Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1191 Business Strategies Inspire the Hundred Herbs Record; Banquet Discussion Reveals True Insights (Two Chapters Combined)
Hearing what Lao Hu said, everyone looked at each other in surprise. Wasn't that a bit too casual?
Building villas specifically as a benefit for them—isn't that an excessive expense? So much so that after it was explained, some people couldn't believe it.

At this moment, Deng Tietao asked Lao Hu:

Just how well does this traditional Chinese medicine product sell overseas?

Although they are technical people and don't need to know the details of the market, they really wanted to know the potential of traditional Chinese medicine abroad.

Old Hu knew what Deng Tietao was concerned about when he heard this question, and he said:

"We haven't compiled the total sales figures yet, but let me just say the sales in the Malaysian market right after the launch. In the nineteen days since the launch, the sales amount is around US$120,000."

The atmosphere that had been discussing the villa and the benefits instantly froze.

Old Hu's casual remark, "120,000 US dollars in 19 days," struck everyone like a thunderbolt.

"120,000... US dollars?" Deng Tietao repeated it subconsciously. His pupils involuntarily dilated and contracted. He steadied himself, pinched his thigh slightly with his fingers until his knuckles turned white.

Even though he had weathered countless storms and managed the resources of a university of traditional Chinese medicine, he was still somewhat stunned by this number.

This isn't even a month's worth of sales, it's just nineteen days!

Professor Huang Yaoshen, standing to the side, nearly dropped his cigarette. His eyes widened, and the lines on his face seemed to deepen.
"How much? 120,000 US dollars?! Mr. Hu, are you... joking or have you miscalculated? Are you selling medicinal herbs or gold?"

Seeing the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, Lao Hu knew the data had an immediate effect. He took out a match and lit Professor Huang's cigarette, then nodded confidently, a hint of pride on his face:
"Professor Huang, it's absolutely true, it's $120,000, real money. That's the sales result of our first batch of premium-grade medicines launched in Malaysia. And this isn't even the whole market, just a testing ground in Southeast Asia."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, followed by a brief silence and then a barely suppressed buzz of discussion.

"Hiss..." Liu Shichang gasped. As a renowned expert in febrile diseases, he was adept at calculating pharmacological dosages, and his mind raced with calculations:

"Seventy cents a pound of pork... 120,000 US dollars... that's 190,000 RMB... to buy 270,000 pounds of pork? This... this is too terrifying!" His voice trembled slightly.

“Yes!” Shen Huaimin finally found his voice and continued what he had been saying, interrupted by the shock. “My wife was nagging me the other day that pork was only 70 cents a pound… This 120,000 US dollars is 190,000 RMB! How many pigs could 190,000 RMB buy? If you piled them up, they could fill this whole yard!” He pointed to the spacious courtyard house, trying to make everyone understand the sheer size of the number using the most basic and practical method of measuring people’s livelihood.

The imagery made everyone present's heart skip a beat.

Professor Situ Ling adjusted her glasses; even the usually composed acupuncturist couldn't hide her surprise.
"This...this pill and ointment is more expensive than gold? We never imagined this when we went up the mountain to collect herbs and prepare prescriptions..."

"Professor Situ, you are mistaken!" Liang Naijin glanced at the two cypress trees in the courtyard, his eyes filled with emotion.
"It's not that medicine is more precious than gold, but that the wisdom of our ancestors and our skills in identifying and processing it are worth this price! We used to think that ginseng and lingzhi were treasures, but we never imagined that our ancestors' prescriptions, after being carefully crafted, could be so effective after crossing oceans."

Zhao Sijing, this living encyclopedia of herbal medicine, had the most complex expression in her eyes at this moment, her voice low yet filled with unprecedented excitement:
"This old man has spent his whole life traversing the mountains and forests, hoping that medicinal herbs could cure diseases and save lives. Before, I only thought about which farmer had been bitten by a snake, and how to quickly pluck some plowshare grass... or which child had diarrhea, and how to rub some five-finger tangerines on their stomach... I really never expected that these wild grasses, leaves, roots, and vines, when properly combined according to the ancestral prescriptions, could actually be exchanged for so much money after crossing the sea, enough to allow us to live in the 'garden villa' that Mr. Hu mentioned..." He shook his head, filled with emotion:
"The world... has changed! It has changed! But it's a good thing that it has changed!"

After the initial shock, Deng Tietao's eyes gleamed sharply. He took a deep breath and nodded.

Then, in a loud voice filled with barely suppressed excitement:
"Great! What a wonderful 'real money'! Mr. Hu, this news is very important to us!"

He glanced around, his gaze sweeping intently over his still-shocked colleagues:
"We used to focus on how effective and ingenious our ancestors' prescriptions were, how to get published in journals and promoted to professor, and how to establish ourselves in the internal medicine department of the hospital... That was too narrow a perspective! Too narrow! Now, with the platform built by Mr. Hu and Fang Yan, traditional Chinese medicine has gained such international recognition... What does this show? It shows that the wisdom of our ancestors is still a treasure and a valuable commodity when applied to the world! It shows that the roots of traditional Chinese medicine have not withered and the path has not been severed. As long as there is a good approach, it can blossom into something incredibly valuable!"

"We were discussing the villa benefits before, worried about burdening the organization and adding pressure to you, Mr. Hu..."

Deng Tietao chuckled self-deprecatingly, then waved his hand and said:
"Now it seems that we old men underestimated our own abilities and the value of what our ancestors left us! We should live in this villa! Not only should we live there, but we should also live there with the spirit of Lingnan traditional Chinese medicine! We should use our best skills to make money for Mr. Hu, and also bring honor and foreign exchange to our country's medical cause!"

Deng Tietao's words instantly ignited everyone's enthusiasm.

The previous doubts and shock have transformed into unprecedented motivation and confidence at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Lao Hu corrected him:
"Oh, it's not about making money for me, it's about everyone making money together! The most important thing is to earn foreign exchange for our country and to make the country pay more attention to traditional Chinese medicine!"

Huang Yaoshen nodded vigorously, his eyes shining:

"Yes! That's how it should be! Dr. Fang used that manual and 'Tongquan' to get us medals, which is a military achievement. Now, Mr. Hu is using our skills to 'fight' overseas and win gold, which is a business achievement! With both approaches, how can traditional Chinese medicine not prosper?"

A wise light shone in Situ Ling's eyes:
"So, Mr. Hu, do you think that the high-end population abroad who suffer from pain could also be a huge market?"

At this point, she has already started to actively brainstorm ideas for the product line.

"And Mr. Zhao, your unique herbal substitution charts and quick reference formulas!" Shen Huaimin added excitedly. "If we made them into portable booklets with foreign language instructions and sold them to outdoor adventurers or forestry workers abroad, they would definitely be bestsellers! I guarantee they would earn the country even more foreign exchange!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sijing smiled and said:

"Haha, good! Good! You're right!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Lao Hu took over the conversation and said:

"Experts, rest assured! As long as we work together as one, with a shared vision and concerted effort, showcasing our skills and making our products excellent and strong, I, Hu, dare to guarantee that your craftsmanship will definitely break through the international competition and bring you a fortune! At that time, not to mention garden villas, even if you want to own a retreat on the Mid-Levels in Hong Kong or by the Swiss Lake, it will be just around the corner!"

Fang Yan listened to the commotion outside from inside the kitchen and felt that Lao Hu's speech on mobilizing shareholders was quite powerful; at least from what she could see so far, everyone's reaction was quite strong.

Even Xiao Chengzhi and Deng Nanxing, who were helping in the kitchen, were the same.

I got quite excited when I heard what Lao Hu said outside.

I've been busy preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam and haven't thought about the company at all. But now that Lao Hu brought up the topic of making money, my mind has started to wander again.

Xiao Chengzhi said to Fang Yan:

"Brother Fang, since we're free right now, we can help with the R&D, right?"

"Exactly, I'm so bored at home, I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do."

Fang Yan looked at them and asked:
"You've only rested for a few days? And you're already thinking about getting back to work?"

Xiao Chengzhi waved his hand:

"Oh dear, I'm used to being busy, I can't stand having a moment to myself."

"I'm just sitting at home doing nothing all day and I don't know how to get through it."

Deng Nanxing also said:

"That's right. I can't hang out with my peers anymore. I'm already preparing for graduate school, while they're still thinking about what movie to watch today and how to pick up girls tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yan said:
"You didn't get to enjoy the good life after finishing your postgraduate entrance exam, did you?" he teased. "Who was the one complaining so much the other day?"

Xiao Chengzhi said:
“Brother Fang, I’m used to being busy, I just can’t sit still! I used to be in the clinic every day, doing analysis classes, and now I feel uneasy when I suddenly relax. Looking at these experienced doctors outside, and thinking about those prescriptions that could be worth a fortune…” He scratched his head sheepishly, “I just feel like I have so much energy but nowhere to use it.”

Nanxing chimed in, "That's right, Brother Fang. I'm spending all my time studying acupuncture and pharmacology, trying to improve my skills. I need to find something productive to do!"

"Besides, we're contributing our technology as equity; we can't just wait to get paid, can we?"

He nodded in understanding, then casually picked up the freshly cut winter melon and put it into the soup pot next to him.

"Okay, I understand. It's like climbing a high mountain; when you're no longer supporting yourself, it feels strange." He put the lid on the casserole, turned around, and said seriously, "Well then, take a good rest these few days. Once the experts from the institute and the data from Professor Zhao and the others arrive, we'll definitely be pulling in some volunteers to do manual labor! Organizing ancient books, screening prescriptions, making preliminary screening experimental records—there'll be plenty of work to do, but I'm afraid you'll find it boring."

"Not boring at all!"

"It definitely won't be boring!" Xiao Chengzhi and Deng Nanxing said almost in unison, their faces full of anticipation, and their hands moved even more nimbly.

……

At dinner time, two large round tables were set up at Fang Yan's home.

Fang Yan's family sat at one table, the students from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine sat at another, and Fang Yan, along with Lao Hu and the guests, sat together.

Today's meal surprised Deng Tietao and his group. Most of the dishes were Cantonese, and judging from the cooking methods and the finished products, they were quite authentic, almost like they were brought from a Cantonese restaurant.

In the most conspicuous long dish, a sea bass lies.

Simply pat the fish on top with thin slices of ginger and scallions, using a simple steaming method to lock in the juices of the fish.

The white fish fillets are clearly separated, and they easily separate from the bone with a gentle touch of chopsticks. Dipped in the special steamed fish soy sauce made in the local dialect in the small dish next to it, which has a slight soy sauce aroma but does not mask the original flavor, the taste is pure sweetness of the ocean and tender and smooth fish meat.

This is precisely the essence of Cantonese cuisine's "light and fresh" flavor.

On the porcelain plate next to it were neatly stacked chicken pieces.

The chickens selected are tender young hens with a golden and glossy appearance. A layer of transparent "crystal jelly" forms between the skin and the meat, indicating that the cooking time is precise.

The bone still had just the right amount of bright red blood vessels, symbolizing "death".

This authentic way of cooking makes the locals feel instantly at home.

It comes with two classic dipping sauces: minced ginger and scallion, and soy sauce with sand ginger.

One bite, and the skin was crisp, the meat tender, and the chicken flavor was intense. The authentic taste instantly captivated the taste buds of everyone present from Lingnan. The winter melon soup that had just been placed down was the most eye-catching.

I selected a winter melon of a suitable size, and the upper part was finely carved into the shape of a covered bowl.

Lifting the lid releases a burst of steam carrying the aroma of winter melon, the sweetness of seafood, and the rich fragrance of ham.

The soup in the bowl is clear and slightly white, and the ingredients are extremely rich, including tender winter melon core cut into small pieces, chewy peeled shrimp, delicate chicken breast pieces, soft and fluffy dried scallop shreds, and wood ear fungus. Although it is not as abundant as in Guangzhou due to limited conditions, the original flavors of all the ingredients are perfectly blended in the slow simmering process, resulting in a classic soup that combines lightness, sweetness, and refreshingness.

One sip reveals a clear yet flavorful broth, fresh yet not greasy. A spoonful warms the throat, nourishing the spleen and stomach, making it especially suitable for elders like Zhao Sijing and Old Deng.

In addition, lettuce is an indispensable ingredient.

The bright green lettuce leaves are neatly arranged, their color as vibrant as if they were just picked, and only a thin layer of bright red oyster sauce is drizzled on top.

The cooking time is perfect; the lettuce is just cooked through, the stems remain crisp and refreshing, and the leaves absorb the rich and savory flavor of the seasonings, making it an excellent choice for cutting through greasiness and cleansing the palate.

There are also other light dishes made with northern ingredients. Although I don't know their names, they taste quite good to everyone.

Everyone started eating and forgot to talk for a moment.

After eating for a while, Deng Tietao remembered to praise Fang Yan:
"Dr. Fang's cooking skills are truly amazing. It's like something a chef in a high-end restaurant would make. I've heard Chengzhi mention it before, but now that I'm eating it for the first time, I understand he was absolutely right."

Fang Yan said with a smile:

"You flatter me. Besides traditional Chinese medicine, I enjoy studying cooking. The more I cook, the better I become at it."

Upon hearing the dialect say this, everyone suddenly understood.

Deng Tietao said to Zhao Sijing:

"Old Zhao's habit is just like yours, isn't it?"

Zhao Sijing said:

"I just enjoy researching medicinal cuisine, and these days, I haven't had the same opportunities as Dr. Fang. I can tell from the taste of his ingredients that they are all top-notch."

Upon hearing Zhao Sijing's words, Shen Huaimin asked:
"How do we determine if these ingredients are top-quality? Is it like traditional Chinese medicine, where the origin matters?"

Upon hearing Shen Huaimin's question, Zhao Sijing put down his chopsticks, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and secretly remarked that this tea was indeed of good quality. He then continued the conversation, saying:

"Authentic? Of course we should talk about it!"

"Just like medicinal herbs require specific soil and water conditions and seasonality, so do food ingredients!"

He glanced at Fang Yan, who simply smiled and nodded, which was taken as tacit agreement.

The old man pointed to the layer of glistening "crystal jelly" in the plate of poached chicken:
"These authentic free-range hens must grow up eating grains and drinking dew. You can't get this beautiful jelly from cage-raised chickens! And the cooking time is crucial. They have to be lifted and dipped three times in boiling water to tighten the skin and lock in the juices, while leaving a thin line of blood in the bone. If they're a fraction too thin, the meat will be tough; if they're a fraction too thick, it won't be cooked through... When you taste this chicken skin, isn't it as crisp and springy as bamboo shoots after a spring rain? And as tender as freshly peeled lotus seeds? Only authentic free-range chickens and the skills of a master chef can achieve this!"

Then, his gaze fell back on the winter melon soup he had just drunk, his eyes scrutinizing it as if he were examining a precious medicinal herb:

"The wonder of Dr. Fang's winter melon soup lies not only in its refreshing taste to others, but in the 'core' of its flavor! The winter melon core, the main ingredient, must be from a local winter melon picked at noon during the hottest days of summer, while still covered in dew, so that the flesh is tender enough to melt in your mouth. The dried scallop shreds are from Liaodong, naturally dried scallops, without any sulfur fumigation, which gives them a sweet aftertaste of the sea and keeps them firm and chewy..."

"The word 'top-notch' is the same as recognizing herbs! You have to understand its nature, know when, where, and how to cultivate and cook it to make it a top-quality herb. If it lacks even a little bit of water and soil, is cooked for too short a time, or is not fresh enough, then the taste, the texture, and the 'vital energy' it provides will all be wrong!"

After Zhao Sijing finished speaking, he looked at Fang Yan and sighed:

"Dr. Fang is not only a good cook, but his ability to recognize quality and his eye for choosing ingredients must be top-notch! The old man has spent his whole life traveling in the mountains and fields, and he believes most in the saying 'real ingredients bring out real flavor.'"

Fang Yan waved his hand, explaining that all the ingredients he had were sent over by Yanjing Hotel by Lao Hu to take care of Huang Huijie. During the time Huang Huijie stayed at Fang Yan's house, the Fang family's food was basically supplied by Yanjing Hotel, which was known for its top-quality ingredients.

You can't buy these top-quality goods at the market if you rely on local dialects.

"It was all Lao Hu's doing; I don't have that ability," Fang Yan said, attributing the credit to Lao Hu.

Upon hearing the dialect, Old Hu said:

"These ingredients are good, but only professionals can make good dishes. It's like having authentic medicinal herbs, but we also need people to combine them to turn them into medicines that can cure diseases and products that can earn foreign exchange."

"That's right, that's right!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

Old Hu couldn't stop talking about making money today, and everyone just falls for it.

Fang Yan, who was present this time, didn't sit idle either, and addressed the crowd:

"Old Hu is right. Top-notch ingredients paired with top-notch skills are needed to create this authentic Cantonese cuisine; top-notch TCM wisdom combined with our transformation capabilities and international channels can usher in a new era where TCM truly becomes famous worldwide and we can all live a good life! Come, let me toast with tea instead of wine to all of you 'truly top-notch' national treasure experts, and to our bright future where we work together as one, earn foreign exchange, sail big ships, and head towards a gold mine!"

Everyone raised their glasses, creating a lively atmosphere.

……

After the meal, Fang Yan arranged for someone to go to the Secret Recipe Research Institute.

During this period, production has been carried out in three shifts, two shifts, 24 hours a day, so there are people on the research institute's production line all day long, only the underground research laboratory is currently closed.

At 7 p.m., Fang Yan, Lao Hu, and Sophia drove the group to the outside of the Huaxia Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After everyone got out of the car, Fang Yan led them inside.

This time, I also brought my sister-in-law along to take the camera so she could take pictures of everyone.

When the gatekeeper saw Fang Yan with a group of people, he registered them and then let them all in.

It's already past closing time, and most of the research buildings have already turned off their lights.

The only building with lights on at the entrance is the People's Medical Publishing House.

Fang Yan led the group inside. It was quiet and deserted. Occasionally, a few researchers would hurry by and greet Fang Yan and his group with a simple "Director Fang".

After that, there was no one else. The group followed Fang Yan inside until they reached the deepest part, which was actually behind the university next door. There they saw the brightly lit Secret Formula Research Institute.

There are also sentries here, and they are armed; the level of defense is just as high as outside.

Just by looking at this place, everyone could already sense its importance in the eyes of the higher-ups.

When Fang Yan led everyone inside, they found that Professor Zeng Luquan was still on the production line.

"Director Fang? Mr. Hu? What brings you here?" He was also somewhat surprised to see everyone arrive.

Fang Yan said to him:
"Let me introduce you. These are all distinguished guests."

After saying that, Fang Yan began to introduce the group of people from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine behind him.

When Zeng Luquan heard that these people were all big shots from the south, including legendary figures like Deng Tietao, Huang Yaoyan, and Zhao Sijing, he was very excited.

I had heard of their names before, but I had never seen them in person. Today, I finally saw them all.

Then he heard someone in dialect say:

“They will all be our shareholders from now on, contributing their technology as equity. They have provided us with several secret formulas this time, and we need to study them to see if we can find a way to list them on overseas markets.”

Zeng Luquan's eyes lit up. This is great!
These people offered their secret recipe as soon as they arrived; they were so sincere!
"I brought Deng Lao and the others here today because I wanted to take this opportunity to let you 'think tanks' see for yourselves the strengths of our research institute and how our platform transforms the wisdom of our ancestors and the unique skills of everyone into tangible products."

"This will give them more confidence, and they will be able to organize their resource teams there more effectively when they return to Guangzhou, so that they can seamlessly connect with us here."

"From now on, the research and development capabilities of Lingnan and our research institute will have to work together as a unified force on projects."

Zeng Luquan said:
“That’s perfect. We have several researchers who have returned from here. Let them work on the secret formula and see if they can reach international standards.”

This coincides with what Fang Yan thought.

He said in dialect:

"I haven't told everyone yet. These newly returned personnel are from research institutes or universities all over the country. Some of them were transferred to Beijing by the Ministry of Health, and some are experts who returned to Beijing through our connections. They will be the main force of the research institute, responsible for our technical research and a series of other commercialization technologies for Chinese medicinal materials."

At this moment, Lao Hu said:

"How about... we take a picture first, and then hang it in the workshop and the office, so that other people who come back will know the strength of our team."

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words is now complete. I've received 100 more monthly votes. I still owe 2000 words, so there will be an extra chapter to follow.

(End of this chapter)