The next moment, thirty of the Dragon Kingdom’s most renowned medical experts stepped forward to vouch for the new product!
Each of them staked their personal reputation on the guarantee! If anything went wrong, the public could come for them.
"Pfft!"
At that, Chen Guiyuan felt as if he were about to cough up blood.
It was over. Everything was completely over.
The pharmaceutical industry in Jiangcheng was about to undergo a radical transformation, and he would bear the brunt of the impact. He would likely be crushed into the dirt by Shang Hongwei.
The situation was dire.
Following this, Shang Hongwei showcased various approval documents and certificates of compliance. He then produced the full clinical trial results and data. He even invited San Ye and others who had undergone the clinical trials to share their own experiences.
When the audience saw the miraculous efficacy of the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment, they were driven to a frenzy. Many of the industry bigwigs knew that San Ye had recently lost a finger, but who would have imagined that it would be healed in just a few days?
It was miraculous! Absolutely miraculous!
"I announce that every guest present today will be gifted a box!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue erupted in cheers.
Chen Guiyuan felt as if his heart had died. While everyone else was beaming with joy as they received the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment, he was the only one who couldn't bring himself to smile.
"Furthermore, sales will officially begin at three o'clock this afternoon! Because the medicinal ingredients are precious, the first batch is limited to only one hundred thousand boxes! The price is also a little on the high side!"
But the distributors and major pharmacies didn't care about that at all. They wanted every single box they could get their hands on.
After the press conference concluded, Shang Hongwei walked over to Chen Guiyuan, holding a box of the ointment.
"Chairman Chen, this is prepared especially for you! What do you think? Is this surprise exciting enough?" Shang Hongwei sneered.
His son, Shang Jingtian, who was standing behind him, laughed derisively. "Uncle Chen, you've sat on the throne of 'Medicine King' for long enough. It’s time for a change!"
The father-son duo from the Shang family roared with laughter.
Chen Guiyuan’s fists were clenched so tightly that his veins bulged, and his entire body trembled.
"Chairman Chen, take your time leaving. I won't see you out!"
"Oh, and Uncle Chen, please give my regards to your daughter, Xiaoran. Tell her I’ve been thinking of her!"
The Shang family duo wore expressions of triumph.
Before long, news of the new product launch from Shang's Pharmaceuticals spread across Jiangcheng and the surrounding cities. It even caught the attention of pharmaceutical giants in major cities across the Dragon Kingdom!
At three in the afternoon, sales of the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment commenced. The one hundred thousand boxes were snapped up in mere seconds! The pre-sale orders were even more staggering, reaching over one million boxes in just a few minutes. And the orders kept pouring in. Some of the largest distributors and pharmacy chains wanted hundreds of thousands of boxes in a single order.
Not only that, but distributors who normally paid only upon delivery were now scrambling to pay their deposits. Some even transferred the full amount upfront. They were essentially saying, "Take your time producing the ointment, I'll make sure the money is there first."
This had never happened before!
With this single wave, the Shang family made a fortune. Furthermore, the stock price of the Shang Group soared, dealing a massive blow to other pharmaceutical companies. Chen's Pharmaceuticals took the hardest hit; in just a few hours, several hundred million in market value evaporated.
Yet, everyone knew this was only the beginning. The title of Jiangcheng's Medicine King was about to change hands.
Chen Guiyuan walked like a living corpse. He had just gathered all the senior executives of Chen's Pharmaceuticals to discuss countermeasures, but there were none to be found! Facing such an ancient prescription, they had no way to fight back. Moreover, it was clear that Shang Hongwei had been planning this for some time and had made thorough preparations, leaving Chen's Pharmaceuticals without the slightest opening.
Chen Guiyuan didn't even know how he had arrived back home. His mind was a blank slate, and his consciousness felt blurred.
The entire Chen family had learned of the incident and rushed over. Although the Chen family was now a prominent clan, Chen Guiyuan was their golden goose. If he fell, they would all be finished.
"How could such an ancient prescription end up in Shang Hongwei's hands?" the family members lamented, filled with frustration.
"Guiyuan, is there really no other way?" Chen Guofeng asked.
Chen Guiyuan shook his head. "No! The true power of the Shang Group’s ancient prescription is only just beginning to show! We have no way to retaliate!"
"This..." The Chen family members paced back and forth in a panic.
After finishing work, Chen Xiaoran also hurried home. "Dad, stay calm. I’ll think of a way!" But she had only just started at the Black Gold Consortium and hadn't even finished meeting all her superiors. How could she help?
Hearing the commotion outside, Ye Lingtian walked out of his room. The already angry and frustrated Chen family immediately vented all their resentment on him.
"You are nothing but a jinx! Ever since you arrived, our Chen family hasn't had a single day of peace!"
"You offend this person and that person, and all you bring is negativity!"
"I think you’re cursed! Look at us now! The Chen family is facing its greatest crisis! The position of Medicine King is gone, and whether the Chen family can even keep a foothold in Jiangcheng is now in question!"
He Wenqian quickly tried to defend Ye Lingtian. "How is this Tian's fault? This is completely groundless!"
Chen Xiaoran also glared at Ye Lingtian in anger. "Ever since you came to our home, everything has changed! It’s all your fault!"
Even Chen Guiyuan slowly raised his head, looking at Ye Lingtian with hatred. "You really are a jinx to me! First, you humiliated me at the ceremony, then I was targeted by gang leaders, and now I’ve even lost the position of Medicine King!"
Ye Lingtian looked at him and said coldly, "Adoptive father! Actually, this crisis for the Chen family was caused by you!"
The room fell silent in shock.
Everyone’s expression changed drastically. How could this be blamed on Chen Guiyuan? It was clear that Shang Hongwei had obtained an ancient prescription—something no one could control. It certainly couldn't be blamed on him. Or rather, it was impossible to link it to Chen Guiyuan at all.
"Me?" Chen Guiyuan was stunned for a moment before bursting into rage. "Blame me? Fine! Tell me, how can you blame me?"
Everyone else was curious too.
Ye Lingtian asked, "Adoptive father, do you know how Shang Hongwei got his hands on that ancient prescription?"
"He obtained it by chance! How else could he have gotten it?" Chen Guiyuan snapped.
"Wrong! He found it lying on the ground!"
"What? Found it? Found it where?" Everyone stared, consumed by curiosity.
Ye Lingtian looked at Chen Guiyuan and smiled. "Adoptive father, this ancient prescription is actually the very same one I gave you! After you threw it away, Shang Hongwei found it!"
"What?"
When those words were spoken, Chen Guofeng and the others looked at Chen Guiyuan in disbelief, as if asking if such a thing had actually happened.
"Impossible! Bullshit!" Chen Guiyuan immediately denied it. "I did throw away the scrap of paper you gave me, but that was the exclusive ancient prescription of the Divine Doctor of Longevity? Impossible!"
Chen Xiaoran also sneered immediately. "Ye Lingtian, I’ve realized you’re really good at making things up! If you had such an ancient prescription, would you still be living in our house, groveling? Would you have given it to my dad? Impossible!"
"Why don't you look in a mirror? A country bumpkin holding an ancient prescription worth hundreds of billions? You can't even tell a lie properly! You’re just saying this because you saw Dad threw away your trash paper, and since there's no way to verify it, you can make up whatever you want!"
Chen Guofeng and the others also lashed out at Ye Lingtian. He Wenqian also felt it was too ridiculous. Never mind whether Ye Lingtian had the prescription; even if his father had it, he wouldn't just hand it out to others. He wouldn't have even had time to use it himself.
"There is a way to verify it! Who said there wasn't?" Chen Guiyuan suddenly shouted. Everyone looked over.
"Wenqian, where is the ointment he gave you? Bring it here!"
He Wenqian quickly brought the ointment. Holding the box, Chen Guiyuan asked, "This is the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment you mentioned, right?"
Ye Lingtian nodded. "Yes."
Chen Guiyuan produced another box and said, "This is the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment from Shang's Pharmaceuticals! Won’t a comparison reveal the truth?"
"Exactly!" Chen Xiaoran agreed.
They placed them side by side and opened both boxes.
"Wow!" someone exclaimed immediately.
They were completely different! The ointment Ye Lingtian had given He Wenqian was a black, murky mess, while the one from Shang's Pharmaceuticals was crystal clear and transparent. Moreover, the Shang family's ointment emitted a faint, medicinal fragrance, while Ye Lingtian's ointment smelled foul and nauseating.
Even someone who knew nothing about medicine could see that these two ointments were not the same thing at all. Furthermore, the Shang family's ointment looked and smelled like actual medicine, while Ye Lingtian's looked like something picked out of a trash heap.
Chen Guiyuan sneered, "Do I even need to say it? The result is obvious!"
Chen Xiaoran crossed her arms. "I want to see how you’re going to talk your way out of this!"
He Wenqian also looked disappointed. Ye Lingtian had been exposed on the spot once again.
"What kind of garbage is this? Don't try to compare this to the Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment from Shang's Pharmaceuticals!"
"Isn't your goal just to make Guiyuan regret his actions? You want him to think it's his own fault! What good does that do you?" Chen Guofeng questioned repeatedly.
"Both of these are Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointments! It’s just that the ingredients are different! The box I gave my adoptive mother uses the finest, top-tier ingredients—the original ingredients from the ancient prescription. The Shang's Pharmaceuticals version uses cheap substitutes! The difference in effect is worlds apart!" Ye Lingtian explained.
"Hahaha..." Not a single person present believed this explanation, not even He Wenqian. After all, the Shang's Pharmaceuticals Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment had been verified by authoritative experts and famous doctors, and had undergone repeated clinical trials. Ye Lingtian was relying solely on his word! Who would believe that?
"Mom, just throw his away!" Chen Xiaoran picked it up, ready to toss it.
But He Wenqian, worried about hurting Ye Lingtian’s pride, grabbed it back. "It's fine, Tian. Your adoptive mother believes you; I’ve been applying it every day!" In any case, after applying it for so many days, it hadn't caused any harm to her body. She would just do it to make Tian happy.
As long as his adoptive mother kept applying it, Ye Lingtian didn't care about the rest. Whatever, it had nothing to do with him anyway.
Chen Guiyuan glared at Ye Lingtian. "I shouldn't have just thrown the paper away! I should have opened it to see what was inside and slapped it right on your face! Then I wouldn't have to listen to your lies and excuses!"
Chen Guiyuan was already on edge, and Ye Lingtian’s interference only made him angrier.
"Oh my, is Uncle Chen upset?" A cynical voice echoed through the room.
Shang Jingtian walked in, accompanied by a few men. In just half a day, they had already caused enough trouble for Chen's Pharmaceuticals. Shang Jingtian had come to flaunt his victory. They had always been suppressed by Chen Guiyuan, unable to hold their heads high wherever they went. He had even pursued Chen Xiaoran, only to be flatly rejected. Now that the Chen family was in decline, he had risen.
"Shang Jingtian, what are you doing here?" Chen Xiaoran asked coldly.
Ye Lingtian was the man she currently loathed the most, and Shang Jingtian was the one she had loathed before. He was a notorious playboy who had done all sorts of evil things and ruined countless young women.
"Naturally, I’m here to check on Uncle Chen, and while I’m at it, to see you and discuss our marriage!" Shang Jingtian’s eyes wandered all over Chen Xiaoran.
Chen Xiaoran was furious. "Our marriage? Don't even dream about it! I, Chen Xiaoran, would rather marry a dog than marry you!" As she spoke, she glanced at Ye Lingtian. She wouldn't marry him, either!
Shang Jingtian sneered, "It was impossible before, but what about now? The Chen family is on the verge of collapse. If my Shang family doesn't pull back, the Chen family won't have a place to exist in Jiangcheng!" A flash of ruthlessness crossed Shang Jingtian’s face.
"What do you say, Uncle Chen? Actually, I don't think we have to be mortal enemies! We could totally cooperate! As long as you give Xiaoran to me in marriage, then the Chen and Shang families will be one. Why distinguish between 'you' and 'me'? It doesn't matter who is the Medicine King, does it?"
Chen Xiaoran was livid. "Shameless!"
The entire Chen family was filled with indignation. A junior daring to speak like this in the Chen house? In the past, would he have dared? But now, there was nothing they could do. They had to swallow their pride!
Chen Guiyuan looked at him and asked, "I actually have a question I’d like to ask you."
"Feel free, Uncle Chen!"
"How did your family get that ancient prescription? I heard someone say you found it lying around?"
"What?" Upon hearing the question, Shang Jingtian’s expression changed instantly. He didn't even dare to look at Chen Guiyuan. How did he know the prescription was found? Could it have something to do with him? He began to tremble.
Every eye in the room turned toward Shang Jingtian.
Shang Jingtian, having seen many trials and tribulations alongside his father, quickly regained his composure. He had to deny this at all costs.
"Uncle Chen, you shouldn't make jokes like that! Please, do you really believe an ancient prescription of this caliber could just be found on the ground?" Shang Jingtian sneered.
Of course, they didn't believe it! No one present did. But Chen Guiyuan only wanted to expose Ye Lingtian’s lies and shame him.
"To tell you the truth! My father bought it for a sky-high price from a bigwig in Zhongzhou in the provincial capital!" Shang Jingtian quickly made up a story. Zhongzhou was home to many great medical and martial families. It wasn't surprising for such a prescription to appear there!
Chen Guiyuan immediately looked at Ye Lingtian. "Did you hear that? That's how their Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment was obtained!"
"Ye Lingtian, you really have no shame!" Chen Xiaoran said angrily.
Shang Jingtian had no interest in the Chen family's internal strife. He looked at Chen Guiyuan and said, "Uncle Chen, you understand the Chen family's situation better than anyone, and you see the future situation even more clearly! You know my father—he will definitely drive you to your death!"
Chen Guiyuan and Shang Jingtian were water and fire, irreconcilable enemies. Finding such an opportunity, Shang Hongwei would absolutely destroy him.
"However, I’m offering the Chen family a way out!"
"Hmm?" The entire Chen family looked over.
"First: From now on, the Chen family will submit to my Shang family and hand over the ancient prescription for the Scar Removal Ointment. Second: Give Xiaoran to me in marriage! That way, we will truly become one family, and the Chen family's crisis will be naturally resolved!"
When Shang Jingtian finished, the Chen family fell into a dead silence. Chen Xiaoran, in particular, turned pale as a sheet.
"Don't even think about making me marry you!"
"No need to accept or refuse just yet. It’s only just the beginning! In a few days, you'll realize how difficult your situation really is! By then, you’ll be contacting me!" Shang Jingtian left with a loud laugh.
Chen Guiyuan slumped, dejected. Where was any of the dignity of the Medicine King left?
Chen Guofeng asked, "Guiyuan, it can't be that bad, can it? I feel like at most the position of Medicine King changes hands; it shouldn't lead to a dead end, right?"
"You don't understand Shang Hongwei. He has been fighting me for twenty or thirty years! We know each other too well. With this opportunity, he will drive me to utter destruction! It's going to be much harder than we imagined!"
"Then is there really no other way?"
Chen Guiyuan shook his head. "Not for now!"
The Chen family finally realized how dire their situation was.
"Adoptive mother, just say the word, and I will resolve the Chen family's crisis!" Suddenly, Ye Lingtian’s voice cut through the air. Everyone turned to look.
He Wenqian hurried to say, "Ling Tian, adoptive mother knows your heart is in the right place, but you don't need to worry about this!"
"Ye Lingtian, I’m begging you, please don't stir up trouble right now, okay?"
"Do you think my Chen family isn't in enough of a mess already? You’ll resolve it? With what?" Chen Xiaoran was trembling with rage.
Ye Lingtian scanned them. "Actually, what happens to your Chen family has nothing to do with me! I only care about my adoptive mother. It is only for her sake that I would even step in."
Both Chen Xiaoran and Chen Guiyuan were furious. Seeing Ye Lingtian being driven out again, He Wenqian hurriedly pulled him back into their bedroom.
The night was long and agonizing. Chen Guiyuan did not close his eyes once. In the middle of the night, bad news came one after another.
"Chairman Chen, it’s a disaster! Six of our eight major distributors have terminated their partnerships with us!"
"Chairman Chen! Seventeen of our medicinal ingredient suppliers have cancelled their contracts!"
"Chairman Chen! Over five hundred pharmacies in Jiangcheng have started pulling our products from their shelves!"
"Chairman Chen! The massive amount of stock we have in our warehouse can’t be shipped out!"
"Chairman Chen! A total of 1.8 billion in orders has been returned!"
...
But everyone knew this wasn't even the worst of it. The cruelty was yet to come. Sure enough, the next day, the moment Chen Guiyuan stepped into the company, news arrived that the stock price had plummeted again. Another billion-plus evaporated.
For Chen's Pharmaceuticals, this was a crippling blow! And this was all in just half a day and a night!
Look at the Shang Group in contrast. In just one day, their net profit exceeded five billion! The Black Ginseng Jade Bone Ointment had made a name for itself throughout the Dragon Kingdom! Pharmaceutical giants from all over were clamoring to partner with Shang's Pharmaceuticals!
This was the value of a single ancient prescription!
The new Medicine King of Jiangcheng, Shang Hongwei, had emerged. Chen Guiyuan lay limply in his chair, looking lifeless. He seemed to have aged decades in an instant! The bad news kept coming, one after another. He had become numb.
"Chairman Chen! We have a problem with our capital chain! There’s a shortfall of six hundred million!" Assistant Wang Pengfei ran in again. He didn't even know how many times he had made the trip.
"Activate our backup funds at Jiangcheng Bank! Fill the gap first!" Chen Guiyuan ordered.
"Chairman Chen! It’s a call from the President of Jiangcheng Bank!" The secretary outside immediately transferred the call.
"Old Chen, I’m sorry! Our bank has reassessed your company and determined the operational risk is too high. Therefore, we have frozen your backup funds! You’ll have to find another way! Beep, beep, beep..."