Chapter 277: My Father is the Farm Director!

Engaging in health product business is not as simple as hosting a dinner.

Although backed by the mountains, Li Xian was currently resource-rich but financially poor; he lacked funds, owed over ten million yuan in debt, had no technology, and no production capability.

That's why he turned his attention to the Berry Research Institute.

According to his plan, he intended to first work with Xu Chaoyang to bring in some researchers, conduct a survey on mountain specialties, and then decide on specific operations. Now, seeing the difficulties faced by the Berry Research Institute, he felt an opportunity had arrived!

Over there, the crowd looked at Li Xian with scrutiny and furrowed brows.

"Who are you? What do you mean 'really can't be shut down'?" Lin Shengwang asked.

Li Xian's comments earlier made him uncomfortable. The Berry Research Institute had always been managed by the bureau, and the decision to dismantle the research rooms and projects was something he had orchestrated. The sudden appearance of an unfamiliar person blocking their decision was irksome.

Li Xian ignored him, and as he walked past Wang Lin, he nodded at the old researcher. "Engineer Wang, don't worry. The Multi-Business Bureau doesn't value you, but you can come to me!"

"Young man, who are you?" Wang Lin asked, puzzled.

Li Xian smiled. "I'm from the Eight-Nine Forest Farm. Haven't you heard that the farm suffered a hailstorm recently, and all the crops were destroyed? I want to start a business in mountain specialties and health products. Since the weather isn't favorable, I need to find a way to make it work."

"Oh," Wang Lin nodded thoughtfully. "I've heard about your forest farm. Developing specialties is a good idea. So… young man, what's your role at the farm?"

Seeing the young Li Xian, Wang Lin was a bit confused; he seemed too young to be someone of significance.

Facing the curious gazes, Li Xian raised his chin proudly and said with pride, "I'm the farm director's son!"

"Oh!" Wang Lin and the surrounding researchers suddenly understood, "No wonder!"

Lin Shengwang scrutinized Li Xian closely, saying, "Young man, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have thought the director was your father. Look, the Berry Research Institute is a bureau-affiliated unit. You're from a farm below; what authority do you have to interfere with our bureau's decisions?"

Seeing the undisguised contempt in Lin Shengwang's eyes, and feeling a secret thrill at finally being an official's child, Li Xian chuckled.

Does he really think I don't have any background?

Immediately, he took out the note from Xu Chaoyang from his pocket and handed it to Lin Shengwang.

After reading the note, Lin Shengwang laughed, "Young man, Xu Director's note is for researchers, which has nothing to do with our decision to dismantle the research rooms. Since you have Xu Director's note, you can choose the people you want, but don't delay our work. Deal?"

Li Xian looked at Lin Shengwang's head bobbing and laughed, "Don't rush. I originally came to borrow people, but I've reconsidered. I need to use the Berry Research Institute!"

Seeing the expression on Lin Shengwang's face that suggested "a toad yawning, what a big mouth," Li Xian turned and walked out of the institute.

Wang Zhiyue called out, "Where are you going?"

"Going to find your Uncle Xu!"

...

**Xu Chaoyang's Office**

"You brat, are you trying to play me with empty promises?" 

After hearing Li Xian's so-called plan, Xu Chaoyang both admired the young man's cleverness and found it somewhat amusing.

Li Xian had proposed a "rent-to-own" model for the Berry Research Institute. 

In essence, it was about renting the institute and its affiliated drug and beverage factories. The rental period was initially set for one year. During this period, Li Xian would be responsible for all employee expenses of the institute and its subsidiaries, paying rent to the bureau while enjoying all the rights and research results of the institute.

At the end of the one-year rental term, if the business was successful, he would fully purchase the institute at the bureau's valuation. If not, he would withdraw and return the institute in its original state.

Xu Chaoyang thought about how the bureau could lose out on this deal.

At that moment, the office door was knocked on, and upon Xu Chaoyang's response, Lin Shengwang entered. Glancing quickly at Li Xian, Lin Shengwang said, "Director Xu, about the Berry Research Institute…"

"Old Lin, sit down." Xu Chaoyang waved his hand. He had already heard about the situation from Li Xian and didn't want to hear it again.

Xu Chaoyang was well aware of the bureau's internal matters. The forestry system was complex, and although the bureau was authoritative, it was based on balancing various interests. The Multi-Business Bureau was not easy to deal with.

Despite the Berry Research Institute's losses over the past two years, as the only research-oriented unit in the bureau, it was not supposed to be dismantled. When the Multi-Business Bureau proposed last week to cut the research departments and offload the drug and beverage factories, Xu Chaoyang looked into the matter.

It was not difficult to find out that the Multi-Business Bureau's claim of being unable to support the institute's expenses was false; rather, someone from the province had their eye on the drug and beverage factories.

This was why Xu Chaoyang did not let the Multi-Business Bureau handle it completely. Instead, he had the Commercial Bureau, which he could control, intervene to prevent major issues.

While outsourcing bad enterprises was one aspect of market reform, causing state asset losses due to operational issues was another.

Xu Chaoyang quickly understood Lin Shengwang's intention and, looking at Li Xian waiting for his answer, he decided to act.

He poured Lin Shengwang a cup of water and briefly explained Li Xian's "rent-to-own" plan.

"Director Xu, this is unacceptable."

Indeed, Lin Shengwang was furious when he heard Li Xian's interest in the two factories. 

"The Berry Research Institute is seriously loss-making. We started planning for reform over six months ago. We've been actively looking for investors, and we've found potential ones. However, they are only interested in the drug and beverage factories, not the institute. Director Xu, if this deal goes through, it would bring a significant profit to our bureau. Compared to that, this rent-to-own idea is nonsense. Besides, the institute's land, equipment, and research facilities are valued at over seventeen million yuan. How much can he offer for rent?"

Understanding the situation, Li Xian found it interesting.

Indeed, his foresight was correct, and others had their eyes on what he was interested in.

But can someone else snatch away what I've set my sights on?

He chuckled. "Deputy Director Lin, what's the price for those two factories?"

"Seven million!" Lin Shengwang hesitated before giving the figure.

"Oh." Li Xian nodded, calculating the value of the institute in his mind. After a brief thought, he smiled and said, "How about this: I'll pay you one-tenth of the rent, one hundred seventy thousand."

Before Lin Shengwang could respond, Li Xian interrupted, "As for the rental period, it doesn't need to be a year. Let's say six months, from now until April next year. If I can't make it work, I'll return the institute as is. If I succeed, I'll immediately pay the remaining fifteen million three hundred thousand yuan. How does that sound?"

Xu Chaoyang looked at Li Xian thoughtfully and smiled.

"Hey, I think this condition is reasonable! Old Lin, what do you think?"

Seeing Xu Chaoyang's agreement, Lin Shengwang was anxious. "Director Xu, I checked this guy out when he arrived. Isn't he the one who managed the Sino News Paper Factory? Not to criticize, but he made money from the forestry bureau by employing disabled people without paying taxes, and instead contributed to the foreign trade industry. I can't trust what he says!"

Li Xian raised an eyebrow and looked at Xu Chaoyang meaningfully. "Then it's up to you, Director Xu. I'll take the researchers back to Eight-Nine for now. If there's news, whether positive or negative, contact me by phone."

Seeing the pressure placed squarely on him by Li Xian, Xu Chaoyang looked troubled.