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

The private room at Lao Zhou's restaurant is still the same private room, and the words "Feel at home" on the wall are still there, though the paper is more yellowed.

The round table was already set with dishes, two more than when Dean Ma came last time: a braised fish, a pork rib soup, and the rest were the same: braised pork, stewed chicken, scrambled eggs, cucumber salad, stir-fried green beans, and peanuts.

Zhang Jianmin sat in the main seat, Fang Hai sat to his right, Zhao Guosheng sat to his left, and Cui Ying sat next to Fang Hai.

Cui Ying originally wanted to sit next to Zhao Guosheng, but Fang Hai patted the chair next to him and said, "Accountant Cui, sit here." She had no choice but to sit down.

Zhang Jianmin poured himself a glass of wine, raised it, and looked at Fang Hai: "Section Chief Fang, the conditions in Siping Township are poor, and our hospitality has been lacking. Please forgive us. This glass is for you."

Fang Hai picked up his wine glass, clinked it with Zhang Jianmin's, took a sip, and didn't finish it.

Zhang Jianmin didn't mind, he downed the whole cup in one gulp, put down his cup, and picked up a piece of peanut with his chopsticks.

He then chewed and said, "Section Chief Fang, it's a blessing for our whole township that the city has taken notice of our Siping Township and allocated 500,000 yuan."

Especially the health clinics, which have always been in poor condition, making it difficult for ordinary people to see a doctor. Now, at least there's hope.

Fang Hai put down his wine glass and said in a calm tone, "Secretary Zhang, the city's allocation of funds reflects its emphasis on grassroots healthcare, not on favoritism towards any particular individual."

"Once the money arrives, how and where it's spent must be done according to the rules. My job is to ensure that this money is used effectively."

"Yes, yes, Section Chief Fang is right." Zhang Jianmin nodded repeatedly, poured another glass of wine, and toasted Fang Hai.

Zhao Guosheng sat to the side, holding a wine glass, trying to join the conversation but unable to.

He glanced at Fang Hai, then at Zhang Jianmin, and after holding back for a while, finally found an opportunity to raise his glass to Fang Hai: "Section Chief Fang, on behalf of all the staff of the health center, thank you for today's salary payment."

Fang Hai picked up his glass, clinked it against Zhao Guosheng's, and took a sip: "It's only right. Employee wages are a big deal and can't be delayed."

Zhao Guosheng quickly drank the wine, wiped his mouth, and was about to say something when Zhang Jianmin interrupted him.

"Section Chief Fang, how many years have you worked at the Municipal Health Bureau?" Zhang Jianmin asked.

"Fifteen years."

"Fifteen years, that's a veteran." Zhang Jianmin gave a thumbs up. "What does Section Chief Fang oversee in the bureau?"

"Finance." Fang Hai smiled. "I've managed money my whole life, and I'll be managing money wherever I go."

Everyone laughed.

Zhao Guosheng laughed the loudest, even though he didn't find it funny at all.

Cui Ying didn't smile. She lowered her head and used her chopsticks to pick at the rice in her bowl, picking at each grain as if she were counting them.

Fang Hai picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Cui Ying's bowl.

The movements were very natural, as if they had done them many times before.

"Accountant Cui, have some fish."

Cui Ying looked at the fish in the bowl but didn't touch it.

Two seconds later, she moved the fish to the side of the plate, picked up a piece of stir-fried green beans with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it, without looking at Fang Hai once.

Fang Hai's smile remained unchanged, but his hand, which was picking up food, paused for a moment.

Seeing this, Zhang Jianmin quickly smoothed things over: "Come, come, Section Chief Fang, try this braised pork, it's Old Zhou's specialty."

Fang Hai picked up a piece of braised pork, chewed it, and nodded: "Not bad."

The dinner continued.

Zhang Jianmin and Zhao Guosheng took turns toasting, and Fang Hai only took a small sip each time, so the amount of wine in his glass hardly decreased.

He didn't talk much, but every word he said was to the point, keeping the conversation neither too quiet nor too lively, maintaining the proper composure of a superior leader.

Cui Ying barely spoke throughout the entire process.

If someone asks her a question, she will answer with one sentence; if no one asks her a question, she will just lower her head and eat.

She ate very little; she only ate a small portion of a bowl of rice and barely touched any of the vegetables.

Fang Hai served her food several more times, but she didn't eat any of it, pushing it all to the side of the plate.

Near the end, Fang Hai suddenly turned to Cui Ying, his tone casual: "Accountant Cui, I've looked at the health center's accounts, and they're indeed quite good. However, there are a few things I'd like to verify with you again. We can discuss them in detail tomorrow at work."

Cui Ying nodded without saying anything.

Fang Hai glanced at her again, smiled, picked up his wine glass, and downed the rest of the wine in one gulp.

By the time the show ended, it was completely dark.

The moon hasn't risen yet, but the stars have already brightened considerably.

Zhang Jianmin had drunk quite a bit; his face was flushed, and he was slurring his words, but he could still stand.

He held Fang Hai's hand and said "Section Chief Fang, come again next time" several times before getting into the car and leaving.

Zhao Guosheng had also drunk quite a bit, and he was walking a little unsteadily, but his mind was still clear.

He glanced at Fang Hai, then at Cui Ying, as if he wanted to say something, but his mouth opened and then closed again.

He sighed, turned around, and walked home.

Only Fang Hai and Cui Ying remained on the street.

Old Zhou's restaurant is not far from the health center, about a ten-minute walk.

Fang Hai walked half a step ahead, and Cui Ying walked behind, with a distance of more than a meter between them.

"Accountant Cui, the computers in your health center's accounting office are too old. Shouldn't you replace them?"

Fang Hai suddenly spoke up, his tone casual, as if he were talking about the weather, "A portion of the funding can be allocated for equipment procurement. You can mention it to Dean Zhao, and I can approve it."

"No need," Cui Ying said calmly. "That computer still works."

"Usable and easy to use are two different things." Fang Hai smiled. "You graduated from a prestigious university, it's a waste for you to use that kind of outdated computer."

Cui Ying did not respond.

After walking for a while, Fang Hai spoke up again: "Accountant Cui, since you live alone in the dormitory, just tell me if you need anything. Bed sheets, blankets, toiletries, kitchen utensils—all can be covered by the allowance. As long as it's reasonable, I won't hold you back."

"Thank you, Section Chief Fang. We don't need anything." Cui Ying's tone was even colder.

Fang Hai stopped, turned around, and looked at Cui Ying.

The streetlights cast a dim yellow light on his face, and his silver-rimmed glasses reflected the light, obscuring his eyes, but revealing the smile on his lips.

It wasn't the businesslike smile you see during the day; it was a different kind of smile, one that looked lecherous, as if it wanted to see right through you, making you feel uncomfortable.

"Accountant Cui, do you have some kind of opinion about me?" Fang Hai's voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

Cui Ying paused for a moment, then shook her head: "No."

"That's good." Fang Hai turned around and continued walking forward.

When we arrived at the entrance of the health center, the moon finally rose, a thin layer, as if it had been washed by water.

The courtyard was pitch black, except for a light in the backyard, the light from Chen Ping's dormitory, shining through the window in a dim, yellowish hue.

Fang Hai and Cui Ying walked towards the backyard one after the other.

When they reached the backyard gate, Fang Hai suddenly reached out and patted Cui Ying on the shoulder.

"Accountant Cui, is there anything I need to know about my work from now on...?"

"Don't touch me!"

Cui Ying's voice was very loud, so loud that it sounded like thunder in the quiet night.

She took two steps back, her face showing a mixture of shock and fear, her lips trembling, and her fingers clenched into fists.

It's estimated that if Fang Hai had taken another step forward, Cui Ying's fist would have landed on him.