The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 300

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 300

On the way into the hospital, I had heard from Yun Heeyoung that there were a second department medical director and an administrative manager.

I expected a schedule where I would check the revenue indicators they showed, get a tour of the hospital, and then clearly determine the acquisition doctor.

Although I had only gone through the process once when acquiring my own clinic, isn’t that roughly how acquisitions work?

The attitude that the medical director or administrative manager would take during the process?

I thought they would be neutral without much thought, or show a negative perspective.

“Director Hanyewon, I’ve heard so much about you. I really wanted to meet you, but I never thought you’d come to our hospital!”

“Are we going to become Seongsoo Korean Medicine Hospital now? If we become an affiliate, we can read your books, study together, use the herbal decoction service, and occasionally ask for advice, right?”

“Yes? Yes. If we’re going to be in the same boat, of course…”

But why are three out of four medical directors here?

“Director Hwangseoyeong, welcome! We were worried but also excited about what kind of person would come as hospital director, and you have such a nice impression. Do you drink coffee?”

“Yes. Thank you…?”

Why are they welcoming us at such an unrealistically enthusiastic level?

Was the vacancy of the hospital director that difficult? And where did they hear about me?

“Director Jeong, what’s going on here…?”

Yun Heeyoung also seemed not to have expected this situation.

When she asked the man presumed to be the second department director while being flustered, he scratched his head and answered.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I should have kept it secret… I let slip that you two were coming to look today, and the other medical directors made a fuss saying we should welcome you.”

“Director Hanyewon, I’m a fan! Please give me your autograph!”

The one female director even held out my previously published book with both hands.

If she bought this… she really knew about me from before.

“But is only one person seeing patients right now? Is it okay for you to be here?”

“We actually played rock-paper-scissors to leave one person and took just 10 minutes off, so we can’t stay long! The director who’s seeing patients also supports you equally. We hope the discussion goes well!”

The two young directors who had been making a fuss shook hands vigorously with Hwangseoyeong, waved a banner once, and then disappeared like lightning.

“It’s a very bright hospital. Everyone seems close…”

“Right? That’s our hospital’s greatest strength.”

Only after the two left did the atmosphere finally become calm.

The second department director, Jeong Gihun, shrugged his shoulders awkwardly and apologized once more.

“I’m sorry if we made you feel burdened. Everyone must have been very excited that you two were coming in the midst of the chaos after Director Joo passed away.”

“Ahaha, I was a bit surprised. How did you know about me and prepare like this?”

“You’re the most famous network in the industry these days, of course we know!”

Is… that so?

“Our entire administrative staff welcomes you too. Let me start with introducing the hospital.”

From then on, the normal procedures finally began.

The administrative manager opened Excel and PDF files in order on his computer.

There was a lot of information, but among it all, I carefully examined the expense details.

I had three comparison groups where I roughly knew the hospital situations.

The Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital Changwon Branch where Hwang Sanghun could examine all the management operations, the Gangnam Branch where Hwangseoyeong worked, and ambiguously, the Korean University Affiliated Korean Medicine Hospital where Hwang Sanghun worked for a year and picked up various information from professors.

‘Sanghun’s contribution is significant.’

Compared to those places…

“The personnel cost expenditure is on the high side, but the financial condition is good.”

First, the number of nurses and nursing assistants relative to inpatients, which is always problematic, was quite generous.

“Director Joo believed that work shouldn’t be excessive to be kind.”

“Oh ho.”

Right. Both kindness and passion are only possible when you have physical leeway.

The work intensity of the front desk and administrative department was difficult to estimate, but the salary per person was set slightly higher than other hospitals.

But for the total amount to be like this.

“Do you do this little marketing? The amounts are inconsistent.”

“Yes, we only increased it occasionally when needed, depending on the situation. Basically, many people came after reading Director Joo’s books.”

“Ah, he wrote many books for the general public too.”

“That’s right. He had so many books written over decades, and in the past he consistently serialized medical stories in newspapers, and later on blogs. Thanks to that, we could save a lot on marketing costs.”

Looking at the chart, there were also several Western medicine hospitals with close relationships through MOUs, and they would send long-term inpatients for rehabilitation purposes.

“Amazing. To think the hospital was maintained even with such savings.”

Hwangseoyeong’s eyes changed, as she knew better than I how hospitals operate.

Of course, when the hospital director changes, some cost expenditure should be expected, but the hospital reputation built so far was already a great advantage.

The administrative manager explained the data in detail, pointing to specific items.

Director Jeong Gihun also added comments here and there, persuading Hwangseoyeong.

“There aren’t many hospitals as good as ours. Highly recommended!”

“But if the hospital is this good, didn’t you consider acquiring it yourself, Director Jeong?”

I suddenly became curious and asked Jeong Gihun.

Since the second department director and administrative manager were filling the vacant hospital director position, wouldn’t it be worth considering?

“Me? Oh, I can’t do it. My current life is just right. I once opened a clinic right after graduation and failed. If I ever brought up acquisition, my wife would be the first to strongly oppose it.”

“Ah, there was such a story.”

Well, the data I just saw showed the second department director’s monthly salary alone was a whopping 18 million won after taxes.

In middle age, he might not want to take risks.

“The Director of Department 3 and the Director of Department 4 are my club juniors, and they have really great personalities…”

We chatted about various things while touring the hospital.

“This is Treatment Room 1. Departments 1 and 2 use it together, and Departments 3 and 4 use it together.”

“It’s spacious. It’s nice that each bed has partitions.”

“We put a lot of thought into creating private spaces.”

We toured Jeong Gihun’s examination room and treatment room, which were empty since it was his day off.

“You have a variety of physical therapy equipment too?”

“The physical therapists bought pretty much whatever the teachers requested.”

We toured the physical therapy room, examination room, inpatient room, and herbal medicine preparation room.

I thought our side’s medicinal herbs, selected by An Juhui, were superior, but other than that, there wasn’t really anything to find fault with.

“How is it?”

“It’s the best. It’s even better than most Emperor Korean Medicine Hospitals, isn’t it? All the parts I was curious about have been resolved too. I think I can do well here.”

Hwangseoyeong answered clearly.

She seemed to have fallen for it at first sight, her eyes sparkling brightly and her voice slightly excited.

She looked at me and nodded, then expressed her clear intention to Jeong Gihun.

“I definitely want to work together with all of you.”

At Hwangseoyeong’s words, Jeong Gihun clenched his fist as if he had been waiting for this.

“You’ve made a good decision. I’ll contact Mr. Ju right away.”

Mr. Ju? Ah, Director Ju Sanggil’s son. He said he came from the United States.

Jeong Gihun stepped away for a moment to talk with Mr. Ju on the phone.

“He says he’s coming over right now. We can meet him directly and discuss the contract.”

“Good.”

He revealed that he would be departing from nearby immediately.

“It’s completely fine, right?”

“It’s amazing. I can’t believe there are no competitors for such a great property. I’m so grateful they’re looking for a successor so passively.”

During the brief remaining time, Hwangseoyeong and I sat in one corner of the office and exchanged opinions.

Ah, that’s right. I told her to decide quickly.

“When he comes, it would be good to pay the preliminary contract deposit right away.”

“We should. We almost missed it by dawdling around more. Thanks for pushing me.”

Hwangseoyeong got up from her seat and bowed politely to Yun Heeyoung as well.

“Director Yun, thank you so much. I’ll do my best.”

“No, what did I even do?”

The key money Mr. Ju mentioned was less than 100 million won.

Rather than key money, it was really the minimum responsibility fee, which was practically nothing for such a successful hospital.

It was surprisingly good conditions, and since they hadn’t even posted a public transfer notice, the opportunity must have come to Hwangseoyeong.

With the medical directors and even the administrative manager in a favorable mood, now if things just went well with this person called Mr. Ju, the transfer could proceed smoothly.

“Hello, Director Hwangseoyeong… I heard that’s your name. I understand you’re interested in acquiring my father’s hospital?”

However. Just as I let my guard down like that, a difficulty appeared.

“Yes, nice to meet you!”

Mr. Ju, who I expected would come alone, had a companion with him.

‘Could it be?’

A bad premonition flashed through me.

Both Mr. Ju and his companion appeared to be middle-aged men around 50 years old.

Both wore formal suits, but their impressions were completely opposite.

“Hmm.”

Mr. Ju, with his somewhat sharp impression, looked Hwangseoyeong up and down.

The companion standing behind him was just smiling warmly.

“I’ve respected Director Ju Sanggil for a long time, so it’s an honor to have this connection.”

Hwangseoyeong bowed and actively offered a handshake, but Mr. Ju’s expression seemed quite troubled.

He didn’t look like someone who had finally found the successor he had been desperately seeking.

And the companion’s smile grew even deeper…

“Mr. Ju, who is this person?”

Neither Jeong Gihun nor Yun Heeyoung seemed to know the companion’s identity.

‘…I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere?’

In the midst of this, I even felt a vague sense of unease.

Mr. Ju was definitely someone I was seeing for the first time.

But the companion’s face was familiar, as if something was about to come to mind…

“Thank you for coming like this. But actually, Director Kang Manseok here contacted me directly, and we were discussing proceeding with the transfer.”

Ah!

“I should have definitely set the order and made appointments, but while searching for people through my father’s connections as opportunities arose, things got tangled up like this. I’m sorry.”

His name is Kang Manseok?

Only then did I remember where I had seen the man’s face.

‘Imperial Korean Medicine Hospital in Ilsan!’

He was one of the clinic directors among Hospital Director Jeong Suhwan, Education Director Hwang Jeongyeon, and several others.

He was a memorable figure because his name was the same as the ‘Manseok’ Trading Guild I frequently dealt with while in the Martial Arts World.

‘Wow, so they’re coming out this petty?’

According to what Mr. Ju just revealed, this man was definitely Hwangseoyeong’s competitor.

And he probably didn’t hear the news through Yun Heeyoung or other clinic directors.

Since Kang Manseok directly contacted Mr. Ju to express his acquisition interest, it couldn’t be a coincidence.

He must have heard about the concerns Hwangseoyeong consulted with her relatives about and sent someone with the intention of snatching the hospital.

‘Is he trying to interfere with Seoyeong showing her abilities? Or is Director Jeong Suhwan trying to do something through that person separately from Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital?’

A backdoor deal between the two wasn’t hard to predict.

‘What should I do about this…’

I wondered why things were going too smoothly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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