Chapter 85: Business Opportunities in the Dual Track System

Seeing Director Wang seated in the room, Li Xian's thoughts went blank.

Old Wang at the window turned around and snorted, "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing… I'll leave you to it." Seeing the odd atmosphere in the room, Li Xian quickly closed the door behind him.

However, before he could leave the dormitory, Director Wang followed him out and called after him, "Li Factory Director, are you here to visit my father?"

Upon learning that Li Xian was staying here and had a good relationship with Wang Lin and, and that it was Old Wang who arranged his visit to the Commercial Bureau, Director Wang sighed in relief.

He then remembered that he and Li Xian had not been properly introduced: "Li Factory Director, I am Wang Anbang."

Li Xian introduced himself and pointed to the dormitory down the corridor, "Is your father smoking…? Hmm, what's wrong with Old Wang?"

Wang Anbang grinned and hesitated, not saying much. To divert the topic, he asked about how Li Xian came to take over the paper and pulp factories.

With the connection to Wang Lin and, Li Xian was open. He explained that he had seen the factory's production equipment and had some market judgments, which led him to believe the factory had potential.

After listening, Wang Anbang was silent for a moment and asked, "Do you think if the factory did not belong to you but remained under the Forestry Bureau, and you were the factory director, could it still maintain the same profitability with the current products?"

Li Xian chuckled at the question. Instead of answering directly, he threw back a question: "Brother Wang, have you read 'Journey to the West'?"

"Of course."

"Then why was it that when Sun Wukong caused havoc in Heaven, the ten thousand heavenly soldiers could do nothing about him? But later, when he was on the journey to the West with Tang Seng, even a random demon could make him look foolish?"

Wang Anbang was puzzled and could not find an answer.

Seeing his confusion, Li Xian smiled, "Because when Sun Wukong was causing trouble in Heaven, those soldiers sent to subdue him were just working for Heaven. But when he was on the journey to the West, the demons he encountered were self-employed. When you work for someone else, you just get a salary and don't have to work too hard. But when you start your own business, if you don't work hard, you are doomed."

After pondering this for a while, Wang Anbang took out 500 yuan and handed it to Li Xian to give to Wang Lin and. He then left thoughtfully.

Li Xian, holding the 500 yuan, was even more confused.

What on earth is up with this father and son!

As he was pondering, he heard a sneer in the corridor.

"This stubborn old man, he doesn't even want money from his son. If he doesn't want it, just as well, the tea is almost gone."

Li Xian turned around to see Zheng Weishi leaning against the door with a mocking expression.

"Mr. Zheng…" Li Xian quickly walked over with an awkward smile, "Can you explain what's going on here?"

"Ah, ahem," Zheng Weishi chuckled and made a dramatic gesture as if telling a story; "Once upon a time, there was a man who made a promise on the battlefield to his comrades. If either of them died, he would take care of their wife and children. Then, a bullet didn't discriminate, and his comrade really did die.

Later, this man brought the widow and children to live with him. However, while taking care of them, he lost control of his own desires and developed problems with his conduct! His wife divorced him, his children turned against him, and the official position he had secured was lost…"

"Zheng Weishi! Just because you're speaking, no one's going to think you're mute!"

Just as Zheng Weishi was getting into the story, a loud shout came from the end of the corridor.

Zheng Weishi shivered in fright.

He wanted to retreat back into the room but, seeing Li Xian eager to hear the rest, he reluctantly leaned closer and whispered in Li Xian's ear, "Later, the old lady, in her shame and fury, died from anger, tsk tsk… The man, feeling guilty, treated the children as his own… In the book, what is called the righteousness of treating brothers as family and the benevolence of treating the family as one's own, those who are unjust and unkind…"

"Clang!"

A loud crash came from the end of the corridor, as if something had hit the door.

…

Li Xian's curiosity was greatly satisfied. Imagining Wang Lin and's heroic deeds in his youth, he returned to the dormitory.

At dinner, Xu Chaoyang came to the retirement home. After staying with Wang Lin and for over an hour, he found Li Xian.

Xu Chaoyang seemed very pleased. It looked like he had received some internal news. He reassured Li Xian that the factory would definitely be fine and told him to focus on running it well.

According to Xu Chaoyang, "The main feedback from the inspection team is that the evaluation process during the factory transfer was incomplete, but it's not a big issue. I will have the Commercial Bureau redo it and clarify the ownership documentation. This will be better for you. However, you need to be aware that the equipment and land in the two factories are worth at least a million at current prices. I reported fifty thousand, so if higher authorities ask about it later, make sure to match the numbers."

In the end, he greatly praised Li Xian for turning the factory from loss to profit in a short time and for creating job opportunities for disabled workers.

Li Xian was relieved.

Seeing Xu Chaoyang in high spirits, he remembered the advice from Accountant Liu. Given the factory's need for a large amount of wood, and since it was now private with no original wood quota, he asked Xu Chaoyang to provide a few permits.

For Xu Chaoyang, this was just a matter of making a phone call. In a good mood, he agreed.

When Li Xian asked for a large quantity, he blushed and said, "The production volume changes every day, so I don't know how much I'll need. How about you just give me a stamped blank permit? That way, I can issue it myself later..."

Xu Chaoyang nearly choked on his own saliva! 

Even though he had authority in the bureau, issuing permits for raw wood was no trivial matter. It involved several departments, and he couldn't just open a backdoor like that. But since he had already agreed, he had no choice but to say he would make arrangements with the forestry administration. The factory could use wood according to the Forest Industry Plan's pricing and Li Xian could request as needed.

Though his scheme didn't succeed, getting the plan prices satisfied Li Xian.

After sending Xu Chaoyang off, he was still thrilled.

"My 400,000 loan is secured!"

Looking up at the stars, Li Xian felt a surge of emotion.

…

Early the next morning, Li You's family packed up and prepared to return to the forest farm.

Despite Li Xian's repeated pleas, they couldn't be persuaded to stay. He sent Li Jie ahead to the factory and stayed behind to see them off at noon.

Around 10 a.m., Su Ya arrived at the retirement home with Su Hui in a hurry—yesterday Li Xian had said he would send Su Hui to the forest farm to learn carpentry, and the mute boy was eager for it.

Su Hui seemed very unwilling, dragged into the dormitory by the frail Su Ya.

In those days, carpentry wasn't a high-paying job, but marrying a carpenter was very advantageous. Furniture was still relatively rare, and marrying a carpenter meant not having to worry about home matters.

This is why Zhang Dazi could find a wife.

Pushing her brother toward Li Xian, Su Ya sighed with relief, pointed at her brother, then at Li Xian, and made a pleading gesture.

Li Xian smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, the carpenter who will train him is also mute, but he has a good heart. Even if he doesn't learn well, he won't bully your brother."

Su Ya bit her lip, pointed at her brother with an angry expression, then pointed at herself, and waved her little fist fiercely.

Li Xian couldn't help but laugh.

He found it curious that though this girl couldn't speak a word, it seemed more like a non-obstacle in her communication with others.

Her gestures were so expressive and conveyed deeper meanings.

"Don't worry, if he's disobedient, I'll let you know, and you can teach him a lesson. Others won't beat him."

Su Ya then shyly nodded, took two eggs from her puffy coat pocket, and handed them to her brother.

Ruffling her brother's hair, she didn't make any gestures but mouthed what seemed to be "be obedient."

Li Xian had already informed his family about the siblings' situation. Seeing this, Zou Ni wiped her eyes and went over to take Su Hui's hand, "Child, listen to your sister."

Su Hui kept his head down, saying nothing, with his shoulders shaking.

Until Zou Ni had pulled him out of the retirement home gate, he finally raised his voice, which was still cracking.

"Sis! I'll come back next month! If those bastards bully you again, tell me, and I'll definitely beat them up!"

Su Ya's eyes were misty, but she shook her head, baring

 her teeth and scrunching her nose into a fierce expression like a tiger.

Then she smiled, waving her hand like swatting a fly.