Chapter 848 - 815: Family Status
Xu Chunliang said: "Dean Pan, your biggest problem is money, right?"
Pan Junfeng laughed and said: "Money is just one aspect. Actually, the land originally approved by the city for us wasn’t that large. Later, we considered the hospital’s future development, so we applied to expand the land area. On this point, our leadership has different opinions internally. Some people feel I’ve been too aggressive regarding this matter. In my opinion, medical development is extremely rapid now, and people have higher demands for their health. I vividly remember the pandemic from twenty years ago. Since we’re building, we should focus on the long-term and aim to construct a high-level modern infectious disease hospital, always keeping the awareness of large epidemic prevention."
Xu Chunliang agreed on this point. Nowadays, all major hospitals are undergoing construction, not to mention Changxing Hospital, which is implementing a stockholding system and a second phase project.
Pan Junfeng said: "The country is increasing its focus on the treatment of infectious diseases. Many experts are advocating for expanding the scale of infectious disease hospitals to achieve ’combining peace and war’. Within the industry, it’s generally believed that the level of intensive care for infectious diseases must improve. The hospital should have its intensive care team, and the hospital shouldn’t only have an infectious disease department but should be built as a comprehensive hospital with a large infectious disease department. Otherwise, it will result in insufficient comprehensive treatment capacity, and severe cases will need assistance. Moreover, compared to treating infectious diseases in ordinary hospital departments, expanding the scale of infectious disease hospitals for centralized treatment can maximize the saving of medical resources and reduce the impact on the normal medical services of other hospitals."
Although Xu Chunliang has experience working at Changxing Hospital, the infectious disease hospital has its special and professional nature. For him, it counts as an entirely new field, so he listened very carefully.
Pan Junfeng continued: "Currently, at the provincial, city, and national levels, there is full policy and financial support. Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission announced that a total of 45.66 billion yuan has been earmarked by the central government for the health sector’s central internal budget, dedicated to strengthening public health control and treatment capacity building, including comprehensively improving county-level medical and health service capacity, upgrading and transforming major epidemic treatment bases, and reserving a certain number of treatment facilities and equipment, etc."
Xu Chunliang said: "In that case, it should be easy to apply for financial grants."
Pan Junfeng said: "If we follow the original plan, relying on fiscal allocations would be sufficient. However, our new design proposal requires more funds, so solely relying on national fiscal allocations is far from enough. Our ultimate goal is to build a comprehensive hospital characterized by infectious diseases."
Xu Chunliang asked: "What does Dean Yan think?"
Pan Junfeng smiled and said: "He has entrusted the infrastructure matters to me. I am not an expert in this area, and I am exploring as well. It’s good that you are here; you have experience and should be able to help me a lot."
Pan Junfeng was evidently trying to draw Xu Chunliang into his faction. Xu Chunliang didn’t immediately agree, nor did he outright refuse, and instinctively felt that this was a big project, yet another major undertaking. His biggest trait is not being afraid of causing a stir.
He asked Pan Junfeng for some materials to research further.
That evening, Xu Chunliang found time to call Yan Huaiyi to inquire about the hospital’s construction plan. Yan Huaiyi told Xu Chunliang that the matter of constructing a new infectious disease hospital was decided before he assumed the role of dean. At that time, Pan Junfeng was in charge. He refrained from interfering because Pan had been preparing for several years, and intervening now would appear as if he’s hijacking the credit.
Moreover, this is a highly sensitive issue; if performed well, it’s a big achievement; if not, responsibilities must be taken. Furthermore, the state’s allocated funds are insufficient to support the construction of a large hospital. Before Yan Huaiyi arrived, the preliminary plan for the infectious disease hospital was established. They are constructing it according to the standards of a tertiary comprehensive hospital, meaning that after completion, it won’t be purely an infectious disease hospital; it will also treat regular patients.
This is primarily because income solely from infectious diseases is rather limited. In recent years, the spectrum of diseases has undergone significant changes. Due to the promotion of vaccines, improvement in people’s dietary hygiene levels, and increased health awareness, the incidence rate of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, tuberculosis, measles, and schistosomiasis, which once plagued at large scales, has significantly decreased. Without a patient source, the income of the infectious disease hospital is constantly declining.
Yan Huaiyi isn’t particularly ambitious. His management principle is to avoid errors if not seeking merits, believing the infectious disease hospital only needs to excel in its specialty without unnecessary overhauling into a comprehensive hospital. When at Changxing previously, Zhao Feiyang was an aggressor. If Zhao Feiyang had adhered to that family business of Changxing and proceeded cautiously, he wouldn’t be in today’s predicament of having nowhere to retreat, becoming a laughing stock in the Dongzhou healthcare system.
The main conflict between Yan Huaiyi and Pan Junfeng lies in the aspect of hospital development. Yan Huaiyi belongs to the conservative side, whereas Pan Junfeng is relatively aggressive, influenced by their age difference as well. Yan Huaiyi will retire after serving one term, while Pan Junfeng is in his prime; fulfilling two terms wouldn’t be an issue if he smoothly succeeds Yan Huaiyi’s position.
Although the city has approved the land for the new hospital, there’s still a significant distance from construction. The land was chosen at the old mining area, determined by the special nature of the infectious disease hospital, with site selections typically far from urban commercial areas. Take their current location as an example: initially surrounded by mountains on three sides and fronted by farmland, only with urban expansion has it gradually moved into the core circle.
The city has its own plans: after providing them with the new hospital site, once the new hospital is completed, this area will be reclaimed since they plan to construct a mountain park behind, which will be the largest forest park in Dongzhou City. Hence, if the infectious disease hospital continues existing here, it would become uncoordinated.
Yan Huaiyi is fully aware that he could only serve this one term and doesn’t have the energy to make a fuss. Even if construction begins smoothly, once the new hospital is completed, it’s under someone else’s management. Why trouble making clothes for others?
Besides, during construction, there are various unpredictable factors. Not to mention, just the selection of the new site at the mining area faced unanimous objection from surrounding residents, who have recently caused a stir at the local administrative department.
Most ordinary people are still alarmed by epidemics; although the infectious disease hospital primarily treats infectious diseases, it doesn’t mean that the hospital itself is infectious.
Xu Chunliang clarified the situation from Yan Huaiyi and combined it with the materials provided by Pan Junfeng to get a preliminary understanding.
He decided to take the time to visit the old mining district’s land. Initially, he wanted to invite Yan Huaiyi to join, but Yan held little interest in it, suggesting he ask Pan Junfeng. Xu Chunliang noticed that Old Yan indeed isn’t a career-oriented leader.
Xu Chunliang didn’t ask Pan Junfeng either; he invited Wang Fangtian and Ding Si to accompany him. One is a design expert, and the other specializes in engineering construction; specialized matters require consulting the opinions of professionals.
Early the next morning, Ding Si drove to pick up Wang Fangtian, then came to get Xu Chunliang.
Since Xu Chunliang was released from the Cultural and Tourism Bureau, none of them had met. Ding Si was unaffected and continued to work productively at Weishan Island’s construction site.
Wang Fangtian was also living well. When Xu Chunliang saw him, he inevitably exchanged polite remarks, given that his grandfather went to the Capital City to hang out with Wang Fangtian’s father-in-law, undoubtedly troubling them.
Upon hearing Xu Chunliang mention his grandfather’s trip to the Capital City, Wang Fangtian seemed surprised; he hadn’t heard about this matter at all.
Xu Chunliang then felt somewhat strange; he’d spoken to his grandfather by phone, who had explicitly mentioned staying at Gao Hong Hall’s home. There’s no way Wang wouldn’t have known about it—unless Gao Xinyue hadn’t informed him?
Observing Xu Chunliang’s expression, Wang Fangtian realized something and immediately called his wife, Gao Xinyue, asking if Elder Xu had visited their home.
Gao Xinyue, on her side, hadn’t seen Elder Xu at all.
Xu Chunliang could conclude his grandfather lied to them; he went to the Capital City, not finding his old friend Gao Hong Hall—so what was the true purpose? Could it be... Xu Chunliang felt his heart sink; could it be for the matter between him and Mei Ru Xue?
Xu Chunliang hurriedly dialed his grandfather’s number.
After a few rings, Xu Changshan picked up: "Chunliang, calling so early—is there a problem?"
Xu Chunliang said: "Grandfather, are you with Grandpa Gao?"
"Yes, the old buddies are playing chess together; I’ll reach out to you once I’m done." With that, Xu Changshan had already hung up the phone.
Xu Chunliang’s emotions turned complicated; his grandfather hadn’t told the truth, but regardless, as long as he is safe, that’s all that matters.
Having hung up the phone, Xu Changshan smiled at Elder Qiao across the table: "Elder Qiao, thank you for finding time for me."
Elder Qiao smiled and said: "Mr. Xu, there’s no need to be so polite between us old friends. You’ve come to meet me without Chunliang knowing, right?"
Xu Changshan nodded: "I haven’t informed him."
Elder Qiao said: "Not telling could be a good thing." He lifted the teapot to pour Xu Changshan some tea.
Xu Changshan quickly said: "How could I let you do that? I should be the one."
"As a visitor from afar, there’s no need for etiquette between you and me."
Elder Qiao’s hand was steady as ever, not spilling a drop while pouring the tea, making a gesture of invitation afterward.
Xu Changshan picked up the tea cup with both hands, took a sip, and said: "Elder Qiao, I have something I want to discuss with you."
Elder Qiao smiled and said: "Let me guess, it’s about Chunliang and Xiaoxue, isn’t it?"
Xu Changshan nodded, placing the tea cup down gently: "I think the kids still like each other."
Elder Qiao said: "You came to see me thinking I intervened, but I didn’t."
Xu Changshan said: "I truly can’t figure it out; how could the kids suddenly break apart like this?"
Elder Qiao said: "Young people’s relationship issues are beyond us. I’m not going to lie; although I like Chunliang, I don’t agree with him getting together with Xiaoxue. If they pursue marriage, they won’t be happy."
Xu Changshan looked at Elder Qiao puzzled. If he likes him, why not agree? He muttered, "Is it because of our vastly different family backgrounds?"