Surgery Godfather
Chapter 686 - 611: The Troubles of the Rich

Chapter 686: Chapter 611: The Troubles of the Rich

PS: I’m very busy today, so I’ll post the draft first and make revisions tomorrow morning.

There was still some time before lunch, so August led Yang Ping on a tour of Harald Orthopedic Hospital, with a dozen heavyweights in tow.

The hospital’s spinal surgery center is divided into four departments, receiving twenty thousand patients a year, with August serving both as the center’s director and the hospital’s president.

Besides spinal surgery, trauma orthopedics, joint surgery, sports medicine, pediatric neuro-orthopedics, and rehabilitation are also world-class.

The rehabilitation department has a team of top-class rehabilitation doctors and over 200 million dollars’ worth of cutting-edge rehabilitation equipment. Many stars from Bayern Munich football team have undergone surgery and rehabilitation here. During Yang Ping’s visit, he heard that a player was preparing to come for rehabilitation.

No wonder August bragged at Sanbo Hospital about getting a bunch of autographed jerseys from football stars.

The spinal pain rehabilitation department, an offshoot of the rehabilitation department, uses brand new concepts to treat spinal pain, with remarkable results.

In front of his mentor, August was far from modest, claiming that he played a very important role in the hospital’s development, practically single-handedly establishing the spinal center, and under his management, the whole hospital thrives and has become world-class.

"Professor, in the future if you have any new techniques, you must think of cooperating with us first. We will definitely make everything picture perfect." August patted his chest and promised.

"For the clinical trials of the spinal external fixation frame, we will create a separate area in the spinal center. I will personally be in charge of the operation of this area." After the hospital tour, August introduced his plan.

Chiefs of the various departments gradually joined the accompanying team. However, since Yang Ping and August were always conversing in Chinese, these accompanying experts didn’t get a chance to get a word in, and could only follow the team quietly, occasionally whispering to each other.

When it was about time, August took Yang Ping to have lunch at a hotel near the hospital.

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The luncheon was simple but grand, featuring a German buffet, and Markus had fully booked the buffet restaurant in the hotel per August’s request.

All sorts of German delicacies were on display, such as coal-roasted pig’s trotters, crunchy but not dry, chewy, full-flavored pork, with a fragrant aroma. Paired with mustard or hot sauce, it was excellent. Munich white sausages, made of minced veal and pickled pork mixed together, supplemented with seasoning such as parsley, nutmeg, cardamom, scallions, ginger, lemon, and onion, and served with sweet mustard sauce, had a unique flavor.

In addition to these two signature traditional dishes, there were also apple crisps, Black Forest cakes, a wide variety of fruits, all kinds of bread, a wide array of grilled meats.

All chief-level doctors from Harald Orthopaedic Hospital were basically there. Doctors’ ranks in Germany are divided into chief doctor, mid-level doctor, ordinary specialist, and assistant doctor. There are no ranks as deputy chief doctor or associate doctor, and the rank of assistant doctor’s equivalent to our resident doctors.

Yang Ping, as August’s mentor, these chiefs all wanted to meet him.

Everyone wanted to chat with Professor Yang Ping a bit, so Yang Ping felt like he was in the spotlight.

No matter where he went, those chiefs would intentionally or unintentionally move closer, then surround him, hoping to find a chance to strike up a conversation.

However, Chinese became a barrier in communication and naturally, at the banquet, Chinese became a high-end and upmarket term.

Markus, who was in his thirties, was usually a little-known figure at these banquets, but his ability to speak Chinese made him skyrocket in value and even those high-ranking officials had to give him a second look.

The more this happened, the more smug Markus became. From time to time, he would utter a sentence in Chinese while chatting with his compatriots. When the other party looked baffled, Markus would apologize, "I didn’t switch over in time."

The piano solo continued uninterrupted, reflecting the vibe of Bavaria.

The old butler with a Mediterranean hairstyle was accompanied by the duke, weaving in and out among the crowd. Normally, the old duke would never attend such ordinary banquets.

The old duke found August and Yang Ping and bowed to Yang Ping: "Respected Professor, I wonder if you could spare some time amidst your busy schedule to visit my castle. I’m very eager to enjoy the cellar-aged red wine with you."

August acted as the translator on the side.

The guests invited to the Duke’s castle are either old friends with deep personal connections, European political figures and merchants, or prestigious academic giants.

"Is it far?"

Yang Ping asked August.

"It’s in a small town in Bavaria. It’s a two-hour drive." August hoped his mentor would stay.

Yang Ping shook his head: "Sorry, I don’t have time, maybe next time."

The round trip would take four hours, plus the time spent visiting, it would take six or seven hours in total. He had many surgeries at home and could not stay out for too long.

"It’s a pity, let’s make a date for next time. The wine in the cellar will always be waiting for you."

The Duke hadn’t expected Professor Yang to decline.

As the head of a large European financial group, his influence in Europe was significant. Furthermore, his family was an old European nobility, which later divided into two branches, one remained in Europe and the other went to the United States.

The branch that remained in Europe was currently being led by the Duke, controlling many industries in Germany and Europe, whereas the branch in the United States was growing rapidly. His family was involved in many American corporations, such as General Motors, Boeing, IBM, Pfizer, Pacific Railroad, and so on.

Rich people, more or less, all dream of immortality, although that’s impossible, prolonging life is plausible.

Therefore, the Duke wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to befriend a genius doctor.

Generously funding Manstein was not only about charity and promoting scientific development, but also about having a brilliant doctor who could save his life when it mattered. Manstein’s research success could save his life.

Failing to invite the Chinese professor left the Duke somewhat disappointed. However, as the leader of the financial group, he clearly wouldn’t let such a matter bother him. He knew that with August’s relationship with the Chinese professor, one day, the Chinese professor would become a guest of his.

The Duke took a symbolic tour of the banquet hall with the butler, then left the restaurant. His visit was solely for Yang Ping.

"The Duke also has a surgery waiting for him—a heart bypass surgery, with Manstein as the main surgeon!" August told Yang Ping after the Duke had left.

"Manstein knows how to do a heart bypass too?" Yang Ping felt this jack of all trades was truly worthy of the title.

August nodded: "Together with Professor Goran from Italy, they’ve the highest success rates for heart bypass surgeries in Europe. Before meeting you, Professor, I thought Manstein was the most gifted genius in the world."

This compliment was greatly comforting, considering that Manstein was a Nobel Prize laureate.

"Yet, they are facing a tough problem. The Duke’s coronary arteries have some sort of diffuse disease far down the line. The arteries are extremely thin, and arteriosclerosis has almost solidified them. They are now confronted with the problem of finding where to place the ’bridge.’ They are working together to solve this issue." As a friend of the Duke, August knew that the Duke had been worried about this.

Rich people, the likes of the Duke, could genuinely be called the ultra-wealthy. Their worries are not about money, but health.

Therefore, they wouldn’t mind spending money for their health.

Suddenly remembering that Yang Ping’s department at Sanbo Hospital was called Comprehensive Surgery, and was involved in research across the entire field of surgery, August asked: "Do you, Professor, have any experience in the field of cardiology?"

"I have done some research!" Yang Ping replied without hesitation.

Indeed, he had studied in every specialty. Otherwise, he would not have been able to develop good solutions for these surgeries involving severely deformed spines and serious heart and lung problems.

In the system space anatomy training, he was extremely familiar with the anatomy of every part of the body and had done a run-through of basic surgeries in all departments.

August was not surprised. Yang Ping had mastery of thoracoscopy and laparoscopy, which was much higher than that of thoracic and general surgeons. Like Manstein, the Professor was multi-talented and it was not surprising at all.