Chapter 1: The Office's Unspoken Rules...

  Zhou Yi appears to be somewhat unconventional and playful in other people's eyes. However, he himself is the most clear-headed, and those past unconventional things he did were just small pranks. They were just within the scope of what his family could tolerate. But this time, it has exceeded that range, so now he is being confined at home, feeling worried yet also a little excited.

  Just at this contradictory moment, Yang Zongbao suddenly called to say that the matter had been resolved, which undoubtedly gave Zhou Yi a reassurance. His emotions were instantly calmed down, and even if he really got into trouble this time, it didn't matter anymore, after all, his master Yang Zongbao was fine.

  Yang Zongbao hung up the phone and also had some expectations for tomorrow's negotiation in his heart.

  The wooden veranda outside the door was covered with mats. The old man complained and puffed on his water pipe, grumbling that he had bad luck and couldn't sleep in bed, and that so many people ate without paying for their meals, etc., etc.

  Mei Wenxi snuggled sideways into the quilt, her small face flushing bright red.

  Zhang Lanfeng stared at Mei Wenxin with a complex expression.

  Yuetai, who had no emotions, was originally lying down, but suddenly seemed to remember something and suddenly popped up from the quilt to ask his grandfather: "Old man, did you go for an autopsy?"

  "Hmm." Old Master Yu responded vaguely.

  "Oh." Yu Tiernan seemed to have resolved a major issue in his heart and lay down again, but suddenly his whole body shook like being electrocuted: "Grandpa, then did you take my car to wash your hands?" Yu Tiernan asked with a faint glimmer of hope.

  "No." The old man was very concise.

  "Ah..."

  The sound of wailing was incessant, and Yu Tie Nan emerged from his bed in a frenzy, rushing towards the door: "My ancestors, you're using your hands covered in corpse fragments to feel around my car!"

  "Rabbit son, I've told you before not to say such things, show respect for the dead." The old man scolded, completely disregarding his frantic grandson.

  "Nonsense." Yu Tiernan has become incoherent, and doesn't care that it's his own grandfather, immediately cursing: "My mother, you've turned my car into a crime scene. I'm not going to carry these corpse fragments around everywhere, am I?"

  As Yu Jia's grandchildren continued their chatter, the sound of washing cars came from outside the courtyard gate.

  "Affected." The old man turned over, extinguished the water pipe, and muttered to himself in a low voice: "I was cheated, this water pipe is not flavorful at all."

  Then, without knowing who he was talking to, said: "Go to sleep, it's not yours no matter how much you look." After finishing speaking, he immediately started snoring.

  In the courtyard, apart from Yu Tie's voice washing the car, it was Grandpa's snoring sound. The other three people seemed to be non-existent, without a sound.

  Winter is ending and spring is beginning, the dew at night is very heavy.

  Some people didn't sleep all night, some slept well, some only dozed off, and others worked through the night. Anyway, a layer of dew had formed on quilts, clothes, and hair.

  Yang Zongbao woke up very early and did not disturb others, or perhaps he did, but in any case, no one bothered him.

  Having come to this village several times, it was always at night, in the dead of night. There was no chance to get a good look around the surroundings. Fortunately, I got up early today and Yang Zongbao had the opportunity to go out for a stroll.

  I didn't know until I came out, but as soon as I did, I found that this village has its own characteristics. Each family's walls are separated into small streets and alleys. The unevenly paved bluestone roads are covered with moss. People have to be very careful when walking on them to maintain their balance.

  Suddenly a black shadow darted out in front, and Yang Zongbao was startled. When the shadow ran past him and into a family's courtyard, Yang Zongbao saw that it was just a yellow dog.

  He smiled self-deprecatingly and walked away. As he passed by the yard where the dog had just entered, Yang Zongbao couldn't help but take a glance, and that one glance was like being struck by lightning, causing him to blurt out: "What are you doing here?"

  The woman who was washing clothes inside the door looked at the man who suddenly appeared in the doorway with surprise.

  It was just a momentary daze, and Yang Zongbao immediately understood that he had simply mistaken the person. The woman in front of him who was washing clothes looked similar to her, but didn't have her kind of ethereal feeling. Apologetically smiling at the woman, Yang Zongbao left without any lingering attachment.

  What a great place, the women raised here are all similar to her. Yang Zongbao walked and thought, unknowingly returning to Mr. Yu's house again.

  Everyone in the corridor has gotten out of bed. They all gathered in the living room to prepare for dinner. Upon seeing Yang Zongbao, each reacted differently.

  "Back, drink medicine." Mei Wenxin handed a bowl of black medicinal soup to Yang Zongbao's hands.

  Yang Zongbao took the medicine bowl and hesitated to say to the old man: "If you let me drink such a strong medicinal soup again, I'll have to go wash my kidneys soon."

  "Less nonsense, others want a drink too." The old man was unhappy.

  "Ah." Yang Zongbao didn't say another word and downed it in one gulp.

  Seeing Yang Zongbao pour the medicine down, the old man was slightly unexpected: "Don't you think it's bitter?"

  "What's wrong with good medicine being bitter? It's bitter, of course it is. What's wrong?" Yang Zongbao was puzzled by the old man's reaction.

  "Of course, there's nothing wrong. Normal medicine, you drink, you drink..." The old man said on the surface, but in his heart, he was thinking if Yang Zongbao had a problem with his sense of taste. In order to repay him for getting himself covered in corpse powder, he had especially added soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil to this morning's Chinese medicine. The flavor after mixing these things together can be imagined. But Yang Zongbao didn't have any reaction at all. What level was this? Saying that he completely lacked a sense of taste wasn't an exaggeration, but did he also not have a sense of smell? The old man finally realized that in this world, there were also monsters that he couldn't handle, and with a sullen expression, he ate his congee while holding the bowl.

  "What's wrong?" Yu Tiennan walked over and saw that his grandfather was unhappy, so he showed some concern.

  "I don't know." Yang Zongbao said this with his teeth clenched, a strong urge to vomit that would burst out as soon as he opened his mouth. If you didn't know that the Chinese medicine had additives, it was good for the dead. But losing is not an option, even if it's hard to swallow, I have to gulp it down myself. Just so the old man won't laugh at me.

  "Hmph, pretending to be forced." Zhang Lanfeng floated by indifferently.

  He didn't bother with that sissy and wondered why he was still here. Yang Zongbao's attention was diverted by the appearance of a figure at the door.

  "Brother Bao." Baoguo held up a suit with one hand and stood at the door.

  "I don't wear that, I've said it many times, I'm not particular about that." Yang Zongbao refused to wear a suit, what a joke, on such a cold day, wearing so little wouldn't he freeze to death?

  "What brings you here?" Yang Zongbao noticed Bao Guo wanting to speak but hesitating: "Let's go inside and talk."

  "Sick." Zhang Lanfeng's nonsense is killing me.

  Wu Guo hesitated for half a day before finally speaking up: "Bao Ge, if we can get out of this situation unscathed, let's just consider it over."

  "Who said?"

  Contrary to Bao Guo's expectations, Yang Zongbao remained calm and composed without getting angry.

  "...the country is tightly closed mouth."

  Yang Zongbao didn't make things difficult for him: "I understand, just this once, you can go."

  "Brother Bao..." Bao Guo wanted to say something more.

  "Just drop it, you can go now and don't come back again."

  Facing Yang Zongbao's ruthless farewell, Bao Guo still couldn't get his words out.

  Just as Bao Guo was about to step out of the door, Yang Zongbao suddenly said: "Wait."

  Protecting the country and holding onto hope while waiting.

  "What I saw on your desk, you're not allowed to say a word about it, consider it as the last bit of apology from me."

  Unexpectedly, he got this answer and nodded silently before leaving.

  Yang Zongbao was in the house, his mood wasn't exactly angry, just a bit disappointed. Bao Guo had already chosen his stance, and his pressure wouldn't be coming from Shen Rou's side. The only person in that household who could order Bao Guo around was Yang Tianming. Obviously, today Bao Guo came to convey Yang Tianming's words, telling him not to go too far. That family was completely hopeless. On the surface, it seemed like the old lady had acknowledged him as the heir and loved him dearly, but whether that was true or not was hard to say. As for the others, there was no need to even mention them, everything could only rely on himself.

  Yang Zongbao suddenly understood, tidied up his clothes and pushed open the door. Outside stood Mei Wenshen and Yu Tiemann, even Zhang Lanfeng who never yielded to anyone was standing on one side, while Old Master pretended to sit at the doorway, puffing on his water pipe, but his eyes kept glancing this way...

  Yang Zongbao's somewhat melancholy mood was alleviated, and this was a living person right next to him.

  "Drive."

  Yang Zongbao didn't stand on ceremony either and pulled Yu Tiennan to act as his driver.

  Yu Tie Nan didn't waste words either, knowing today was going to be a tough battle.

  In the hospital's president office, the deceased family members were asked to negotiate again.

  It was known that before Yang Zongbao entered the door, Dean Chen had been doing ideological work on his family members.

  "Zongbao, why are you just coming now?" Dean Chen didn't know what medicine he had taken wrong to be unexpectedly polite to Yang Zongbao.

  "Traffic jam on the road."

  Yang Zongbao made up an excuse.

  "Oh, then sit down quickly." Dean Chen kindly arranged a seat for Yang Zongbao: "Alright, now that everyone is here. Let's begin."

  "After investigating the incident, it was found that Dr. Yang was not responsible, but rather Dr. Li Jian had not conducted a thorough examination before surgery. Dr. Li Jian has already been fired by us. Of course, the hospital also bears some responsibility and we will provide you with certain compensation. Let's discuss a specific amount of compensation now." said Director Li.

  "We demand 10 million," said the son of the deceased.

  Yang Zongbao looked at the child who was about his own age in surprise, never expecting him to change so much.

  "Isn't the price too high?" Dean Chen began to haggle.

  "It's one million." The boy insisted.

  "Don't be like this, if you insist on being like this, then let's go by what the court has decided."

  "One million."

  Not in the slightest.

  "You..."

  "I'll give you 300,000." Yang Zongbao interrupted Dean Chen's words and suddenly spoke up.

  "Who?"

  Everyone looked at Yang Zongbao with suspicion. Only the deceased's son was extremely calm.

  "What's your name?" Yang Zongbao asked.

  Wang Zhong.

  "What do you want 1 million for?"

  "Study abroad."

  "Alright, I'll give you 3 million, but you have to sign a contract selling yourself to me, and after you finish your studies, you will work for me."

  "What does it mean?" Wang Zhong didn't understand.

  "I roughly know what you're going to do. But I'm willing to spend this money for you, and it's not like arguing with the hospital will get you anywhere. You might as well take the money I gave you and we'll talk about everything when you get back. Of course, I'll tell you where Dr. Li Jian went." Yang Zongbao said with a smooth tongue, but his heart was bleeding. 300,000 yuan, that's a huge sum of money.

  "Yang Zongbao..." Dean Li tried to stop Yang Zongbao, but it was too late. Wang Zhong had already spoken up in agreement.

  Yang Zongbao didn't hesitate, letting Yu Tiennan at the door pass a stack of things wrapped in newspaper to Wang Zhong: "Remember, you only owe me, not anyone else. No agreement has been reached. Do you understand?"

  "I understand." Wang Zhong picked up the newspaper package and walked out the door without looking back, but before leaving, he turned his head and asked: "How can I find you?"

  "My phone number is 139xxxxxxxx."

  Yang Zongbao had just finished speaking when he noticed Wang Zhong's eyes lit up for a moment, but he didn't know why.