Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

Zhao Guosheng leaned back in his chair and nodded. "You should invite him. Although you are familiar with Secretary Zhang, his word alone doesn't count. The other township heads, deputy township heads, deputy secretaries, and office directors all have the right to speak."

"These people have been in the village for many years, and they know everyone, both above and below them. Their relationships are very complex. Secretary Zhang is the deputy secretary, not the top leader, so there are some things he can't forcefully suppress."

"Inviting someone to a meal or giving them a pack of cigarettes isn't a big deal, but it makes them feel good. A word from them at a meeting can be more effective than ten trips from you."

Zhao Guosheng has worked at the Siping Township Health Center for so many years and has some experience dealing with grassroots cadres.

Chen Ping nodded, took out his phone, and dialed Zhang Jianmin's number.

It rang three times, then I answered.

"Secretary Zhang, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner. I'd like to discuss the approval process for the medical center with you again. If it's convenient for you, please invite a few other leaders from the township as well; the more the merrier."

Chen Ping was a little nervous when he said this, afraid that Zhang Jianmin would agree.

Zhang Jianmin chuckled on the other end of the phone and, without much hesitation, replied, "Okay, what time? Where?"

"Six o'clock, Lao Zhou's Restaurant."

"Okay, I'll call Mayor Wang and Director Li. They don't have anything to do tonight."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ping breathed a sigh of relief.

"You agreed?" Zhao Guosheng asked, seeing Chen Ping's expression.

Chen Ping nodded. "I agree. After get off work, you'll come with me, Dean. You're familiar with the people at the township government, so you're more reliable than me in handling things."

"Haha, okay, I'll go with you. After all, the affairs of this clinic are also the affairs of our health center."

Zhao Guosheng chuckled twice, flattered by Chen Ping's praise.

Chen Ping returned to the consultation room from Zhao Guosheng's office, where Cui Ying was still sitting.

"How is it?" Cui Ying asked.

"I've already made an appointment with Secretary Zhang to have dinner together tonight, and the dean will be coming along too," Chen Ping said.

"Okay, I'll go get ready..."

Cui Ying left after she finished speaking.

She bought several cartons of Zhonghua cigarettes at the largest supermarket in Siping Township. They were packed in black plastic bags, so it was impossible to tell what was inside.

Back at the clinic, Cui Ying handed the bag to Chen Ping and said, "Take this. Give what you're entitled to, and don't give anything you're not entitled to."

"What's this?" Chen Ping asked blankly, opening the bag to take a look.

When I saw several cartons of Zhonghua cigarettes, my heart skipped a beat.

These few cartons of cigarettes cost several thousand yuan, which is almost my monthly salary.

"Spend the money you need to spend, don't be stingy," Cui Ying said, noticing Chen Ping's distress.

Chen Ping nodded and put the black plastic bag into the drawer.

At 5:45 p.m., Chen Ping, Cui Ying, and Zhao Guosheng arrived at Lao Zhou's Restaurant ahead of schedule.

Old Zhou was busy in the kitchen when he heard the noise and poked his head out, his face full of wrinkles with a smile.

"Dean Zhao, who did you invite today? Why such a big fuss?" Old Zhou asked curiously.

Zhao Guosheng said, "You'd better make sure the dishes are cooked well for the leaders in the township."

"Don't worry, the leaders in the township all love the food here."

After Old Zhou finished speaking, he turned and went back to the kitchen, the sound of the knife moving twice as fast as before.

Chen Ping smiled. In Siping Township, only Lao Zhou Restaurant is somewhat upscale, with a wider variety of dishes. When the township government has receptions or banquets, they can only choose this place.

It wasn't that the local leaders liked his cooking; they simply had no other choice.

Otherwise, you can only go to the county, which takes more than an hour by car. Generally, unless there are special guests, no one goes to the county to host a dinner party.

Chen Ping and the other two entered the private room. It was the same private room as before, and the words "Feel at home" on the wall were still there, but the paper was more yellow, the edges were curled up, and it was taped up with transparent tape.

The large round table was covered with a new blue checkered tablecloth, and the plates, bowls, and chopsticks were neatly arranged.

Chen Ping placed the black plastic bag containing cigarettes on the table. Cui Ying looked through the menu from beginning to end, checked off eight dishes, added two cold dishes, and handed the menu to the waiter.

At 6:05, Zhang Jianmin arrived.

He was wearing a dark jacket, his hair was neatly combed, and he shook hands with Chen Ping as soon as he entered the room, then shook hands with Zhao Guosheng. He sat down in a chair and placed the briefcase he had brought on the table.

Cui Ying poured him a cup of tea, which he blew on before taking a sip.

At 6:10, the others arrived one after another.

Leading the way was Township Head Wang, in his forties, slightly overweight, his belly stretching his shirt taut, his hair slicked back and shiny. As he entered, he held his chin high and looked down, as if inspecting the sanitation.

He glanced around the private room, his gaze lingering on Chen Ping and Cui Ying for a moment, but he didn't reach out.

Zhao Guosheng took the initiative to extend his hand. He shook hands briefly, then released his grip after a few touches of his fingers. He sat down on the chair directly opposite the door, crossed his legs, and shuffled his toes along.

Following behind was Director Li, from the township party and government office, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and holding a thermos with the words "Serve the People" printed on it in red.

He smiled briefly as he entered, a slight smile that faded as he shook hands with Zhao Guosheng and nodded to Chen Ping.

He didn't look at Cui Ying, but sat down next to Mayor Wang, put his thermos on the table, unscrewed the lid, and took a sip.

Finally, Station Chief Sun arrived. He was the head of the township health and family planning service station, the superior authority of the township health center. He was in his early fifties, tall and thin, with deep wrinkles on his face and a downturned mouth.

When he entered, he greeted Secretary Zhang, Mayor Wang, and Director Li, then pulled up a chair, sat down, took out his phone, placed it on the table with the screen facing up, glanced at it, and then turned it face down again.

Zhao Guosheng stood up to shake hands with Station Chief Sun, but seeing the other's expression, he withdrew his hand.

Chen Ping looked at the few cadres who came in, his expression somewhat awkward.

Cui Ying rolled her eyes. These low-level cadres acted more like officials in the city than officials in the county.

Zhang Jianmin sat next to Chen Ping and began to introduce them, "Dr. Chen, this is Township Head Wang, this is Director Li, and this is Station Chief Sun. They are all veterans of our township, having worked in Siping Township for over ten or twenty years. They are all retired cadres, having served here longer than I have."

Zhang Jianmin was the appointed deputy secretary. His home was not in Siping Township, and he was very polite to these local cadres.

After all, these veteran cadres who have served for more than ten or twenty years have formed their own small groups and have their own power in the local area. Although Zhang Jianmin is the deputy secretary, his official position seems high, but his power is not that great.

As the deputy secretary, he was just a janitor and a scapegoat. He could make decisions on some minor matters, but when it came to major construction and approval processes in Siping Township, he didn't have much power.

Chen Ping smiled and nodded at the group, which was his way of greeting them.