Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 237: Negotiating an Acquisition

A Dragon Bone Ore mine isn’t the same as a Bluestone Mine.

The required permits are far more extensive.

You can’t mine it secretly.

Otherwise, it would be illegal.

But...

If word gets out, a lot of people will have their eyes on it.

Ding Kaifang quickly came up with a plan. "The best way is to buy the contract for this mining area directly from its current owner! We’ll inherit the existing mining rights first, and then report an ’accidental discovery of a new mineral deposit.’ According to regulations, the original contract holder has the right of first refusal for developing any new deposits found. That way, we can shut out all our competitors!"

"Doctor Li, do you know the contractor for this mining area?" Ding Kaifang asked.

Li Xu nodded. "Hengchang Stone Factory, Guo Hengchang. I know him. He’s one of my patients."

"Perfect!" Ding Kaifang slapped his thigh. "If you’re the one talking to him, it’ll make things so much easier! We won’t tell him about the Dragon Bone Ore at first. We’ll just offer a reasonable price to take that mess off his hands. Once the contract is signed, it’ll be a done deal, and everything else will fall into place!"

Li Xu thought for a moment. "That feels a bit dishonest. I have an idea. We can let him become a shareholder and receive dividends. We’ll also let him continue managing the mine’s development. He has the experience and could do a better job than us."

Ding Kaifang agreed. "That works."

...

「Meanwhile, in a residential building in Shanyang County.」

Guo Hengchang was lying contentedly on a rocking chair on the balcony, basking in the warm autumn sunlight.

He had been taking the Chinese medicine prescribed by Li Xu for three consecutive days.

For him, these three days felt like being reborn.

After taking the medicine on the first day, he was able to sleep soundly.

By the second day, the heavy feeling in his chest had mostly dissipated, and his breathing became much smoother. When he got up to walk, his legs felt strong again. He could even feel a hint of warmth in his legs, which, due to avascular necrosis, had been perpetually cold and wracked with a stabbing pain.

And now, on the third day, the most surprising thing had happened—he was barely coughing at all!

For the past ten years, his cough had been a constant torment, plaguing him day and night without rest.

But now, he had gone an entire morning without letting out one of those soul-wracking coughs.

An occasional tickle in his throat was relieved with a single, gentle cough, bringing up some clear phlegm and leaving his throat feeling refreshed.

He could even feel his strength slowly returning.

He had even gone downstairs in the morning and slowly walked two laps around the community, all without getting out of breath.

This long-lost feeling of being able to breathe freely and live in peace made him so happy he could have cried.

His feelings for Li Xu had moved beyond simple trust into something bordering on worship.

He was convinced that as long as he kept taking the medicine according to Doctor Li’s prescription, he would be able to return to a normal life, free from the torment of his illness.

Just as he was closing his eyes, enjoying this hard-won peace, the phone in his pocket rang.

He picked it up and saw the caller ID read "Doctor Li."

Guo Hengchang immediately sat up straight and answered the phone respectfully. "Hello, Doctor Li! To what do I owe the pleasure? Is there a problem with my medicine?"

Li Xu’s voice came from the other end. "Boss Guo, there’s no problem with the medicine. I’m calling because I wanted to discuss something with you, and I was hoping to stop by for a visit to see how you’re recovering."

"Oh! That’s wonderful! Please, you’re more than welcome!" Guo Hengchang said excitedly. "Doctor Li, you don’t have to come see me. I’m so much better! Your medicine is a miracle! Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up immediately!"

"There’s no need for that, Boss Guo," Li Xu chuckled. "I’m actually in Shanyang County right now. Just send me your address, and I’ll make my way over."

...

Half an hour later, Li Xu and Ding Kaifang arrived at the building of the address Guo Hengchang had sent.

Before they could even go upstairs, they saw Guo Hengchang waiting for them at the entrance to his building, his face ruddy and full of life.

The moment Guo Hengchang saw Li Xu, he rushed forward as if greeting his savior. He tightly gripped Li Xu’s hand and said excitedly, "Doctor Li! You’re finally here! Quick, please, come on up!"

Guo Hengchang’s fervor even made Ding Kaifang, who was standing beside them, raise an eyebrow in surprise.

He could tell this wasn’t just polite enthusiasm; it was gratitude and respect that came straight from the heart.

Guo Hengchang’s home was spotlessly clean.

His wife brought out hot tea and fruit, just as endlessly grateful to Li Xu.

"Doctor Li, please, have some tea! Thank you so, so much. If it weren’t for you, my husband..."

"You’re too kind," Li Xu said with a smile, "healing the sick is just a doctor’s duty." He gestured for Guo Hengchang to sit. "Boss Guo, let me take your pulse."

Guo Hengchang quickly extended his wrist and sat up straight, his posture formal and serious.

Li Xu placed three fingers on his wrist pulse, closed his eyes, and focused.

A moment later, he opened his eyes.

"Hmm, not bad," Li Xu said with a nod. "Your pulse before was a classic case of being deep, thready, and weak, like a stone sinking to the bottom of a pond. That’s a sign of deficiency in both the lungs and kidneys, a great decline in your Primordial Qi. Now, however, I can feel the beginnings of a steady, forceful foundation in your pulse. It’s still on the weak side, but it means your withered ’tree root’—your kidneys—is starting to regain its vitality. It’s now able to hold on to some of your Yang Qi."

"In our medicine, the lungs govern the skin and control the opening and closing of the pores. Your constant sweating before was due to deficient lung qi, which meant your pores couldn’t close properly. The fact you’re sweating less now shows your lung qi is recovering. The kidneys are responsible for grasping qi. Your breathing is stable now, and you no longer feel like you can’t catch your breath. That’s because your kidney qi is being replenished, allowing it to help your lungs draw the clean air you inhale deep into your Dantian. To put it simply, the yin and yang within your body are starting to find their balance again. This is an excellent start."

The explanation went mostly over Guo Hengchang’s head,

but he understood the most important part: his illness was improving from the very root.

"Yes, yes, exactly! Doctor Li, you’re spot on!" Guo Hengchang nodded excitedly. "I feel like I have energy again, my chest isn’t tight anymore, and I’m sleeping soundly! I haven’t felt this good in my entire life!"

"Don’t celebrate just yet," Li Xu cautioned. "The root of your illness is deep, and this is only the first step. Finish these seven doses of medicine, then come to my clinic. I’ll adjust the prescription based on your condition and begin the second phase of your treatment. Remember, you can’t let your guard down. You must continue to abstain from smoking and alcohol and be mindful of your daily habits."

"Yes! I understand! I’ll follow your instructions to the letter!" Guo Hengchang nodded emphatically, filled with an almost worshipful awe for Li Xu’s medical skills.

After the pleasantries, the atmosphere grew more relaxed.

Li Xu and Ding Kaifang exchanged a look, then got down to business.

"Boss Guo," Li Xu said, setting down his teacup. "We came here today not just to check on you. There’s something else we’d like to discuss."

"Doctor Li, just say the word! If it’s something I, Guo Hengchang, can do, I won’t hesitate for a second!" Guo Hengchang promised, patting his chest.

Ding Kaifang took the lead. As a veteran of the business world, he had a better sense of a negotiation’s rhythm. "Boss Guo, it’s like this. Our Ding Group is very interested in your stone factory on Mopan Mountain, including its associated mining rights. We’d like to make an offer to buy it from you."