Chapter 107 - 92: Tea House

Yu Li, after all, hasn’t publicly declared her relationship with Lu Qi, so she’s careful to consider his feelings, saying they are just like family between the police and the public.Li Zhong said, if they’re like family, then there’s no need to talk about the relationship.

Yu Li blushed, and Lu Qi stepped forward to defend her, saying, "You guys shouldn’t always joke about us. Isn’t today’s theme a thank-you dinner? The main character is Xu Chunliang."

Finally, the attention successfully shifted to Xu Chunliang.

In front of everyone, Yu Mo expressed her gratitude to Xu Chunliang, saying that if it weren’t for him, she might have already had a mental breakdown. This incident left Yu Li with many emotions. Clinical work nowadays is really tough, with high pressure and heavy responsibilities. A slight oversight can lead to lawsuits. She also reflected on her own over-reliance on the results of auxiliary tests.

Li Lingyun thought this issue is also a common problem in the current medical field. As examination equipment becomes more advanced, doctors rely more heavily on it. Back in the early ’90s, there was only one CT machine in the entire Dongzhou region. Now, even better-off township hospitals have them.

Due to centralized procurement of drugs, the profits from drugs have been continuously reduced. Hospitals have to pivot their main income towards examination and surgical treatment fees for revenue generation. The medical industry has entered a vicious cycle. Authorities repeatedly issue orders to make medical care affordable for the public, implementing various people-benefiting measures. However, the actual burden of medical expenses on people hasn’t lightened much. Lu Qi is an outsider in medicine, but his parents believe in Chinese medicine. He was influenced by it from a young age and always thought that Western medicine causes too much harm to the human body. He felt Western medicine had side effects, while Chinese medicine seemed gentler. Moreover, the terminology in Chinese medicine appears more profound and artistic, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of China, making it more lively than the cold and monotonous terminology of Western medicine.

Yu Mo had a different viewpoint from Lu Qi: "Bitter medicines are good for the disease; our ancestors knew this truth. Although Chinese medicine has its strengths, it nonetheless has significant limitations. Sometimes it’s even somewhat idealistic, less effective and direct than Western medicine in curing diseases and saving lives."

After speaking, she remembered Xu Chunliang was the heir of Huichun Hall and smiled, saying, "Xiaoxu, I’m just expressing a personal opinion, not targeting you."

Xu Chunliang smiled, indicating she could speak freely. After all, he wasn’t a Chinese medicine doctor himself. In this era, Chinese medicine has lost its former influence. Many people lack understanding of Chinese medicine, let alone trust in it. Changing their perception on his own is challenging, and he’s not inclined to expend energy on such arguments.

Li Lingyun brought up news about Changxing. There’s been a rumor in the past couple of days that Changxing acquired a plot for a hospital in the High-Tech Zone, supposedly cooperating with the zone to build a modern comprehensive hospital there.

Yu Mo had heard about it too. She thought if this were true, it would prove the new dean’s decisiveness. If things continue like this, there’s a possibility that Changxing might surpass its peers and experience a revival.

Li Lingyun held a different view, arguing that Changxing currently didn’t have that much money. Unless the government provides funding, with the High-Tech Zone not yet developed and the regional population sparse, it wouldn’t support such a large hospital.

Other hospitals have existing examples, like the Dongzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital and the City Central Hospital; they’ve all built branches cross-regionally, the former in the High-Speed Rail Business District and the latter in the New City District. These branches are all located in emerging areas that are still in the development stage and not yet mature. Consequently, they also face issues with insufficient patients, and none of these branches have managed to turn a profit.

Changxing in terms of strength can’t be compared to these two hospitals. The High-Tech Zone is primarily industrial, highlighting the shortfall of resident population and geographic disadvantages. Li Lingyun believed that even if a new hospital were built, Changxing’s prospects wouldn’t look good.

Yu Mo said that such matters were not something they could worry about. As healthcare workers, their responsibility is just to treat and save people. The development planning of Changxing is the leadership’s responsibility. If Dean Gu can’t accomplish it during his term, then Dean Zhao might have to do it. If Dean Zhao can’t manage it in his term, perhaps it’ll be Dean Xu next. In summary, there’s always new talented people emerging, each excelling for a few centuries.

Li Lingyun jokingly encouraged Xu Chunliang: "Director Xu, put in the effort. We have high hopes for you." Actually, she felt it impossible, as nowadays education is increasingly valued, especially in the healthcare sector. How could a high school graduate ever become a dean? Some achievements can be made with hard work, but some aren’t achievable no matter how hard you try. If Xu Chunliang doesn’t continue his studies to earn a solid degree, it’s unlikely he’ll even surpass his current position in the department.

Xu Chunliang modestly expressed that he has no hope, fully aware they were just saying nice words. With his current qualifications, becoming a dean was impossible, not to mention he didn’t view the dean’s position as significant. Changxing Hospital currently employs over 1,800 people, counting as a large hospital within the province, yet it still can’t be compared to the Five Poison Sect. Back when he led the Five Poison Sect, they had over 100,000 official members alone.

If he could manage the Five Poison Sect orderly and cohesively, what significance does a mere Changxing Hospital hold?

Yu Li brought up the phone theft case in the business hall. Lu Qi told her the investigation was deepening, and they found out Han Tianchi was part of an organized theft gang. Several theft cases in Dongzhou over the past two years were linked to them. Higher authorities have decided to thoroughly investigate this gang, not letting any criminal escape, to catch them all in one fell swoop.

While Lu Qi was speaking, Yu Li was gazing at him intently, clearly focusing on him.

Li Lingyun’s old matchmaking habit resurfaced, telling Xu Chunliang that their department just got a very beautiful nurse, and she could help set them up.

Xu Chunliang politely declined her kind offer. Li Lingyun repeatedly emphasized how pretty the nurse was, with both parents as teachers and having a great family background. It would be a pity to miss out.

Yu Mo sensed Xu Chunliang probably didn’t like this type of arranged romance and tried to help him out by saying, maybe Xiaoxu already had someone in mind, and told Li Lingyun not to have one-sided enthusiasm.

Just then, Pei Lin called. Due to the issue with Tingmei Breast Enhancement, she urgently returned from Hai Zhou. After understanding the situation, she immediately contacted Xu Chunliang. Pei Yu outright suspected this crisis incident was related to Huichun Hall, but she had no evidence. Post-incident, they contacted the headquarters to confirm that no other franchise experienced similar incidents before them. The breast enhancement cream couldn’t cause allergies, and how could it be so coincidental that clients with allergic symptoms couldn’t be treated at the hospital, but Huichun Hall could cure them? There must be some undisclosed connection.

Pei Lin also found the incident odd but believed that without evidence, they shouldn’t speculate recklessly. Besides, they already owed Xu Chunliang a favor. Although Pei Lin is Pei Yu’s cousin, she is much more adaptable in business dealings, which is why she was able to make their pharmaceutical business thrive.

Pei Lin decided to talk with Xu Chunliang, as this posed an unprecedented crisis for Tingmei Breast Enhancement. If not handled properly, they could face very severe consequences.

The test report on the breast enhancement cream now became crucial to first determine if there are any allergenic components in it. The cream is technically not a medicine, but it was approved with a national (health) number, essentially classifying it as a health product. With years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Pei Lin is thorough in her considerations. The original franchise agreement included a clause stating that if any product quality issues cause physical harm to clients, the headquarters would shoulder all responsibilities and compensate triple the damages to the franchisee.

Based on this compensation clause, Pei Yu also promised the client that they would double the compensation if the cream was proved faulty.

Pei Lin thought Pei Yu shouldn’t have made such a promise so early. Making such unconditional promises before the results come out is extremely risky. If it turns out the cream isn’t faulty, the headquarters will definitely deflect responsibility, making them bear all the pressure. Clients won’t care whether the breast enhancement cream had problems or not. They now believe it’s the issue with Tingmei Breast Enhancement and will certainly seek compensation.

Xu Chunliang was a bit annoyed by Li Lingyun’s overwhelming enthusiasm, so he took the opportunity to leave and asked Pei Lin to pick him up at the First-class Residence.

Pei Lin, having a favor to ask, obviously had no objections and appeared outside First-class Residence ten minutes later.

Finding an excuse to leave early, Li Lingyun saw the Porsche MACAN through the window from outside and had a vague glimpse of a woman inside. Recalling Xu Chunliang’s earlier evasiveness, it seemed he indeed had a girlfriend.

Yu Mo recognized the car since Pei Lin, doing business with Changxing, often interacted with key department heads, and her car frequently appeared in Changxing’s parking lot. Additionally, Yu Mo considered buying a similar model and had consulted her, so the impression was profound. After a look at the license plate, she was sure it was her car. She found it a bit strange, wondering if Xu Chunliang and Pei Lin were together, recalling all sorts of rumors about Pei Lin at Changxing, causing Yu Mo to frown.

Xu Chunliang opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. Pei Lin wore makeup, used perfume, and exuded an aggressive fragrance, with a charming smile mixed with a hint of flattery: "Director Xu, sorry for interrupting your meal."

"It’s nothing, I should be thanking you for saving me."

Pei Lin suggested going nearby for some tea to talk.

Xu Chunliang glanced at the time and, finding it still early, agreed to her arrangement.

Pei Lin drove to the nearby Nanshan South Tea House, just a few hundred meters from the First-class Residence. Xu Chunliang noticed that most tea houses nowadays adopted a Japanese style, with garden landscapes imitating Japanese dry gardens, reflecting Zen aesthetics, aligning with the pursuit of tea and Zen being one.

Pei Lin, having extensive connections, also had friends here, arranged for a quiet private room overlooking the garden outside the window.

Seeking monthly votes and subscriptions!