Chapter Sixty: Stirring Panic

Since schistosomiasis had not appeared for ten years, its sudden resurgence, combined with the fact that the patient was not contained within Gu’s Hospital, left many doctors in a state of panic. This anxiety inevitably spread to other medical staff, and soon the entire hospital was abuzz with speculation. Even some of the patients who came in for treatment had heard that a case of schistosomiasis had been reported in the city.

Those unfamiliar with the disease searched for it online, and what they discovered sent shockwaves across the internet, like a bomb detonating in cyberspace. Within three days, news of the schistosomiasis patient swept through the city. People began stockpiling bottled water, and some were so fearful that they would not drink even that unless it had been boiled two or three times.

Sensing an opportunity, Gu Fang’s eyes gleamed with greed as he summoned all his doctors for a meeting and launched a new drug claiming to prevent schistosomiasis. The moment this medicine hit the shelves, it sold out, bringing Gu’s Hospital a windfall. In just one day, nearly twenty million yuan flowed into their coffers. Twirling his ring with satisfaction, Gu Fang declared with a laugh, “I really do have a knack for management.”

“Indeed, Father,” replied Gu Xiucheng, standing to the side with a faint smile. “If it weren’t for you holding up Gu’s Hospital, who knows how many times it would have collapsed under Gu Xiujin’s sickly hands.”

This decision had brought a considerable profit to Gu’s Hospital, elevating Gu Fang’s standing in the boardroom and giving him a decisive advantage in the ongoing struggle with Gu Xiujin for control of the hospital.

“Zhou Jinfan, what were you sneaking around for this morning?” Xie Qingtang asked, having noticed Zhou Jinfan’s odd behavior since early that day. First, he slipped across the street to Gu’s Hospital, then returned just as furtively, hiding something from her.

Caught off guard, Zhou Jinfan turned around and shook his head. “Nothing. I didn’t do anything.”

“You went to buy that new schistosomiasis prevention drug from Gu’s Hospital, didn’t you?” Xie Qingtang said, seeing right through him, leaving Zhou Jinfan momentarily stunned.

Indeed, Zhou Jinfan had been spending his days at the very epicenter of panic, and he felt uneasy about it. Although he bore some responsibility for the current situation, he valued his life, too.

Xie Qingtang stepped up to him, seized the box of medicine he was gripping tightly behind his back, glanced at it, and sneered, “Only you would believe in a drug designed to profit off public fear.”

“Boss, don’t underestimate this stuff! It’s made Gu’s Hospital a fortune. And look, we have a schistosomiasis patient right here at Cishantang. Why don’t we sell our own prevention medicine? It could help relieve some of our financial pressure,” Zhou Jinfan suggested, his business mind whirring.

Xie Qingtang paused in the midst of preparing medicine, coughed lightly, then looked up. “You’re right. If Gu’s Hospital can sell it, so can we—except I can guarantee our medicine will be even more effective.”

“Fantastic! Boss, you finally get it! Go write the prescription, and I’ll post the news online and draw in more customers,” Zhou Jinfan said, delighted.

Xie Qingtang nodded. She did need money, after all. She wrote a prescription for an anthelmintic—no ordinary formula, but one that could expel most mosquitoes and parasites both internally and externally, highly effective.

Once Cishantang’s harmless herbal powder for schistosomiasis prevention was launched, it caused a sensation online. Initially, everyone only knew about Cishantang’s herbal sachets, but now this new powder had appeared. Most people remained cautious, but Zhou Jinfan, ever the entrepreneur, hired a group of fake reviewers to flood the online shop with positive comments, which attracted real customers in droves.

“I heard Cishantang has come out with a schistosomiasis prevention powder. I have to try it. When I bought the medicine from Gu’s Hospital before, I always felt dizzy after taking it. I wonder how this powder will be,” someone remarked.

“That’s true. People our age tend to trust traditional medicine—gentle and non-irritating. Western medicine can be a bit harsh,” another chimed in.

The elderly, who had always trusted traditional medicine, became the first wave of customers buying the schistosomiasis prevention powder from Cishantang.

“For those here to buy the powder: remember the dosage—half a spoonful a day, no more! Take it for a week and you won’t need any more. It prevents most parasitic diseases and even those who aren’t ill will find it strengthens the body!” Zhou Jinfan announced through a loudspeaker, his message playing in an endless loop to draw in passersby.

At first, the doctors from Gu’s Hospital across the street mocked the elderly, certain that only their hospital could offer effective schistosomiasis prevention medicine.

Unnoticed, a rivalry began between Gu’s Hospital and Cishantang: the elderly bought powder from Cishantang, while younger people preferred the tablets from Gu’s. Some even compared the two products, judging them by taste and post-use effects—since actually contracting schistosomiasis was no easy feat, they couldn’t really compare the efficacy.

Surprisingly, Cishantang’s powder emerged as the clear favorite. For reasons unknown, those who took the tablets from Gu’s Hospital often experienced mild dizziness, whereas the powder from Cishantang caused no such side effects.

“Damn it!” Gu Fang cursed, as more and more people flocked to Cishantang for the powder, and fewer bought the tablets from Gu’s. Losing half of his business to Cishantang made him furious, and his opinion of Xie Qingtang sank even lower.

But for Xie Qingtang, this was a blessing. Though public concern over schistosomiasis faded after a week or so, and sales of the powder dwindled, she had already benefited from the sudden windfall.