From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor-Chapter 309 - 284: Passing the Buck

Zhao Xiaohui wiped her tears and said, "You’re the one who made me realize what the most precious thing in life is. I will live well, both for myself and my child. Both our lives were given by you."

Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "You’re exaggerating. Let’s not bring up the past anymore. Only by forgetting it can we start anew."

Zhao Xiaohui nodded with tears in her eyes.

At this moment, someone approached to greet them. It was Director Liu from the comprehensive news department. He had once gone to Weishan Island with Zhao Xiaohui to do a program, where Xu Chunliang had warmly received them, leaving a deep impression on him.

Zhao Xiaohui laughed and said, "I was just saying no one was here to drink with Xiaoxu." She invited Director Liu to sit down.

Director Liu mentioned there was a newcomer, Su Qing, who would be taking over Zhao Xiaohui’s program hosting duties.

As they were talking, Su Qing arrived. She graduated this year from the Broadcasting Program of the Communication University, with high honors. She originally had an opportunity to stay in the Capital City, but due to her father’s illness, she decisively gave up the job offer in the Capital City and chose to return to Dongzhou, also to better take care of her father.

Su Qing is twenty-one, with outstanding looks, sweet and charming. Because she closely resembles the celebrity Liu Yifei, many talent scouts at the Communication University have set their sights on her.

Zhao Xiaohui called out, "Su Qing, over here."

Su Qing smiled and said, "Senior sister, I thought you had already left."

Zhao Xiaohui introduced them, and Su Qing graciously extended her hand to Xu Chunliang, "Hello!"

Xu Chunliang shook her hand. This Su Qing was indeed beautiful, with soft and delicate skin, no wonder she was chosen to take over Zhao Xiaohui’s position.

Zhao Xiaohui invited them to sit together.

Director Liu sighed and said, "Why did you resign from such a good position? With you gone, the program ’Xiaohui Helps You Ask’ is done for." His collaboration with Zhao Xiaohui on ’Xiaohui Helps You Ask’ had become the flagship program of the comprehensive news channel. With Zhao Xiaohui leaving, even the host wouldn’t be using the name Xiaohui anymore.

Zhao Xiaohui laughed and said, "Making room for new talent. Su Qing is so outstanding, I would feel embarrassed not to vacate the position. You could rename it to ’Xiaoqing Helps You Ask’."

Su Qing humbly replied, "Senior sister, I haven’t even had a chance to learn from you, and you’re leaving me already."

Zhao Xiaohui laughed and said, "You’re at the level of CCTV, there’s nothing I could teach you." Although Su Qing had not been there long, her exceptional capabilities and professionalism had left Zhao Xiaohui in awe, and these words were not just humble words.

Su Qing said, "You’ve always been my idol, senior sister."

Director Liu remembered the situation with Changxing when he saw Xu Chunliang, "Dean Xu, in the past few days we’ve received numerous calls from the public, focusing on issues with the Traditional Chinese Medicine outpatient service at Changxing Hospital."

Xu Chunliang knew the matter regarding Renhe Hall had already caught the television station’s attention, which was a good thing for him. Director Liu’s intention was to throw him a favor. Actually, these public calls were numerous, and usually, they would consider connections. Some news would be suppressed before it even got aired, involving some behind-the-scenes operations. Social news reports and consumer rights protection columns had already become a way for media to generate revenue.

Xu Chunliang said, "The Traditional Chinese Medicine outpatient service you mentioned is currently operated by private capital and is not an inherent department of our Changxing Hospital."

Director Liu was stunned for a moment, what did Xu Chunliang mean? Was he shifting blame?

Su Qing, however, sensed the news value in his words, "Are you saying that the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic has been outsourced?"

Xu Chunliang didn’t directly answer her question and smiled, "It was established in collaboration between Renhe Hall and Changxing. Since our hospital’s restructuring, we’ve introduced a lot of private capital. They have a high degree of operational freedom and aren’t significantly related to Changxing."

Su Qing continued to ask, "Does Changxing Hospital take responsibility for the operational activities of these privately contracted departments?"

Zhao Xiaohui said, "Let’s not talk business over a meal, Su Qing. Could you interview Dean Xu at another time?"

Su Qing smiled apologetically. She checked the time and mentioned she had to rush to a program recording, and politely took her leave. Director Liu didn’t stay long either and left with her.

After they left, Zhao Xiaohui said meaningfully, "What’s going on? If I heard correctly, weren’t you just throwing Changxing under the bus?"

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s not me throwing Changxing under the bus; it’s Renhe Hall that’s doing that." He took a sip of wine and spoke softly, "Sister Xiaohui, could you do me a small favor?"

Zhao Xiaohui said, "Your business is my business."

Zhou Yisheng didn’t expect this matter to appear on the next day’s television news. ’Xiaohui Helps You Ask’ held a status in Dongzhou almost equivalent to CCTV’s ’Focus Interview.’ Recently, the beautiful temporary host Su Qing had fired on all cylinders, interviewing several patients who suffered adverse reactions and covering the reports on the news.

In the program, she raised three thought-provoking questions.

First, where exactly do Renhe Hall’s plasters come from? Is the century-old Renhe Hall genuine or fake? Are their outrageously priced plasters effective, or just a scam?

2. The medical dispute that occurred at the Changxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic is not the first, nor will it be the last. When the interests of patients are harmed, who will take responsibility for it? Is it the contractor or the hospital?

3. Is the entry of private capital into public hospitals good or bad? What have they brought to the hospitals themselves? What have they brought to the vast number of patients? Have they enriched medical resources or increased the burden on patients?

This news segment, once broadcasted, caused a significant uproar in Dongzhou.

Because the news questioned the four-hundred-year history claimed by Renhe Hall, according to investigations, Renhe Hall has only been around for thirty-five years. The founder of Renhe Hall, Zhou Renhe, is from Dongzhou and hails from Huichun Hall, has a dark history, and served ten years in prison. How did such a tainted individual suddenly transform into a revered and respected master of traditional Chinese medicine?

Although there were many positive reviews on the e-commerce platform, there were also numerous negative ones. The news captured these negative reviews, indicating that the disputes between doctors and patients at the Changxing Hospital were not accidental. Patients had long reported ineffective usage and allergic reactions on the e-commerce platform.

A comparison was made regarding the price of the ointment itself. Not only was Renhe Hall’s ointment sold more expensively than similar kinds, but its online price also differed from offline prices, with the ointment sold at Changxing Hospital being 30% more expensive than online.

The third question raised by Su Qing caused unease among many people. This question was too bold, surprisingly questioning the established facts of Changxing’s reforms.

Zhao Feiyang was already in a bad mood these past couple of days, and upon seeing the news, he was so angry that he immediately called Pei Lin. Zhou Yisheng managed to contract the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic through Pei Lin’s connections. Zhou Yisheng did not belong to Changxing Hospital nor the Huannian System. He caused such a big problem, making things difficult for Zhao Feiyang.

Zhao Feiyang couldn’t help but recall the Tong Meili incident that once happened at the medical aesthetics center, which led to Gu Houyi’s quiet departure. If he falls in the same place, no one would sympathize with him; they would only blame his lack of caution.

Pei Lin also didn’t expect that a few patches of ointment would cause such a stir on television news. She had just secured a new consultation room for Zhou Yisheng, and now Zhou Yisheng had made such a huge blunder.

Pei Lin angrily scolded Zhou Yisheng over the phone. The medical affairs department had advised him to downplay the issue, but he wouldn’t listen, and now it’s made it to television.

This matter has already reached Renhe Hall’s headquarters. There are no secrets in the online world, and many social media have forwarded the news, leading to a large-scale wave of rights protection at Renhe Hall branches nationwide, causing an unprecedented reputation crisis, and a massive volume of returns on e-commerce platforms.

At the Jizhou Yihua Mansion, within a courtyard made of blue bricks and gray tiles, the white-haired but youthful-faced founder of Renhe Hall, Zhou Renhe, sat in the courtyard with his eyes closed, resting.

The afternoon sun cast on him invoked a lazy feeling from deep within. The current president of Renhe Hall, Zhou Yiwen, stood bowing before the old man, not daring to move. He had been standing for fifteen minutes, and sweat was already beading on his forehead.

Zhou Renhe rhythmically rocked his recliner, as though he was a giant pendulum.

Zhou Yiwen’s mind swung with his movements — up and down, anxiously. His fear of his father had been ingrained for a long time.

Finally, Zhou Renhe stopped, opened his deep eyes that flashed like lightning, and coldly scrutinized Zhou Yiwen: "Got disgraced, didn’t you!"

Zhou Yiwen said, "Dad, it must be Old Xu from Huichun Hall..."

Zhou Renhe snorted coldly, and Zhou Yiwen dared not speak further.

Zhou Renhe got up from the recliner, his stature not tall, yet his back straight. He took a few steps forward, his hand constantly turning his Buddhist beads: "Didn’t I say not to develop in Dongzhou?"

Zhou Yiwen’s head drooped. His father had repeatedly said they could sell ointment worldwide, but only one place was off-limits, and that was Dongzhou. He just wouldn’t believe it. The reason his father went to prison all those years ago was due to Xu Changshan’s testimony. Huichun Hall was Renhe Hall’s enemy.

"Where’s Yi Wu? Why isn’t he here?"

Zhou Yiwu was the second son of the Zhou family, in charge of the East China Region, and it was Zhou Yiwu who made the decision to enter Dongzhou.

Zhou Yiwen said, "He’s handling the e-commerce returns. This Dongzhou dispute has caused significant losses for Renhe Hall."

"You brought this on yourselves!"

Zhou Yiwen said, "Dad, there’s nothing wrong with our ointment. This is clearly someone targeting us."

Zhou Renhe said, "Of course there’s nothing wrong. Our Renhe Hall’s reputation won’t be ruined by the vilification of a few small-minded people."

Zhou Yiwen said, "It must be Huichun Hall smearing us from the shadows. Dad, they treated you like that back then, and now they’re bullying Renhe Hall. I can’t stand it."

Zhou Renhe looked up at the floating clouds in the sky with his hands clasped behind his back: "When will endless revenge ever end? It’s not worth stooping to their level."

Zhou Yiwen said, "Dad!"

Zhou Renhe said, "Xu Changshan has no successor. He won’t be smug for much longer."

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