Chapter 220: Ma Family Army

Li Xian considered himself a relatively easygoing person and had been quite laid-back about the competitive factors in the immature market of 1993.

It felt like facing a river full of fathead fish; since fish can be netted from both upstream and downstream, if you want my current position, I'll let you have it.

But what's annoying is that even when you move from upstream to downstream, you still come after me, pushing me into the river with your rear end—now that's too much.

Clearly, you want to monopolize it.

That's how Li Xian felt.

Facing the sanitary napkin industry, and even the first direct competition with a national enterprise since he started his business, he was not going to step back anymore.

Life is like a cucumber: in the kitchen, it's a vegetable; on the coffee table, it's a fruit; on the bed, it's a daily necessity.

In special circumstances, one should adopt different postures.

Having shifted from a Zen-like approach to a Daoist attitude, Li Xian wanted Heng'an, which was blinded by the seemingly modest 2 billion sanitary napkin market, to see—he was no push-over!

But poverty limited his ambition to shake the foundations of An'erle's meow.

Shang Fei had squeezed and squeezed, finally managing to come up with 1.5 million in movable funds.

"Mr. Li, if we don't want to end up with a failed venture, this is all we can come up with for now."

"Only this little?" Hearing the figure, Li Xian was extremely dissatisfied. He thought he needed at least 3 million to dare to take a trip to Beijing and make a big move. The previous morning ads had cost 2.1 million, and how could 3 million make a significant impact?

Shang Fei, who managed the company's finances, was aggrieved by Li Xian's dissatisfaction.

The recent factory expansion had consumed most of the profits, leaving only enough for daily factory and company expenses. Over the past month, they had earned a lot, with a surplus of over 2 million on the books, but spent a lot as well. This barely covered site leveling and factory construction. The cost of adding equipment to the steel-structured factory had even required a loan from the bank, arranged by Yan Shilin.

Hearing Shang Fei's complaints, Li Xian waved his hand, signaling that he understood.

Back at the hotel, Li Xian first called the advertising department at CCTV. He inquired about recent advertising placements, only to be shocked by the response.

CCTV's advertising slots had all stopped accepting new contracts, reportedly due to major upcoming changes.

Faintly, Li Xian felt that some significant historical events might be about to occur. However, recalling the events of 1993, aside from the launch of CCTV-2, there didn't seem to be any particularly major events.

Not being able to recall anything was particularly troubling.

After spending the whole day in the hotel without coming up with any good ideas to immediately change his passive situation, Li Xian was still stumped.

In the evening, Yan Shilin returned to Bingcheng.

The fake rich lady had been busy. To gain government trust and attention, under Li Xian's arrangement, Yan Shilin had sponsored two schools and promised to contribute to Bingcheng's welfare.

Although initially just a show, Bingcheng took it seriously.

They frequently invited Yan Shilin to various events, ostensibly for visits, but in reality, it was a disguised request for donations.

Without Li Xian's approval, Yan Shilin didn't dare spend a penny—actually, she didn't have any money. According to Li Xian's plan, to avoid exposing Yan Shilin as a mere figurehead, she had to make public appearances every month, but the event funds required special approval from Li Xian.

Aside from that, Yan Shilin's monthly salary was only 1,500. It barely reached the salary line of Hengyuan's management level.

However, for Yan Shilin, salary was secondary; the primary reason for staying on the mainland was the queen-like treatment she received wherever she went.

At the Zhengtai Hotel, Li Xian's room.

Seeing Yan Shilin in a step-skirt and white shirt, looking more like a professional woman and slightly chubbier, Li Xian appeared a bit dispirited.

"Have you had fun these days?"

After putting down his towel, Li Xian, shirtless, let Yan Shilin into the bedroom.

Yan Shilin was more relaxed around Li Xian. Although putting on airs was fun, maintaining it all the time was quite tiring.

Kicking off her high heels, she threw herself onto the sofa and rubbed her long legs, complaining.

"The government on the mainland has gone crazy. They want to do everything. They want to revive education, make the people prosperous, and boost sports. Recently, I was invited to the provincial capital with the Hong Kong Business Association. The government wants to build a sports stadium and hopes that Hong Kong businessmen will fund it. It's really…"

Hearing Yan Shilin's complaints, Li Xian, who was wiping his ears, laughed, "Then just donate."

"Donate, donate, donate my ass. Don't say I don't have money; even if I did, I can't be a cash machine! None of the Hong Kong businessmen contributed, and now that everything is already arranged, who would throw their own money around? Do they think money falls from the sky?"

Seeing Yan Shilin's dissatisfaction, Li Xian chuckled.

Alright, she's getting some commercial thinking.

This little con artist has mingled with the business crowd recently, and not exposing herself is already a good sign. Her thinking has improved; she has potential.

"So if no one pays, is the government really willing to let you go back like this?" Li Xian put on his bathrobe and brought the already prepared instant noodles to the sofa.

The instant noodles were from Master Kong, in a foam plastic bowl. After pouring hot water, it smelled of plastic.

Yan Shilin grabbed it, pulled out the fork stuck in the bowl, and slurped it down—without caring about the heat.

"Not at all. Seeing the Hong Kong businessmen, they looked like wolves with red eyes. Since the donation for the stadium wasn't settled, they took us to visit the sports teams. They talked about how hard the athletes have it, how difficult it is for mainland athletes. They made us feel like sinners if we didn't donate. It's so annoying. This is clearly something the government should be handling." Yan Shilin finished the noodles, not caring about her appearance, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"But it's not easy. Many athletes come from rural areas. If they don't achieve results or retire, the country gives them only a small subsidy to send them back home. Especially female athletes, who end up with muscles and look ugly. If they don't achieve results, no one wants to marry them when they return home. It's so tragic."

Li Xian couldn't smile anymore.

China boasts of being a sports powerhouse, but the professionalization only has a name, not the corresponding welfare. Each province and region continually sends new blood to sports schools, but for those who age out or are injured, unless they are exceptionally outstanding, there aren't many arrangements.

Usually, after reaching the peak of their athletic career, they are sent back to their hometowns with injuries. The better ones are given jobs, while the unlucky ones are left to fend for themselves.

It's truly lamentable.

"Where did you hear all this?" Li Xian frowned, "Leave me some soup!"

At this moment, Yan Shilin had finished a bowl of noodles. She burped, "I heard it while chatting with the girls in the track and field team."

"Girls?" Li Xian's eyes widened, "Track and field team?"

Liaoning Province!

"Ma Family Army?"

"What Ma Family Army? Their coach seems to be called Ma Yangjun."

Li Xian took the thick layer of noodle soup, slurped a mouthful, and then glanced at the calendar on the coffee table.

July 27.

Good for forming alliances and accepting gifts, not suitable for sacrifices.

"Shilin, you might really need to support this sports cause."

After finishing the noodle soup, Li Xian threw the bowl into the trash can with a decisive motion, and waved to Yan Shilin—his face full of grandeur.

He had found his breakthrough.