Chapter 245: President Shao!

Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu

Previously, when Zhang Fan told Shao Hua about how he wanted to buy Ma Wentao’s hospital, she had also been really astonished at first. Still, she calmed down really quickly, and soon went to find the bank card hidden in their home with their savings. “No matter what, you need to pay attention to your health. Don’t pressure yourself too much. We’re already living comfortably. I’m quite satisfied with what we have already. If this is your dream, I support you fully.”

It wasn’t that Shao Hua hadn’t considered that Zhang Fan might fail in running a hospital. Still, she supported him regardless! She wasn’t afraid of having to start all over again from the very beginning if the hospital failed! She was willing as long as Zhang Fan was willing.

Zhang Fan became even more determined to purchase Ma Wentao’s hospital after receiving Shao Hua’s support.

“You think that you’re skilled enough to go earn big money now?” Superintendent Ouyang finally recovered from her shock. Although her expression hadn’t changed, she was clenching her fists so tightly that her fingers were going white. She had to do her best to suppress her anger.

“No—”

“What no? You’ve been blinded by money. Just look at yourself over the past year. I even helped you out with your working at other hospitals in order to protect you. However, I didn’t expect that you would be so skilled that you would monopolize the entire surgery market around this area with just a little help from me! I was wondering why you didn’t go to Raptor City or Bluebird City with your skills. So this was the reason. Go do what you like. I’ll be waiting for your resignation letter.”

“Superintendent, it’s really not like that.” Superintendent Ouyang was speaking so quickly that Zhang Fan didn’t even get a chance to explain himself. She was far too disappointed in Zhang Fan. She really loved his talent, so she hated seeing him go down the wrong path!

“If you’re not being blinded by money, then what’s your reason? Do you think that being the superintendent of your own hospital will be really cool?” Superintendent Ouyang’s anger calmed down slightly. However, her words were still quite piercing! She kept asking Zhang Fan questions in a really harsh tone. She had truly been angered by Zhang Fan.

In this current generation, especially at a public Class A hospital, private hospitals would be viewed as the equivalent of nothing more than a scam. Public hospitals wouldn’t even view private hospitals as worthy of being called hospitals.

“It’s not that. Do you know President Li Xiao?” Zhang Fan hurriedly spoke as he felt that Superintendent Ouyang was about to devour him.

“Yes!” Superintendent Ouyang responded expressionlessly and aloofly.

“Her nephew owns a hospital. Since our hospital doesn’t have a microsurgery department, and he wanted to focus on this type of treatment, he invited me over to perform surgery there. I felt that it was quite good because it can make up for the weakness of our public hospital. That was why I helped him recruit several doctors.” Zhang Fan snuck a glance at Superintendent Ouyang. Currently, she still had quite a dark expression.

“So, you and your followers are going to kick out her nephew and do things yourself? Have you checkmated him already? You and your group will refuse to work unless he sells the hospital to you?” That would be a typical Chinese business development. Superintendent Ouyang was now running out of patience. This was an issue of moral character and principle for her. She no longer had any interest in talking with Zhang Fan! She didn’t care anymore!

Superintendent Ouyang felt that it was fine to like money. Who didn’t like money? But, she wasn’t the type to even talk to anyone who did things she considered immoral for the sake of money.

“No, he’s the one who’s leaving us behind. Originally, we had a nice agreement to develop things properly and expand the hospital business all over China and even to the neighboring countries. But just recently, he suddenly told me that he’s quitting the hospital business and that he would transfer legal ownership of his hospital to me. He said that he’s going to close down his hospital if I don’t want it.”

“Then let him close down his hospital! Just what ridiculous things are you thinking about instead of properly going to work every day? Expanding a hospital business even to other countries? Are you actually awake or just daydreaming?” Superintendent Ouyang was so angry that she even laughed. Still, her anger did dissipate significantly now that Zhang Fan had explained things.

“It’s because the public hospitals don’t focus on microsurgery!” Zhang Fan said in a low voice.

“Hey! So is that my fault?” Superintendent Ouyang raised her voice several octaves. However, she wasn’t actually angry.

“No, I just wanted a little sense of accomplishment! Originally, even if he closed his hospital, it wouldn’t have much to do with me. However, I recruited many doctors for him. They’re all from the neighboring cities. If his hospital closes, they’ll all have to take their entire families and leave Chasu City because they look down on working at other private hospitals. All of them came to this private hospital because of me. I feel like I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t do something for them.”

“Even a bank will have debts that it’s unable to recover, not to mention a situation like this. If the private hospital didn’t offer them a high enough salary, they wouldn’t have been willing to come even if you begged their grandparents. When they wanted this extra money, they should have considered the risk of the private hospital going bankrupt. There’s no such thing as something that’s forever a good thing in the world. There’s no need for you to carry this burden on your shoulders.” Superintendent Ouyang’s tone was now far gentler. She was now taking on the role of an elder and lecturing Zhang Fan.

“But, I really can’t bear to see them like this. It’s not something I can do. I keep feeling like I really owe them.”

She now felt assured about Zhang Fan. Who hadn’t been young and overly passionate before? Superintendent Ouyang now intended to explain all the downsides of this to the little youngster and destroy his unrealistic dream.

“I know. I’ve also considered it. I won’t be greedy. I’ll only have the hospital do hand and foot surgery. None of the biggest hospitals in Chasu City are willing to focus on this type of surgery. I think that the hospital should be able to survive in the market this way.”

“Hmm! I suppose. But, have you considered what might happen if another hospital also decides to work hard at conquering this market share? For example, our orthopedic department #3!”

“That’s impossible. This type of surgery is too tiring for any public hospital to develop. Besides, it would be impossible for you to give surgeons a percent of the surgery fee here at a public hospital!” Zhang Fan wasn’t afraid to speak directly about what he learned so far regarding hospital management.

“Oh!” Zhang Fan indeed managed to render Superintendent Ouyang speechless here. It was indeed true that doctors would only be paid a tiny fixed sum of only around 30 yuan per surgery at a public hospital. This was simply the government policy. But, what if a doctor decided to leave their public hospital job of their own free will? It was indeed true that public hospitals weren’t able to help doctors with this matter of income. Nor would a public hospital be able to satisfy doctors by making them feel like they weren’t wasting their time by performing hand and foot surgery. That was why it was naturally impossible for public hospitals to develop this type of surgery.

“Then are you intending on quitting your job here to focus on this specific type of surgery?”

“No, I just want to have a place where I can have the right to do whatever I want!” Zhang Fan said what was really in his heart because of Superintendent Ouyang’s care for him.

“Then maybe I should let you be the superintendent here instead! You’re speaking as if Chasu City Hospital is a prison that’s restraining you! You really want to run your own hospital? You won’t be able to do it. Why not recruit those doctors of yours to Chasu City Hospital instead? Although they won’t have official positions, I can help them out a little with regards to money. That way, you also won’t need to owe such a heavy debt to everyone. Just what will you even do if the hospital you run goes bankrupt!” Superintendent Ouyang began to come up with ideas.

“Superintendent, just help me out here. I really do want to do something for them. You also know that if you help them out with money, as time goes on, this definitely won’t last.” If Superintendent Ouyang showed preference towards Zhang Fan’s recruited doctors for anything financial, the other doctors in the hospital would soon rebel!

“Yeah. Oh, you. Why can’t you just behave! Why must you have such ambition!” Superintendent Ouyang was really feeling a headache now. Zhang Fan wasn’t doing this for the sake of money or power. He only wanted to realize his own impractical dream. Was that wrong? He was trying to do something that an ordinary person wouldn’t dare to or care about. Superintendent Ouyang suddenly became a little envious of Zhang Fan’s attitude, dream, and willingness to take responsibility.

“I can’t help you with much. At most, I can help you a little with the relevant government agencies in charge of managing hospitals. But, don’t you even think about going to play at your hand and foot surgeries or whatever there. Properly come to work here, and remember, don’t waste your talent!”

“Thank you, Superintendent. Thank you, Superintendent.” Zhang Fan became excited, truly excited. If Superintendent Ouyang didn’t agree to this, it really would be impossible for him. He bowed to Superintendent Ouyang as he said this, and then he began to leave her office.

“Wait a moment. How much money do you still lack?” Superintendent Ouyang could only mentally exclaim as she watched Zhang Fan’s young figure about to leave. As she was someone who had worked her way up from the lowest-ranking doctor, she knew how things were. She had also been someone who had helplessly compromised countless times in the past!

“I don’t know!”

“What? You don’t know?” Superintendent Ouyang rubbed her own forehead in exasperation and waved her hand. “You can go now. I bet that you’re going to be really poor for the next few years!”

“He’s such a fool! Sigh! It’s so nice to be young.” Superintendent Ouyang couldn’t help but laugh as she said this to herself after Zhang Fan left. She now felt a lot better since she knew that Zhang Fan wasn’t quitting his work at the public hospital or doing something improper with his money. Was the 1,200,000 yuan that he borrowed a lot of money? For Zhang Fan, this really wouldn’t be that much. He could make it back in just a few years with all of his surgeries at other hospitals, regular salary, and other income! Even if he failed at running the hospital, it would be alright. It would be part of his experience in life. Superintendent Ouyang thus decided against forbidding him to buy his own hospital when she thought of this.

Zhang Fan met with Ma Wentao in a small private room at a small restaurant. Ma Wentao seemed to be incredibly fatigued. His beard was scraggly and unkept. He wasn’t well-dressed and cleanly shaven like he always was. He instantly downed half of the really cheap wine in front of him as he sat down across from Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan had so many questions to ask, but he was unable to ask anymore after seeing how wretched Ma Wentao appeared. Zhang Fan could only silently pour some more wine for his soon to be ex-business partner.

“You don’t want any?” Ma Wentao looked at Zhang Fan.

“I’d really like to drink with you, but you also know that I’m incapable of drinking any alcohol at all without getting completely drunk. I’d be unable to discuss serious business with you then. So, there really is no other way?” Zhang Fan asked in a soft voice.

“There isn’t!”

“How much money do you need to sell your hospital to me?”

“How much do you have?”

“I managed to get about 1,200,000 yuan. I might be able to get a little more, but not much more!”

“Heh, I couldn’t tell that you were so poor. I thought that you’d be able to get at least several million yuan!” Ma Wentao teased Zhang Fan. As Ma Wentao sat there, he felt envious of Zhang Fan for the first time ever.

“Sigh!” Zhang Fan could tell from Ma Wentao’s tone just how unwilling the latter was to give up. Normally, Zhang Fan would have made fun of him before leaving, but today, Zhang Fan felt like his words were all stuck in his throat!

“Fine, just give me 200,000 yuan! Everything will be up to you in the future. I’m leaving now. I’ve already paid the rent on the hospital for the next three years, Bro. I’m leaving!” Tears streamed down Ma Wentao’s cheeks as he said this!

“You should just take all of the 1,200,000 yuan! That would make me feel better.”

“Do I lack money!? Am I someone who lacks money!? Money is my son! You understand!? Money is my son! Bro, please treat my hospital well!”

Zhang Fan and Ma Wentao soon finished the legal paperwork for transferring the hospital ownership over. Instead of taking ownership himself, Zhang Fan had Shao Hua’s father, whose name was Shao Guodong, officially become the owner of the hospital! Shao Guodong was now the official boss of this hospital!

Although Zhang Fan still had 1,000,000 yuan left over from the money he borrowed, he didn’t return this money. That was because he would need to use it all for running the hospital. In the past, Ma Wentao’s hospital had an agreement to borrow the neighboring Chasu City Women and Children’s Hospital’s medical equipment, but that agreement was no longer in effect. Chasu City Women and Children’s Hospital refused to loan their equipment to Zhang Fan’s hospital even if he paid them!

The expert doctors from Raptor City who worked at Ma Wentao’s hospital for two weeks per month also left. Zhang Fan was unable to afford paying their salaries. Additionally, Zhang Fan had to greatly reduce the hospital’s services offered. He eliminated every single internal medicine department. He even eliminated the general surgery department. It wasn’t that Zhang Fan didn’t want to provide such services, but rather that his hospital didn’t have enough medical equipment.

The hospital’s doctors also provided their own money to invest in the hospital and become shareholders. Chen Qifa and most of the other doctors all put up 100,000 yuan each. Li Liang was able to put up 300,000 yuan. When Li Liang’s father heard that Zhang Fan would be leading this hospital now, he immediately gave his son the money that he had been saving for Li Liang to buy a home with in the future.