin's expression was very satisfied. Zeng Yi was always thinking about how to help her recover better. Unlike Zhang Renjie, who just wanted to keep her in the hospital, it was unclear whether it was for her benefit or his. Staying in the hospital, facing white walls and the smell of medicine every day, even a healthy person might fall ill.

"That's settled then!" Feng Yuqin decided and had her secretary arrange the discharge.

Zhang Renjie finally realized that Director Feng had no intention of listening to his opinion. He looked at Zeng Yi, his eyes blazing with anger. This kid was worse than the old fox Shao Haibo. He slept and ate at the hospital, but after cleaning his mouth, he did nothing. How could this be tolerated!

Half an hour later, Tang Haoran, Fang Nanguo's secretary, arrived at the hospital. The hospital had made all the necessary preparations, and the best ambulance in the hospital was parked downstairs.

Several hospital leaders rushed forward, surrounding Feng Yuqin's bed. Some pulled the head, others pushed the foot, carefully pushing the wheeled bed out. Those who were late and couldn't get a good position by the bed stood in front to clear the way, competing to press the elevator button, constantly shouting, "Move, move!" and pushing people to the sides of the corridor.

Zeng Yi was pushed to the back. No one gave him a chance to help. He felt that this scene was familiar, like the Empress Dowager leaving the palace in a grand historical drama.

After helping Feng Yuqin into the ambulance, Tang Haoran pulled out an introduction letter from his handbag, "Doctor Zeng, this is what Director Feng asked me to do. I've already taken care of it. Take this to the Health Department tomorrow to report."

Before Zeng Yi could thank him, Tang Haoran hurriedly got into the car and followed the ambulance.

The surrounding hospital leaders all looked at him with envy, but they were very jealous inside. In this era, even if ten thousand people say you are good, it doesn't matter unless a leader says so. A mere intern who hasn't even been officially hired managed to join the expert group of the Health Department. What kind of logic is this?

That evening, Shao Haibo set up a banquet at home to welcome Zeng Yi and celebrate his entry into the expert group. It was a double celebration, and since they hadn't eaten together for many years, they both drank a lot, falling asleep with their wine glasses in the early hours of the morning.

When Zeng Yi woke up the next morning, the room was empty. Shao Haibo and his wife had already gone to work, leaving breakfast on the table.

Zeng Yi rubbed his aching forehead, thinking he shouldn't drink like that again. He rarely drank before, fearing it would affect his work and his ability to take pulses. But this time, he was genuinely happy and didn't hold back.

After eating breakfast, Zeng Yi changed his clothes and headed to the Health Department.

The Health Department of Nanjiang Province was located in the most prosperous Tianfu District of Rongcheng, a modern 18-story building. From a distance, it looked majestic and imposing. Up close, the courtyard was filled with various high-end cars.

Zeng Yi was going to report to the Health Care Bureau, which in some places is called the Cadre Health Care Bureau. It is a permanent institution under the Health Department but has a high degree of autonomy.

As the saying goes: "There are no small matters around leaders." Any matter, no matter how small, involving a leader must be treated as a major issue. Major issues must be treated as the most significant matters. Matters concerning a leader's life and health are even more critical and must be treated with the highest priority.

Therefore, in China, two departments are often given higher positions than their actual roles: the Health Care Bureau and the Security Bureau. In ancient times, these departments were equivalent to the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Guard, positions of great importance, and only the most trusted and reliable people could enter.

For example, the health care of the main leaders of the provincial party committee was previously overseen by the vice-governor in charge of education, science, and health. Now, it is usually overseen by the provincial party secretary and the secretary-general of the provincial party committee, who also serves as the director of the provincial health care committee, directly managing the Health Care Bureau. Even the director of the Health Department rarely interferes with the work of the Health Care Bureau.

Zeng Yi looked up at the building, thinking about things, and stepped into the courtyard of the Health Department.

Suddenly, a person rushed out of the guardhouse at the entrance, shouting, "Hey, what are you doing here! I'm talking to you, stop! Didn't you see the 'Visitor Registration' sign?" As he spoke, he knocked on the aluminum sign with "Visitor Registration" written on it, making a loud noise.

"Sorry, sorry!" Zeng Yi apologized with a smile. He really hadn't seen it.

"Such big letters and you can't see them? What are your eyes for!" The guard was arrogant and shouted, "What are you standing there for? Come and register! Do you know what place this is? You can't just walk in!"

Zeng Yi was a bit annoyed. Registering was fine, but there was no need to be so rude. If he didn't know where this was, he wouldn't have come. They say it's hard to enter the gates of the government, and it's because of people like you.

At that moment, a black Audi appeared at the entrance. The driver honked loudly.

The guard looked back, and his previously aggressive demeanor instantly turned into a radiant smile. He seemed to have springs in his feet, jumping back two meters, then bent over and smiled obsequiously at the car, making a respectful gesture.

The Audi didn't stop at all, speeding in and leaving a trail of exhaust.

After the car had driven far away, the guard straightened up but continued to smile in that direction, even raising his right hand to wave, as if the honk was a greeting.

But Zeng Yi could tell that the car's owner had honked because someone was in the way.

Only after the car's owner entered the building did the guard turn his face back, once again adopting an aggressive expression, and shouted at Zeng Yi, "What are you standing there for? Come and register!"

Zeng Yi had intended to be polite, but seeing the guard's attitude of flattery and bullying, he lost his patience. "Register for what? People who come to do business need to register, but I'm here to report!"

"Even new janitors say they're here to report!" The guard looked at Zeng Yi disdainfully. He had seen this trick many times. Every day, people tried to sneak in under the guise of reporting.

He didn't believe Zeng Yi was here to report. Before he shouted, he had already observed that Zeng Yi had come from a bus. Usually, new employees from legitimate departments always came by car, often with a grand entourage, and sometimes even with an escort. Zeng Yi walking in like this didn't look like he was reporting; it looked like he was visiting a park.

Unfortunately, this wasn't a park. The guard looked down at Zeng Yi from his high position, "If you're here to report, where's your introduction letter? Show it to me!"

"Introduction letter, right?" Zeng Yi felt a bit uncomfortable and deliberately slapped the letter open, holding it less than two centimeters from the guard's nose, "Look! Take a good look!"

The guard's body shrank back half a foot before he could read the words on the letter. It indeed had a red seal from the provincial party committee's office, but it had no title or position, just a few lines of routine text. It seemed to be for a regular staff member.

"Ah... you really are here to report." His tone suggested disappointment.

"What, can't you see clearly?" Zeng Yi moved the letter closer again.

"You still need to register!" The guard was angry, his nose in the air, not even bothering to look at Zeng Yi. "I've seen many people come to report. No matter who you are, you must register when you come to me!"

His brother-in-law was a section chief in the personnel department of the department, with real power. Even middle-level officials had to give him a smile. You, a mere staff member, acting so high and mighty, he could deal with you easily.

Zeng Yi ignored him, slowly put away the letter, and asked sternly, "Did Director Chen register with you when he reported?" With that, he turned and walked into the courtyard of the Health Department.

The guard's face turned dark. He wanted to chase after Zeng Yi but couldn't. Zeng Yi had a formal document, and he had already seen it. Since Zeng Yi was here on official business, he had no reason to stop him. After a long moment, the guard felt deflated, realizing he couldn't do anything.

"What are you standing there for? Aren't you supposed to be guarding the gate?" A stern voice came from behind.

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