From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Chapter 686 - 656

Pei Lin briefly talked about the shareholder meeting of Jiayue Department Store a couple of days ago. Zhao Feiyang listened attentively. From Tang Jingwei’s recent series of actions, it was evident that he was cutting off a limb to survive.After the regulatory authorities halted the attempt to have Jiayue Department Store purchase part of Huayi Medical Management Company’s shares, everyone realized, even Tang Jingwei himself, that the future of Huayi was bleak. If the current debt restructuring for Huayi fails, bankruptcy and liquidation might be its only fate.

Jiayue Department Store is also a group controlled by Tang Jingwei, and for the moment, Jiayue Department Store is in a much better situation than Huayi.

Pei Lin said, "Tang Jingwei is trying to gradually transfer Changxing’s shares under Jiayue Department Store."

Zhao Feiyang commented, "Changxing is a quality asset. He knows what to abandon and what to keep." Reflecting on his past decision to invite Huayi into the game, it was like offering a lifeline to Huayi, and now what keeps Huayi afloat is the health industry.

Pei Lin said, "I heard that Jiayue Squares in various places are also being prepared for transfer."

Zhao Feiyang nodded, "In recent years, the real economy has been in decline. Apart from dining and cinemas, no other business model in shopping squares is getting attention."

Pei Lin said, "At this board meeting, President Tang emphasized cash flow, and the need to drastically reduce commercial entities and transition towards commercial management."

Zhao Feiyang sneered, "Just picking up leftover bits of wisdom." Before Tang Jingwei, Wanda was already doing this. Not many who rushed into commercial real estate a few years back survived.

Pei Lin said, "Actually, President Tang is somewhat indecisive in operations. In the current situation, the health sector has the most promising prospects."

Zhao Feiyang said, "His thinking can’t keep up with the times anymore. While Tang Jinglun is adept at seizing business opportunities, President Tang is reluctant to relinquish control."

Pei Lin said, "Tang Jinglun practically has the word ’ambition’ written on his face. I heard that President Tang withdrew from the front stage because he was maneuvering things behind the scenes."

Zhao Feiyang said, "Huayi’s decline is partly because of the discord between the brothers."

Pei Lin said, "Tang Tianyi is also disappointing. Oh, have you visited him recently?"

Zhao Feiyang said, "That kid has quite the temper, no doctor or nurse in charge of the beds escapes his scolding. It’s like they’ve turned Changxing into their private property."

Pei Lin said, "It takes one to beat one, people like him need someone like Xu Chunliang to handle them."

At the mention of Xu Chunliang, both fell silent.

Xu Chunliang disembarked from the train at Dongzhou High-Speed Railway Station, which was undergoing expansion construction – a whole large construction site. He made a circle before finding the subway entrance. Compared to other major cities, Dongzhou’s urban planning exposed its shortcomings. Planning for seamless transit should have been considered from the outset of building the subway, shouldn’t it?

The subway passenger flow in Dongzhou couldn’t compare with Capital City. Looking at the empty carriage, Xu Chunliang felt like he was on a private train. Dongzhou is also a historic city, but its tourism is always lukewarm, with hardly any tourists from other regions on regular days.

His grandfather, in the past few days, followed Zheng Peian to Nanjiang. Zheng Peian was heading there to procure hospital beds for the new hospital. Of course, he intended to look for Xu Jiawen too. Initially, it was just to be polite with Elder Xu, and no one expected Elder Xu to actually agree to accompany Zheng Peian to Nanjiang for a look-around, given that Xu Changshan was now idle after shutting down Huichun Hall.

Xu Chunliang was happy to see his grandfather going out more, but this left him alone at home. Upon recalling that Lu Qi was getting married, he sent a message to Lu Qi asking if he was free that night.

Lu Qi guessed he was back and invited him over to check out his new place and have dinner together, to discuss wedding plans.

Lu Qi’s new place was in Wanghu Garden near Hidden Lake Villa. After Xu Chunliang returned home to drop his things, take a shower, and change, he walked over there. He met Lu Qi’s brother and sister-in-law, Lu Ming and his wife, downstairs from Lu Qi’s new place, who were also there to check it out.

It had been a while since Xu Chunliang last saw Lu Ming. This reunion was warm and cordial. Lu Ming introduced his wife, Qiu Minghui, to Xu Chunliang, who had heard a lot about him. When her father went to Changxing for dental implants, it was Xu Chunliang who made arrangements. Coincidentally, Qiu Minghui used to work at the city library under the cultural bureau, which has since merged into the Tourism and Culture Bureau, thus making her a colleague of Xu Chunliang.

Qiu Minghui said, "Xiaoxu, you’ll have to look after me more in the future."

Xu Chunliang laughed and said, "Sister-in-law, I haven’t worked a single day at the Tourism and Culture Bureau, I’ll be following your lead in the future."

Qiu Minghui said, "You’re a big celebrity in Dongzhou."

Xu Chunliang said, "Oh, don’t say that, sister-in-law. I have a notorious reputation."

Lu Ming laughed and said, "Don’t say that – you’re a natural crowd-puller, trending material."

The three of them chatted as they entered the elevator. As they stepped out, they found that Lu Qi was already waiting outside. Xu Chunliang praised, "As expected of the people’s police, you already knew our whereabouts."

Lu Qi said, "Nothing like that. I just came out to smoke. Yu Li is particular and doesn’t let me smoke indoors."

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re already being controlled. Under the wife’s thumb. You shouldn’t let women get too used to it."

Yu Li’s voice carried out from inside, "Xiaoxu, stop giving bad advice."

Xu Chunliang said, "The police wife’s eavesdropping."

Lu Qi laughed and said, "Police wives wouldn’t do that; only police dogs do."

Everyone laughed, and Yu Li, who came out to greet them, jokingly scolded, "Lu Qi, you just keep being cheeky. Let’s see how I sort you out later."

Xu Chunliang said, "Sister Yu truly is a heroine, daring to strike a cop."

Lu Qi said, "This is fate."

Yu Li laughed, "What? Still feeling like fate has treated you unfairly?"

"No, not at all." Lu Qi quickly invited the guests to sit down.

Yu Li went to make tea. It was Xu Chunliang’s first time visiting his new home, so he looked around while Lu Qi gave him a tour. The three-bedroom apartment was 105 square meters. Since it was in the popular Hidden Dragon Lake area, the total cost including renovations was over three million, and despite both Lu Qi and Yu Li having decent family backgrounds, they still had a mortgage of six hundred thousand.

Xu Chunliang said, "It took me less than ten minutes to walk here from my house."

Lu Qi said, "We initially wanted to buy at Hidden Lake Villa, but it was too expensive. Even the cheapest regular garden houses start at four million, so we couldn’t afford it."

"I can help you get a discount by pulling some strings."

"No need, eventually you have to return those favors."

"Who are we to each other?"

Lu Qi wasn’t distancing himself from Xu Chunliang; he just didn’t want him to owe someone a favor because of him.

Yu Li said, "Everyone stay for dinner tonight, I’ll order food."

Qiu Minghui said, "I can’t, I have to go back and make sure your nephew does his homework; you can have your brother stay and drink with you."

Lu Qi said, "Sister-in-law, it won’t take much time just to have a meal. You can leave after you’re full."

Qiu Minghui could only nod.

Seeing that it was about time, everyone headed to the hotel, which was at the entrance of the neighborhood. Yu Li had already booked a private room before leaving.

Lu Ming, who often came around, picked a few specialty dishes from the menu.

The wine that Lu Qi brought this time was provided with the help of Chen Qianfan, the base wine for Five-Whip Rejuvenating Wine. But of course, it couldn’t bear the Five-Whip Rejuvenating Wine label. Chen Qianfan had specially arranged for a custom logo on the outer packaging—a special wedding banquet logo with Lu Qi and Yu Li’s photos inside the bottle.

Though Qiu Minghui didn’t drink, she liked the packaging very much. Holding the bottle, she admired it from all angles: "Are wedding wines this fancy nowadays?"

Lu Ming said, "The quality of the wine isn’t in the outer packaging; this is a custom version, a lot of thought has gone into it."

Lu Ming explained that it was sponsored through Xu Chunliang’s connections.

Lu Ming thought their relationship was pretty strong. However, to know if the wine was good, you’d have to taste it; couldn’t judge by packaging alone.

Xu Chunliang opened the wine and poured some, and Lu Ming immediately noticed its extraordinary aroma. He took a sip and said, "Not bad, this wine has seventy percent the strength of Maotai."

Xu Chunliang replied, "It’s a product from Maotai Town!"

Lu Qi said, "Brother, how’s this wine?"

Lu Ming said, "It’s high-end. Wedding wine usually isn’t this high standard; it can’t be cheap, can it?"

Lu Qi and Yu Li raised their glasses together: "We welcome everyone. Once we get married, be sure to visit often."

Everyone took a drink. Lu Ming said, "It happened so fast, Lu Qi’s getting married soon."

Lu Qi said, "Brother, your niece is already in middle school, and I’m just getting married now—it’s not fast at all."

Lu Ming said, "True, both of you better work hard; the responsibility of continuing the Lu family’s lineage is in your hands."

Yu Li said, "Big brother, that’s shirking responsibility. Now the country’s allowing second and third children; why don’t you and sister-in-law have another?"

Lu Ming sighed, "Who’s got the energy? Managing work and a child is already exhausting. Bringing another into the mix would be starting a hell mode for us, wouldn’t it?"

Actually, his wife was keen on the idea, but Lu Ming wasn’t. He was a young official with great potential for advancement. His superiors valued him highly, and he also wanted to make the most of his youth to forge ahead. Let’s not talk about anything else, first secure a full directorial position.

Xu Chunliang said, "I see Brother Ming’s face is destined for great fortune and many children."

Lu Qi said, "See, Xu Chunliang said it, so it must be true."

Lu Ming laughed, "He’s not a fortune teller."

Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t underestimate me; I come from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, started learning the diagnostic methods from a young age, and the first thing was face reading."

Lu Ming said, "Both things you mentioned I can’t achieve; in the system, getting too rich and powerful is often a step away from trouble. As for many children, in today’s society, more kids mean more stress, and where’s the good fortune in that? All my thoughts outside work are on my daughter. Once she gets into a good university, I can finally have some peace."