“Aiya, Township Chief Carter personally went to the village and used his own car to bring an unfamiliar student. These days, there really aren’t many good officials like him! What does it mean to be a servant of the people? This is exactly it!” Fatty Dean grasped Henry Walker’s hand, sighing with emotion.

Grace Dawson looked at the overly flattering Fatty Dean, the corner of her mouth twitching as she nearly burst out laughing. She thought to herself, Fatty, oh Fatty, this time, no matter how much you flatter, you’ve ended up patting the horse’s hoof instead of its back! Fortunately, after years of navigating the bureaucracy, Grace Dawson had learned how to handle herself and knew that at times like this, she absolutely couldn’t laugh.

Fatty Dean’s palm was sweaty and sticky, holding it felt like grabbing a big slab of greasy meat. Henry Walker felt a sense of disgust inside, but his face remained expressionless. After years of hardship, Henry Walker was no longer the inexperienced person he once was.

He looked at Fatty Dean with a gentle smile, wearing a perfectly appropriate expression, which made Fatty Dean feel at ease. After a few more compliments about Township Chief Carter, Fatty Dean politely asked Henry Walker, “Young man, you look unfamiliar. Did you just start working here?”

“Yes, I just arrived.” Henry Walker wanted to take the opportunity to pull his hand back, but Fatty Dean was simply too enthusiastic, gripping tightly. Henry Walker felt awkward about pulling away forcefully, so he could only let the fat man hold his hand.

“Township Chief Carter truly has an eye for talent. Driving for a leader requires sharp ears and quick wits. Look at you, so young, and already able to land a job driving for Township Chief Carter—you’re sure to have a bright future! When you make it big someday, don’t forget your old buddy here.” Fatty Dean was really a natural at making friends; in no time at all, he’d become Henry Walker’s “old buddy.”

“Mm, I definitely won’t.” Henry Walker, who just wanted to brush things off and leave, couldn’t help but frown slightly under Fatty Dean’s enthusiastic hospitality.

Henry Walker’s small gesture went unnoticed by the eager-to-befriend Fatty Dean, but Grace Dawson, standing beside him, saw it clearly.

So, Secretary Walker doesn’t like people being overly enthusiastic with him. I’d better remember that—sometimes, a small misstep can plant the seeds of resentment in a leader, and if you get demoted one day, you might not even know why.

“Young man, are you waiting to pick up Township Chief Carter later? If you’re not in a hurry, how about letting your old buddy treat you to a couple of drinks?” Fatty Dean shook Henry Walker’s hand vigorously, his sincere attitude making it hard to refuse.

“Oh, sorry, I have other things to do. Maybe another time. I’ll be going now.”

More than twenty years of ups and downs had long since worn away Henry Walker’s youthful edges. Although he found Fatty Dean rather off-putting, Henry Walker still apologized politely.

“Director, the patient’s already on the operating table, but it turns out the surgery fee isn’t fully paid. What should we do now?” A man in his thirties wearing a white coat rushed out, calling loudly to Fatty Dean.

“If the medical fees aren’t enough, have them gather more! Don’t you know the rules?” Fatty Dean, who had just been so friendly with Henry Walker, now showed his true colors in front of his subordinates, exuding authority.

Just as Fatty Dean was scolding, the female teacher who had followed the doctor inside came running out in a panic.

“Director, I’m a teacher from Hongling Village Primary School. The doctor said the child has acute appendicitis and needs surgery right away. Could you please make an exception and let the surgery proceed first? I’ll go raise the money.”

“Well…” Fatty Dean was about to speak, but glanced at Henry Walker. The previously stern look on his face instantly turned into a beaming smile as he said politely, “Hehe, don’t worry! If nothing else, just because this child was personally sent by Township Chief Carter, our clinic will do everything we can. Xiao Fu, hurry and have someone arrange the surgery. We’ll talk about the surgery fee later!”

Hearing this completely different arrangement, the doctor in his thirties didn’t seem surprised at all. He agreed at once and dashed toward the emergency room.

Maybe he was in too much of a hurry, but Dr. Little Ford ran headlong into someone coming out of the corridor. Although neither of them fell, their heads collided hard.

“Little Ford, Little Ford, you’re over thirty already—how can you still be so flustered? Luckily you bumped into me. If you’d hit an elderly person, you might have knocked them to pieces!” The person who was hit held his head with one hand and scolded Little Ford.

Dr. Little Ford was also hit pretty hard, but when he saw who it was, he didn’t dare talk back and quickly apologized, “Sorry, Brother Grant, there’s a surgery waiting. I was in too much of a rush. Please forgive me!”

“As an attending physician, being so careless—how are patients supposed to trust you? I’m telling you…” Brother Grant wanted to lecture Little Ford a bit more, but his gaze happened to fall on Henry Walker, and the hand rubbing his head unconsciously paused.

“Secretary Walker… What brings you here?”