Fujiwara Takayuki paid close attention to the traditional dicine market in Dragon Country. He knew very well that Dragon Country's ancient formulas held countless treasures.
"Yoshida." He pressed the intercom on his desk, his voice low.
A few seconds later, the office door was pushed open. A man in his thirties walked in quickly and bowed respectfully. "President, you were looking for ?"
"The 'Waterlon Frost' ntioned in this report—look into it." Fujiwara Takayuki adjusted his glasses. "And buy so samples."
"Yes, sir!" Yoshida responded imdiately and turned to leave.
...
Three days later, Yoshida returned to the company with several boxes of "Waterlon Frost" from Ding's Pharmaceutical Factory.
Fujiwara Takayuki unwrapped the packaging and took out a small vial of pale green powder.
He poured a little onto his fingertip, rubbing it gently, then brought it closer to sll it.
'The ingredients should be simple,' he murmured. 'Waterlon Frost is extracted from waterlon and Mangxiao in the autumn...'
He took a little of the powder and put it in his mouth.
Instantly, a cooling sensation spread through his throat. The slight dryness he felt before was imdiately soothed.
Fujiwara Takayuki's pupils constricted slightly.
'This effect...'
He imdiately picked up the phone and dialed the laboratory. "Analyze the ingredients and dicinal effects of this Waterlon Frost at once!"
He doubted his own judgnt. 'How could just waterlon and Mangxiao have such a potent effect?'
An hour later, the lab director, Kito Ken, personally ca to Fujiwara Takayuki's office.
"President, the analysis results are in." Sato handed over a report. "The main ingredients of this Waterlon Frost are indeed waterlon and Mangxiao, but its dicinal effect is much stronger than we anticipated."
Fujiwara Takayuki scanned the report, his brow furrowing deeper. "Explain in detail."
Sato adjusted his glasses. "The anti-inflammatory effect of the Waterlon Frost is 30% stronger than our Dragon Horn Powder, and it takes effect faster. More importantly, its taste is milder. It lacks the bitter flavor of traditional Chinese dicine, making it more palatable for consurs."
Fujiwara Takayuki was silent for a mont, then suddenly let out a cold sneer. "A dicine from Dragon Country is actually stronger than our Dragon Horn Powder?"
Sato hesitated before adding, "President, the primary uses for Waterlon Frost and Dragon Horn Powder are actually a bit different. Dragon Horn Powder is mainly for coughs and expelling phlegm, while Waterlon Frost is more for inflammation and pain relief. Strictly speaking, they aren't direct competitors..."
"No," Fujiwara Takayuki cut him off. "If it's a throat dicine, it's competition."
"I will not allow a traditional dicine from Dragon Country to surpass ours."
After a mont of silence, Fujiwara Takayuki's gaze sharpened. "Yoshida, investigate the background of this 'Ding's Pharmaceutical,' especially the source of their waterlons. I suspect their raw materials are different."
Yoshida nodded. "Yes, sir!"
...
「The weekend.」
「Li's Traditional Chinese dicine Clinic.」
A van from the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine was parked at the entrance.
Hu Qiming and a nurse got out of the vehicle.
"Li Xu, I'm here again."
Hu Qiming called out as he pushed the door open.
"Welco, welco."
Li Xu was reading a book and answered perfunctorily without looking up. "Set up your own table."
"Li Xu, you've changed."
Hu Qiming complained, "Being the boss is different, isn't it? You used to help move the table."
Li Xu shot him a glare. "Don't be so sarcastic. That was your first ti here, so I was being polite. Now you treat my clinic like your own ho, so why should I be polite?"
Hu Qiming pouted. "Don't be ridiculous. Who would treat a clinic like their ho?"
Li Xu laughed. "You're a doctor, and you're superstitious about this stuff?"
Hu Qiming said, "Doctors are the most superstitious of all."
Just as the two were bantering, the clinic door was pushed open, and two beautiful won walked in.
It was Lin Xiaoyu and Wang Xiaojuan from "Urban Life."
Lin Xiaoyu was wearing a pale blue dress and five-centiter heels today. Her steps were light, showing no sign that she had recently been in too much pain to stand up straight.
"Editor Lin."
Hu Qiming's eyes lit up, and he hurried over. "Does your back still hurt?"
"Much better."
Lin Xiaoyu replied politely.
Then she looked at Li Xu. "Doctor Li!"
Li Xu nodded, his gaze falling on Wang Xiaojuan. "And this is?"
Wang Xiaojuan looked to be in her early thirties. She was wearing a loose cotton-linen top and soft, flat-soled shoes. Her posture was slightly stooped, and her right hand was unconsciously supporting the small of her back.
Her face was a little pale, with faint dark circles under her eyes.
"This is my colleague, Wang Xiaojuan. She's had a herniated disc for several years, so I brought her to see you." Lin Xiaoyu pulled Wang Xiaojuan a step forward. "Xiaojuan, this is the Doctor Li I was telling you about."
Wang Xiaojuan forced a smile. "Hello, Doctor Li." Her voice was laced with exhaustion.
Li Xu gestured for them to sit. "Have a seat, don't stand." He turned to Lin Xiaoyu. "How is your recovery coming along?"
"I'm completely better!" Lin Xiaoyu said excitedly, then lowered her voice. "Um... Doctor Li, I was also hoping you could give a massage today. Your massages are just so incredibly relaxing..."
Li Xu was speechless. 'Does she think this is a massage parlor?'
He saw Song Sisi looking bored off to the side, and an idea struck him. "Perfect timing. Song Sisi is learning massage from . Why don't you let her give it a try? Besides, since you're both won, she can work on more sensitive areas."
Song Sisi had been scrolling idly on her phone.
When she heard that, she perked up instantly.
She had been studying massage for over a month.
First, she learned the acupressure points, then she practiced on Li Xu.
Now she finally had a chance to work on a patient!
"Well..."
Lin Xiaoyu, of course, knew who Song Sisi was.
Song Sisi was Li Xu's employee, a recently graduated nurse.
She looked at Li Xu hesitantly. "Is... is she any good? She's not going to ss up, is she?"
Song Sisi's face instantly turned red. She wrung her hands, looking completely flustered.
She didn't have any confidence in herself either.
After all, when she had practiced on Li Xu, he had often criticized her.
Li Xu noticed her panic and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I taught her myself. Sisi has a real talent for it. I've been her practice partner, and her massages are quite good."
"If you're not satisfied at any point, I can take over."
"Alright," Lin Xiaoyu nodded. "Then I'll be in your hands, Sisi."
She followed Song Sisi toward the massage room, looking back to say to Wang Xiaojuan, "Xiaojuan, you go ahead and talk to him first. I'll be out in a bit."
Once the two had entered the inner room, Li Xu turned to Wang Xiaojuan. "Alright, tell about your condition."
Wang Xiaojuan took a deep breath, as if she had finally found soone she could confide in. "I have an L4-L5 herniation. It's been three years."
She pulled a stack of dical reports from her bag. "This is my most recent MRI. The doctor said it's already compressing the nerve root."
Li Xu studied the films carefully, his brow slightly furrowed.
Wang Xiaojuan continued, "I've tried all sorts of thods—the 'swallow flying' exercise, swimming, acupuncture... Whatever I read online was good, I tried it." She shook her head with a bitter smile. "At its worst, the pain in my left leg felt like soone was taking a power drill to the bone. I couldn't sleep at all, night after night."
"Do you have any numbness in your right foot?" Li Xu asked.
Wang Xiaojuan looked up in surprise. "How did you know?"
She pointed to her right foot. "Especially my big toe. Sotis it feels like I'm wearing a thick sock; I can't feel anything when I touch it." She paused. "Is... is that very serious?"
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