Chapter 65: Going into Business

Li Xian was genuinely thrilled.

Seeing the price of aluminum ingots soar with remarkable speed, his own ambition also grew exponentially.

Over the past few days, he had thoroughly examined the situation of more than forty enterprises. Among these companies, aside from the cement and lime factories, which were established solely for planning purposes and showed no future potential, there were a few enterprises he believed had significant growth potential.

These promising enterprises included a timber processing plant, a pulp factory, a paper mill, and plywood factories.

Among them, enterprises like the timber and plywood factories had low technology, cheap equipment, and relied heavily on government connections for sales. With the real estate industry in Northeast China not showing any signs of recovery, these companies would not see significant returns in the short term, so they were not considered for now.

What he was mainly interested in were the pulp and paper factories.

Why these two factories?

Because he knew that starting from now, the national economy would experience astonishing growth. The paper industry is a crucial part of almost every sector.

Industries such as packaging, printing, dining, and information would be exceptionally stimulated by the booming economy in the near future. The foundation of these four industries is the paper industry!

Currently, the pulp and paper factories under the Forestry Bureau were quite rudimentary. The pulp factory was still producing straw pulp, and even more amusingly, the paper mill—spanning over 7,000 square meters and equipped with a complete set of Soviet paper-making machinery—was primarily engaged in making paper money for burning…

Yes, paper money used for ancestral sacrifices.

This situation, combined with the promising future, made Li Xian see unlimited business opportunities in these two small factories.

In recent days, he had been eager to take over these two factories. However, Xu Chaoyang's proposed handling method posed a dilemma. The two factories had been losing money for too long, accumulating nearly 70,000 yuan in unpaid wages for employees. In addition, the combined debt to rural credit cooperatives and other businesses amounted to over 400,000 yuan.

Xu Chaoyang's suggestion was to handle these factories by "clearing the debt and transferring them without compensation." In other words, the factories could be had without paying any money, just as long as the debts were repaid.

Li Xian knew well what 400,000 yuan represented in this era. But now, the economic vitality reflected by the rise in aluminum prices gave him enough confidence.

---

In Xu Chaoyang's office.

When Xu Chaoyang heard that Li Xian wanted to take over those two factories, he nearly exploded with rage!

Through Wang Lin's recommendation and the experience with the tile factory, Xu Chaoyang had developed a special appreciation for Li Xian. In fact, promoting Li Xian directly to a crucial position in the Commercial Bureau to oversee the reform of the bureau's enterprises was a clear indication of his high regard.

Now, he felt that Li Xian had betrayed his good intentions.

Seeing Xu Chaoyang fuming, Li Xian felt quite uncomfortable. However, in the environment of the Forestry Bureau, there was no real career path.

He knew too well.

He couldn't stand staying in such a rigid and stagnant environment any longer.

"Director Xu, even if I take over the factories, I will still be fully responsible for the enterprise reform," he said, bracing himself.

"You little rascal!" Xu Chaoyang, who had been pacing around the office, stopped and pointed at Li Xian, "I sent you to investigate the enterprises, and you end up wanting to pocket the results for yourself! How can you not cherish this opportunity?"

Xu Chaoyang's disappointment was palpable, but Li Xian could only feel grateful and helpless. He had already mapped out his path and was determined to see it through.

So, regarding Xu Chaoyang's grievances, he could only bow slightly and express his apologies.

Seeing Li Xian's determination, Xu Chaoyang sighed, "You need to think carefully about the 400,000 yuan in debt. If you can't repay it, it could crush you! It could keep you from ever lifting your head again!"

Li Xian chuckled, lifting his head, "Director Xu, if I don't go into the fray, who will? Don't worry, I'll work hard, and maybe I can even contribute a hundred to two hundred thousand yuan in taxes to the bureau each year."

Seeing his confident expression, Xu Chaoyang shook his head again, waving his hand helplessly.

"If you want to run a business, you can no longer work in the Commercial Bureau. I'll inform Qian Zhenye, and you should be familiar with the process."

Seeing that Xu Chaoyang was unwilling to look at him any longer, Li Xian smiled slightly, bade farewell, and left.

---

After briefly tidying up his things at the Commercial Bureau, Li Xian received a call from Qian Zhenye, who proactively sought him out.

During this period, Li Xian's usurping of Qian Zhenye's duties in the legal department had caused a deep sense of crisis in the older man. Upon learning that Li Xian had resigned and wanted to take over the two debt-ridden paper factories, Old Qian was overjoyed. Following Xu Chaoyang's instructions, he had Li Xian pay a 50,000 yuan deposit and then handled the paperwork.

After promising to raise the funds, Li Xian left the Commercial Bureau. As he was about to exit, Wang Zhiye called him.

The young woman was perplexed by Li Xian's decision to leave a good job and get involved in the paper business, urging him to reconsider. Li Xian's response was a joking remark about whether she was reluctant to see him go and a playful comment, which led to a kicked and a shouted "Get lost."

Seeing Wang Zhiye's flushed face, Li Xian left with a smile, bidding a final farewell to his brief career as a public servant.

Though he had been busy, his renovation team had not been idle.

With the dual business of tiles and metal roofing, the renovation team's profits had surged. After learning that he had nearly depleted his savings due to the rising aluminum prices, Li Xian had accumulated another thirty thousand yuan.

Now that he needed the money, he called Li Jie at the retirement home, asking her to inform his family and have Li You bring the money to him the next day.

---

Eight-Nine Forest Farm.

Three brand-new, brightly tiled houses had been completed, with mosaic-tiled walls and shiny metal roofing, making them the most eye-catching buildings in the forest farm.

At this moment, the Li family was hosting a grand feast beneath the new houses.

Firstly, to thank the neighbors and relatives who had helped with the new house construction; secondly… to show off that their second son had graduated and been assigned to a position at the Commercial Bureau.

Wow, the Commercial Bureau managed thousands of people. To Li You, this job was even more prestigious than that of a factory director!

After years of frustration, Li You felt that his family's luck had completely turned around this year. It seemed that good fortune was falling into his lap!

Amidst the lively atmosphere, everyone praised Li Xian, showering him with compliments like "The son of a tiger will not be a dog" and "A good son." Li You felt that today's drinks were particularly enjoyable.

Otherwise, how could he feel so elated?

Beside him, Old Zheng from the backyard was making comments about his third daughter becoming increasingly worrisome—she was at the age to find a match.

Li You knew that the daughter was quite attractive and had a good figure, making her a suitable candidate for marriage.

Now that they had a house and weren't short on money, Li You was thinking of giving a nudge to his second son about marriage when Li Jie walked over.

"Dad, the second son called just now. He said he needs money and wants you to send it to the retirement home tomorrow."

Li You put down his cup. "That little rascal hasn't called for days, and now he calls asking for money. What does he want?"

As he spoke, he deliberately raised his voice. Li Xian's astuteness in making money was his latest frustration.

Li Jie hesitated for a while, then, under Li You's urging, said, "Well… the second son has taken over two factories at the bureau. He said… he needs to pay a 50,000 yuan deposit."

"Factories? What kind of factories?" Li You asked in surprise, setting down his cup.

"Uh… paper factories…"

Upon hearing this, Li You's cup fell to the ground with a crash, and he jumped up abruptly. "Is it the paper factory that can't pay wages and has been issuing paper money for salaries?"

Li Jie looked around at the suddenly quiet room and nodded with a forced smile.

"This son of a bitch! Is he jumping into a fire pit himself?"

Li You slammed his thigh, wishing he could fly to the Forestry Bureau immediately and give that reckless young man a good thrashing!

But then he realized something was wrong. "Wait a minute… the factory is losing money and has a bunch of equipment. Just 50,000 yuan?"

Li Jie, still shaken, looked down and mustered the courage to continue, "Well… the second brother said the factory is free, just needs to repay the 400,000 yuan debt. Dad, he also asked me to tell you… he resigned from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau… so you'd be prepared, and not get angry…"

Li You wasn't angry.

In front of so many people, hearing that Li Xian had resigned, accumulated a debt of over 400,000 yuan, and taken over a paper factory at a significant loss…

He just couldn't catch

 his breath.

"Ugh!"

He collapsed!