A minor official's authority could crush a subordinate, so he reluctantly nodded.
That evening, Hu Jiasheng worked overtime until midnight, clearly delineating responsibilities for the four individuals.
With their consent, the next day they went their separate ways, each attending to their tasks.
Hu Jiasheng assigned himself the older city districts, which were relatively less developed and had poorer conditions.
As he would be staying there for about a month, hotel expenses were too high. Upon arriving in the local area, he first found an agency to rent a house before starting his work.
Without a car, a significant amount of time was spent on transportation daily, keeping Hu Jiasheng exceptionally busy.
Describing him as leaving early and returning late, working under the moon and stars, would not be an exaggeration.
After half a month of such diligence, he became completely familiar with the area, and his work progressed more smoothly. Hu Jiasheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
On this day, a torrential downpour began. The forecast predicted Suzhou would experience the heaviest rain in twenty years, advising citizens to stay indoors unless necessary.
He had intended to take a day to rest at home in such weather, but upon waking, he developed a rash.
It was dense, covering him everywhere with red spots, except for his face and neck.
His throat was dry and sore, forcing him to venture out to the hospital in the rain.
Before leaving, he tried to hail a ride online via his phone. He attempted three times, but no drivers accepted the order.
He glanced at the accumulating water on the ground and the gusting wind and rain outside, deciding to try one last time.
If no one accepted, he wouldn't go. After all, it didn't hurt or itch, and missing a day wouldn't kill him.
As fate would have it, things unfolded with such coincidence.
On the final attempt, the order was assigned to a nearby driver.
Looking at the vehicle information, it was a white BYD electric sedan, and the driver was a woman.
The driver was very close to him; the phone app indicated their distance was only 0.9 kilometers, a two-minute drive.
He got out of the building and had just reached the stairwell when his phone rang. It was a young female voice.
"Hello, I'm a driver from Hua Xiao Mao ride-hailing. Where are you waiting?"
"I see you. Go forward five meters, turn the car around. I'm at the stairwell."
Hu Jiasheng boarded smoothly and sat in the back seat.
The driver wore a mask, revealing only a pair of young, bright eyes. She reconfirmed his identity before starting the journey.
"Where are you headed, sir?"
"People's Hospital."
"There are several People's Hospitals. Which one are you going to?"
He casually replied, "The closest one."
"The closest one is the Community Hospital."
"I mean the closest People's Hospital."
"Rumble..." A flash of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by thunder.
The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Why don't you go to the Community Hospital? Even the Fifth People's Hospital, the closest one, is several blocks away."
The water on the road was quite deep; despite the slow speed, the car's wheels were almost submerged.
Seeing her drive cautiously, Hu Jiasheng didn't want to cause too much trouble. "Alright, thank you."
"You're welcome, it's my pleasure."
The journey was silent. The driver took him directly to the entrance of the outpatient building.
The steps leading into the lobby were submerged by several layers, making it difficult to see the path. The rain was so heavy it felt like a downpour, and he had forgotten to bring an umbrella in his haste.
Stepping out, he would be soaked in less than two seconds.
Hu Jiasheng frowned, looking at the weather outside, preparing to make a dash for it. Suddenly, the driver turned back and handed him an umbrella.
"Wait, take this."
It was a very clean, sky-blue parasol with black lace trim, clearly one used by a woman.
Hu Jiasheng took it and thanked her. "I probably won't be able to return it to you. I'll pay you for it. How much?"