Professor Gao was delighted by what Li Xu said.

If someone else were researching a drug, he might not have believed in it.

But Li Xu had developed many useful Chinese patent medicines before.

So it was only natural that he would develop another one now.

"Xiao Xu, I’ll have the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine conduct a trial first. If the effects are as good as you say, I’ll recommend this drug with my full support!" Professor Gao said.

Next, Li Xu called Dean Zhang.

Dean Zhang was also pleased when he heard the news.

He said he would recommend it to the Southern University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital.

After that, Li Xu contacted Dean Sun of the Guanghe District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Dean Song of the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

As a special consultant for the Guanghe District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Li Xu enjoyed an extremely high level of trust from Dean Sun.

Meanwhile, the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine had always wanted to hire Li Xu. So, after hearing his introduction, both deans agreed without hesitation. They promised to immediately purchase the Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules and promote their use in their respective hospitals.

...

At the same time, Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory wasn’t idle either.

After receiving his instructions from Ding Kaifang, Sales Manager Wang Lei took action immediately.

By now, Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory had become quite famous in the industry.

Many of its products, like the Mao Duddu Eye Drops, Watermelon Frost, True Martial Pill, and Dragon Bone Powder, were in such high demand that supply couldn’t keep up.

He didn’t need to go around making sales pitches.

He could just make a few calls from his office, and many pharmacies and wholesalers would come flocking.

Wang Lei opened his phone and first found the number for an old acquaintance, Zhang Zhigang of Kangning Pharmacy.

...

Kangning Pharmacy.

Zhang Zhigang had been in a terrible mood lately.

Last week, he had seen recommendations from various experts on TV, and the flu trend was getting more and more severe.

He had made a huge investment in a batch of Lianhua Granules. To secure the scarce supply, he even had to call in a lot of favors.

As a result, while sales of Lianhua Granules had been explosive over the past few days, the customer feedback had him at his wit’s end.

"Boss, these Lianhua Granules are completely useless! I took them for two days, and my fever hasn’t gone down at all!"

"Boss Zhang, are these drugs fake? My cough got even worse after taking them!"

All sorts of complaints and in-person grievances came one after another. Although the pharmacy’s inventory was decreasing, its reputation had plummeted. The stress was making him sprout gray hairs. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Just as he was wondering what to do with this batch of Lianhua Granules now stuck on his hands, he received a call from Wang Lei.

"Boss Zhang, our factory’s latest product, a specialized Chinese patent medicine specifically for this flu outbreak—Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules—has officially launched. I wanted to recommend it to you."

Wang Lei said, getting straight to the point.

"Lianhua... Suanzaoren Granules?"

When Zhang Zhigang heard the word "Lianhua," his heart tightened, fearing it was another one of those ineffective drugs.

But he quickly came to his senses.

Ever since Doctor Li joined six months ago, Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory had been completely transformed.

Every drug the factory produced had miraculous effects. Customer feedback was excellent, bringing him huge profits and a great reputation.

Although he didn’t yet know the specific efficacy of the Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules,

his trust in Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory led him to make a decision almost without hesitation.

"Manager Wang, I understand. I’ll go place an order right away!"

Zhang Zhigang hung up the phone and slapped the table in excitement.

Given the strength and reputation of Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory, if they were launching "Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules," it was bound to be no ordinary product.

This was a godsend, giving him hope of salvaging his pharmacy’s reputation.

He immediately told an employee to watch the store, then hastily grabbed his car keys and drove to Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory himself.

He wanted to get there before the other pharmacies and procure as large a batch of the new drug as possible.

When he arrived at the factory, Zhang Zhigang discovered he wasn’t the only early bird.

In the spacious procurement hall, a long line had already formed. Some people were paying at the windows, while others were taking their order forms to the warehouse to pick up their goods.

It seemed they were all pharmacy owners who had gotten the news and come to purchase "Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules."

Zhang Zhigang went to the back of the line, feeling a bit annoyed he hadn’t been a step quicker, but also a little relieved—it meant everyone had confidence in the new drug from Ding’s Pharmaceutical.

While waiting, Zhang Zhigang saw a few familiar faces.

"Old Wang, you’re here for the Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules too?" Zhang Zhigang greeted him.

"You bet I am!"

A pharmacy owner in a plaid shirt with a beer belly said with a pained expression, "I jumped on the bandwagon last week and ordered dozens of boxes of Lianhua Granules, and now they’re all dead stock. Customers come in yelling every day, saying the stuff is useless. Our pharmacy’s reputation is almost ruined. When I heard Ding’s Pharmaceutical had a new drug, I rushed over to see. I hope this one won’t be another disappointment."

"Ugh, don’t even get me started on Lianhua Granules. I could just kick myself!"

Another owner, a woman, chimed in, "Those experts on TV hyped it up like it was some miracle drug, but what happened? I had a regular customer take it for three days. Not only did her fever not go down, but her cough got worse. She was so mad she threw the box right in my face. It really infuriates me."

One after another, they all began complaining about the negative impact Lianhua Granules had on their pharmacies.

Customers who had once been hopeful about Chinese patent medicines were now resistant, some even switching to Western medicine.

"Still, if it comes from Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory, I trust it."

Old Wang changed his tune, his voice now tinged with hope. "My wife used just one bottle of their Mao Duddu Eye Drops, and the results were amazing. And their Watermelon Frost—I had a canker sore last time, and it got much better after just a few sprays. That’s why I rushed over the second I got the call from Manager Wang."

"Yeah, the drugs from Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory have never let us down," the female owner agreed.

As they chatted, the line moved quickly, and soon it was Zhang Zhigang’s turn.

He ordered two hundred boxes of Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules in one go.

By his calculations, that would be enough to last until next spring.

...

Kong Yu, a regular employee at an IT company, had been tormented by the flu recently.

For the past two days, he’d had a persistent high fever, a splitting headache, and a nonstop cough.

After seeing experts on TV highly recommending Lianhua Granules, he decided to give them a try and bought two boxes.

However, after taking them for two days, his condition didn’t improve at all. In fact, he felt like his fever was getting worse, his throat hurt as if it were being cut by a knife, and he was so weak he couldn’t even get out of bed.

’What kind of bullshit experts are these! They’re all liars!’

Furious, Kong Yu slammed the medicine box on his desk, took out his phone, and posted a long thread on Weibo.

@Kong Yu: #influenza #LianhuaGranules EXPOSED! Lianhua Granules are completely ineffective against this year’s flu!

I tested it myself. After taking it for two days, my high fever won’t go down, my cough is worse, and my throat hurts so much I can’t swallow.

How much money did those "experts" on TV take to recommend this garbage medicine against their conscience?!

It’s a scam!

This is a reckless disregard for human life!

I’m never trusting any Chinese patent medicine again!

Don’t fall for it, everyone!