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

The other staff members at the health center were also packing up to go home.

A black Santana suddenly drove into the health center and stopped at the entrance. Zhang Jianmin, the deputy secretary of the township, got out of the car!

Wang Tao was locking the door to the clinic when he saw the black Santana and paused for a moment.

He recognized the township government's car, but this was the first time he had seen Zhang Jianmin come to the health center at this time.

He turned around and shouted inside, "Secretary Zhang is here!"

Zhao Guosheng ran out of the office, still holding the teacup in his hand.

He ran to the car, where Zhang Jianmin had already gotten out. He was wearing a dark jacket, his hair was neatly combed, and he was carrying a briefcase. He didn't look like he was there for a meal, but rather for a meeting.

"Secretary Zhang, what brings you here at this hour?" Zhao Guosheng asked curiously.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Jianmin went straight to the point: "Dean Zhao, has the Municipal Health Bureau sent people to the health center?"

"Yes, yes, the section chief of the Municipal Health Bureau is named Fang Hai!" Zhao Guosheng nodded and said.

"Is Section Chief Fang here?" Zhang Jianmin asked.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's in the backyard dormitory."

Zhao Guosheng quickly turned around and said to Wang Tao, "Wang Tao! Go and call Section Chief Fang! Tell him Secretary Zhang is here!"

Wang Tao responded and ran towards the backyard.

Less than a minute later, Fang Hai walked out of the backyard, his steps unhurried, his silver-rimmed glasses reflecting the twilight.

He walked up to Zhang Jianmin, extended his hand, and wore a perfectly appropriate smile, neither too warm nor too cold, neither too close nor too distant.

"Section Chief Fang, welcome to Siping Township."

Zhang Jianmin grasped his hand and shook it. "The Municipal Health Bureau sent people to guide our work. As the deputy secretary, I have to show my appreciation. I'll arrange a welcome dinner for Section Chief Fang tonight."

Fang Hai smiled, his voice not loud but clear: "Secretary Zhang, you're too kind. I'm here to work, not as a guest. There's no need for such trouble."

These words were almost exactly the same as what he said to Zhao Guosheng during the day, but the tone was different.

When speaking to Zhao Guosheng, he was cold and businesslike; when speaking to Zhang Jianmin, however, his coldness carried a hint of warmth, after all, the other party was the deputy secretary of the township, whose position was much higher than Zhao Guosheng's.

Moreover, Zhao Guosheng is the director of the health center, an official under the jurisdiction of the health bureau, while Zhang Jianmin is different; he works for the township government, which is not subordinate to the municipal health bureau.

"No trouble at all."

Zhang Jianmin waved his hand, "It's rare for Section Chief Fang to come all this way. The conditions in Siping Township are poor, so there's not much to offer in terms of hospitality, but we still need to have a simple meal together."

Fang Hai glanced at his watch, then at Zhang Jianmin, and nodded: "Then I'll gladly accept your offer."

Zhang Jianmin smiled, turned to look at Zhao Guosheng, and said, "Dean Zhao, you join us too."

Zhao Guosheng quickly nodded: "Okay, okay."

"Oh, and invite Dr. Chen too."

"Dr. Chen has been here for so long, and I haven't properly treated him to a meal yet," Zhang Jianmin said.

Fang Hai's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes flickered.

He glanced at Zhang Jianmin and said casually, "Secretary Zhang, tonight is just a simple dinner. Too many people would be inconvenient. Just invite Dean Zhao; there's no need for anyone else."

Zhang Jianmin paused for a moment, glanced at Fang Hai, and then at Zhao Guosheng.

Zhao Guosheng's expression was subtle; the corner of his mouth twitched down slightly, but he quickly stopped himself.

Zhang Jianmin has worked in the village for so many years, he has a good eye for things, and Fang Hai doesn't want to call Chen Ping.

He smiled and didn't insist: "Okay, then I'll do as Section Chief Fang says."

Fang Hai nodded, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard before landing on the door of the accounting office.

Cui Ying was coming out of there, carrying her bag, ready to leave work.

She changed into a light pink coat, her hair was down and draped over her shoulders, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on her face, making it glow white.

"Dean Zhao," Fang Hai said, "let's call Accountant Cui along."

Zhao Guosheng was taken aback: "Section Chief Fang, didn't you say it's inconvenient with too many people?"

"Accountant Cui graduated from a prestigious university; she's a talented person."

Fang Hai spoke naturally, as if he were stating a perfectly reasonable point: "For those of us working in finance, it's rare to meet someone with formal training. Getting to know them better and exchanging ideas about our work will be beneficial for our future endeavors."

Zhao Guosheng opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

He glanced at Cui Ying, then at Fang Hai, and his heart skipped a beat.

He could see through Fang Hai's scheme, but he couldn't say it out loud, nor did he dare to.

The 500,000 is still in their hands; we can't afford to offend them.

"Okay, I'll go talk to Xiao Cui." Zhao Guosheng steeled himself and walked towards Cui Ying.

Cui Ying was about to return to her dormitory when she heard Zhao Guosheng call her, so she stopped.

Zhao Guosheng walked over, rubbed his hands together, and looked both embarrassed and ingratiating, as if he owed someone money.

"Xiao Cui, um... Section Chief Fang invites you to dinner. It's arranged by Secretary Zhang to welcome Section Chief Fang."

Cui Ying frowned slightly and said two words decisively: "I'm not going."

"Xiao Cui, just consider it helping out."

Zhao Guosheng lowered his voice, afraid that Fang Hai would hear him, "Section Chief Fang specifically asked you to go. If you don't go, he'll lose face. You've seen through him, he's not easy to deal with. If he gets angry and stops releasing the funds, our health center's renovation will be ruined."

Cui Ying bit her lip and didn't say anything.

"It's just one meal, I'll come back after I eat." Zhao Guosheng almost begged, "Xiao Cui, I'm begging you."

Cui Ying still didn't move.

Zhao Guosheng stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay, his forehead beaded with sweat from anxiety.

Just as he was wondering what to do, Chen Ping came out of the consultation room.

He finished packing his things, locked the door, walked over, glanced at Zhao Guosheng, and then glanced at Cui Ying.

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Guosheng recounted the events. After listening, Chen Ping looked at Cui Ying, then at the doorway. Fang Hai was standing there, talking to Zhang Jianmin, occasionally glancing in their direction.

"Go ahead," Chen Ping said.

Cui Ying looked at him, her eyes filled with grievance, reluctance, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"It's just a meal; I'll come back after I eat."

Chen Ping smiled and said, "With Dean Zhao here, everything will be fine."

Cui Ying bit her lip, lowered her head, and after several seconds looked up at Zhao Guosheng: "Okay, I'll go, but I'll only eat, not drink."

"No, no, nobody drinks." Zhao Guosheng nodded repeatedly with a sigh of relief.

The two walked towards the door.

When Fang Hai saw Cui Ying approaching, his smile deepened, but he quickly suppressed it and returned to his usual indifferent expression.

He nodded to Cui Ying, said, "Accountant Cui, let's go," and then turned and got into the car with Zhang Jianmin.

Zhao Guosheng sat in the passenger seat, while Fang Hai and Cui Ying sat in the back.

The car started moving, heading towards Lao Zhou's restaurant.

Siping Township is so small; it takes less than five minutes to drive from the health center to Lao Zhou's restaurant.

But in those five minutes, Fang Hai asked Cui Ying three questions: what she usually does after get off work, what kind of food she likes to eat, and whether her dormitory is cold.

Cui Ying's answers were "staying," "whatever," and "not cold," each shorter and colder than the last.

His disgust was written all over his face.

Fang Hai didn't seem to care, smiled, and didn't ask any more questions.