Zhou Wenbin was complaining from the back that Jiangzhou's road conditions were terrible, not really suitable for driving. Buying an electric bike seemed like a better idea: no worries about drunk driving or traffic jams. He didn't drive because, although he claimed to have many social engagements, the real reason was his colorblindness.
He hadn't finished speaking when the road ahead got blocked. Cheng Xiaohong, usually quiet and gentle, became irritable once she was in the car, pressing the horn several times. In this situation, honking was futile unless you could fly over the cars in front.
Zhou Wenbin, with a knowing look: "I told you so, coming out at this time guarantees a traffic jam."
Xu Chunliang commented that motorcycles were still better.
Cheng Xiaohong replied, "Motorcycles are banned in the city, so that idea is out. It's so annoying, being stuck in traffic all the time." She honked again.
The window of the black Audi Q7 in front rolled down, and a large-headed, thick-necked driver stuck his head out, glaring back fiercely. His mouth moved, clearly cursing from the lip movements.
Xu Chunliang said, "He seems to be cursing!"
Cheng Xiaohong blushed, knowing she was at fault for honking first, though she didn't do it on purpose. She had a bad habit of honking instinctively, unable to control it.
Zhou Wenbin from the back cautioned them not to be impulsive, suggesting it was better to let things slide since there was no rush.
The vehicles in front started moving again, and Cheng Xiaohong followed cautiously. Just as the car was picking up speed, the vehicle in front suddenly braked.
Cheng Xiaohong was startled but managed to brake on time, successfully stopping the car.
Xu Chunliang, sitting in the passenger seat with a seatbelt on, was jerked forward by inertia before being pulled back by the seatbelt. In the back, Zhou Wenbin, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt, was thrown forward, hitting Cheng Xiaohong's seatback. Fortunately, they weren't going fast enough for serious injury, but his nose did bump the back of the seat, making it ache.
Cheng Xiaohong was pale with fright: "What's wrong with him!"
Zhou Wenbin, rubbing his nose, said, "Let it go, don't drive in anger."
Xu Chunliang saw that the Audi had already driven away, understanding it was intentionally retaliating for Cheng Xiaohong's honking earlier.
They thought it was over, but after passing the traffic light, they found the Audi Q7 had changed lanes to get in front of them again, deliberately slowing down as a provocation.
With experience on his side, Zhou Wenbin advised Cheng Xiaohong not to get angry and suggested taking the next right onto Yanhe North Road toward the hotel, even though it was a longer route, but would avoid unnecessary conflict.
Cheng Xiaohong was red with anger; if her boss weren't in the car, she would have exploded already. Following Zhou Wenbin's guidance, she turned right at Chang'an Bridge, crossing over into Yanhe North Road.
Unexpectedly, the Audi Q7 caught up again, overtaking them and sharply cutting in front of the POLO car. Cheng Xiaohong screamed, slamming the brakes to the floor—so hard that the ABS activated—and the car shuddered to a halt, like a man suddenly relaxed after a jolt of excitement.
The Audi Q7 then sped off into the distance.
Cheng Xiaohong was white with fear, and Xu Chunliang was furious. It wasn't fair to retaliate so aggressively over a few honks, nearly causing an accident.
Zhou Wenbin was also shaken, stammering, "Since when do people drive so aggressively?"
Xu Chunliang reassured Cheng Xiaohong, "Don't be afraid. If they try that again, I'll take their wheels off."
Cheng Xiaohong bit her lip, feeling both scared and angry, losing any mood she had.
Zhou Wenbin thought to himself that he wouldn't dare ride in this young girl's car again; young drivers still had much to learn.
Clearly affected, Cheng Xiaohong drove more slowly, choosing to yield at every opportunity for a lane change, not daring to honk anymore.
At Min Nan Seafood Restaurant's parking lot, Cheng Xiaohong parked the car, still shaken from the experience.
Xu Chunliang opened the door and got out, spotting the Q7 that had cut them off earlier parked nearby. After confirming the license plate, he thought, 'What a small world.'
Zhou Wenbin saw the car too, recalling Xu Chunliang's earlier comments about dismantling the tires, and patted his shoulder, "Let it be. Less trouble is better."
Due to the incident, the three of them were the last to arrive.
Vice President Gao Xinhua was already there, chatting with Director Zhu Mingyuan of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department.
Zhu Mingyuan was invited by Zhao Yongsheng, as they were old classmates. Zhao Yongsheng also invited Neurology Chief Nurse Tang Mingmei to accompany him. Tang Mingmei, once famous for her beauty in the healthcare system, was still charming past forty. Her aura was extraordinary, with a gray cheongsam accentuating her curves. She walked with the grace of willows in the wind, elegant and poised.
When Zhou Wenbin and the others entered, Zhao Yongsheng greeted them warmly, "Director Zhou, you're late!"
Zhou Wenbin laughed, "Traffic, traffic!" After a brief greeting with Zhao Yongsheng, he headed straight to Gao Xinhua: "Dean Gao, why aren't you playing cards?"
Gao Xinhua replied, "How dare you say that? Xiaotang can't play cards, and you're late."
"My fault entirely. We still have time, let's play a round before dinner."
Gao Xinhua had a huge craving for cards and immediately said, "Let's play a round, Old Zhu, you and I will be a team."
Zhu Mingyuan, chubby and wearing round black-framed glasses with a Tang suit, had quite a scholarly air. He smiled and said, "I'm not good at cards. If I play the wrong card, Dean Gao, don't blame me."
Gao Xinhua said, "Winning at Dou Dizhu is all about the draw, has nothing to do with skill. If you don't want to team up with me, Wenbin, you and I will team up."
Zhu Mingyuan didn't say he wouldn't, but he always felt there was more to Gao Xinhua's words.
Seeing Gao Xinhua, Xu Chunliang knew he should go over and say hello for both public and private reasons. In front of his colleagues, he respectfully called out Dean Gao.
Gao Xinhua smiled and introduced to everyone, "You all probably know Xiaoxu. Our two families have had ties for generations. I've watched this kid grow up."
Even if Gao Xinhua hadn't said it, everyone already knew Xu Chunliang was brought into the hospital by him. Pointing out this relationship publicly was intentional.
At this point, Zhu Mingyuan suddenly understood. Gao Xinhua was using the card game to give him a warning. When Xu Chunliang first entered the hospital, he was supposed to go to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, but because of Zhu's strong opposition, he ended up going to the medical office.
Zhu Mingyuan didn't fully understand the process. He looked down on this deputy dean Gao Xinhua, seeing him as just a demoted military officer who lucked into his position.
Several people went to play cards. Tang Mingmei brewed the Lapsang Souchong she brought. Normally, juniors should do this, but Cheng Xiaohong was still distracted by the previous incident, sitting aside and absentmindedly scrolling through her phone.
Xu Chunliang stepped up and said to Tang Mingmei, "Nurse Chief Tang, let me do it."
Tang Mingmei smiled at him, her eyes shimmering, and Xu Chunliang brewed the tea and served everyone. He had already accepted his current identity. Once a revered Five Poison Sect Leader, now just a minor clerk at a tertiary hospital, he knew he had to play his role properly.
Tang Mingmei casually said, "Xiaoxu, I heard you managed to convince Mrs. Jiang?"
Xu Chunliang replied, "I didn't do much, just chatted with her."
"Not easy at all!" Tang Mingmei sighed sincerely. She had also experienced Mrs. Jiang's rudeness firsthand.
Then, Gao Xinhua's loud voice occasionally boomed from the side, "I bomb!"
Sitting opposite Gao Xinhua, Zhu Mingyuan looked frustrated—Another bomb? Gao Xinhua, just how much do you loathe me? Gao Xinhua sat as his upper hand, bombing him nonstop from the start.
Gao Xinhua and Zhou Wenbin fiercely dominated the game, while Zhu Mingyuan and Zhao Yongsheng didn't stand a chance, ending the round still stuck in second place. It wasn't about authority; Zhao Yongsheng's card skills were average, and they were both terribly unlucky today. They just served as practice partners to entertain the leaders.
Though the leaders were happy, it made them feel stifled, playing a miserable game, always on the receiving end, with no chance to fight back.
Gao Xinhua didn't indulge in the game for long since there were three others waiting. He suggested starting the meal and took the seat of honor. Though traditionally Zhu Mingyuan should sit to his left due to seniority, he invited Zhou Wenbin to his left and left the right for the seasoned beauty Tang Mingmei. Having a beauty pour the wine was standard.
The others took their seats in order, with Xu Chunliang and Cheng Xiaohong, being juniors, naturally sitting at the end.
Gao Xinhua made an opening speech, announcing the official start of the dinner.
Xu Chunliang noticed that today's drink was Baidai Wuliangye, and the dishes were also very high-class and exquisite. He roughly estimated the meal would cost over five thousand. Having worked for some time, he had some understanding of the hospital's situation. Although department heads had good incomes, they usually wouldn't spend out of their pocket for this kind of expense.
The hospital veterans, like Gao Xinhua, knew well that this meal was definitely being paid for by pharmaceutical sales representatives. This is common in the medical system and taken as normal.
As the deputy dean, Gao Xinhua became the focus of the toasts. Xu Chunliang noted that Gao Xinhua had a substantial alcohol tolerance, refusing no drink offered.
His direct superior, Zhou Wenbin, didn't hold his liquor well. His face turned red up to his neck after a pot of wine.
Zhao Yongsheng also had a great tolerance. When it was his turn to toast Xu Chunliang, he laughed and said, "Xiaoxu, I toast to you."
In the past, Xu Chunliang would have comfortably accepted his toast. However, now that he was no longer the Five Poison Sect Leader, he was new and paid full respect. Standing, he said, "Director Zhao, you're too kind. I should be the one to toast you." He held his glass and went to Zhao Yongsheng's side, drank with him, and they finished two cups each.
Gao Xinhua observed quietly and felt gratified. Although the decision to let Xu Chunliang join Changxing Hospital was made by the big boss Gu Houyi, with interests exchanged behind the scenes, he had suggested the idea. In the eyes of others, Xu Chunliang entered the hospital through his connections.
In today's time, a high school graduate becoming a formal member at Changxing Hospital seemed like a fantasy. Gao Xinhua was naturally worried sharp-witted people would make a fuss out of this. Knowing Xu Chunliang well, he didn't expect the kid to achieve much, just to peacefully remain unnoticed.
He had originally placed Xu Chunliang in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department because Elder Xu and his father were close friends. But it fell through due to Zhu Mingyuan's strong opposition, so Xu Chunliang had to start in logistics.
Gao Xinhua was also worried about how to explain to Elder Xu afterward. Unexpectedly, the medical office asked for people, and the kid muddled into it. Unable to be a doctor, going into administration wasn't bad either. With a part-time adult degree, he might even achieve a departmental level someday.
So far, Xu Chunliang quickly adapted to his role in the workplace. If unfamiliar with his background, it was hard to imagine that someone so polite, witty, and conversational was once a four-time repeat student dropout who almost attempted suicide a month ago due to despair.
With Xu Chunliang making strides in his work, it also brought face to Gao Xinhua.
After toasting Zhao Yongsheng, Xu Chunliang moved beside Gao Xinhua and raised his cup, "Uncle, I toast to you." This time, he didn't call him Dean Gao. Since Gao Xinhua had already publicly revealed their relationship, there was no need for him to avoid it. Though Gao Xinhua's official rank wasn't high, he still held considerable influence in Changxing Hospital.
This call of "Uncle" made it clear to everyone the extraordinary relationship between them, undoubtedly elevating Xu Chunliang's status in everyone's eyes.