Chapter 633: An Unexpected Reckoning at the Pharmaceutical Division

There are all sorts of directors in a hospital—associate chief physicians, chief physicians, department deputy directors, department heads, office deputies, office directors—they all get called director.

Some of these folks are pretty impressive, while others are really just there to fill out the numbers.

Take, for example, associate chief physicians focused on research or those in small departments. Even though they’ve earned the senior title, their status, income, power and influence are all pretty limited.

Outside their own departments, most people barely recognize them.

Directors like that are basically at the bottom, with any real clout only inside their own little domain.

On the other hand, directors like Tan from the Internal Medicine Department or Xie from Surgery—these clinical department heads are truly formidable, second only to the vice president. If Tuyu Hospital’s restructuring goes through, they could step right up to become vice presidents themselves.

And then there’s Fang from the Administration Office—no need to even mention his level.

He may not have the title of director, but he wields the real authority as one. People even call him the hidden leader of the hospital.

The Huang director standing here happens to be from the Pharmaceutical Division, which isn’t all that high up the ladder to begin with. And he’s just a director under the section chief, so his own standing is even lower. He’s only a king in his own tiny patch.

Once he steps out of his territory, to the security guards, he might as well be any old guy selling coal.

That’s not meant to belittle him.

Don’t be fooled by the show of respect—the security guards hardly think of him at all.

Look at how those security guards treat Zhou Can, the way they look at him—it’s real awe. Even the head of security’s department is polite with Zhou Can. No security guard, no matter how clueless, would ever dare be disrespectful to him.

And yet Huang director actually ordered four patrol guards to subdue Zhou Can. Where did he get that kind of confidence?

Just then, the police arrived.

“Who called the police?”

“I did!”

Cheng Xiaolu stood up from the ground, her voice soft but steady.

“What happened here?”

“They falsely accused my father of stealing medicine and even assaulted him…” Cheng Xiaolu recounted everything that had happened.

“Why would you hit someone? Do you realize that’s illegal?”

After hearing the story, the police’s gaze settled on Director Huang.

“Don’t listen to this young girl’s nonsense, officers. Her father was stealing medicine and I caught him. When I questioned him, the old guy lashed out with his cane—he tried to hit us. We never laid a hand on him. He fell on the ground himself and started biting back at us after getting caught stealing.”

Huang director was a real veteran at this sort of thing, always knowing how to play his words just right.

He made sure to say only what benefited him.

At that moment, a man in his fifties appeared, dressed in a sharp suit and exuding an intimidating presence that made people instinctively avoid his gaze.

Many in the crowd recognized him and quickly parted to make way, bowing respectfully as he passed.

Everyone called him Minister Gao.

This was none other than Gao Qisong, vice minister of the Pharmaceutical Division.

He was one of the top bosses in the Pharmaceutical Division. Forget Director Huang—even Huang’s own boss, Section Chief Ge, would treat Gao Qisong with utmost deference, standing at attention and awaiting instructions.

The Pharmaceutical Division had one minister and three vice ministers.

Gao Qisong was in charge of supplies and logistics, holding the real authority over all materials distribution. Every research group that needed resources had to go through him.

Even the raw herbs for research couldn’t be accessed without his signature and approval.

“What’s going on here?”

When Gao Qisong saw the police, his expression grew much more serious.

“Minister Gao, you’re just in time! Please help us figure this out…”

Without missing a beat, Director Huang quickly twisted the story in his favor.

And when he finished, he jabbed a finger at Zhou Can.

“I don’t know where this Zhou Director came from, but he’s been bossing everyone around in our Pharmaceutical Division, acting like he wants to tell us how to do our jobs!”

Director Huang was a master at fanning the flames, stirring up drama wherever he could.

He dumped the whole mess right onto Zhou Can’s head.

And he made Zhou Can the enemy, painting him as an outsider trying to run the Pharmaceutical Division.

He was making sure everyone saw Zhou Can as a stranger—just an outsider.

An outsider meddling in the Pharmaceutical Division would definitely get everyone’s hackles up.

That’s just how it goes everywhere—people naturally reject outsiders.

Gao Qisong’s eyes turned to Zhou Can, who looked completely unremarkable and kept to himself.

Zhou Can stood there, expressionless, showing zero interest in arguing with Director Huang.

But a closer look left Gao Qisong completely rattled.

He went pale right then and there.

While Director Huang kept rambling, Gao Qisong shot him a fierce glare.

“Shut your mouth!”

He quickly walked up to Zhou Can, forcing a flattering smile onto his face. “M-Mr. Zhou! What brings you here in person? If you’d let us know, I’d have come to greet you properly!”

Right now, Gao Qisong was a bundle of nerves.

He’d only met Zhou Can three times before, but each encounter had left an unforgettable impression.

When Zhou Can spoke, he never wasted words—whether he cut straight to the heart of things or made a decision, he held all the power.

For someone in his position, if Zhou Can decided to replace him, it would be as simple as a single word.

He’d never have thought that Director Huang—this old fox—would be so blind and actually provoke a living legend.

And it was clear Director Huang had no idea just how terrifying Zhou Can’s background actually was.

He was about to lose everything and still didn’t know it.

“If I’d told you in advance, would I have seen this with my own eyes? This Director Huang dares to bully a female employee and her disabled father right under the police’s noses, in front of everyone, all while draping himself in the banner of justice and abusing his authority in the name of protecting the Pharmaceutical Division.”

Zhou Can’s face was as cold as ice.

His words made Gao Qisong feel like he’d plunged into freezing water.

He knew things were about to get much more serious than just dealing with Director Huang.

Otherwise, Zhou Can never would’ve waited until now to act.

Both police officers now fixed their attention on Zhou Can.

None of them had expected this unassuming young man might be the most powerful person present.

That once-overbearing Director Huang, and even the respectful Gao Qisong, both clearly deferred to this Mr. Zhou.

“Huang Xinquan, tell me what really happened. If you dare lie, even a little, you’ll face double the consequences,” Gao Qisong snapped. At this point, he probably wanted nothing more than to strangle Director Huang himself.

If Director Huang wanted to crash and burn, that was one thing—but dragging him down with him? That was another.

“No need to let him speak. With how slippery and deceitful he is, it’s impossible to get the truth from him. Officers, can I trouble you to wait about half an hour? In a moment, there’ll likely be a criminal who needs to be taken away.”

Zhou Can was done keeping a low profile. Calm and collected, he now took charge of the entire scene.

You don’t get to buy out a giant Pharmaceutical Division without the skills to match—even if he was young, he had all the makings of a true king when things got serious.

The two officers exchanged glances; the lead officer nodded. “Half an hour is no problem. Since we were called here, we’ll stay until the matter’s settled. If there really is a criminal, we’re prepared to wait all day if need be—we’ll see justice done.”

He said it with real dignity.

With so many people watching, they had to keep things above board.

“Minister Gao, get everyone from the Pharmaceutical Division out to the square for a quick meeting.”

Zhou Can turned to Gao Qisong and gave the order in a cool, even voice.

“Yes, sir.”

Gao Qisong obeyed immediately—like a son, without the slightest hesitation.

Next to him, Director Huang shivered. Who was this Zhou Director really? Damn it, today he’d definitely hit a wall.

Thank goodness he hadn’t crossed this man too deeply—maybe he could patch things up with an apology and a few humble words.

Director Huang was still dreaming of a happy ending.

But after Zhou Can had seen his vile behavior last time, his fate was already sealed.

Zhou Can just hadn’t acted yet, still biding his time for a full cleanup of the Pharmaceutical Division.

He wanted people like Director Huang—bad apples—to lose any place to survive.

Ever since becoming a leader, Zhou Can’s ability to manage had been improving in leaps and bounds.

He’d learned to plan carefully and never let minor issues or small worms ruin the bigger picture.

Meanwhile, Cheng Xiaolu looked up at Zhou Can with undisguised admiration, practically seeing him as a god.

Only now did she truly understand why Zhou Can could arrange an empty room for her father to stay in the division, and why her initial leave request, stuck by Director Huang, went through smoothly once Zhou Can got involved.

Even someone like Gao Qisong, with so much authority, had to follow Zhou Can’s commands.

Just how powerful was this man?

Everyone in the crowd started whispering and guessing at Zhou Can’s true identity.

It had been a while since Zhou Can acquired the Pharmaceutical Division, but apart from the higher-ups, few people actually knew he was the real boss behind the scenes.

He’d never tried to show off or chase after the spotlight.

“Keep a low profile, build your empire quietly, take bold action when it’s needed”—that was his life motto.

But now everyone wondered: what was Zhou Can planning by bringing the whole Pharmaceutical Division to the square?

Before long, the entire division had put work on hold, pouring out of labs and offices and gathering in the square, each department in its place.

Not just them—even the minister, all three vice ministers and Section Chief Ge, who’d been on leave, showed up.

“You four, keep a close eye on Director Huang. Don’t let him run off.”

Zhou Can gave his instructions to the four security guards.

“No problem. I won the ‘Flying Dagger’ title back in my army days—he won’t get far,” the head guard said, full of confidence.

Zhou Can nodded, then stooped to help Cheng Xiaolu’s father to his feet.

“Can you walk?”

“I can.”

“I’m going to see justice done and make sure the guilty pay.”

Zhou Can and Cheng Xiaolu helped the elderly man onto the platform in the square.

Director Huang was brought up as well.

He was clearly reluctant and uneasy, but with four security guards ‘escorting’ him, he wasn’t going anywhere.

The two officers stood below the platform, waiting for the truth to come out.

“Hello, everyone. I’m sure most of you don’t know me or what I do. I’ve called everyone here today, and I apologize for taking your time, but I have something extremely important to announce.”

As Zhou Can began to speak, the four top leaders of the Pharmaceutical Division stood behind him, silently listening.

Each one showed clear deference, eyes and posture fixed on Zhou Can.

“First, let me introduce myself. I’m one of the new owners of the Pharmaceutical Division. The other owner is usually busy, but you’ll meet him in due time.”

As soon as these words landed, hundreds of staff broke into astonished whispers.

Some of the higher-ups and those close to them already knew the truth about Zhou Can’s identity.

Only at this moment did Director Huang finally realize who Zhou Can was.

He was the new boss of the Pharmaceutical Division—no wonder he was so bold, so powerful.

Even someone like Gao Qisong listened to him.

Director Huang couldn’t stop shaking, sweat pouring out.

He felt totally exposed and panicked.

A sense of impending doom settled deep in his bones.

“Next to me is Miss Cheng Xiaolu. Many of you probably know her—a regular technician in the Herbal Research Center. I didn’t know her before. A few days ago, I decided to drop by and observe the real work going on in the division. I happened to overhear her asking Director Huang for leave in his office—her mother had a brain hemorrhage, her father is disabled, and she needed to go home to care for them.”

“As children, it’s a virtue—and our duty—to care for our aging parents. But Director Huang used what little power he had to block her leave request. He even hinted she should come see him at night to ‘chat’. If I hadn’t seen and heard this for myself, I wouldn’t believe someone so vile could still hold a leadership post in our division.”

The moment Zhou Can finished, countless angry eyes turned on Director Huang.

“I didn’t pursue the matter then since I wasn’t familiar with the Pharmaceutical Division’s internal affairs. Instead, I called up Director Huang’s direct superior—Section Chief Ge—and got Miss Cheng her leave. When her mother’s condition grew too serious for local treatment, she was brought to Tuyu Hospital. I saw her elderly father sleeping under the damp, dark stairs and, seeing an empty room in the division, had him relocated there temporarily.”

“But Director Huang really is rotten to the core. When he couldn’t get his way with the daughter, he happened to catch her father pulling some herbs from the trash, then immediately accused him of stealing medicine. He didn’t care that the man was elderly or disabled—he kicked him, slapped him across the face. If this happened to your own father, how would you react?”

“If this were ancient times, someone like him would deserve a thousand cuts.”

Zhou Can laid out all of Director Huang’s dirty deeds before the whole division.

“He fell down himself. I never hit him,” Director Huang protested, desperate to defend himself.

“Oh really? You’re forgetting something crucial. People might lie, but surveillance never does. Everything—your violence and your slander—is caught on camera. I’ve already handed the evidence to the police. What’s waiting for you now is the full weight of the law.”

Zhou Can’s voice was cold and merciless.

Even now, Director Huang tried to worm his way out right in front of him, not bothering to look in the mirror.