Merchant and doctor

Chapter 2105: The different ways people settle accounts are quite significant.
Compared to other pharmaceutical company executives, Andelin is relatively reasonable. At least within the legal and reasonable framework, everyone can discuss and agree on how to make money and then distribute profits according to the agreed ratio.

Bian Mu was aware of the slight increase in production costs, with raw materials at the core. The reason he hadn't formally discussed it with Anderlin was that he had already repeatedly calculated the costs with Teacher Duan Hongyi. Maintaining the current price of the "detoxifying ointment" was still feasible for the time being. At least, there was no need to raise the price before the end of March next year.

Small profits lead to high sales volume. In legitimate business, as long as you take a long-term view, this has been the way to make a profit since ancient times.

An Delin was a seasoned businessman. With the "detoxifying ointment" selling so well, he had long been considering raising the price. However, he was hesitant because Bian Mu's social connections were quite complex. In addition, Bian Mu was definitely more astute than An Delin, a fact An Delin was well aware of. If he wasn't entirely confident about something, An Delin would usually choose to observe the situation and rarely took the initiative to meet with Bian Mu to discuss it directly.

Clearly, Bian Mu was happy to maintain the status quo for the long term. In addition, he also needed to prepare for the successful launch of the next truly effective traditional Chinese medicine. At the very least, he needed to repeatedly solidify the relevant basic conditions.

Unlike Bian Mu, An Delin was not as far-sighted. Every now and then, he would meet with a few trusted subordinates to have meals, drink tea, soak in hot springs, play ball, etc. When they got together, they mainly settled accounts. Big accounts, small accounts, public accounts, private accounts, etc., all mixed together, required careful calculation.

Gradually, they realized that Bian Mu's so-called team was just a makeshift group with no real people. Only Bian Mu had some real skills; he could fight anyone face-to-face without any limits. As long as they kept him happy, they could make the decisions on everything, big or small, related to the "poison-removing ointment."

At least, according to their secret investigation, if Bian Mu and his group really were to fall out with "Hongyang" Pharmaceutical Company, they wouldn't be able to find another suitable pharmaceutical company to cooperate with in the vicinity of Lijin in the short term.

To give Bian Mu face, Anderlin specially arranged for his own daughter to subtly test Bian Mu's attitude.

Normally, Ms. Xiao An would contact Bian Mu from time to time. They had a pretty good common topic: mathematics! Whenever Ms. Xiao An encountered any difficult problems in her daily teaching, Bian Mu could explain them to her clearly. What was especially difficult was that Bian Mu had developed his own explanations, and every logical detail had never been wrong. Over time, the two of them got along quite well.

She usually teaches high school math. Even if her father only gives her a few simple instructions, she can still figure out the big picture. After all, he's her father, so Teacher An will definitely side with President An.

“Labor costs are getting higher and higher, and raw material costs are indeed being adjusted. Mr. An’s request for a price adjustment is a normal one. Let me state my position first: I completely understand. However… perhaps our accounting models are not quite the same, so… before the end of March next year, according to my own opinion… it would be best not to adjust prices!” Bian Mu said with a smile, making his stance clear.

Upon hearing this, Teacher Xiao An was slightly taken aback. Although Bian Mu's attitude was within their expectations, they were still quite surprised that Bian Mu had revealed the negotiation results before they had even discussed it. Moreover, he had even budgeted the timeline.

"Why the end of March next year?! Is there any significance to this timing?" Teacher Xiao An asked with a smile.

"Do you usually trade stocks?" Bian Mu suddenly asked. "I did register three accounts, but I just played around with them for teaching purposes. The principal in each account never exceeded 7 yuan. They always praise you for being super smart, so you must have been fiddling with stocks quite a bit, right?"

"I only have one account, and right now I only have two small stocks. They've been doing alright these past few days. Since you also trade stocks, it'll be much easier to talk about some things. Although your father's company isn't a listed company, the number of officially listed stocks has reached a special threshold. We can discuss the specifics of this threshold another day. To put it simply, 'Hongyang' Pharmaceutical Company has long been 'listed.' This means that even if you're not listed, you have to follow the pace of other listed companies. This is one of the characteristics of running a business in China today. Whoever goes against it will suffer!"

"Oh... I feel like what you're saying has some basis, but I've never heard my dad mention this before... Of course, he's a generation younger than us! Some of his thinking is definitely not as advanced as yours. So... assuming your premise is true, then why do you want to control it before the end of March next year?"

“Listed companies are releasing their financial reports all at once!” Bian Mu replied with a smile.

"Oh... I think I understand a little bit now, the least common multiple, right? Intensive effect... That makes sense! It's early November now, December, January, February... a full four-month cycle, so... Hmm! I understand a little bit now, okay! I'll think about it more later, and if I can completely convince myself, I'll act as your go-between with my dad!" Teacher Xiao An was very pure of heart, and since she usually regarded Bian Mu as a good friend, even if it involved her father's actual benefits, she chose to follow the side of reason as much as possible.

"Hehe... Your father is responsible for the welfare of his employees! When it comes down to it, even your own daughter's words don't carry much weight! Really! Business is business, and the core is still accounting. Your father asked you to come and talk to me first, which is giving me face. In the end, these things still need to be settled face to face, item by item. It's almost impossible to change your father's decision to raise prices in just a few words."

"Now that you mention it... thinking about it carefully... it really makes sense. Besides, don't laugh at me, but when it comes to this kind of thing, my dad actually only listens to my mom!"

"What's so funny about that! It just proves your father is a gentleman, and we juniors are too busy praising him to even think about it! Let's discuss some things first, and then you can take the side you think is right! Actually, your father, your mother, and I... hehe... our accounting methods are a bit different, so... it's inevitable that we'll have some disagreements about whether to raise prices. Let me briefly explain our accounting methods first, and if they have the patience to listen to you finish, that would be great..." As he spoke, Bian Mu got up and asked a familiar head waiter for some blank meeting minutes paper. He carried a ballpoint pen with him, and at the table, Bian Mu listed the most important parts of his profit accounting method in a purely mathematical way.

Fortunately, Ms. Xiao An is a high school math teacher; otherwise, today's meeting would probably have ended unhappily.

……

"So professional?! So complicated?! I'm a math major, and I'm still overwhelmed by it. No wonder you named your medical school 'Mathematical Medicine'. To be honest, I only understand a tiny bit of it now. It seems people have greatly underestimated your talent! Amazing!" With that, Teacher Xiao An gave Bian Mu a heartfelt thumbs up.

Chatting and laughing, Bian Mu explained the meaning of each mathematical formula to Teacher Xiao An in detail. They even forgot about eating while they were talking...