Merchant and doctor

Chapter 1861 Repeated Attempts to Invest

Both of them are usually very busy, and Bian Mu and Miss Zhong hadn't seen each other for quite some time. Their reunion after a long separation naturally added a touch of warmth.

"Oh my! Your sudden arrival is so kind of you! I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly! Mr. Zhong, Mr. Zhong, how have you been lately?" Bian Mu greeted them very politely as he sat down opposite Miss Zhong.

"Dr. Lai Bian's skills are amazing! My father is doing well, and speaking of which, my younger brother is much better recently, but he's still a bit weak and can't be overworked! Some of his company's business is still affiliated with us, so he needs to recuperate for a while longer! If you see him next time, please persuade him for me that health comes first, business second!" Miss Zhong seemed to be in a good mood, and exchanged a few polite words with Bian Mu with a smile.

"Mr. Zhong is still as dedicated as ever. Come over for a pulse diagnosis when you have some free time!" Bian Mu said with a smile.

"Sigh! He's just destined to be a workaholic. He's overseas these days! When he comes back, we'll host a family dinner for you!"

"You're too kind! This rain is going to last for a while. Would you like to grab a quick bite nearby to change your palate?" Bian Mu said with a smile.

“Okay, how about… we have a traditional hot pot?” Miss Zhong replied with a smile.

"There's an old shop nearby that serves traditional mixed hot pot, where meat and vegetables are layered and cooked together in one pot. I wonder if you guys would like it?" Bian Mu said with a smile.

"It's been years since I've had that! Okay! Let's have hot pot!" Miss Zhong replied with a smile.

"Hot pot is more lively with more people, so I'll invite a few more colleagues to come along?" Bian Mu said this because Miss Zhong was accompanied by three people. Bian Mu only recognized the female assistant, and he was seeing the other two men for the first time.

"Alright, Dr. Bian, please make yourself at home!" After saying that, Miss Zhong instructed the youngest gentleman to go to the restaurant and reserve two tables.

……

"Shuiyun Renjia" is a traditional northern Chinese cuisine that features both meat and vegetarian dishes with a light flavor, and it has become very popular recently.

Miss Zhong insisted on booking two tables in the lobby on the first floor, saying that she wanted to experience the lively atmosphere of the neighborhood, as dining in private rooms always lacked a proper ambiance.

Bian Mu sat at one table with the eldest daughter of the Zhong family, while Luo Zhanqi and Dr. Gong sat at another table with the three accompanying personnel. The table was made of cloisonné and served individually. The waiter placed two hot pots, one large and one small, in front of each person. The large hot pot was filled with various ingredients beforehand. The smokeless charcoal fire was lit, and the steaming heat carried a slight pine aroma, creating a rich smoky atmosphere. On a rainy day, it had a unique charm.

The smaller hot pot is equipped with a high-quality broth, and diners can add or subtract ingredients at any time, showing how thoughtful the restaurant is.

The two ate and chatted.

"I heard Cao Yueyue invested 100 million yuan with you?" Miss Zhong asked with a smile.

"That's just hearsay! Nothing like that! They just lent me a startup support account temporarily, in case the pharmaceutical factory runs into financial difficulties, so I can use it for short-term needs. They'll still charge interest afterwards." Bian Mu said vaguely, offering a few perfunctory words with a smile. Hearing this, the eldest daughter of the Zhong family smiled subtly.

"I overheard Miss Xiaoying mention it a bit; it seems that the pharmaceutical factory's performance is rather mediocre," the eldest daughter of the Zhong family said with a smile.

“That’s true! However… the factory’s overall qualifications are still acceptable. As you know, overly modernizing the production of traditional Chinese medicine is a waste in itself. In my opinion, the formulation of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are two completely different systems in terms of their most basic concepts. Pharmaceutical companies like ‘Liushunrong’ have moved too fast, and have ended up being neither truly Chinese nor Western. In the future… theoretically speaking, it will be difficult for them to formulate top-notch new drugs, and their market competitiveness will ultimately be somewhat compromised.” Bian Mu told the truth with a smile.

"Oh! Is your idea limited to the pharmaceutical field? Or can it be expanded slightly to a certain scope? For example, some of the Zhong family's businesses... or something." With a flick of her eyelids, the eldest daughter of the Zhong family seized the opportunity to discuss a few points.

"It's limited to the preparation and formulation of traditional Chinese medicine. You may not know this, but our newly launched drug is benchmarked against penicillin-based drugs. To put it simply, we're targeting the areas where the efficacy of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs is lacking and where there are technological gaps. The core of our pharmaceutical technology is still quite traditional. At most, we've borrowed the latest concepts in Western medicine formulation to minimize the side effects of the drug and try our best to eliminate toxic and harmful components. Therefore, we don't need to cooperate with high-end pharmaceutical companies. From a mathematical point of view, you could say that we have a certain inherent advantage in cost accounting from the beginning!" Bian Mu explained with a smile while eating.

"That makes sense... Quite inspiring! I've found that... every time I chat with you, I always have a 'wow' feeling, haha... It's great to be young, there are so few rules and regulations, and your ideas are free and unrestrained! Well... this was just a small test! The real deal is yet to come, right?"

"Hehe... It's not a big surprise. I have been secretly working on a new drug, but I've been just figuring it out on my own and haven't had time to discuss it with my colleagues!"

"Hehe... I knew you had lofty ambitions! How about this! 'Hongyang' Pharmaceutical Company actually meets our company's poverty alleviation standards. I happen to have a few poverty alleviation projects on hand. If you don't plan to change your partner next time, could our Zhong family get involved in a poverty alleviation project?"

"You mean... to get involved in the development of another new drug ahead of time?" Bian Mu asked with surprise.

Miss Zhong nodded gently.

"Well... it's not even close to being finalized yet! Besides, the next new drug is much more technically difficult than 'Detoxifying Plaster,' and the specific production process is also much more complicated. Given the current equipment and the technical skills of the staff at 'Hongyang' Pharmaceutical Company... I might just switch to another company to seek cooperation. This guy... there are too many unknowns, so it's not appropriate to sign an agreement with you in advance." Bian Mu was telling the truth, and at the same time, he did indeed mean to decline.

"No problem! I have several projects on hand! The youth innovation support project is quite suitable. How about we deposit 100 million yuan into the account first?"

"You scared me! It's really unnecessary! You know, the clinic is overflowing with patients every day. If I keep running back and forth, it'll shorten my lifespan! So..."

"Hehe... If you think you have too much money, then deposit 5000 million first!"

"You're joking, there's really no need for that! How about this, I'll draft a long-term plan carefully later, and once it's relatively mature, I'll visit you at your residence. If you really think it's feasible then, I'll sign the relevant agreement with your company," Bian Mu said with a smile.

"Okay! Also... recently several friends have contacted me. They know that our two families have always been quite close. Some friends want to ask if you want to open a few more branches, and some friends want to consult me ​​to ask if you have any ideas about opening a specialized hospital?! They are all available in every way. As long as you take the lead, they are willing to provide the money and manpower."

Upon hearing this, Bian Mu froze.