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

Fang Hai's dormitory door was open. He was sitting on the edge of his bed organizing the documents in his briefcase when he heard footsteps. He looked up and saw Zhao Guosheng standing at the door with no expression on his face.

"Dean Zhao, is something the matter?"

Zhao Guosheng knocked on the door frame, as if asking for permission before daring to go in.

He went in, but didn't dare to sit down. He stood in front of Fang Hai, unsure of what to do with his hands.

"Section Chief Fang, there's something I'd like to ask you about."

Zhao Guosheng's voice was eight octaves lower than usual, carrying a cautious, ingratiating tone, "The health center staff's salaries have been three months in arrears. Everyone's family is facing difficulties; some can't afford their children's tuition, and some wives are threatening divorce."

"Could we perhaps use a portion of the government's budget to pay the salaries first?"

After he finished speaking, his heart was pounding.

Based on his many years of experience in officialdom, newly arrived supervisors usually don't immediately give in; they usually delay for a few days, putting on airs to appear meticulous and strict in their work.

He had even prepared his pleading remarks in his mind.

Fang Hai didn't say anything. He put the documents back in his briefcase, zipped it up, stood up, and took a few steps around the room.

Zhao Guosheng's heart was in his throat.

"Paying salaries is a big deal." Fang Hai turned around and looked at Zhao Guosheng. "Being three months behind is already outrageous. We can't delay any longer."

Zhao Guosheng was stunned for a moment, thinking he had misheard.

"Section Chief Fang, you mean...?"

"It will be sent out this afternoon."

Fang Hai's voice wasn't loud, but it was very decisive: "Follow the rules. Pay out exactly what's due. I'll supervise. Every single transaction must be signed and recorded."

Zhao Guosheng's mouth was agape, unable to close for a long time. He hadn't expected Fang Hai to agree so readily, so readily that it felt somewhat unreal to him.

He nodded quickly, "Thank you, Section Chief Fang, thank you, Section Chief Fang..."

After saying that, Zhao Guosheng turned and ran out.

"Payment was paid this afternoon! Payday was paid this afternoon!"

Zhao Guosheng's voice traveled from the front yard to the back yard, to the clinic, to the pharmacy, and to every corner.

Everyone ran out, staring at Zhao Guosheng with disbelief.

Zhao Guosheng nodded to everyone and said, "I'll go to the credit union to withdraw cash now. After work this afternoon, everyone go to the accounting office to collect your wages."

"Damn, I finally got paid! I was so broke..."

"I'll pick up the kids tonight, then I won't get scolded anymore."

“…………”

Two o'clock in the afternoon, in the accounting office.

Fang Hai sat next to Cui Ying, with payroll sheets, attendance records, and payment vouchers spread out in front of him, checking them one by one.

He looked very carefully, asking a question after each item, but not a difficult one. Instead, he asked work-related questions such as "How long has this person been working here?" and "What is the salary standard for this position?"

Cui Ying answered truthfully. Although she felt a little uneasy about the man's gaze, she couldn't find any fault with him at work.

"Liu Wei, basic salary is 3,500, position allowance is 300, performance bonus is 400, totaling 4,200. Three months' salary is 12,600. After deducting the 800 prepayment, the actual salary is 11,800."

Fang Hai looked up at Liu Wei, who was standing in the doorway. "Right?"

Liu Wei strode over, glanced at the payroll, and nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes."

"Sign." Fang Hai handed him the pen.

Liu Wei took the pen, his hand trembling, and it took him several tries to sign his name completely.

Fang Hai glanced at it and pushed the pay slip and envelope over.

Liu Wei opened the envelope; inside was a thick stack of red bills.

He counted it once, then again, tears falling onto the table in a steady stream.

"Thank you, Section Chief Fang; thank you, Dean Zhao; thank you, Dr. Chen..."

He spoke incoherently, stuffed the envelope into his pocket, patted it as if it were a precious treasure, and then turned and ran away.

He ran a couple of steps, then came back, bowed to Fang Hai, and then ran off again.

Li Fang is the second.

She didn't cry when she received the money, but her lips were white from biting them, and she crumpled the envelope in her hand.

Wang Tao was the third. He looked at the money over and over again, said, "This is the first full salary I've ever received in my life," and then laughed, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

Wang Jianguo was the last one. His hands were trembling when he took the envelope, but his face was calm. Then he put on his reading glasses, took out the money from the envelope, and looked at it one bill at a time, as if he were looking at some rare object.

Fang Hai looked at their grateful expressions and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

The smile was faint, almost invisible, but there was something in his eyes—satisfaction, the certainty of having succeeded.

Chen Ping stood at the door of the accounting office, watching the expressions on his colleagues' faces as they received their wages, and he felt happy too.

He thought for a moment, then walked into the accounting office and looked at Zhao Guosheng: "Dean Zhao, I would like to receive an advance on one month's salary."

Zhao Guosheng paused for a moment, looked at Fang Hai, then at Chen Ping: "Dr. Chen, you've only been here for less than a month..."

"I know, but I'm a little short on cash." Chen Ping smiled and didn't explain further.

Zhao Guosheng hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, Dr. Chen, you take it first..."

"Wait a minute," Fang Hai said.

The air in the accounting office suddenly turned cold.

Fang Hai flipped through the documents on the table, adjusted his glasses, and spoke in a low voice, but each word seemed to be nailed to the table: "Dr. Chen, you haven't been at the health center for even a month, and your salary hasn't been paid yet. There's no rule about getting an advance on your salary."

Chen Ping looked at him without saying a word.

Zhao Guosheng quickly tried to smooth things over: "Section Chief Fang, Dr. Chen's situation is special. He left with nothing, not even a change of clothes..."

"Dean Zhao, I understand."

Fang Hai interrupted him, his tone still flat, as flat as a mirror, "But rules are rules. Funds are allocated for specific purposes, and the whereabouts of every penny must be traceable."

What accounting entry should I use for advance salary payments? How should I record it? How should I explain it if my superiors ask?

Zhao Guosheng opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

He glanced at Chen Ping, his eyes full of apology.

Chen Ping smiled faintly: "It's nothing, Dean Zhao, I was just asking. It's fine if I don't need an advance."

He turned and walked out of the accounting office.

Cui Ying watched his retreating figure, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back.

She lowered her head and continued tidying up the payroll on the table.

Fang Hai watched Chen Ping disappear through the door of the consultation room, and the corners of his mouth curled up again.

This wasn't a faint smile; it was a knowing, smug grin, the kind that comes after a triumphant laugh.

He certainly knew about Chen Ping's situation.

Before he arrived, Xu Wenshan had already told Chen Ping everything about his background: divorce, leaving with nothing, being exiled to Siping Township, and having nothing at all.

A person is in a foreign land, lacking money, clothes, and all daily necessities.

But he insisted on refusing.

It wasn't because he had a grudge against Chen Ping, but because he needed to do it.