Chapter 654: Chapter 625: Terms of Exchange
Xu Chunliang also stood up and shook hands with him. He initially got information about the Mingde Group from Zhou Renhe, and found it amusing that the more people lack something, the more they like to show off. How big is Da Han anyway? Its total land area is not even half the size of Pinghai Province. Lu Taiyin, what a name, doesn’t avoid taboos at all. They might have learned this from Chinese culture, naming a child something lowly for an easy life, but for them, that’s the official name.
Before they arrived, Xu Chunliang and Hua Zhuyue had already finished dinner. Xu Chunliang had someone brew a pot of tea. China is a vast nation known for its etiquette; basic manners must be observed.
Xu Chunliang invited the two of them to sit and drink tea.
Lu Taiyin sat down, but Li Changmin dared not sit, still standing upright. It wasn’t until Lu Taiyin gave him a look that he sat down. Even then, he didn’t dare to drink the tea, fearing Xu Chunliang might have poisoned it.
Lu Taiyin smiled at Xu Chunliang and said, "Mr. Xu, my visit this time is specifically to ask for a favor." His Chinese was very fluent; if his identity had not been revealed in advance, you would not have realized he was a foreigner.
Xu Chunliang said, "Mr. Lu, you’re being too formal. It’s our first meeting, we have no relationship." The implication was clear: we have no connection, and you aren’t that important.
Lu Taiyin said, "May I ask what conditions Mr. Xu has?"
Xu Chunliang looked at him and thought to himself that his directness was appreciated. Smiling cunningly, he said, "Was it you who helped cure Li Changmin’s poison?"
Lu Taiyin nodded, "If I hadn’t acted, he would have eventually died from the spreading poison."
Xu Chunliang asked, "Do you know what kind of poison he had?"
Lu Taiyin replied, "All things in the world counteract each other. According to our Korean medical ancestor, the Shennong Clan..."
Xu Chunliang interrupted him unceremoniously, "Hold on, since when did Shennong Clan become your Korean medical ancestor?"
"Uh...this is documented in our ancient literature."
Xu Chunliang exchanged a glance with Hua Zhuyue. They certainly had witnessed the Koreans’ skill in spewing outright lies. Xu Chunliang said, "Shennong Clan is Emperor Yan. Chinese people are descendants of Yan and Huang. If you acknowledge Shennong Clan as Korean medical ancestor, you admit that Korean medicine originated from Chinese medicine."
Lu Taiyin said, "There are many debates in the industry about whether Korean medicine or Chinese medicine appeared first and who learned from whom. There’s no conclusion yet."
Hua Zhuyue couldn’t listen any longer: "Who is debating with you? It has always been you spreading rumors, stealing others’ things, and then claiming they were originally yours. Not only do you deceive others, but you also fool yourselves. If you are so confident, why did you record your history using Chinese characters?"
Xu Chunliang smiled, "Since Korean medicine is so capable, why did you come to find me?"
Lu Taiyin said, "Doesn’t Mr. Xu know that China also has laws, and for poisoning others and endangering lives, there are legal responsibilities?"
Xu Chunliang said to Li Changmin, "Did I poison you? Who saw it? Is there evidence?"
Li Changmin was speechless, unsure of how to respond. He was scared out of his wits by Xu Chunliang.
Xu Chunliang said, "Not answering means no. Want me to help you recall what you did at the OMMIA Bar?"
Li Changmin hurriedly shook his head, casting a plea for help at Lu Taiyin. He was brought to negotiate with Xu Chunliang, not to confront him. If he really wanted to talk old grievances, he’d have bigger problems.
Seeing that hard tactics weren’t working, Lu Taiyin immediately changed his approach, smiling calmly, "You Chinese have an old saying, ’Better to resolve enmity than keep it alive.’ Changmin is my junior, and I naturally don’t want him in trouble. If it were you, it’d be the same, right? Mr. Xu also has family and friends; you’d better put yourself in their shoes."
Lu Taiyin’s words were soft but carried a veiled threat.
Xu Chunliang said, "So, it’s Lu Taiyin, right?"
Lu Taiyin nodded.
Xu Chunliang said, "I didn’t have a good impression of you before, and now I’m even more disgusted. Considering your country’s past annual tributes, I’ll teach you something: A person should wear pants that fit their behind. First, understand where you are; don’t be afraid of biting your tongue when you talk big. It’s not that I look down on you, but if you dare harm my family and friends, I’ll make you and your family disappear from this world. If this is proven to involve the Mingde Group, I’ll make sure there’s no more Mingde Group in this world."
Lu Taiyu was shocked inside. This guy was arrogant, threatening him face-to-face. Didn’t he realize he was the one threatening others first?
Lu Taiyin wanted to speak, but his nose tickled, so he quickly turned away.
—Achoo!
Li Changmin couldn’t avoid it and got sprayed in the face; he also started sneezing.
Hua Zhuyue frowned, Xu Chunliang stood up, and the two of them left the private room together. Behind them echoed a series of sneezes, one after another.
Outside, Hua Zhuyue, curious, smiled and asked, "Do their sneezes have anything to do with you?"
Xu Chunliang unabashedly nodded, "I really want to see how capable Mingde Group’s chief Korean doctor is."
Hua Zhuyue said, "This country is really something; Confucius is theirs, and so is Li Shizhen, Sakyamuni, even Sun Wukong."
Xu Chunliang laughed, "Sun Wukong just might be theirs."
"Why?"
"Can’t you see Sun Wukong holding a stick in his hand?"
Hua Zhuyue laughed until she was trembling, truly impressed by this guy.
Lu Taiyu and Li Changmin left Dongzhou Restaurant in a sorry state, sneezing as they walked, like two human sprinklers, making passersby avoid them.
Watching their backs, Hua Zhuyue said, "I’ve heard of this Mingde Group, they’ve been opening hospitals in many cities across the country recently."
Xu Chunliang nodded and said, "That’s right. Mingde Group is South Korea’s largest medical group. They’ve made a fortune from the cosmetic industry, with a significant portion contributed by our fellow countrymen."
Hua Zhuyue said, "Everyone loves beauty, especially women who are willing to spend money on it."
Xu Chunliang said, "They earn our money and then use it to buy our hospitals and clinics in our country. Through acquisitions, they obtain exclusive remedies and secrets, repackaging them as their traditional medicine to supplement the so-called Korean medical treasury. These Koreans really have ulterior motives."
Hua Zhuyue angrily said, "They truly are shameless. But why sell to them?"
Xu Chunliang said, "There are always those unworthy descendants who forget righteousness for profit! Sister Hua, help me investigate this Lu Taiyin, and see whom Mingde Group is collaborating with in Capital City."
Zhen Chun’s flight was delayed, and she didn’t arrive at Dongzhou Restaurant until two in the morning, so she rested early without disturbing Xu Chunliang.
The next day, when Xu Chunliang left for class, Zhen Chun was still asleep, and the siblings perfectly missed each other again.
When the morning class ended, Xu Chunliang and Chen Qianfan went together to the canteen. As soon as they left the classroom, they encountered Mo Han, who was obviously waiting for him.
Chen Qianfan smiled, said hello, and tactfully chose to step aside.
Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "Teacher Mo, what guidance do you have for me today?"
Mo Han said, "Who dares to guide you, Town Mayor Xu?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Such sarcastic talk is not good, come on, let me treat you to a meal."
Mo Han said, "Let me treat you instead."
"So generous, huh."
"It’s not much money anyway."
Xu Chunliang nodded, "True."
As they walked towards the canteen, Mo Han said, "Do you know about Mingde Group?"
Xu Chunliang paused for a moment, warily glancing at her.
Mo Han said, "No need to look at me like that. I know you’ve had contact with them."
Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "Seems like you’ve been having someone tail me."
"You’re overthinking it. These days, you don’t necessarily need someone to follow you."
Xu Chunliang looked up at the sky.
"What are you looking at?"
"Checking for drones."
Mo Han said, "You’ve really learned a lot, Xu Chunliang. Do you know who was behind Shi Taiping back then?"
Xu Chunliang indeed didn’t know, so he stopped. Since Mo Han was asking, it seemed related to Mingde Group. Recalling the previous conversation with Zhou Renhe, Zhou Renhe’s two sons were collaborating with Huang Youlong of Mingde Group.
Mo Han said, "The proposal to trade antique dragon bones was from Mingde Group."
Xu Chunliang said, "So, some of the dragon bones have already been lost overseas."
Mo Han said, "We can’t rule out the possibility that Renhe Hall resold them. Renhe Hall and Mingde Group have already signed a deep cooperation agreement. Recently, they have jointly bought a lot of hospitals, all funded by Mingde Group, with Renhe Hall fronting."
Xu Chunliang said, "Renhe Hall is essentially selling out the country."
Mo Han glanced at him sideways and said, "I remember our meeting in Dongzhou didn’t end well. When leaving, I saw you happily chatting with an old man. If I’m not mistaken, he is the founder of Renhe Hall, Zhou Renhe."
Xu Chunliang said, "You’ve already investigated, so why ask me?"
Mo Han said, "Mingde Group is South Korea’s largest medical group. Tracing their history isn’t that glorious. They have close ties with multiple gangs, including the Cyan Dragon Society, a shareholder with influence throughout East Asia."
Xu Chunliang said, "That’s great. We’re cracking down on crime, and if they show up in our country, I don’t mind putting them in jail."
Mo Han said, "Two fists can’t rival four hands. Don’t underestimate the power of these gangs."
They arrived at the canteen, got their meals, and sat at a window seat.
Just after they sat down, before they could speak, Li Changmin approached proactively. He looked at Mo Han, clearly having some reservations.
Xu Chunliang said, "It’s okay. Just say whatever you want."
Li Changmin took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Xu Chunliang. When Xu Chunliang opened it, it turned out to be a photo of a dragon bone.
Xu Chunliang said, "What does this mean?"
Li Changmin said, "This dragon bone for your antidote."
