Volume 1, Chapter 22: The New Beauty-Preserving Pill

The prescription obtained from the Li Group lay quietly in Zhou Yunyi’s hands, which were slightly withered yet remained firm. Zhou Yunyi pinched the corner of the paper tightly, his focus so intense that it seemed as if the world around him had ceased to exist. He scrutinized the document over and over, unwilling to miss a single detail, his gaze seemingly attempting to pierce through the paper to unearth every hidden secret within.

After a long while, he finally pulled himself out of the mysterious depths of the prescription and slowly set it down. His movements were cautious, yet tinged with an unmistakable air of anticipation and excitement. He lifted his head slightly and looked directly at Zhou Chen.

"Can you be certain of the authenticity of this prescription?" Zhou Yunyi’s eyes held a trace of doubt and concern.

Zhou Chen, having prepared for this, leaned forward. His eyes shone with confidence and a touch of pride as he spoke calmly, "Don't worry, Grandfather. The moment I received the prescription, I had it trial-produced at our factory."

"At first, the technical staff encountered some minor issues. After all, while the prescription looks simple, the actual execution is quite demanding..."

Zhou Yunyi frowned and pressed urgently, "What kind of problems? We cannot afford any slip-ups that would make us a laughingstock to the Li family."

Zhou Chen quickly explained, "Grandfather, the primary difficulties were the order of processing the medicinal ingredients and the control of the heat. For instance, one of the main ingredients requires a very specific preparation method. We didn't pay enough attention to the order initially, and the quality of the pills suffered as a result."

"Then there is the heat. The prescription requires extreme precision; one degree too much and it burns, one degree too little and it remains raw. It took our technicians several attempts to find the perfect balance. However, after careful study and repeated testing, those issues are essentially resolved. Although the efficacy of the trial batch is not quite up to the level of the Li family’s product, it is very close. We believe the slight disparity is due to the quality of the herbs and minor differences in technique."

Zhou Yunyi grunted, seemingly dissatisfied. After a moment of silence, he tapped the table and said, "Close is not enough. We must completely surpass the Li family and drive them out of the market entirely. Over the past few years, the Li family has snatched a significant share of our market with their 'Youth-Preserving Pills.' This time, I must let them know... I am not trying to prove how great I am, but rather to show the Li family that what I have lost, I will reclaim with my own hands!"

Zhou Chen nodded repeatedly. "I understand, Grandfather. It is only a matter of days now. I have already arranged to poach the key technicians from the Li family’s pharmaceutical plant. The quality of their pills depends on those experienced hands. Their mixing master has hands like a precision scale, and their processing master has decades of expertise. Once we bring them over, we can replicate their success and create an even better pill. Our family’s version will surely dominate the market!"

Hearing this, a satisfied smile finally appeared on Zhou Yunyi’s face. He sighed with contentment and turned to look at Qin Huai. His smile instantly became more obsequious and worldly.

"Director Qin, we truly owe this success to your assistance. Without your mediation, we never could have obtained the Li family’s prescription so smoothly. Your influence at the Regulatory Bureau is immense; this would have been impossible without you."

Qin Huai wore a self-satisfied smile. He waved his hand, feigning modesty. "Old Zhou, what are you saying? This is mutual cooperation. I am well aware of the Zhou family’s influence in Nanjiang City. Being able to assist you is my honor. Besides, this is all for the sake of maintaining order in our city’s beauty and medicinal market."

Zhou Yunyi nodded with a cunning glint in his eyes. "Indeed, what our city needs is order! We cannot let those scoundrels in the Li family ruin it. Rest assured, Director Qin, once we successfully launch this upgraded version, the 5% monthly profit will be transferred to your account on time."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huai’s eyes brightened, and his smile widened. "Old Zhou, you are too kind. How could I ever doubt you?"

"With your word, I will certainly keep a closer watch on the Li family from now on. As long as they show the slightest sign of non-compliance, I will make trouble for them and ensure they have no peace. You know how fierce the market competition is; some companies will do anything for profit, and I cannot allow them to break the rules."

At this, both men burst into satisfied laughter that echoed through the hall.

After a moment, Zhou Yunyi spoke again, "With your word, Director Qin, I am completely at ease. May our partnership be a pleasant one. In the future, the Zhou family will still rely heavily on you—for the approval speed of our new batch of medicine, and for the standards of market regulation. I hope you will give these matters your special attention."

Qin Huai continued to smile, his expression filled with greed and triumph. "Rest assured, Old Zhou. As long as I, Qin Huai, am in Nanjiang City, the Zhou family’s business will sail smoothly. As for the Li family, they will never be able to make a splash. I will show them that without official support, no matter how large their business grows, it will never have a good ending."

Zhou Chen, watching the interaction from the side, curled his lips into an imperceptible sneer. The relationship between these two men looked almost intimate, but having been immersed in the business world since childhood, Zhou Chen knew very well that this was nothing more than an exchange of interests. In this world where the market is a battlefield, only the strong survive, and the strong must join forces. Therefore, the Zhou family was destined to emerge victorious in this struggle, while the Li family was destined to be nothing more than a stepping stone beneath their feet.