Chapter 73 The Sucker
After Wen Le registered on Star Online, a branch staff member delivered the physical qualification certificate to him on the same day and carefully packaged it in a photo frame.
Wen Le thanked the man and gave him a bottle of low-grade blood-replenishing medicine. He couldn't just sit there and say nothing, since he'd sent the certificate to him. He should at least give him some sort of commission. It was better for someone to send something to him than for him to go to the branch office to get it himself.
The other party took the medicine handed over by Wen Le, thanked Wen Le with a smile, and said that if there was anything inconvenient for him to go out in the future, he could send a message to the branch and they could help run errands.
Wen Le thanked the other party for his kindness before sending the staff away.
Wen Le carefully examined the certificate in his hand. It felt a bit like a business license from Earth. The layout was more fancy, and the material used was different, but the overall design was very similar. It had the official seal of the Imperial Government and the Healer Association's distinctive green leaf seal. At first glance, it looked as fancy as a greeting card.
Now that you have the “business license”, the next step is to get busy opening the store.
After discussing it with a friend, Wen Le finally rented a storefront on the pedestrian street across from the school. While the space was small, only about a dozen square meters, it was still suitable for medical consultations. It could even accommodate a single bed for patients who were temporarily unable to move.
The shops in this area were all owned by the school, so the security was excellent. And because Wen Le was a student, they got a rent discount, only paying 8,000 credits a month, which they could pay monthly. Unlike other shops, which required a minimum six-month lease, and the rent for a similar size was double theirs, Wen Le and his team had gotten a great deal.
Wen Le was still a little unsure. Although the association would refer patients, he was still a newbie. Whether people would trust him was one thing, and whether they would be willing to treat him was another. He was worried about losing money if there was no business. Eight thousand a month in rent wasn't a small amount, considering his current living allowance was only three thousand credit points. A loss would be painful.
As if sensing Wen Le's worry, Xu Dongdong walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, business won't be bad." Just because of Wen Le's status as a two-star therapist, a large number of patients would come to him for treatment. Even if it wasn't for Wen Le's sake, they still had to consider Wen Le's legendary cheap master. With that person backing them up, they had no worries about lack of business.
What's more, the clinic opened by Wen Le is registered with the Therapists Association. If any medical accident really occurs due to improper operation by Wen Le, a newcomer, the association will send someone to deal with the aftermath, but the expenses incurred during the period will have to be borne by Wen Le alone.
Novice therapists are limited to three free sessions when opening a clinic. Everyone starts out as a rookie, and it's impossible for them to be born knowing these things. Experience is accumulated through repeated practice. Therefore, the association is more lenient with newbies like Wen Le, giving them three opportunities to apply for free follow-up treatment.
Once you've exceeded the three exemptions, if you need to hire the association for follow-up care, you'll have to pay a fee based on the therapist's level. This is understandable; they need to eat, so you can't expect them to work for free. The association will cover the cost of hiring someone during the exemption period, and this portion will be converted into points and sent to the therapist's account.
However, Wen Le felt that no one would be willing to take on such a troublesome task. After all, cleaning up after someone's ass wasn't exactly pleasant, and even if they were paid, they probably wouldn't be willing to do it. Furthermore, out of responsibility for his patients, even if he had three limited exemptions, it would be best not to use them. When treating patients, he still had to be extremely cautious and quickly let others take over if he couldn't cure the disease himself. He absolutely wouldn't try to be too arrogant.
Xu Dongdong said Wen Le was overthinking it: "The association will not refer patients who cannot be cured by therapists to the clinic. You can rest assured."
"Oh." Wen Le touched his nose awkwardly. Wasn't he worrying too much, afraid that he would lose money? After all, this was his first time opening a shop on his own, so he was inevitably a little anxious.
It is very convenient to open a store in the interstellar era. Every store has a decoration function. Wen Le took out the business license and swiped it on the scanner. He input his ideas on it, and several sample decoration drawings of clinics appeared on the wall opposite Wen Le. Wen Le chose one of them, turned on the light computer, scanned it on the scanner, and paid the corresponding decoration fee.
Soon the store began to renovate automatically, and in less than half a day it was decorated the way Wen Le wanted.
Wen Le couldn't help but sigh that the future world was so convenient. Now he could really decorate his home without leaving.
Just a quarter of an hour after the shop was renovated, professionals arrived to conduct an on-site inspection. After confirming that no harmful gases were generated during the renovation, and that the store's basic items did not produce any toxic substances, Wen Le signed the inspection report. Two copies of the report were then made: one for Wen Le to hang inside the shop, and one for them to keep on file, truly ensuring a green renovation.
Wen Le went to Star Network to order another batch of disposable medical sheets. These sheets are used to cover hospital beds. These sheets undergo special disinfection and can be recycled after use, making them environmentally friendly and widely used in hospitals. Wen Le didn't plan on doing anything special; everything followed hospital standards. He even bought a sterilizer to ensure the shop maintained a sterile environment 24/7.
After purchasing the necessities, Wen Le also ordered a white coat for himself. When the coat arrived, it looked quite decent on him, so Lily and the others teased him about it.
With everything ready, Wen Le set the opening date for two days later. That day happened to be Sunday, his day off, so he had time to stay in the store. This way, patients wouldn't be left stranded when they came.
After all, it is a newly opened clinic, and not being able to find people will affect business.
As for competition among practitioners, that doesn't exist. He runs a specialized clinic, which doesn't conflict with regular clinics. The association won't place therapists with similar abilities in the same location to compete for their business. If a therapist with similar abilities in the same city truly needs to open a clinic, the association will recommend the patient based on their specific needs.
The association essentially acts as an intermediary. Patients who are recommended by the association pay a referral fee, and the cost of treatment is negotiated between the patient and the therapist. Some patients may go directly to the therapist, and the association will not interfere.
…
On opening day, Wen Le arrived early to open the shop. Despite waiting excitedly all day, he didn't see a single patient. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed. Xu Dongdong and the others reassured him that everything was difficult at the beginning, and that it was normal for patients to hesitate while he wasn't well-known. Once he did, he'd be fine. Then, without the association's referrals, people would flock to the shop.
Wen Le understood all of this, but he still felt bad. Patients aren't stupid. Who would be willing to be treated like guinea pigs by a newbie when they're already ill?
If I put myself in Wen Le's shoes, if he were to choose for himself, he would definitely choose those old clinics with a good reputation, rather than a new clinic like his that has just opened and has no reputation.
Xu Dongdong rolled his eyes and suggested, "How about this: the first three patients will receive free treatment, and the treatment fee will be 20% off for the first three days of opening."
"You think this method is useless?" Wen Le glanced at him and slumped back down. "I've already reduced the opening discount to 30%, and still no one's coming." His treatment prices were already lower than others, making it more accessible. Now, with discounts, he's losing money, and still, no one's coming. This is what's so frustrating: no one's coming even for free treatment!
Xu Dongdong thought for a moment and said, "In that case, why not just show off your aloofness as a therapist and raise the price directly!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lily and Li Zhenzhen looked at Xu Dongdong like she was dumbfounded. With such a low price and a 30% discount, no one came. And now they're raising the price? Surely, even fewer people would come after the price hike? They definitely wouldn't be fooled.
Xu Dongdong had an expression that said you guys don't understand at all, and said smugly: "Some people are just cheapskates. The cheaper you sell something, the less they'll value it. If you sell it at a sky-high price, they might scramble to buy it. If you don't sell it, they'll cry and beg you to sell it."
After a pause, Xu Dongdong continued, "To put it bluntly, being a healer is a luxury. Most people won't seek out a healer unless they absolutely need one. Treatment is expensive, after all. Mercenaries on missions only buy potions made by healers for self-defense, so those who can afford it don't care about the small price. They just want the sense of superiority that comes with being a part of their status."
"Oh," Wen Lemu replied with a sullen face. After a moment's thought, he said, "That's easy. If they feel it doesn't reflect their status, then just raise the price. I'm a two-star therapist after all, and I feel wronged to ask for such a low fee!" He was originally worried about being criticized for being a greedy person and being criticized for the high cost of treatment. Since Xu Dongdong said so, then he could raise the price and make more money.
Wen Le immediately logged into the Therapists Association's intranet and revised his treatment fees. He'd originally only listed a thousand for standard treatments, but now he'd added another zero. For more challenging conditions like mental damage, the price would start at six figures, with no upper limit. "Aren't you thinking the low price is too low? Then I'll give you a high price!"
He also revoked the free spots for the top three, replacing them with free spots for those who had a good eye for the game. As for how to have a good eye for the game, that was up to Wen Le.
After the price change, Wen Le went about his business. The association wouldn't bankrupt him anyway, so he just waited for someone to take advantage. He'd been a little nervous before because he had no patients, but since the price change, he'd calmed down and stopped waiting in the clinic every day for patients to come in.
I have to say that changing the price is an effective method. The next day, there were patients who came to seek treatment.
The patient was a Pentagram native who owned a mecha parts factory in a nearby suburb. He had some money, and upon entering, he declared with a flourish, "I want the best service and the most expensive medicine you have. Money is not a problem."
Wen Le: “…”
He looked at the patient with his warmest smile and said, "Okay, we'll definitely give you the best medicine. I can guarantee that." He tapped a special refrigerated box on the table, and soon a display screen appeared, showing the medicine inside to the patient. "I personally make these medicines. From the raw materials to the final production, I guarantee that they are all of the highest quality."
Wen Le casually flashed his wrist towards the patient, revealing the Winged Tiger tattoo on his wrist. "You know, I have a special source for medicinal herbs, and I guarantee that all the herbs I use are top-grade."
Wen Le had the system temporarily apply this tattoo. This was Xu Dongdong's idea. If they were going to pretend, they might as well be more convincing. They might as well use that person's reputation to inflate their own value. This would also make those who were fat sheep feel that their money was well spent. This way, they each got what they wanted, one for profit and the other for fame.
When the patient saw the tattoo and thought of the mysterious expression on the therapist's face when the introducer told him about his identity, his eyes suddenly lit up. He smiled politely at Wen Le and said, "Then I'll trouble you, young master."
The symbol of the Winged Tigers is known throughout the galaxy, but few dare to tattoo it on their bodies. Unless approved by the legendary Winged Tigers, doing so will result in severe punishment. The fact that this healer not only has this symbol tattooed on his body but also displays it publicly suggests a complex relationship with the Winged Tigers.
Thinking back to the rumors he'd recently heard about the healer, he became increasingly excited. He felt that Wen Le was most likely his disciple. With such a formidable master, the disciple was sure to be no less capable. The unlucky man suddenly felt that the trip was worth it.
He made up his mind that he must brag about it to his old friends after returning, no, publicize it, it would be so honorable to be treated by the legendary person's last disciple.
Wen Le thought about the credit points he was about to get and smiled with satisfaction.
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