Li Xu continued to stay busy.

He didn’t finish until after eight o’clock at night.

He cleaned up the clinic with Song Sisi.

Only after Song Sisi left did Li Xu finally have a moment to catch his breath.

He pulled out his phone and went online to check the latest news.

Sure enough, all sorts of media platforms were flooded with videos and interviews of traditional Chinese medicine experts recommending Lianhua Granules for treating the H1N1 flu.

Academician Zhang Lin’s exclusive interview, in particular, was being shared feverishly across major web portals and social media, with an astonishing number of comments and reposts.

In the comment sections, countless netizens said they were rushing to the pharmacy to buy Lianhua Granules and give them a try.

’This... doesn’t seem right.’

Li Xu’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper as he looked at the overwhelming wave of promotion.

The effect of Lianhua Granules on this strain of H1N1 flu wasn’t significant. You could even say it was the wrong treatment for the symptoms.

But why would so many "experts" be recommending it so unanimously?

’Could my own judgment be flawed?’

Filled with this confusion, Li Xu reopened various medical books, carefully poring over records related to the pharmacology and efficacy of Lianhua Granules.

He compared the discourses of physicians throughout history on wind-heat common colds and lung-heat coughs, trying to find a shred of evidence within the vast medical canons to support the claim that Lianhua Granules were particularly effective against this H1N1 flu.

However, no matter how much he searched, he couldn’t find any evidence proving that Lianhua Granules had any special efficacy against the "pathogenic heat congesting the lungs, causing failure of lung qi to descend" caused by this H1N1 flu.

Its effects remained within the scope of clearing plague and resolving toxins, and diffusing the lungs to vent heat. But for the viral inflammation deep in the lungs and the dry cough caused by the depletion of lung yin, its effect was minimal.

Time slipped by, and soon it was the dead of night. Outside the window, it was pitch black.

Li Xu rubbed his sore eyes. He was about to give up and get some rest, as tomorrow would be another busy day.

Just then, the intelligence system refreshed.

His spirits lifted, and he quickly tapped it open.

[Today’s Intelligence: To launch their Tamiflu Granules, America’s Jide Pharmaceutical has sponsored a group of Dragon Country’s traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to promote Chinese medicine for treating H1N1 flu. This is a scheme to ’kill with praise.’ The goal is to first elevate Chinese patent medicines to a high pedestal. After patients discover they have no obvious therapeutic effect, they will completely reject all Chinese patent medicines and lose faith in traditional Chinese medicine. At that point, Jide Pharmaceutical’s imported Tamiflu Granules can exploit the void, monopolize the Dragon Country market at a high price, and reap enormous profits...]

"Holy shit!"

Li Xu’s eyes went wide. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He was stunned.

Completely and utterly stunned.

’So that’s how it is.’

’So that’s what’s going on!’

In an instant, all his doubts were resolved.

Aunt Li’s unwavering belief, Academician Zhang Lin’s effusive praise, and the overwhelming media promotion...

Everything connected to form a clear picture—this was an elaborate conspiracy to "kill with praise."

If it weren’t for the intelligence alert, he would have remained in the dark, even doubting his own judgment.

He put down the medical books he had been poring over all night. He no longer needed to search for corroborating evidence.

Because the Lianhua Granules were indeed ineffective this time.

Li Xu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

This wasn’t just about him. It was a crisis facing the entire traditional Chinese medicine industry of Dragon Country, and even the health of the entire nation’s populace.

The enemy’s scheme was brilliant, and it was vicious.

First, they would praise Chinese patent medicines to the heavens, making everyone pin their hopes on them.

When the public discovered these "Divine Medicines" were not as miraculous as advertised, their immense disappointment would lead them to completely reject and renounce all Chinese patent medicines, and even to doubt the entire system of traditional Chinese medicine.

At that point, even if Ding’s Pharmaceutical successfully developed and launched their Sour Jujube Seeds Soup, no one would believe in it. Everyone would rush to buy America’s Jide Pharmaceutical’s Tamiflu Granules, and the price of those granules would surely be exorbitant.

’I absolutely cannot let their plot succeed.’

But how could he stop it?

Li Xu felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

He was just an ordinary doctor of Chinese medicine.

He only had some renown in Feng City.

In the entire industry, he was just a nobody.

No one would believe his words, and he stood no chance of fighting back against the premeditated media blitz.

A few figures flashed through his mind—Professor Gao, a renowned expert in the world of Chinese medicine.

Dean Zhang Yanquan, the dean of Southern University of Chinese Medicine, an heir to the Chengjiang School, and secretary-general of the Acupuncture Association—his prestige was even greater than Professor Gao’s.

He quickly opened a web browser and searched for the latest news about the two men.

He discovered that neither Gao Guanghui nor Zhang Yanquan had recently made any public statements recommending Lianhua Granules.

This ignited a flicker of hope in Li Xu’s heart.

This meant that they, at least, had not been "sponsored" by Jide Pharmaceutical, or in other words, they were maintaining their independent judgment as physicians.

Li Xu made an immediate decision. First thing tomorrow morning, he would call both of them.

Of course, he couldn’t reveal the intelligence he’d received, but he could approach it from the angle of Lianhua Granules’ actual efficacy. He could get them to speak out and cool down the "hype" surrounding the medicine.

Even if he couldn’t fully expose Jide Pharmaceutical’s conspiracy, he had to at least halt the momentum of this "kill with praise" scheme and buy time for a truly effective drug.

...

The next day, as soon as it was light, Li Xu dialed Gao Guanghui’s number.

Although he hadn’t slept well last night, he was still full of energy.

"Professor Gao, good morning. I hope I’m not disturbing you."

"Xiao Xu, so early? Have you encountered a difficult and complicated case?"

Gao Guanghui had just gotten out of bed, and his voice was still a bit hoarse.

"Teacher, there’s something I’d like to ask for your guidance on."

Li Xu got straight to the point. "Recently, the market has been flooded with promotions for Lianhua Granules to treat H1N1 flu, with many experts recommending it. However, I’ve observed in my clinical practice that Lianhua Granules aren’t very effective against this current strain of H1N1, and you could even say it’s the wrong medicine for the symptoms. Why is that?"

The other end of the line went silent for a moment before Professor Gao Guanghui sighed. "Xiao Xu, you’ve hit on the right problem. The formulation of Lianhua Granules doesn’t completely match the disease mechanism of this H1N1 strain, which is ’pathogenic heat congesting the lungs, causing failure of lung qi to descend, and depleting lung yin.’ It’s more than sufficient for clearing heat and resolving toxins, but it’s inadequate for moistening the lungs and nourishing yin. Its effectiveness is indeed limited against the deep-seated viral inflammation in the lungs and the subsequent cough."

"If that’s the case, then why are so many traditional Chinese medicine experts recommending it so strongly?"

Li Xu pressed on, confused. "This is ruining the reputation of all of traditional Chinese medicine. Isn’t anyone going to step in and stop it?"

Gao Guanghui’s voice grew heavy. "Xiao Xu, some things are far more complicated than you imagine. There are many interests involved here. The power of capital is far beyond what you and I can conceive. Some experts, whether for research funding, for fame and status, or perhaps even having been bought out directly by capital, will promote specific products according to capital’s wishes."

"Capital... So we’re just going to let them destroy the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine like this?"

Li Xu was furious.

"Stop them? Easier said than done."

Gao Guanghui gave a bitter laugh. "The power of capital is too great. They control the media, they control public opinion. Even if us old timers see the truth, our voices are minuscule and are quickly drowned out. A few days ago, I published an article on my personal media account, reminding everyone not to blindly buy and take Lianhua Granules, and that treatment should be based on syndrome differentiation for their specific condition. Did you see it?"