Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
That night, Huo Congjun held a feast.
The buffet for 299 RMB per person in Prosperous Fountain Restaurant was akin to a normal work meal for Huo Congjun, and he invited many to it. He did not have this in his original plan, but just like what he said, those who wanted to pay for this had looked for him through their connections, so it would be unreasonable for him to get in the way of their spending. Besides, even if he wanted to spend their money, he had to do it reasonably. Arranging two meals and then upping the standards of those meals was a given.
Hospital Director Bo was forced to receive the invitation. As troubles and nervous anticipation plagued his heart, he went inside and ate. Then, he felt a little more at ease.
As a medical intermediary, the psychological preparation that he needed the most was to resign himself to being at the receiving end of insults.
Doctors were not particularly known for their patience, especially surgeons, and skilled surgeons were very bad tempered.
Did rich men really not have any connections that led them to the best doctors? Not really. Sometimes, they were willing to pay in order to suffer fewer stink eyes and rejections.
Even people who worked for their bosses and took it to the face — even with their high pay—were sometimes willing to look for a medical intermediary to approach doctors.
Therefore, while being rejected by Huo Congjun was out of his expectations, it was just a standard occupational injury for Hospital Director Bo. A few hours would be enough for him to recover and regain his spirits.
“Department Director Huo, let’s talk more.” After he had his fill, Hospital Director Bo looked for Huo Congjun, who was surrounded by everyone. He put a smile on his face, and he did not look like he had just suffered a blow and was forced to call his girlfriend to complain just now.
“We can talk, but those talks will play out to the same conclusion.” Huo Congjun had also boasted for some time, so he was ready to take a break and confess his sins at that moment.
Two of them sat on the small couch by the side.
Hospital Director Bo stared at Huo Congjun for a while before he smiled and said, “Department Director Huo, you truly look very confident.”
“Get straight to the point.”
Hospital Director Bo muttered to himself before he dove in. “50,000 RMB for one freelance surgery. If you have any other requests, we can talk about them.”
50,000 RMB for one freelance surgery was considered to be the second highest price offered in the industry. With a medical intermediary’s methods, the patient might even need to pay 100,000 RMB to 400,000 RMB, but that depended on the medical intermediary’s skills. After all, first, Ling Ran was not an academician, secondly, he was not a director in a top tertiary Grade A hospital in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, so if he demanded the second highest price among all freelance surgeries, Hospital Directo Bo would have a lot of words to exchange with his clients.
However, this high price was actually not really high.
The price of freelance surgery was related with the doctor’s labor intensity and risk profile.
In simple terms, a freelance surgeon performed three hours for a hepatectomy at 10,000 RMB, and if he performed two hepatectomies of normal intensity in a day, he would earn 20,000 RMB. In combined liver and pancreatic radical surgery, normal doctors might need seven to eight hours, or then, even This had surpassed the intensity of two hepatectomies, which meant that the surgeon would need to work for triple the time.
On one hand, combined liver and pancreatic radical surgery had very stringent conditions. Even if CT, PET, and MRI scans had been done before the operation, the possibility of realizing that the patient’s abdominal cavity did not coincide with the scans after the surgeon opened up the abdomen still existed. Similarly, there was great uncertainty in the failure rate of such surgeries and the death rate of the patient.
Tripled duration, more than thirty times the risk in surgery, and 50,000 RMB. While prices always went up and down, the increase was not outworldly.
Meanwhile, if this price could be fixed, it would be definitely advantageous for Ling Ran’s freelance surgery fee and status in the industry.
No matter what, it was 50,000 RMB. Even doctors who worked on varicose veins and performed ten surgeries in a day to earn 100,000 RMB, a single freelance surgery fee would never come close to 50,000 RMB for a ten-hour surgery.
Huo Congjun felt Hospital Director Bo’s sincerity, but he still showed contempt. “Even if our Ling Ran wanted to perform freelance surgery, we will not go through you.”
“Isn’t it better with one more safety cushion?” Hospital Director Bo became more humble. His shoulders were hunched, and his head was down, but his face was tilted up. He even showed a face that said, “Look how good I am at buttering up” like a comprador, which was typical of a pharmaceutical sales representative.
Huo Congjun was quite surprised, yet he became even more wary. “Is there a need for that? Ling Ran is not the only doctor who can perform combined liver and pancreatic radical surgery in the country. Now, you’re being all humble in front of me? Are you trying to cause trouble?”
If Hospital Director Bo took up a surgery that only Ling Ran could perform, Huo Congjun believed that Hospital Director Bo’s attitude would be much better. However, if it was not a unique case or an exclusive surgery, Hospital Director Bo’s expression would be too much of an exaggeration.
Hospital Director Bo showed a faint smile. “There are people who can perform combined liver and pancreatic radical surgery, but Doctor Ling is the only one with youth on his side. He is really the only one, and it won’t be a mistake to say that he is the only one in the country.”
“You might as well give the title of only one in so and so category for every age group.” Huo Congjun was still displeased.
“If we add all age groups together, I still think that only Doctor Ling is the only one who can actually perform a combined liver and pancreatic radical freelance surgery.” Hospital Director Bo emphasized once more.
It was only at this moment that Huo Congjun faced what Hospital Director Bo said squarely.
“A ten-hour surgery is not a joke,” Hospital Director Bo said in a reminiscing tone, “At that time, I watched the video, and I was extremely surprised. He only took a short break during the middle, right? The surgery was done very cleanly. I think that if Doctor Ling is more skilled, his speed can still be improved.”
“Yes,” Huo Congjun answered.
“So why won’t you give him the chance to earn money?” Hospital Director Bo chuckled and said, “Our country does not advocate surgery for hepatic metastasis from gastric cancer. But our equipment is more advanced now, and we’re getting more skilled. No matter what, proactive treatment is still the mainstream, right?”
Huo Congjun did not say anything.
“You form connections through freelance surgeries as well. With Ling Ran’s age and his skills, we can work hard together for a few years and push him to the top in terms of combined liver and pancreatic radical surgery. Is it hard?” Hospital Director Bo revealed his intentions.
Freelance surgery was a profit, and it was also a resource.
Up to this day, if Hospital Director Bo needed to choose between a young surgeon in his twenties or a retired old doctor in his sixties, he would choose the young surgeon without any hesitation.
Age was not a joke.
When it came to a combined liver and pancreatic radical surgery, surgeons who were over fifty really needed to work with someone else.
Working with someone else meant that the pay was shared among two people, and it also meant that the medical intermediary would have double the workload and suffer double the grievance, which was not what Hospital Director Bo wanted.
All he wanted was Ling Ran’s excellent skills, super long working hours, and huge potential.
Huo Congjun completely understood what he meant. However, he still smiled while shaking his head. “Ling Ran is not ready to continue working on combined liver and pancreatic radical surgery.”
“I have a case. Take a look.” Hospital Director Bo came up with another tactic.
Huo Congjun hesitated for a while, but he still extended his hand and took it.
Hospital Director Bo explained, “The chairman of Tonca Group underwent gastrectomy in the United States. Now, it has metastasized to the liver. This is a big company earning tens of billions. If you perform the surgery for him, not only Ling Ran, but Yun Hua Hospital will also get better.”
Huo Congjun was slightly tempted. Although he was not interested in Hospital Director Bo’s Junan Clinic, this surgery was really worth performing.
“Why won’t he go to the United States for the surgery?” Huo Congjun first asked the key question.
Hospital Director Bo coughed and said in a low voice, “It’s not suitable for him to go overseas now.”
“Oh…” Huo Congjun drawled before he asked again, “Then, what about inviting an American over for a freelance surgery?”
“We are still under talks.” Hospital Director Bo looked a little sheepish.
Old American doctors had high income, and their social status was also high, so naturally, it was not worth them doing something like freelance surgeries, where they would have to rely on luck to be successful.
For them, it was pretty normal for the patient to come and receive treatment in the United States, but the difficulty level was high if they needed to go overseas to perform the surgery. Naturally, normal American doctors could still be invited, but the more highly-ranked a doctor was, the more difficult it would be to invite him over.
The chairman of Tonca Group seemed to have a high expected value.
“What’s the patient’s current body condition?” Huo Congjun slowly asked.
“He is still working.”
“Then, let him come over to Yun Hua Hospital,” Huo Congjun said, “If he comes to Yun Hua Hospital, Doctor Ling can do a diagnosis for him and perform the surgery if necessary. If he is not willing to come, then that’s it.”
Huo Congjun did not give Hospital Director Bo any room for discussion. He went back to his clique again.
There was more laughter in the banquet hall in just a while.
Hospital Director Bo frowned as he swiped his phone. He continuously sent out many text messages before he sighed softly in relief.
When he raised his head again, he saw Huo Congjun move from a group of people to another, and still, a lot of people buttered up to him, and they laughed madly at his lame jokes.
Hospital Director Bo was secretly envious of him for two seconds, before his train of thought moved on.
When working this job, he could really earn money, but it was also really boring.
