Chen Guiyuan clutched his phone, his eyes hollow and lifeless.
"Chairman Chen! The four major banks of Dragon Country have all called. Let me put them through for you one by one!"
The major banks cooperating with Chen's Pharmaceuticals had assessed the risks facing the company and were now successively cutting off ties.
Their funding had completely dried up!
They couldn't secure a loan to save their lives!
"Chairman Chen, what's even worse is that all of Chen's Pharmaceuticals' products similar to Shang's Pharmaceuticals' Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment have been pulled from the shelves and even hit with complaints!"
"And several of our major overseas clients have also suspended cooperation and gone to negotiate with Shang's Pharmaceuticals instead!"
Several assistants were on the verge of tears.
Chen Guiyuan remained silent.
The current situation was merely the ripple effect of the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment.
The crueler blow was yet to come—Shang Hongwei's targeted assault!
"This is bad! Shang's Pharmaceuticals is starting to encroach on our market! Shang Hongwei has made his move!"
Chen Guiyuan was not surprised by this in the least.
Yet he was utterly powerless to resist.
"Chairman Chen! All the board members are waiting for you in the conference room! They've been causing a stir, extremely disappointed that you aren't doing anything!"
Wang Pengfei rushed over once more.
Chen Guiyuan slowly closed his eyes.
Internal strife and external aggression!
"Let's go to the conference room."
Chen Guiyuan stood up.
"Chairman! Chen's Pharmaceuticals has reached this point, and you haven't taken a single measure?"
As soon as he entered, board member Gao Chi immediately interrogated him.
"That's right, Chairman, think of something! Chen's Pharmaceuticals cannot be allowed to fail!"
The other board members chimed in immediately.
"Do you all think there are any good solutions right now?"
Chen Guiyuan sneered.
"I actually have a suggestion..."
Gao Chi raised his hand.
"What is it?"
Everyone turned their gazes toward him in unison.
"I think we should make peace with Shang's Pharmaceuticals. I believe that as long as we offer up the ancient formula for Chen's Pharmaceuticals' Scar Removal Ointment and cede a portion of our market share, Shang's Pharmaceuticals will certainly agree!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room was shocked.
Chapter 48: Godfather, Do You Want to Make a Comeback?
Chapter 48: Godfather, Do You Want to Make a Comeback?
"This is not a bad idea! It can indeed preserve Chen's Pharmaceuticals!"
"There is no better solution than this!"
...
Several board members immediately began to support Gao Chi.
Chen Guiyuan smiled.
Such a scenario was already within his expectations.
A crisis for the Chen family would inevitably bring out traitors.
Gao Chi was one of them!
What he was proposing right now was precisely what Shang Hongwei wanted!
Only by doing this would Shang Hongwei let the Chen Family off.
"No! How can we surrender and make peace with Shang's Pharmaceuticals?"
The majority of the people were still opposed to it.
"Then what do you propose we do about the current situation?"
...
The two sides argued fiercely.
"As expected, what he wants is my ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment!"
Chen Guiyuan sneered.
The reason he had been able to become the Medicine King relied entirely on the ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment.
Back then, He Wenqian had obtained two ancient formulas: one for the Scar Removal Ointment and one for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill.
The couple had agreed to take one ancient formula each without interfering with the other, and Chen Guiyuan had taken the Scar Removal Ointment.
Because the ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment was relatively complete, Chen's Pharmaceuticals had risen to prominence based on it.
The Spirit-Nourishing Pill formula was severely incomplete, which was why He Wenqian's He's Pharmaceuticals lagged slightly behind.
Even so, it still ranked in the top five in Jiangcheng.
"Alright, meeting adjourned!"
After Chen Guiyuan left, Gao Chi walked with a gloomy expression to a corner and dialed a number: "Chairman Shang, Chen Guiyuan hasn't responded to handing over the Scar Removal Ointment! He is hesitating!"
"Good! I'll make him hand it over obediently!"
A chillingly cold voice came from the other end.
Next, Shang's Pharmaceuticals launched a frenzy of operations.
They aggressively devoured the market share of Chen's Pharmaceuticals.
They poached Chen's Pharmaceuticals' medicinal material suppliers, distributors, and partners.
They aggressively pulled Chen's Pharmaceuticals products from the shelves of major pharmacies and hospitals.
At the same time, instances of product quality issues concerning Chen's Pharmaceuticals popped up all over the place, accompanied by real-name whistleblowing reports.
Consequently, the medical and pharmaceutical authorities directly suspended the listing and sales of Chen's Pharmaceuticals products, and even dispatched a team to station themselves inside Chen's Pharmaceuticals for inspections.
...
This was Shang Hongwei's ultimate move.
He intended to drive Chen's Pharmaceuticals to a dead end in one fell swoop!
Chen Guiyuan returned home like a walking corpse.
He Wenqian anxiously asked about the situation.
Chen Guiyuan sighed and said, "Shang's Pharmaceuticals is too ruthless, we can't hold out!"
"Guiyuan! How about I take out all fifty billion of the investment? Anyway, we have the ancient formulas for both the Scar Removal Ointment and the Spirit-Nourishing Pill. If the two companies unite, we can still put up a fight!"
He Wenqian was also quite resolute.
She was determined never to yield to the Shang family!
Chen Guiyuan glanced at her and said, "With this sum of money from you, we might temporarily resolve the predicament, but it's still not enough! The final outcome will be the same!"
"Ah? Is it that terrifying?"
He Wenqian was startled.
"The ancient formula of the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment is worth at least one hundred billion! The real terror is only just beginning to show itself!"
"This..."
The hearts of several people sank to rock bottom along with his words.
Chen Xiaoran bit her lip, her face full of worry.
"Unless I can get my hands on an even more powerful ancient formula! Aside from that, there is no other way!"
Chen Guiyuan sighed.
Yet everyone knew how difficult it was to obtain an ancient formula.
For thirty years, Chen Guiyuan had been searching for ancient formulas.
Yet he hadn't found a single one!
"Godfather, do you want to make a comeback?"
Ye Lingtian asked.
He didn't want to see his godmother this worried.
"Don't bother me!"
Chen Guiyuan didn't even raise his head to look at him.
Ye Lingtian said, "Shang's Pharmaceuticals is using low-cost medicinal materials to replace the original ingredients of the ancient formula! But I can use even lower-cost medicinal materials as substitutes, and the finished product will be even better than theirs in terms of effectiveness!"
"I can even improve your ancient formulas for the Scar Removal Ointment and the Spirit-Nourishing Pill to absolute perfection. Relying on these two, Chen's Pharmaceuticals can easily rise to prominence!"
Chapter 49: Fine Then, I Won't Care Anymore!
Chapter 49: Fine Then, I Won't Care Anymore!
Ye Lingtian had looked at their products, and most of them had significant flaws.
However, he could improve them.
It was just that no one believed him.
They simply regarded Ye Lingtian as bragging and adding to the chaos.
He wanted to improve ancient formulas?
He had obtained these two ancient formulas himself thirty years ago, and after consulting numerous divine doctors and experts, not a single person had been able to improve them!
You, a punk of a kid, actually dare to make such a claim?
"Get out of here! When has I, Chen Guiyuan, ever needed a junior like you to teach me how to do things?"
Chen Guiyuan sneered.
"Fine then, I won't care anymore!"
Ye Lingtian had given them a chance for the sake of his godmother, but Chen Guiyuan had rejected it himself.
Shang Hongwei's targeted assault continued!
This time, the sanctions were directed at the other members of the Chen family.
Chen's Pharmaceuticals and the Chen family were two different matters.
Chen's Pharmaceuticals belonged to Chen Guiyuan alone; he had only given Chen Guofeng and a few others some shares.
Soon, various companies belonging to the Chen family enterprises were subjected to sanctions.
Suppliers, distributors, and the capital chain all encountered problems.
"Grandpa, my car was just smashed by a group of people!"
"Dad! What should we do? All the assets under my name have been frozen!"
"Dad, the bank just called demanding I repay the loan! The guarantor for the previous loan was Third Uncle! Third Uncle is on the blacklist now!"
...
Every large and small enterprise of the Chen family was affected.
Without the towering tree of Chen's Pharmaceuticals to shelter them, dealing with the rest of the family was simply effortless.
Chen Guofeng's expression was also ice-cold. The three companies under his name had also been hit with sanctions, and in a matter of days, they would face the risk of bankruptcy.
"What do we do?"
His eldest son, Chen Guichuan, and second son, Chen Guihai, were extremely anxious.
Chen Guofeng sighed: "Even Guiyuan can't do anything about it. What solutions could we possibly have?"
Chen Guihai suggested, "If worse comes to worst, our only option is to make peace with Shang's Pharmaceuticals! That way, the Chen family can be preserved!"
Soon, Chen Guofeng contacted Shang Hongwei, proposed a truce, and asked him to state his terms.
Shang Hongwei's conditions were—
First, hand over the ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment;
Second, cede eighty percent of Chen's Pharmaceuticals' market share.
After hanging up the phone, Chen Guofeng immediately said, "Call Third Uncle and Xiaoran over right away!"
Shortly after.
Chen Guiyuan and Chen Xiaoran arrived.
"Third Brother, tell us honestly, can you resolve the current predicament?"
Chen Guofeng asked directly.
Chen Guiyuan shook his head: "No!"
"Since that's the case, our only option is to make peace with the Shang family! Right now, everyone in the Chen family is suffering from sanctions, and if this goes on, we are all in danger!"
Chen Guofeng stated bluntly.
He also laid out Shang Hongwei's conditions.
"But Dad, if we do that, Chen's Pharmaceuticals will basically be gone!"
Giving up eighty percent of the share alongside the ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment was far too devastating.
Chen Guiyuan was somewhat reluctant.
Wang Lixiu glared at him: "Son, are you an idiot? Doesn't your wife have her own company?"
Chen Guofeng chimed in: "That's right! Right now, our goal is to preserve the Chen family! Then you can take the opportunity to take over Wenqian's company, and get your hands on the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill as well!"
The members of the Chen family chorused, "Yes, this is an opportunity!"
For a long time, Chen Guofeng and the others had coveted He Wenqian's He's Pharmaceuticals, feeling that a daughter-in-law of the Chen family shouldn't hold supreme authority.
They had repeatedly suggested that Chen Guiyuan swallow up He's Pharmaceuticals.
They had always been looking for an opportunity to strip He Wenqian of her authority and the ancient formula.
Chen Guiyuan immediately refused: "No! A long time ago, Wenqian and I made an agreement never to interfere in each other's careers!"
"Bulls***! We are all family, why draw a line between yours and mine? Isn't He Wenqian a daughter-in-law of my Chen family?"
Old Master Chen Guofeng immediately flew into a rage.
"That's right! If you don't take over He's Pharmaceuticals, our Chen family will exist in name only and still remain fraught with crisis! Only by becoming strong can we avoid being bullied!"
"Besides, you and she are husband and wife, what difference does it make who controls He's Pharmaceuticals?"
Chapter 50: Sacrifice Godmother to Preserve the Chen Family!
Chapter 50: Sacrifice Godmother to Preserve the Chen Family!
Under the relentless persuasion of the Chen family members, Chen Guiyuan wavered.
Even Chen Xiaoran felt it made sense.
"Dad, we're all family anyway, Mom will understand!"
From her perspective, it didn't matter which of her parents held the reins.
At that moment, Chen Shihao and several other Chen family disciples rushed in frantically.
They were covered in blood.
They had numerous slash wounds all over their bodies.
"Grandpa, a group of people came looking for trouble with us for no reason and slashed us! They even warned us to watch our step!"
Chen Shihao and the others said with deep frustration.
Clearly, this was a warning from Shang Hongwei.
He wasn't going to leave the Chen family any way out!
"Third Brother, you see it now? This is the moment for you to make up your mind!"
"Tonight it's the juniors getting slashed, tomorrow it might be me!"
Chen Guofeng sighed.
Chen Guiyuan was also torn. Given his personality, he would normally fight Shang Hongwei to the bitter end.
Yet now, he had to consider the entire Chen family, old and young alike!
Things had reached this desperate impasse.
He didn't wish to see any member of the Chen family come to harm.
"I can agree to it!"
Under various forms of pressure, Chen Guiyuan ultimately bowed his head.
"But it won't be easy to deal with Wenqian's side! Especially since the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill is in her hands!"
Chen Guiyuan said.
The eldest brother, Chen Guichuan, immediately said, "It's fine, there's a way for this too!"
"Dad, as long as you speak up and ask Wenqian to hand over the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill, she definitely won't refuse!"
"Then we can hold a family meeting to make Wenqian surrender her supreme authority over He's Pharmaceuticals!"
...
Chen Guofeng nodded, then looked toward Chen Guiyuan and his daughter: "Don't go thinking we are targeting Wenqian! I just want to preserve the Chen family!"
Chen Guiyuan and his daughter sighed.
How could they not understand the logic?
To preserve the Chen family, sacrifices had to be made.
They couldn't even call this a sacrifice; it was only right and proper.
"Rest assured, we will temporarily kick Wenqian out, and once things stabilize, we'll welcome her back!"
Chen Guiyuan and his daughter nodded.
"Oh, and Third Brother, find a way to get your hands on Wenqian's fifty billion investment!"
"With this fifty billion, we can make a comeback!"
Chen Guofeng said.
"Mm, alright, I understand!"
That night after returning home, Chen Guiyuan said to He Wenqian, "Wenqian, bring out your fifty billion! I refuse to just accept this defeat!"
If Chen Guiyuan stated his true intentions, he feared He Wenqian wouldn't agree.
He had no choice but to use this method to trick the money over first.
Hearing that Chen Guiyuan hadn't given up, He Wenqian was overjoyed.
Without a second thought, she immediately contacted finance and transferred the fifty billion funds into Chen Guiyuan's account.
The next day.
The plight of Chen's Pharmaceuticals grew increasingly dire.
A large number of employees began resigning.
Some senior executives and technical personnel were poached by other enterprises.
People came to cause trouble, smash things up, and loot at their direct-line pharmacies and factories.
The Chen enterprise fell into utter chaos.
No matter how powerful Chen's Pharmaceuticals was, going on like this meant it wouldn't last a few more days.
Up to this point, apart from stubbornly holding on, there was no other way.
Shang Hongwei's targeted assault continued.
As long as Chen Guiyuan refused to make peace for a single day, his attacks wouldn't halt for a single day either.
This also cemented Chen Guiyuan's resolve to sacrifice He Wenqian to preserve the entire Chen family.
In the evening.
Chen Guofeng summoned all members of the Chen family to the Chen family mansion.
Ye Lingtian and He Wenqian accompanied them there.
"I've urgently summoned everyone here for only one matter!"
"At this moment, I feel we should all unite!"
"We haven't lost yet! As long as we have the ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment and the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill, we still have hope!"
...
Chen Guofeng looked toward He Wenqian: "Wenqian, back then you and Third Brother each took one ancient formula without interfering with each other! But now that the Chen family is facing its most critical moment, you must hand over the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill! And you must also hand over the supreme authority of your company to Guiyuan!"
Chapter 51: Betrayed by Both Husband and Daughter?
Chapter 51: Betrayed by Both Husband and Daughter?
"With these two ancient formulas and your company, we still have hope! We aren't going to force you; our whole family will vote by a show of hands! Those in favor of Wenqian handing over the ancient formulas and supreme authority over the company, raise your hands!"
"Swish, swish, swish..."
Dozens of people present raised their hands in unison.
To Ye Lingtian's astonishment, Chen Guiyuan and his daughter actually raised their hands as well.
As expected, Chen Guofeng's family were no good.
First they had embezzled his mother's ring, and now they were pulling this stunt.
They were actually banding together to bully his godmother?
He Wenqian also smiled a wretched, desolate smile.
Chen Guiyuan and Chen Xiaoran kept their heads down, not even daring to look her in the eye!
"Wenqian, it's the general trend, hand over the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill and the company's authority!"
Chen Guofeng stared fixedly at He Wenqian!
"Fine! I can hand the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill over to you! But the company's authority must be decided by the board of directors! It cannot be determined arbitrarily, especially by you people!"
In the end, He Wenqian handed the ancient formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill over to Chen Guofeng.
She turned and left, taking Ye Lingtian with her.
"Wenqian, I'll explain this matter to you later!"
Chen Guiyuan immediately spoke up.
Yet He Wenqian's heart was practically dead.
"Look at how Third Brother acts so afraid of his wife! Actually, it should have been handed over long ago! As a daughter-in-law of my Chen family, how could she keep things hidden and tucked away?"
The crowd sneered.
That night, He Wenqian did not return to the Genting Villa with Ye Lingtian, but went instead to He's Pharmaceuticals.
However, the plotting of the Chen family members continued.
"Third Brother, this is also a great opportunity to drive that little brat Ye Lingtian out!"
Chen Guihai put forward another suggestion.
"Taking advantage of this opportunity, we will force Wenqian into a desperate corner! Make her choose between the Chen family and Ye Lingtian, and she will definitely abandon Ye Lingtian."
Upon hearing about driving Ye Lingtian out, Chen Guiyuan and Chen Xiaoran readily agreed.
This was indeed a golden opportunity!
The next day, Shang's Pharmaceuticals suddenly made an announcement—they would launch a new product within a week—the Scar Removal Ointment.
Moreover, the pricing would be lower than that of Chen's Pharmaceuticals.
As soon as this news was announced, the Jiangcheng pharmaceutical industry exploded once again!
Who could have imagined—aside from the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment ancient formula, Shang Hongwei had also acquired the ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment.
"Boom!"
When He Wenqian heard this news, her pupils contracted, and she collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
Shang Hongwei had acquired the ancient formula for the Scar Removal Ointment?
Didn't that mean—Chen Guofeng and the others had made peace with the Shang family.
Getting her ancient formula last night...
It had all been a plot!
The Chen family had sacrificed her!
This would also be the final straw that broke the camel's back!
What she hadn't expected was that both her husband and her daughter had gone behind her back to commit such an act—sacrificing her to preserve the Chen family.
He Wenqian was on the verge of a breakdown!
Soon, another piece of news arrived: He's Pharmaceuticals was going to hold a board meeting.
This time, all the board members were present, and Chen Guofeng had also come.
Back then, both Chen's Pharmaceuticals and He's Pharmaceuticals had given shares to Chen Guofeng and Chen Xiaoran.
Currently, He Wenqian was the major shareholder of He's Pharmaceuticals, followed by Chen Xiaoran, and then Chen Guofeng and the others.
Chen Guofeng didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose: "After discussion among multiple members of the board, it is recommended that He Wenqian be dismissed from her position as director!"
"Mhm, I agree!"
"I agree too!"
...
One board member after another immediately gave their assent.
He Wenqian knew they had all been bought off by Chen Guofeng.
"I agree as well!"
Most crucially, Chen Xiaoran agreed too.
In Chen Xiaoran's view, what difference did it make which of her parents held the power?
This left He Wenqian incomparably shocked.
Her own daughter had joined in to depose her?
The key was that their combined shares surpassed her own, giving them the full right to remove her from office.
Chen Guofeng cast a cold, merciless glance at He Wenqian and said in a chilly voice, "Since everyone feels there's no problem, let's put it to a vote!"
Chapter 52: Driven Out Together with Godmother!
Chapter 52: Driven Out Together with Godmother!
The result was self-evident: He Wenqian was kicked off the board of directors.
She understood everything now.
Taking advantage of this opportunity!
The Chen family had taken away her ancient formula, stripped her of her authority, and even seized her fifty billion investment.
Sacrificing her alone to preserve the entire Chen family.
Knowing the situation, He Wenqian wept so bitterly she was choked with sobs. Why had things turned out this way?
Why had her husband and daughter both betrayed her?
Furious, He Wenqian returned home, wanting to demand an explanation from Chen Guiyuan.
Only, Chen Guiyuan was not home at all.
Chen Guihai and the others were there, however.