"Liberation, tell me what method can be used to purify penicillin? I have thought of many ways, but as Dr. Fleming said in his thesis, it doesn't work in theory and it's difficult to purify penicillin." As soon as I arrived at the Zeng family, Zeng Jiahui couldn't wait to pull Chen Xiuwen into the study and asked.

This is the first time Chen Xiuwen has come to Zeng Jiahui's study. This is not a study. It is simply a small laboratory filled with various experimental instruments. There are some papers on the desk, which are filled with various calculation formulas. Chen Xiuwen picked up one and took a look. Unfortunately, even though he learned chemistry and biology in high school, he couldn't understand the things on it except to recognize some elemental symbols.

"Brother Jiahui, you said you have thought of many ways, but in theory it won't work. So, can you extract penicillin crystals by using freeze-drying?"

Zeng Jiahui was stunned for a moment. He had never thought of this method at all. In fact, not to mention that he did not expect that even Dr. Fleming, who discovered penicillin, had never thought of using this method to purify penicillin after ten years of research. It was not until 1939 that Flory and Qian En used freeze-drying method to extract penicillin crystals, and then used penicillin for clinical trials.

"Freeze-drying method?" Zeng Jiahui lowered his head and thought, and was still muttering: "Preparing penicillin to cool down and freezing it into a solid, and then sublimating the water vapor directly under vacuum. Penicillin itself remains in the frozen ice shelf to form crystals, so that the purity of penicillin can be achieved and its crystals can be extracted."

Zeng Jiahui's eyes suddenly lit up, he patted his forehead heavily, and said excitedly: "This is indeed a good idea, why didn't I expect it?" As he said that, he asked Chen Xiuwen anxiously: "Luanfu, do you know its specific parameters, such as what temperature to freeze and what is the absolute pressure during drying? If there are such parameters, I guarantee that high-purity penicillin crystals can be extracted."

Chen Xiuwen only remembered that he could use freeze-drying to extract penicillin crystals. As for the parameters, he could not know them. He had to shake his head and said, "I also heard that someone had tried this method successfully, but how could I know the specific parameters?"

Zeng Jiahui was suddenly disappointed, but he asked strangely: "Liberation, do you say someone has successfully tested it by freeze-drying? Then why have I never seen any information on this? Now, besides Dr. Fleming, is there anyone else studying this penicillin?"

"Oh, this, I also heard from my British friend. He said that since Dr. Fleming's paper was published, someone had conducted research on penicillin. One of them, Blair, had successfully extracted the crystals of penicillin using this method. However, this man named Blair was unfortunately killed because of a fire in his laboratory. His research results were only mentioned to my friend, but all the research materials and parameters were burned in the fire and nothing was left." Chen Xiuwen had already thought of the words and answered quickly.

After hearing the news, Zeng Jiahui shook his head with regret and sighed, "What a pity." Then, Zeng Jiahui thought for a while and said, "However, since the crystals of penicillin can be extracted by freeze-drying, we can verify this method entirely through experiments. Once the experiment is successful, we can also obtain the best parameters from the experiment." Zeng Jiahui became more and more excited as he spoke. He glanced at the simple experimental equipment in his study and said, "No, the experimental equipment here is too backward. I have to go back to the United States immediately and go to the laboratory of the pharmaceutical factory to conduct the experiment."

"I said Brother Jiahui, don't be so anxious, okay? I have bought the patent for Dr. Fleming. After we acquire Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, you will be the chief engineer of this project." Chen Xiuwen said with a smile, shook his head and said.

"Liangfu is right. After we acquire Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, you must do your best to develop penicillin. If this penicillin is really as magical as what you and Guangfu said, it will be really good." At this time, Zeng Shixian, accompanied by Zeng Jianing, walked in with a smile.

When Chen Xiuwen saw Zeng Shixian coming in, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying gratefully: "Uncle Zeng, this time you can support and participate in the acquisition of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, my nephew is very grateful."

"Where, where." Zeng Shixian waved his hand and said with a smile: "Pfizer Pharmaceuticals has a good reputation in the United States, and Jiahui works there. I don't think there is such an opportunity."

"Yes, Brother Shen, penicillin is really as magical as you said. Then can we make a fortune together? Brother, you must make this penicillin." Zeng Jianing said with a smile.

"Can penicillin be produced? I alone cannot do it. It requires a team of concerted efforts. Moreover, what Guangfu told me just now, purifying penicillin using freeze-drying method is theoretically feasible, but it still needs to be proved through experimental evidence." When it comes to scientific issues, Zeng Jiahui has always been quite rigorous and frowned.

"Brother, I know you can do it." Zeng Jianing walked to Zeng Jiahui's side, pulled his arm and said with a smile.

In fact, Chen Xiuwen has always had a question about why Zeng Shixian participated in the acquisition of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. You should know that Zeng Jiahui is an employee of this company and he has no better understanding of the current situation of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals than her. Moreover, Zeng Jiahui asked Chen Xiuwen to consider it carefully. As for penicillin, I am afraid that even Zeng Jiahui does not know whether penicillin can be developed and whether it can play the role that Chen Xiuwen said.

However, if Zeng Shixian didn't say it, Chen Xiuwen was not easy to ask. After lunch at the Zeng family, Chen Xiuwen discussed with Zeng Shixian about the acquisition of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Zeng Shixian did not intend to take action personally, and the acquisition was fully entrusted to Chen Xiuwen. In his words, Chen Xiuwen occupied a large share, and he would not suffer any loss by entrusting it to Chen Xiuwen. Why bother to work harder?

After reaching an agreement with Zeng Shixian, the acquisition of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals was officially launched. Three days later, Zeng Jiahui, who could not wait, took the initiative to ask for a match and rushed to Shanghai to go to the United States with Tang Wenbin and Hong Junwei.

Chen Xiuwen, who was in Wanxian, returned to his role as a major battalion commander. He led the troops to train every day and occasionally cared about the business of Tongda Commercial Bank. Chen Xiuwen, who now has a net worth of 20 million, naturally would not take this income seriously. With the cooperation with Tongda Commercial Bank, Chen Xiuwen slowly changed from the beginning to make money to develop a foothold in Wanxian. Fortunately, with Zeng Shixian's help, Chen Xiuwen bought two pieces of land in Nancheng and Xicheng of Wanxian, so as to move the Shanghai factory to Wanxian in the future.

Sometimes, Chen Xiuwen would visit Zeng Shixian in Zeng's house. With Zeng Jiahui, Zeng Jianing returned to Shanghai to continue her studies. Every time Chen Xiuwen went to visit, Zeng Shixian was very happy. Moreover, when discussing the current situation of the world with Zeng Shixian, Zeng Shixian, who was once an experienced diplomat, was surprised to find that Chen Xiuwen had unique insights into the current trend of the world development. He even believed that it was a pity for talents like Chen Xiuwen to join the army and should go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the National Government.

Two months later, news came from the other side of the ocean that Tang Wenbin and Hong Junwei finally acquired Pfizer Pharmaceutical for $2.8 million after negotiations with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in the United States. This price made Chen Xiuwen feel very much, because he knew that although Pfizer Pharmaceuticals was about to go bankrupt, the negotiations were still quite difficult. First of all, they were only willing to transfer 60% of the shares. If Zeng Shixian's shares were included, Chen Xiuwen could not finish the controlling stake alone, and Chen Xiuwen did not want Americans to enjoy the huge benefits brought by penicillin in the future. Later, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals finally agreed to transfer all the shares of the company, but the price proposed was as high as 4 million US dollars. If Chen Xiuwen's original psychological price could be mentioned at $3.5 million, and if Zeng Shixian's investment of $500,000, the price could still be affordable. Unexpectedly, the final transaction price was $2.8 million.

In the telegram, Tang Wenbin praised Hong Junwei who went to negotiate with him. At first, the negotiations were mainly Tang Wenbin, but later gradually became Hong Junwei directly confronted the board of directors of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Hong Junwei made a great contribution to the acquisition price. Tang Wenbin, who was already suspicious of Hong Junwei's ability, made a turn for Hong Junwei at this time. While he was not hesitant to praise, he fully agreed that Chen Xiuwen wanted Hong Junwei to serve as the general manager of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Since Hong Junwei also took out $100,000 to invest, when the shares were finally allocated, Chen Xiuwen specially announced that the Zeng family accounted for 30% of the shares, Hong Junwei accounted for 10% and the Shen family accounted for 60%.

After the acquisition was completed, the development of penicillin was officially started. In addition to telling Zeng Jiahui that freeze-drying to purify penicillin, Chen Xiuwen also specifically told Zeng Jiahui that there is a kind of melon that can produce penicillin in large quantities and can grow in culture medium made of corn. Naturally, Chen Xiuwen also attributed this huge discovery to Dr. Blair who died in the fire without leaving any research data.

Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye it was the end of 1935. Zeng Jiahui made significant progress in the development of penicillin. First, he successfully extracted the crystals of penicillin by freeze-drying and obtained accurate parameters. Secondly, for the first time, he used penicillin to conduct experiments on mice injected with lethal streptococci. Penicillin was able to effectively kill streptococci. The success of these experiments was strictly confidential. Nothing must be leaked until penicillin was formally developed and patents were registered worldwide. However, Chen Xiuwen told Zeng Jiahui that the melon that could provide a large amount of penicillin extract and corn flour used to make culture medium were never found. This also made penicillin not produce on a large scale even if it could be developed.

Although penicillin failed to produce benefits for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in a short period of time, Hong Junwei is well-managed, and with the continuous recovery of the US economy, with the original old product of Pfizer Pharmaceutical, it will not be a loss and barely maintain it.

Penicillin has had many good things, and the domestic situation is also turbulent. In October, the three main forces of the Red Army met in northern Shaanxi, and in the same month, Japan instigated the "Five North China Provinces Autonomy" in North China. On December 9, Peking students launched the famous "One-29" movement, demanding the government to fight against Japan.

At the same time, while the National Government was trying its best to suppress the Communist Party, it gradually saw the Japanese ambitions for China. Under the guidance of German consultants, it began to build national defense fortifications such as Wufu Line and Xicheng Line, and build and expand the arsenal. At the same time, it was announced that Sichuan, Yun, Guizhou and Shaanxi would serve as rear bases for the War of Resistance.
Chapter completed!