Chapter 439 — The Experiment

He seemed to have some faint impression of it: it had been on the day of the birthday feast, and the hotel owner had brought a dog along with him. But at the time he had paid the dog no mind, and could not say whether it had been a German shepherd.

"Mr. Zhang? This is Xi Caicai speaking." The Divine Doctor Xi and this hotel owner were on fairly good terms. Apart from the great clans, the other merchants all kept up good relations with the Xi family — after all, among these businessmen the Xis counted as conspicuously successful. They might not compare with the old noble houses, but they far outstripped men like these.

"Divine Doctor Xi, hello. What business have you with me?" The hotel owner was rather surprised. Why would the Divine Doctor Xi call him in person? Ordinarily, even when there was contact between them, it was the doctor's eldest son, Xi Guifeng, who got in touch with him.

"It's like this — I hear you have a German shepherd?" asked the Divine Doctor Xi.

"Oh? I do have one..." Mr. Zhang was startled; he could not imagine why the Divine Doctor Xi should suddenly bring up such a thing. "My wife has little to occupy her at home and likes to keep dogs. That day, at your birthday feast, the one we brought along was that shepherd."

"Mr. Zhang, my grandson Zhaolong is rather fond of German shepherds. We've tried a great many pet shops and found none; otherwise I would never have opened my mouth about it..." The Divine Doctor Xi hesitated. Asking Zhang for a dog might well rouse his suspicions, but the matter was pressing, and there was no time left to maneuver an inch at a time. And even if Zhang did grow suspicious, he would never suspect that all he was scheming after was dog shit.

"Oh? So it's the Divine Doctor Xi's grandson who likes shepherds? So that's all it is! I'll have someone bring the shepherd over to you in a little while..." Mr. Zhang was slightly taken aback. He had not expected that a single phone call from the Divine Doctor Xi would be about wanting a dog — what sort of great affair was that? With the Xi family's present influence and wealth, was there any dog they could not buy?

He reckoned the man was simply phoning to ask for it, and that only out of regard for him; Mr. Zhang agreed without thinking much about it. Still, he could not help warning him: "Divine Doctor Xi, this dog of mine is a little peculiar. My wife has been pampered since childhood, and the creature is forever stealing food from the house at random and relieving itself wherever it pleases... If you had not wanted it, I was ready to sell it or give it away. But since I am giving it to you, I ought to say these things in advance. I can't deceive you." The Divine Doctor Xi thought to himself: Is shitting such a bad thing? My only fear is that it won't shit! So he replied: "These are all trifles; it's no matter. Many thanks to you, Mr. Zhang, for doing me this favor. When the time comes, I will have Zhaolong call at your door to express his thanks!"

"Heh heh, a small thing. Since the Divine Doctor Xi says there's no problem, I'll send someone over with the shepherd presently!" said Mr. Zhang.

Mr. Zhang was one of those who fawned upon the Xi family, and so the German shepherd was very quickly delivered to the Xi residence. Once Xi Zhaolong had the shepherd in hand, he fed it a great heap of dog food, and at last obtained a steaming pile of dog shit.

"The same! Exactly the same! Our laboratory analysis shows that the components of the Longevity Detox Pill and the components of this dog's droppings are completely identical. Our earlier judgment was correct — the ingredient of the Longevity Detox Pill is the feces of a German shepherd!" Elated, Xi Zhaolong took the analysis report and went straight back to the villa to report the good news to the Divine Doctor Xi.

"Truly the same?" The Divine Doctor Xi could not contain his excitement either; he brought his palm down on the tea table before him, nearly overturning the tea upon it. One can well imagine how violently his heart was racing.

"Truly the same! We have grasped the composition of the Longevity Detox Pill!" said Xi Zhaolong. "The next step is clinical trials!"

"Good! Good! Our Xi family has hope!" The Divine Doctor Xi threw back his head and laughed. "Zhaolong, you and Zhaoming have done a great service this time. While you hurry to procure purebred German shepherds in bulk, lose no time in finding someone to take this dog shit — let us see whether it has any effect at all!"

"Grandfather, this... I still would not advise testing it on outsiders!" Xi Zhaolong shook his head. "Our research on the Longevity Detox Pill is still at the confidential stage; outsiders should not be told of it. Even if we don't tell them they are taking dog shit, they may well work it out. So I suggest we test it on our own family."

"You're right. Go and call your father, your second uncle, and Zhaoming as well; we'll discuss this together!" The Divine Doctor Xi rose and drew the curtains. Zhaolong was right: this was the family's foremost affair, and it was better not to let outsiders take part. Otherwise, once the formula leaked, the loss would be no trifling matter.

In the Divine Doctor Xi's study, Xi Guifeng, Xi Cuipu, Xi Zhaolong, and Xi Zhaoming sat in order upon the sofa, while the Divine Doctor Xi sat in his recliner, eyes closed, brooding over something.

None of the others dared disturb him; they all sat cautiously to one side, waiting for the Divine Doctor Xi to speak. After a long while, the Divine Doctor Xi opened his eyes. "The matter of the dog shit is to be classified as the Xi family's Number One secret. Only we few are to know of it. It is never to be spread abroad — not even to your present wives or your future wives!"

"Understood!" Xi Guifeng well knew the gravity of it. Once the Longevity Detox Pill was successfully developed, the Xi family would be utterly transformed! So this formula must never be spoken of.

Xi Cuipu and Xi Zhaolong nodded as well; even Xi Zhaoming knew the importance of the matter and hastily pledged: "Grandfather, rest assured, none of us will speak of it!"

"Mm. Next, we must study the matter of the clinical trials. Zhaoming has already been put through quite enough before, so this time Zhaoming will not take part!" said the Divine Doctor Xi. "This time, it will suffice for me, Guifeng, Cuipu, and Zhaolong to try it!"

"Grandfather, I have no problem with it!" Ever since Xi Zhaoming had taken half a Longevity Detox Pill, he had been brimming with vigor every day. Having reaped the pill's benefits, he naturally wanted to take part this time too.

"Since you ask, then join in as well. In any case, dog shit is a thing that can do no good and no harm either way." The Divine Doctor Xi nodded without insisting. "The remaining half of the Longevity Detox Pill I will take myself. This pile of dog shit, you few divide among yourselves."

The Divine Doctor Xi gestured at the two boxes on the tea table. He was no fool: though it appeared that dog shit was the Longevity Detox Pill, he could not be certain, and so he decided he himself would take the remaining half pill.

Xi Zhaoming had in fact wanted that half pill, but seeing that his grandfather had claimed it first, he could hardly argue the point, and so merely nodded in assent.

And so the old and young of the Xi family gathered around the tea table and began to share out the dog shit. A stench beyond all description spread through the study, enough to fumigate a man to death.

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