Merchant and doctor

Chapter 2396 Traditional Chinese Medicine is Quite Difficult to Produce

Not far from the building entrance, several plane trees stand, one of which is exceptionally tall. A gentle spring breeze stirs its leaves, which sprout tender green and pale yellow buds. Some buds have already begun to bloom, resembling tiny hands clasped together. Their lively energy seems to swirl around them, like children eagerly sharing the warmth of early spring. Some of the fruit clusters have already split open, their yellowish-brown downy hairs swaying in the evening breeze. It seems that the Year of the Horse will be another prosperous one!

Sanqiangzi didn't rush upstairs. He strolled to the middle of the sycamore trees, lit a cigarette, and took a few puffs.

After a moment's thought, Sanqiangzi reached out his right hand, took out his phone, and dialed Bian Mu's number with one hand.

“How do I make the ‘poison-removing ointment’?!” Sanqiangzi asked directly over the phone.

"We'll halt production for a while. Some technical details can be further refined, and all aspects need to be further validated in the lab. Mr. An's contract is about to expire, so the paperwork will be easier." Bian Mu replied simply on the other end of the phone.

“What if Hongyang is interested in acquiring the relevant patents? Should we consider it?” Sanqiangzi asked casually over the phone.

"The cost-effectiveness isn't that high, and some production processes... as proprietary technology, cannot be sold to others. Not for any other reason than that we'll need them in the future. We can't possibly have to pay 'Hongyang' a patent fee every year, can we? That would be a joke! Furthermore, with their current technical capabilities, they really don't have the ability to fully digest our traditional Chinese medicine production technology. It's missing a piece here, a piece there, and within a year, it will most likely be completely unrecognizable! Also, 'Hongyang's' so-called R&D department is practically non-existent. Most of the people working there are relatives and friends of President An's wife. Moreover, over the years, the factory's actual investment there has been pitifully small. Judging from their attitude, if it weren't for accommodating those relatives and friends, they would have dared to completely abolish the R&D department! Even if we don't take a penny and give it to them, the ointment they produce will soon be a completely different product from the one currently being sold." Over the phone, Bian Mu revealed some key technical details to San Qiangzi.

"Oh...that's so mysterious?!"

"Absolutely! The relevant departments are tightening their technical oversight, and the alignment with international pharmaceutical standards will only increase. Right now, we seem to be doing alright on the surface, even quite comfortably compared to those traditional Chinese medicines that had to be taken off the shelves at the beginning of this month. But this good fortune won't last! Our competitors are probably working themselves to the bone behind the scenes! If their technical specifications improve further and they become the new industry benchmark, even the 'detoxifying ointment' might have to be taken off the shelves! Right now, thanks to the help from Xiaobailou..." "We can manage the experimental conditions for a while, but what about the future?! Investing in a drug lab can easily cost tens of millions! And what about the little money we two brothers have?! We're still hesitant to buy a house or get married, right? Sometimes I think we brothers have always lived a rather humble life. In short, considering all factors, it's not that the patent can't be sold, it's just that the times are developing too fast, and AI is constantly being pushed forward. For the sake of the future, we have to stop for a while!" On the other end of the phone, Bian Mu seemed to be fine and patiently explained for a long time.

"Oh...it's that complicated! You're quite something! You can see that far ahead. No wonder ordinary Go masters can't beat you. You think you can only move one move after thinking ten moves ahead! Well...I heard that the workshops over at 'Yuan Gu' have decent production capacity. If we just modify one or two smaller workshops and continue production for a while, wouldn't we be able to make some money?"

"I'm preparing to launch a brand new traditional Chinese medicine with special effects. Our strength is too weak, and the overall strength of 'Yuan Gu' is actually quite average. We can't manage to do both at the same time. Let me put it this way, the requirements for the next new drug are quite high in all aspects. Even if no one interferes, and everyone works together day and night, we'll probably be overwhelmed! Where would we find the extra manpower and resources to make that kind of small money? It's not worth it!" Bian Mu replied calmly on the other end of the phone, sounding very mature.

"So there were so many intricacies involved. No wonder my father and Uncle Kui... By the way, it's not a big deal that you unilaterally withdrew, since the contract was up! But what if An Delin is unhappy and tries to interfere?"

"Their influence is ultimately limited. Even if they make some concessions... at worst, they'll only lose some money. For now, we can only take it one step at a time. I've already spoken to Attorney Feng; he's someone recommended by Master Liang, so he can't be wrong! In business, there's no such thing as a clean getaway; it's just a matter of how much you lose!"

"That's true! Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, Anderlin's wife is a huge bird enthusiast. She's even joined a few respectable associations and hobby groups. You know, I know a little bit about this stuff..."

“I understand, I understand! Compared to you, they might not even be as good as a three-year-old, but... unless they go too far, let’s forget about those underhanded tricks!” “Definitely, but... if they really try something shady, they might not have much of an advantage…” Sanqiangzi responded very subtly over the phone.

"I know! Thank you all for your help!" Bian Mu replied tactfully on the other end of the phone.

The meaning conveyed by Sanqiangzi was very clear: if An Delin knew what was good for him, the two sides would part ways immediately and each make their own money and live their own lives; otherwise, Liang Xiangyin and his son, as well as Sima Kui, might have secretly planted some unspeakable "hidden locks" somewhere, and if An Delin crossed any boundaries, the three of them would definitely not stand idly by.

"We're all family here, so there's no need to be so polite. I'm out here, it's getting windy, I have to go back. We'll talk again later!"

"Okay! Let's talk another day!" With that, Bian Mu hung up the phone.

……

Bian Mu casually placed her phone on the desk, got up and went to the south-facing balcony to stretch and loosen up her muscles, which made her feel much better.

With so many good friends supporting her, Bian Mu felt that her career path would only get wider and wider in the future, and her heart was filled with warmth...

……

Aunt Xue and her husband never showed up at the clinic, and Uncle Feng never took the initiative to contact Bian Mu by phone.

No need to ask, this is because they don't want to cause trouble for Bian Mu.

Besides, Aunt Xue and her husband are usually quiet and not very active, and their social circle is a bit small. They have almost no idea how far Bian Mu has developed. In a metropolis with more than 20 million people, is it easy to make a living alone?! In the end, Aunt Xue and her husband are still kind-hearted.

But... Aunt Xue's condition isn't life-threatening right now, but it can't be delayed!

What's more troublesome is that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "a doctor doesn't knock on doors," and Bian Mu's eagerness to take on this case goes against medical tradition. So... what way can he think of to help Aunt Xue and her husband? When he had nothing to do, Bian Mu sat there pondering, but he couldn't come up with a good solution...