Chapter 66: Putting Down Roots

The peaceful meal was shattered by a phone call from Li Xian.

Li You's anger turned to rage. Amidst the cries of Zou Ni and the shouting of Li Daoyun, some helped with first aid, others patted his back to help him breathe, and some were left helpless. There were even those who had intended to matchmake with the Li family but took advantage of the chaos to quietly withdraw.

The Li family's new home was in complete disarray.

The news about Li Xian taking over the factories at the Forestry Bureau had spread through the Peilin Forest Farm by evening. Neighbors and relatives were shocked to learn that Li Xian, who had once been content with his remodeling business earning him a decent income, had now gone into debt with a failing paper factory. Some were sighing with regret, some were lamenting, and many were gleeful at his misfortune.

The once quiet forest farm was buzzing with renewed energy, all stirred up by the latest gossip.

By evening, Li You finally calmed down. He tore off the towel from his head and set out to confront that brat at the Forestry Bureau. After much persuasion from the red-eyed Zou Ni and Li Jie, he reluctantly abandoned his plan to head down the mountain that night.

Having stayed up all night, he mobilized Li Daoyun and set off the next morning in Zhang Yaba Wang's coffin delivery truck.

Li Xian also had a restless night.

He had dreamt repeatedly of the court sealing the paper factory's doors for debt collection and then dancing on a pile of money as thick as a house.

He was awoken by the sound of a tractor and Li You's knocking. Li You, who had been holding his anger all night, unleashed his fury on the real person responsible.

Ignoring the fact that the rest home was filled with bureau leaders and that there were onlookers, Li You berated Li Xian mercilessly. He demanded that Li Xian go to the bureau to apologize and to push back the takeover of the paper factory, then obediently return to his job at the Commercial Bureau.

Faced with Li You's forceful attitude, Li Xian could only shrug and say, "Dad, you're too late. The procedures are already underway."

Seeing his son's stubbornness, Li You was left to stew in frustration—again.

Meanwhile, Li Daoyun, witnessing his son faint twice within twelve hours, shook his head repeatedly. He took out a silver needle from his pocket and went over to Li You, stabbing it into his pressure point.

---

After Li Xian had settled Li You into the rest home and made sure he was asleep, he was completely exhausted.

In the courtyard, a group of elderly men looked over at him as he emerged.

"Hey, you little rascal, not only did you quit your job quietly, but you also took on two money-losing businesses. Your father must be cursing you. If you were my son, I'd have broken your legs by now."

Zheng Weishi, holding a large tea mug, spoke first.

"Get out of here." Li Xian retorted curtly, "What are you still doing spouting nonsense at a time like this?"

Seeing his frustration, Wu Shengli sighed, crushed his cigarette butt, and said, "You're getting ahead of yourself. Just a few meals of dumplings and you've forgotten your roots. If you want to run a factory, fine. But you should've picked a better one! The wood and plywood factories at the bureau are far better than that pulp and paper factory. Four hundred thousand in debt? Even if your aluminum ingots double in value, it won't cover the cost!"

Li Xian kept quiet, not wanting to explain further.

Seeing Li Daoyun smoking a dry cigarette at the activity room's entrance, he went over.

Feeling a bit guilty that the old man had likely been troubled because of him, he said, "Grandpa, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Li Daoyun put down his pipe and said, "Don't listen to your father. He's spent his life watching others eat fish while he stands by the river afraid to fish himself. He knows nothing. As long as you've made up your mind, just do it. If you think you're not ready, don't rely on divination to make decisions."

Li Xian felt warmth in his heart… there was someone who supported him after all!

"How about this, Grandpa, can you give me a reading to see if this will work out?" he asked with a smile.

"Such a minor issue isn't worth divining. Rivers have twists and turns, and matters have ups and downs. If you're determined, just go for it. If you feel unprepared, don't expect divination to solve it."

Li Xian was just asking casually, but Li Daoyun's advice was reassuring.

After providing spiritual support, the old man also offered practical help. He pulled out a red cloth bag from his ragged shirt and handed it over with a grin, "Your father hid more than twenty thousand yuan in the potato cellar last night. I figured you might need it, so I brought it for you."

After giving his heartfelt advice and helping Li Xian with the money, he sent him off to handle his own affairs.

---

Although the price of aluminum ingots had doubled and the factory needed money, Li Xian didn't plan to act immediately. He remembered that aluminum ingots had eventually risen to around eight thousand yuan per ton. The current price was clearly not at its peak.

This created a problem—his twenty thousand yuan was not even enough for the deposit, let alone paying off the debt.

After thinking it over, he first went to the tile factory to find Yang Hongshan, who loaned him twenty-five thousand yuan to cover the deposit. He then paid the money and completed the paperwork at the Commercial Bureau.

Previously, he had learned that the two paper factories hadn't paid wages for over two months, and the workers were very dissatisfied. The factories were completely shut down.

Taking over the factory wasn't enough; it had to be up and running.

Li Xian planned to use the available money to pay the workers first and delay repaying the external loans. But with the funds he had already used, solving this problem required taking out a loan.

At the credit union, Li Xian met Liang Yonghe.

Upon learning that Li Xian wanted a loan for the factory, Liang Yonghe's hesitation flashed briefly before he patted his chest and assured Li Xian that he would handle it after Li Xian filled out an application form and left his contact information.

Li Xian knew that getting a loan at this time was difficult.

Especially for private individuals or businesses, as the debt was considered a non-repayable gift. Thus, the two factories strictly speaking no longer belonged to the Forestry Bureau. According to bank regulations, loans for this type of borrower were strictly limited—no more than fifty thousand yuan.

Seeing Liang Yonghe puffing himself up as if he was the best in the world, Li Xian chose not to expose him but silently accepted the favor.

Back at the rest home, he had the former credit union director, Old Jiang, use his connections to get the credit union informed. He also sent a red envelope to the credit officer at noon.

After these efforts, the loan was finally approved.

With everything in place.

"From now on, I'll be a man with roots."

Under the setting sun, Li Xian looked at the two large, connected factories and felt a sense of satisfaction rising in his heart.