"Mr. Yan, good evening."
"Our company’s technical team has been analyzing the surgical proposal and the robotic arm design you sent over. They’ve run demonstrations, simulations, and even built a model. They just gave me their report tonight."
"Mr. Yan, it’s doable. We can meet your requirements."
Yan Feifan asked anxiously, "How long will it take to build?"
"Two to three months."
The answer was a letdown for Yan Feifan.
"Mr. Yu, I promised the patient a month and a half. He’s in agony right now."
"If it’s not ready within a month and a half, I’ll have to go with a traditional surgical approach and take the risk."
"A month and a half?"
After a moment of thought, Yu Youlian said slowly, "A month and a half... that’s right around the time of the puncture and injection technology seminar at Baining Hospital."
After a pause, Yu Youlian continued, "Mr. Yan, I also have the R&D budget for the surgical arm here."
"How much is it?"
"Six million!"
"That much?" Yan Feifan was genuinely shocked.
Yu Youlian explained gently, "Mr. Yan, the materials for the surgical arm, even if we use all titanium alloy, don’t cost that much."
"But it requires an entire technical team to design the control software, hand-craft the components, and conduct repeated tests."
"The labor costs are exceptionally high. We’re talking about a team of highly skilled technical specialists."
"This six million is already a discounted price."
Yan Feifan said tentatively, "This flexible, interactive surgical arm is an extension and expansion of your existing surgical robot’s functionality."
"Logically, shouldn’t you be covering the R&D costs entirely?"
Yu Youlian chuckled over the phone. "Mr. Yan, this surgical arm is being developed for one specific surgery. Its application is, shall we say, extremely narrow."
"It would be very difficult for us to recoup that cost."
"However, given our excellent relationship, we can cover eighty percent of the development costs."
"As for the remaining one-point-two million..."
Yan Feifan shook his head. "The patient is just an ordinary police officer. The department will have a hard time reimbursing that fee, and he certainly can’t afford it himself."
"I see..."
After a moment of silence, Yu Youlian’s voice came through the phone again.
"Mr. Yan, what if we were to cover the entire R&D cost and work overtime to get it done within a month and a half..."
"...in exchange for you performing this surgery live at the seminar, in front of all the attending doctors."
"You’d also have to allow us to use the surgery for related promotional activities..."
Yan Feifan thought for a moment. "I have no problem with that. However, you’ll also need to get the patient’s consent."
The words were barely out of his mouth when Yu Youlian’s voice shot back through the phone, "Good. We’ll talk to the patient."
"So, Mr. Yan, do we have an agreement? Is it a deal?"
"Deal!"