"You're quite arrogant, aren't you? You don't even show respect to our Vice President?" Tian Lin said, somewhat displeased. Usually, when he mentioned the Vice President's name to any clinic owner in the capital, few dared to refuse.
Liu Xianwei said with a hint of disdain, "Tian Lin, this kid is just like that. I had the Administration for Industry and Commerce seize his permits. He's still being stubborn, saying he won't buy herbs from my cousin's company. Isn't he asking for trouble?"
"So that's how it is," Tian Lin realized, looking at Li Se. "Kid, this is the capital. If you want to open a clinic here, you have to follow the rules. You must buy herbs, and you can't be short on medical equipment. Don't try to be tough here; it's useless. Of course, if you don't want to open this clinic, then it's fine. But as long as you intend to open it, you have to buy our things. That's the rule, understand?"
"Firstly, regarding herbs, unless the quality is very good, I won't buy them. Secondly, as I said, I am a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. I don't need any medical equipment. If you don't leave now, believe it or not, I'll throw you out?" Li Se was getting impatient. He didn't need to show much courtesy to people who tried to force sales.
"Throw us out?" Hu Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Do you know who we are that you want to throw us out? And you think you can throw us out? It seems you still don't understand the seriousness of the matter. Do you really think that even if your permits are seized, reapplying will be useful? I'm telling you, as long as my cousin doesn't agree, you'll never be able to open for business. It's hilarious that you would even say such a thing as throwing us out?"
"Qingqing, he's probably opening a clinic for the first time and doesn't know anything. Does he think he's great just because he has a little money? Opening a clinic here has rules. If you don't follow them, the clinic can't open. If you don't believe me, you can wait. When you finally have to bow down, come and buy our herbs. But then, you'll have to buy a lot more," Liu Xianwei said with a smile.
"That's right. Our Vice President also has rules. To prevent some unscrupulous businessmen from opening clinics and then randomly finding secondhand or almost broken medical equipment, leading to inaccurate diagnoses or directly worsening patients' conditions, you must purchase our Vice President's medical equipment. Our Vice President is doing this for your own good," Tian Lin said emotionally.
"Are you sure you won't leave?" Li Se narrowed his eyes, already somewhat angered.
"You scoundrel, how dare you speak like that?" Hu Qingqing was a bit angry. They had said so much, and this kid still told them to get lost. He was truly audacious.
"Are you determined to hinder yourself?" Liu Xianwei said with a cold face.
"Director Liu, if that's the case, then his clinic shouldn't open either. We have no losses anyway," Tian Lin said indifferently. If this clinic wanted to open, it had to purchase their herbs and medical equipment. It wouldn't be allowed with even one item missing.
"If you are determined to hinder yourself, then we can't stop you," Liu Xianwei nodded in agreement.
Hu Qingqing raised her chin, her face full of arrogance. "When you come begging us to buy your herbs, you'll regret it then."
"You talk too much nonsense!" Li Se had completely lost his patience. He grabbed Hu Qingqing by the neck and threw her towards the shop's entrance.
Liu Xianwei and Tian Lin were both stunned. They clearly hadn't expected Li Se to actually dare to make a move.
"You actually dared to throw someone?" Liu Xianwei roared.
But before he could finish speaking, Li Se, as if grabbing a chick, threw him out of the shop. Tian Lin, startled, ran out on his own.
"You wait and see, this is not over!" Hu Qingqing yelled.
"I'm telling you, even if you buy herbs now, I won't let your clinic open. Don't even think about getting your permits approved!" Liu Xianwei was furious. How could he, a section chief in the Ministry of Health, be treated like this?
"And our Vice President will ensure you have no standing in the medical community!" Tian Lin said coldly.
After exiting the shop, the three of them started shouting loudly, immediately attracting quite a crowd of onlookers.
"You're Director Liu? Damn, who has such guts to throw Director Liu out?"
"And that person is the Vice President of our Beijing Western Medicine Association. I've seen him at other clinics before. Is this shop owner that arrogant, offending these two big figures at once?"
"This clinic probably can't stay in business."
"Of course. This is equivalent to offending Director Liu and the Vice President of the Medical Association. It's basically doomed to close before it even opens."
"..."
Many people were discussing amongst themselves.
Liu Xianwei's face was full of anger. "Kid, if you kneel before me right now, I might still give you a chance!"
"Did you hear that? Kneel down for me!" Hu Qingqing shouted.
The onlookers all sneered. In their opinion, Li Se could only obediently kneel. Otherwise, if he truly offended Liu Xianwei and Tian Lin, he would never be able to develop in the capital, at least not in the medical field.
"Such big talk!"
Just then, a voice rang out.
An old man was seen approaching, and beside him was another person. These two were none other than Sun Bai and Du Jinglong, the head of the imperial physician review committee.
"Who are you?" Liu Xianwei frowned. "If you're here to see a doctor, you'd better give up this idea. This clinic doesn't have the permits to operate. If it dares to operate, it's illegal, and I will make arrests!"
Sun Bai snorted and said, "I am Sun Bai!"
"I am Du Jinglong!" Du Jinglong also frowned.
"Who is so rampant..." Hu Qingqing was about to retort with some sarcasm when Liu Xianwei covered her mouth and nose.
"Ah, so it's Imperial Physician Sun and President Du." Liu Xianwei's attitude changed immediately. As a deputy section chief in the Ministry of Health, how could he not know of these two individuals?
Tian Lin knew them even better. One was an imperial physician, and the other was the head of the imperial physician review committee, as well as the president of the Chinese Medicine Association. The status of these two far surpassed that of the Vice President he had mentioned.
Sun Bai and Du Jinglong ignored Liu Xianwei and the others and walked directly up to Li Se.
"Young friend Li, I heard you opened a clinic, so I came to take a look," Sun Bai said with a smile.
Du Jinglong's voice carried a hint of coldness. "Are you encountering any trouble? Tell me directly, and I'll resolve it for you."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xianwei and the others immediately broke out in a cold sweat.