"Tell me, why do you think this gun is fake?" Chen Feng asked calmly.
"Does that even need asking? China has the strictest gun control in the world. How could you possibly possess a firearm so openly?" the desperado replied truthfully.
"It's understandable you wouldn't know, as you're not involved in officialdom. Let me explain. In China, there are many rules, and they are very strict. However, that doesn't mean there's no room for maneuver. Think about it: the rules say officials can't do business, yet in reality, which official doesn't do business? The rules also state there are height requirements for soldiers, but go to the army and you'll find soldiers who are short. The rules prohibit teachers from giving private tutoring, but are teachers not tutoring for money anymore? In a word, for every policy from above, there's a countermeasure from below. So, it's not strange for me to have a gun. Of course, maneuvering around the rules is done discreetly, not openly. I wouldn't just suddenly draw my gun; I'd only do so in absolute desperation." Chen Feng explained.
"I see. I have nothing more to say. You can kill me now," the desperado said calmly.
This was the inevitable outcome of a failed assassination.
"I was initially going to kill you. My principle is that anyone who harbors murderous intent towards me must die. I never show mercy to the weak, but today is an exception. I won't kill you. Go back and take your family away from Jiangcheng." Chen Feng said calmly after a slight hesitation.
"Why aren't you killing me?" the desperado asked, completely bewildered.
"The reason is simple: you are a victim of the malpractice in Jiangcheng's medical insurance system. I know you. You used to run a small supermarket, a middle-class family, living a comfortable life. But then cancer struck, your supermarket was sold, and you fell into debt. In the end, the cancer in your body was not cured. To leave some money for your son after your death, you risked everything and became a killer. To be honest, I have no enmity with the heads of the major hospitals; in fact, we could be good friends. However, I refuse to collude with them and profit from the people's medical expenses, so they wanted to kill me..." Chen Feng explained patiently.
Upon hearing Chen Feng's explanation, the desperado knelt down with a thud.
"Director Chen, I was wrong. I shouldn't have tried to kill such a good official for money." Tears welled up in the desperado's eyes.
Frankly speaking, if there had been an official like Chen Feng in Jiangcheng earlier, his middle-class family wouldn't have been ruined by cancer.
"Please don't say that. It's my duty to serve the people. Now, hurry and leave Jiangcheng before the heads of the major hospitals react and silence you." Chen Feng urged him.
Hearing Chen Feng's words, the desperado reluctantly left.
After dealing with the desperado, Chen Feng immediately drove to pick up Qin Yan and Cheng Lu. The two women were waiting for Chen Feng at a foot massage parlor.
"What about the assassin? Did you kill him?" the two women asked in unison.
"I let him go," Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Chen Feng, did we hear you correctly? You let the person who tried to kill you go? That's not like you. Didn't you say before that you would never be soft-hearted and that anyone who harbored murderous intent towards you must die? Why did you let the assassin go?" the two women continued, looking puzzled.
"That is indeed my style, but this time it's a bit special," Chen Feng continued calmly.
"He's just an assassin, what could be special?" the two women asked, confused.
"Well, this assassin is indeed special. Most assassins are after quick money, so they take risks. This assassin is a late-stage cancer patient from a well-off family. Because of cancer, the hospital emptied their family's finances. This cancer patient, wanting to leave some money for his family after death, took the risk of becoming an assassin. He's an unfortunate soul, so I let him go." Chen Feng explained.
The two women were impressed. Chen Feng's magnanimity was truly extraordinary. Most people, after being targeted by an assassin, would never let them go, regardless of their reasons. Yet, Chen Feng could calmly let the assassin go. It had to be said that Chen Feng's compassion was genuine. He sympathized with the common people from the bottom of his heart, forgiving them even when they harbored murderous intent due to unavoidable circumstances. The benevolent are invincible!
"Chen Feng, the assassin problem is resolved. What's your plan now?" the two women tentatively asked.
"Simple. Send the heads of the major hospitals to prison," Chen Feng said calmly.
"Send the heads of the major hospitals to prison? Chen Feng, didn't you say earlier that to reduce resistance to medical insurance reform, you would avoid taking strong measures? Won't sending the heads of the major hospitals to prison cause hospital capital to retaliate?" the two women asked in shock.
"Vice Mayor Qin, I didn't intend to do this before. I just thought about driving them out of the medical field. But I didn't expect these people to do such insidious and vicious things for money. If I don't send them to prison, they will always lurk in the shadows to harm me. This is the most terrifying situation; it's better to guard against a thief you know than one you don't. Therefore, it's most wise to send them to prison for good. As for retaliation from hospital capital, I'm not afraid. Whoever retaliates, I'll send them to prison," Chen Feng stated firmly.
"Chen Feng, you've changed. When you were my driver before, you were timid and helpless when faced with problems. Now, you're decisive and fearless, truly a seasoned veteran of officialdom!" Qin Yan said with heartfelt emotion. She had watched Chen Feng grow step by step on this journey. Chen Feng's growth in officialdom was incredibly rapid. The former Chen Feng was an ignorant driver, and now Chen Feng was a master of officialdom. He handled all matters, big and small, with calm composure.
"Vice Mayor Qin, you flatter me. It's not that I'm that capable; it's all forced upon me. The world of officialdom is a great dyeing vat, a whirlpool. If you don't adapt, you'll be left with nothing. Well, you two continue your foot massage. I need to find Wu Yu to discuss how to send these hospital directors to prison." With that, Chen Feng hurried out of the foot massage parlor.
An hour later, Chen Feng appeared in Wu Yu's office. Wu Yu looked astonished. Damn it, wasn't Chen Feng supposed to be dead? How was he alive and well?
"Elder Wu, are you perhaps wondering why I'm not supposed to be dead yet and why I'm still alive?" Chen Feng asked with a smile.
"I heard them say that the heads of the major hospitals bribed a desperado..." Wu Yu replied softly.
"I have a gun. Not one desperado, not even ten desperados, can scare me," Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? You have a gun? How is that possible? My official position is higher than yours, and I don't have a gun. How could you, a mere ordinary staff member from Mingshan District, possibly have one?" Wu Yu retorted, full of disbelief.