Chapter 921 - 887: Open Up Your Mindset

Luan Yuchuan just made a symbolic tour around the new site of the Infectious Disease Hospital before heading to the city. His schedule was packed today, including meetings with several Dongzhou leaders, indicating that he was only stopping by for a formal visit.

The Infectious Disease Hospital viewed this inspection as very important, and all the main leaders were present because, after all, it was the God of Wealth arriving, and they had to offer him a grand welcome.

Xu Chunliang thought this was making a fuss over nothing. Investment is a mutual consent matter; it takes two to tango. Equatorial Capital isn’t stupid; they wouldn’t engage in anything unprofitable, so they wouldn’t decide to invest or not based on grand receptions here.

After sending off Luan Yuchuan, Dean Yan Huaiyi seemed a bit uneasy and asked Xu Chunliang quietly if their reception hadn’t been enthusiastic enough, as President Luan left within half an hour and they didn’t get a chance to discuss specific investment plans. They had originally planned to invite him for a communication meeting at the hospital.

Seeing Dean Yan’s earnest and fearful expression, Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but chuckle, pointing at Mo Han, who was on the phone not far away, reminding Dean Yan that Mo Han was still there. With so many projects under Equatorial Capital, President Luan couldn’t oversee everything, and the investment here had been fully entrusted to Mo Han.

Upon hearing this, Dean Yan felt slightly relieved and thought to himself that with Pan Junfeng and Xu Chunliang handling things here, there was no need for him to worry too much. After all, thinking more wouldn’t be useful, so he briefly instructed a few things and left with other hospital leaders.

After finishing his call, Mo Han noticed Xu Chunliang standing next to him and glanced at him, saying, "Can you keep some distance? Trying to eavesdrop on trade secrets, huh?"

Xu Chunliang replied, "I’m not doing business; your trade secrets are worthless to me."

Mo Han asked, "Which university is your Infectious Disease Hospital affiliated with?"

Xu Chunliang said, "What?"

Seeing his puzzled expression, Mo Han laughed, "You, as the hospital office director, aren’t very familiar with your own hospital?"

Xu Chunliang realized that just like Changxing Hospital is affiliated with Pinghai University, what is the Infectious Disease Hospital affiliated with? He truly hadn’t heard about it, but he vaguely remembered it being an internship base for Dongzhou Medical School, with its status as a tertiary level hospital evident, requiring an affiliation that matched in prestige. Just like Dongzhou Medical University, being a province-level key university wouldn’t consider affiliating with their secondary hospital.

Mo Han had already done his research: "Do you have connections at Dongzhou Medical University? Perhaps you can use them to get an affiliate badge, which would sound better when mentioned. Other medical universities would work too; the more reputable, the better. It’s always good to be backed by a big name."

Xu Chunliang pondered over this, thinking of his closest connection, his aunt Xu Jiawen, who currently worked at Nanjiang University, but since she was just an academic, he decided not to involve her. Suddenly, he thought of Mo Han as a ready-made contact, and he joked, "Isn’t Europe Business School run by you guys? Why not just have it as Europe Business School’s affiliated hospital?"

Mo Han replied, "Use your head; no hospital displays a business school’s affiliate badge, and Europe Business School is a foreign-funded entity. Even if it were possible to get the badge, the procedure would be too complicated. It’s best to have a university within the province, ideally a province-level key university."

Xu Chunliang replied, "Let me think it over."

Mo Han told him to take his time. After all, this isn’t an urgent matter; they had already reached a preliminary agreement with the Provincial People’s Hospital, and they could eventually designate their cooperative hospital as the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of the Provincial People’s Hospital.

Hearing it was ranked as fifth, Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but feel a bit disdainful, as it sounded like an impromptu setup. Moreover, merely getting this badge meant the Provincial People’s Hospital would claim five percent of the shares, which made Xu Chunliang personally feel it was a bad deal, suspecting Equatorial Capital and the Provincial People’s Hospital were colluding to stealthily take their shares.

On the way back to the hospital, Xu Chunliang called Qin Zhengyang, asking if he had any university connections. Qin Zhengyang provided him with an entirely new perspective. Ideally, Dongzhou Medical University would be a perfect match, but they already have three affiliate hospitals locally, and even if negotiations succeed, they would be ranked as the fourth one, requiring a substantial management fee each year. Furthermore, hanging the Dongzhou Medical University affiliate badge wouldn’t be recognized by others as when locals mention the affiliate hospitals, they primarily think of the Second People’s Hospital.

The Central Hospital bears a badge from the Provincial Railway Medical University, which is known as a strategic workaround. Qin Zhengyang suggested discussing with Zhonghua Mining University, allowing them to bear the affiliate badge and directly upgrade to a nationally recognized level, as they are a ministry-affiliated 211 university, offering greater prestige than local medical colleges.

Xu Chunliang believed Qin Zhengyang missed the emphasis as Zhonghua Mining University, although a 211, lacks a medical school.

Qin Zhengyang was clear; the conventional model has the medical school first, then the affiliated hospital. But it doesn’t mean you can’t have the affiliated hospital first and then establish a medical school.

As universities strive for development, most have embraced comprehensive growth. According to his insider information, Zhonghua Mining University was preparing to establish a medical school, a project overseen by the secretary’s wife, He Wanying.

If the Medical School at Zhonghua Mining University gets established, many hospitals will vie to become affiliates.

This is still in the preparation phase; the Infectious Disease Hospital can take advantage now, and an affiliated hospital could start enrollment faster than a newly established medical school.

Moreover, a combination of medicine and engineering is the way forward, with Zhonghua Mining University’s safety discipline ranked nationally, inherently requiring crossover with medical disciplines to find new power points. Previously, the university participated in coal mine occupational disease prevention.

Many domestic engineering colleges offer medical schools having affiliated hospitals, and they wouldn’t be the first to try such an approach.

Xu Chunliang’s mindset was transformed by Qin Zhengyang, realizing it should be a mutual endeavor. Though familiar with He Wanying, he wasn’t close enough, so he thought of Ye Qingya.

Xu Chunliang’s action-oriented style led him to contact Ye Qingya immediately, who readily agreed. She would directly approach He Wanying.

When Xu Chunliang returned to the hospital, Xiahou Mulan had already arrived. The person responsible for receiving Xiahou Mulan was Vice Dean Zhao Hongxia, who usually handled the hospital’s procurement of medicines and equipment.

Zhao Hongxia was somewhat wary of Xiahou Mulan’s arrival, after all, Xiahou Mulan was Xu Chunliang’s connection. In the past, hospital procurement was basically under her control, and now Xu Chunliang had stepped into her jurisdiction.

Others might not know, but Zhao Hongxia was well aware that the Mulan Group was powerful and definitely a leader in the field of traditional Chinese medicine planting and processing. However, she couldn’t quite understand why such a large group would actively seek out Dongzhou Infectious Disease Hospital and aim to establish a comprehensive partnership with them.

Xiahou Mulan had already reviewed the cooperation proposal from Dongzhou Infectious Disease Hospital, but she did not express any opinion. The Mulan Group was hardly lacking in such small business, signing this agreement was mainly to cover for Xu Chunliang.

When Xu Chunliang arrived, he apologetically said, "Sorry, I’m late."

Xiahou Mulan replied, "I haven’t been here long."

Zhao Hongxia smiled and said, "What does President Xia think of our cooperation proposal?"

Xiahou Mulan corrected her, "My surname is Xiahou, not Xia."

Zhao Hongxia was slightly embarrassed, "Sorry, I misheard, President Xiahou."

Xu Chunliang sighed inwardly; this Zhao Hongxia really wasn’t up to the mark, he wondered how she became Vice Dean.

Xiahou Mulan said, "I’ve read this cooperation proposal, and it’s very incomplete. Since it’s a strategic partnership between both parties, it should be exclusive. Within the range of products that the Mulan Group can provide, your hospital should consider us as the only choice, not one of the choices. Similarly, for the sake of fairness in this cooperation, I can guarantee that, for the same medicinal herbs, our Mulan Group will ensure the best quality at the lowest price."

Zhao Hongxia laughed, "How can that be ensured? To be honest, we can’t conduct comparative identification for each medicinal herb..."

Xiahou Mulan unceremoniously interrupted her, "The brand of Mulan Group is the guarantee. Our base plants more than a hundred species of medicinal herbs, over three hundred varieties, among which Baishao, Duanxueliu, and Peony Bark are listed among the top ten Anhui medicines. The medicinal herbs we produce are all top-notch in the country. The Dongzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital uses our products, and the Dongzhou Pharmaceutical Company also sources from us."

Zhao Hongxia said, "It’s just that we’ve always had long-term partner manufacturers, and I must report your exclusivity proposal to the hospital leadership."

Xiahou Mulan said, "It’s alright, you can choose not to cooperate, after all, it’s not my loss."

Zhao Hongxia was completely subdued by Xiahou Mulan’s presence, she smiled and said she would go and consult Dean Yan.

Xu Chunliang poured a cup of tea for Xiahou Mulan and brought it over, "Thank you for your effort."

Xiahou Mulan said, "The play is almost over, no need to insist on signing any cooperation agreement."

Xu Chunliang said, "Even if the mosquito is small, it’s still meat. I’m just trying to find some economic compensation for you."

Xiahou Mulan raised her hand, "Stop it, I don’t need that bit of meat. Couldn’t you tell? Just now, that Dean Zhao was reluctant; she has her own connections. By bringing our Group in, you’re bound to disrupt her interests. When I added the exclusivity clause, she immediately became unhappy."

Xu Chunliang didn’t take the cooperation agreement seriously either, "How about this, in the future, Changshan Hospital will purchase all the necessary medicinal herbs from your group."

Xiahou Mulan said, "Forget it, with your family’s anorectal hospital."

Xu Chunliang blinked, realizing from her tone that she must have investigated him, "Don’t look down on people. What’s wrong with the Anorectal Hospital? The business at Changshan Hospital is doing well, it’s hard to get a number now, and the usage of medicinal herbs is no less than that of the Infectious Disease Hospital."

Xiahou Mulan said, "I didn’t mean that, okay, in the future, if Changshan Hospital needs anything, I’ll give you the most favorable price."

Xu Chunliang gave her a thumbs-up, "Generous!"

Xiahou Mulan said, "I should head back, who knows when she’ll finish reporting."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’ll see you off."

Xiahou Mulan said, "I have a car."