Chapter 123: 123, unity is strength!

“As long as Director Lin is willing to pay a high price for the herbs, we’re willing to cooperate!”

“That’s right! I don’t want to see the high-quality herbs I’ve worked so hard to gather sold for peanuts to those foreigners!”

“Xia Country is the true origin of traditional Chinese medicine! You little devils from Sakura Country have already stolen enough from us; we absolutely cannot let you steal the very source of our medicine as well!”

Seeing the situation completely reverse, Lin Fan was no longer fighting alone. Not only had he secured the full support of the wealthy Yuandao Capital, but he also had the backing of Yuncheng’s King of Medicine, Director Shen, leading the charge!

Instantly, many of the heads of herb-growing bases and large-scale purchasers in the crowd stood up, adding their resounding support! Some were filled with righteous indignation, while others pounded their chests. Still others pointed at Iguchi Tama and her group, bellowing so fiercely that spit flew everywhere.

“Stupid, utterly moronic!” Seeing this, Wen Zheyang and Iguchi Tama exchanged a glance, their expressions turning incredibly ugly. Behind them, the representatives from the North’s pharmaceutical industry were visibly moved but dared not say a word. After all, they had come here following the Wen family’s lead. To recklessly turn on Wen Zheyang and Iguchi Tama would bring consequences they could not afford.

Yuan Ruoshan, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed, his face twisted with rage. He immediately pointed at the crowd behind Lin Fan and stomped his feet, cursing, “You idiots, you’ve been bewitched by a few words from Lin Fan? Take a good look at yourselves. Are you even qualified to oppose the Wen family and the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group?”

“Hmph, with combined assets in the tens of trillions, they could crush you as easily as stepping on an ant!”

As he spoke, the noisy voices in the venue gradually died down. The crowd looked at each other, their gazes all turning toward Lin Fan.

It was true. If they truly provoked the Wen family and the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group… If their opponents decided to wage a vicious price war, Lin Fan’s side wouldn’t be able to withstand it at all!

“Yuan Ruoshan, do you enjoy being someone’s dog that much? A bootlicking dog for the people of Sakura Country, at that?” Lin Fan’s brow furrowed slightly. His gaze toward Yuan Ruoshan had turned ice-cold.

“The Wen family and the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group are indeed two behemoths, but our Xia Country has relied on unity since ancient times! I don’t believe they dare to do as they please in Xia Country. Even if we are but a single spark, we can start a prairie fire and burn all you traitorous running dogs to ashes!”

The moment he finished, Wen Zheyang’s face changed drastically, and he flinched. Yuan Ruoshan’s complexion shifted between shades of green and red, the veins on his forehead throbbing with anger.

“Lin Fan! Who the hell are you calling a traitorous running dog? What era do you think this is? Is it wrong to integrate with the international community and maintain business relations?”

“He’s right! Our Wen family has opened up a vast foreign pharmaceutical market for the herbal farmers and pharmaceutical companies of Xia Country. What a monumental achievement that is!” Wen Zheyang picked up where he left off, his face ashen as he yelled furiously. “All our painstaking efforts, and we’re being called running dogs and traitors? This is outright slander!”

The two of them glared at Lin Fan, but anyone with a discerning eye could see the guilt and panic hidden in their gazes.

“Lin Fan, you are openly trying to sabotage the good trade relations between Xia Country and Sakura Country. Do you think everyone is as foolish as you?” Iguchi Tama’s gaze turned grim as she arched her pale neck and asked sharply.

“Good trade relations? Do you even believe that yourself?” Hearing this, Lin Fan laughed with anger and shook his head vigorously. “If this were normal herb-exporting business, I would personally welcome it. But you pick out all the best herbs, then use our formulas to manufacture and sell lucrative patent Chinese medicines, all while shamelessly rushing to register the medical patents?

“Fine. Since you keep claiming you’re acting for the sake of Xia Country’s pharmaceutical market channels, I have a question. Do you dare to state the herbs’ place of origin on every box of your medicine? And to indicate, in Chinese, that the formula was first created in Xia Country?”

His resounding words echoed through the venue.

The conflicted Mr. Wang Sr. and the others looked up, their eyes filled with complex emotions. The representatives from the North, who had been silent all this time, all flinched, looking as if they wanted to speak but hesitated.

“Mr. Lin is right! You want to maintain good trade relations? Then do as he says! Stop with the goddamn evasiveness and all these bait-and-switch tricks!” Director Shen slapped his thigh, visibly agitated.

Mr. Yuan Sr., Yuan Youwei, and Mrs. Xue all nodded emphatically. Doctor Jiang was so moved he began to cry, constantly wiping his eyes with his hand.

Damn it! After all these years of being suppressed in the patent Chinese medicine market by those little devils from Sakura Country, we can finally hold our heads high!

“Yeah, you talk a big game, but do you dare to do what Director Lin said?”

“A thief is a thief! Stop making such high-and-mighty excuses!”

“Traditional Chinese medicine is the orthodox practice of Xia Country! No matter how well you hide it, you can’t cover up the fact that you are thieves!”

Many in the crowd began shouting, their feet shifting in unison as they began to threaten to encircle Wen Zheyang and his entourage.

“What are you doing? Let me tell you, Miss Iguchi is a distinguished guest, an international friend! If a single hair on her head is harmed, it will be a major diplomatic incident!” Wen Zheyang shouted, his bravado a clear bluff.

Seeing the advancing mob, Iguchi Tama remained silent, her cold, beautiful face unreadable. Yuan Ruoshan looked tense, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he couldn’t help but retreat step by step. The crowd, however, ignored them, continuing to press forward.

“All of you, stop! Take one more step, and don’t blame me for getting rough!” Wen Zheyang was about to explode with rage. He had never taken these people seriously. Who would have thought they would now dare to challenge his authority as the third young master of the Wen family? “If anyone dares to cause trouble, Miss Iguchi’s and my bodyguards are not to be trifled with. Think carefully about the consequences, because you will be responsible for them!”

After his fierce warning, Wen Zheyang glared at Mr. Wang Sr. “Wang Tianchuan! You are the president of the Haicheng Pharmaceutical Association! Can’t you control these people?”

“…Young Master Wen, my apologies.” Mr. Wang Sr. gave a bitter smile, and a determined look suddenly hardened his old eyes, as if he had finally made up his mind. “The nine of us have decided to accept Director Lin’s terms!

“I’m nearly eighty. I don’t want to die only to be cursed as a traitorous lapdog!”

“That’s right. As long as Director Lin’s price is high enough, we’re naturally willing to use high-quality herbal ingredients.”

“Earning less is better than being cursed behind our backs…” The Fang Family Head and others sighed and shook their heads in agreement.

Wh-what?! Even you mongrels have been swayed by Lin Fan? You’re turning on us right here and now?!

BOOM!

Wen Zheyang’s pupils contracted violently, the corners of his eyes tightening. Beside him, Iguchi Tama’s eyes flew open with rage, her fists cracking audibly.

Their entire grand plan, ruined by just a few words from Lin Fan! With the supply of high-quality herbs from the southwest provinces cut off, both the Wen family and the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group would suffer devastating losses!

“No, you can’t do this! On what grounds are you agreeing to Lin Fan’s terms?!” At that moment, Yuan Ruoshan’s face was deathly pale, sweat pouring down his forehead.

It’s over. It’s all over. Once Lin Fan secures the cooperation of Haicheng’s nine major pharmaceutical companies, won’t he easily win that so-called four-billion-yuan bet?

At this thought, Yuan Ruoshan’s body trembled, and his vision swam with darkness. Looking crazed, he pointed a shaking finger at Mr. Wang Sr. and the others. “Are you out of your minds? After how Lin Fan treated you, you’re still going to go crazy with him?”

“Hmph! If we don’t cooperate with Director Lin, should we be like you? Insist on fawning over someone who gives you the cold shoulder?” Mr. Wang Sr. retorted with a snort, his face flushing red from the jab.

“Fine, very fine! Then let’s all die together!” Yuan Ruoshan laughed, enraged, and shot a venomous glare at Lin Fan. He then spun around and shouted to Iguchi Tama, “Miss Iguchi, I personally witnessed Lin Fan at the Yuan family estate, killing your brother, Mr. Iguchi Watanabe, with his own hands!

“Furthermore, the hundred Sakura Country Warriors Mr. Iguchi Watanabe brought with him all died there too!”

As soon as he said this, the entire venue fell deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned, their eyes nearly bulging from their sockets. This was followed by a tumultuous uproar as everyone gasped in shock.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep