Chapter 458: Chapter 458: Hemostatic Cloth
Li Shizhen specifically listed five prescriptions: three used Willow Catkin, and two used poplar catkins.
For instance, the remedy for "golden wound blood flow" was to "seal it with Willow Catkin, and the bleeding will stop."
This shows that Willow Catkin was indeed considered a hemostatic agent in traditional Chinese medicine.
In fact, to deal with the nuisance of Willow Catkin, people had tried to turn this waste into treasure before, such as by weaving it into cloth or making lightweight materials.
However, the fibers of poplar catkin are extremely short, and their strength is very poor, making it difficult to spin into yarn, let alone weave into cloth.
This is the main reason why Willow Catkin has always been so difficult to use effectively, despite its abundance.
However, the new technique from the system’s intel could solve this problem.
Of course, cloth woven using this new process still wouldn’t be as strong as traditional textiles like cotton or linen.
But it was more than sufficient to be used as hemostatic cloth or to make hemostatic cotton balls.
After all, the strength requirements for hemostatic cloth and cotton balls aren’t high; their absorbency and hemostatic properties are far more important.
More importantly, this new process also required the addition of Persimmon Frost.
Persimmon Frost is an important Chinese herbal medicine. It is a powdered medicinal frost made from persimmon fruits that have been freeze-dried and ground into powder, also known as Persimmon Frost Powder.
Persimmon Frost has the effects of strengthening the spleen, nourishing the stomach, resolving indigestion, and relieving pain. It can be used to treat various conditions such as bloating, diarrhea, bleeding, febrile diseases, chills and fever, and damp-heat syndromes.
Adding Persimmon Frost would significantly enhance the medicinal value and hemostatic effect of the hemostatic cloth and cotton balls.
After Li Xu finished reading the intel, ’a grand blueprint was already taking shape in his mind.’
He picked up his phone and called Ding Kaifang.
"President Ding, are you free to come over? There’s something I’d like to discuss."
Li Xu said into the phone.
Ding Kaifang heard him and immediately agreed. "Yes, of course! I’ll be right over!"
Not long after, Ding Kaifang arrived at the clinic.
"Doctor Li, what did you want to see me about?" Ding Kaifang asked.
Li Xu smiled. "President Ding, I recently came up with a new process for utilizing Willow Catkin and wanted to give it a try."
Ding Kaifang’s face showed his surprise. "Doctor Li, you... you even research textile processes?"
’He was stunned.’
’Li Xu is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. Why would he suddenly start researching textile manufacturing?’
"It’s mainly because I’ve seen a rise in patients with Willow Catkin allergies lately, so I started looking into it," Li Xu explained. "It’s a nuisance for so many people. If we could turn this waste into something useful, it’d kill two birds with one stone, wouldn’t it? I didn’t expect to actually discover something."
Although Ding Kaifang still had his doubts, he quickly accepted the explanation.
After all, Li Xu had previously developed many miraculous Chinese medicine formulas, even pulling Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory back from the brink of bankruptcy and bringing it back to life.
For him, no "miracle" Li Xu performed was surprising anymore.
"I see. Doctor Li, does the textile process you developed have any special features? I know some people at textile factories. I can sell the process to them, and I’ll definitely make sure you get a good deal," Ding Kaifang offered.
Li Xu smiled. "President Ding, are you sure you want to give this money-making opportunity to another company?"
"Ah?"
"You mean... our factory should produce it?" Ding Kaifang caught on. "But... we’re a pharmaceutical company. We only make medicine. We know nothing about textiles."
Li Xu shook his head. "Who says textiles and pharmaceutical companies are unrelated?"
He didn’t keep him in suspense any longer. "My research shows that with a special process, Willow Catkin can be used to make hemostatic cloth and hemostatic cotton balls. They have excellent hemostatic effects and the strength of ordinary gauze."
"What?"
Ding Kaifang was both shocked and delighted.
’He wanted to make hemostatic cloth.’
’The hemostatic cloth market was already a red ocean. The technology wasn’t advanced and the market value was average.’
But he believed in Li Xu.
’Any hemostatic cloth Li Xu developed was bound to be extraordinary.’
’Most importantly, if they used Willow Catkin to produce the gauze... the cost would be incredibly low.’
’For other gauze manufacturers, it would completely obliterate the competition.’
"No problem, I’ll go arrange for the procurement right away."
Ding Kaifang said excitedly, "We’ll produce it ourselves and sell it ourselves."
Li Xu instructed, "I’ll write down the process in a bit. When you take it back, you must keep it confidential."
"No problem."
Ding Kaifang nodded.
「...」
Back at the pharmaceutical factory, Ding Kaifang couldn’t stop thinking about Li Xu’s new process for the Willow Catkin.
He walked into his office, sat in his chair, and began to meticulously plan everything.
Procuring textile equipment, organizing production... Every step required meticulous planning.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he accidentally scraped his hand on the drawer handle.
"HISS..."
Ding Kaifang sucked in a sharp breath as beads of blood seeped from his fingertip.
He called his secretary, "Xiao Wang, come here! Get this drawer handle replaced, and bring me a band-aid!"
The secretary quickly brought a band-aid. As Ding Kaifang applied it, he stared at it on his fingertip. Suddenly, a thought struck him like lightning—’Band-aids!’
’Of course! If Willow Catkin can be used to make hemostatic cloth, then making band-aids is the next logical step!’
’The market for band-aids is even bigger, and the production process is similar to that of hemostatic cloth. They could do both at the same time.’
He immediately called for the workshop director, Zeng Nuo.
Zeng Nuo was a veteran employee of the pharmaceutical factory, experienced and knew the production process like the back of his hand.
"Director Zeng, come in for a moment. I have a new production plan to discuss with you," Ding Kaifang said excitedly.
Then, he laid out his plan.
"President Ding, what did you say? Hemostatic cloth and band-aids?"
Zeng Nuo frowned, his face full of doubt.
"President Ding, the markets for hemostatic cloth and band-aids are already completely saturated, and the profit margins aren’t high. Our current products, like Aloe Vera Frost and Dragon Bone Powder, are highly profitable with great sales and an excellent reputation. Wasn’t the new workshop built to expand production of Aloe Vera Frost? Why would we suddenly jump into the medical supply industry with hemostatic cloth and band-aids, a sector we know nothing about?"
He paused, then added, "Besides, our factory is mainly for pharmaceuticals. Medical supplies are a different industry, a different area of expertise."
Seeing Zeng Nuo’s doubts, Ding Kaifang smiled and waved his hand. "Director Zeng, I’ve considered everything you’ve said. But this situation is special. The reason I’ve decided to produce hemostatic cloth and band-aids is because I plan to use Willow Catkin to make them, which will lower the cost."
"What?"
Zeng Nuo’s eyes widened. He thought he must have misheard.
’Using Willow Catkin to make hemostatic cloth and band-aids?’
’That’s completely absurd!’
’He even wondered if President Ding had gotten a bit ahead of himself, puffed up by the factory’s recent rapid growth.’
