Chapter 61: The Second Expulsion

"Ah... Well, Hongyue, you should probably just go back first. I'm doing quite well here and don't need anyone to look after me. Look, there are nurses at the hospital..."

"A single nurse has to manage so many people; how could they possibly take meticulous care of just you? I just took a look, and this department has a lot of patients. The nurses can barely keep up with their basic duties." Hongyue said as she helped Qin Feng unwrap some medicine, then placed the pills in her palm and brought over a cup of warm water.

"Take your medicine first. Later, I'll go down to the cafeteria on the ground floor to get you some porridge. We'll stick to a light diet for the first day, along with some milk and fruit," Hongyue said.

Hongyue was a gentle and considerate young woman. She was the best girl Qin Feng had ever met in his life, without exception.

That very evening, Hongyue stayed in the hospital room. She rented an attendant's bed from the hospital and slept right beside Qin Feng.

Qin Feng felt terribly guilty, but no matter how he tried to persuade her, Hongyue insisted on staying at the hospital to take care of him.

Meanwhile, that same evening, also in Shannan County, Li Ji and Wang Yunfei were sitting at the same table. Wang Yunfei had just finished reporting his work to Deputy County Magistrate Li that afternoon and had not yet left, inviting Li Ji to dinner afterward.

"Mayor Wang, this matter was handled very well. You can rest assured; I've already talked it over with my father, and we won't let you bear any responsibility. After all, no loss of life or property occurred. However, that Li Dejun and Qin Feng will definitely face severe punishment. Forest fire prevention is a high-voltage line right now, and showing negligence along this line is completely inexcusable," Li Ji said with a chuckle.

"Young Master Li, then I'll have to trouble you with this matter. I already reported to County Magistrate Li this afternoon, and that was his stance as well."

"Mayor Wang, you must have heard that my dad will be taking over as county magistrate in a short while. Moreover, the current county party secretary will be transferred soon too. Think about it: once the current county party secretary is leaving, will he still care about so many things? And when the new county party secretary arrives, being unfamiliar with the place, it's impossible for him not to give my dad some face, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes. That goes without saying."

"So, keep up the good work."

"Young Master Li, do you think—taking advantage of this opportunity—you could mention it to County Magistrate Li? Personally, I'd like to move up a bit so I can share more of the burden for County Magistrate Li and you, Young Master Li," Wang Yunfei seized the moment to say. Although getting rid of Qin Feng was for his own purposes, he certainly wouldn't pass up the chance to squeeze some benefits out of Li Ji.

"Rest assured, since you've helped me this out time, I won't treat you unfairly. Once my dad takes power, he will definitely seize the opportunity to make some personnel adjustments before the new secretary arrives, and you'll definitely be included," Li Ji began dangling carrots in front of Wang Yunfei.

Hearing this, Wang Yunfei beamed with joy and hurriedly handed Li Ji a large, exquisitely packaged gift box of tea he had prepared beforehand. "Young Master Li, you mentioned last time that County Magistrate Li likes Jinjunmei tea. I specially had someone bring this over from Yunnan; it's top-grade merchandise."

Li Ji took the tea and, with utter lack of etiquette, opened it right on the spot to take a look. On the outside was a gift box, but inside was an iron tea tin. Opening the tin, it wasn't tea at all, but rather stacks of hundred-yuan bills packed tightly together.

Seeing this, Li Ji smiled knowingly, closed the lid, and said, "Mayor Wang is quite good. You've mastered the nuances of human relations and social etiquette very well."

"Only natural, only natural."

"By the way, I heard that Qin Feng got injured saving a fire and was hospitalized, is that true?" Li Ji asked after taking a sip of wine.

"Yes, rumor has it that's the case. He's currently at the County People's Hospital."

"What kind of injuries did he get? Is he dead yet?" Li Ji asked with a smile.

"Ah... that probably hasn't happened. I heard he broke his foot."

"Broken foot? You mean it's snapped, right?" Hearing this, Li Ji was extremely pleased.

"Uh... as for that, I'm not entirely clear."

"Help me find out which room he's in. I need to go see him tomorrow and show him some proper 'care,'" Li Ji laughed heartily.

Early in the morning, Hongyue brought breakfast to Qin Feng. Upon returning to the hospital room, she prepared a basin, filled a cup with mouthwash, squeezed toothpaste onto a toothbrush, and brought them all before Qin Feng so he could rinse his mouth.

If Hu Jiayun had done all this, Qin Feng could have accepted it and even felt somewhat justified, but Hongyue doing these things made him feel extremely uneasy.

Hongyue took such meticulous care of Qin Feng that the doctors and nurses throughout the entire hospital room and department assumed Hongyue was Qin Feng's girlfriend. Qin Feng explained multiple times, but no matter how he explained, nobody believed him. Eventually, he simply gave up, too tired to keep explaining.

As for Hongyue, whenever someone referred to her as Qin Feng's girlfriend, she would blush and smile, neither confirming nor denying it. This, in turn, made Qin Feng feel quite embarrassed.

That morning, just as Hongyue was sitting beside him peeling an apple, Li Ji walked into the hospital room with a smile.

"Well, well, well. Isn't this our college student? How did you end up in this state? How did you break your leg?" Li Ji walked into the room, and seeing Qin Feng with his leg in a cast, he looked exceptionally pleased.

Seeing Li Ji appear there, Qin Feng stared at him coldly. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? Of course, I'm here to see you, to show you my 'care,' and to check if you're dead yet. What a disappointment, you actually didn't die—you just broke a leg, what a pity." Li Ji pulled over a chair and sat right down.

"Sorry to disappoint you. It's not broken, just fractured, and I can be discharged in a few days." Lying on the hospital bed, Qin Feng said calmly, knowing full well why Li Ji had come.

Hearing this, Li Ji's smile faded. He had originally thought Qin Feng's leg was completely snapped, but it turned out to be just a fracture, which greatly disappointed him.

"Hmph, kid, are you feeling pretty smug? Do you want me to share a piece of news with you? Your disciplinary decision will be coming down very shortly. Considering that you disregarded personal safety, rushed into the fire to save people, rescued the property and lives of ordinary citizens, and almost sacrificed yourself in the process... they've decided to give you a disciplinary dismissal."

"How about that? Are you a bit surprised? Are you feeling overjoyed?" Saying this, Li Ji burst into loud laughter.