The general manager of Dongguang Pharmaceutical checked the company’s inventory of medicinal herbs and reported, "President Li, our current supply of herbs like Forsythia Suspensa and Honeysuckle is adequate. However, if sales really spike, our inventory might not be enough in the long run. Should we procure a large batch now, just in case?"

But Li Wenhui, contrary to her usual self, refused. "There’s no need. Lianhua Granules will only sell for this one wave. A better medicine will enter the market to take its place."

The general manager was taken aback and asked curiously, "A better medicine? President Li, are you referring to..."

"I can’t go into detail," Li Wenhui cut him off. "Just remember not to stockpile too many herbs, especially those with short shelf lives. We need to avoid unnecessary losses."

...

Li Yang finished the interview and walked out of the hospital, exhausted.

As a cold wind blew past, her headache worsened, and her throat felt like it was on fire.

Despite getting an IV drip that morning, her flu symptoms hadn’t fully subsided.

She got into the press van, ready to head back to the news agency to edit the video footage.

However, as they passed a pharmacy, she acted on a strange impulse and asked the driver to pull over.

"Xiao Wang, wait here for me."

She got out of the van and pushed open the pharmacy’s glass door.

The pharmacy was bustling with people, all of them sick with the flu and there to buy medicine.

"Hello, how can I help you?"

A pharmacy assistant asked warmly.

"I’d like to buy two boxes of Lianhua Granules."

Li Yang said.

She was used to taking Western medicine. While she wasn’t opposed to traditional Chinese patent medicines, she didn’t particularly trust them either.

However, Academician Zhang Lin’s effusive praise for Lianhua Granules on camera today had planted a seed of curiosity in her mind.

’A nationally renowned respiratory expert couldn’t just be spouting nonsense, could he?’

’Maybe it really is that effective?’

She bought two boxes of Lianhua Granules and returned to the van.

As soon as she got to the news agency, she eagerly took two packets of the granules with warm water, following the dosage instructions.

The medicine was bitter and had a strong herbal flavor, a stark contrast to the Western medicine she usually took.

It was unpleasant, but the work still had to be done.

With the Type A flu raging, today’s interview needed to be broadcast as soon as possible.

There were dedicated video editors, but Li Yang had to be there to assist and ensure the best possible cut.

The days went by.

On the first day, she diligently took Lianhua Granules three times.

Other than the bitter taste in her mouth, her flu symptoms showed no obvious signs of improvement.

Her fever persisted, and her cough showed no signs of letting up.

On the second day, she continued to take the medicine.

However, the results were still disappointing.

Her sore throat grew worse, and she even began to feel a tightness in her chest.

To her, the Lianhua Granules seemed like a mere placebo, utterly failing to live up to its reputation as the "best traditional Chinese medicine option."

’It seems the medicine the academician recommended doesn’t work for everyone, including me...’

Li Yang felt a pang of disappointment.

She finally decided to go to a clinic the next morning for another shot to reduce her fever and get some stronger Western medicine.

As she reviewed the interview footage,

Li Yang’s feelings were mixed.

In the video, Academician Zhang Lin spoke with great confidence, lavishing praise on the efficacy of Lianhua Granules.

She suddenly felt that you couldn’t blame anyone else for the decline of traditional Chinese medicine in recent years. If it didn’t work, how could it not decline?

Once the video editing was finished, she submitted the footage to the editor-in-chief for review.

The editor-in-chief was thrilled with the interview, especially praising the authoritative recommendation from Academician Zhang Lin.

Soon, the exclusive interview was broadcast on major media outlets nationwide, attracting widespread attention. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Moreover,

many other doctors also began recommending Lianhua Granules in unison.

Suddenly,

it was as if Lianhua Granules had become a panacea.

And just as expected, sales of Lianhua Granules skyrocketed.

...

Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic was a hive of activity.

With the recent spread of the Type A flu, a constant stream of patients flowed in, packing the clinic from morning till night.

Li Xu was so busy he was run off his feet, and his voice had grown hoarse.

"Next! Uncle Wang, please come in!"

Song Sisi called out the next name with practiced ease, her own brow beaded with sweat from the rush.

Although the Sour Jujube Seeds Soup from Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory had already entered the approval process, it would take time for the new drug to reach the market—a distant solution for a pressing problem. For now, Li Xu could only personally compound the herbs to handle the flood of patients.

Every patient’s constitution was different, as was the severity of their illness. He had to take their pulse precisely and conduct a thorough inquiry to prescribe the most effective formula for their specific symptoms.

This process was time-consuming and laborious, but the results were remarkably effective. Many of his patients recovered quickly after taking the medicine.

"Doctor Li, could you please take a look at me?"

A pale-faced, middle-aged woman walked into the consultation room. It was clear she had the flu.

Just as Li Xu reached for her wrist to take her pulse, a familiar voice called out from outside the room.

"Xiao Xu, you’re busy."

Aunt Li walked in.

Li Xu greeted her, "Aunt Li, have you caught the flu too?"

Aunt Li nodded. Her voice was a little hoarse, but her spirits seemed fine. "You bet I have. It’s gotten cold lately, and I think I caught a chill sweeping leaves outside. It’s nothing serious, just a sore throat and a runny nose. You don’t need to take my pulse. I just came to buy a couple of boxes of Lianhua Granules to take at home. I heard it works wonders. They were talking about it on TV—all the academicians and experts are recommending it."

Li Xu was taken aback.

He set down the pulse pillow and explained patiently, "Aunt Li, Lianhua Granules can indeed treat some colds, and it has heat-clearing and detoxifying properties.

"However, it’s primarily for the early symptoms of a ’wind-heat’ type of cold. Its medicinal nature is cooling, so it’s not very effective against this particular strain of Type A flu, which is characterized by pathogenic heat congesting the lungs and depleting the lung’s vital fluids.

"Your sore throat and runny nose could just be a common cold, but it might also be the early stage of the Type A flu. It would be best to let me take your pulse, so I can give you the right medicine for your specific condition. You’ll get better much faster that way."

But Aunt Li was unconvinced. She pointed to the patients lined up outside and said with a smile, "Xiao Xu, look how busy you are. You don’t even have time for a sip of water. I don’t want to be a bother.

"Besides, all those experts and academicians on TV lately are saying Lianhua Granules is a Divine Medicine. They say it works wonders for the Type A flu and that it’s the best choice.

"They can’t all be wrong, can they? I’ll just buy two boxes and try it. It’s so much more convenient, and I won’t have to go through the trouble of brewing herbs!"

As she spoke, she walked over to the medicine cabinet and gestured for Song Sisi to get the medicine for her.

Li Xu sighed helplessly. He knew there were plenty of people like Aunt Li who put all their faith in what the experts said.

Faced with such a determined "customer," he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her outright.

"Well... all right, Aunt Li. Take two boxes home and try them. But if your symptoms don’t improve after two days, or if they get worse, you absolutely must come back and see me. I’ll write you a new prescription."

Li Xu could only offer this warning.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know."

Beaming, Aunt Li took the two boxes of Lianhua Granules and left, completely satisfied.