Merchant and doctor

Chapter 2213 The situation is getting increasingly complicated.
For a moment, Bian Mu found himself in a difficult situation.

More or less, Bian Mu regretted making this trip.

From beginning to end, Bian Mu did not dislike Zhao Xicheng. However, it seemed unrealistic to truly regard him as a colleague in the industry and coexist peacefully. Before visiting him, Bian Mu always defined their relationship as: keeping to themselves and going their own way.

Perhaps because things have been going relatively smoothly lately, Bian Mu might have been thinking a bit too simply. Zhao Xicheng doesn't really have any major flaws, but that doesn't mean they can become friends. What's even more ridiculous is that Bian Mu actually thinks Zhao Xicheng has a mature sense of the big picture. Whenever it involves the new development of local traditional Chinese medicine, Zhao Xicheng should stand on his side and, to some extent, restrain that big boss Lei Xiaoxuan. At the very least, everyone should sit down together and frankly explain their thoughts to each other, and do their best to ensure that the medicine cauldron remains intact in Lijin.

Judging from today's situation, Zhao Xicheng is still siding with his junior brother Lei Xiaoxuan at this crucial moment. What?! If I really can't answer the second question, am I just going to back down?! Am I just going to let them dismantle those precious medicinal cauldrons into pieces and send them to Beiqi, Nanjin, and other places?!

“I have never dealt with antiques and know very little about distinguishing between genuine and fake. Mr. Huangfu, please go to a reputable auction house and find some national-level appraisal experts to help you take a look. As an outsider, I dare not make idle talk.” Bian Mu was straightforward and did not intend to get involved in their “small game”.

Hearing this, Zhao Xicheng and Mr. Huangfu were amused by Bian Mu.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! Actually, it's like this..." Zhao Xicheng hurriedly tried to explain.

"Ahem! We're all family here, he has his reasons for doing this! He won't speak unless he sees the real thing, Master! Have some tea first! I'll go get a small trinket and ask you to appraise it for me." With that, Mr. Huangfu got up and went elsewhere.

Bian Mu's mental fortitude was much better than before. He smiled at Zhao Xicheng, said nothing more, and casually took out the old coin from the solid wood box, held it up high, and examined it under the light for a while.

Zhao Xicheng didn't mind at all, and got up to add some fresh water to the exquisite teapot not far away.

"This first one is clearly a key, made of copper alloy. It's definitely an old item. Judging by the patina, it shouldn't be fake, right? Let's weigh it and see..." Thinking of this, Bian Mu casually took out the first knife-shaped old coin and examined it repeatedly under the light for a while.

Unwittingly, Bian Mu's nose seemed to detect a scent, a scent he rarely had the chance to encounter...

I gently brought the old coin, which looked like a knife coin, to my nose and took a sniff. Damn! It smelled so fishy!
With a thought flashing through his mind, Bian Mu suddenly recalled many ancient Chinese classics that he had read sporadically during his university years... Bian Mu often went to the "Flower Field Ghost Market" and spent his days hanging out with his old friends, including Grandpa Yang, who were of different ages. In fact, Bian Mu knew quite a bit about the rules and regulations related to antique appraisal.

"No wonder they went to such lengths to arrange this... So that's what it was all for..." Bian Mule thought, having figured out the key to it.

"Teacher Zhao! Do they usually keep common medicinal herbs on hand in places like this?" Bian Mu suddenly asked.

"Probably... The Huangfu family has been practicing medicine for generations. Even if there's a gap of one or two generations, they would at least own a few pharmacies. What? Do they need some medicinal herbs to distinguish between genuine and fake products?" Zhao Xicheng seemed to have guessed something.

"Realgar, arsenic, magnolia bark, and some well water, the natural kind, preferably with some moss from the edge of a well," Bian Mu said with a smile, making a few requests.

"That's it?!" Zhao Xicheng corrected curiously.

"That's fine! I can't handle anything more complicated!" Taking a step back, Bian Mu glanced at Zhao Xicheng with a smile. Unless it was a specific moment, Bian Mu could never fully trust Zhao Xicheng. No matter what kind of people or things they faced together, he always had to make some small preparations in his heart.

Unfortunately, a very real competitive relationship has already formed between them. In the future…

In the not-too-distant future, if Bian Mu's development continues smoothly, Bian Mu dares not make any rash predictions about what Zhao Xicheng will become. However, there is one thing that Bian Mu is very clear about: the space for Zhao Xicheng and Lei Xiaoxuan to operate in the future will only become smaller and smaller.

"Alright, have them get it ready right away!" Zhao Xicheng didn't seem too surprised, and walked to the door, calling out loudly to those inside.

Not long after, the burly young man who had greeted him at the door rushed over.

Zhao Xicheng whispered a few words of advice to him, and the burly young man nodded repeatedly, occasionally giving Bian Mu a friendly smile as if to say hello.

Bian Mu waved gently to the handsome young man in a very friendly manner, as a return gesture.

Just then, Bian Mu's phone suddenly rang.

Teng Daili's phone call.

“I heard that other traditional Chinese medicine clinics will not be closed for the next two days, and the Nie family has only arranged one day for New Year’s Day. The three-day holiday has been reduced to two days. Are you sure we should take three days off?” Teng Daili asked for instructions on the phone.

"Of course! We're usually so busy here! Everyone works day and night, and when we finally get a public holiday, we definitely want to spend time with our families! On the surface, everyone leaves work on time, and it seems like we rarely work overtime, but actually... when we get home, everyone is catching up on what they've learned that day, right? Besides, because of us, everyone has to cram on all sorts of basic skills after get off work, it's really tough! In this respect, we're not comparing ourselves to other companies in the same industry, it's just three days, a real three-day commitment, no skimping!" Bian Mu replied with great certainty over the phone.

"Okay! I'll send a group message with some updates later. They've all been feeling uneasy, but now they can relax and take a good three-day break. Also... are you busy right now?" Teng Daili asked in a low voice over the phone.

Upon hearing this, Bian Mu knew that Teng Daili had encountered some trouble.

"What is it? Please speak freely!"

"This morning I met a patient, a man in his early forties, unemployed, neither fat nor thin, who didn't look sick, but... he insisted on taking my pulse, and when I touched him, I couldn't feel his pulse at all..." On the phone, Teng Daili mentioned a rather strange patient, a man, who sounded like a freelancer.

"And then?" Bian Mu asked casually on the other end of the phone.

"Later I told him frankly that my skills were limited and asked him to go to other hospitals for another checkup."

What was his reaction?

"He didn't say anything, but later I accidentally discovered on the computer that he went directly to Dr. Dian to make an appointment. I calculated the timeline and realized that he must have made two appointments at the same time. Since this one didn't meet his needs, he went directly to Dr. Dian."

Upon hearing this, Bian Mu immediately realized that things had become somewhat complicated.