Free Web NovelChapter 511: Chapter 511: Massage
"500 for one pad?"
Ding Kaifang raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t that just robbery?"
"Tell me about it. Their ads say they’ve added some ’negative ion chip’ and ’nano-silver ions,’ claiming it’s antibacterial, warms the uterus, and soothes menstrual pain. They even got a bunch of influencers and celebrities to endorse it, hyping it up as some ’exclusive for the elite.’"
Wang Lei curled his lip in disdain. "Our R&D department bought some to disassemble and analyze. It’s just a gimmick. That so-called chip is just a piece of dyed, non-woven fabric. They added a bit of menthol to create a cool, tingly sensation. There are no negative ions whatsoever."
Ding Kaifang waved a hand dismissively and sneered, "That’s just them getting desperate. Our mid-range products are wiping the floor with them, so their only option is to start charging an idiot tax. Ignore them. This kind of false advertising won’t last."
"Yes." Wang Lei turned to leave.
"Wait..."
A sudden flash of inspiration struck Ding Kaifang, as if he’d just caught onto something.
’Uterine-warming?’
’Soothes menstrual pain?’
’Exclusive for the elite?’
He grabbed the phone and dialed Li Xu’s number.
"Hello, Doctor Li? There’s something I’d like to ask you."
"Does Agarwood have any effect on a woman’s menstrual cycle?"
Li Xu answered without a moment’s hesitation. "Of course. Agarwood has warming and circulation-promoting properties. It moves qi and invigorates the blood, warming the body’s core and kidneys. It’s incredibly effective for painful periods caused by stagnation, irregular menstruation, and a ’cold uterus.’ Ancient formulas record its use in combination with other herbs to treat gynecological diseases."
"Then... what if it’s Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood?"
Ding Kaifang asked excitedly.
"Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood?" Li Xu chuckled. "The effects would be even better, of course. Its medicinal properties are purer, and its penetrative power is stronger. While ordinary Agarwood needs to be paired with other herbs, Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood can be effective on its own. And it’s not just a physical remedy—its aroma can also soothe the emotional irritability that comes with a menstrual cycle. Why do you ask?"
Suddenly, it dawned on Li Xu. His voice jumped an octave. "President Ding, you’re not thinking of using the Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood to make sanitary pads, are you?"
"Heh heh, you know me best, Doctor Li."
Ding Kaifang said excitedly, "Sales just told me that the Japanese brand, Sophie, came out with some kind of high-end sanitary pad. They’re selling them for 500 a piece, and it’s all a deceptive gimmick."
"So I thought, we’re sitting on this piece of Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood. If we actually used it to make sanitary pads, wouldn’t the results blow theirs out of the water? Now *that* would be truly ’high-end,’ truly ’uterine-warming.’"
"On one hand, we make money and stick it to those Japanese bastards. On the other, we’d be putting this Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood to its best use and benefiting our fellow women!"
Li Xu was silent for a moment.
’Using Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood to make sanitary pads?’
’That sounds a bit... extravagant.’
"President Ding, this material is too precious. If you make sanitary pads out of it, they’ll be disposable. No matter how big this piece of wood is, it won’t last long if you use it up like that."
"Don’t worry, Doctor Li, I know what I’m doing," Ding Kaifang explained. "We won’t make a mass-market product. We’ll make a ’limited edition’—a top-tier luxury item!"
"We’ll release a limited run of only 100 pads per month. That’s just 1,200 per year. We’ll sell them only to high-end, discerning clients who have a genuine need for them."
"Each pad will only contain a minuscule amount of Ten-thousand-year-old Agarwood powder, combined with our own unique manufacturing process. At that rate, we won’t consume much of the wood in a year. We’d barely be scraping the surface."
"And we can price it right up against Sophie’s—or even higher. We’ll show them what a truly ’elite’ product looks like."
After listening, Li Xu carefully weighed the pros and cons.
’If it’s just a trace additive and the quantity is strictly limited, then the amount used really won’t be that great.’
’Besides, Agarwood’s effectiveness for menstrual pain is the real deal. It could genuinely relieve the suffering of many women.’
’Compared to letting the wood just sit and collect dust in a warehouse, this actually isn’t a bad idea at all.’
"Alright."
Li Xu relented. "But you have to strictly control the dosage and quality. We can’t ruin our brand’s reputation just to make money."
"You got it! Just watch me."
Ding Kaifang hung up the phone, his eyes burning with a fiery fighting spirit.
’Sophie, is it?’
’Negative ion chips, huh?’
’I’m about to show you what it means to be on a completely different level.’
...
「Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.」
Song Sisi had just finished giving an elderly gentleman a shoulder and neck massage and was now tidying up the treatment bed.
"Sisi, come take a break."
Li Xu beckoned. "Your massage technique is getting more and more proficient. Common aches and pains are no longer a challenge for you. Want to learn something more advanced?"
"More advanced?" Song Sisi’s eyes lit up as she leaned in. "What is it?"
"Child Massage," Li Xu said. "It’s a unique skill in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Children’s organs are delicate and tender, so medication and injections are often not suitable. Massage, on the other hand, is often the best method of treatment."
"Really?"
A look of pleasant surprise lit up Song Sisi’s face. "I’ve wanted to learn for ages! I saw online that Child Massage is incredible—some kids with fevers or indigestion get better after just a few simple manipulations."
Li Xu nodded.
’In truth, he had only a superficial knowledge of Child Massage himself before.’
’But a while ago, the system had provided him with the detailed *Child Massage Manual*, and after a period of intense study, he had now mastered its contents completely.’
Just then, a young woman entered, holding a child.
"Doctor, please, you have to help me. My baby has been hiccuping constantly for the past few days. He can’t eat properly, and he isn’t sleeping soundly."
The woman said anxiously.
Li Xu glanced at the child. He looked to be two or three years old and was letting out periodic "HIC... HIC..." sounds, his little face flushed red with the effort.
"This is a case of ascending stomach qi, causing diaphragmatic spasms."
Li Xu said gently, "No medicine is needed. A little Massage will fix it. Here, bring the child over."
Song Sisi quickly pulled a stool over and sat to one side. She took out her phone to record, her eyes wide, afraid she might miss a single detail.
Li Xu had the mother sit with the child on her lap. First, he spoke a few soothing words, calming the boy until he stopped crying. Only then did he begin.
He gently took the child’s middle finger with his right hand, while his left hand settled on the "Yuan Gu" acupoint near the child’s elbow.
"Watch closely."
Li Xu said to Song Sisi.
Then, his left thumb began to apply an extremely subtle pressing and rocking motion on the acupoint.
The movement wasn’t like ordinary kneading, but a rhythmic vibration.
Slow, rhythmic rocking, the pressure perfectly modulated.
Song Sisi stared intently at Li Xu’s technique, her mind rapidly searching her memory.
’This move... She felt like she’d seen it somewhere before!’
’Ever since she began studying under Li Xu last year, she had put in a tremendous amount of effort, reading many books and watching many videos on Traditional Chinese Medicine.’
’Li Xu’s technique right now...’
’The sway of his left hand, the pull of his right hand...’
’The whole posture... it looked like a Phoenix Spreading a Single Wing!’
’That’s it!’
’Phoenix Spreading a Single Wing,’
’that’s the move.’
’It was one of the most difficult moves among the Thirteen Great Techniques of Child Massage.’
’It was used specifically for treating infantile convulsions, diaphragmatic spasms, and poor qi circulation.’
