Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Breakthrough Intelligence

(The previous Chapter is under review and it’s unclear when it will be released. The main point was that Professor Wang Tao, after some analysis, recommended that Li Xu submit his paper to *Liu XX*.)

"Old Qian, this paper is extremely important. It’s a clinical efficacy study on a traditional Chinese medicine called ’Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules’ for treating the current H1N1 flu. I’ve read it. The data is detailed, the arguments are rigorous, and the clinical results are remarkable. Public discourse is a complete mess right now, manipulated by corporate interests. We urgently need a substantive paper like this to set the record straight."

Wang Tao’s tone was earnest.

Despite his busy schedule, Professor Qian Qun was aware of the recent developments in the sphere of public opinion.

He opened the email and read the paper carefully.

The more he read, the more excited he became.

The H1N1 flu was currently rampant, and there were no effective domestic drugs to treat it.

Li Xu’s paper was undoubtedly a major shot in the arm for Traditional Chinese Medicine’s response to this H1N1 outbreak.

"Old Wang, this paper is indeed exceptionally well-written. The data is solid, the analysis is incisive, and it’s very valuable."

After expressing his admiration, Qian Qun said he would immediately recommend the paper to the editorial team at *Liu XX*.

The editorial team at *Liu XX* was typically composed of senior executive editors, executive editors, and numerous editorial consultants.

One of the responsibilities of the editorial consultants was to recommend manuscripts they deemed excellent to the executive editors, who would then conduct a preliminary screening and evaluation before deciding whether to send them for peer review.

Professor Qian Qun had worked with *Liu XX* for many years and was on excellent personal terms with one of the executive editors, Thomas.

He forwarded Li Xu’s paper to Thomas without hesitation, attaching his own strong recommendation.

He was confident that with Thomas’s professional judgment, he would surely see the paper’s value.

However, Professor Qian Qun had no idea that Thomas, the man he trusted, had been receiving funding from Jide Pharmaceutical all along.

...

In his office, *Liu XX*’s executive editor, Thomas, stared at the paper recommended by Professor Qian Qun in his inbox, his brow tightly furrowed.

He knew of Qian Qun’s academic standing and valued his recommendations.

However, when he skimmed the paper’s abstract and saw the words "Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules" and "highly effective against H1N1," he immediately grew wary.

’A traditional Chinese medicine, for treating H1N1?’

Thomas sneered.

’Wouldn’t this have the same effect as Jide Pharmaceutical’s Tamiflu Granules? It would be direct competition.’

Jide Pharmaceutical was his biggest sponsor, funneling huge sums of money to him every year under various pretenses.

’He certainly wasn’t about to bite the hand that fed him.’

Thomas picked up the phone and dialed the private number of James Oliver from Jide Pharmaceutical.

"James, I’ve received a paper from Dragon Country about a traditional Chinese medicine, ’Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules.’ It claims to have a significant therapeutic effect on H1N1. Professor Qian Qun recommended it."

Thomas’s tone was calm, but the implication was self-evident.

On the other end of the line, James’s heart sank when he heard this.

He knew about the trouble "Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules" had been causing in Dragon Country recently, but he never expected it would now be aiming for publication in a top-tier international journal like *Liu XX*.

’This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen!’

Once this paper was published, the enormous funds they had invested and their meticulously planned strategy would all go down the drain.

"Thomas, you should know what to do."

James commanded in a tone that left no room for argument. "This paper must not be published. Any discussion that could create competition for Tamiflu Granules must be nipped in the bud."

"I understand."

Thomas immediately got the message.

After hanging up, Thomas didn’t hesitate for a second. He opened his email, permanently deleted Li Xu’s paper from his inbox, and even emptied his trash folder.

He had given it a death sentence without even submitting it for peer review.

...

「Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.」

Li Xu treated his patients while waiting for news.

He knew that *Liu XX*’s review process was extremely rigorous, often taking several days or even weeks.

He could only suppress his anxiety and wait patiently for a reply.

However, a day passed, and he didn’t receive any calls.

’This isn’t normal! After all, this wasn’t just a regular submission; it came with a personal recommendation. A regular submission might take many days, but a recommendation should have yielded a quick result.’

Li Xu felt a little uneasy.

「The next morning.」

As usual, Li Xu checked his intelligence feed.

Lines of text appeared before his eyes, and his emotions instantly went on a roller coaster ride.

[Today’s Intelligence: *Liu XX* executive editor Thomas is funded by Jide Pharmaceutical and will not publish the paper on Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules...] Reading the first sentence, Li Xu’s heart plummeted.

’Professor Wang Tao’s worries had come true!’

’There really was someone on the *Liu XX* editorial team who’d been bought by Jide Pharmaceutical.’

’His paper had been killed by a corrupt editor, without even getting a fair chance at a review.’

A wave of anger washed over him.

He could almost see a massive barrier standing between him and the truth.

However, as he read the rest of the message, a spark of hope ignited within him.

The intelligence system had actually given him a way out!

[...Senior Executive Editor Davis’s daughter is suffering from the flu; Tamiflu Granules have been ineffective. She can take Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules... Sun Qingshuang knows Davis from his work as an overseas pharmaceutical agent. You can help Davis’s daughter through him.]

’The daughter of a senior executive editor at *Liu XX*, Davis, is suffering from the flu, and Tamiflu Granules aren’t working?’

’And he could get in touch with Davis through Sun Qingshuang?’

Li Xu immediately thought of Sun Qingshuang.

A few months ago, Sun Qingshuang’s daughter had been on the verge of a vegetative state after a car accident. It was Li Xu’s An Gong Bezoar Pill that had miraculously woken her up.

After that incident, Sun Qingshuang was in complete awe of Li Xu’s medical skills, and the two had developed a deep friendship.

More importantly, Sun Qingshuang was now the agent for Ding’s Pharmaceutical’s Dragon Bone Powder in Japan, meaning he also had a close working relationship with Ding’s Pharmaceutical.

’This was undoubtedly fantastic news.’

’He had done Sun Qingshuang a favor, and they also had shared business interests.’

’Sun Qingshuang was the perfect person to act as an intermediary.’

Li Xu picked up his phone and dialed Sun Qingshuang’s number.

"President Sun, it’s Li Xu."

"Doctor Li! Is there anything you need? Or have you developed a new medicine?"

Sun Qingshuang asked curiously.

After all, Li Xu rarely called him.

It was usually him calling Li Xu to offer holiday greetings.

Li Xu didn’t go into too much detail.

After all, the fact that Thomas had deleted the paper, as well as the relationship between Sun Qingshuang and Davis, were things an outsider couldn’t possibly know.

Li Xu simply said that he had submitted a paper to *Liu XX* but hadn’t heard back, and asked if Sun Qingshuang had any connections in America who knew an editor there.

Sun Qingshuang didn’t overthink it. "Doctor Li, you’ve asked the right person. As an agent for overseas pharmaceuticals, I know a man named Davis. He’s the head of a pharmaceutical company and also a senior executive editor at *Liu XX*. We’re actually working together right now. Hold on, I’ll ask him for you right away."

"Wait," Li Xu added. "Tell Davis that Lianhua Suanzaoren Granules are very effective—even better than Tamiflu Granules." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I understand," Sun Qingshuang agreed.