Chapter 268: Earth-Shattering Secrets

Since the issue of lending money arose, Li Xian felt that Li You really wasn't cut out to be the chief.

Whether it was emotional intelligence, intelligence quotient, or skills, Li You didn't meet the standards expected of a high-level executive like the chief. After a comprehensive evaluation, Li Xian thought that promoting Li You to the chief's position was as difficult as turning a poor man into a mushroom egg in the future.

If classified by single-player game difficulty, it should be at the Hell level.

So since Li You had been knocked out by the debt of over ten million and had to be put on an IV drip, he had given up on helping his main pillar run for the chief. But now, looking at the health supplements brought by Old Wu, his thoughts were once again activated.

The health supplement industry had already become popular in China. From Harbin to the small Lin farm, the prevalence of these deceptive products was evident.

What's in health supplements?

Take that yak bone powder for example; in plain terms, it's just calcium tablets mixed with starch and flavorings! Things that cost a few bucks to make are sold for four hundred a box, and people still buy them. Isn't that infuriating? Even Old Wu, who usually sneers at any supplement, has been brainwashed. Isn't that frustrating?

When it comes to health maintenance, the wild herbs in the Greater Khingan Range, not to mention ginseng and lingzhi, even the schisandra berries, hazelnuts, and pine nuts dried in people's yards are a hundred times better than these so-called health products. With such a treasure trove, seeing people still paying money to those unscrupulous health supplement companies is like paying taxes on their IQ…

Isn't that frustrating?!

Rather than letting others exploit it, Li Xian thought he might as well collect the money himself.

This was his first thought, reflecting his selfish side.

On the other hand, the recent hail disaster in the Lin farm had indeed pricked his conscience. The difficult period during middle school after Li Pi's seedlings were destroyed by a natural disaster was a painful memory Li Xian could never forget. That time was when he understood poverty the most profoundly.

Throughout middle school, he never drank a bottle of soda. While classmates went to internet cafes, he never went. When classmates played soccer, he never joined. When classmates dated, he had to remain single. It wasn't that he didn't want to; it was poverty that restricted his passionate heart.

Internet cafes cost two yuan an hour, while Zhu Jing's hands were covered with bandages, and the labor for making a piece of clothing was only five yuan. A pair of sneakers cost thirty yuan at the cheapest and over a hundred yuan at the expensive end. Dating wasn't just holding hands or a kiss; even a cup of milk tea cost over ten yuan—equivalent to two of Li Xian's lunches in middle school.

And now, in the Lin farm of 1993, facing the massive hail disaster that affected the entire farm, those minor troubles of puberty seemed insignificant.

Li Xian prided himself on being a thorough-going egoist, but when he saw Old Wu's wife with her cracked hands collecting the frozen soybeans in the field and recalled the complicated and sorrowful expression on Li Pi's face when the family moved to Bangye at the age of nine, his heart twitched.

Human emotions are complex. Although Li You had said a hundred wrong things and done a hundred wrong things, there was one thing he had said correctly—if capable, one must help their hometown.

It's hard to let go of feelings for one's hometown.

Thinking about the mountain treasures in every household's yard, Li Xian felt that health supplements were definitely a direction to pursue. But to make it work, unlike before when he led Li Pi and Aunt Ma to collect walnut skins, working alone wouldn't be enough.

This needed to be done on the scale of the whole Lin farm.

For that, a ruler who would listen to him was needed.

Looking at Li You on the kang, who was about to finish the IV drip, Li Xian made up his mind.

"Dad, you need to get better soon."

Li You, weakly, asked, "Why get better? To make you feel good?"

"Not at all." Li Xian smiled slightly. "To run for chief!"

"No!" Li You refused straightforwardly. "No money, no confidence in public speaking!"

Hey, old fool?

You jumped high when I didn't let you, but now that there's an opportunity, you're making excuses?

Li Xian snorted with a smile, crossing his arms. "Really don't want to do it?"

Li You's gaze shifted, and he fidgeted for a while before mumbling, "How to do it? Now High Da-yi is using disaster relief to establish his authority. Whatever he says goes. If I go, and if I fail, wouldn't that make me a laughingstock?"

Hearing this, Li Xian was so amused he nearly laughed.

So you're not just mad about my debt!

To dispel Li You's worries, Li Xian thought for a moment, organized his preliminary plan for health supplements in his mind, and leaned in close to Li You.

Upon hearing his plan, Li You's once vacant eyes brightened!

---

In the evening, after entertaining Old Wu with dinner, Li Xian rode his motorcycle to the wood chip factory.

In these days, Li You couldn't leave the kang, and the factory was also unattended. With the temperature dropping, the factory had lit stoves, and fire prevention was a major issue that needed serious attention.

After a tour of the factory, Li Xian didn't find any hidden dangers. The factory's management was meticulous, with fireproof barriers around the stove setups, and the fire extinguishers and buckets were not just for show. Seeing this, Li Xian gave a few more instructions and left the factory.

As he reached the wood chip purchasing area, he happened to see Old Zhu's wife carrying a large bucket to fetch water.

Upon encountering Li Xian, Chen Guixiang looked somewhat scared.

On one hand, she had little interaction with Li Xian before, and on the other hand, there were rumors in the factory about Li You being a remarkable person with great prospects. Her inferiority and timidity made Chen Guixiang feel a bit afraid to make eye contact.

Seeing her like this, Li Xian shook his head and smiled, taking the initiative to greet her. "Sister-in-law Wu, are you getting used to living here?"

Chen Guixiang was startled, quickly answering nervously, "Used to it, used to it! The kids are warm, and they can still eat at the canteen during the day. They all say it's better than the old home!"

Hearing her speak in front of her daughter inside, who ran out to see Li Xian in a black coat and white shirt, the girl seemed a bit shy and hid behind her mother. But she couldn't help but sneak peeks, finding Li Xian quite handsome.

Li Xian approached, smiling as he patted the child's head. "As long as you're getting used to it. Get through this period, and things will be better once Brother Wu comes out."

Chen Guixiang nodded. "Yes, he'll be out soon."

She said this hastily, then fell silent. She wanted to say something but was too nervous, her pale face turning red.

Seeing that his arrival had made her uncomfortable, Li Xian smiled and was about to say goodbye.

But before he could speak, Chen Guixiang suddenly looked up. "You and Uncle Li are good people!"

Suddenly praising people?

Looking at Chen Guixiang's burning gaze, Li Xian felt a bit embarrassed. "Sister-in-law Wu, we're all fellow villagers…"

"They've been saying these days that Uncle Li is helping us just to show off. I'm not good with words, but I know it's not true! People who do things for show would just think about making a big impression. Providing a place to live is already a huge favor, and they wouldn't think of buying milk powder and bottles for the kids. So you and Uncle Li are truly good people, not like they say!"

Seeing Chen Guixiang's clenched fists, Li Xian's lips twitched.

He felt gratified.

"Second brother, it's not that Sister-in-law Wu is just expressing gratitude, but if there's an election, even if everyone in the factory votes for High Da-yi, I'll still speak up to support Uncle Li! Not out of gratitude, but because High Da-yi doesn't deserve to be chief. He's just not good enough! He's crooked!"

After a brief hesitation, Chen Guixiang stepped forward, standing in front of Li Xian, and whispered a few sentences.

Hearing Chen Guixiang's account, Li Xian's eyes widened. "Sister-in-law Wu, are you serious?"

"Absolutely!" Chen Guixiang nodded emphatically.

Li Xian furrowed his brows, clenched his fists. "Sister-in-law Wu, during the election, will you testify to this?"

Chen Guixiang bit her lip, hearing the children crying inside, stamping her foot. "Yes! We're in this situation, what's there to be afraid of!"