The vicious female supporting role is posted in the opposite direction by the cub

Since collaborating with Wankang Futang to launch a series of Chinese herbal health drinks and pastries, the public's enthusiasm for traditional Chinese medicine has been completely ignited.

Long queues formed outside each store, with customers vying to buy innovative products that combine efficacy and taste—the barley and red bean cake exuded the fragrance of grains, the specially blended Chinese herbal milk tea was mellow and sweet, and discussions on social media about "traditional Chinese medicine conditioning" and "dietary health preservation" remained heated.

Chu Fengteng, dressed in an elegant blue robe, was attentively introducing a newly launched calming tea recipe to a middle-aged customer, his gentle voice clear and patient.

As he looked up, he happened to see Yan Yueqing's smiling figure appear at the door. His eyes instantly lit up with surprise, and his handsome and refined face immediately came to life: "Auntie Xiaoxing!" He quickly walked around the counter to greet her and respectfully and affectionately led Yan Yueqing to a relatively quiet private room.

“Auntie Xiaoxing, look,” Chu Fengteng led Yan Yueqing to sit by the window, poured her a cup of tea, pointed to the bustling crowd outside, and said with heartfelt gratitude in his gentle voice, “Everyone’s enthusiasm far exceeded our expectations. Many people started by trying a cup of health-preserving tea and gradually stopped to listen to us explain the principles of herbal compatibility, the four properties and five flavors of medicinal herbs. The old manager and doctors of Wankang Futang said that they had never seen such a lively scene in a Chinese medicine shop in recent years, as if the dormant roots had been revitalized.”

He then reported on the progress: "Grandpa Bai's research is also progressing very well. The 200 million yuan you invested earlier is being used to tackle key issues in the field of detoxification of traditional Chinese medicine, and the progress is encouraging. As for the joint revenue from the food supplement workshop, it is being continuously fed back to Wankang Futang as agreed, for the purpose of ancient book collation, apprentice training and support for medicinal herb cultivation, forming a virtuous cycle."

Yan Yueqing picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and nodded with satisfaction: "All of this, in the final analysis, is the result of your own perseverance and hard work. The wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine is deeply rooted in life, and you have found the key to make it shine again."

Her gaze fell gently on Chu Fengteng, whose youthful demeanor was becoming increasingly composed, and whose brows already showed signs of taking control of the overall situation.

However, the observant woman still keenly noticed a subtle hint of seriousness hidden between his relaxed brows.

"What's wrong? Have you run into some new trouble?"

Chu Fengteng sighed softly, put down the teapot, and his expression became serious: "Aunt Xiaoxing is very perceptive... She has indeed encountered some trouble recently."

He gestured for his apprentice to gently close the door to the private room, lowered his voice, and said with concern, "Do you still remember when Japanese capital was aggressively acquiring shares of traditional Chinese medicine, trying to strangle us, and even causing my father to have difficulty obtaining medicine and being kidnapped at one point?"

Yan Yueqing's eyes narrowed: "Of course I remember. What? Is history about to repeat itself?"

"It's a similar plot, but with a more subtle and powerful actor."

Chu Fengteng took out a document from the drawer and spread it out in front of Yan Yueqing. It listed the recent price trends and market analysis of several key medicinal materials.

"This time, it was a joint operation by several well-connected foreign capitals, with the clear goal of monopolizing upstream rare medicinal resources. You see, the prices of wild ginseng and top-grade cordyceps have been driven up to astonishingly high levels, and even common medicinal materials such as angelica and astragalus have been hoarded by them on a large scale."

"Trying to strangle us again?" Yan Yueqing tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her tone calm yet sharp with insight.

Chu Fengteng nodded heavily.

"That's exactly right. They first use high prices to lure and control the upstream medicinal herb farmers and planting bases, forming a de facto monopoly. Then they use this to blackmail them, either by buying at high prices or by maliciously suppressing small and medium-sized pharmaceutical factories, attempting to control the midstream and downstream of the entire industry chain. At the current rate of consumption, Wankang Futang's wild ginseng inventory is probably only enough to last for half a month... If the supply is really cut off, the TCM health craze that we have worked so hard to create will probably suffer a heavy blow, and the public's trust will be shaken."

His slender fingers unconsciously stroked the embroidery on the cuffs of his blue robe, revealing his inner anxiety. "Father is urgently contacting familiar old herbal medicine farmers and cooperative bases in various places, but the purchase price they are offering is too high, far beyond a reasonable range. We... are somewhat powerless to do so."

"Back then, they relied on their abundant capital to try and crush our millennia-old foundation with money." Yan Yueqing's lips curled into a cool smile, but her eyes remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. "Now they want to use the same trick again? It seems they think we are easy to bully."

She put down her teacup, her gaze falling on Chu Fengteng's slightly tense face. Her voice was gentle yet carried a powerful sense of calm: "Fengteng, do you still remember the concept you proposed back then: 'Integrating traditional Chinese medicine into clothing, food, housing, and transportation'? That was an excellent idea. It shows that you have already seen that the vitality of traditional Chinese medicine lies in its integration into life and in having its own foundation."

She paused, her fingertips lightly tracing the names of the maliciously inflated medicinal herbs on the document: "When faced with a bottleneck, instead of passively competing with them for that monopolized share, we should change our approach, strengthen our own capabilities, and take control of our own destiny."

Chu Fengteng's previously anxious eyes suddenly lit up, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun: "You mean..."

"They are able to monopolize rare medicinal materials because rare medicinal materials have long cultivation cycles, strong geographical restrictions, and high technical requirements."

Yan Yueqing analyzed clearly, "But how vast is the treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine? Besides those 'star medicinal herbs' that they've targeted, there are countless 'people-friendly medicinal herbs' with proven efficacy, easy to cultivate, and more suitable for daily health maintenance. Honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, goji berries, hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, poria cocos...aren't these good things? Doesn't Wankang Futang have good formulas for them?" Chu Fengteng seemed thoughtful: "Yes! Of course! And the effects are very good, it's just that before..."

“It’s just that before, they weren’t ‘expensive’ enough, not eye-catching enough, right?” Yan Yueqing continued, her tone guiding, “But this crisis is precisely the best time to promote them! We can increase our efforts to develop more health products around these ‘people-friendly medicinal herbs’—more affordable tea bags, more delicious pastries and snacks, and more convenient soup mix packets.”

At the same time, we will vigorously support reliable domestic medicinal herb cultivation bases with a strong commitment to contracts, especially the large-scale and standardized cultivation of these commonly used medicinal herbs. We could even encourage the concept of 'home medicine gardens,' allowing ordinary people to grow a few plants of mint, perilla, and mugwort in pots on their balconies… truly bringing traditional Chinese medicine into the daily lives of every household, making it as indispensable as firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

Her gaze deepened and hardened: “When our foundation is strong enough, when our industrial chain is robust and complete enough, and when our products truly resonate with the people, those financial giants who want to strangle us by monopolizing a few medicinal herbs will find that what they are blocking is just a small stone, unable to shake the entire majestic mountain. Feng Teng, remember, true strength comes from the prosperity of your own ecosystem, not from the struggle for scarce resources. Look to the long term and lay a solid foundation.”

A spark of wisdom shone in Chu Fengteng's eyes. Yan Yueqing's words were like a gentle spring breeze, instantly dispelling the anxiety weighing on his heart. A genuine smile unconsciously curved his lips, blooming on his handsome face: "Auntie Xiaoxing, you're absolutely right! Promoting affordable medicinal herbs, supporting planting bases, and bringing traditional Chinese medicine into every household—this is indeed the key to breaking the deadlock. Fengteng will certainly do his utmost."

However, amidst his joy, a hint of worry crept into his eyes, and his voice deepened, “But… rare medicinal herbs like wild ginseng are, after all, one of the cornerstones of Wankang Futang. Their unique medicinal effects are irreplaceable in formulas for calming the mind, relieving anxiety, and restoring yang. If the supply is truly cut off, not only will our high-end product line suffer, but it could also shake customers’ confidence in traditional Chinese medicine… Foreign capital monopolizing upstream resources is stifling our heritage…”

Yan Yueqing listened quietly, her fingertips gently stroking the rim of the teacup, her gaze as calm and steady as a deep well.

After Chu Fengteng finished speaking, she calmly opened her mouth, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable strength: "Your concerns are very real. If capital wants to strangle us, we will use our strength to break through it—I will solve the funding problem."

She paused, then clearly outlined the plan, "First, strengthen technological research and innovation. Wild ginseng is scarce? We can learn from a certain group and use plant stem cell technology to separate a small amount of tissue from existing stock and 'cultivate' tons of high-saponin ginseng adventitious roots in a bioreactor. Although the initial investment is large, it can completely break the monopoly."

Secondly, we will establish a stable raw material supply system. I will invest in and support domestic GAP-standardized planting bases, participate in ecological farming, and expand the scale of planting in major varieties such as angelica and astragalus to ensure both quality and quantity. Furthermore, we will strengthen cooperation and alliances among enterprises—joining forces with Wankang Futang, the Bai Laoyezi team, and other pharmaceutical companies to form an industry alliance, sharing procurement channels and R&D results, and enhancing our bargaining power against foreign investment.

Having gone through the events at Xiaoluling and Haidu, she now analyzes these situations with ease.

"Furthermore, we will strengthen brand building and market expansion. Once the funds are in place, we will accelerate the launch of new products such as affordable tea bags and pastries, and leverage social media to promote the reliability and innovation of domestically produced Chinese medicine, making 'people-friendly medicinal materials' a popular concept..."

"Finally, we will protect our rights and interests through laws and regulations. I will hire a top-notch legal team to ensure that every transaction is fair and legal, and to prevent hostile takeovers by foreign capital or loss of resources."

Yan Yueqing glanced at the bustling crowd outside the window, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Feng Teng, you don't need to worry about the money. Early research and development, base construction, alliance operations—all of these require huge sums of money to pave the way, but money is the last thing I lack. That 200 million is just the beginning; I'll invest as much as needed afterward. Remember, when our ecosystem is thriving enough, foreign capital's attempts to contain us are nothing more than ants trying to shake a tree. Now, are you at ease?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Fengteng's tense shoulders completely relaxed. He seemed to remember something: "Aunt Xiaoxing, what kind of ecological base are you building in Xiaoluling? Have you already decided to build it there? I remember there are several medicinal herb gardens right next to Xiaoluling, but unfortunately they were all acquired by foreign capital..."

what?
Is there such a coincidence?

Yan Yueqing really didn't notice.

However, there is a large area behind Xiaoluling Mountain with a geographical landscape that is somewhat like a primeval forest, which is not as spectacular as a real forest, but it is still very vast.

Jun Jiu said he didn't plan to develop that area. After all, no matter how well the ecological park is done, as long as filming takes place there, there will be a constant flow of people coming and going, and he was worried that it would affect the environment.

However, it's different when it's developed into a medicinal herb garden.

With its unique natural conditions, isn't that the perfect base for cultivating rare medicinal herbs?

She didn't say much, but gave a mysterious smile.

Chu Fengteng seemed to understand; so Aunt Xiaoxing had laid such a long line?
He solemnly rose and bowed deeply to Yan Yueqing: "Aunt Xiaoxing's strategic planning has given Fengteng nothing to worry about! Funding, technology, alliances—you've paved the way, and I'll get to implement them right away." (End of Chapter)