Healing Doctor

Chapter 301 Don't Ask!

"Xiao Ji, how come you got here so quickly?" Director Bai asked while changing his clothes.

"I'll help Professor Meng out in the emergency room for a bit."

"He's still young and willing to spend time in the emergency department," Director Bai said with a smile, recalling his own energetic self in his youth.

"Director Bai, I heard there's a problem at the blood bank. What exactly happened?" Ji Xiang asked.

"Don't ask." Director Bai waved his hand. "You're still young, avoid these kinds of things. You're still young, expose yourself to more positive things."

Director Bai quickly changed his clothes, realizing that he had spoken a bit too bluntly. He changed his tone and said gently, "Everyone knows the main reason, but no one is willing to say it."

"Oh?"

"The main problem is insufficient investment," Director Bai sighed. "Blood banks are indeed a good business, but to say they're extremely corrupt isn't necessarily true. In the beginning, selling blood was rampant. Have you read 'Xu Sanguan Sells Blood'?"

"I've heard of it, but I haven't seen it," Ji Xiang replied.

"Take some time to see what it was like in the 1980s. Later, it was changed to voluntary blood donation, and anything that's voluntary has a problem. Putting aside all the other stuff, just look at the rule that immediate family members can use blood for free after donating blood—doesn't that sound like a Ponzi scheme?"

When it comes to Ponzi schemes, Ji Xiang first heard about them from his own father.

When Ji Xiang contacted the blood bank, he never expected that such a typical financial scam would come from Director Bai's mouth.

"Since it's a Ponzi scheme, it'll eventually break down. There's no point in saying too much. At least for the past twenty years, most emergency patients have had access to blood transfusions," Director Bai said earnestly. "I'm just the head of the medical affairs department; I can't manage that much, and I don't have much research to do. As for dealing with some unfair situations, we'll have to see how we handle them tactfully."

"A direct confrontation isn't out of the question, since we're in the right," Director Bai said, giving Ji Xiang a deep look.

Ji Xiang sensed something was amiss and turned to stare intently.

"Just like what you did in Shanghai, it certainly felt satisfying, but it added a lot of unnecessary variables to your future." Director Bai gave Ji Xiang a deep look.

He wasn't as talkative as a system NPC. If this were in the system's operating room, Ji Xiang was certain that the system NPC, with his hands behind his back and back bent, would have already started instilling values, but Director Bai didn't continue.

"Thank you, Director Bai," Ji Xiang said softly.

"You're welcome." Director Bai accepted Ji Xiang's thanks readily. "Everyone has a youthful phase, and I know the feeling of being full of youthful passion. No rush, you're still young."

Director Bai was reminded of the swallow from his hometown when he was a child.

Who knows if it will come back in the future? Anyway, its existence is auspicious and a sign of good fortune.

Ji Xiang was the swallow in his heart, so Director Bai went on and on to explain the whole story to Ji Xiang.

Director Bai was even a little worried that Ji Xiang's reckless courage might escalate the situation and create further complications.

It's always better to avoid trouble than to get into trouble. Who wants to deal with these unpleasant things at the hospital in the middle of the night?

"Go back and rest."

"Director Bai, what about you?" Ji Xiang asked curiously.

"I still have to wait at the medical affairs office." Director Bai covered his forehead, looking distressed and exhausted. "The patient needs to be stable after surgery, and I need to report to Dean Sun. Look at the time! If I report now, I'll definitely get scolded, but if I don't report tomorrow, I'll get scolded anyway."

"Damn it, only a grandson works in the medical department."

"Hahaha." Although Ji Xiang was young, he had watched his mother do business for many years and could understand Director Bai's mindset to some extent.

"Go on, about today's matter..." Director Bai said, glancing curiously at Ji Xiang, "Dr. Ji, I have a question for you."

"Director Bai, please speak."

"Can you handle other emergencies?" Director Bai asked a question that even he found absurd.

But in that instant, his sixth sense told Director Bai that Ji Xiang could definitely handle it.

"Director Bai..." Ji Xiang shivered, his mind racing as he recalled his actions but couldn't find any flaws. "I'm still a resident physician."

"Alright, go back and rest," Director Bai said. "If you have any clinical problems, come to me."

……

……

Ji Xiang pondered Director Bai's words, not in a hurry, and instead of going straight home, he went to the emergency department.

"Teacher Meng, I'm back."

Meng Qingfei was sitting in the consultation room looking at his phone when Ji Xiang walked in and said something.

"Oh, you're back," Meng Qingfei said with a smile. "How did the surgery go?"

"Smoothly." Ji Xiang didn't boast, but simply replied calmly.

"That's good." Meng Qingfei didn't ask any further questions.

"Teacher Meng, I have a question for you." Ji Xiang asked the same question again.

In the stillness of the night, it's the perfect time to share your innermost thoughts.

"Oh, I don't know much about the blood bank, but Director Bai makes a good point," Meng Qingfei said. "Let me give you an example."

"We see splenic rupture quite often in the emergency room. Once we see it, we rush the patient to the hepatobiliary tract for splenectomy, which can save their life. The surgery itself isn't difficult, but it's a matter of life and death. Now the question is—how much does a splenic rupture surgery cost?"

Ji Xiang was taken aback; he had never thought about money before.

"350 yuan, and that's after the price has been raised two or three times in recent years in an effort to increase doctors' income."

"..." Ji Xiang shrugged.

In the operating room, he asked the patient whether they needed coils or gel sponges, because the system NPC had mentioned it, so Jixiang Machinery remembered it.

The topic of surgery costs for a ruptured spleen is now quite unfamiliar.

"350, you go and start... you know how to start, right?"

"have no idea."

"There's a large chain hair salon in our provincial capital. I used to go there, but they raised their prices so much I couldn't stand it anymore. A buzz cut now costs 50 yuan, but 350 yuan only gets you a simple women's hairstyle."

"A life, and a woman's hairstyle, that's how absurd it is."

Ji Xiang remained silent.

"That's not all. This 350 yuan will have to cover the costs of operating room equipment, routine surgical instruments, and the consumption of coal, water, electricity, and gas. What's left is the labor cost for all the doctors and nurses on the operating table."

"In the end, it's possible that this group of people would lose money even if they took office."

"Losing money?"

"Yes." Meng Qingfei nodded. "Actually, it doesn't matter. The government will just invest according to regulations. However, there's not much profit margin for medical staff."

"The Tian-affiliated group has only taken a small share of the domestic healthcare market, yet they've already made so much money. If they were to completely privatize hospitals, can you imagine it? Do you even dare to imagine it?"

"Teacher, do you wish to transfer to a private school?" Ji Xiang asked a pointed question.

"I don't want to." Meng Qingfei shook his head. "This place has been cleaned by Libai countless times over the years."

As he spoke, he pointed to his head.

"I'll just make do. It's good to treat patients, save lives, and earn some money to support my family."

(End of this chapter)