Chu Luo fulfilled his promise, checking on every elderly person present before finishing.
The young man was exhausted, a light sweat beading on his forehead.
In contrast, Jia Bing was completely fine, so bored he could have passed gas.
However, he couldn't be happy seeing this situation.
The outcome of the competition had been decided the moment Chu Luo used the Tiger-Breaking Needle Technique, leaving no room for suspense.
Chu Luo's performance had utterly crushed Jia Bing, as if he had been ground into the dirt.
Jia Bing was on the verge of tears. He had thought Chu Luo was just a recent graduate, but who would have known he was a hidden master?
With this level of skill, even the three deputy directors couldn't compare.
Amidst cheerful laughter, the free clinic concluded. Chen Xiao promised to hold such an event every month.
The elderly treated them like family, escorting them to the gate of the nursing home with immense warmth.
The director was also deeply grateful, holding onto Chen Xiao as he was about to leave, unable to express his emotions coherently.
The nature of the event had transformed from initial disdain to a genuine free clinic.
Seeing the interns deeply moved and eager to participate, Chen Xiao felt gratified.
It seemed Chu Luo's move had been the right one; this catalyst had indeed stirred up the stagnant waters of the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.
In high spirits, Chen Xiao announced, "Let's go, you all performed well today. I've decided to treat you all to a meal at Ben An, eat to your heart's content!"
Ben An was a high-end seafood restaurant in Jiangcheng, with an average per-person cost exceeding four thousand yuan. When the interns heard Director Chen was taking them to such a lavish place, they were ecstatic.
Their eyes were filled with fervor, almost to the point of shouting "Long live Director Chen!"
However, a flicker of worry crossed the eyes of the three deputy directors. For so many of them, this meal would cost at least forty to fifty thousand yuan.
Director Chen's intention to win people over was good, but this was perhaps too extravagant, especially for the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, which had almost no reserves.
Finally, Li Dafu, being straightforward, said, "Director Chen, our department's account for activities doesn't have much funds. I'm afraid we can't afford a meal at Ben An..."
Chen Xiao chuckled, "Who said I was going to use the department's funds? I'm treating everyone myself, so don't you worry about it!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's admiration for Chen Xiao reached a new height.
Director Chen was too generous; they loved it!
Upon arriving at the seafood restaurant, Chen Xiao pulled Chu Luo aside while ordering and handed him a bank card.
"Director Chen, what is this for?"
Chu Luo was confused.
Chen Xiao said, "This is your hard work fee for today. It's not much, just ten thousand yuan, a token of appreciation."
Chu Luo was slightly taken aback, "Wasn't this supposed to be a free clinic? Why am I getting paid?"
Chen Xiao smiled teasingly, "I was afraid you'd go back to stealing bread from the supermarket!"
"Then I won't be polite, Director Chen!"
Chu Luo grinned and accepted the bank card. While ten thousand yuan was not much for Chen Xiao, it was quite significant for him.
Chen Xiao and Chu Luo returned to the table, and soon the waiter brought out the food and drinks.
The table was laden with a dazzling array of seafood: lobsters two feet long, abalone as big as faces... It made everyone's appetite surge, their mouths watering.
"What are you waiting for? Let's eat!"
Seeing that no one had started, Chen Xiao took the initiative.
Only after he spoke did everyone dare to pick up their chopsticks, initially picking at their food delicately.
Chen Xiao found this too restrained and directly grabbed a large lobster claw, tearing into it.
Seeing Director Chen act this way, the others felt they had no reason to hold back and decided to eat as they pleased!
They ate ravenously like hungry young people. To Chen Xiao's surprise, Chu Luo reacted very calmly to the seafood, appearing to be someone who had seen and tasted such things before.
Only those accustomed to such delicacies would be so composed.
This suggested that Chu Luo came from a good family background, and Chen Xiao wondered how he ended up having to steal bread to survive.
As they were halfway through their meal, Jia Bing, emboldened by the alcohol, spoke up, "Well, as per our agreement, I need to apologize to Chu Luo. I..."
Before he could finish, Chu Luo waved his hand, interrupting him.
"It's fine, Brother Jia. I already said I don't need your apology."
Jia Bing looked embarrassed, his face flushed. "Alright then. I'll take care of all the cleaning for the department for the next month!"
In fact, for many years before the interns arrived, the department's cleaning had always been his responsibility. So, apart from losing face, this competition hadn't resulted in any other losses for him.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xiao suddenly said, "No need. Don't trouble yourself with cleaning."
"It's fine, Director Chen. I'll consider it exercise, and I'm used to it anyway."
Jia Bing said obsequiously.
Chen Xiao looked at Jia Bing with amusement and said calmly, "What I mean is, you don't need to come to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department to work anymore."
"Ah?"
Jia Bing was shocked, "Why, Director Chen? We never said that losing the competition would lead to dismissal!"
Chen Xiao said calmly, "This has nothing to do with the competition. Poor medical skills can be improved over time, but poor medical ethics... that's another matter entirely."
Everyone immediately recalled Jia Bing's perfunctory treatment and impatient attitude towards patients during the free clinic.
"Director Chen, please give me another chance. I promise I'll change."
Jia Bing was sweating profusely. If he were fired from the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, with his skills, what else could he do?
"I know you can change."
Chen Xiao said calmly, "But why should I give you a chance? You're not young anymore, and your talent isn't high. People like you have no value in staying here."
In fact, Chen Xiao had a more hurtful sentence he didn't say: you're already so old; if you could change, you would have done so long ago, why wait until today?
Indeed, some people in the workplace always adopt a passive attitude, only thinking of changing when disaster strikes, unaware that it's too late.
Witnessing this scene, everyone felt a sense of melancholy. Director Chen, who was smiling a moment ago, could fire someone the next moment. It was truly terrifying!
Especially the three deputy directors, they felt Chen Xiao was very shrewd. He was generous when it came to winning people over, and decisive when it came to punishment.
Little did they know, this wasn't about shrewdness for Chen Xiao, but simply basic principles of conduct.
Sometimes, people focus too much on unspoken rules and gradually forget their original intentions, also forgetting those most fundamental principles.