Li Yang was in high spirits after talking with his family.
The auction was over, and the money was quickly deposited into Li Yang's account.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Uncle Qin," Li Yang said, looking at Qin Shanchuan gratefully.
Without Qin Shanchuan, he would have been swamped with all sorts of paperwork. It just goes to show that having connections makes everything easier. Aside from a minor hiccup at the start, his trip to Xuan City had been smooth sailing.
"It's nothing," Qin Shanchuan said with a smile. "I'll go to Hu City in a few days to see your father."
At the mention of Li Guohai, the smile on Qin Shanchuan's face faded.
Li Yang, however, looked at Qin Shanchuan, his expression turning serious. "Uncle Qin," he said, "I'd like to ask about the Anticancer Agent. How much does it cost?"
Although almost everyone had heard of the Anticancer Agent by now, it was common knowledge that it wasn't accessible to ordinary people.
Here were just a few examples of those who had received the Anticancer Agent.
Zhou Ranxu, male, fifty-nine years old, a top physics expert from Qingbei University...
Li Xu, male, sixty-one years old, a leading biology expert...
Qian Yu, female, forty-nine years old, a national-level expert with a Ph.D. in materials science...
...
Nearly every recipient had an impressive background.
With such limited resources, it was only natural that these accomplished individuals would be the first to be cured. This was an undeniable fact.
As for ordinary people like Li Yang's father, Li Guohai, their only hope was for a major breakthrough in the research, allowing the Anticancer Agent to be mass-produced for everyone.
The alternative was to wait until all these important figures with cancer were cured, after which other late-stage patients might be chosen at random for treatment.
In reality, while the total number of cancer patients was staggering, the number of them who were Ph.D.s, top experts, and the like was relatively small. Once they were all treated, the next phase would very likely become a contest of wealth.
Those with the best connections and the most money would naturally have a better chance of receiving treatment.
That was why Li Yang had asked directly about the price.
As someone who worked for one of the ten largest auction houses in the country, Qin Shanchuan was bound to be well-informed.
Hearing Li Yang's question, Qin Shanchuan sighed. "Xiaoyang," he said, "from what I understand, the Anticancer Agent can indeed be bought, but the price is astronomical. It costs at least one hundred million, and can go as high as one billion."
"One hundred million? One billion?" Li Yang's expression changed as he heard Qin Shanchuan's words.
He had just received seven million in his account, which had seemed like a fortune to him. But compared to one hundred million, it was nothing. A billion was even more unimaginable.
"The Anticancer Agent is currently distributed by the country's largest foundation, and the funds from its sale are used for medical aid and other causes."
Qin Shanchuan shook his head. "Xiaoyang, do you have any idea how many cancer patients there are worldwide? Out of a supply of less than two hundred doses per month for the entire world, Hua Country only gets about ten. That means only about ten people can be treated each month."
"After prioritizing treatment for individuals who have made significant contributions, there are bound to be disagreements no matter how the remaining doses are allocated."
Li Yang understood. 'Hua Country has tens of millions of cancer patients. How could ten doses a month possibly be enough?'
"So, instead of merit, they let money decide. And the foundation uses the funds for other charitable causes..."
Qin Shanchuan didn't elaborate, but the implication was clear: it all came down to a person's financial resources.
Treating an ordinary cancer patient wouldn't create much of an impact.
But if treating a patient generates a hundred million, those funds can be used to help countless others. It's a cruel reality, but it makes sense to give the dose to the latter.
Of course, this information wasn't public, so Li Yang had been completely in the dark until now.
"I'm telling you this, Xiaoyang, but you mustn't spread it around."
Qin Shanchuan continued, "The production of the Anticancer Agent is also inconsistent. Sometimes only a few doses become available, and they're immediately bid on. The last time, a week ago, two doses were released. They were bought for one hundred twenty million and one hundred thirty million. I don't have that kind of money; I can't afford a single dose..."
His family's total net worth was over a hundred million, but that included assets like company stock.
He couldn't just sell off his company, his house, and everything he owned to save Li Guohai, could he?
Even for one's closest kin, that might not be a choice one would make.
Besides, he wasn't the sole decision-maker in his family. His hands were tied when it came to helping Li Guohai.
Hearing this, Li Yang quickly said, "Uncle Qin, you've already helped us more than enough."
...
Learning the truth about the Anticancer Agent from Qin Shanchuan washed away most of Li Yang's earlier joy.
'One Emperor's Slit Shell sold for seven million, which means I'd need to find fifteen of them just to earn a hundred million!'
'And a hundred million is just the minimum requirement to get the Anticancer Agent.'
'Still, it's to be expected. Xia Country only gets about ten doses of the Anticancer Agent per month. How many people must be competing for them?'
'When faced with death, people are willing to spend any amount of money. After all, when you're dead, you have nothing left.'
'What should I do? I'm exploring the ocean faster than ever, but how am I supposed to make a hundred million in just a few months?' Li Yang felt a surge of anxiety.
'It's not that hard for me to make money from the ocean. I'll earn a hundred million eventually, but I have no idea how long it will take.'
Li Guohai only had a few months left. That was all the time Li Yang had.
"Phew... I can't get desperate! The ocean is full of treasures. It's only been a few days, and I've already found an Emperor's Slit Shell. I can definitely find other valuable things!"
Taking a deep breath, Li Yang forced himself to calm down.
...
After returning home and finishing his cultivation, Li Yang went to the seaside, ready to continue his exploration of the ocean floor. The area was bustling with a large crowd.
"Zhang Hu's boat ran into a school of large yellow croakers! They caught over a thousand pounds!"
"They're so lucky!"
"The docks are packed. All the big-shot buyers are showing up."
"Come on, let's go take a look."
An excited crowd was chattering as they all ran toward one spot.
'A school of large yellow croakers?'
Li Yang's interest was piqued when he overheard their conversation.
The first half of the year was the off-season for fishing in Coastal City, so boats were only just now allowed back out on the water. Of course, a fisherman's livelihood depended on luck. One bad trip could result in losses of hundreds of thousands.
But if they got lucky, a single haul could set them up for life. It was all up to fate.
(Thanks to Bansheng Liangliangliang Dao Shang for the 2500-point donation, thanks to Heige 1973 for the 2100-point donation, and thanks to Shuyou20190129121527839 and Shi Guang Feishi 999 for the 100-point donations. Thank you. I promoted my new book yesterday and was so happy to see many old friends show up. Wind Blade is truly grateful for everyone's support! I won't say much more; writing this book well is the most important thing. Everyone can rest assured, Wind Blade will definitely write this book with great care and will not drop it.)