Chapter 494 — Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals

So it was hardly unusual for Yu Haitan to call Lai Changyi at a time like this.

"Mr. Lai, the response to the Longevity and Detoxification Pill has been truly remarkable. I wonder whether you happen to have any more treasures like it in your hands? You heard them yourself. There are still guests who did not have time to place a bid." Yu Haitan's tone was relaxed and amiable.

Before this, he had not paid much attention to Fatty Lai. Now, however, his attitude had improved considerably.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Yu, but I only have three left for the time being. No matter what, I cannot produce a fourth pill at this auction." Fatty Lai spoke apologetically.

"I see. What a pity." Yu Haitan sighed. "It seems I will have to go up there and explain matters myself."

"How about I go and explain? It would also be a good opportunity to explain why the Longevity and Detoxification Pill is so rare." Fatty Lai made the suggestion.

"That will do. Then I shall trouble you, Mr. Lai!" If Lai Changyi explained things personally, it would save Yu Haitan a great deal of trouble. Otherwise, if people came looking for him afterward and asked him for more Longevity and Detoxification Pills, he would have nothing to give them. He might be in charge of the auction, but he had no extra pills in his possession. Now that Fatty Lai had taken the responsibility upon himself, it could not have worked out better!

After hanging up, Fatty Lai waddled his bulky body through the hall, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, and made his way onto the auction stage.

"Good evening, everyone. On behalf of Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals, I would like to offer you all our most sincere apologies!" Fatty Lai held the microphone and addressed the people below.

"Huh?" The guests present were instantly dumbfounded. Fatty Lai was actually with Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals? Then why had he participated in the bidding earlier? Had he been bidding against himself and driving up the price?

A great many guests in the audience immediately frowned, deeply despising Fatty Lai's conduct. What he had done was truly rather underhanded. Strictly speaking, no one could point to any actual violation; everyone knew the rules of an auction, and the Yu family was entitled to take its commission. Even so, Fatty Lai's actions had damaged his reputation.

No one was more furious than Miracle Doctor Kang. Liu Tianyi had come close, but the price he had paid was relatively low, so he had no reason to dwell on it too much. Miracle Doctor Kang was different. Four hundred and thirty million! He had used most of the family's liquid assets, only to discover that Fatty Lai had played him for a fool.

"The raw materials for this Longevity and Detoxification Pill are exceedingly scarce, and the refining process is extraordinarily complex. Professor Guan Xueming spent nearly a full year producing only five pills. Three of them were put up for auction!" Fatty Lai continued, shaking his head with great emphasis.

Fatty Lai's explanation restored some balance to the crowd. Only five pills in an entire year, with such scarce ingredients besides. This medicine could truly be called priceless.

If Miracle Doctor Kang had been the one to refine it, those present might still have harbored doubts. But if it had been Guan Xueming, everyone believed it. In the eyes of these great families, Guan Xueming was himself a miracle doctor.

But there were still two pills left, were there not? Where had they gone?

"Of the remaining two, one was given to Miracle Doctor Kang at his birthday banquet by another partner in Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals. The other was taken by my father." Fatty Lai lied without the slightest hesitation, revealing the supposed whereabouts of the other two Longevity and Detoxification Pills. Naturally, he would never tell outsiders that the pill his father had taken was, in fact, the very one that had belonged to Miracle Doctor Kang.

"Ah!" Those who knew Fatty Lai finally understood why his father had recovered so quickly. He had been comatose with uremia, seemingly on the verge of death, and yet now he was in astonishingly good health.

The guests immediately beat their breasts and stamped their feet, regretting that they had not acted sooner. Now it was too late. There had been only five pills, and every last one was gone.

Of course, no one was in a more awkward position than Miracle Doctor Kang. His old face was burning. He had just told Xiao Ji that the Longevity and Detoxification Pill was a unique ancient relic, lost to the world. Yet now it had become something refined by Guan Xueming.

And that was not all. Someone had already given him a Longevity and Detoxification Pill at his own birthday banquet. How, then, could he have shamelessly claimed that it was one of a kind?

Xiao Ji felt some contempt for him, but he did not voice it. He and the Kang family now stood on the same side. If Miracle Doctor Kang was embarrassed, they would not fare any better.

Fatty Lai's next words, however, made things somewhat easier for Miracle Doctor Kang. "So these three pills can be said to be the only three currently in existence. Although I am the chief executive officer of Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals, I am not entitled to possess a Longevity and Detoxification Pill. That is why, after learning of this pill's effects, even I could not help joining the bidding. Unfortunately, I still failed to win one. What a pity!"

"So that is how it was!" After hearing Fatty Lai's explanation, the guests below came to understand his earlier conduct. Fatty Lai had genuinely wanted to buy the pill. He had not been trying to disrupt the auction. If they did not want it, then of course he would take it.

As for why Fatty Lai had raised the price so sharply from the very beginning, the reason was simple. He knew the pill's true value, and therefore he dared to bid accordingly.

"However, once I return, I will discuss matters with Professor Guan. At the third auction, we will see whether we can bring out some other good things for everyone to bid on." Having said that, Fatty Lai bowed deeply to the audience. "Thank you all for your favor toward Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals. Our products will also be launched after the auction!"

Fatty Lai then left the stage, while the guests developed a keen interest in the items he had mentioned for the third auction. They began discussing among themselves whether Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals might have some surprise in store for them.

Guan Xueming's name had long carried great weight among these prominent families and wealthy merchants. His mastery of acupuncture was nothing short of miraculous. Yet Dr. Guan was indifferent to fame and fortune. Even when people had once tried to cultivate a deliberate association with him, they had never managed to become particularly close to Guan Xueming.

No one had expected that Guan Xueming would actually go into business with others and establish Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals. Was this a challenge directed at Miracle Doctor Kang's Pharmaceutical Group? Or had Guan Xueming suddenly decided to start making money?

Whatever the truth, everyone was happy to see Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals provide high-quality medicinal products, especially something like the Longevity and Detoxification Pill. Although people had previously suspected that Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals was connected to Guan Xueming, it had been no more than speculation. Now that Fatty Lai had confirmed it, the prominent families who had held back from bidding were filled with regret. Guan Xueming was known for his integrity and strong principles. He called a spade a spade and never deceived anyone.

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