This day, the first batch of goods was delivered to Huichun Hall.
This batch of goods, after their cooperation with the state-run pharmacy, directly laid the groundwork for future collaboration.
As long as the quality of this batch of chapped skin cream passed inspection, the contract would formally take effect. Director Jiang valued this batch of chapped skin cream highly and personally led his team to inspect the goods.
As soon as the box was opened, he saw his subordinate shaking his head at him.
"Director, if this is compared to ordinary chapped skin cream, it's probably considered good."
But what they required was the same quality level as Zhenshantang.
There was a significant gap.
"The formula is the same as Zhenshantang, they're probably trying to imitate them, but it's at best a rather unsuccessful imitation."
Director Jiang frowned, recalling how Pei Kesheng had repeatedly assured him that the quality would absolutely not be inferior to Zhenshantang.
Thinking about it now, it seemed somewhat laughable.
"Give them a can of chapped skin cream produced by Zhenshantang and let them compare it themselves. We're leaving!"
Pei Kesheng had been observing Director Jiang's expression. He only saw him whisper a few words with his subordinates before leading his team away, without saying a word.
His expression turned unpleasant. This was truly a lack of respect!
"Director Jiang, what's wrong? Please tell me!"
After walking a few steps, he was stopped.
"Director Pei, you should first take a look at Zhenshantang's chapped skin cream. Your company's product simply cannot be compared to theirs."
Pei Kesheng instinctively retorted angrily, "Impossible! The formula is the same, not a single detail is different, how can it not be the same!"
The other person found this amusing.
"Zhenshantang's formulas are all publicly available, they're not some rare treasure. If knowing the formula allowed one to produce the same effect, would they be so generous as to tell you? They have a secret weapon, they just didn't tell you."
Pei Kesheng was mocked and deeply shocked.
What did "publicly available" mean?
The thing he went to great lengths to obtain, turned out to be so easily accessible?
Someone beside him cautiously stepped forward and asked, "Director, what should we do with these goods? The state-run pharmacy won't accept them."
Pei Kesheng spat fiercely, his face contorted.
"What can we do? It's all wasted effort! Go and call Qian Limei over, and find someone unfamiliar to go to Zhenshantang and inquire about whether their formula is indeed public!"
A pent-up frustration seemed to be stuck in his chest, unable to rise or fall, and he urgently needed to vent it on someone.
At this moment, Qian Limei had no idea that disaster was about to befall her.
She thought Pei Kesheng was looking for her to discuss a raise.
Huichun Hall Pharmaceutical Factory was truly not a place for humans. Temporary workers were squeezed the hardest.
They did the most work but received the least pay.
Although it was only a difference of five yuan in salary, many of the benefits and treatments that Zhenshantang offered were absent at Huichun Hall.
Even the cafeteria required payment, as she was not a permanent employee and did not enjoy the benefit of having her meals covered by the cafeteria.
Her living standards had plummeted, and Qian Limei felt immense bitterness.
She had finally waited for Pei Kesheng to look for her, and she hurried over, perhaps thinking it was about her becoming a permanent employee.
However, as soon as she entered the office, a folder was thrown at her.
Even though she dodged quickly, a bloody gash appeared on her face.
"Director Pei, what are you doing!"
She was still hoping to remarry, what if her face was disfigured?
Pei Kesheng leaned his hands on the desk, staring at her with sinister eyes.
"I ask you, where did the formula for Zhenshantang's chapped skin cream come from?"
Qian Limei covered her face and lowered her head guiltily.
"I just copied it from Zhenshantang."
But it wasn't just her who could copy, anyone could.
Pei Kesheng gritted his teeth in hatred. No wonder Zhenshantang had no reaction when he poached Qian Limei.
It turned out they were confident that the things she copied were useless!
"But what you didn't tell me is that these things were originally made public!"
Qian Limei shrunk her neck. "Well, you didn't ask yourselves."
Pei Kesheng was furious and grabbed something nearby and threw it.
"If it's something that can be obtained with just a little effort, what's so precious about it? Do you think I'm a fool! From today onwards, get out of the factory, you useless thing!"
It was a good thing he had paid her wages.
Qian Limei's face changed dramatically. She ignored her fear and stepped forward to question, "Director Pei, what do you mean by this? You asked me to copy Zhenshantang's chapped skin cream formula back then, and I copied it for you! I don't care if the formula is useful or not, I copied it for you! Now that Zhenshantang doesn't want me, you have to take responsibility!"
Her voice was sharp and could easily penetrate the not-so-soundproof wooden door.
Pei Kesheng's expression shifted, wishing he could slap her to death.
This idiot, was this something she could say so carelessly?
"You... You shut up! Shut up!"
Qian Limei thought, he wasn't letting her work anymore, why should she shut up.
"I won't! You're shameless, and I'm even more shameless! If you want to fire me, I'll spread rumors everywhere, saying you and I were having an affair, and I'll bring my son to your house for dinner!"
Pei Kesheng's face turned pale, and the fine lines on his brow were so deep they could trap mosquitoes.
"What nonsense are you talking about! You gave me a useless formula, and I can't even criticize you?"
"Bah! Zhenshantang can do it, why can't you? It must be you who are useless!"
Pei Kesheng's face turned red with anger. "You're talking rubbish! If it's the same formula and the same production method, our Huichun Hall has more advanced pharmaceutical equipment, the effect couldn't be this different!"
Qian Limei was about to retort when she stopped upon hearing his words.
"Could it be a problem with the medicinal ingredients? Cheng You and the others use medicinal ingredients that are said to be specially supplied from Yongcheng, and they never use ingredients from other places. Moreover, she also has a very large medicinal herb garden in Yanjiao and plans to be self-sufficient."
These were not secrets at Zhenshantang, so she, a mere errand runner, knew about them.
Everyone had actually been speculating whether it was the medicinal ingredients that were the issue, and Dr. Liang had also mentioned that Zhenshantang's medicinal ingredients were indeed superior.
Pei Kesheng looked at her with a dark expression. "Medicinal ingredients, are you sure?"
"Of course I'm not sure! This is all my guess. If you want to know, go and investigate yourself."
Qian Limei was no longer afraid of him; the relationship had already soured.
At the same time, the person who was sent to inquire returned.
He gave him a definitive answer: "All of Zhenshantang's formulas are publicly displayed in the center of the pharmacy, and anyone can flip through them. I even copied one."
Pei Kesheng's chest was filled with rage, and he wished he could tear Qian Limei to shreds.
It seemed that the cooperation with the state-run pharmacy was over.
"Director, the state-run pharmacy said the cooperation ends here. Also, I bought a newspaper on my way back."
He hesitated before placing the newspaper on the desk.
The front page of the Yancheng Daily was extensively publicizing Zhenshantang's charitable act of donating medicine to the army.
After today, their business would likely improve.
Pei Kesheng crumpled the newspaper in his hand and threw it at his face.
"All of you, get out. We'll put this matter aside for now!"
He needed to think about his next move.