Chapter 29: A Gentleman’s Revenge

Zhou Wenbin was terrified out of his wits!

In a physical fight, the young and strong always have the advantage; how could he possibly be a match for Zhang Jun? Zhang Jun, fueled by a surge of explosive, resentful rage, struck with devastating force. Zhou Wenbin’s vision went dark as blood began to trickle down, blurring his right eye.

*Thwack!*

Zhang Jun swung again. Zhou Wenbin scrambled backward, but the second punch landed squarely on his shoulder blade, sending him wailing for his parents.

"Secretary Zhang, it’s a misunderstanding!" Zhou Wenbin circled the desk, shouting his desperate excuses.

Zhang Jun had been waiting for a chance to beat this guy to a pulp for a long time. *Damn it!* In the past, he had looked down on me and tried to hit on my wife. Now that I’ve made something of myself, why shouldn't I settle the score?

He braced his hands on the desk, vaulted over, grabbed Zhou Wenbin by the head, and slammed him face-down onto the desktop.

One punch!
Two punches!
Three punches!

Every blow landed with a sickening thud. Zhou Wenbin’s face was beaten into a mangled mess. Liu Yujie covered her face with her hands, watching the scene in horror; she dared neither to persuade Zhang Jun to stop nor to step forward and help beat a man who was already down.

Nurses outside heard the chaotic crashing coming from within, but not knowing what had happened, they dared not barge in to investigate. Zhang Jun had plenty of time to vent the resentment in his heart. Only when he was exhausted did he sit down in a chair and say to his wife, "Get me a glass of water."

Liu Yujie hurriedly brought a glass over, handed it to Zhang Jun, and nudged his arm. "You need to leave! I’ll handle things here."

Hearing the concern in her tone, Zhang Jun’s expression softened slightly. "Don't worry! If he dares to call the police, I’ll beat him again!"

Zhou Wenbin sat slumped on the floor, his face smeared with blood, groaning in constant pain. Zhang Jun said in a low, cold voice, "Zhou, if you ever touch my wife again, I will destroy you!"

Zhou Wenbin’s lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word for a long time. Suddenly, his phone rang. He answered it, let out an "Ah," and stammered, "G-Governor Ma? You… you’re at the hospital? I… I’m coming right away."

He scrambled to his feet, smoothed his hair, tugged at his clothes, wiped the blood from his face with a tissue, and hurried out.

"Zhang Jun," Liu Yujie asked, "is Governor Ma here too?"

Zhang Jun hummed in acknowledgment, taking several deep breaths to steady his nerves. "I came here with Governor Ma to inspect the work. Zhou Wenbin is in for a world of trouble. I’m heading down now."

Liu Yujie hugged him and whispered, "Zhang Jun, thank you."

Zhang Jun pushed her away gently and headed straight downstairs. While he had been wreaking havoc upstairs, Ma Hongqi had been building up a mountain of frustration in the lobby.

Ma Hongqi had waited in line for a long time, watching as doctors and nurses repeatedly brought acquaintances to the counter to cut the line. The people waiting behind him were furious but dared not speak up. Ma Hongqi finally spoke up: "Comrade, you need to wait in line!" but no one paid him any mind.

When he finally reached the window, he said he had a stomachache and needed to register. The clerk asked, "Which department?"

Ma Hongqi repeated, "I have a stomachache."

The person inside asked impatiently, "Which department? Hurry up!"

"I have a stomachache, which department should I register for?"

"How should I know? There’s no 'Stomach Department'! Go ask a doctor first."

"Comrade, I haven't registered yet, how am I supposed to see a doctor?"

"There’s a triage desk over there. Go ask them, then come back to register."

Ma Hongqi said, "Then just register me for Gastroenterology."

"Director’s slot or specialist slot?"

"Is there a difference?"

"Director’s is fifty, specialist’s is twenty-five."

"Is there anything cheaper? I just need to get my digestive system checked; I don't need a director or a specialist."

"General slots are sold out."

"Then I’ll register for tomorrow."

"You have to come tomorrow to register for tomorrow."

"So I’ve waited for nothing today? Fine, the specialist will do! What time can I be seen?"

"There are twenty people ahead of you."

"Will I be seen today?"

"Are you registering or not? Stop pestering me!"

Ma Hongqi paid the twenty-five yuan and registered for a specialist. With his ticket in hand, he asked the triage nurse which floor he needed to go to. She told him to go to the fifth floor. He went to the elevator area, but after waiting a long time, he decided to walk up the stairs. When he reached the specialist clinic and saw the crowd, he realized he wouldn't be seen today. Since he wasn't actually there for medical treatment, he started chatting with the person next to him.

An old gentleman said, "A check-up takes half a day; if you want to see a doctor, you need to prepare for two or three days! If you need a gastroscopy, you have to wait in line for a week."

Ma Hongqi asked, "What about acute gastroenteritis? Do you go to the ER? Do you have to wait in line there?"

The old man replied, "It’s the same. You still have to wait for a gastroscopy. They won't prescribe medicine without the test results; you won't get your meds for ten days or half a month."

Ma Hongqi called the hospital president, who was away in the capital for a meeting. The person in charge was Vice President Zhou Wenbin. Ma Hongqi summoned him.

Zhou Wenbin arrived, his face covered in bruises. Seeing his disheveled state, Ma Hongqi’s anger flared. "Comrade Zhou Wenbin, what happened to you?"

Zhou Wenbin didn't dare admit it was the Governor’s secretary who had beaten him. "I bumped my head. Oh, Governor Ma, if you needed to see a doctor, you should have told me; I could have made arrangements!"

Ma Hongqi sneered, "If *I* need to see a doctor, you can make arrangements? What about the common people? Can you make arrangements for everyone?"

Zhou Wenbin replied timidly, "Resources are limited, so naturally, we prioritize the leaders."

Ma Hongqi snorted. "I am here for an on-site inspection! I have just experienced the difficulties of registering, paying, and getting treated! Do you have any solutions?"

Zhou Wenbin smiled bitterly. "Resources are limited, and there are too many patients. It’s unsolvable unless we expand, which requires a huge amount of capital."

Ma Hongqi asked in a low voice, "Have you ever submitted a proposal for expansion? Expansion is difficult, but can you at least optimize your services? I don't know if you’ve ever tried to register at the lobby yourself, but there are many problems!"

Zhou Wenbin stood with his hands hanging down. "Yes, yes, we will rectify this immediately!"

Zhang Jun walked over and stood by Ma Hongqi’s side. Ma Hongqi asked him, "What did you find?"

Zhang Jun relayed what he had seen—which, in reality, was his own experience: hospitalization is difficult, and beds are scarce. Registration is expensive, and slots are hard to come by. There are too many unnecessary tests; thousands of yuan are spent without a diagnosis. Medication is expensive, with simple prescriptions costing hundreds. The medical staff has a terrible attitude, showing no patience and lacking any spirit of serving the people.

As Zhang Jun tore the hospital apart from top to bottom, Zhou Wenbin listened, his teeth grinding in resentment.

Ma Hongqi nodded. "I know these are real issues! And they haven't existed for just a year or two! There must be a complete overhaul. If you cannot improve the hospital's services, then I will replace you!"

Zhou Wenbin was startled and repeatedly promised, "Governor Ma, we will change it right now!"

His phone rang, and he said cautiously, "Governor Ma, let me take this call."

Ma Hongqi waved him off. Zhou Wenbin answered, "What? The comrades from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection are here? Very well, I’m coming right away."