Chapter 236: Fighting Fire with Fire

At the Ice City Minyou Magazine editorial office.

Minyou Magazine was a third-rate tabloid, distinct from mainstream magazines like *Reader*, *Story Club*, *Confidant*, and *Half-Month Talk*. The primary audience for Minyou Magazine was the commuters at various bus stops in Harbin.

The magazine's content often consisted of reprinted material or entirely fabricated stories. Such magazines weren't very common in China in 1993, but they had been quite established in Hong Kong in the 1970s and 1980s.

People in Hong Kong referred to these types of newspapers as "sensational tabloids."

Despite the fact that many stories were heavily exaggerated or fictional, it was undeniable that ordinary citizens enjoyed such sensationalist content about the private lives of prominent figures or erotic historical tales. Minyou Magazine managed to survive by relying on its cover and the telephone lottery and "female voice services" advertisements.

Around 9 a.m., the magazine office's door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man with a smile walked in.

"Hello, is the person in charge here? I'd like to discuss a business deal."

The man smiled at a female editor, who, in surprise, pointed towards the editor-in-chief's office.

...

A warehouse not far from the Ice City train station.

The warehouse was sizable. To facilitate the delivery of materials, a small vehicle lane was laid out in front. Around it, one could still see manual rail carts, operated by two people working together.

In the dim light, a group of people was fixing large barrels, each as tall as a person, to the ground. Stacks of raw materials had already been piled up on either side of the warehouse entrance.

Potassium permanganate, red ink, OP-10, soap base, and a large amount of nearly rotten spinach collected from the market.

"Xianzi, is this really going to work? If we do it this way, isn't it just counterfeiting?" Xu Mahe looked at the setup with unease. He was a bit apprehensive about Li Xian's plan. While he wanted to recover his over ten million yuan, this method seemed like it could lead to serious trouble.

Li Xian dusted off his hands, and upon hearing Xu Mahe's grumbling, couldn't help but chuckle.

Counterfeit?

Faking genuine products is counterfeiting. What I'm doing is replicating fake products. Don't insult the term "counterfeit."

Besides, how could it be called fake in the research world? It's called… um, erm… pseudo!

Once the barrels were secured, Li Xian instructed his team to pour all the raw materials, including potassium permanganate, into the barrels in specific proportions, then add water and stir.

With a pungent odor, the mixed raw materials soon turned a dark red.

Li Xian took a large ladle, scooped a bit from the barrel, examined the color, and smelled the odor, with a satisfied smile.

"The water-to-oil mother liquor is done."

Clunk.

He tossed the ladle into the barrel and walked out of the warehouse.

Xu Mahe, seeing this hasty work, grimaced. "Xianzi, can't you make it look a bit more credible? Will this really work?"

"And you mentioned we also need diesel expansion agents, right? You haven't prepared those yet!"

"One barrel of OP-10 mixed with 100 milliliters of water-to-oil mother liquor, then stir in 100 milliliters of spinach water!"

Li Xian didn't look back, just waved his hand, giving instructions.

Watching him leave, Xu Mahe and his group of subordinates exchanged glances.

"Brother Xu, Xianzi is too bold. Is this how we handle the water-to-oil mother liquor and diesel expansion agents? Even if Dr. Wang is a fraud, the things he produced still had some semblance of legitimacy! This looks too fake!"

Xu Mahe's expression was uncertain as he stared at the mixture in the barrel for a while before finally waving his hand. "Follow Xianzi's orders!"

The next day.

An inconspicuous classified ad appeared in the Longjiang Daily—"Our company has a large quantity of water-based fuel and diesel expansion agents for sale. The diesel expansion agent, originally priced at 250,000 yuan per ton, is now only 100,000 yuan! The water-based fuel blocks, originally 350,000 yuan per ton, are now just 200,000 yuan! Contact number XXXXXXXX ext XXXXXXXX."

...

At Chengbo Glass Factory in Ice City, factory director Niu Chunbo had a habit of reading the Longjiang Daily every day.

According to his reading routine, he read the main text carefully and glanced at the advertisements. However, today, as soon as he skimmed the paper, his eyes were drawn to the advertisement.

Chengbo Glass Factory wasn't large, but it had been performing well due to its outsourcing of export business. However, the export work was relatively slim, and controlling costs had become an urgent issue for the factory.

The factory's boiler consisted of two sets of one-ton vertical fuel oil boilers, which were old-fashioned, using diesel and kerosene as primary fuels. These old boilers had decent thermal efficiency but consumed too much fuel.

For a long time, Niu Chunbo had been eyeing the diesel expansion agent from Hongcheng Company. According to news reports, mixing a small amount of diesel expansion agent into ordinary diesel could produce fifteen times the efficient diesel!

Niu Chunbo had calculated that using this expansion agent could reduce the glass factory's diesel consumption cost by at least ten times.

However, after multiple attempts to contact Hongcheng Company, he was unable to purchase it. Seeing this advertisement, he was thrilled.

He immediately, with a mix of anticipation and skepticism, dialed the number from the ad.

After several transfers, he finally reached the person in charge. After expressing his need for the diesel expansion agent, there was a pause on the other end.

"Leave your phone number. Our goods haven't arrived yet. We'll notify you when they do."

"But wasn't this advertisement placed by your company? Why is there no stock now?"

"Comrade, please note that the expansion agent you need is a national special technical achievement. The production process is highly complex and meticulous, with precise and detailed ratios. The output is extremely limited. If you're interested, keep your phone available, and we'll contact you. If not, we won't register you."

"Wait! Don't hang up, Comrade. Make it convenient for me. Let me know as soon as the goods arrive. If everything is fine, I'll buy them!"

...

Beiguang Transport Company.

General Manager Chen Youdao was similarly captivated by the advertisement in Longjiang Daily.

The transport company now had over 30 trucks and several externally hired fleets. The annual consumption of diesel and gasoline was substantial, and they were eager for the water-to-oil mother liquor and diesel expansion agent developed by Dr. Wang.

However, like most companies needing this "Fifth Great Invention of China" technology, they were repeatedly turned away by Hongcheng Company, unable to get their hands on it.

Seeing the newspaper ad, Chen Youdao didn't hesitate and immediately dialed the number.

Erdaokou Heating Company, Sunshine City Bathhouse Chain…

After the advertisement was published, businesses across Ice City in need of water-based fuel and diesel expansion agents were excited.

...

At Xu Mahe's home, it had now turned into Li Xian's temporary residence.

The house had been thoroughly cleaned by a hired housekeeper. What was previously a messy house, now returned to its spacious and bright state.

The cleanliness made Xu Mahe feel uneasy.

After the hired housekeeper prepared dinner around 5 p.m. and left, Xu Mahe, unable to stand it any longer, watched Li Xian eating rice slowly and couldn't help but speak up.

"Xianzi, we've received over seventy inquiries so far. The warehouse is almost filled with the expansion agents and mother liquor made according to your method. When do you plan to sell it?"

Li Xian took a bite of eggplant, looked at the ceiling, and, while chewing, calculated the dates.

"Hmm, it should be soon."

"Then…" Xu Mahe hesitated, "Should I have those clients come over tonight?"

Li Xian picked up his chopsticks and waved his hand. "Sure, but make sure it's secure. Did I teach the methods to the subordinates properly?"

Mentioning this, Xu Mahe felt conflicted.

When he first saw Dr. Wang using equipment and "special techniques" to turn water into oil on TV, he was amazed, thinking it was a miracle.

However…

When Li Xian taught his subordinates several tricks he called "little magic," Xu Mahe realized that the so-called "century drug" was nothing more than this.

"No problem. Not only them, but even I've almost learned it." Xu Mahe sighed inwardly.

Li Xian waved his chopsticks. "Then it's settled. Pay attention to safety, and make sure none of the clients are from the authorities. We don't want any trouble."

Hearing this, Xu Mahe smirked. "Don't worry. I'll have my friend from the police station come with me tonight. It'll be fine."

Li Xian nodded, took a bite of braised pork, and pointed towards the door with his chopsticks.

"Go and fight! Pikachu!"