From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor-Chapter 369 - 344: Dongzhou Restaurant

The Beijing Office has its own guesthouse and cafeteria. Every time Zhao Feiyang goes, he stays there, clearly treating Xu Chunliang as one of his own.

Actually, Zhao Feiyang really wanted to talk to Xu Chunliang about the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital, but he dismissed the idea at the last moment. After all, Xu Chunliang had no leading role in this matter. To get out of the current predicament, he must start with Tang Jingwei.

When Xu Chunliang was leaving, he met Zhou Yisheng at the stairway. Zhou Yisheng’s face instinctively hardened upon seeing him. In Zhou Yisheng’s mind, Xu Chunliang was a jinx. The last plaster incident was manipulated by him behind the scenes, causing the once-thriving business of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Outpatient Center to falter.

Zhou Yisheng hated Xu Chunliang immensely and intended to pass by without greeting him, but Xu Chunliang proactively called out to him: "Boss Zhou."

Zhou Yisheng stopped: "What’s up?"

Xu Chunliang grinned: "You’re still here?"

Zhou Yisheng said: "Why should I leave? I signed a formal contract with Changxing. I don’t think this matter concerns you, right?"

Xu Chunliang liked interacting with those who challenged him. It would have been boring if Zhou Yisheng met him with submissiveness and kept his distance. Xu Chunliang said: "Whether it concerns me depends on my mood, here’s a piece of advice for you."

Zhou Yisheng looked at him defyingly.

Xu Chunliang said: "Cut your losses in time."

Zhou Yisheng chuckled coldly: "Is this a threat?"

"It’s a piece of advice!"

As soon as Xu Chunliang arrived in the Capital City, he encountered a heavy snowstorm. Seeing the long line waiting for taxis, he quickly gave up and decided to take the subway.

The training location was in the West District, and Xu Chunliang came a week early. With New Year’s Day holiday in between, he came early to meet Mei Ru Xue, whom he hadn’t contacted for almost half a month.

Before coming to the Capital City, Xu Chunliang sent a message to Mei Ru Xue, but she hadn’t replied yet.

Xu Chunliang chose the Dongzhou Beijing Office as his place to stay, mainly because of Zhao Feiyang’s recommendation. Zhao Feiyang also asked him to bring some special Dongzhou products: pancakes, salted beans, and stinky tofu brine, making it necessary for Xu Chunliang to make the trip.

Xu Chunliang just applied to add Fu Guomin as a friend on WeChat upon arriving in the Capital City. He initially thought that as a deputy-level cadre, Fu Guomin might be pompous, but surprisingly, he immediately accepted the request. Zhao Feiyang had mentioned this before, and Fu Guomin was very enthusiastic, asking Xu Chunliang on WeChat when he was coming to the Capital City.

Xu Chunliang told him he had already arrived and was on his way to the Dongzhou Beijing Office.

Fu Guomin asked him to come over as he was waiting at the Beijing Office.

The Dongzhou Beijing Office is about five stops from the high-speed rail station. The current office building was purchased, decided back in the 1990s by Dongzhou’s Vice Secretary Geng. At that time, the place was bought for just seven million, and it’s said to be worth at least seven hundred million now.

This Vice Secretary Geng also had some connections with Changxing. His daughter, Geng Wenxiu, is the current deputy dean of Changxing Hospital, and his son, Geng Wenjun, is the current secretary of the High-Tech Zone.

Xu Chunliang exited the subway and followed directions from Baidu, walking about 900 meters before spotting the Dongzhou Restaurant along the roadside,

There are nearly three hundred Beijing Offices of various sizes in the Capital City, even after restructuring. Most of them run tertiary industries, and the vast majority have restaurants. According to incomplete statistics, there are currently one hundred and twelve restaurants run by Beijing Offices.

The work of the Beijing Office involves handling top-down and bottom-up affairs, and treating guests to meals is common. Without considering when the Beijing Office invites higher-ups, just the expenses from subordinates coming to dine and live can contribute a significant income. The city figured that instead of letting that money go to other hotels, it’s better to keep it internal, which is what’s called ’not letting the fertile water flow into others’ fields.’

Fu Guomin has been working at the Dongzhou Beijing Office for ten years and is still the deputy director. He was promoted to deputy department level in the same batch as Zhao Feiyang back then. Zhao Feiyang’s position has long been confirmed, and now he has resigned from public office, yet Fu Guomin remains in the same place.

But it’s not that he hasn’t gained anything. In his ten years at the Beijing Office, he’s managed to transfer his wife’s and child’s household registration to the Capital City and bought a house there. If he were to return to Dongzhou, he could definitely get a half-level promotion, but his wife strongly opposes it, so he can only use his connections to stay at the Beijing Office.

Four directors have been replaced, yet he continues as the deputy director. He doesn’t have high ambitions and prefers to continue like this. City leaders see his lack of ambition, so naturally, they won’t promote someone like him.

However, Fu Guomin is quite capable. In his ten years at the Beijing Office, he understands the situations in all the upper departments clearly. Tasks the Beijing Office director can’t accomplish or people he can’t invite, when Fu Guomin takes action, everything gets resolved quickly.

City leaders indeed find him indispensable, which is why Fu Guomin can remain at the Beijing Office so stably, earning the nickname ’Beijing Office permanent resident.’

Xu Chunliang walked into the lobby of the Dongzhou Restaurant and knew he had come to the right place seeing the Han Dynasty stone carvings at the fountain landscape center in the lobby.

A middle-aged woman in a dark blue suit approached him with a smile: "You must be Mr. Xu?"

Xu Chunliang nodded.

The woman introduced herself as Li Xiumei, the manager of the Dongzhou Restaurant, arranged by Fu Guomin to greet him.

Li Xiumei first helped Xu Chunliang with the check-in. Xu Chunliang is on an official study trip this time, the expenses will ultimately be covered by Hua Nian. Zhao Feiyang wouldn’t trouble him over such small matters since it’s not coming out of his pocket. He ambitiously granted Xu Chunliang the standard entitled to a dean.

The current travel standards of Changxing still refer to past public ownership regulations. Zhao Feiyang’s approval means Xu Chunliang can travel in first class on the high-speed rail, with accommodation standards equivalent to bureau-level standards, which is 650 in the Capital City.

Xu Chunliang took special notice of the accommodation rates at Dongzhou Restaurant, and was quite shocked; even the cheapest standard room costs 888, meaning he would have to subsidize 238 out of pocket for a day’s stay.

Li Xiumei told Xu Chunliang that the prices listed are just the posted rates; the actual booking rate would be much lower. Fu Guomin had made arrangements beforehand for short-term stays, and if it’s long-term, they’d go with the internal rate.

The business room arranged for him was priced at 588 per day, with a listed price of 1588. Xu Chunliang checked in and followed Li Xiumei to see the room.

The room was spacious, with a reception area, an office area, and a rest area. Even in Dongzhou, this kind of room couldn’t be secured at this price. Xu Chunliang planned to stay for an extended period, as it wasn’t far from the place where he’d attend classes later, so he planned to stay here.

Li Xiumei informed him that Fu Guomin was waiting for him in office 709, and the seventh floor was where the Beijing Office was located.

Xu Chunliang sent Fu Guomin a message, expressing his gratitude and letting him know he’d take a shower first and would come by in half an hour.

Xu Chunliang took a shower and changed his clothes. The hotel’s internal heating was very adequate, providing a spring-like warmth.

The door of room 709 was slightly ajar, and the smell of tobacco wafted out through the crack.

Xu Chunliang knocked on the door politely, and a loud voice came from inside, "Come in!"

Xu Chunliang pushed the door open and went in, seeing a middle-aged, slightly overweight man getting up to meet him.

Xu Chunliang had seen Fu Guomin’s WeChat profile picture before, as it was a photo of himself, which gave him a preconceived impression. However, the chubby, round figure in front of him was quite different.

Fu Guomin smiled and extended his hand to Xu Chunliang, "You must be Xiaoxu, I’m Fu Guomin."

Xu Chunliang shook hands with him. Fu Guomin’s hand was chubby, smooth, and warm, indicative of a life of comfort.

Xu Chunliang said, "Hello, Director Fu, I’m Xu Chunliang. By the way, these are some flatbread, salted beans, and stinky tofu marinade that our Dean Zhao asked me to bring to you."

Fu Guomin accepted them as if they were treasures, "I love these things so much; the Beijing Office can make them, but they’re not authentic."

Xu Chunliang also handed over his gifts, bringing Fu Guomin two packs of Pu’er from Xianhong Tea Factory.

Fu Guomin, not minding the overabundance of gifts, cheerfully invited Xu Chunliang to take a seat. He had his own expertise when it came to tea, especially liking Pu’er, and he had never tasted this brand before. He immediately opened a cake, and from its appearance, knew it was top quality.

Fu Guomin brewed the tea while calling Li Xiumei, telling her to set dinner for 6:30 sharp.

Fu Guomin said, "Since you just arrived today, let’s dine at the Beijing Office."

"Director Fu, you’re so busy with official duties, I wouldn’t want to trouble you."

Fu Guomin laughed, "My official duty is to welcome and send off people; no real work, just a lot of trifles and banquets. If you had come two days later, I might not have had the time to host you. With the Spring Festival approaching, we have to be busy securing funds from ministries."

Xu Chunliang laughed along, feeling that Fu Guomin didn’t carry any bureaucratic air. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Fu Guomin sipped the Pu’er he had brought, praising, "Authentic! I drink Pu’er often, but I’ve never had this brand." He picked up a tea cake and examined the packaging.

Xu Chunliang shared a story with him, half of which came from Tong Guangsheng and the other half from Wang Jinwu.

Fu Guomin listened intently. It was unclear whether the story itself was too exciting or Xu Chunliang’s telling was too vivid, but Fu Guomin actually became emotional, "That’s great, why not promote such good tea? Xiaoxu, if there’s a chance, introduce me to them. Our Dongzhou Beijing Office can help with promotion."

According to the introduction by Zhao Feiyang, Fu Guomin held a low position but had broad connections.

Fu Guomin asked Xu Chunliang if he had any friends in the Capital City, and if so, they could join for drinks; the more, the merrier.

Xu Chunliang checked his phone, and Mei Ru Xue still hadn’t replied to his message. As there was still some time before dinner, Xu Chunliang didn’t linger long in Fu Guomin’s office, had two cups of tea, and then took his leave.

Fu Guomin told him to go to Weishan Lake Hall at 6:30. From Fu Guomin’s arrangements, it was evident he had put some thought into it.

On his way back, Xu Chunliang heard someone calling him, "Xu Chunliang!"

Xu Chunliang turned around and saw it was a classmate from Nanjiang Party School, Yan Jingsong, the chief aide from Bell Tower District.

Yan Jingsong exclaimed with joy, "I thought it looked like you, and it really is you!" He strode over, extending his hand from afar.

Xu Chunliang didn’t particularly like this guy, but there are plenty of such people in the system. People have their own ways of survival; you might disdain their methods, but you can’t deny their existence.

Xu Chunliang laughed and shook his hand, "Class leader, what a coincidence!"

The last Chapter of 2022, if you have any monthly tickets, please vote for Octopus!