The department needing a light tube replacement this time is the Medical Affairs Office.
The Medical Affairs Office of Changxing Hospital is located on the third floor of the administrative office building. Director Zhou Wenbin is a fellow townsman of Dean Gu and a cadre promoted by Gu Houyi himself. In everyone's eyes, he is Gu's direct line.
Zhou Wenbin used to be a thoracic surgeon and associate chief physician, and it has been just half a year since he became the director of the Medical Affairs Office.
He didn't leave the medical field for administration because of active mentorship from leadership. The root cause was that he knew he had no hope of competing for the position of department head and was unwilling to remain subordinate. So he proactively approached Dean Gu for a private discussion, and Dean Gu, considering their shared hometown, arranged for him to be in the Medical Affairs Office.
Zhou Wenbin has a slight squint and slurs his words. His temperament is weak, and he doesn't have exceptional social connections. He could successfully become the director of the Medical Affairs Office thanks to the help from his fellow townsman.
Initially, when he assumed the position, he indeed found satisfaction in being in charge, but it didn't take long for him to realize that the position of director of the Medical Affairs Office wasn't something that just anyone could handle well.
When he was a doctor, he thought of the Medical Affairs Office as just a department for smoothing things over. Although it was in charge of medical management, it mainly dealt with medical disputes and lawsuits. After all, he wasn't personally involved, so he just needed to handle matters appropriately, acting as a buffer between the involved doctors and patients. Any issues that could be privately resolved, the hospital would pay for; those that couldn't be resolved would go to court. Winning the lawsuit would be delightful, but if they lost, the hospital would still foot the bill.
Soon, he found out that the department wasn't that simple. Most of the patients who came to complain were aggressive, demanding accountability. In the eyes of those defending their rights, anyone from the hospital was their mortal enemy, and they were there to settle scores.
During the coordination process, getting scolded or even hit was common. The most frustrating thing was that not only did the patients not understand, but even the hospital's own doctors often felt that they weren't protecting medical staff, were too soft on patients, and even accused them of siding with outsiders. In any case, they were in a lose-lose situation.
After working for half a year, Zhou Wenbin finally grasped some tricks. The Medical Affairs Office is a focal point for doctor-patient conflicts. As long as he worked here, he would be affected. The best way to reduce being affected was to minimize his presence. So Zhou Wenbin started appearing less at the hospital, and even when he was there, he tried not to be in the office.
The person in charge can always find an excuse for leaving, but the subordinates are not so lucky. Left behind, Chen Guangming and Cheng Xiaohong have to withstand the strong onslaught from those defending their rights.
Getting scolded is the least of it; they might even get beaten up.
This month Chen Guangming has already had two intense confrontations with people, which greatly affected his mood, and he is now seeking connections to apply for a department transfer.
Today is Friday, and there's a hospital meeting in the afternoon, so Zhou Wenbin didn't leave. He intended to review the week's accumulated documents, but unfortunately, the light tube broke, flickering incessantly above his head.
The electricians' efficiency was really low. It took half an hour after placing the repair call for the workers to arrive. Xiaofeng walked at the front with a tool bag, followed by Xu Chunliang carrying a ladder, and at the back was the team leader Jia Xuegong holding two light tubes.
Seeing their leisurely pace, Zhou Wenbin cursed silently. It takes three people to replace a light tube. Changxing Hospital's failure to develop is due to having too many idle people.
Jia Xuegong smiled at Zhou Wenbin and took the initiative to call out, "Director Zhou."
Zhou Wenbin ignored him, leaving Jia Xuegong feeling a bit embarrassed as he lowered his head. In the hospital, these logistics workers are like third-class citizens—low income, low status, and lacking a sense of presence.
Xu Chunliang, standing by, saw everything clearly. This era shouts the slogan of equality for all so loudly, yet in reality, there are still various levels. Despite Zhou Wenbin acting arrogantly in front of them, when faced with someone of higher rank, he instantly bows his head in compliance, behaving like a submissive grandson.
Jia Xuegong instructed Xu Chunliang to set up the ladder while Xiaofeng was responsible for supporting it. Just as Xiaofeng climbed up to change the light tube, he suddenly had to go to the bathroom.
Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Zhou Wenbin shouted, "Why is changing a light tube such a big deal? You're just lazy asses who take ages for everything. If you can work, work; if not, get out of here!"
Xiaofeng's face flushed with embarrassment, but when you gotta go, you gotta go. Unable to hold it any longer, he turned and rushed out.
Jia Xuegong dared not make a sound, but Xu Chunliang couldn't hold it back: "Your Medical Affairs Office sure likes to meddle in everything—controlling the heavens, the earth, and even bathroom breaks."
The two staff members at the Medical Affairs Office couldn't help but laugh at his words.
With their laughter, Zhou Wenbin lost even more face and pointed at Xu Chunliang: "Who are you? How dare you speak like this? Do you believe I won't call your team leader?"
Jia Xuegong frantically winked at Xu Chunliang. This boy really didn't know his limits. That man was a section chief—mid-level in the hospital—and not someone us small-time workers could afford to offend.
Fortunately, someone came in just then, diverting Zhou Wenbin's attention.
Three burly men walked in from outside. The leader had a bowl haircut, broad shoulders and a stout waist, with a thick gold chain hanging around his neck. Both arms were covered in colorful tattoos, and his tight black tank top accentuated exaggerated pectorals. He looked like someone from the streets and shouted as he entered: "Director Zhou, it's damn hard to see you!"
Zhou Wenbin was about to confront Xu Chunliang, but upon seeing these unexpected visitors, his face turned pale.
Chen Guangming and Cheng Xiaohong both showed signs of fear. The newcomer's name was Wang Dalei, a notorious thug in the North District. His father was hospitalized at the beginning of the year for prostate hyperplasia and underwent surgery, but the postoperative effects were unsatisfactory. The doctor had clearly explained the possible situations before the surgery, and they had signed a consent form.
After the surgery, Wang Dalei went into a crazy mode of demanding rights, insisting it was a surgical accident and demanding compensation from the hospital. The Medical Affairs Office had negotiated with him several times, and finally, reluctantly agreed to offer some compensation, but the amount was far less than what Wang Dalei demanded, as he brazenly asked for a million yuan.
Since they couldn't reach an agreement, the hospital advised him to take the matter to court. In such cases, the court's ruling might result in compensation even less than the hospital's offer. Enraged, Wang Dalei once assaulted Chen Guangming and was detained by the police for instigating trouble.
Unfortunately, during his detention, his father passed away, and Wang Dalei blamed everything on the hospital. Now, he causes minor disturbances every three days and major ones every five days, with the compensation demand raised to two million yuan. He's become much more cunning now, refraining from violence and finding daily ways to disgust them.
Zhou Wenbin got a headache upon seeing him and forced a stiff smile: "Dalei, how come you have time today?"
Wang Dalei sat next to him, crossing his legs: "I'm just an idle person, unlike busy Director Zhou, available every day. What's the resolution for my dad?"
Zhou Wenbin smiled apologetically: "Didn't we talk last time? Are you satisfied with the amount?"
The hospital, tired of dealing with this persistent troublemaker, finally decided to compensate him once for all with fifty thousand yuan, hoping to settle the matter.
Wang Dalei sneered, spitting a thick phlegm on the ground: "Blowing off a beggar, huh? Is my dad's life only worth fifty thousand? Put yourself in my shoes, Director Zhou, if someone killed your dad, would you be satisfied with fifty thousand?"
Zhou Wenbin cursed inwardly at his manner of speech. If he could best him, he'd hit him for sure. The other party's arrogance stirred his anger: "Our hospital has made significant concessions. If you're still dissatisfied, you can file a lawsuit in court."
"Don't you dare try to threaten me with court! Who doesn't know about your mutual protection? It's a human life, and if not for your surgical accident, my dad would still be alive."
"Experts have already evaluated your dad's case, and the results show that there was no surgical error. The poor prognosis is related to personal constitution, and his death has nothing to do with the prostate surgery..."
"Bullshit! If it weren't for your surgery that damaged his vitality, my dad could have lived to a hundred. Don't try to fool me here."
Zhou Wenbin's face turned red with anger: "Wang Dalei, if you continue this nonsense, I'm calling security."
Wang Dalei scoffed: "Go ahead and call them!" He advanced towards Zhou Wenbin, who was scared at heart, trembling: "What...what do you want? This is a hospital, you...you better not do anything rash..."
Cheng Xiaohong was trembling with fear, and Chen Guangming picked up the phone to call security, but one of Wang Dalei's accomplices slapped the phone out of his hand, raising his fist, threatening to hit Chen Guangming, who scrambled backward in fear and lost his balance, landing on the ground.
In front of so many subordinates, Zhou Wenbin had to put on a brave face and shouted: "This is a law-abiding society now..."
Wang Dalei laughed: "Who doesn't know it's a law-abiding society? Have I broken any laws? Did I murder anyone or set fires? I'm here to demand justice. Your Changxing Hospital treats human life like grass and cost me my father. I'll go anywhere for justice and I'm not afraid."
Xiaofeng, returning from the bathroom, saw the situation inside and was too frightened to enter. He quietly called the Security Department from outside.
Jia Xuegong climbed up the ladder. He was just an electrician, and the affairs of the Medical Affairs Office had nothing to do with him. He pretended not to see anything. He dared not provoke, nor did he want to provoke. Zhou Wenbin was not a good person anyway, he deserved the trouble.
The one responsible for pulling the power switch was Xu Chunliang. With a stretch of his hand, he pulled down the main switch. It was a cloudy day, and once the power went out, the indoor lights dimmed, making it feel like evening.
Now, all eyes were on Xu Chunliang, and Wang Dalei glared at him: "Idiot, who the hell told you to turn off the lights?"
Xu Chunliang said: "What does turning off the lights have to do with you? Does your dad's death have anything to do with me turning off the lights?"