"No need, no need, we still have to go back and upload the follow-up materials, let's skip the meal this time and meet up next time."

Tian Qi waved his hand busily: "That's it, sorry to trouble the directors... We really have no choice, it's a work order sent from above, we must respond..."

Lin Qianlong and his group watched Tian Qi and the others leave from the entrance of the orthopedics office, not leaving openly with them to avoid gossip.

After Tian Qi and the others left, Xiang Kuihua said cryptically: "Director Lin, Director Tian from the Legal Supervision Section said he got a call from Director Peng Lisan at the Health Bureau."

Lin Qianlong nodded slightly, his voice cool: "When leaving the operating room, I thought Xiao Lu was being overly cautious."

"Thinking back now, it's fortunate Xiao Lu was cautious, or it would have been a mess, doing a good deed only to end up with broken teeth and swallowing blood."

Xiang Kuihua nodded: "Indeed, it was Xiao Lu who changed the surgical method when leaving the operating room."

"He is also well acquainted with rules and regulations."

...

Lu Cheng was unaware of these happenings. He was already home, checking the template of the bid proposal Mu Nanshu sent him while going through literature.

"Buzz buzz~~"

Mu Nanshu's message came through: "The lab setup here in Ji City isn't great, but barely usable."

"However, the prices are a bit inflated, even more expensive than the supplies in Han City, we need to find some cheaper suppliers."

"I'll try contacting those pharma reps I know in Han City, see if they can remotely transfer some supplies."

When doing a project, you must save resources, especially when funds are tight.

"Okay, thanks for your hard work... If you need my help, make sure to tell me, you're helping me out here..." Lu Cheng replied.

"I'm still struggling with these." Lu Cheng sent Mu Nanshu a photo.

"Yeah, hang in there, the initial stage of reading literature can be very painful, but once you push through and taste the success of publishing, you'll find it's all worth it," Mu Nanshu encouraged.

...

Long County People's Hospital, parking lot.

"Director Du, you're here at the department even during the holiday?" Peng Haibo "happened" to encounter Du Qiang from General Surgery, immediately caught up and offered a cigarette.

Du Qiang accepted: "In a hospital like ours, there's no such thing as a holiday; surgeries go on as usual."

"Isn't Director Peng here as well?"

Since it was the weekend, the two casually exchanged greetings without rush, then lingered at the entrance of the inpatient building while smoking.

About ten minutes later, Peng Haibo finally said: "Director Du, I'm really sorry about last time, I called Professor Chen in the Emergency Department and Lin Qianlong numerous times, but still couldn't help."

Du Qiang wiped his face: "Director Peng, let's not talk about this, my head is aching."

His son accidentally killed someone, this was a situation where no amount of networking could completely resolve it; detention was inevitable.

If the victim had survived, there'd be much more room for negotiation.

But now, the person was gone.

"Director Du, actually in that situation, only if Lu Cheng from the emergency department intervened might there have been a chance," Peng Haibo hinted.

Du Qiang glared at Peng Haibo: "Director Peng, what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, nothing, I just mean that young people these days can be quite proud and aren't as enthusiastic," Peng Haibo was unsure of Du Qiang's true feelings.

But by now, Peng Haibo had no way out.

Lu Cheng's defenses were impenetrable.

Perhaps he could discuss something with Du Qiang, then have a detailed chat with Lu Cheng.

"Director Peng, do you take me for a three-year-old?"

"The one who didn't answer calls was Professor Chen."

"At the time, I was only thinking of saving the person, but put yourself in Lu Cheng's shoes, what sense does it make for him to be banging on doors in the middle of the night?"

"Are we forcing others to do what we ourselves wouldn't?"

Du Qiang continued: "Furthermore, Dr. Lu is my brother-in-law's lifesaver. Out of respect for my sister, I can't hold anything against Dr. Lu."

Peng Haibo's heart sank, thinking Du Qiang was incredibly resilient, not having lost his composure even with his son's predicament impending.

"Director Du, there's a misunderstanding, I am quite familiar with Xiao Lu too."

"Just discussing the matter at hand," Peng Haibo replied with a smile.

"Hmm." Du Qiang nodded, giving Peng Haibo a sidelong glance: "Director Peng is smart, memorizing all the health management rules by heart."

Du Qiang added this jab.

Truthfully, Du Qiang bore no malice toward Lu Cheng, but neither held him in high regard. Yet Peng Haibo's backstabbing within the hospital was contemptible to everyone.

If Lu Cheng genuinely fell from grace, perhaps it would be warranted since he violated the rules first.

However, in the end, it was merely a misunderstanding.

Peng Haibo's face turned blue: "Director Du, this has nothing to do with me!"

Du Qiang chuckled awkwardly: "Of course, there's no way Director Peng would do such a thing, it's merely hearsay."

"I've already told my team not to spread any rumors."

Peng Haibo's lips and face trembled: "Director Du, I, I'm really unable to explain the truth now… I truly didn't..."

Du Qiang patted Peng Haibo's shoulder: "Director Peng, if you have a valid point, there's no need to explain."