Lin Yao, who had no time to linger, left his detailed contact information, and Ge Yong and his daughter, overjoyed, watched him enter the airport from their taxi.
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Chapter Twenty-One: The Grim Situation (Highly Recommended)
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Disclaimer: All characters, plots, and locations in this book exist in a parallel universe and have no connection to anything in reality. The institutions, people, and events appearing in the book have not occurred in the real world. Any resemblance or similarity in names, places, positions, or events does not represent any real-world significance. Please do not attempt to identify with any real-world organization or individual; this is merely a novel.
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The key decision-makers of the future Minhong Pharmaceutical Group sat around the coffee table in the living room. In fact, the key decision-makers were Luo Jimin and Lin Hongmei, along with their son Lin Yao. None of the three spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. The television was off, and the room was quiet, with only the occasional sounds of mahjong and street vendors coming from outside the rented apartment complex.
Lin Yao was pondering the latest news he had just heard, trying to come up with a good plan to quickly put "Minhong Drought-Resistant Beverage" into production and sales, so as to achieve his family's goal as soon as possible. He also needed to start preparing for the production of the official medicine, "Minhong Children's Cold Granules." Information from the State Drug Administration showed that this traditional Chinese medicine, made entirely of Chinese herbs, had been recommended and accepted by the expert group.
Currently, many traditional Chinese medicines on the domestic market actually add some Western medicine ingredients to enhance their efficacy, which contradicts the principle of mutual generation and restraint among Chinese medicinal materials to reduce or even eliminate toxic side effects. Therefore, the "Minhong Children's Cold Granules" submitted for testing were not only tested by various experts, but also initiated a research project. Even senior experts like Professor Kuang repeatedly tried to obtain systematic pharmacological experience on the interaction between various medicinal materials from Lin Yao. However, Lin Yao himself could only barely figure out the manufacturing process based on the medicinal properties of the herbs and their proportions. Moreover, he was currently using the ability of the herbs to cultivate a fungus to process the raw materials. Even if he were willing to pass on this experience to Professor Kuang, he would be powerless to do so.
The two products that the newly established Minhong Pharmaceutical Company was about to launch were fraught with difficulties. From his father, Luo Jimin, Lin Yao learned that the major water companies in Chengdu had gone from agreeing to OEM production to now joining forces to demand equity participation in the functional beverage. Their attitude was becoming increasingly tough, leaving his parents, who originally thought the project wouldn't require much effort, extremely worried. Lin Yao's parents had previously focused their main efforts on seeking cooperation with pharmaceutical companies to produce functional beverage drug concentrates and acquiring pharmaceutical companies to prepare for the production of cold medicine granules. Now, the unexpected situation had greatly affected the progress of their previously planned projects.
"Dad, I think we should adjust our strategic thinking. We shouldn't start by considering the demand of the entire western region. If we only release the product in a small, drought-stricken area first, as the public verifies its efficacy, it will inevitably attract media attention and then the attention of the whole society. At that time, negotiating licensing agreements with large water companies won't be as passive as it is now." After experiencing various attempts to spy on him in Beijing, Lin Yao has matured. Before, his family had underestimated society. It's impossible for a highly valuable technology and product to avoid various troubles. The only way to succeed is to create a favorable situation for ourselves.
“Yao’er, your mother and I have discussed your idea. These large water companies are making exorbitant demands to control our drought-resistant beverage business. Negotiations have made no progress and we’re only getting more passive. So we’ve started considering negotiating cooperation or acquisitions with smaller water companies. Here’s a list that your mother and I have compiled recently. Take a look and we’ll select a few as our key negotiation targets and try to secure them as soon as possible,” Luo Jimin said with some helplessness.
"Although your method is easier to implement, it also affects the interests of the people in the entire western disaster area. If our production capacity is not enough for one day, the disaster victims whose health is threatened will have to wait another day, and it may even cause irreparable sequelae to their health. Sigh... why is it so difficult to do something that benefits the country and the people?"
The preparations, which lasted only half a month, caused Luo Jimin's complexion, which had finally recovered after more than a month of rest following the sale of the pharmaceutical factory, to deteriorate again. Fortunately, Lin Yao prepared some pills to help him recover, but the constant travel and staying up late still made him even more exhausted, which saddened Lin Yao.
Seeing his father's dejected expression, Lin Yao felt a pang of sadness. He comforted him, "Dad, don't be sad. Perhaps the new method is the best fit for our family's situation. You and Mom have only ever been involved in pure pharmaceutical production, and you have little experience in market distribution and sales. Our limited funds may not be enough to manage a full-scale operation. We've priced this energy drink at only three yuan a bottle, with the majority of the value going to retailers and wholesalers. We can barely break even and still have to advance production funds. If any link in the chain isn't handled well, we'll definitely lose money. Our four million yuan can't afford to lose any more."
After a pause, remembering his father's confidence, Lin Yao continued, "Dad, I met the son of a Ministry of Civil Affairs official in Beijing this time. He's a really good guy and genuinely wants to do something for the country. I'm planning to have him lead the recruitment of volunteers nationwide. These volunteers will oversee the distribution and sale of drought relief drinks, and local civil affairs departments might be able to help out as well."
"That's good. Take a look at these materials first, then we'll discuss it together and see which company to cooperate with." Luo Jimin felt a glimmer of hope. Dealing with those profit-driven companies these days had been a real headache for him. Even some officials he rarely saw had come to him, forcing him and his associates to operate according to their suggestions. Ever since Lin Yao presented two extremely valuable formulas and processes, he knew his child had grown up, and it was time to seek his opinion as an equal.
Seeing the thick stack of documents his parents had painstakingly compiled, Lin Yao knew they had endured a great deal of hardship during this time, and he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Although his parents had given up their beloved medical careers for him, they had never abandoned their ideal of healing and saving lives. This time, they were desperately preparing for the delivery to help millions in the disaster-stricken areas escape health danger, but unfortunately, reality dealt them a huge blow.
"This is the one, Mom. What do you think?" Lin Yao said, pointing to the information of a company called "Anyun Water Industry Company".
“Your father and I also think this company is the most suitable. They used to produce bottled water for long-distance luxury buses operating on highways. They have three existing purified water production and bottling lines with good production capacity. Now, many luxury buses have stopped providing a complimentary bottle of purified water to each passenger, which has greatly affected their product sales. The company is incurring losses, so they are preparing to sell. However, their asking price is too high. 4.7 million for real estate and fixed assets is beyond our means. Fortunately, in order to properly resettle the original employees in the factory, they will not raise the price. They only require that all employees be accepted and that they be guaranteed not to be laid off within two years.”
Lin Hongmei also looked a little haggard. She had been working a lot during this period and was very busy. The couple did everything themselves and couldn't find anyone to help them. They had basically memorized all the information. When she heard her son's question, she casually told him about the company.
"Then let's go with this one. I think the other companies either don't have enough production capacity or their equity is too dispersed to be easily acquired. As for equity participation and cooperation, I don't think they're necessarily easier to deal with than those large water industry groups. At least those large groups follow the rules, while some small companies have messy finances. If our family takes a stake, we probably won't be able to get things done and will end up losing everything." Lin Yao concluded that Anyun Water Industry Company was indeed the most capable among these companies.
“Yao’er, this is indeed a good choice, but our family only has four million in funds. We have no assets to mortgage, and it will be difficult to raise loan funds from the bank immediately with just this approval document. The procedures and processes for issuing loans by banks are too many, and we can’t wait. Not to mention that four million is not enough to buy Anyun Water Industry Company, even if we could, where would we get the funds to purchase raw materials to produce the medicine? Where would we get the funds for our initial production and the backlog of unsold products?” Luo Jimin said with a frown, his tightly furrowed brows forming a deep frown line on his forehead.
"I'll give it a try. The information says that the CEO of Anyun Water Industry is a very good person. Maybe I can talk to him and come up with a solution. I think the 'Xinglin Pharmaceutical Factory' you chose is good. I guess you didn't manage to get it because you didn't have enough money, right?" Lin Yao planned to take matters into his own hands. His plan to temporarily produce energy drinks, which he had told his parents, was not just talk. He figured his parents didn't believe he would really only produce for three or four months and then quit. That's why they were negotiating based on the idea of selling the factory or simply licensing production, which is why they couldn't solve the current difficulties.
“Your father and I also think Xinglin Pharmaceutical Factory is a good fit. The factory has very new equipment. We went to see it, and the equipment and the workers' skills are excellent. It can fully meet the production needs of cold medicine granules,” Lin Hongmei replied immediately, as if reciting a familiar story.
"Their production is going well now, but the factory director's three sons have been secretly embezzling money, turning a perfectly good pharmaceutical factory into a bankrupt one. That's why the old factory director decided to sell the factory and shut down. Moreover, the other party has proposed that the 'Xingrentang Pharmacy' in the south gate must be transferred as well. The amount will not be 3.5 million, but 4.7 million. The annual rent for that pharmacy alone is 700,000. In addition, the pharmacy's inventory of medicines and herbs, as well as some other assets, is priced at 1.2 million."
"Seven hundred thousand in rent? That would require a huge place!" Lin Yao was somewhat surprised. He couldn't imagine how large a pharmacy that mainly sells Chinese medicine would be.
“Yes, your father and I were shocked when the old factory manager first proposed these conditions. After visiting the pharmacy, we realized how large they had turned a traditional pharmacy into, with an area of over 500 square meters. Each doctor has their own consultation room. The rent for storefronts near the south gate is already expensive, no wonder the rent is so high every year.” Lin Hongmei said with an incredulous expression, “If it really doesn’t work out, we can try negotiating with another one. There are two other pharmaceutical factories that are also quite good, but they are a bit small, the equipment isn’t very new, and the technical capabilities of the factories are much weaker.”
"Oh, I'll take another look then." Lin Yao replied absentmindedly. He was short of money. At this moment, all he could think about was how to make money. There were many rich people now. Why not use his online "angel" identity to make some money to help his family get through the crisis? He figured that his online doctor friends must have some difficult and complicated diseases that rich people suffered from. It shouldn't be difficult for them to introduce a few wealthy patients to him.
"Mom, can you contact the CEO of Anyun Water Industry for me? I need to meet with him right away and talk to him. We have to get this sorted out as soon as possible. The drought in the west is getting worse, and time is of the essence." After saying this, Lin Yao got up and went to his room to use his computer.
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Chapter Twenty-Two: An Angel Descends to Earth (Please Support!)
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Lin Yao opened the "Medical Forum," which he hadn't logged into for a long time, and logged in as "Angel." Without even checking the hundreds of messages in his inbox, he immediately clicked "Post." He decided to stop pretending to be high-minded and focus on making money. The situation at home wasn't optimistic; continuing to act high-minded would be a recipe for disaster.
With rapid typing, a post titled "Seeking a Patient with a Million-Dollar Medical Fee" quickly appeared on the screen. After clicking send, it immediately appeared in the forum's discussion area, and replies began to appear in less than a minute.
The post was very simple, containing only a few sentences: "I urgently need funds and am seeking help from colleagues to refer patients. Fees will be based on the patient's condition. Excluding the costs of all examinations, equipment, and medications used during treatment, the base price for consultation and treatment is one million RB (after tax, which will be paid by the patient). Fees will be adjusted upwards depending on the severity of the condition. Colleagues willing to help, please leave a message in my inbox to discuss the possibility of treatment. This post is valid for fifteen days. All irrelevant messages will not be replied to. Thank you for your understanding!"
The post caused a stir throughout the forum. For many years, Lin Yao had been experiencing what it was like to be a doctor online. His solid knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and outstanding medical talent had earned him considerable fame on this highly prestigious medical forum among the global Chinese medical community.
Unlike the experts and leading figures from major hospitals, medical institutions, and renowned universities around the world who are registered under their real names, the anonymous "angel" gained his fame entirely through Lin Yao's participation in online medical discussions, answering questions for others, and providing assistance, accumulating it bit by bit.
From initial obscurity to widespread admiration for his extensive knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, his unique insights and suggestions for integrating traditional Chinese and Western medicine in clinical practice, after being reviewed and tested by professional scholars and physicians on the forum, received extremely high praise, leading forum members to conclude that he was a well-known senior expert in China. The number of his followers also increased, with some fans habitually seeking his advice when encountering difficult medical conditions.
Angel, a high-profile figure on the forum, blatantly charged exorbitant fees for money, which saddened many doctors who were dedicated to saving lives. They lamented that a doctor with such talent had fallen into the trap of money. Meanwhile, some forum members who prioritized economics were extremely excited and began to support Angel's post, using this behavior of a celebrity with a good reputation as evidence of their own advocacy.
That night, the entire Chinese medical academic community was shaken. Doctors who happened to see the post on the forum immediately called their colleagues to inform them of the angel's shocking behavior. Forum members who were notified rushed to the nearest computer to check the situation online. Those who couldn't get away kept calling to get the latest updates. No one could understand why a doctor who had always demonstrated high medical ethics and a detached attitude would choose to fall into depravity.
"Angel Teacher, how could you do this? It's heartbreaking!!!!" This comment came from a pure-hearted fan, and the glaring exclamation mark represented the poster's emotions.
"Teacher Angel, I happen to have a patient here who hasn't been cured despite seeking treatment at many major hospitals across the country. Don't worry, this patient is wealthy; he owns a chain of supermarkets. A million is nothing to him. Please contact me, Teacher. Your loyal fan." This was a forum member who responded immediately, but hadn't read the post carefully. Lin Yao didn't plan to contact him proactively. Someone who didn't even read the post carefully wasn't a good business partner. Unless he couldn't find anyone else, Lin Yao didn't want to deal with such a person.
“Angel Teacher, I support your decision! Everyone has financial difficulties, and doctors are human too; they also need to eat and live…” This expresses understanding.
"Just passing by, everyone come see the plane!" This is pure spam.
“Angel, your actions today have deeply saddened me! A healer should possess a compassionate heart, not be corrupted by material possessions and money…”
The long, lecturing post must have belonged to a celebrity in the medical field. Lin Yao took a closer look at the poster and, sure enough, it was a leading expert. Lin Yao recognized this expert, who had registered under his real name—a cardiovascular disease specialist at a hospital in Shanghai, an authoritative figure enjoying special government allowances. Lin Yao scoffed and muttered to himself, "So you're not short of money. Your house and car have been arranged by the government and the hospital, and you're famous enough that no one will give you a hard time in society. How could you possibly understand other people's hardships?"
Lin Yao remembered some rumors about this expert. Someone had previously created an alternate account to post about his misconduct, claiming he treated high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen with great kindness, projecting an image of a highly ethical and respected medical expert. While there was no evidence that he received any benefits, his frequent refusal of poor patients' requests for treatment, citing a full schedule, suggested questionable ethics. The poster even detailed a near-death experience of a poor patient; at the most critical moment of treatment, the expert abandoned his patient and went on a trip abroad with his family. The post even specified the exact dates of their trip and return, making it difficult to judge the veracity of the poster's claims.
Although these posts were eventually deleted by the moderator, Lin Yao, who already had doubts, was furious when he saw the expert lecturing him with such a pained expression and using some excessive words to attack him. After giving him a fierce look of contempt, he said, "Mind your own business before you criticize others. Maybe you're the one who's just trying to gain fame!" He vented his frustration at being attacked.
"Are you out of your mind for money?" This is an expression of opposition.