Chapter 445: Chapter 445: The Scramble
The topic of conversation in the group chat quickly turned to Hu Qiming.
"By the way, Old Hu, are you still going to Li Xu’s clinic for that assistance program?"
Miaoli teased.
Hu Qiming sent a wry smile emoji. "Does Li Xu even need our help? We’d be lucky if *he* wasn’t the one assisting the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. However..."
His tone shifted. "You all know what this ’assistance program’ is really like. It’s just a formality, so it has to continue. Besides, Dean Song specifically spoke to me and told me to ’assist’ him well. This isn’t about providing assistance; it’s clearly about maintaining our relationship with him."
As Li Xu’s fame grew and Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory’s Aloe Vera Frost became a global hit, the Feng City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine felt both immense pressure and a great opportunity.
Dean Song was terrified that Li Xu would stop collaborating with them, so he told Hu Qiming to use the "assistance program" as a pretext to build connections and cozy up to him.
"You have no idea. Dean Song drilled it into me that I absolutely have to get on good terms with Li Xu, learn from him, and communicate with him more."
Hu Qiming sent a helpless emoji in the group chat and continued, "He even hinted that it would be even better if I could get Li Xu to give a few lectures at our hospital."
The group chat immediately erupted in laughter and teasing again.
"HAHAHAHA, Old Hu, you’ve got a tough mission on your hands."
"If Li Xu is willing to give lectures at your City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, your hospital’s reputation will jump to another level."
"Looks like we’d all better start riding Li Xu’s coattails."
His former classmates all chimed in, their words filled with envy for Li Xu’s success.
...
「The next day, the sun shone brightly.」
Hu Qiming woke up early.
Today was the day to go to Li Xu’s clinic for the "assistance" visit, and he had already planned everything out in his mind.
In the past, they would just grab a casual lunch at a restaurant outside, but Hu Qiming felt that while convenient, those meals lacked a personal touch.
This time, he wanted to cook a lavish lunch himself. It would be a way to express his sincerity and make this "assistance" visit feel warmer.
After quickly washing up, he planned to go to the street market to buy some fresh meat and vegetables.
Then, he would show Li Xu what he could do in the kitchen at lunchtime.
The suburban street market was already bustling with activity in the early morning.
It was the main place where villagers from the surrounding area sold their homegrown vegetables and farm products. The produce was fresh, the prices were reasonable, and it attracted a large number of buyers.
The air was filled with shouts from vendors, the sounds of haggling, and the CREAKING of cart wheels, creating a very lively atmosphere.
Hu Qiming weaved through the crowd.
He first carefully selected a shiny black-boned chicken, then bought some lively seafood, preparing to make a few nourishing and delicious dishes for Li Xu.
Just as he was about to buy some beef, his attention was caught by a crowd gathered up ahead.
’What’s going on? Why are so many people gathered here?’
Hu Qiming walked over curiously.
In the center of the crowd, an old man in his sixties, thin and dressed in worn-out clothes, was struggling to hold onto a dilapidated tricycle.
On the tricycle lay half a side of freshly slaughtered beef, along with various fresh offal like tripe, heart, and lungs.
The old man looked like an ordinary, simple, and honest villager from the area.
Across from the old man stood a bald man in his thirties.
He was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with knotted muscles. He wore a white tank top, and the tattoos visible on his arms made him look fierce and menacing.
The bald man spoke with a brutish and arrogant tone; he was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
Hu Qiming moved a little closer and was able to make out the focus of their argument.
It turned out the catalyst for the dispute was a piece of Bezoar.
The bald man pointed at the cow liver in the old man’s hand and said forcefully, "Old-timer, I already agreed to buy the liver from you. This Bezoar was taken out of the liver, so of course it belongs to me. You were about to put it on the scale to weigh it; the deal was practically done."
The old man’s face flushed red as he argued back, trembling, "I was selling the liver. A Bezoar isn’t part of the liver! I didn’t even know this thing was inside it. I’m the one who took it out, so it should be mine. Brother, I’ll give you the liver for free, but you can’t just take my Bezoar."
The crowd of onlookers grew larger, and everyone began to discuss the matter.
The dispute was certainly a hot topic, instantly pushing the lively atmosphere of the street market to a climax.
Within the crowd, opinions quickly split into two opposing camps.
Those who supported the bald man believed the old man was just getting greedy after seeing something valuable. He was backing out of the sale because he found something good in the liver. ’That’s no way to do business! So dishonest!’
Those who supported the old man countered, ’The old man was selling liver, not a Bezoar! A Bezoar isn’t part of a liver. The bald guy is just twisting logic to try and steal someone else’s property!’
Just then, someone in the crowd who knew what they were looking at started to explain, "You guys don’t know, but a Bezoar is valuable stuff. It costs at least two or three hundred yuan per gram. This one here looks like it weighs thirty to fifty grams, so it could be worth ten to twenty thousand yuan!"
Hearing the true value of the Bezoar, the onlookers grew even more excited.
It was obvious that neither the old man nor the bald man was going to back down.
"Hey, how about this? Just split the Bezoar in half, and everyone can stop fighting."
An onlooker tried to suggest a compromise, hoping to resolve the conflict.
However, just then, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit and leather shoes stepped out from the crowd.
He was in his forties, impeccably dressed, and carried himself with an elegant air. It was clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.
"Everyone, everyone, please calm down."
The man in the suit smiled and waved his hand, stopping the suggestion to "split the Bezoar in half." "A Bezoar isn’t worth much if it’s cut up and divided. A whole one is far more valuable than its broken pieces."
The man in the suit introduced himself as Mr. Liu and said he had a friend in the medicinal materials business.
He proposed, "How about this? My friend happens to be in need of a Bezoar. I can buy it, and the money from the sale can be split evenly between the old man and this young man. How does that sound? This would solve the dispute over its ownership and ensure everyone gets some money. A happy ending for all."
The bald man’s eyes lit up when he heard this.
He immediately agreed to the suited man’s proposal and asked about the purchase price, adding emphatically, "This Bezoar is worth at least ten to twenty thousand yuan. Don’t think you can fool us."
The old man, however, seemed cautious and suspicious.
He clutched the Bezoar tightly, afraid someone would snatch it away.
Only after the man in the suit repeatedly promised a fair deal did he hesitate for a moment before handing over the Bezoar. He didn’t forget to add a warning, "Be careful with it. Don’t damage it. If you break it, you’ll have to pay for it."
The man in the suit took the Bezoar, examined it carefully, and nodded. "Mm, it’s a good one."
He looked at the old man and the bald man and asked, "So, you two, how much are you looking to sell this Bezoar for?"
The old man timidly held up one finger and said, "Ten thousand yuan..."
But the bald man immediately countered with his own price: "Twenty thousand. I’d say this Bezoar is at least fifty grams. Twenty thousand yuan, take it or leave it."
