Divine fortune teller and traditional Chinese medicine doctor

"Oh? Dr. Li, do you know what trouble I've encountered?"

Lu Ming asked in surprise.

"Yes, I just cast a divination, and according to the hexagram, there seems to be a problem with your product. Your Lu Group's main core business is cosmetics, right? Recently, the most important formula has run into problems, and the formula licensor wants to terminate their cooperation with you, leading to a production halt, is that right?"

Li Mu spoke with a profound and insightful expression.

"My goodness! You're incredibly insightful! This is all top-secret information within our group; outside of a few core leaders, no one else knows about it. How did you figure it all out?"

Lu Ming's eyes widened in surprise.

"I can only deduce some basic information from the divination. There are some very specific details that I can't calculate."

"That's amazing! Last time you were able to accurately predict the jade's...underwear, and this time you've predicted our group's confidential information. Dr. Li, you are truly a peerless master! Does that mean we have no secrets from you?"

"Haha, not at all. Besides, I don't consult fortune tellers for everything. There are some things that can't be predicted anyway."

Li Mu waved his hand and said with a smile.

"You were absolutely right! Indeed, our group's core business is cosmetics. The Lu Group is a leader in this industry in Qianlong City, and our Tianlu beauty and skincare products are quite well-known throughout the province. Unfortunately, we've never had our own core formula and have always relied on patent licensing to operate our products. Not long ago, we signed a huge contract with the Wang Group—oh, that's a company under your apprentice Wang Hedong's family; they mainly handle advertising and sales. But just the day before yesterday, the formula patent licensor suddenly wanted to terminate the contract! We've already invested a lot of money to complete this big order. If the licensor doesn't grant us the license, the products we produce can't be sold, and we'll have to pay the Wang Group a huge penalty for breach of contract… This is practically a catastrophe for our group!"

Lu Ming said with a worried expression.

Why did the licensor suddenly want to terminate the cooperation? Shouldn't they be liable for your losses for doing so?

Li Mu asked, puzzled.

"Firstly, the licensing agreement we signed from the beginning was very unequal. They had all the advantages, and many clauses were very unfavorable to us. We had no choice; our cosmetics industry was just starting out then, and they had superior formulas. To survive, we had to sign a very disadvantageous contract, like a dependent. Secondly, the industry competition is too fierce now. If a company like ours, which relies on others for its own benefit, starts to gain traction and threatens our competitors, or even the licensor, we can easily be held hostage. Now they feel we're doing better and better, whether out of jealousy or because other companies are giving them more benefits, they just want to kick us out. We've been trying our best to negotiate with them these past two days and have made significant concessions, but the licensor doesn't seem to be buying it. The call I just received was from the group's vice president; they said the licensor doesn't want to negotiate anymore and will come tomorrow to terminate the contract. Sigh, to be honest, I'm completely overwhelmed right now. My father just passed away; if the group collapses too, then I'll really be... Dr. Li, you just said you might be able to help me?"

Lu Ming immediately looked at Li Mu with expectant eyes and asked.

She now has complete faith in Li Mu.

It seemed that in her eyes, this old man was an omnipotent old god!

"I happen to have a pretty good cosmetic formula here. If you trust me, we can collaborate."

Li Mu took a sip of wine and said.

Yes, when Li Mu cast a divination to predict the trouble Lu Ming was facing, he thought of using the magical saliva of snowflakes to develop and improve cosmetics.

He believed that using the magical saliva of snowflakes to make a concentrated source liquid, and then diluting it and integrating it into cosmetic ingredients, would definitely greatly enhance the beauty, skin care and skin-nourishing effects of cosmetics!

Given the miraculous effects of snowflake-like saliva, wouldn't such a beauty and cosmetic product cause a huge sensation once it hits the market?

Therefore, Li Mu immediately seized this business opportunity to make a fortune.

"...Huh? You, you have a formula?! Haha, Dr. Li, are you kidding me? You're a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner; cosmetic formulas are high-tech! How, how is this possible?"

Lu Mingmei's eyes widened in disbelief, feeling that Li Mu was really playing a joke on her.

You have to understand that someone has used a patented formula for many years, invested a lot of money, and relied on a lot of scientific and technological talents to develop it.

How could an old folk Chinese medicine doctor possibly have come up with this?

Even if Li Mu has some incredible metaphysical abilities, they have nothing to do with high-tech cosmetic formulas, right?

"Miss Lu, look around these days, which cosmetic product doesn't say it's made from natural extracts or plant essences? Although cosmetics contain some chemical industrial technology elements, the main raw materials are still mainly derived from natural plants and animals. I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, and there are many beauty and skincare formulas in ancient Chinese medicine. My formula is truly made from pure natural Chinese medicinal herbs, and the effects are very good."

"Hmm, now that you mention it, it makes a lot of sense. I never knew you had expertise in this area. But, has your formula been patented? Has it been tested experimentally? For example, its completeness, its effectiveness, market research, and so on."

Lu Ming nodded slightly and looked at Li Mu, asking a question.

"I've personally tested this formula, and it works very well. As for those patents you mentioned, I don't have the time or resources to work on them. But don't worry about the safety; there's absolutely no problem. It's just as safe as the formula I write."

Li Mu said.

"Without a patent, it's not safe for you. If the market response is really good, someone else could research your formula from the product, apply for a patent, and it would become their formula."

"Don't worry about that. My formula is unique in the world; no one can imitate or learn it. Anyway, if you trust me, I'll grant your company exclusive authorization to use this formula. In my opinion, these things aren't important. What's important is creating a popular and profitable product, isn't it? If it's profitable, we can work on patents and such later."

"Um... Dr. Li, I will seriously consider your suggestion, but it also needs to be discussed and approved by the group's board of directors. After all, re-selecting a formula to launch a new product is no small matter. Moreover, we know absolutely nothing about your formula."

Lu Ming said very frankly.

"Yes, I understand. Miss Lu, how about this: next time I give you acupuncture treatment, I'll show you a sample prepared with my formula. Try it and see how it works. If you like it, we can talk more."

Li Mu nodded and said.

"Okay. Also... Dr. Li, could you please put in a good word for us with the Wang family? Could you ask them to extend the delivery period for some of our orders? After all, you're Young Master Dong's mentor, so your word will definitely carry weight. To be honest, our Lu family's business also depends on the Wang family. They originally wanted to take care of our business, but who knew they would cause such a mess? I'm really embarrassed to talk to them about it! Actually, I know in my heart that the Wang family gave us such a big order this time only because of you."

Lu Ming poured Li Mu another drink, and then made a request with a hint of embarrassment.

"Don't worry, I'll talk to He Dong later, it shouldn't be a problem."

Li Mu readily agreed.

She was helping Lu Ming, but in reality, she was also helping herself seize an opportunity to make a fortune.

If the cooperation is successful, Li Mu will be considered to have contributed his technology as equity, and he'll really make a fortune in the future!

"Thank you so much! Let me toast you again!"

Lu Ming was overjoyed and quickly raised his glass in a toast.

Regardless of whether Li Mu's so-called formula is truly effective, at least he has greatly reduced the pressure on the Wang family's orders.

After dinner, Lu Ming personally drove Li Mu home.

drop by drop...

Li Mu was just about to take a nap when his phone suddenly rang.

Upon seeing that the caller ID showed Shi Tang, Li Mu answered the phone.

"Xiao Tang, have you brought your younger brother here?"

"Brother Mu! Please save me, save my brother..."

But on the other end of the phone came Shi Tang's tearful plea for help.