Chapter 197 Chain Reaction
After the meeting, the Vice Minister of Health followed the Minister out of the conference room.
After the two got into the car, the vice minister lowered his voice and explained, "Minister, I didn't mean to contradict you at the meeting, but to tell the truth. I know you have high hopes for Comrade Lin Yuanshu's work ability, but we have to be careful about this. If she doesn't do a good job, it could implicate the Ministry of Health. It would be better to recommend a more reliable candidate."
He felt that the minister's actions at the meeting were far too risky, like dancing on a knife's edge; one wrong move and he would be badly injured, and he would also implicate others.
The minister glanced at the deputy minister and said with a smile, "You do things quite conventionally, you've managed to make the mundane work interesting, but my goal is for the Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine to achieve results, learn from the good things abroad, and also promote the good things in China, rather than becoming an ordinary research institute that produces ordinary results."
The vice minister was taken aback for a moment, then immediately apologized, "I was too focused on stability."
Despite saying that, he didn't think he had done anything wrong. He hadn't gotten to where he was today by being ambitious and reckless.
The minister said softly, "It's too early to talk about these things now. Anyway, Comrade Lin Yuanshu still has a probationary period. Whether she's suitable or not is not up to us to decide. It depends on her actions. As for the selection of the deputy director, you should keep a close eye on it. What Comrade Lin Yuanshu needs is assistance, not obstacles that hold her back."
The deputy minister readily agreed, saying, "Don't worry, I will thoroughly investigate the candidate for deputy director and will absolutely not allow anyone with ulterior motives to infiltrate the position. After all, Comrade Lin Yuanshu is the director recommended by our Ministry of Health, and I naturally hope that her work will not encounter any problems."
The minister nodded. He knew the deputy minister meant what he said. No matter how much the two of them fought, it was an internal matter of the Ministry of Health. They would not let their personal affairs affect the reputation of the Ministry of Health.
Arguments are one thing, but we should still prioritize the bigger picture.
This is also why he so disliked the previous vice minister and was determined to get rid of him.
The driver first took the vice minister back to the Ministry of Health, and then took the minister to the Beijing Medical University.
The messenger only allowed the driver to drive the car into the campus after confirming that the two people's identities were correct.
The driver pulled up to the administration building and, after parking, turned to the minister and said tactfully, "Minister, please wait here for a moment. I'll go and call Comrade Lin Yuanshu."
The Minister of Health, without looking up, waved his hand, signaling the driver to go ahead.
He didn't want to make a big fuss about coming to the school; he just wanted to come quietly and leave quietly. He could have waited for Lin Yuanshu to come to him at the health department, but that would have been too much of a delay. He wanted to finalize Lin Yuanshu's appointment as the person in charge as soon as possible, because things might change if he delayed!
The driver asked around as he drove, and finally found Lin Yuanshu in the cafeteria. Lin Yuanshu had just finished lunch.
She looked at the driver in front of her and thought for a moment. If her memory was not wrong, this person should be the driver of the Minister of Health. Could it be that today is the day the Minister of Health is coming to inspect the school?
"Are you here to eat in the cafeteria too?" Lin Yuanshu asked tentatively.
The driver lowered his voice and said, "The leader wants to see you. He's downstairs in the school's administration building right now."
Lin Yuanshu replied without hesitation, "Okay, I'll be right there."
Gao Lianzhen and Wang Dali looked at the two with curiosity. Although they didn't ask, their eyes said it all.
In front of the driver, Lin Yuanshu couldn't explain too much. She whispered, "You guys go back to your dorm and rest first. If I haven't returned by the time class starts, remember to ask the teacher for leave for me."
Gao Lianzhen and Wang Dali were not the type to insist on getting to the bottom of things. They knew Lin Yuanshu had important matters to attend to and didn't dare to waste his time, so they immediately replied, "Go ahead! We'll act according to the situation."
Lin Yuanshu nodded, handed the lunchbox to Gao Lianzhen for the time being, and decisively left the cafeteria with the driver.
Gao Lianzhen sighed heavily.
Wang Dali asked with a puzzled look, "Why are you sighing again?"
Gao Lianzhen said with utmost seriousness, "I sighed at my own incompetence. I couldn't even recognize who that person was. If I could recognize him, I would probably know who the leader he was talking about was, and I would be able to guess why Comrade Lin Yuanshu was called there!"
Wang Dali said with a heavy heart, "Thinking so much is useless."
"Whether it's useful or not is not up to you to decide," Gao Lianzhen said firmly.
Just because you don't know her today doesn't mean you won't know her in the future.
Wang Dali: "..."
Another day witnessing Gao Lianzhen go mad.
Throughout the journey, Lin Yuanshu kept asking the driver for information, wanting to know what the Minister of Health wanted to talk to her about. However, the driver's mouth was tighter than a clam shell, and he didn't reveal any information, not even whether it was good or bad news.
She could only get into the car without knowing anything and sit next to the Minister of Health.
The Minister of Health didn't like beating around the bush, so he directly told Lin Yuanshu the whole story.
After listening, Lin Yuanshu looked at the minister with a shocked expression. She did not expect that someone would speak up for her at such an important meeting. This was not someone she had arranged, nor did she have the ability to do so.
She replied without hesitation, "Thank you, Minister, for speaking up for me at the meeting. I am confident that I can be a good director of the Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. I am not completely ignorant about traditional Chinese medicine; I have taken TCM courses at school. You will definitely not regret recommending me as the director of the newly established institute."
No one would refuse a cake that's been offered to them so readily—it's the position of director of a research institute! Whether the institute is a pilot unit or not is completely unimportant. After all, as the old saying goes, it doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat.
Besides, if she refuses this opportunity today, the Minister of Health will definitely not stand up for her next time, and she will also leave a bad impression on other leaders, who will think she is not up to the task.
Although she said the choice was in her hands, in reality, she had no choice but to agree. Of course, she didn't want to refuse either.
"Since you've agreed, you'll have to work hard for a while. You'll not only have to teach classes, but you'll also be in charge of the preliminary preparations for the Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. I'll assign you a reliable deputy director to assist you," the Minister of Health instructed solemnly.
Hearing the Minister of Health say that, Lin Yuanshu felt much less pressure. Having someone to help her was much better than fighting alone.
She seized the opportunity to express her loyalty, saying, "It is my blessing to have such a considerate leader as you. You even thought of such a small thing for me. I will work hard to repay your promotion and will never let others use me to laugh at you."
The Minister of Health smiled slightly, quite pleased, and said, "That's the right way to think. You should put all your energy into your work. Doing your job well is the greatest way to repay me."
Lin Yuanshu chimed in with several more words, which made the Minister of Health smile broadly.
The two talked for about an hour, mainly about the Minister of Health discussing matters related to the Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine with Lin Yuanshu. She was also discussing which units she would be coordinating with and who might try to sabotage her.
Lin Yuanshu listened attentively, but her only regret was that she didn't have paper and pen, so she couldn't write it down. She preferred to write it down in a notebook rather than memorize it.
After Lin Yuanshu left, the Minister of Health instructed the driver to drive off.
As the driver drove, he chatted with the Minister of Health. He said with a smile, "Minister, I can see that you really admire Comrade Lin Yuanshu. Even if Comrade Lin Yuanshu didn't give you a gift, you're still willing to give her a good look."
The Minister of Health sneered, his face full of disdain, and said, "Capable people don't bother with those crooked ways. I get annoyed when I see people giving me gifts. They'd be happier if they used that energy on their work."
The driver thought for a long time but didn't know how to reply. After all, if it were him, he would prefer someone to give him gifts. So, the Minister of Health is the Minister of Health, and he can only be a driver. Their ideas don't align.
The Minister of Health didn't mind the driver's silence. He leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes to rest, and pondered what to do next. Since he had recommended Lin Yuanshu, he would help Lin Yuanshu secure his position.
If he doesn't care, the others who oppose Lin Yuanshu being in charge won't be gentlemen and will use any means necessary to harm him. He's really just asking for trouble.
He now only hopes that Lin Yuanshu can be smarter and not cause him too much worry.
When the driver told the messenger that the visit was over, the messenger stammered, "You...you're leaving already? Would you like to stay a little longer...our principal would really like to have a chat with you."
The Minister of Health refused without hesitation, saying, "I have work to do, so I won't stay any longer. As for chatting, we can do it another day."
Seeing this, the messenger knew he couldn't continue trying to persuade them to stay, for fear of angering the Minister of Health, so he had no choice but to let them pass.
Not long after they left, the principal and others rushed to the gatehouse and immediately asked, "Where is the Minister of Health?"
The messenger replied, "He left a long time ago. He said he had work to do, and I felt bad trying to persuade him to stay."
The principal frowned and asked, "Do you know why the Minister of Health came to the school?"
The messenger patted his chest and said, "I know, I'm here to see a student."
The principal quickly pressed, "Who?"
The messenger shook his head. "I don't know about that."
The principal took a deep breath and said irritably, "Didn't you know to ask one more question back then?"
The messenger looked innocent and said, "He was driving so fast, how could he have time to chat with me?"
headmaster:"……"
It seems that in the future, when hiring messengers, we should hire someone quick-witted, rather than someone who can't think straight.
The vice principal walked up to the principal and whispered reassurance, "The Minister of Health probably didn't come here on a secret visit. He might be here to meet with a student, just like he said."
The principal's face was grim as he said, "It's better to be safe than sorry. I won't feel at ease or sleep soundly until I find out what the Minister of Health did at the school and who he met with."
He received a call from the reception office and immediately ran there, only to miss the Minister of Health.
I searched the school for over an hour, looking through every office and classroom, but I couldn't find the Minister of Health. Just as I was about to send more people, I learned that the Minister of Health was about to leave. I rushed over in a hurry, only to miss him again.
He really didn't know what to say; he had done all he could.
The vice principal patted the principal on the shoulder and said confidently, "Don't worry, we can investigate anything that happens within the school."
"I hope so." The principal didn't have high hopes for it, after all, not everyone can accept repeated setbacks, and today was indeed not a good day to go out.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuanshu jogged back to the classroom. There were still fifteen minutes before class started, and a few people were scattered around the classroom.
When Gao Lianzhen saw Lin Yuanshu return, she immediately surrounded him and asked, "Which leader was looking for you?"
Lin Yuanshu thought for a moment and explained, "The Minister of Health wants to see me, but I can't tell you the specifics right now."
After all, her appointment document has not yet been issued, and everything is full of uncertainty. If she were to reveal this news now, and it turns out she failed to become the person in charge, it would only cause more trouble. It would be better to wait until things have settled down before making a decision.
Gao Lianzhen stroked her chin thoughtfully and said, "The Minister of Health is definitely not seeing you about the new tuberculosis drug. That drug project has already been completed, and you're currently in school, so it's impossible for him to entrust you with any important projects. So what else could he want to see you about? Could it be about the new research institute? Is he planning to appoint you as its head?"
She muttered various guesses to herself.
Lin Yuanshu looked helpless. She patted Gao Lianzhen on the shoulder and whispered, "Leave me my underwear!"
It has to be admitted that Gao Lianzhen's guesses were always accurate.
Gao Lianzhen quickly covered her mouth, looking at Lin Yuanshu in disbelief. She hadn't expected that Lin Yuanshu would be the head of the new research institute. This was truly wonderful news. She wished she could be assigned to the new research institute after graduation.
As expected of Lin Yuanshu, it's unprecedented for a student to receive such an exceptional promotion from the Minister of Health.
"I won't tell anyone," Gao Lianzhen assured, patting her chest.
Wang Dali quickly added, "I won't tell anyone."
Lin Yuanshu replied without hesitation, "I believe you."
After all, they had known each other for more than three years, so there was still some trust between them; otherwise, she wouldn't have said something like, "I'll leave you my underwear."
In the office area, Committee Member Wang had just returned to his workstation and hadn't even settled in when Committee Member Zhou came over with a playful look on his face: "I heard that you appointed Comrade Lin Yuanshu as the head of the new research institute. That's quite a bold decision of yours! Aren't you afraid that the leaders will say you're acting rashly?"
Committee Member Wang glanced at Committee Member Zhou and said calmly, "We should always give young people a chance."
Committee Member Zhou raised an eyebrow and muttered under his breath, "This isn't like your usual cautious style. Could it be that this woman is related to you? Are you long-lost relatives?"
Committee Member Wang remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Don't talk nonsense. My decisions are all made after careful consideration, not on a whim. I have investigated Comrade Lin Yuanshu privately. She is very capable, has won awards at the Medical Science Conference, is principled, and very loyal to the organization. Most importantly, she is very insightful and can think three steps ahead. I am very confident in entrusting the Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine to her..."
Committee Member Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then exclaimed, "I don't know if she's capable at work, but I know she's very lucky to have met such a wonderful person as you."
If it were him, sorry, but the exchange of benefits is more important; he wouldn't do something for free for someone else.
Committee Member Wang: "..."
Is this a dig at him, or is it a dig at him?
He's not a living saint, he just cherishes talent.
At the same time, Lin Yuanshu was called to the principal's office. She roughly guessed that the principal had called her there for the purpose of discussing the Minister of Health's affairs, which was similar to the case of someone who said something without thinking but was taken seriously by the listener.
The principal looked up and saw Lin Yuanshu walk into the office. He pointed to the sofa and said softly, "Let's sit down and talk."
Lin Yuanshu didn't stand on ceremony at all and sat down on the sofa.
The principal cleared his throat and went straight to the point: "The Minister of Health came to the school today. I heard he met with you. What did you talk about in the car? Did you discuss the school or me?"
Lin Yuanshu shook his head and explained, "He came to the school simply to see me, not for school matters. He has something else to discuss with me. I can't say what it is right now, but it's definitely unrelated to the school and won't affect the school's reputation."
Hearing this, the principal was relieved. It was good that he hadn't come because of school matters. Although he believed he hadn't made any mistakes in his work, that was only his personal opinion. Who knew what the Minister of Health was thinking!
He certainly didn't want to face a second surprise visit like this.
"If the Minister of Health is coming next time, remember to let me know in advance so I can be mentally prepared," the principal earnestly instructed.
After all, Lin Yuanshu is the deputy director of the Medical Research Institute, so it's normal for him to have to discuss things with the Minister of Health. He just hopes that they can discuss things in other places next time, as discussing things at school is too much of a challenge for his little heart.
Lin Yuanshu's expression was very complicated. To be honest, she didn't know when she would meet with the Minister of Health, but she definitely couldn't say such a truth out loud.
She readily agreed, "Okay."
Promises are one thing, doing them is another.
Afterwards, the principal chatted with Lin Yuanshu for a while, asking if Lin Yuanshu had encountered any problems in his studies, showing great care and concern, making Lin Yuanshu feel the warmth of home.
He was hoping that Lin Yuanshu would put in a good word for him with the Minister of Health!
As the sun set, Lin Yuanshu hummed a song on her way home. She was in an extremely happy mood. After all, she was going to be the director of the research institute. In front of others, she couldn't show it too obviously, as that would make her seem immature. But when no one was around, she could still be excited.
Upon seeing Lin Yuanshu, Zhou Xiangyang knew that Lin Yuanshu was in an overly happy mood. He smiled and asked, "Did something good happen today?"
Lin Yuanshu hugged Zhou Xiangyang tightly, beaming with joy, and said, "I'm going to be the director of the research institute!"
Although I can't tell anyone else, I can tell Zhou Xiangyang, who is no stranger to me.
Zhou Xiangyang was stunned for a moment, then said excitedly, "Congratulations on getting your wish! This is truly a joyous occasion. Did Director Huang get promoted, or did he make a mistake? Is there any possibility of him making a comeback?"
He preferred the latter to a promotion.
Lin Yuanshu explained with a smile, "It has nothing to do with the Dongfanghong Research Institute. The Minister of Health is preparing to have me take charge of the yet-to-be-built Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. This is a pilot institute, and its scale will definitely not be comparable to the Dongfanghong Research Institute..."
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