Chu Luo also refused to back down, rolling up his sleeves as if he were about to fight Jia Bing.
As the situation escalated, the interns nearby were brimming with excitement. Would they witness an office brawl on their first day of internship? Was work this thrilling?
However, a fight was not truly going to break out. Setting aside Chen Xiao's appearance, even the three deputy directors wouldn't stand by and watch them actually fight.
"What are you two doing? Do you think this is some kind of place? If you want to fight, get out!"
Li Dafu's roar echoed.
Hou Aiguo also grunted, "Hmph, the elder has no elder's bearing, and the younger has no younger's bearing. It's truly disgraceful!"
Seeing Chen Xiao emerge, Wang Chunsheng quickly scurried over, "Director Chen, please manage them. I think these two are about to rebel!"
"Rebel?"
Chen Xiao chuckled, "Not to that extent, not to that extent. It's just a fight, who hasn't fought before? Come on, you two, continue, don't just stand there, fight!"
Jia Bing and Chu Luo had stopped their hands when they saw Director Chen, but they never expected Director Chen to say something like this.
The three senior figures were stunned. What did Director Chen mean? He was supporting the fight?
Wu Feier tugged at Chen Xiao's sleeve and whispered, "They're being reckless, are you going to be reckless with them?"
Chen Xiao shook his head, "I'm not being reckless. As long as no one dies, it's fine. We're all doctors anyway, so we don't need to worry if someone gets injured."
Everyone was speechless upon hearing this. Could this really be acceptable?
Jia Bing quickly lowered his head, his face filled with remorse, "Director Chen, I know I was wrong. As a senior staff member, I shouldn't have been so impulsive and bothered with an intern."
Chen Xiao said nothing to this, his gaze falling on Chu Luo, "Dr. Jia has stated his position. What about you?"
"I'm not wrong!"
Chu Luo said with firm conviction, "I'm here to be a doctor, not a cleaner. Why should he ask me to clean the place?"
Jia Bing was so angry he gnashed his teeth, but given Chen Xiao's presence, he didn't retort to Chu Luo. Instead, he complained to Chen Xiao, "Director Chen, all new interns have to clean the office. It's a rule. If you don't believe me, ask those three deputy directors. For years, I've been the one handling the department's cleaning!"
He had no choice but to do it, as no interns had joined the Chinese medicine department after him for so many years.
It was only today that five interns were brought in through Chen Xiao's efforts.
Jia Bing felt that his difficult days were finally over, and he could lord over those interns. He never expected to encounter such a troublemaker like Chu Luo.
"A rule? Heh heh..."
Chen Xiao chuckled, "This rule wasn't set by me, and I'm completely unaware of it. If it existed before, it's not too late to abolish it starting today!"
Jia Bing's face turned extremely ugly. It was clear that this Director Chen was helping the new intern.
It seemed he was destined to be ostracized. Jia Bing felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
He had thought that if he persisted, he would definitely become the director of the Chinese medicine department before retirement, but he never expected that plans could change so quickly...
Chu Luo looked smug, like a rooster that had won a fight.
However, before his smugness could fully manifest, Chen Xiao added, "However, as the director, I must say that what you've done today, Chu Luo, is extremely bad. To practice medicine, one must first learn to be a person. Dr. Jia is your senior, how can you treat a senior so rudely?"
Upon hearing this, Jia Bing immediately became arrogant, his gaze towards Chen Xiao filled with gratitude.
It seemed Director Chen hadn't abandoned me, sob sob~~~
Chen Xiao first poured a bowl of water to level the playing field, then changed his tone and said, "However, I know that if I say this, neither of you will be convinced. How about this: you two have a competition. If Jia Bing wins, Chu Luo, you will have to apologize to him and clean for a month. If Chu Luo wins, Jia Bing will clean for a month and apologize to Chu Luo! What do you two think?"
The other interns wholeheartedly supported Chen Xiao's proposal, as regardless of who won or lost, they wouldn't have to clean for the next month.
"No problem, I agree!"
Chu Luo readily accepted, full of confidence.
Jia Bing, however, cautiously asked, "Director Chen, what are we supposed to compete in?"
"We are all doctors, so naturally, we will compete in medical skills!"
Chen Xiao said as a matter of course.
"Dr. Jia, if you admit defeat now, I'll consider it half a win for you. You'll only have to clean for half a month, and there's no need for an apology, I don't care for it!"
Chu Luo rubbed his hands together, eager to start, as if he had already won.
Jia Bing was so angry he was spitting fire, gritting his teeth, "Let's compete, then. I've been practicing medicine for so many years, why would I be afraid of you?"
He turned and asked, "Director Chen, where will we compete?"
"We'll compete at the hospital. There are so many patients at the hospital, aren't they all waiting to be seen!"
Chu Luo said as a matter of course.
Jia Bing sneered, "Do you think this is a child's play? Let alone whether they believe in Chinese medicine, if they find out we're using them as props for our competition, they'll definitely complain about us!"
Chen Xiao thought about it and realized it was indeed the case. At this moment, Li Dafu tentatively suggested, "Actually, you can go to my clinic. My clinic isn't large, but it's always busy with patients. It would be a good place for them to practice. Moreover, my clinic has experienced physicians on duty, which can ensure everything goes smoothly..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hou Aiguo interjected, "With Director Chen here, why would we need the physicians at your clinic? Li Dafu, you're trying to get the best of both worlds. Besides, my pharmacy also has quite a few patients. Why shouldn't we go there!"
Before the matter could be settled, these two deputy directors started arguing. Wang Chunsheng now deeply regretted that he only ran a medicinal cuisine restaurant, otherwise, he could have competed for it.
Seeing this, Wu Feier pulled Chen Xiao aside and asked with a frown, "Chen Xiao, aren't you being too reckless by doing this?"
"Reckless?"
Chen Xiao smiled slightly and shook his head, "I'm not being reckless. Nothing can improve competitiveness better than a competition. To stir up this stagnant water in the Chinese medicine department, we need to create competition among everyone! Moreover, this kind of activity where everyone participates together is like team building. After it's done, we can have a meal together, which can also enhance everyone's cohesion. Why not?"
Wu Feier heard this and felt it made sense. She nodded and said, "Alright then, but I do have a good place where they can practice!"