Chapter 1080: Psychological Pressure

Yan Huaiyi said, “But… but the hospital’s work still can’t do without… without you.”

Xu Chunliang smiled and said, “Thank you to both leaders for your regard. I never said I would leave the hospital. Rest assured, I will continue to work hard for the hospital’s development.”

After Xu Chunliang left, Yan Huaiyi sighed and said, “Xiaoxu truly understands the greater good.”

Sun Weimin said, “Stepping away from the limelight isn’t necessarily a bad thing. By voluntarily resigning, we now have something to report to the higher-ups, and Kangjian Group has no excuse to make things difficult. The next step is the official contract negotiations.”

Yan Huaiyi nodded. In truth, they did not have much room to haggle in this negotiation, apart from the plot of land Xu Chunliang managed to keep through his efforts, with the main construction funds being raised through investment attraction.

Yan Huaiyi was also under a lot of pressure. Before coming to the Infectious Disease Hospital, he thought he would finish his term and retire with honor, but now he was caught up in the construction of the new hospital. If successful, he would certainly leave a good name in the hospital’s records, but if unsuccessful, he might bear a bad reputation. In short, his remaining term wouldn’t be easy.

Sun Weimin, although the party secretary, faced the same dilemma. If something went wrong, he couldn’t stay out of it either.

Yan Huaiyi said, “In the negotiation process, we must adhere to principles, maintain the bottom line, and never harm the interests of the hospital employees.”

Sun Weimin said, “Changxing’s hand is stronger than ours, but they also ended up embarrassed due to the foreign capital introduction. We don’t seek to be remembered in history, just to avoid…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone understood.

This quarter’s financial report for Changxing Hospital was good. Ren Tianye, the new CEO of Equatorial Capital, came to Dongzhou specifically to meet with Wang Jiancheng and invited him to inspect Changxing together.

Wang Jiancheng felt rather helpless. He had joined Jishi Medical Investment Co., Ltd. initially because of Qiao Rulong, but now that the people on Qiao Rulong’s side had withdrawn entirely, leaving only him behind to help.

He also wanted to offload his ten percent stake, but Equatorial Capital wasn’t interested, and no one else outside was interested either. Mainly because Equatorial Capital, as the acquirer of Jishi Medical, had absolute control, and the reputation of Changxing Hospital wasn’t good, already seen as a classic case of failed public-private partnership.

The purpose of Wang Jiancheng’s meeting with Ren Tianye was to hopefully cash out his ten percent stake soon and sever any ties with Changxing Hospital.

At the start of the meeting, Ren Tianye told Wang Jiancheng that he wasn’t interested in buying his ten percent stake, but he was interested in collaborating with him.

Wang Jiancheng had considered this outcome, given his background. Furthermore, the top leader in Dongzhou, Wang Jianming, was his cousin. Ren Tianye’s decision to bind them together in investment to some extent helped mitigate risk.

Privately, Ren Tianye also offered Wang Jiancheng better profit-sharing terms, and upon seeing these terms, Wang Jiancheng basically dispelled the idea of exiting.

After a half-day inspection at the Changxing construction site and a simple working lunch, they went to Changxing Hospital to hear Director Zhao Feiyang report on the hospital’s operations.

Wang Jiancheng had no previous experience investing in hospitals, so he rarely spoke.

Zhao Feiyang’s report was repeatedly interrupted by Ren Tianye, whose interruptions and questions were highly professional.

Zhao Feiyang’s mood grew increasingly tense. He was not facing such a situation for the first time, yet he had previously handled the Tang Brothers with ease. Generally speaking, the Tang Brothers weren’t considered insiders of medical management, but Ren Tianye was different. This person could pinpoint every detail, where an issue occurred, and where he wanted to gloss over. In short, Zhao Feiyang had to be meticulous in front of Ren Tianye, who was undoubtedly a master in operations management.

Zhao Feiyang even felt like a primary school student, with Ren Tianye being the teacher.

Wang Jiancheng couldn’t help but show admiration. Being in the business world for many years, he had seen plenty of prominent business figures, but not many with such sharp insight as Ren Tianye. If initially, he was swayed by the dividends offered by Ren Tianye, now it was because of Ren Tianye’s personal charm. Such a person was bound to succeed.

Zhao Feiyang finally finished his report, his forehead now visibly bead with fine sweat.

Ren Tianye closed the financial report Zhao Feiyang had prepared and said calmly, “A quarterly financial report doesn’t explain anything. What is the purpose of the second-phase project and the construction of the joint-stock hospital?”

Zhao Feiyang replied, “It is to improve the comprehensive level of medical care, enhance the conditions for patients, attract more patients, expand the medical market, and become one of the most powerful hospitals in the Jianghai Region.”

Ren Tianye said, “Changxing Hospital is already one of them. If you want to improve, strive to be the best. I find there are significant issues with your past strategic thinking for hospital development.”

Zhao Feiyang was clearly nervous. The new CEO of Equatorial Capital had come with unkind intentions. Does he have a prejudice against me? Zhao Feiyang anxiously asked for guidance, “President Ren, please advise.”

Ren Tianye said, “Let me ask you a question. Should development follow construction, or should it develop alongside construction?”

Zhao Feiyang said, “Of course, it should develop alongside construction.”

Ren Tianye said, “But I don’t see that happening.” He tossed the quarterly financial report onto the desk. “When I said that your quarterly financial report doesn’t explain the problem, it wasn’t to deny your achievements. Compared to the same period in Changxing Hospital’s history, there is progress. But as a hospital’s manager, your vision shouldn’t be so limited. You shouldn’t just look back, but also forward and sideways. Though I have no past experience investing in hospitals, I’m accustomed to comparing. In the past two years, the domestic medical market has been generally favorable; major hospitals are thriving. I don’t compare you on a national scale. Restricting it to Dongzhou, your financial report for this quarter isn’t outstanding but rather poor.”

After saying this, Ren Tianye picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Wang Jiancheng noticed he was using this gesture to increase psychological pressure on Zhao Feiyang. This person was impressive.

Zhao Feiyang said, “President Ren, I admit that Changxing’s development in recent years has indeed lagged. However, I, along with all the staff, are working hard to change this issue.”

Ren Tianye said, “Change indeed takes time. But giving the management time without seeing results is a mistake in selection by the investors. Comrade Feiyang, I’m not targeting you personally.”

Zhao Feiyang felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He already wanted to stand up and talk to Ren Tianye. He had a peculiar feeling about this man, different from ordinary businessmen. He even found a sense of reporting to a superior leader.

Ren Tianye said, “Developing alongside construction can’t just be words without action. Once the hospital’s second-phase project and the joint-stock hospital are completed, they will certainly improve the condition for medical treatment, but this isn’t the key. Do we have to wait until everything is built to take big steps? Are you the only ones building while others stand still? Today, Changxing received a 3 billion investment; tomorrow, another hospital could receive 5 billion or even 10 billion. Funding is one of the conditions for a hospital’s development, but it’s never the most important.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Jiancheng felt like applauding. Ren Tianye’s critique of Zhao Feiyang was precise. Now, Zhao Feiyang lowered his head, all he could do was listen.

“No comprehensive hospital can achieve truly balanced development. Resources must tilt towards key departments. Maximizing hospital efficiency on existing foundations, boosting morale, and enhancing the initiative of all employees is your task as a manager. I’m giving you three months, I need to see change.”

Zhao Feiyang nodded vigorously, the pressure inside indescribable. At the last minute, Qiao Rulong abandoned the investment and transferred Jishi Medical’s shares, making his initial hopes vanish. What frustrated him more was that Ren Tianye turned out to be sharper than the Tang Brothers, making the offered three months likely to be his deadline in office.

Ren Tianye and Wang Jiancheng left together in the same car. Ren Tianye said to Wang Jiancheng, “President Wang, how do you feel about my giving him a three-month trial period?”

Wang Jiancheng said, “President Ren, you are wise.”

The two exchanged a look and both laughed. Ren Tianye said, “To be honest, the impression Zhao Feiyang gives me isn’t great. He has some management capability, but he’s not fit for major duties. Does President Wang have any suitable managers in mind?”

Wang Jiancheng heard that he had decided to replace Zhao Feiyang. The three months weren’t for Zhao Feiyang to be tested but for utilizing Zhao Feiyang as a transitional figure, as the saying goes, ‘ride the donkey while looking for a horse.’

Wang Jiancheng said, “A professional manager can solve this problem.”

Ren Tianye said, “I’ll leave Dongzhou matters to you, President Wang.”

Wang Jiancheng said, “President Ren, no need to be too formal. You can just call me by my name in the future.”

Ren Tianye said, “Then I won’t be formal either. You can call me Old Ren. Jiancheng, the biggest issue with Changxing Hospital is its emphasis on comprehensive development. In fact, they currently have two key departments: radiotherapy and cardiothoracic surgery. I was clear enough today, now it’s up to Zhao Feiyang to grasp it.”

Wang Jiancheng said, “Old Ren, I have something to ask. I heard your Equatorial Capital planned to invest in the New Dongzhou Infectious Disease Hospital before. Why did you immediately halt that project once you took office and instead chose Changxing Hospital?”

Ren Tianye smiled and said, “We all know investment shouldn’t be mixed with emotions. The project for the New Dongzhou Infectious Disease Hospital was Mo Han’s choice. You might have heard about her relationship with Xu Chunliang.”

Wang Jiancheng sighed and said, “Xu Chunliang really has quite the charm.”

Ren Tianye said, “Even without the Changxing Hospital project, I would have stopped the investment in the New Dongzhou Infectious Disease Hospital. The timing just coincided with Jishi Medical Investment Co., Ltd.’s urgency to sell, so I decisively chose to intervene. When comparing which offers a better return prospect, anyone who’s not blind can see.”