This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Du Heng thought for a long time and suddenly remembered that three nurses from his Health Clinic had been temporarily transferred to the Township Government. The longest one has been there for three years; they should have come back by now.

"That's it! Why don't you ask those three from the Township Government to come back? Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Wang Lili snorted coldly. "If they were willing to come back, they would have done so already. They're all waiting for transfer orders to the Township Government; every single one of them wants to be transferred there."

Du Heng frowned. That wouldn't do. They were occupying positions here without doing the work, creating a staff shortage. If they weren't formally transferred out, the Health Clinic couldn't hire new people.

"Can't we force them to come back?"

"Don't ask me. I don't know. That's something you, as the leader, should figure out."

Seeing Wang Lili's expression, Du Heng felt a splitting headache. Why did I end up with such a troublesome mess?

"Zhen, come out for a moment," Du Heng called, beckoning Wang Zhenzhen, who was playing with a child in the office.

Wang Zhenzhen smiled, said goodbye to the child, and walked out of the office.

"Zhen, what are you all doing? Why haven't you left yet?" Du Heng asked.

"Wu Buwei is giving the child a check-up," Wang Zhenzhen replied. "If there's nothing wrong after the check-up, we'll let the child go. What do you need me for?"

Du Heng hesitated for a moment. "Sister, those three nurses at the Township Government—are their salaries paid from the Health Clinic's salary account or the Township Government's?"

"Ours, of course. They're on our monthly reports."

"Shouldn't the Township Government be paying them?"

"How could they? Their personnel files are with our Health Clinic. Besides, the Township Government is already stretched thin; there's no way they'd pay their salaries."

Du Heng's brow furrowed. He gritted his teeth and said, "Alright then, Zhen, notify them of this: I'm giving them two options. Either they have the Township Government take over their personnel files next month, or they come back to work next week.

If those three don't return to work next week, don't include them on the payroll. Treat all their absences as unauthorized. If it accumulates to a month, I'll report them to the Bureau to be reassigned. We don't want them anymore."

Wang Zhenzhen was taken aback. Everyone knew the saying "a new broom sweeps clean," but she hadn't expected him to target this. She quickly advised, "Don't act on impulse."

Wang Lili was also startled. "That's right. If there's a problem, we can figure out a solution together."

Du Heng shook his head. "I've made up my mind. This problem must be solved."

Wang Zhenzhen persisted, "Think carefully. If you do this, you'll not only offend those three but the Township Government as well."

Wang Lili added, "You might not know, but those three all have connections. One's husband works at the nearby Savings Bank, in charge of loans. Another is..."

"Enough!" Du Heng interrupted. "If they were really that capable, they would've had their files transferred long ago. The Township Government recruits new people every year; how come we never see those three among them? Besides, I'd offend the Township Government by asking them to come back?

I refuse to believe that! I have three high school classmates, one maternal cousin, and one paternal uncle working at the Township Government. I'll go ask them later if recalling these three would actually offend them."

In Zhonghu Town, when it comes to connections, I really don't believe anyone has more than I do.

Moreover, the director of the Police Station is my brother-in-law. Of the remaining eight people at the station, one is a classmate, one is a junior alumnus, and another is a senior alumnus.

Even the head of the nearby Savings Bank is my classmate's father.

Usually, I don't need to call on these connections, but that doesn't mean I don't have them.

I'd like to see how your connections compare to mine.

If you have the power, go ahead and fire me. I'm not keen on this job anyway.

Having vented his frustration, his stance was clear. However, the work still had to be done.

"How many kindergartens and elementary schools do we have in our township?"

Wang Lili knew this well and answered promptly, "Eight kindergartens and six elementary schools."

Du Heng frowned. "Why are there more kindergartens?"

"There's roughly one elementary school for every two production brigades, and it's about the same for kindergartens. However, two extra kindergartens were opened near the Township Government office."

"And the number of students?"

"There are a total of 432 students in kindergartens, and the first and second grades of elementary schools combined have 517 students."

Du Heng mentally calculated. "Why is there a discrepancy here too?"

"Many parents are working out of town these days, so their children attend kindergarten locally. When it's time for elementary school, they transfer them to schools near where their parents work. That's why there are fewer students in elementary schools."

"In previous years, how long did it usually take to complete all the vaccinations?"

"About two weeks, mainly because the locations are so spread out. The children are too young and restless, which also causes delays."

This has to be finished quickly. The Health Clinic can't keep relying solely on Li Nating; she's overworked!

"Alright, here's the plan: Wu Buwei is one. I'll call Dr. Zhang Jinlian and Li back as well. We can also pull someone from the Pharmacy. That makes five people, including you. If those three come back next week, we'll have eight. We can split into two teams of four. Can we finish it all within a week then?"

Wang Lili thought for a moment. "If we really have that many people, it shouldn't be a problem. But Dr. Zhang and Doctor Li...?"

"Don't doubt it. They'll have to come, whether they want to or not."

Du Heng had made up his mind. If he continued to be so accommodating and avoid making tough decisions, he would eventually be infuriated to death.

"Dr. Zhang Jinlian... Zhen, you call her. Tell her she must be here tomorrow. Also, all leave requests must have a formal leave application. Without my signature, any absence will be treated as unauthorized. If it accumulates to a month, I will report it to the Bureau and make no exceptions for anyone.

As for Li, I'm sorry, but he also has to come and help us out for a few days. If he doesn't, then he can't blame me for playing hardball."

Wang Zhenzhen and Wang Lili exchanged a look. They hadn't expected this young man, who seemed mild-mannered before, to be so assertive now that he was a leader.

Wang Zhenzhen agreed and went to the office to make the call.

Once Wang Zhenzhen was out of earshot, Wang Lili pulled Du Heng aside. "There's something I need your guidance on."

"Just say it. Why are you being so secretive?" Du Heng uncomfortably shifted, putting a little more distance between them. Such secretive, furtive actions would surely lead to unsavory rumors if anyone saw them.

"It's about the self-funded vaccines. Should we recommend them to the parents?"

"Self-funded vaccines? What do you mean?"

"Hasn't anyone approached you?" Wang Lili asked, surprised.

Du Heng was confused. Who would approach me? And for what?

"No one has approached me. Just tell me what it is."

"For the past two years, we've recommended self-funded vaccines to parents. I was wondering if we should recommend them this year?"

Understanding dawned on Du Heng. This must be one of those under-the-table things everyone hears about but never sees.

Du Heng had figured it out.

But it was enough for him to understand it himself; there was no need to say it aloud.

"You decide. If you think it's necessary, then recommend them. If not, then don't. You've been doing this job for several years; you know better than I do."

"So I can make the decision myself?"

"Yes, you decide."

Anyway, it's not illegal. Getting the vaccine provides extra protection, and there are probably other benefits. As long as it's not mandatory, she can decide whether to recommend it or not.

Du Heng headed upstairs. He still had to talk to the leadership about getting someone to fill the vacancy.