Qiao Ling walked out of the doors of Ren Zhi Pharmacy like a walking corpse, her eyes vacant and listless, deep tear tracks on her face.
Lu Ming stood at the entrance.
When he saw Qiao Ling's dejected state, he had already guessed what had happened.
Lu Ming walked to Qiao Ling's side. Without asking anything, he took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the tear tracks on her face.
In her loneliest and most helpless moments, Qiao Ling was fortunate to still have Lu Ming by her side.
She could no longer suppress the emotions in her heart and buried herself in Lu Ming's embrace.
At this moment, she disregarded everything, wanting only to linger for a while longer on this safe and reliable shoulder.
Lu Ming just stood there quietly.
For a long time.
When Qiao Ling's emotions had stabilized slightly, she pulled away from Lu Ming's shoulder and said shyly, "I'm sorry, I lost my composure."
Lu Ming smiled and replied, "Anyone who endures such great hardship would find it difficult to bear, especially a delicate woman like yourself."
Qiao Ling was relieved; at least Lu Ming understood her.
She asked, "Did you come to find me just to comfort me?"
"That's one reason," Lu Ming said, glancing around and lowering his voice, "but I have another reason for looking for you."
"What reason?"
"I can help your Qiao family win a turnaround battle! To steer Ren Zhi Pharmacy away from danger and towards safety."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Ling was overjoyed. "Really?"
Lu Ming nodded affirmatively. "Of course it's true. I wouldn't lie to you. In fact, I wanted to remind you that this incident wasn't caused by your mistake, but was a deliberate setup by someone."
"Ah?" Qiao Ling found it incredible.
"Think about it, the moment something happened, the TV station and Liang Youde showed up. How could it be such a coincidence?"
"Uh..." Although Qiao Ling found it peculiar, she hadn't thought about it deeply.
Lu Ming continued, "Moreover, Ren Zhi Pharmacy's quality control is exceptionally strict. How could moldy medicine suddenly appear? And so coincidentally, it was bought by a large group of people. Qiao Ling, this isn't an accident. It's a meticulously planned conspiracy against Ren Zhi Pharmacy. Someone wants to harm you! And it's not just outsiders; there's a problem within your pharmacy too, an inside mole!"
The more Qiao Ling listened, the more her heart pounded with dread.
She had initially thought it was just an accident, but under Lu Ming's systematic analysis, it had transformed into a conspiracy.
And not just any conspiracy, but one involving betrayal from within.
Qiao Ling said, "I'll tell Grandpa right now!"
Lu Ming stopped her. "Given Old Master Qiao's current mood, will he listen to you? And if the mole discovers it, it will only cause more delays."
Qiao Ling froze. "Then... then what should we do?"
Lu Ming leaned close to Qiao Ling's ear and whispered a few words.
Qiao Ling listened, feeling immensely shocked.
She widened her eyes and said, "This method is indeed very good, but... are you sure there's really an inside mole? And will the mole really fall for it?"
Lu Ming smiled. "Trust me to handle things. As long as you do as I say, we'll surely catch the mole and defeat our enemies."
After everything was discussed,
Qiao Ling walked into Ren Zhi Pharmacy with Lu Ming and proceeded to the conference room, where they met Qiao Kai Cheng, Qiao Qiong, and others.
As soon as Qiao Kai Cheng saw Lu Ming, he became furious. Ever since Ren Zhi Pharmacy became associated with this cemetery keeper, they had been plagued by bad luck.
Qiao Kai Cheng even suspected that Lu Ming had brought the misfortune upon them.
A cemetery keeper, dealing with the dead all day, might have picked up a lot of unclean things. Such things couldn't be entirely ruled out.
Without even waiting for Lu Ming to speak, Qiao Kai Cheng said gruffly, "Who allowed you in? Get out!"
Hearing this, Qiao Ling's expression changed drastically.
She timidly said, "Grandpa, Lu Ming is actually here to help..."
Before she could finish, Qiao Kai Cheng roared, "I don't care what he's here for! All I know is I don't want to see him! And you, Qiao Ling, you've already been removed from the family tree. What are you still doing here? Get out!"
Both of them were harshly reprimanded.
Qiao Ling's tears welled up again.
However, Lu Ming smiled faintly and said, "Since Old Master Qiao doesn't want Ren Zhi Pharmacy to reopen, then forget it. Qiao Ling, let's go."
Huh?
The words "reopen" immediately caught Qiao Kai Cheng's attention.
"Wait!" Qiao Kai Cheng looked at Lu Ming. "What did you just say?"
Lu Ming replied with a smile, "I have a way to help Ren Zhi Pharmacy reopen. But judging by Old Master Qiao's attitude, you don't seem very willing, so I won't force it. Goodbye."
This was a provocation.
Qiao Kai Cheng knew very well that Lu Ming was trying to provoke him, but he had to 'fall into the trap.'
There was no other choice; the temptation of reopening was too great.
Qiao Kai Cheng was not a three-year-old child who would abandon the family business for a moment of pride. He hurriedly asked, "You really have a way to help Ren Zhi reopen? Tell me about it."
Lu Ming coughed. "Are you expecting me to stand and talk? I don't even have a seat?"
Qiao Kai Cheng gave Qiao Qiong a look.
Qiao Qiong, understanding his intent, brought a stool for Lu Ming.
Lu Ming swaggered over and sat down, then said, "Actually, the method is very simple. Liang Youde and the others found problems with Ren Zhi Pharmacy's medicinal ingredients. If we can prove there are no problems, won't that solve everything?"
Qiao Kai Cheng was stunned. "But the geckos have gone moldy. How can there be no problem?"
"Of course there can be!" Lu Ming said. "I possess a special medicinal formula that requires moldy geckos to be paired with other ingredients to achieve the best therapeutic effect!"
"Oh?" Qiao Kai Cheng was half-believing.
To be honest, Qiao Kai Cheng had achieved great heights in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but even he had never heard of moldy geckos being used as medicinal ingredients.
Qiao Kai Cheng said, "Lu Ming, I know you have some skills and indeed possess some special formulas. But don't speak carelessly. How can moldy geckos be used in medicine? That's poison!"
"That's where you're right," Lu Ming explained. "My formula uses poison to fight poison."
Qiao Kai Cheng pondered for a moment.
Regardless of whether Lu Ming's words were true or false, he decided to let him present the formula first. With Qiao Kai Cheng's medical expertise, he could discern its authenticity.
So he said, "Then take out the formula."
Lu Ming shrugged and said, "This formula is too ancient and was lost long ago. Also, it requires too many ingredients, and the proportions of each ingredient are very peculiar. I need some time to think it over carefully and slowly work it out."
"No problem," Qiao Kai Cheng said with a wave of his hand. "Immediately prepare an empty room for Lu Ming, along with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He can use whatever medicinal ingredients he needs!"
Someone immediately prepared everything for Lu Ming and led him to an empty room to begin researching the ancient formula.
As Lu Ming left, Qiao Qiong's expression turned grim.
With a furrowed brow, he quietly took out his phone and, while no one was paying attention, slipped away.
In a deserted alley, Qiao Qiong dialed Catherine's number. "Hello, Miss Catherine, I have something extremely important to report to you!"