Free Web NovelChapter 723: Chapter 693: Serenity
Huayuan Group transferred three million to Changxing’s account, and when Zhao Feiyang learned of this, he was so angry he nearly coughed up blood. What is Tang Jingwei doing? This isn’t just fooling people; it’s an outright insult.
Zhao Feiyang went to the window, opened it, and looked at the phase two project under construction not far away. The bustling construction scenes of recently were gone. The construction units involved in the phase two project were all waiting for the project funds. Zhao Feiyang had also made promises, saying that the transfer funds from Equatorial Capital would be released and paid immediately.
Tang Jingwei’s unscrupulous move made his promise empty talk. This morning, he had already received six calls urging payment. Zhao Feiyang was getting extremely angry. Changxing Hospital does not belong to the Tang family. From the public-private partnership to this point, he has borne so much pressure. Initially, Tang Jingwei assured him of his utmost support, but now, even Tang Jingwei himself seems to have forgotten what he initially promised.
Zhao Feiyang considered for a while and eventually did not call Tang Jingwei because he was well aware that calling would be useless. Outwardly cordial, Tang Jingwei was inherently autocratic. Since the crisis at Huayuan, he had become greedy and stingy, strictly controlling finances, and unless absolutely necessary, he would not part with money easily.
There was a knock on the door outside. It was Secretary Gao Xinhua coming to see him.
Since Zhao Daqiang’s death, although Zhao Feiyang and Gao Xinhua often met, and were polite on the surface, there was a clear rift between them. Including Gao Xinhua, those comrades believed that the death of their old company commander was related to Zhao Feiyang. If Zhao Feiyang hadn’t married that jinx Pei Lin, the old company commander wouldn’t have died of anger.
Zhao Feiyang could sense the hostility from these people toward him, but there was nothing he could do. With things having reached this point, he couldn’t change it. He couldn’t even remember the last time Gao Xinhua visited voluntarily. He smiled and said, "Secretary Gao, is there something you need?"
Even when they were alone, Zhao Feiyang no longer addressed him as Brother Xinhua, a change which Gao Xinhua welcomed, as it saved him from feeling uncomfortable.
Gao Xinhua nodded and said, "Several construction partners came to see me today about the project funds."
Zhao Feiyang was amused, not quite understanding why these people were seeking him out. Gao Xinhua was now in charge of party and community work, and infrastructure was no longer his responsibility.
Gao Xinhua said, "I’m no longer in charge of this area, so I directed them to find someone else." He was still tactful, not naming Zhao Feiyang directly.
Zhao Feiyang sighed and said, "Recently, the hospital’s account has had no money. Changxing’s renovation has just been completed, the joint-stock hospital is under construction, and the phase two project can’t stop. There’s only so much money in the account, and I’m helpless."
Gao Xinhua said, "Wasn’t there a sum from the branch transfer?"
At the mention of this, Zhao Feiyang sighed again and said, "It was agreed upon that after the fifty million in escrow was unfrozen, it would be directly transferred to Changxing’s account, but that money was given to Huayuan."
Gao Xinhua furrowed his brow and said, "Then just ask Huayuan to return it."
Zhao Feiyang shook his head and said, "It’s not that easy. It’s like... " He intended to say it was like expecting a dog to give back a swallowed dumpling, but he thought it inappropriate and changed his words. "I’ve repeatedly explained to Hu Shan Town, but they still gave the money to Huayuan. Do you think they’re doing it on purpose?"
Seeing Zhao Feiyang’s frustrated expression only made Gao Xinhua want to laugh rather than feel sympathy. It’s almost like he wanted to directly state it was Xu Chunliang’s doing, suffering a silent loss on this matter. Gao Xinhua said, "Perhaps it’s a matter of information asymmetry, and Hu Shan Town wasn’t aware of the internal conflicts we have."
Zhao Feiyang said, "How could they not know? Frankly, I was relying on this fifty million to catch a break, and now it’s all gone."
"Demand it back from President Tang. A phase two halt is no good for him either."
Zhao Feiyang said, "I went to him, and he only gave me three million. Three million! Not even willing to part with ten million. Don’t you think that’s a bit excessive?"
Gao Xinhua thought to himself, knowing this would happen, why start? Who brought Huayuan Group, this hungry wolf, into Changxing? Now look at the situation. Not only did Huayuan Group fail to lead Changxing Hospital to glory, but it also involved them in trouble. If Zhao Feiyang had stuck to Gu Houyi’s policies from the beginning, Changxing’s situation would be much better.
First, the city would certainly have supportive policies. Changxing wouldn’t be classified as a for-profit hospital, and the branch wouldn’t be transferred. Even if it were, the two billion would all belong to Changxing. In the past, Gao Xinhua had some regard for Zhao Feiyang’s pioneering spirit, but now he feels he’s just a paper tiger. All talk with no real skills.
Someone like him making it this far isn’t entirely out of luck. Gao Xinhua believed that Zhao Daqiang also bore some responsibility, having pampered him excessively, placing too much hope in him, not just setting him up but also safeguarding him, causing Zhao Feiyang to see background and luck as his own strength, leading to an overestimation of his abilities.
Zhao Feiyang saw Gao Xinhua being so silent and couldn’t help saying, "Secretary Gao, help me think of a plan. Changxing isn’t just mine alone."
Gao Xinhua said, "Changxing isn’t ours either. It’s the entire staff’s." Thinking internally, "Now you want to listen to others’ opinions. Back when nobody agreed with the public-private partnership, why didn’t you listen? Going against the tide and gambling the entire hospital staff’s interests tied Changxing to Huayuan’s sinking ship."
Zhao Feiyang remembered something and went to get cigarettes for Gao Xinhua, who accepted and Zhao Feiyang kindly lit it for him.
Gao Xinhua took a drag and said, "Dean Zhao, it’s like this now. If finding rice is hard, let the construction halt. I don’t believe Huayuan Group would just let phase two become a series of unfinished buildings."
A faint bitter smile appeared on Zhao Feiyang’s lips. Of course, Gao Xinhua was indifferent since he was in public service and could afford to wait. But what about himself? If phase two halted, Huayuan’s board would surely blame him. He felt trapped by his own making.
Zhao Feiyang also lit a cigarette, took a hard drag, and said, "Sometimes I’m really tired and feel like I can’t hold on, but then I think if I give up, what will happen to the employees of Changxing Hospital?"
Gao Xinhua cast his gaze out of the window, really tired of hearing him sing high praises. He talked all day about the welfare and benefits of the employees, but what is he really thinking in his heart? He said so many exaggerated and empty words that perhaps even he started to believe them.
Zhao Feiyang continued, "I’ve never been this tired before. I also want to stop and take a rest; I also want to not care about anything. The only motivation that has kept me going till now is belief."
Gao Xinhua really couldn’t listen anymore. He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and said softly, "Don’t push yourself too hard. Every one of us has our limits."
Zhao Feiyang realized that there was no longer any resonance between him and Gao Xinhua. After Gao Xinhua left, he returned to his desk, pulled out his phone to find Tang Jingwei’s name, stared at it for a while, but still decided not to make the call. Gao Xinhua’s last sentence meant that he didn’t have such great abilities.
In the past, Zhao Feiyang might have gotten angry, but now he was very calm. Think whatever you want.
The phone rang; it was Xu Ying.
Zhao Feiyang answered the call, "Old classmate, what’s your advice?"
Xu Ying replied, "I just arrived in Dongzhou. Let’s have a meal together."
Zhao Feiyang’s mood lightened upon Xu Ying’s arrival, "Sure, where are you? I’ll come pick you up."
Xu Ying said, "No need. How about this: in an hour, meet me at the Waku in Old Street."
Zhao Feiyang replied, "No problem. Deal, I’ll cover the bill tonight."
Xu Ying laughed, "I wasn’t planning on paying anyway."
Zhao Feiyang hung up the phone and checked the time. He decided to prepare a bit before heading to the appointed place. The string of recent events had made him feel oppressed, and the whole of Changxing felt stifling; he hoped to find someone to confide in, and Xu Ying was undoubtedly the most suitable choice.
When Zhao Feiyang entered the elevator, he ran into Wu Fajun. Even Wu Fajun could sense that he was in a good mood and greeted him. Wu Fajun went down the elevator with him, watching as Zhao Feiyang hurried towards his car.
Wu Fajun found it a bit strange. It had been a while since he’d seen Zhao Feiyang this happy. Could it be that Pei Lin had given birth? On second thought, that seemed unlikely, as he’d just seen Pei Lin that morning.
While he was pondering, Pei Lin called, asking him to go to the health check-up center to deal with a dispute. Wu Fajun informed Pei Lin about bumping into Zhao Feiyang.
Pei Lin wasn’t surprised. Zhao Feiyang was the dean of Changxing, and encountering him at Changxing Hospital was quite normal, yet Wu Fajun’s next words made her alert.
"Dean Zhao is quite happy today, beaming with joy. Is there some great news?"
Pei Lin asked, "Where did he go?"
Wu Fajun answered, "I don’t know. I can’t exactly follow him."
Pei Lin said, "Follow him for me and take a look."
"Wouldn’t that be wrong?"
"Follow him. I also feel that something’s off with him lately."
This time Xu Ying returned to participate in a cultural tourism symposium, an invitation extended by the Dongzhou City Cultural Tourism Bureau to cultural celebrities from Dongzhou. In fact, she wasn’t initially on the invitation list, but as the bureau had invited Pan Chengfeng and Luo Xiyun, Xu Chunliang misused his position to have an invitation sent to her.
It had been a while since Xu Ying had returned, so she took advantage of this opportunity to visit.
Zhao Feiyang thought he had arrived early enough, but when he reached the agreed location, he found that Xu Ying was already there, sitting in the ancient blue-brick courtyard, reading a book.
Back in college, Xu Ying was an intellectual beauty whose greatest hobby was reading, and after all these years, she hadn’t changed. From this, it’s clear that she is a woman of unwavering affection.
Zhao Feiyang didn’t immediately disturb her, but quietly stood by, gazing at Xu Ying bathed in the afterglow of the sunset, feeling a long-lost sense of tranquility and peace from her.
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