Chapter 313: Good things take time
The current medical system in China was such that patients and doctors would all want to go to a bigger hospital if at all possible. They wouldn’t want to have to go to a smaller hospital. Nothing was wrong with them, as it was normal for people to want the best thing possible for themselves. Doctors would want better development potential, while patients would want better and more advanced treatment. Yet, should the previous generations’ hard work over several decades in establishing complete and well-running smaller Chinese hospitals be abandoned entirely? This was a difficult problem and contradiction in the Chinese medical system.
Superintendent Ouyang was an expert doctor herself, but she wouldn’t understand that much about spine deformity, since she was an internal medicine expert. Zhang Fan began to explain this surgery to her. In order to accomplish this surgery successfully, it would be necessary to have Director Gao and Director Wang working together in unison as his surgical assistants. In order to make the two directors willing to compromise and work together, Superintendent Ouyang’s personal intervention was required.
Zhang Fan spent more than half an hour to explain the difficult portions of this surgery to Superintendent Ouyang. What made spine deformity so difficult? First of all, the child’s parents usually wouldn’t notice this disease in its early stages. Maybe a female lingerie model would seem really sexy while walking down a catwalk in a posture with uneven shoulders, but anyone who had uneven shoulders when standing up properly would be handicapped, not sexy!
Congenital spine deformity would cause many other additional problems such as organ distortion. The most common problem would be abnormalities in the urology system, such as solitary kidney, duplicated ureter, crossed kidney, urinary obstruction, and so on. Apart from that, congenital spine deformity was often accompanied by other problems such as congenital heart disease. As the body developed, the spine’s distortion would also cause the pelvic cavity and hip joint to become distorted severely enough to cause disability.
“I understand. You already have a surgery plan, correct?” Superintendent Ouyang asked after listening to Zhang Fan explain for quite a while.
“Yeah.” Zhang Fan smiled rather embarrassedly.
“You want me to help you so that they can calmly obey your orders?” Superintendent Ouyang smiled rather abnormally.
“I’d just like to ask for your help in managing things for us.” Zhang Fan wouldn’t be able to say things directly like Superintendent Ouyang could.
“Do you have any guarantee of being able to convince the directors?” This was what Superintendent Ouyang paid the most attention to.
“I do. As long as the two of them don’t argue with each other, I can definitely convince them,” Zhang Fan promised.
“Okay, then start the necessary checkups. Once the checkups are complete, I’ll ask the cardiology department to come over for consultation,” Superintendent Ouyang told him.
Zhang Fan understood what Superintendent Ouyang meant with this. The so-called inviting the cardiology department to consult was just an excuse. Some things might seem really unnecessary, but such steps couldn’t be skipped just for the sake of doing a little less. This was respect for the two orthopedic directors, as well as a way to protect Zhang Fan.
“Alright, thank you, Superintendent.” Zhang Fan hurriedly got up and thanked Superintendent Ouyang.
“Don’t be in a rush. Sit down first. I would have made you come to see me even if you hadn’t visited me today. Take a look at this!” Superintendent Ouyang handed a newspaper to Zhang Fan, who felt a headache from hearing her tone.
“Read what this says!” It seemed like Superintendent Ouyang was already beginning to glare.
“Chasu City’s housing situation is—”
“Are you trying to joke around with me? The one below that! The one about the black man!”
Zhang Fan started to mentally complain about Batu for being too amazing. Batu had already become friends with the head editor of a newspaper after just a first meeting. This time, Batu had done something more ridiculous by getting Zhang Fan’s hospital into the headline of a daily newspaper.
“Read it!” This was just how Superintendent Ouyang was at scolding people. She wouldn’t leave them any face at all.
“Chasu City’s hand and foot surgery hospital treated the international basketball super star...” Zhang Fan’s voice became smaller and smaller as he read. He had heard Batu telling him plenty about the planned newspaper article, but hadn’t thought too much about it, yet this thing came crashing into him directly now.
“What? Are you too happy? Did you know that the Chasu City Communist Party Committee Leader especially asked me this morning what was going on with this hand and foot surgery hospital? He asked if this hospital had already started operating on an international scale! What was I supposed to answer because of you? Before, I didn’t treat this seriously, as I felt like you wouldn’t be able to do much, but your abilities really are quite something. I did a roundabout investigation today. You really went overboard. You’ve managed to stop the surgical departments of many smaller city hospitals by monopolizing all their doctors. Say it, when are you intending on monopolizing the surgical department of Chasu City Hospital as well?”
Superintendent Ouyang hadn’t minded Zhang Fan’s hospital that much before, but her higher-ranking government leader had especially mentioned it to her, so she had to start paying attention. Chasu City Hospital was renowned as the best hospital in all of Chasu City’s jurisdiction, yet something like this had happened. Of course Superintendent Ouyang would be angry. She then learned more from the Bureau of Health about Zhang Fan’s hospital, and found that many smaller city hospitals’ surgical departments had become completely paralyzed because the surgeons had all left to join Zhang Fan’s hospital!
“I didn’t think that things would become like this. I just wanted to perform some extra surgeries.” Zhang Fan lowered his head. Was he in the wrong here? No, he wasn’t, but when it came to Superintendent Ouyang, he would still be considered to be in the wrong regardless.
“Chasu City Hospital’s surgeries aren’t enough for you?”
“But nobody is willing to perform hand and foot surgeries.” Zhang Fan raised his voice slightly since this was the truth.
“You think you’re in the right? What you’re doing is illegally practicing medicine, don’t you understand? Where are you officially registered to practice medicine according to your medical license? What hospital are you registered to? Just how did you learn about medical license laws? Before, it didn’t matter, since you were doing things secretly, but now the government leaders are starting to pay attention. You think you can still continue like this?”
“Then please help me think of something.” Actually, Superintendent Ouyang was just scaring Zhang Fan here. Expert doctors would fly all over China for surgeries, yet the expert doctors’ medical licenses hadn’t been confiscated. Superintendent Ouyang was only scaring Zhang Fan who didn’t understand how the world worked yet. Such a law was only enforced against certain people!
“Hey there! You’re getting ever more shameless. You’re even asking something like this!” Superintendent Ouyang almost laughed because of how angry she was.
“You also know that I’m not doing this for any other reason. I just want to do a few extra surgeries. Chasu City Hospital really isn’t capable of developing these surgeries. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be like this. Superintendent, please help me.” Zhang Fan wasn’t afraid, since he had already started asking for help. If Superintendent Ouyang could really help him out, then he wouldn’t mind getting scolded a little extra by her.
“What have you been doing? Why didn’t you come to me earlier? It’s too late now. I don’t care at all about your messy state of affairs.” Zhang Fan had successfully changed the topic. Actually, Superintendent Ouyang didn’t want to intervene with Zhang Fan’s hospital. What he said were the facts. Even though Chasu City Hospital had established orthopedic department #3 as a microsurgery-focused department, the real situation was that microsurgery had barely developed at Chasu City Hospital. The surgeons here would all hide away whenever they heard about hand and foot surgery, afraid that they would be chosen. Superintendent Ouyang was the leader of the whole hospital, yet even she was helpless, unable to do anything about this.
“I never expected that my hospital could develop to such an extent,” said Zhang Fan. He then added in a small voice, “You always get angry whenever I mention hand and foot surgery, so I was worried about angering you too much, so...!” Zhang Fan felt like he had returned to his days of being a food seller with how insignificant he seemed in front of her!
“You dare say such a thing! If it wasn’t for how young you are, and that you’re serious about your work, I wouldn’t care about you at all.” Superintendent Ouyang was tired as she knew that it would be useless to get angry about something out of her control.
Zhang Fan heard this, and immediately realized that Superintendent Ouyang could do something for him. He hurriedly got up and poured Superintendent Ouyang a new cup of hot water with a smile. He would even be willing to give her a massage if she requested it. “Superintendent, please have some water. You’ve already been talking for so long. Have a rest, have a rest.”
Superintendent Ouyang gave him a sidelong glance and expressionlessly took the water. After sipping on it, she said, “This is the final time. I definitely won’t ever get involved in your stupid affairs again.”
“Okay, okay, okay! I’ll definitely never make you angry again.” Well, Zhang Fan was only saying such a thing. He wasn’t a local from the border province, so he didn’t know that many people here. Who aside from Superintendent Ouyang could he ask for help with such a matter?”
“Are you still in contact with Professor Li Jinjing from Dee University in Raptor City?” Superintendent Ouyang asked as she put down her cup.
“Yes, I still talk to him. He’s applied for a hepatic portal vein system research project, so he’s often been discussing this matter with me over the phone.”
“Oh! How is it, is it very difficult?”
“They’ve failed many times already. Director Li wants me to go visit him in Raptor City.”
“Don’t go. You’ll be in higher demand if you make him come to you. When he comes, add Chasu City Hospital into the research project as well. It’s so difficult for a lower-level hospital to apply for a research project, but it’s as easy as playing around for a professor at a high-level provincial hospital. Adding ourselves into the research project will also improve our hospital’s research capabilities.”
“Yes, alright, Superintendent, I understand. Then, about my hand and foot surgery hospital...” Zhang Fan became anxious because Superintendent Ouyang had changed the topic. He was still too young and naïve!
“This is an easy matter. Adamantly refuse to go to Raptor City so that Professor Li personally comes to Chasu City. The hand and foot surgery hospital’s matter will also be resolved. Professor Li’s not in a big hurry yet, so we don’t need to be in a hurry, either.” Superintendent Ouyang smiled as she said this. Right now, she seemed far more like a crooked merchant than a superintendent.
“Oh, alright. I’ll be going back to work then.” Zhang Fan didn’t ask what he should do, as he really understood Superintendent Ouyang by now. As long as she had agreed to help him, he wouldn’t need to worry about anything.
“Go now. Chasu City Chinese Medicine Hospital has also established a microsurgery department!” Superintendent Ouyang said something seemingly randomly as Zhang Fan was leaving.
“What could she have meant by that?” Zhang Fan didn’t really understand as he walked back to orthopedic department #1. Still, he didn’t need to worry too much about this, as he could simply leave it to Batu, who would surely understand what Superintendent Ouyang had meant.
Back at orthopedic department #1, Jiang Nini was the only member of Zhang Fan’s medical team who was present.
“Little Jiang, where are the others?” Jiang Nini was really beautiful, but Zhang Fan had gotten used to being able to look at her directly after seeing her often enough.
Jiang Nini got up and smiled as she explained to Zhang Fan, “Doctor Wang and Doctor Xue had a bet, but Xue Fei lost in the end. Doctor Wang dragged him away as he had to treat the others to a meal of horsemeat.”
“Ha! He’s so dumb, yet he still loves to bet and gamble. How come you didn’t go with everyone?” Zhang Fan asked as he flipped through medical reports.
“I was waiting for you!” Jiang Nini walked several steps closer to him.
“Oh, you should go and have a free meal, otherwise it will be over.” Zhang Fan put down the medical report and gently tilted his body so that he wouldn’t touch her as he walked past to go to the changing room. He felt that it would be better for him to pretend not to notice her romantic interest in him. Zhang Fan was no idiot, so of course he noticed her interest, but he felt that he should be aware of such things and remain loyal.
Xue Fei was dejectedly forced to the restaurant by Wang Yanan and the others. Horsemeat was a specialty of Chasu City. There weren’t many opportunities remaining to eat horsemeat, as the weather was getting hotter. In the border province, killing cows for meat wasn’t that rare, but normally only one horse would be slaughtered per year for each family. In 2010, half a kilogram of beef would cost around 30 yuan, but half a kilogram of horsemeat would typically cost anywhere from 80 to 100 yuan.
“Hey! How come you’re here? Didn’t you go out for a meal?” Xue Fei wanted to die when he saw Zhang Fan—Zhang Fan was far too big of an eater.
“I heard that you were treating everyone to a meal, so of course I would come.” Zhang Fan and Jiang Nini entered the horsemeat restaurant together. Was Xue Fei stingy? He was willing to bet several thousand yuan in one go and lose it all to the middle-aged women that he usually played with. Was he generous? He was unwilling to spend much on meals when he was treating others. This time, Wang Yanan finally captured him because he lost a gamble to her. Everyone was really happy about this, except for Xue Fei himself.
“It’s your fault for bullying me. I’m definitely going to eat until you go bankrupt today. Zhang Fan, eat as much as you want,” Wang Yanan exclaimed angrily.
“Alright, let me tell you all that my limit is 500 yuan. I refuse to pay for anything more.”
“Where were you?” Wang Yanan asked Zhang Fan as they were eating together.
“I was arranging matters for the surgery.”
“He’s just making stuff up. Don’t look at how he seems like a fool; he’s actually quite sly. I’m the only honest man here,” Xue Fei exclaimed to Wang Yanan while pouring some tea.
“Who would believe you? It’s not like you’re a properly good person.” Well, this was just a way of establishing friendly coworker relationships over time.
“It seems to me that patient #13’s family’s financial condition isn’t that good. The surgery fee will be troublesome,” Zhang Fan commented. Patient #13 was Baiyintibu’s nephew, whose name was Bate.
“This is a major surgery. You’re going to insist on doing it, aren’t you?” Xue Fei inquired. The others, Wang Yanan included, didn’t know how much a corrective surgery would cost. China’s metal plate production technology was adequate, but metal plates for corrective surgery had high requirements to the point where even most international companies weren’t able to make them. Not only were corrective surgeries highly difficult, there were far fewer patients for such surgeries compared to bone fractures, so there wasn’t much market for correct surgery metal plates, meaning that nobody in China focused on producing them. Meanwhile, Chinese medical insurance wouldn’t pay for imported medical equipment, which was why Zhang Fan was worried about the surgery fee for the patient’s family’s sake.
“Aren’t nomads rather rich?” Wang Yanan asked rather foolishly.
“What a joke. You think most of them are rich? Most of them make just enough to get by. It’s also spring now, which is the season with the lowest prices for cows and goats. It will be quite troublesome for them. This surgery really might not be possible.”
The atmosphere had originally been rather happy since Xue Fei was treating everyone to a meal, but then became rather suppressed once the topic of work was brought up.
“I think I have an idea.” At this moment, Jiang Nini suddenly spoke up when she had only been listening from the side!