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

It's past midnight.

Ten past twelve.

12:20.

Wang Tao's stomach growled for the third time. He finally couldn't hold back any longer. He walked to the door of Zhao Guosheng's office and leaned against the door frame. "Dean, Section Chief Fang hasn't come back yet. Let's eat first, the food is getting cold."

Zhao Guosheng glanced at his watch, frowned, and was about to speak when the sound of a bicycle came from the courtyard gate.

Everyone turned to look, and Fang Hai returned on his old bicycle, wobbling but much more steadily than when he left.

He had a new pair of glasses on his face, with silver frames, similar to the old ones, but with thicker lenses.

The injuries on his face were still the same, bruised and battered, and with the new glasses on, he looked even worse.

Zhao Guosheng quickly went to greet him, his face beaming with a smile: "Section Chief Fang, you're back? Dinner is ready, we've been waiting for you."

Fang Hai propped up his bicycle and waved his hand, "Dean Zhao, you guys go ahead and eat. I've already eaten in town."

After saying that, he lowered his head and walked quickly to the backyard without even glancing at the cafeteria.

The steps were still so small, still so hesitant, as if afraid of stepping on something unclean.

Zhao Guosheng stood in the courtyard, watching his retreating figure, paused for a moment, then turned around and shouted towards the cafeteria, "Lunch is served!"

Wang Tao was the first to rush in, followed by Liu Wei, and then Li Fang.

Several people sat around the table, chopsticks flying everywhere, eating with their mouths full of oil.

Wang Tao picked up a piece of braised pork, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and his eyes lit up: "Delicious! Really delicious! A hundred times better than Old Zhou's!"

Liu Wei didn't say anything, just ate in silence, finishing one bowl of rice and then getting another.

As Li Fang ate, she praised, "Auntie, your cooking is amazing! Can we eat this good every day from now on?"

My aunt stood at the kitchen doorway, wearing an apron, beaming from ear to ear: "I'm glad you like it. I'll make dumplings for you tomorrow."

"Great!" Wang Tao almost jumped off his stool.

Chen Ping sat in the corner, holding a bowl, eating at a leisurely pace.

He picked up a piece of cabbage, chewed it, and nodded.

Cui Ying sat next to him, picked up a piece of egg and put it in his bowl, then picked up another piece and put it in her own bowl.

"Eat more," Cui Ying said.

"You too." Chen Ping nodded.

With his mouth full of meat, Wang Tao mumbled, "Can you two stop being so lovey-dovey?"

Chen Ping ignored him, and so did Cui Ying.

Wang Tao, realizing he had made a fool of himself, lowered his head and continued eating.

After dinner, Wang Tao insisted on washing the dishes, but his aunt pushed him out, saying, "You all go to work, I'll do these chores."

Wang Tao scratched his head sheepishly and left.

The afternoon shift was the same as usual, with just as many patients. Chen Ping saw them one by one, Wang Tao ran around doing errands, Liu Wei wrote down prescriptions, and Li Fang dispensed the medicine. Everything proceeded smoothly.

Fang Hai never left his dormitory. The door was closed and the curtains were drawn, so no one knew whether he was sleeping or doing something else.

Around 3 PM, Chen Ping's phone rang. He glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar number. He answered it.

"Dr. Chen, this is Zhang Jianmin." The voice on the other end of the phone was very polite. "Are you free now? Come to the township government; I have something to discuss."

Chen Ping was taken aback: "Secretary Zhang, what's the matter?"

"I said it wasn't convenient over the phone, but you'll see when you get here." Zhang Jianmin paused for a moment. "It's nothing serious, don't be nervous."

Chen Ping hung up the phone, told Zhao Guosheng, changed out of his white coat, and left the health center.

The streets of Siping Township are still the same as always. The old man selling vegetables is dozing off, two people are queuing in front of the tofu stall, and Sister Zhang from the barbershop is sweeping the floor in front of the shop.

He walked very fast and arrived at the township government compound in less than ten minutes.

Zhang Jianmin was waiting at the office door. When he saw him, he waved and said, "Dr. Chen, over here."

Chen Ping walked over, but Zhang Jianmin didn't let him into the office. Instead, he led him directly to the police station next door.

Chen Ping's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show it on his face.

Director Zhou was sitting in his office, with several sheets of paper spread out on the table in front of him, which looked like a transcript.

He saw Chen Ping enter, stood up, and extended his hand: "Dr. Chen, you've arrived?"

Chen Ping shook hands with him and sat down.

Director Zhou looked at Zhang Jianmin, then at Chen Ping, sighed, and spoke.

"Dr. Chen, Ma Hu has been released."

Chen Ping's finger twitched, but his expression remained unchanged.

He looked at Director Zhou, waiting for him to continue.

"There's pressure from above."

Director Zhou's voice was very low, as if he was afraid of being overheard. "Ma Hu has connections in the county. He used his connections to get the person out. Moreover, he also said that we used torture to extract confessions and that we should be held accountable."

"Torture to extract confessions?" Chen Ping's voice was calm.

"Yes, he said that pressing that acupoint on his head was a form of torture."

Director Zhou gave a wry smile. "I have no choice. The higher-ups ordered an investigation, and I have to go through the procedures. I called you here today just for routine business, to ask a few questions. Don't overthink it."

Chen Ping nodded: "Director Zhou, please ask."

Director Zhou opened the paper on the table, picked up a pen, and asked questions slowly and in great detail.

What's your name? Where do you work? What's your relationship with Ma Hu? What did you do at the police station that day? Which acupoints did you press? Why did you press them? Did someone instruct you to do it? And so on.

Chen Ping answered one by one, his voice not loud, but each word was clear.

After asking the questions, Director Zhou handed over the transcript: "Dr. Chen, take a look. If there are no problems, please sign it."

Chen Ping looked it over, picked up a pen, signed his name, and pressed his fingerprint.

Director Zhou put away the transcript, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Chen Ping with a complicated expression.

He opened his mouth, then after a while, said, "Dr. Chen, Ma Hu is ruthless and capable of anything. He definitely won't let things go after he gets out. Be careful, he might cause you trouble."

Chen Ping nodded: "I understand, thank you, Director Zhou."

"And another thing," Director Zhou paused, "Ma Hu said he would hold you accountable. Although it was just a bluff, don't take it lightly. He has powerful connections, and if things really come to this, it could be quite troublesome."

Chen Ping nodded again, stood up, shook hands with Director Zhou, nodded to Zhang Jianmin, and turned to leave.

When I walked out of the police station, the sun was already beginning to set in the west.

Sunlight shone on the walls of the township government compound, turning the white walls a pale yellow, like an old photograph.

Zhang Jianmin followed Chen Ping out and patted him on the shoulder.

"Dr. Chen, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Ma Hu. If he dares to do anything reckless, I'll be the first to object."

Chen Ping smiled and said, "Thank you, Secretary Zhang."

"Don't mention it." Zhang Jianmin waved his hand. "You saved my daughter's life; this little favor is nothing."

Chen Ping didn't say anything more and turned to walk towards the health center.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, just like when he came, but he was thinking about something.

Ma Hu was released, but there were people behind him who would hold him accountable and cause trouble. These thoughts raced through his mind like beads on an abacus, clicking and rattling.

He is not afraid of being careless.

How ruthless can a casino owner be?

But he had to be careful.

This person, having been released, is seething with anger and will definitely find a place to vent it.

Who should I contact?

Should I go to the police station?

He doesn't have the guts.

Looking for oneself?

It's possible.

As Chen Ping thought of this, the corner of his mouth twitched, but it wasn't a smile; it was a coldness.

He practiced Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) for eight years in college and fought four people by himself in a shady casino. He's not afraid of fighting.

But he didn't want to cause trouble.

He is now a doctor at the Siping Township Health Center, not the purchasing director in Tianhai City who used to drink heavily with others.

His mission is to treat patients, save lives, and lead the health center forward.

A careless person like that isn't worth getting distracted by.

By the time we reached the entrance of the health center, it was almost dark.

The last rays of the setting sun hung on the mountaintop, as red as blood.

The courtyard was quiet; all the patients had left. Wang Tao was locking the door to the consultation room, Liu Wei was packing up, and Li Fang was closing the pharmacy window.

Cui Ying stood at the door of the accounting office and saw Chen Ping come in, so she went to greet him.

"Why did it take you so long?"

"Something came up." Chen Ping smiled. "It's nothing, let's go back and cook."

Cui Ying glanced at him but didn't ask any more questions.

Aunt Li had already prepared the meal, and everyone ate before heading home.

However, Fang Hai still didn't come to eat or leave the dormitory, and no one knows what he was thinking.