Chapter 663

Wu Xuanqi's words made Fang Ziye freeze for a moment, and he suggested, "Brother Qi, why don't you drop me off? I feel like my matter isn't that urgent anymore."

Fang Ziye felt his guess wasn't wrong. In the current situation, someone was definitely messing things up, and it had been planned for a long time.

The target was the Chen Song family.

"Since we're already out, if you want peace and quiet, just avoid them for a bit later."

"Anyway, it won't take you much time." Wu Xuanqi didn't let up on the accelerator and drove straight ahead.

Twenty minutes later, Wu Xuanqi parked the car at a parking area outside what looked like a mountain villa in the suburbs of Enshi.

The main gate was simple and imposing, the pavilions sharp and pointed in shape, faintly visible in the lights.

The gate was closed, but after Wu Xuanqi quickly went to the doorway and knocked, there was still someone guarding the entrance — probably security hired by the Chen Song family or a 'steward' type.

Wu Xuanqi knew the other party. After Wu Xuanqi explained he was looking for Dean Chen Song, the middle-aged man in a tank top said in a low voice, "Doctor Wu, Mr. Chen is currently receiving guests; it should be inconvenient for him to see you."

"It's already quite late; if there's no other business, why don't you head back first……"

The middle-aged man spoke subtly, but Wu Xuanqi was truly anxious: "Uncle Luo, then I'll wait a bit. This is Professor Fang Ziye from the sanatorium."

The middle-aged man called Uncle Luo immediately glanced at Fang Ziye, his eyes narrowing slightly: "This is Professor Fang?"

"Uncle Liu, I'm Fang Ziye." Fang Ziye also introduced himself.

Uncle Liu's eyeballs rolled around nearly two full circles before he said, "Professor Fang, Miss Chen Xixian, Mr. Chen's granddaughter, previously said she would come find you, but Mr. Chen stopped her."

"She also instructed me to contact you if I had time, but I've been busy all along."

"Look here? If you have something, you can pass a message to Miss Chen Xixian?"

Fang Ziye hadn't responded yet, but Wu Xuanqi's gaze was rather subtle, his voice slightly sharp: "Chen Xixian looking for Fang Ziye? You didn't misspeak, right?"

In Wu Xuanqi's view, the two had absolutely no connection.

Uncle Liu nodded: "Xixian indeed said so."

"Are you going?" Wu Xuanqi asked Fang Ziye: "Actually, your matter just needs to be relayed to Dean Chen."

Wu Xuanqi didn't dare decide for Fang Ziye either.

Fang Ziye nodded upon hearing this.

Uncle Liu had Wu Xuanqi wait at the doorway for a bit, while he called Chen Xixian first, then led Fang Ziye toward a separate courtyard in the villa.

This should be where Chen Xixian was staying temporarily, so the decor inside wasn't even as good as that courtyard down the mountain at the sanatorium.

As Fang Ziye and Uncle Liu approached, the lights inside lit up one by one; who knew if Chen Xixian had just gotten up from bed or just come downstairs.

"Xixian, Professor Fang happened to come looking for Mr. Chen." Uncle Liu said.

"Thanks for the trouble, Uncle Liu, you head back first. I also happen to have something to find Professor Fang about." Chen Xixian's hair was smooth, her face full of worry, not looking like she'd just woken up.

She was dressed neatly today; the house had the air conditioner on, and she wore a pale white long skirt with short boots, looking natural and generous.

This wasn't the first time Fang Ziye had seen Chen Xixian, but after seeing her, he would still feel his mood somewhat ill at ease — she was the genuine 'no-struggle-for-a-lifetime' label — so he politely said, "Miss Xixian."

Fang Ziye had seen Chen Xixian several times but never spoken, and didn't know how to address her.

"Professor Fang, you and Doctor Wu Xuanqi are the same — just call me by my name, Chen Xixian!" Chen Xixian's brows furrowed slightly, her pair of peach blossom eyes full of seriousness and gravity right now.

"Originally I planned to go find your girlfriend Tingzhu to chat for a bit."

Fang Ziye hurriedly said, "Tingzhu just came out of the laboratory and is resting now. I originally came to find Dean Chen to discuss some things."

"I heard Uncle Liu at the door say you were looking for me… he thought you had something, so he brought me over…"

"There are indeed some words I want to say to you!" Chen Xixian nodded, leading Fang Ziye to sit in the reception area of the small villa.

"The aunties have all gone back today, Professor Fang, let me pour you a cup of water." Chen Xixian picked up a cup.

"No need, let's just speak directly……" Fang Ziye said.

He indeed felt a bit awkward getting along with Chen Xixian.

Chen Xixian didn't struggle either; putting down the cup, she turned and said, "Professor Fang, my grandpa is old, and he very much hopes you can take over the sanatorium."

"Originally the plan was to settle for a few more years, wait until everything was arranged, then he would retire completely."

"But given the current situation, I estimate my grandpa will find it very hard to retire normally as projected."

"The sanatorium is my grandpa's heart's blood, and what he's wanted to accomplish all his life, but he is old after all, and he's been searching for candidates who can take the sanatorium off his hands……"

"So, Professor Fang?"

Fang Ziye waved his hand to interrupt upon hearing this: "Chen Xixian, don't joke around."

"If I take over the sanatorium now, it'll only make the sanatorium dissipate faster; how could that possibly honor Dean Chen's original intent?"

"Not afraid you'll laugh, but I don't even know how to run a single department right now; leading a group in the sanatorium is blind leading — I have zero long-term planning experience."

"If you're here to talk about this, I feel we don't need to talk; do what your ability allows, eat what your appetite fits."

"Eat too much and you'll burst; mildly you hurt your body, severely you burst to death."

Fang Ziye had great self-awareness.

Chen Xixian nodded again upon hearing this, then said cautiously: "Professor Fang, then how about this — you don't leave the sanatorium, my dad will go work at the sanatorium later……"

"You're also the most capable assistant my grandpa found for him, bar none."

Before, Fang Ziye had heard Chen Boss might step back from the company behind the scenes, but it was just inside information.

Maybe Luo Tingzhu got the inside info from Chen Xixian.

In the current situation, Chen Guangbai pulling out of the company — hard to say if it's a wise retreat or just dumping a rotten mess.

"Chen Xixian, the sanatorium is full of talent, professors everywhere; aren't you overestimating me? What am I?"

"Right now, I don't even know what predicament the sanatorium has encountered; even I might just be one link in the sanatorium's many chain reactions, and I can't even handle that."

"I came here to tell Dean Chen Song one thing: my previous unit, the Trauma Surgery department at Zhongnan Hospital, had an incident."

"Our department's only Chief Physician might get fired by the hospital; if I don't go back, our department's stall will collapse."

"That's my roots, and the unit my Master and Master's School rely on; I won't watch it collapse, so I'm definitely going back for a while."

"I'd already considered it on the way here — I definitely have to go back first for a period, but my matters here aren't finished either, so I want to ask for leave."

"But Dean Chen probably won't have time to see me!" Fang Ziye spoke his decision aloud.

Fang Ziye's matters at the sanatorium were naturally not finished; with so many research projects still unresolved, it was absolutely impossible to give up.

Seeing things through from start to finish was a philosophy Fang Ziye consistently upheld.

"My grandpa indeed has no time to see you, because it's not just Professor Fang who has encountered a difficult problem; currently, many professors at the sanatorium have fallen into predicaments."

"Some related to themselves, some related to internal members."

"For instance, the several professors who went to a meeting with you last time, Professor Fang, are now thinking of returning to their original units one after another."

"Because they took on other mandatory tasks; if they don't go back, there's no way to complete the tasks." Chen Xixian actually said this.

"Professor Pang Longshan and Professor Dou Kaigong haven't returned yet?" Fang Ziye was stunned upon hearing this.

What a joke?

That meeting was held on May Day; it's already nearly the end of August, and these two professors still haven't returned to the sanatorium?

Chen Xixian nodded: "From what Grandpa and my dad analyzed, near water tower. Even if they don't get the moon first, they've occupied the geographical advantage."

"If this time, if it weren't for Professor Fang you having a benefactor's support behind you, and a very major breakthrough, you probably wouldn't be able to return in the short term either."

"But that kind of meeting invitation, whether my grandpa steps forward or whoever steps forward, it's not good to politely refuse!"

There were five people from the sanatorium who went to the meeting: Li Yongjun, Fang Ziye, Pang Longshan, Dou Kaigong, Hu Yiqiang.

Currently only Professor Li Yongjun and Fang Ziye, two people, have returned.

Fang Ziye's eyelids drooped slightly, complaining: "Could it be that Dean Chen has been watching the sanatorium's people be alienated and leave without any countermeasures?"

An outsider like him who doesn't participate in the core could see it; Enshi's sanatorium was being skinned and boned, cut piece by piece with a dull knife.

"There are countermeasures, but Professor Fang you must know, favors all have a day they run out, and people all have a day they grow old."

"Influence is intangible but has measure."

"Still that saying, near water tower gets the moon first; my grandpa has left Jingdu for decades already!"

History has long proven, no matter how high the merit, the lingering shade is limited.

Moreover, in a modern era where all aspects are developing at high speed?

Chen Song leaving Jingdu is equivalent to refusing to serve that top batch of people; it's already good if others don't blame you, how could they possibly favor you?

Upon hearing this, Fang Ziye scolded: "Heh, the current atmosphere is also quite interesting."

"Those who fight internally fight until their scalps bleed."

"Those who fight externally rack their brains thinking of climbing peaks, thinking of every way to seize the initiative."

"Those shouting slogans, mouths full of saying they want to enhance Eastern Han's core competitiveness in the world, do things that are forcibly assigning tasks."

"Those who want to do things seriously, yet don't even have a stable environment..."

Fang Ziye scolded a lot of people in one go.

Chen Song was not an exception either.

Between Chen Song and other sanatorium people, or with other people's grievances and hatreds, both sides had no right or wrong distinction, nor did they use especially despicable means.

Because no matter how strong others were, they couldn't have predicted Fang Ziye's rise today, able to control Deng Yong to 'strive' for Fang Ziye, let alone pre-arrange Professor Han Yuanxiao's 'academic misconduct'.

No one would have foreknowledge.

There were also people like Academician Cheng Xiaoping and others, who only wanted to trample foreign organ transplantation underfoot, so they tried every means to poach Fang Ziye, sometimes not even considering what Fang Ziye was currently doing.

This meeting they went to attend, the name sounded indeed high-end, the purpose was also good, but the method of assigning tasks was putting a high hat.

Just a single word: force.

Fang Ziye Team's situation was actually very good; they also knew this was one of the breakthrough points, but someone still tore down the house Fang Ziye relied on!

Fang Ziye had no choice but to consider Zhongnan Hospital.

Chen Xixian fell silent for a while, unknown whether she was pondering the meaning in Fang Ziye's words, or had other thoughts.

The atmosphere between the two lasted a full nearly one minute, then Chen Xiqian said: "I myself have no talent, I can't help my father, even less can I help my grandpa."

"But fortunately my father follows my wishes more, let me study management, and I also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine with Grandpa for a while."

"I don't understand the specific meaning of what Professor Fang said, I only know how to grasp the key points."

"Grandpa values you very highly, and you're not old in years, so you're definitely one of the sanatorium's key points, so I very sincerely hope Professor Fang you can continue staying in the sanatorium."

"This is also my purpose in coming to find you today."

"Other aspects, including Professor Fang's predicament, your future prospects, I cannot guarantee at all, but what I want to say is, my father definitely won't shortchange Professor Fang you."

Chen Xixian's face and shoulders were trembling slightly; this was the 'instinctive fear' of realizing her own incompetence: "Based on what my grandpa and my father said, neither of them arranged any tasks for me."

"Even the two of them, my grandpa and my father, have arranged my back path well; even if both my grandpa and my father go to prison, I can still continue my current life steadily and smoothly."

"I also admit I myself am just a gold silk bird born better, but I still want to be able to help them do a little something, even if just a little bit is fine."

"These years, I haven't contacted any company's commercial business, haven't gone to start a business, even less have I meddled in the sanatorium's matters, so trouble doesn't reach me..." Chen Xixian's voice slowly choked up.

Coming to find Chen Xixian was a wasted trip.

This is a genuine rich family daughter, a second generation protected extremely well.

"Chen Xixian, actually it's nothing; since your parents and grandpa have all found you a positioning and retreat path, you also don't need to have too much psychological burden."

"Things you can't do, don't do; just like the task you proposed to me, if it could be done it would certainly be glorious, but I can't do it either." Fang Ziye comforted.

"Of course, I also can't promise you, because I also have no way to predict future things, can only say it's walk and see."

"The only thing I can do now is properly do my own things, do what I should do, for example go back, confirm our department's situation and landscape."

"So I must find Dean Chen Song to ask for leave." Fang Ziye's voice was also very firm.

Chen Xixian's mindset adjusted quite fast, also didn't have much young lady temper; the places she could show power were also limited to her own home being the highest level.

"Professor Fang, my grandpa will definitely see you."

"Even if he doesn't see Wu Xuanqi, he will definitely see you."

"He's currently receiving guests; I can go help you pass the message."

"Professor Fang, you rest here for a bit. I know the people Grandpa is meeting with." Chen Xixian said, then stood up and walked out.

Fang Ziye didn't follow.

Roughly half an hour later, Fang Ziye received a reply; Dean Chen Song had Uncle Liu take him over.

"Tingzhu, you rest well. I should be able to come back after taking some leave." Fang Ziye said.

"Okay, Senior Brother. The sanatorium won't collapse, and our team won't be dispersed. No matter who takes over the sanatorium afterwards, this basic point won't change." Luo Tingzhu was very obedient, reorganizing what Fang Ziye had previously instructed her into her own words.

Fang Ziye read it and smiled, then sent two characters — "sleep" — and walked into the night again.

When Fang Ziye saw Chen Song again, there was no one else in Chen Song's room. Only today, compared to the past, the glory on Chen Song's face was gone, and his sharpness was insufficient.

"Dean Chen. It's very presumptuous of me to disturb you at this time point as well." Fang Ziye said.

Chen Song started at the sound of Fang Ziye's voice: "Ziye, you sit. Xiao Hua, you brew a cup of tea for Professor Fang and bring it over."

After instructing, Chen Song said: "Even Ziye you've run into trouble?"

The meaning of Chen Song's words was that Fang Ziye was still young, his Jianghu status actually wasn't that high; according to reason, he shouldn't be implicated in anything, and wouldn't even be specially valued by the other side.

Fang Ziye nodded: "Yes, Dean Chen. I need to take leave and go back for a while."

Chen Song said: "The sowing discord stratagem originally meant making the enemy's spies work for me, or making the enemy obtain false intelligence to benefit my scheme. Later it referred to using schemes to sow discord among the enemy and cause internal strife."

"Today's sowing discord, then, is: the spirit doesn't gather, people don't group."

"Dismantle the skeleton."

Fang Ziye blinked; at this moment he could also empathize with others: "Dean Chen, even if what you say is right, I especially understand the other professors."

Everyone has fetters they must attend to; that doesn't represent disloyalty to the sanatorium.

If the sanatorium is sentiment, then the Zhongnan Hospital we care about is home. If the home is not harmonious, the house catches fire — what sentiment is there to speak of?

"Right, so an open strategy has no solution! ~"

"It's fine, go. Ziye, how long do you need to go back for?" Chen Song took a deep breath.

Meet each move as it comes; he had to take the move.

This isn't a prison; relying on restricting personal freedom to keep people absolutely cannot retain them.

"It should be several months."

Fang Ziye replied, then asked rather cautiously: "Dean Chen, is the sanatorium facing a task crisis or?"

"Can some trouble be avoided through output?"

A so-called task crisis is one that can be suppressed through merit.

It can be suppressed by doing more, producing more output.

If it's truly like that, Fang Ziye could lend a helping hand.

If it's not that aspect, Fang Ziye has no solution.

Chen Song shook his head, looking at Fang Ziye: "No need. Their true intention isn't the sanatorium; it's me."

"It's Chen Guangbai, it's our whole family."

"As long as we no longer run the sanatorium, this crisis will pass on its own. As long as Chen Guangbai doesn't run the company, this crisis will also pass on its own."

"In their view, it's not that they need us dead; they only need us defeated."

"Decline is also defeat."

"This is called momentum collapse." Chen Song's tone was very crisp; understanding was in place, but expression was rather vague.

"So, Professor Fang, wait a while, and all these crises of our sanatorium will resolve themselves."

"After the so-called momentum collapse, they won't beat the drowning dog either……"

Fang Ziye actually still didn't understand, so he asked: "Dean Chen, not letting Boss Chen run the company is understandable enough."

"You're already at such an advanced age; whether you run the sanatorium or not, is there that big a difference?"

Chen Song looked at Fang Ziye's simplicity, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.

But Fang Ziye is ultimately just Fang Ziye.

"Not in his position, he doesn't plan its politics. Those who don't plan its politics are mostly lying flat in disguise — no need to prove or confront problems, soldiers come and generals block, water comes and earth dams."

"Whether you survey all clans, or countries, or any unit, all seek advantage and avoid harm. Dig your own advantageous position, and you can only turn a blind eye to your own disadvantages."

"Because only by occupying the advantageous position is there undefeatable ground."

"If Professor Fang you lost this body of skills, what could you go do?" Chen Song was still willing to do breakdown teaching for Fang Ziye.

"I'm at such an advanced age; what can I still do?"

"Strength can't carry, legs can't run; in a few years I'll enter the earth. The advantageous position I occupy is this sinecure of the sanatorium."

"Professor Fang, if you also face this situation in the future, you must also learn to discern the other side's advantageous position, and smash their advantageous position into collapse."

"You must remember: don't beat the drowning dog, avoid a desperate move."

"And once the advantageous position collapses, others wanting to stand up again will definitely be unable to cross that baseline."

"If one really had to name that baseline, it would be opportunity."

"Unrelated to connections anymore." Chen Song sighed with emotion.

Unrelated to connections, related to opportunity; more and more vague.

But Fang Ziye could faintly hear the gist of the other's meaning.

"Thank you, Dean Chen. After I return to Zhongnan Hospital, I'll also settle the matters in the group."

"Professor Fang Zhikuan of Trauma Surgery and Professor Du Donglin of Hand Surgery both have the capability to lead a group; actually I'm the slacker." Fang Ziye cautiously took his leave.

"Dean Chen, I have no other business either, so I won't disturb you further."

As Fang Ziye walked out, Chen Song inexplicably implied: "If back then the momentum of Tongji Hospital's Trauma Surgery was created by your teacher, I wouldn't let him off either."

"Take this sentence back with you."

"Wu Xuanqi is a junior I recognize."

Fang Ziye heard this and abruptly turned his head.

Instinctively he declared: "Impossible! ~"

"I know, let the facts speak." Chen Song pressed his hands down, then waved them.

"You should also go back and rest early." Chen Song told Fang Ziye to go back.

After Fang Ziye left the door, his mind was spinning rapidly.

According to Dean Chen Song's analysis.

Hubei Province's Trauma Surgery, when Wu Xuanqi was studying for his master's, could truly be described as rising like the sun at noon; above, Professor Duan Hong's Person of Gratitude was the previous generation's Big Shot of Hubei Trauma Surgery, behind him was Duan Hong, and then the pre-injury Wu Xuanqi, able to suppress three generations of the entire Hubei Province...

But?

This shouldn't be premeditated, right?

Wasn't it said that the wrong person was hit?

Or is it that the current Dean Chen Song is hinting at our Zhongnan Hospital's future?

As long as I have a problem, then?

Duan Hong?

Was Dean Chen Song's instruction for me to bring words a probe or does it have another deeper meaning?

(Chapter End)