Chapter 437: Her Dream

Chapter 437: Chapter 437: Her Dream

To become a qualified TCM practitioner, one doesn’t need to master all the methods for processing herbs. But medicinal herbs are the very foundation of TCM. If the quality of the herbs can’t be guaranteed, how can their medicinal effects be ensured?

The path she was taking into herbal pharmaceutics had always been a long one, demanding immense patience and perseverance.

She let out a soft laugh and said, "We don’t need to be so pessimistic. The truth is, people don’t learn these skills simply because TCM isn’t as profitable as Western medicine, and it’s also much harder to master. But if we can improve the earning potential within the industry, I believe we’ll see a significant change."

The pharmacy owner wasn’t as optimistic. He said bluntly, "Hospitals these days will spend tens, even hundreds of thousands on a single piece of equipment without batting an eye. But ask them to invest in cultivating medicinal herbs? No one’s willing. One wrong move and you’ll lose your shirt!"

The owner’s wife added with a worried expression, "Our family has been in the medicinal herb business for generations. In a few more years, I’m afraid we won’t be able to stay in business."

Vera knew the pharmacy owner was describing the reality of the TCM field. For traditional medicine, the herbs themselves were the absolute foundation, and what she could accomplish alone was extremely limited.

She looked at the pharmacy owner and said, "You’ve been trading medicinal herbs for years, so you must have channels to source high-grade, authentic ones. I’ll be needing a large, long-term supply of certain herbs. I have only one requirement: quality."

Hearing this was a big order, the owner immediately asked, "Which herbs do you need?"

Vera replied, "Gastrodia elata from Zalen, mountain seven from Kaelen, as well as Bletilla striata, Aconitum carmichaelii, Angelica sinensis, Aconite, and Dendrobium."

’Truth be told, the Aconitum carmichaelii and Angelica sinensis from Yulara aren’t the absolute best available, but the quality is still quite good.’

The owner beamed. The herbs she’d listed were all expensive. He looked at Vera and said, "How much would you need per month?"

Vera smiled. "Sir, that’s not quite a fair question. You just said yourself that master processors are becoming rare, and many of the herbs you acquire go unprocessed. Besides, most of these herbs have a fixed harvesting season each year. You should be asking how much of the new harvest I can take."

Herbs have their growing seasons and their harvesting seasons; the time they become available is fixed.

The owner burst out laughing. "You’re a sharp one, little lady!"

Once his laughter subsided, he added, "From the sound of it, you plan on processing the herbs yourself?"

Vera said with a smile, "How much of an herb’s medicinal properties are preserved, and how its efficacy is fully drawn out—it all depends on the processing method. I hardly have the ability to process so many herbs myself. That’s where I’ll need you to put in some effort. After you’ve acquired the herbs, you’ll have to find the best master processors for them."

The owner looked at her. "In that case, it won’t be cheap."

Vera met the owner’s gaze and said, "But you can’t overcharge me, either. Otherwise, I won’t be able to afford it, and in a few years, your shop might really have to close down. I’m poised to become your biggest customer. If you offend a customer like me, you’ll be the one losing out in the long run."

The owner had, in fact, considered overcharging her when she first walked in, so her words now made him feel a little ashamed. She continued, "You said it yourself—this business was passed down through your family for generations. I’m sure you don’t want to be the one who squanders that legacy and ruins the family business."