After Long Xiao agreed to cooperate, Xue Hu discussed the shareholding ratio and future production plans for the pharmaceutical factory with Long Xiao.
They agreed to a fifty-fifty split, with the three pharmaceutical factories being directly merged into Xuanxiao Company.
The total investment required for all three factories was nine billion yuan. Long Xiao could only afford to provide a little over a billion, which was far from enough.
"Long Xiao, if you can double the factory's profits within a year, you won't need to contribute the investment money."
This was an opportunity too good to pass up, so Long Xiao readily agreed. He nodded and said, "We'll be producing a new drug, so doubling the profits is definitely achievable."
Xue family's single pharmaceutical factory had a production capacity far exceeding that of the Bao family's two factories. Moreover, the Xue family possessed a mature nationwide sales network, allowing for rapid distribution across the country within days of the new drug's launch.
After finalizing their discussion, Xue Hu made a phone call, and soon after, the Xue family's legal advisor arrived at Xinglin Caotang with the drafted contract.
To expedite the production of the new drug, Long Xiao collected the necessary herbs from the pharmacy and accompanied Xue Hu to the Xue family's pharmaceutical factory.
Senior management from all three factories were assembled. Xue Hu announced Long Xiao's stake in the company and then gestured for Long Xiao to step forward.
The executives from the three factories eyed Long Xiao, wondering what qualified him to invest in three Xue family factories, and to merge them into his soon-to-be-established Xuanxiao Group.
"Hello everyone. I won't introduce myself. I've brought a new drug. Starting today, the factory will cease production of all previous medications and focus on manufacturing this new drug as quickly as possible."
"Young Master Long, what kind of drug is it? Has it been tested? Does it have a patent and production license?" one executive inquired.
Long Xiao shook his head. "I only have the prescription. It doesn't have a name yet, nor any permits."
"Young Master Long, do you realize that applying for a new drug patent and obtaining production approval can take a very long time? Some take over a year, while others can take three, four, or even seven or eight years."
Long Xiao nodded. "I'm aware of that. You don't need to worry about it. Your job is to produce the drug according to the formula and process I provide."
"Young Master Long, what drug are you planning to produce?" another person asked.
Long Xiao glanced at the questioner. "That's confidential for now."
The three factories produced tens of thousands of boxes daily. If these drugs could not be sold, the losses would be enormous.
Everyone looked at Xue Hu with concern. Xue Hu smiled. "Don't look at me. From today onwards, everything here is under Young Master Long's command."
As per Long Xiao's instructions, Xue Hu announced the handover of the factory to Long Xiao without even mentioning his full name, only referring to him by his surname, Long.
The brief meeting concluded quickly. Long Xiao retained only the heads of the technical departments from the three factories and led them directly to the factory's drug laboratory.
The laboratory was fully equipped. He placed the herbs down, wrote out the prescription, and began preparing the drug while simultaneously explaining the manufacturing process in detail.
Initially, the three technical heads were filled with disdain, refusing to believe that a young man in his early twenties could understand the entire production process of a new drug.
However, as they witnessed Long Xiao precisely extract the medicinal essence using the equipment and accurately measure and synthesize the components, all three were astounded.
"Drugs can be made this way? It's so exquisite," one technical department head exclaimed.
The other two nodded in agreement, admitting that this method of drug production was far more refined than what they knew.
Soon, ten doses of stomach medicine were prepared. Xiao Ming looked at the stomach medicine in the glass cup and asked, "Boss, can I eat it yet?"
Long Xiao glared at Xiao Ming. "Your stomach isn't ill, why would you eat this?"
Xiao Ming chuckled. "It smells good, I wanted to try it."
"Young Master Long, what is this drug? Is it for stomach ailments?" one of the technical heads asked.
Long Xiao nodded. "Yes, it's for stomach ailments. Please come up with a name for it."
One of the technical heads pondered for a moment. "Let's call it Tai He Wei Shu."
"That's a good name, it sounds soothing," Long Xiao immediately agreed.
Tian Zhendong, standing behind Xue Hu, said, "Long Xiao, my appetite hasn't been good lately. Could I try this medicine?"
Long Xiao picked up a glass, poured some water into it, and said, "Drink it. The effect should be quite good."
"'Should be good'? Long Xiao, is this the first time you've produced this drug?"
Long Xiao nodded again. "Yes, it's the first time I've produced it. Try it, it tastes excellent."
Tian Zhendong lifted the glass and inhaled. A fragrant aroma entered his nostrils, bringing him a sense of comfort.
"It does taste good."
Without hesitation, Tian Zhendong drank it down. The Xue family had investigated Long Xiao thoroughly, and Tian Zhendong had great faith in his medical skills. Even if the medicine were poisonous, Long Xiao could likely treat him.
As the stomach medicine entered his stomach, a warm sensation spread, and within seconds, the bloating and slight discomfort completely disappeared.
"It's really effective. I wonder how long it will last."
Tian Zhendong had suffered from chronic stomach problems for many years and had tried various stomach medications with little success. Recently, he had been taking 'Jing Kou Wei Shu,' which provided immediate pain relief and comfort for a while, but its effects only lasted for four to five hours.
Seeing Tian Zhendong's positive reaction, the people in the laboratory were thrilled.
Long Xiao asked, "Are you all familiar with 'Jing Kou Wei Shu'?"
Everyone nodded. Long Xiao continued, "This drug will be packaged with the same dosage as 'Jing Kou Wei Shu,' and priced at two-thirds of its cost."
"Young Master Long, won't that disrupt their market?" one of the technical heads remarked.
Long Xiao nodded. "You're right, I intend to take their market. Remember, forge your own path and leave no room for others."
The stomach medicine Long Xiao presented was the most basic formula from the 'Dragon Collection' pharmacopoeia. Its characteristics were low ingredient cost and a simple process.
While its efficacy was significantly less than other stomach medications in the pharmacopoeia, compared to existing stomach drugs on the market, it was considered a high-grade one.
For the remaining nine doses, Long Xiao instructed each of the three technical heads to take two, and to also copy the prescription.
He kept the remaining three doses to submit to the pharmaceutical bureau, where he would ask Lu Tianzhi to assist with patent and production license applications.
Leaving the laboratory, Long Xiao repeatedly emphasized the utmost importance of secrecy. Before this stomach medicine was launched, the people from Jing Kou Pharmaceutical must not find out.
Upon leaving the factory, as Long Xiao parted ways with Xue Hu and the others, Tian Zhendong asked, "Long Xiao, when will 'Tai He Wei Shu' be ready for production? I'll need to buy a lot."
Long Xiao informed Tian Zhendong that it should be within a month. Tian Zhendong happily exclaimed, "That's great! I won't have to suffer anymore."
On the way back, Xiao Ming asked, "Boss, once that medicine is produced, can I eat it?"
"You're not sick, why would you eat stomach medicine?" Long Xiao replied with displeasure.
Xiao Ming stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. "That medicine smelled so good, I couldn't help but want to try it."