Min Ziqiong's shock lingered on her face long after she finished speaking.
She understood the immense importance of Ying Chen's Elixir of Longevity.
Life science was a nascent field, a burgeoning frontier.
Its market prospects were almost beyond description!
Crucially, this market had no true pioneers. The vast majority were blocked at the entrance, like street vendors hawking fake goods, shouting a few times, scamming a little money, and then fleeing.
Only a few who managed to breach the market's gates could set up stalls on its periphery.
They were still a far cry from the core of the market, where immense wealth lay piled high!
And Ying Chen, in essence, held the key to unlocking the market gates!
Not only could he set up shop anywhere in the core of the market, but he could also decide who entered and who did not!
Such a first-mover advantage was paramount!
It was like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Both leveraged their first-mover advantage to dominate the mainstream market, and then, with their superior cost control, they completely shut out latecomers!
Was cola's formula truly so secret that others couldn't replicate it?
No.
It was simply that the two cola giants, with their mature technology and market, had optimized their costs to the extreme, making it unprofitable for newcomers to enter the market!
They couldn't even recoup their research and equipment costs!
Once Ying Chen's Elixir of Longevity was released, it could achieve exactly this!
Becoming the absolute overlord of the life science field!
Furthermore, this type of product was incomparable to cola. The research cycle and difficulty of development for such products far surpassed that of cola!
It wasn't something anyone could simply develop with a bit of investment!
The greater possibility was a complete loss, not only failing to profit from following suit but losing everything!
However...
There was a crucial prerequisite: did this Elixir of Longevity truly possess the efficacy that Ying Chen claimed?
And even if it did, would the public accept it?
Min Ziqiong's mind raced with countless potential problems, and simultaneously, she considered solutions.
Ying Chen, however, was indifferent to these concerns. Before Min Ziqiong could ask, he waved his hand. "I'm giving you this. You handle it. Whether this hen can continuously lay golden eggs is up to you."
"I don't want to, and I'm too lazy to, concern myself with anything else."
Min Ziqiong's mouth hung slightly open, a look of disbelief on her face.
Was Ying Chen really giving her this Elixir of Longevity?
Did Ying Chen have no idea of its value?
"No, no, no, Mr. Ying, this is far too precious, I cannot accept it."
"One does not receive rewards without merit; I truly cannot accept such a valuable gift with a clear conscience."
"However, I can offer my advice, manage its sales for you, and help you assemble a team. I will only require a basic salary."
Min Ziqiong repeatedly waved her hands, refusing.
Ying Chen looked at her deeply. "A basic salary? Is that what you think will make your parents look at you with respect? Is that what you believe will turn your reputation around? Is that what will earn you back the respect of others?"
"It's likely that even ten thousand years wouldn't be enough."
"How about this, we'll split it fifty-fifty. I'll contribute this Elixir of Longevity for a fifty percent stake; you'll contribute your technical management for the other fifty percent."
To his surprise, Min Ziqiong still refused. "That's too much, Mr. Ying, truly too much! Perhaps you don't realize its value now, but you will regret it in the future!"
"Besides, even the world's top corporate executives don't get such a high stake! How about this, five-thousandths, I only need five-thousandths."
Min Ziqiong proposed a remarkably low percentage.
A flicker of impatience crossed Ying Chen's face. "Seven-three split, I get seven, you get three. This matter is settled, no more fuss!"
"What you consider incredibly precious is, in my eyes, merely ordinary. If you wish to continue getting along with me, you must learn one thing: do not judge my world with your own perspective."
"Understand?"
Faced with Ying Chen's domineering and forceful attitude, Min Ziqiong nodded dumbfoundedly.
"Then I... thank you, Mr. Ying."
"Alright, get some rest! As for how to handle this, you can think about it back home." Ying Chen waved his hand, ushering her out.
As Min Ziqiong was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Mr. Ying, there's a question I must ask clearly. Because if this Elixir of Longevity is to be launched, a crucial step is necessary: efficacy verification."
"And that will involve questions about the formula's ingredients."
"So, what materials were used in this Elixir of Longevity?"
Hearing Min Ziqiong's question, Ying Chen's expression turned peculiar.
He countered, "Are you sure you need to know?"
Min Ziqiong nodded. "Yes."
Any product must undergo verification before it can be launched.
Especially products with medicinal properties, which face immense difficulty in obtaining approval and require clear disclosure of their formula and ingredients.
"Fine," Ying Chen shrugged.
He pointed to the suspended ingredients in the bottle. "That's Long Gui, that's Tian Qing Di Bai, that's Wang Xing, that's Jin Yin..."
They were all traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.
He paused at the end and continued, "Of course, these are just auxiliary herbs, used to stimulate the longevity properties of the main ingredient."
"And the main ingredient is..."
Ying Chen said, pointing to the side.
Min Ziqiong followed his gaze and froze.
Ying Chen was pointing to the medicinal tub he had used for bathing.
There was still some liquid with a faint medicinal aroma in the tub, emitting an amber glow under the light.
A sense of foreboding arose in Min Ziqiong's heart, but she managed to suppress it, clinging to a sliver of hope. She asked, "You mean... materials like those in the bathing medicinal liquid?"
Ying Chen's answer shattered her illusion.
"No, it *is* this medicinal liquid."
"I directly filled the bottle from it."
Min Ziqiong was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.
So, Ying Chen had used his bathwater to make medicine for others to drink?
If this got out, she'd likely be drowned in spit!
If it were submitted to the relevant authorities, it would be rejected at the very first hurdle of formula verification!
"Oh, I did do some simple filtering. If you need to produce it in bulk later, you can arrange for professional personnel to filter it."
Seeing Min Ziqiong's strange expression, Ying Chen felt compelled to explain.
Min Ziqiong's mouth twitched.
She immediately thought of a saying: "A little bit of conscience, but not much!"
Filtered bathwater, was it no longer bathwater?
Wasn't it still bathwater?