Chapter 154 - 153: Interest-Driven

Chapter 154: Chapter 153: Interest-Driven

The project signing ceremony began promptly at 3:00 PM.

In attendance at the signing ceremony were not only the primary stakeholders—the dean of Huashan Hospital, the dean of Jiaoda Affiliated Hospital, the chairman of Ning’an Group, and the dean of Ning’an Hospital—but also government officials, such as the deputy mayor in charge of public health and leaders from the Ministry of Health and the Science and Technology Commission.

The project had received strong government support. It was not only designated a key municipal scientific research project, but the Ministry of Health and the Science and Technology Commission also each provided twenty million yuan in annual research funding.

As the project’s central figure, Yu Zhiming also sat behind the signing table. Under the flash of cameras and in front of rolling video cameras, with everyone bearing witness, he signed his name on the project documents alongside the heads of Huashan Hospital, Jiaoda Affiliated Hospital, Ning’an Group, and the leaders from the Ministry of Health and the Science and Technology Commission.

After the brief signing ceremony concluded, the deputy mayor and other key government officials took their leave.

Afterward, the event hall transformed into a venue for discussing medical topics and related matters.

The attendees split into two rather distinct circles.

There was the administrative circle, led by the various hospital deans and department heads, and the medical circle, led by academicians and expert physicians.

As for Yu Zhiming, he was summoned into the administrative circle.

He had to steel himself to carefully navigate conversations with the deans, the chairman, and the department heads, unable to break away for the moment.

To Yu Zhiming’s bewilderment, his schedule was completely arranged for him by the bigwigs.

From Monday to Thursday, Yu Zhiming was to spend at least two hours a day, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, performing rapid examinations to screen for patients with suspected liver, stomach, or breast cancer.

Huashan Hospital, Jiaoda Affiliated Hospital, and Ning’an Hospital would be responsible for finding the high-risk potential cancer patients.

Yu Zhiming just needed to sit tight and perform the examinations.

In fact, throughout the entire research and development process, Yu Zhiming had only one job.

That was to perform physical examinations on as many people as possible and screen for more suspected cancer patients.

This made Yu Zhiming feel more and more like a professional tool.

Of course, he wouldn’t be contributing his time and labor for free.

For each person he examined, Yu Zhiming would receive a service stipend of thirty yuan.

In addition, as one of the leaders of the R&D project, Yu Zhiming was also entitled to various project subsidies and allowances.

Seeing that Yu Zhiming was a bit clueless, Qi Yue explained it to him simply and directly.

Every month, besides the income earned from screening suspected cancer patients, he could also receive tens of thousands of yuan in additional legitimate and legal income from the research project.

Once the project yielded results that could be put into practical application, Yu Zhiming would also receive a very handsome share of the profits.

Hearing that there was good money to be made now, with the prospect of even more substantial earnings in the future, Yu Zhiming felt more willing to endure the hard work of being a tool for the next few years.

Seeing that Dean Li Yao was glowing and in an excellent mood, Yu Zhiming seized the opportunity to propose the idea of a medical collaboration between Huashan Hospital and the county hospital from his hometown.

Li Yao readily agreed and, on the spot, assigned his secretary, He Yingjun, to be specifically responsible for communication and liaison on this matter.

He Yingjun gave Yu Zhiming an "OK" gesture.

Gu Qingran chuckled. "Dr. Yu, regarding the county hospital collaboration you mentioned, Qingning specifically brought it up with me."

"Our outpatient and bed resources at Ning’an are quite ample, and we still have considerable potential to tap into."

"The potential for cooperation between us is also very high."

Yu Zhiming said with delight, "In that case, that would be for the best."

"My county is in an underdeveloped region of Lu Province. Medical resources are limited, and the general public has always faced difficulties in treating major and serious illnesses."

He then suggested, "Dean Gu, how about I give you the county hospital dean’s contact information, and you two can discuss it yourselves?"

Gu Qingran smiled. "If we negotiate directly with them, you wouldn’t be able to participate, would you?"

He then gave a meaningful look and led Yu Zhiming, who understood his intention, to a quieter, more secluded spot.

"Dr. Yu, I need to tell you something..."

Gu Qingran said with a serious expression, "Qingning told me that when that Dean Wu from the county hospital proposed the idea of medical tourism, I understood immediately that he was treating this as a money-making business."

Yu Zhiming was taken aback.

Gu Qingran continued, "With that kind of international medical tourism, it’s not like patients handle the overseas procedures themselves and then just run off to a hospital in a developed country for treatment."

"And it’s even harder to get an appointment with those famous, big-name doctors abroad."

"Medical tourism is always arranged in advance by domestic medical intermediary agencies. Only after everything is communicated and confirmed will the patients depart and go directly to the pre-arranged foreign medical institution for examination and treatment."

At this point, Yu Zhiming understood. He said slowly, "Dean Wu wants to get into the medical intermediary business."

Gu Qingran chuckled. "In today’s society, who would go through all that trouble without being driven by profit?"

"Subjectively, Dean Wu is doing this for profit. Objectively, however, he’s opening up a convenient path for some patients in your county to seek medical care. So, it can be considered a good thing."

Yu Zhiming let out a soft breath and said, "Dean Gu, I understand. I’m no saint myself. A lot of the things I do are also for money and personal gain."

"I can understand why Dean Wu is doing this."

"Only when there’s a profit to be made while serving the people can something be sustainable in the long run."

Gu Qingran let out a laugh. "That’s the market economy at work, using profit to motivate people to do good things."

"Dr. Yu, out of respect for you, I’ll give patients from your county a significant discount on treatment fees."

Yu Zhiming retorted, "No matter how big the discount, you won’t be running a losing business. There’s still a profit to be made."

"From how quiet I’ve seen Ning’an Hospital, you’re probably desperate to collaborate with more county hospitals."

Gu Qingran put on a misunderstood expression and explained, "Dr. Yu, what you’ve seen isn’t the whole picture."

"We at Ning’an Hospital have been developing rapidly for twenty years. Although our reputation doesn’t compare to Binhai’s big four, we’ve never had a shortage of patients."

"This time, our willingness to cooperate with your hometown’s county hospital is mainly out of respect for you, Dr. Yu."

Yu Zhiming gave a dry laugh. "Dean Gu, whatever you say. I’ll take your word for it that you’re willing to cooperate out of respect for me."

"How about this: after you’ve settled the terms, I’ll treat you to a meal."

After saying this, Yu Zhiming discreetly pointed toward Luan Guoqing, who was following Academician Zhang Yuanzhao.

"Is he Academician Zhang’s grandson?"

"What’s his character like?"

Gu Qingran glanced at Luan Guoqing and said, "He is Academician Zhang’s grandson. His character is decent, but his medical skills are a bit conventional. That’s Academician Zhang’s assessment of him."

"Academician Zhang also said that guy will, at best, tough it out to become a regular Chief Physician, but he won’t achieve anything great."

"Is he trying to get on your good side?"

Yu Zhiming hummed in agreement and casually mentioned Luan Guoqing asking him to open a safe.

Gu Qingran said with amusement, "That guy’s reputation for being henpecked is common knowledge here at Ning’an."

"Asking you to open a safe?"

Gu Qingran clicked his tongue. "Quite scheming, isn’t he? Using a little something that interests you to close the distance between you two."

Yu Zhiming shot him a sidelong glance.

"Dean Gu, can you not assume everyone is so utilitarian and scheming?"

"Maybe he really does have a safe he forgot the password to, and he simply wants me to open it."

Gu Qingran snorted twice. "Perhaps!"

Just then, Yu Xiangwan and Zhou Mo walked over together.

"Dean Gu, hello!"

Yu Xiangwan first greeted Gu Qingran, then pulled Yu Zhiming closer.

"Fifth Brother, the signing ceremony is over. I want to leave. This place isn’t fun at all!"

"Sis, didn’t find anyone you liked?" Yu Zhiming asked with concern.

Yu Xiangwan shook her head. "I just couldn’t click with anyone."

In truth, Yu Zhiming didn’t much care for these kinds of crowded social events himself. He said, "Sis, since you want to leave, wait for me to go tell Teacher Qi."

"I’ll leave with you..."