Zhao Xumei, the director of the nursing center.
Guo Xuyang glanced at the nameplate on the office door and followed Xia Li into the room.
"Does Director Zhao mean that this nursing center is operated by our hospital?"
"Yes. It is under the hospital's management.
Our center is different from external nursing centers; all our nursing staff are proper nurses and are licensed to practice."
"What do I need to do if I want to set up such a nursing center?" Guo Xuyang asked.
"Aren't you here to admit someone?" Zhao Xumei asked.
"No, I am preparing to admit someone. But I also want to set up a nursing center, and I'd like to consult on how to go about it."
"You'll need to consult the Administration for Industry and Commerce regarding company registration; I really don't know how to answer that for you."
"May I ask, how much do you earn here annually?"
"What? You want to poach me?" Zhao Xumei chuckled. "Five hundred thousand a year, not including bonuses."
"I am indeed planning to set up a nursing center. How about this? You come and work for me. I'll pay you a million a year, with year-end profit sharing in addition." Guo Xuyang said.
"Are you serious?" Zhao Xumei's eyes widened.
She found it rather unbelievable.
In fact, the fifty thousand she had mentioned earlier was a liberal estimate.
The hospital didn't actually pay that much; it would be capped at three hundred thousand at most.
She had said that deliberately for Guo Xuyang to hear.
She hadn't expected Guo Xuyang to be so generous.
It seemed he wasn't bluffing.
"We can sign a contract for this," Guo Xuyang said. "We will have everything the hospital has."
"What you've said is very tempting. However, it's not enough for me to come alone; you need professional nursing staff. Otherwise, a postnatal care center won't be competitive," Zhao Xumei said.
"I can invite these professional nursing staff to come along."
"The cost for that would be very high."
"Do you have any suggestions?"
"Actually, our confinement management center also cooperates with external parties, merely being affiliated with the hospital for management purposes."
"There's such an arrangement? Does that mean I have no room for maneuver?"
"This requires connections and smoothing things over on all fronts."
"To be honest, the primary reason I'm establishing this confinement care center is for my wife's well-being, so she can receive professional care. It's not about making money."
"If that's the case, you don't need to establish a confinement care center at all. You can simply hire our center's nurses to provide services at your home. We do offer external nursing services."
"Really? How much does that cost?"
"That depends on the type of nurse you wish to hire."
"What about hiring someone like you?" Guo Xuyang asked.
"Me? You can forget about that. At my age, I can only manage here. I really can't be attending to others anymore," Zhao Xumei said with a smile.
"What about that young nurse standing by the door earlier?"
"You mean Xiao Li? Her nursing skills are currently above average. She earns thirty thousand a month. That's for external service."
"What if we stay in?"
"If you stay in, it's hard to say. It depends on your needs. There are rates of ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand a month, and even fifty thousand a month."
"What's the difference between ten thousand and fifty thousand?" Guo Xuyang asked.
"Ten thousand is for regular admission. A standard room, mother and baby together, with dedicated nursing care twenty-four hours a day, but not one-on-one. You can call for assistance by ringing a bell. It's not significantly different from staying in a regular hospital. The only difference is that the three meals a day are specially prepared according to the digestive needs of the mother and baby, delivered to the mother on time, and the mother is assisted in feeding the infant. This ensures the postpartum mother is protected from cold and exertion."
"The fifty thousand option is the deluxe package. A family room, where you can accompany them throughout. All nursing staff are senior nurses, whom you can choose. They provide twenty-four-hour service. Frankly speaking, they are like wet nurses. All meals are high-standard, with a daily food budget of three hundred."
"What are the most common choices for mothers and babies accepted here?"
"It's hard to say which are the most common; we have all types. It mainly depends on the financial situation of the residents and their specific circumstances. Those who choose the ten thousand package are mostly from working-class families who lack time to care for the mother and baby, and our center can provide assistance. There are also quite a few who opt for twenty to thirty thousand; these are business people or wives of officials. They choose this place mainly to save trouble and worry, and the nursing care here is relatively professional. There are also those who choose the fifty thousand package, but not many, as very few husbands accompany them throughout."
"Can we sign long-term employment contracts here?"
"Of course. If you genuinely want to sign long-term employment contracts, I can provide you with a list to choose from. However, you will be responsible for their various insurance payments. Also, their personal safety will be your responsibility."
"How about this, besides that Xiao Li I mentioned earlier, please recommend three more for me. Their ages should not exceed twenty-five, and preferably two intermediate-level and two senior-level nurses."
"So many? What do you need so many for? Two are sufficient, and they can cover each other's shifts."
"I think if there are more people, my wife and child can receive better care."
"How long are you planning to sign for?"
"Is there a specific duration?"
"Yes. The longer the contract, the greater the discount," Zhao Xumei said.
"Five years. Five years should be enough," Guo Xuyang said, glancing at Xia Li.
"What are you looking at me for? Sign for as long as you want," Xia Li said irritably.
Zhao Xumei still hadn't figured out their relationship.
"And she is?" she asked Guo Xuyang.
"My wife," Guo Xuyang replied.
"Your wife doesn't need nursing care now. Isn't this a bit too early?" Zhao Xumei said.
"The other one is about to give birth. I'm his junior wife," Xia Li said.
"Oh, I apologize. I didn't mean to. How about this? I'll bring their files over, and you can look at them. If you like anyone, I'll have them come over, and we can discuss it further. After all, selection is a two-way street. If you like them, but they are unwilling, it won't be good to work together later, don't you think?"
"Okay. Bring them over, and we'll take a look," Guo Xuyang said.
Zhao Xumei retrieved eight employee files from the computer and printed them for Guo Xuyang.
"These eight people include four intermediate-level and four senior-level nurses. Please take a look first. If they are not suitable, we can select others."