Chapter 50

Tan Guoliang finally understood what Gao Xinhua was hinting at, suggesting he seek out Gu Houyi.

A person who was about to exit the stage of Changxing Hospital, the existence of whom the Tan couple had long ignored, now made them realize that Gu Houyi still had the power to control their fate. As long as Gu Houyi remained, he was still the director of Changxing Hospital.

To be on the safe side, Tan Guoliang first called Gu Houyi, but he didn't answer. Then he had Cai Rongjuan call again, but Gu Houyi still didn't pick up.

The couple was now thoroughly panicked. They had intended to use this incident to create some momentum and distance themselves from Gu Houyi before the new director arrived. However, they had miscalculated, and Gu Houyi had taken the opportunity to let Cai Rongjuan's resignation become a reality.

Gu Houyi was already preparing to leave. His transfer was an open secret, and the new director had already been selected and would take office at the end of the month.

Gu Houyi had served Changxing for many years, dedicating himself to the hospital. Although he hadn't managed to develop and expand it, his contributions were widely recognized. Many people in the hospital had volunteered to see him off.

Gu Houyi declined everyone's good intentions. Before leaving his post, he personally arranged two significant personnel changes: the reassignment of Deputy Director Geng Wenxiu and the approval of Cai Rongjuan's resignation.

The former was due to his underhanded actions behind Gu Houyi's back, which led to his political downfall.

The latter, whom he had originally intended to be lenient with, had unexpectedly used her resignation to pressure him as he was about to leave. Gu Houyi easily saw through Cai Rongjuan's attempt to create a clear boundary between herself and him, using her resignation to curry favor with the new director.

Reflecting on the origin of his current situation, which was the medical aesthetics center, Gu Houyi could no longer maintain his tolerance. He instructed the approval of Cai Rongjuan's resignation, leaving her no room for maneuver.

Gu Houyi was very clear that with the arrival of his successor, many of the policies he had implemented would be overturned one by one. The people he had trusted and promoted would, unless they were true elites, be uprooted sooner or later. He believed he had done his best for Changxing and had no regrets. However, this did not mean he would tolerate those who were eager to kick him while he was down.

Gao Xinhua specifically reported to Gu Houyi about Cai Rongjuan's resignation.

Gu Houyi expressed his satisfaction, took out a cigarette, and Gao Xinhua quickly lit it for him.

Gu Houyi handed the cigarette pack to Gao Xinhua, who also took one and started smoking. They smoked in silence until the cigarette was finished. Gu Houyi then slowly said, "The organization has proposed that I work at the Science Association."

Gao Xinhua had known about this news for a while, but Gu Houyi was only now confirming it.

"Director Gu, we will all miss you."

Gu Houyi laughed. Gao Xinhua's words were just a formality.

"Do you know why I asked you to take charge of the transition period?"

Gao Xinhua took out another cigarette, offered it to Gu Houyi, but he waved it off. Gao Xinhua lit his own and said, "You must have known about my relationship with Zhao Feiyang. I am the most suitable person for this role."

He and the new director, Zhao Feiyang, were classmates at the Party School, and Zhao Feiyang's father was his old superior. This relationship was solid and would make him one of the new director's most trusted people.

Assigning him to handle the transition period was mainly because he could navigate the situation smoothly. More importantly, if someone else were assigned, they might be seen as a loyalist of the previous director and be marginalized or even suppressed. In this regard, Gu Houyi had thought very carefully and tried to protect his people in advance.

"Among the deputy directors, you are the most capable and have a good character. It's a pity that you are not from a business background." Gu Houyi's implication was that if Gao Xinhua had a business background, he might have become the director of Changxing.

"Director Gu, I don't have the ability to govern a region. I can only assist."

"Zhao Feiyang is only thirty-eight, right?"

"He's not quite thirty-eight; he was born in December."

"Remarkable. To be a full-level official at less than thirty-eight is rare in the health system."

Gao Xinhua said, "It's rare in the entire Dongzhou."

"What kind of person is he?"

Gao Xinhua didn't know how to answer. Although they had known each other for a long time, they had never worked together, and he didn't really understand Zhao Feiyang.

Gu Houyi realized his question was difficult for him and added, "Does he understand Changxing?"

"There will be a process."

Gu Houyi nodded, feeling a mix of reluctance and nostalgia. It felt like the day his daughter got married. He was anxious because he didn't know if the future leader would treat Changxing with the same care he had.

The transition of power is a natural law. Gu Houyi would eventually leave, and it was just a matter of leaving six months early. To outsiders, his outcome seemed decent. But no one knew the true significance of Changxing to Gu Houyi. At this moment, he felt like a veteran player who had dedicated his youth to the team and wanted to retire there. Unfortunately, even this small wish couldn't be fulfilled. In the last half-season, he was forced to transfer, and this pain was something only he could understand.

At the new director's request, the handover ceremony was held at the hospital's weekly meeting. Leaders from the Health Bureau and the organization department attended and gave speeches, which were routine, praising the old director's contributions and welcoming the new director.

The weekly meeting was specially rescheduled to the morning for this handover ceremony.

Gu Houyi still keenly noticed the subtle differences. When he finished his speech, the applause was enthusiastic but slightly less than that for Zhao Feiyang. When he gave his farewell speech, many middle-level managers were not paying attention to him, and some were even secretly playing with their phones. In the past, this would have been absolutely unacceptable, but today he had to ignore it.

When the new director, Zhao Feiyang, spoke, everyone in the meeting focused on him, listening attentively. It wasn't because Zhao Feiyang's speech was more engaging, but because from that moment on, he was the leader of Changxing, the center of power in the hospital, and the focus of everyone's attention.

After the meeting, Gu Houyi returned to the director's office. He didn't want to come back, but Zhao Feiyang had requested a private conversation. As the predecessor, he had to show magnanimity and wanted to understand the person who would take over Changxing.

Zhao Feiyang was tall, handsome, and had a charismatic smile. He showed great respect to Gu Houyi, the predecessor: "Old leader, I have long admired you."

The term "old leader" was a form of respect, but Gu Houyi didn't like it. He preferred to be called "Director Gu" or "Boss." However, from today, the director of Changxing would be surnamed Zhao, and he had to accept this reality.

"Director Zhao, I've heard a lot about you, the most promising young official in our health system."

Zhao Feiyang smiled, "Young, I can accept, but 'promising' is too much. In terms of managing Changxing, I still need to learn a lot from you, the senior."

Gu Houyi said, "You can rest assured. I will share everything I know."

Both men laughed, but their moods were different.

Behind Gu Houyi's desk hung a rendering of Changxing Hospital's Phase II expansion plan. He brought Zhao Feiyang to the rendering and said, "Director Zhao, this is the rendering of Changxing's Phase II expansion plan."

Zhao Feiyang said, "The design is very beautiful."

Gu Houyi sighed, "We started preparing for the Phase II expansion six years ago, but it took two years just to get the approval. After the approval, we encountered difficulties with the demolition, which was only completed two months ago. Now, the demolition is finally complete."

He hoped his successor would appreciate his years of hard work and dedication, but Zhao Feiy didn't seem to grasp his meaning.

"I heard that the project was put on hold?"

"Temporarily. I asked, and it should be restarted within half a month." Not being able to personally lay the foundation for the Phase II expansion was a lasting regret for Gu Houyi. Even if it were to start, the glory and achievement would belong to Zhao Feiyang, and everyone understood this.

"Director Zhao, the Phase II expansion must be expedited. Our current facilities are already lagging behind other hospitals. If we don't improve this situation soon, Changxing will fall out of the top tier and fall further behind."

Zhao Feiyang nodded, "You can rest assured. I will do my best to develop and expand Changxing."

Gu Houyi had wanted to discuss more, but he lost interest. Zhao Feiyang's humility was superficial, and almost every word he said hinted that Gu Houyi was old and outdated, almost as if he was saying, "Now Changxing is mine, and everything here is no longer your concern."

Gu Houyi extended his hand, and Zhao Feiyang took it with both hands. Zhao Feiyang's palm was warm and strong, while Gu Houyi's was rough and cold, reflecting his current sense of loss.

Gu Houyi didn't want to reveal his disappointment and quickly withdrew his hand, lightly patting Zhao Feiyang's shoulder, "I leave it to you."