Chapter 611: Chapter 582: Tainted by Proximity
An hour later, a meeting was held in the large conference room of Weishan Island Hospital regarding the transfer of the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital project.
Xu Chunliang arrived relatively early and first exchanged some brief words with Wu Fajun and Jin Yonghao in the adjacent office. As the meeting was about to start, Mo Han hurried in.
Xu Chunliang nodded to her as a greeting.
Mo Han’s lips moved slightly in a not quite smile, remembering how he had called her a little shrew in Jizhou. If it weren’t for the sudden circumstances, she really wouldn’t want to bother with him. Yet, upon seeing him, she found it hard to hold a grudge.
The two walked towards the conference room together, and Xu Chunliang whispered, "You did the deal behind my back, I didn’t get a single cent out of it, and yet I was the one getting scolded. That’s not how it should work."
Mo Han replied, "Does you getting scolded have anything to do with me?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Yes, didn’t you hear they all say that whoever gets close to Mo turns black?"
Mo Han glanced at him and noticed that he had indeed gotten a bit tanner since they last met, probably from the sun, having nothing to do with her. Thinking about Xu Chunliang’s current embarrassing situation, criticized by everyone, she couldn’t help but feel a bit schadenfreude.
The two entered the conference room together, and their arrival elicited some discordant sounds in the room as Mo Han heard some people hissing at them.
People cursing:
...
Backstabbing!
Selling out the hospital’s interests, how do you still have the face to come here.
Getting close to Mo turns you black, so dark-hearted.
Treating us like the Weishan Island Winery, treating Hu Shan Town like their own home. Are they planning to run a family business?
...
Upon hearing these varied opinions, Mo Han didn’t get angry; instead, she found it amusing and had to admire the people’s rich imagination and creativity. She and Xu Chunliang each had their own thoughts.
Wu Fajun and Jin Yonghao exchanged a glance; they had arranged beforehand that today’s meeting would be chaired by Jin Yonghao.
Jin Yonghao cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, please quiet down. Considering some recent situations, there have been many rumors causing unrest and anxiety, so we have specially convened this meeting today. Please be patient; we have specially invited Town Mayor Xu from Hu Shan Town, President Wu from Huanyan Health, and Miss Mo, the market director from Equatorial Capital, to address the issues you are concerned about one by one. Now, let’s first welcome Town Mayor Xu to speak."
Jin Yonghao was the first to applaud, and there was sparse applause from the attendees. It seemed that everyone was not fond of this former Dean Xu, now Vice Mayor Xu, as most people believed they had been deceived by him. When he was at the hospital, he represented Changxing in suppressing them, and now in Hu Shan Town, he still found ways to harm the hospital.
Xu Chunliang didn’t feel awkward at all and said with a smile, "I honestly didn’t plan to come to the hospital today, but as soon as I got off the boat, Comrade Liu Fugui and more than twenty others confronted me at the dock, saying I had sold Weishan Island Hospital, saying I sold out your interests. What interests did I sell out of yours? I must declare here that I work for the Hu Shan Town Government, specifically in charge of attracting investment, but I don’t do business, nor do I take any benefits from it. I have always been a person who doesn’t fear knocking on doors when not guilty. Since I dared to come, I’m ready to face the accusations of many. If you have evidence that I abused my power for personal gain, I would neither hit back nor argue. But if anyone dares to fabricate lies and spread false information, once caught, I would dare to break their restless fingers."
The room fell silent, daring to threaten the common people; they might complain against him later by calling 12345.
Xu Chunliang took a sip of tea and said, "Some say that whoever gets close to Mo turns black. Miss Mo’s surname is Mo, and I indeed got a bit tanner these days, but that’s because of the sun, and it has nothing to do with her. There’s no such relationship between us as you imagine; we are just ordinary friends. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Miss Mo whether I’ve ever taken a cent of benefits from her."
Mo Han thought to herself: What are you bringing me into this for? If there isn’t, then there isn’t. Aren’t you afraid of making it worse by explaining? Haven’t you extorted me enough recently?
Xu Chunliang said, "I wasn’t informed of the agreement between Huayan Group and Equatorial Capital until after the transfer agreement was signed, and this is not me shirking responsibility. In fact, both parties only notified our Hu Shan Town Government after the transfer agreement was signed. President Wu and Director Mo can attest to this."
Wu Fajun and Mo Han exchanged a look and both nodded. The facts were indisputable, although Xu Chunliang’s meaning was very clear, saying this only to prove that this had nothing to do with him.
Xu Chunliang continued, "I want to express the attitude of Hu Shan Town Government here. Our Hu Shan Town Government is the government of the people, and our purpose is to serve the people, always putting the people’s interests first. Personally, I think this transfer is beneficial to you. Do you plan to continue to weather the storm with Huayan Group, or join Equatorial Capital and embark on a promising path? Anyone with a bit of sense knows how to choose. If you don’t know how to weigh the pros and cons and keep making a fuss, ruining this transfer, in the end, it’s you who will suffer!"
Some employees raised their hands. Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t rush; we’re not at the question-and-answer section yet. Next, I will hand the microphone over to President Wu of Huayan Group for further explanation."
Wu Fajun gave a briefing on the transfer situation, admitting that Huayan Group and Equatorial Capital reached an agreement to transfer all projects, including Weishan Island Hospital and the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital, to them. He did not mention the specific price, only saying that this transfer fully considered the interests of all employees and was for the better development of Weishan Island Hospital.
As for future development, it would be up to Equatorial Capital. Wu Fajun believed there was no need to explain to the employees.
Onlookers see clearly, and after the meeting started, Xu Chunliang first distanced himself as if it had nothing to do with him, and then Wu Fajun shifted the responsibility to Equatorial Capital.
The employees below were unwilling, complaining one after another. Zhao Hongda said loudly, "What you said is tantamount to not saying anything. You transferred the hospital without consulting us or respecting us, the old employees of the hospital. The hospital is not something you can sell just like that."
Other employees echoed, seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Jin Yonghao quickly stepped in to say, "Please, everyone, stay calm. Next, Director Mo will provide an explanation."
Mo Han looked around at the medical staff in the venue and said, "Actually, this matter is very simple. The reason Huayan Group wants to transfer the project to us is because they ran out of funds and cannot fulfill their promises to Hu Shan Town Government."
The expressions of Wu Fajun and Jin Yonghao from Huayan Group became very awkward. Though it’s true, you can’t just say it directly.
Mo Han’s words fueled the people’s emotions even more: "At first, they acquired Weishan Island Hospital without spending any money. On what basis can they decide for us and sell us out?"
Mo Han said, "I don’t know how Huayan Group and Hu Shan Town Government originally signed the contract or whether there were any interests involved; if you want to know, you can ask the disciplinary inspection department to investigate."
Xu Chunliang thought to himself that she was clever, clearly trying to shift the focus onto him. Let’s see what else you have to say.
Mo Han said, "As for the details of the negotiation, they are business secrets. I can’t make them public here. All I can assure you of is that after Equatorial Capital takes over, your benefits will definitely not change. There will no longer be deliberate delays in your wages and bonuses. If you still don’t believe, you can let Hu Shan Town Government make a guarantee." She looked towards Xu Chunliang, and he was the only one present who could represent Hu Shan Town.
Xu Chunliang said, "I can assure everyone that Hu Shan Town Government, no matter the past, present, or future, will always put your interests first. I don’t care who takes over these projects. If anyone infringes on your interests, they will be going against our Hu Shan Town Government."
He wouldn’t fall for Mo Han’s trick. Why should he guarantee for them? Here, we are the rule makers; whoever dares to violate the rules will face the same regardless.
The session moved to the open questioning phase, and Zhao Hongda was the first to stand up: "I have a few questions. First, what is the amount of this transfer? Second, does Equatorial Capital have plans to build a hospital? Third, where will our positions belong? Will our incomes and pensions be affected?"
Mo Han replied, "The transfer amount is two hundred million. After Equatorial Capital takes over, they will continue the construction of the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital. As for your position issues, specific government departments will explain to you." She deftly shifted the responsibility to Xu Chunliang.
Xu Chunliang said, "There has been no change regarding your position issues from start to finish. Please do not make baseless assumptions. Weishan Island Hospital will only get better and better. I ask for a little more trust in the government. I promise that before the official signing, Huayan Group will pay all outstanding performance wages and bonuses."
Wu Fajun deliberately coughed, feeling that Xu Chunliang had overstepped his authority in making this promise, as he shouldn’t guarantee this on behalf of Huayan.
This statement from Xu Chunliang finally received some applause, for what matters most are the benefits coming to them.
After the meeting ended, Wu Fajun smiled bitterly and said, "Town Mayor Xu, I would like to discuss with you the so-called outstanding performance issues."
Xu Chunliang said, "What’s there to discuss? Shouldn’t the employees’ wages be paid if they are overdue?"
Wu Fajun said, "Performance wages themselves are linked to benefits. Weishan Island Hospital has been in a state of loss over the years. According to the hospital’s audit mechanism, tasks not completed would result in partial deductions of performance wages, which was agreed upon initially."
"Lots of agreements were made initially. Didn’t your Huayan Group also promise to build the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital? Yet you still failed to meet your initial promise."
Wu Fajun was left speechless.
