Merchant and doctor

Chapter 2036: Becoming a Monk Halfway Through Life
In fact, there's not much need for further evaluation. Any decent doctor who can ultimately pass the scrutiny of the HR staff at Huikang Hospital will have an academic background or medical experience that is absolutely acceptable within the Lijiang medical community. According to Qian Xiaotong, many departments at Huikang Hospital were established by Dean Feng Lezhang by directly referencing existing models of advanced private hospitals abroad, a fact that has long been considered a model of excellence in the local medical community.

Objectively speaking, Bian Mu felt that Dean Feng Lezhang had quite a few outstanding qualities.

"Professor Sun! To be objective, you're the only one who can keep our department afloat, but... you don't seem to be very good at managing people or finances!"

"Who says otherwise! It's a contract system! I have to be responsible to the hospital above me, and to my colleagues below me. I really can't do it. Besides... not to mention our department, I've heard that general surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, cardiac surgery, ophthalmology... are all experiencing a gradual negative growth trend. Don't laugh at me, but we're really useless. We still haven't been able to find a replacement hospital. We're really at our wits' end... I'd really appreciate your help in finding a solution. My family still depends on me to support them! I'm not exaggerating, it's true!" Sun Zhengting earnestly complained.

"You flatter me. With your qualifications, any top-three university would surely reserve a place for you," Bian Mu said with a smile, his eyes still intently scanning one resume after another.

"Times have changed! I wouldn't dare lie to the truth, but a few years ago, I was frequently recruited by reputable hospitals, offered direct positions as department heads! Back then, our hospital was incredibly prestigious. Don't laugh at me, but Lao Lu and I really looked down on the meager benefits of public hospitals. Sigh! Who knew... the saying 'thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river' truly applies. In just a short time, things have plummeted. If Director Liao hadn't revealed some of the real situation to me, I'd still be sitting comfortably in the clinic dreaming!"

"Oh! Has Teacher Liao's whereabouts been confirmed?"

“They’re middle managers with such extensive connections. There’s a reason they stay, but they can find better opportunities elsewhere. We can’t compare to them!” Sun Zhengting sighed softly as he said this.

"After all this talk, what are you teachers really thinking?" Bian Mu casually closed the folder and asked.

"What they mean is... you'll have to open a few more branches sooner or later, right? Could you arrange for each of us to be paid separately? We'd be happy with the lowest salary, okay?!" As he said this, Sun Zhengting's eyes revealed a kind of eager expectation, a hint of warmth.

"How many more? I'm already doing well just managing to keep these two struggling businesses afloat. Opening a few more? You all think too highly of me! Even if I really wanted to open another branch, the approval process, renting a place, installing equipment... it's hard to say when that would take. Can you all afford to wait?" Bian Mu replied with a smile.

"Then... could you arrange for me to study at the branch for a while? Just me, no one else! Just give me some living expenses!" Somewhat unexpectedly, Sun Zhengting suddenly changed his mind.

“Teacher Sun, you’ve gone too far with that joke. Actually… the staff at the main branch is a bit tight, and I would be more than happy if you could come and help out! It’s just that the landlord is too old, ninety years old, and who knows when… I’ll have to move to the branch with my current colleagues. On the surface, it looks like two branches, but to be honest, it’s actually one!” Bian Mu gave a brief overview of some of Mrs. Lin’s family affairs.

The more he listened, the more disappointed he became, and the expression on Sun Zhengting's face became somewhat complicated!

“Medical degrees are getting increasingly expensive these days. Someone like me, once I leave my original institution, is immediately diluted to nothing. I was so foolish before, mistakenly thinking I could just stay at Huikang and retire peacefully. Such a good hospital… and then…” At this point, Sun Zhengting suddenly seemed a little sad. “Professor Sun! Shouldn’t we change our perspective? If you insist on staying, the future might not be that bad! As far as I know, our hospital’s board of directors overestimated the development trend of the entire medical industry. The tone they set from the beginning was too high! Back then, our colleagues in public tertiary hospitals envied our treatment and quite flexible management model. As a result, now we are overwhelmed and have even strained our lumbar spine, reaching a point where we can no longer continue. So… let’s imagine, such a good building, such excellent comprehensive facilities, such a scientific and rigorous management model… after so many years, what changes have there been?” "Right?! It's built with real money, how could the relevant departments sit idly by?! Get rid of the people, keep the hospital, do a major overhaul, then re-establish salaries and positions, and quietly continue for another ten years or so. Think about it carefully, doesn't that make sense? Your medical skills are universally acknowledged. At most, the superficial benefits you usually receive will be gone, especially the internal benefits that Director Lu implemented, which were inherently unreasonable, right? Is the red flower of a crape myrtle really a flower?! In the end, hospitals and schools need to adopt an evergreen approach to find a way out!" Bian Mu suddenly offered a counter-argument, opening a window of new hope for Sun Zhengting's dejected heart from another perspective.

"Huh?! It seems like that's really the case! But... if the new boss comes and introduces a new set of performance evaluation standards, someone my age... it seems a bit risky!" Sun Zhengting had lost all confidence.

Time flies, and it ages us all! Sun Zhengting lived too comfortably back then, and now he has almost no confidence in his business acumen left.

"You've got it wrong! In our line of work, the older you get, the more sought-after you become, hahaha... Seriously, Teacher Liao's fallback plan is probably what we're talking about. Even if you want to change your way of life, this is at least a last resort. You know I'm telling the truth!"

"But... to be honest, Old Lu is too cunning. I usually avoid him. I'm not gossiping behind his back, but he's completely ruined the atmosphere in the department. How much better can the next few be? You've been a senior member of the hospital, so you know better than I do that public service places like hospitals can't be too close to money! I'm even planning to follow your hospital and live a second life, really! A change of environment might even give me ten more years of life!"

"Really? Hehe... I've had this idea for a while now: rent a suitable place in the city, and you and I will each contribute half the cost. Whether you pool your money or take out a bank loan, it doesn't matter, everyone has to contribute. No one can be left out. If they don't contribute, they won't cherish the new clinic for years! Outside, hang two signs, one for our new concept branch and one for your joint medical practice. Two identical signs, on equal footing, treating each other equally! For the next five years, regardless of profit or loss, I won't take a single penny! On the contrary, I will proactively cover some of the related expenses. Let's call it the third branch for now. We'll hire the manager. You guys don't seem very suitable for management. Just do your job well. When it comes to splitting the profits, we'll split them exactly as agreed. No changes allowed!"

"I'm completely confused. You... you've really struck it rich?! Are you doing charity?!" Sun Zhengting stared blankly at Bian Mu, feeling utterly bewildered.

"Not at all! I've always been a poor person! At most, I have some personal little dreams! You can't imagine how much manpower and resources were invested in developing the chat and electronic payment software we use every day, right?" Bian Mu casually gave an example.

"You mean...we'll help you promote a newer, more innovative healthcare service model to the market or something?!"

"The wording is a bit... well, that's the gist of it. You'll be halfway through your journey with our new concept medicine. Theoretically, some of your medical practices might have to be influenced by our 'numerical medicine' school. Of course, I wouldn't dare to promote it without absolute certainty. When you called just now, I was at home organizing this outline! So... there's one thing you might find hard to accept on a personal level..."

"No, you're a renowned gentleman doctor. Just say what you want to say. I'm thick-skinned enough, it's fine!"

"If we really want to cooperate smoothly... you're practically newcomers to the field, so practicing medicine in the future will be..." Bian Mu deliberately stopped there, knowing that Dr. Sun would have to think about some things carefully!

Sun Zhengting never dreamed that Bian Mu would suddenly make such a cooperation request. For a moment, his mind went blank.