Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 200: Rice Pill Promotion

The day after the recording of "Appointment Today" ended, Ji Youyou received a call from Lu Yu.

"Youyou, is now a good time?" Lu Yu's voice was much gentler than it had been on the show.

Ji Youyou wasn't surprised. "Teacher Lu, are you calling about the rice?"

The other end of the line went silent for a moment, followed by a light chuckle. "I really can't hide anything from you."

Lu Yu paused, her tone turning serious. "The rice from that day... After I got back, I couldn't forget the taste."

Ji Youyou understood. "You'd like to buy some?"

"Yes." Lu Yu's voice dropped a little. "I... Actually, my eating habits aren't very healthy."

Ji Youyou didn't respond, but she knew what Lu Yu was trying to say.

'Lu Yu's "seven grains of rice" diet wasn't self-discipline at all; it was just another form of extreme dieting.' 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I've tried many methods, but..." Lu Yu gave a bitter smile. "That rice is the only food that doesn't make me feel guilty after eating it."

Ji Youyou deeply sympathized. "I'll give you Dr. Li's number. You can just buy it directly from him."

"Thank you."

...

「Ding's Pharmaceutical Factory」

Box after box of Dry Rice Pills were being produced inside the factory workshop.

Similar to sesame-seed balls, they were divided into small, individual packets and then packed into larger boxes.

Ding Kaifang tore open a box of freshly produced Dry Rice Pills and handed it to Li Xu.

Li Xu opened it, gently squeezing one. The Rice Pill was firm but not too hard, and it gave off a faint aroma of rice and medicinal herbs.

Ding Kaifang said, "We perfected the ratios according to your formula. We mix a small amount of rice with medicinal powder and flour, then press it into shape. The effect of one Rice Pill is equivalent to one bowl of the medicinal rice, but it's much more convenient to store and carry."

Li Xu nodded, broke a Rice Pill in half, brought it closer to smell, and then used his fingertip to dab a bit of the powder and taste it.

"The taste is a bit bland, but the medicinal effect is fine," he said with satisfaction. "Have you applied for the market approval number?"

Ding Kaifang nodded. "The application was approved. The one for Watermelon Frost was approved at the same time, so they'll go on sale together."

Just as he spoke, Li Xu's phone rang.

The caller ID showed an unknown number.

"Excuse me, is this Dr. Li?"

"This is Li Xu. Who is this?"

"This is Lu Yu."

"Oh."

Li Xu realized. 'No wonder the voice sounded so familiar.'

"Dr. Li, I'd like to buy some rice... the kind Ji Youyou was eating."

Over the phone, Lu Yu's voice was gentler than on the show, and even carried a hint of pleading.

Li Xu didn't agree right away. Instead, he asked, "Teacher Lu, how has your appetite been recently?"

Lu Yu was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "...Not very good. I've actually always eaten very little, but after having the rice Ji Youyou brought that day, I realized... that food can be so satisfying."

Li Xu understood her underlying meaning—it wasn't that she didn't want to eat, but that she was afraid to.

"The rice is a special medicine and isn't sold separately right now." Li Xu changed the subject. "However, our pharmaceutical factory has made the rice into 'Strongly Fragrant Dry Rice Pills.' You could try those."

"Dry Rice Pills?" Lu Yu sounded a bit skeptical. "Is the effect the same?"

"The same, and even more convenient," Li Xu explained. "You can dissolve a Rice Pill in water or chew it directly. It's much simpler than cooking rice."

Lu Yu barely hesitated. "Okay, I'll buy them!"

Li Xu looked at Ding Kaifang, who immediately gave him an "OK" sign.

"We'll arrange for them to be delivered to you," Li Xu said.

After hanging up, Ding Kaifang couldn't help but laugh. "This is great! Now even Lu Yu has become our 'spokesperson'!"

Li Xu shook his head. "She's just a patient."

Afterward, the two discussed the market launch of the Watermelon Frost.

Watermelon Frost is an over-the-counter drug, so anyone can buy it.

Ding Kaifang proposed an idea: "Let's not go through the hospital channels this time. The hospital procurement process is too slow; the bidding alone would take half a year. I suggest we go directly to retail pharmacies and use our existing sales network for distribution."

"That works," Li Xu nodded.

Ding Kaifang said with a smile, "It's currently the transition from autumn to winter, the peak season for sore throats, so market demand will definitely be high."

Then, he sighed. "It's just a shame the quantity is limited."

Back then, Li Xu had only purchased watermelons from a little over ten mu of land.

All of it was used to make Watermelon Frost.

If it sells well, it definitely won't be enough.

"Doctor Li, have you contacted that person? Tell him to be sure to plant a lot more next year."

Ding Kaifang asked.

Li Xu shook his head. "Not yet. There's no rush. We just need to contact him before next spring. Besides, it's not just him; their whole village is suitable for growing these watermelons. In a little while, we can go there together and sign a purchase agreement with the village to buy their watermelons. That way, they can plant without any worries."

"I think we can take it a step further."

Ding Kaifang had a new idea.

"How so?"

Li Xu was curious.

Ding Kaifang explained, "If we only sign a purchase agreement, other pharmaceutical companies will find out where our watermelons are grown once our Watermelon Frost becomes a big seller. They'll go there to buy them too, and we'll be trapped in a bidding war.

As far as I know, the government is currently promoting agricultural cooperatives and encouraging the leasing of rural land to facilitate large-scale cultivation.

We could establish an agricultural cooperative, lease their land, and sign a ten or even twenty-year contract.

Then, even if other pharmaceutical companies find out how good those watermelons are, they won't be able to snatch them away."

Li Xu's eyes lit up. He agreed, "President Ding, that's an excellent method. Let's do that."

At the same time, he also thought of the mountainous land in Bailingyu Village.

They could do the same thing there—lease it to exclusively grow foxtail grass.

"We should act on this sooner rather than later. Doctor Li, when are you free? We should go take a look together."

"In a couple of days."

"Alright."

...

「Capital City.」

Lu Yu received the delivery.

She eagerly tore open the package. Inside were two exquisite boxes of Rice Pills, each containing ten individually wrapped pills, neatly arranged in a sealed bag.

She took one out and gently took a bite.

The Rice Pill melted in her mouth. The rich aroma of rice mixed with a faint medicinal scent instantly reminded her of the bowl of rice Ji Youyou had brought.

'This is the taste!'

She ate half the pill in one go and felt a comforting warmth spread through her stomach, with none of the guilt that usually followed eating.

That evening, she posted an update on her personal Weibo account:

"Tried the Strongly Fragrant Dry Rice Pills from @Li's Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, and the effect is amazing! I've finally found a food I can eat without anxiety."

The accompanying picture was a photo of her holding the Rice Pills.

Fans flooded the comments section.

"Lu Yu is actually recommending a food product?!"

"Are these Rice Pills really that miraculous?"

"Link to buy, please!"

Soon, the hashtag #LuYuRecommendsDryRicePills trended.

At the same time, Ji Youyou accepted a commercial performance gig.

A jewelry store invited her to sing at its centennial celebration.

Ji Youyou agreed.

She announced the event location on her personal Weibo.

Her fans were thrilled and left messages one after another, saying they would go to support her.

But, as luck would have it, the day before the performance, the weather suddenly turned cold. Combined with her over-practicing, her throat suddenly became so sore she couldn't speak, let alone sing.

...

PS: I was originally too embarrassed to ask for monthly tickets, but they've passed 740 in the last two days, almost at a thousand, which means I can do another prize drawing soon.

I'm shamelessly asking for them. I'm on my knees, thank you!