"Mom~"
Xia Xue walked into the living room and smiled, "People in the big city have money. It's not like our countryside. As long as the toon is delicious, they'll still be willing to pay a hundred yuan a pound for it."
"Oh my goodness!"
Xia Cui’e's expression was exaggerated, "How much pork can a hundred yuan buy? People in the city are also foolish. Pork isn't much tastier than toon."
Her words sparked a wave of laughter.
Xia Deya eagerly said, "Xiao Fan, eat quickly. I'm burning with impatience right now!"
He took the initiative to pour Lin Fan a glass of wine.
"Come, I wish you immediate success and that you accomplish this great deed for the people of Xiajiagou!" He then poured a glass for himself.
"Xiao Fan, I'll toast you too."
"If you accomplish this, you'll be a great benefactor to our Xiajiagou!"
"From now on, if you ever need any help, the people of Xiajiagou will have no complaints!" Xia Xiangqian declared heartily, patting his chest with a resounding thud.
"Uncle, can I ask to marry your daughter?" Lin Fan's lips moved, the words lingering unspoken in his heart.
There were outsiders present, so there was no rush.
Suddenly, Lin Fan sensed something and turned his head.
Xia Xue's bright, pretty face was tinged with a faint blush of shyness, making her appear more radiant than any flower, her posture graceful.
—
In a coffee shop in Shimen County.
As the lights began to illuminate the city, outside the spotless floor-to-ceiling glass windows, traffic flowed like a river, a dazzling and hazy spectacle.
A blond man with chiseled features and deep-set eyes took a sip of his coffee and said, "Boss, you're really going to make this the starting point?"
The man speaking was named Alex, only thirty-six years old, yet he was a renowned international chemist.
He headed a pharmaceutical research and development institution, which fueled his arrogant disposition.
"Is there something wrong with this place?" Zheng Yue frowned.
"This place..." Alex gestured with his hands, about to vent his frustrations, but suddenly realized who he was addressing. Opposite him sat the investor of the research institute.
It was her endless investment that had brought him success.
And she seemed to have Chinese ancestry.
What if this was her hometown?
Alex racked his brain for several minutes before tactfully saying, "I don't know much about China. When you first told me you wanted to cooperate with a local pharmaceutical company, I thought you meant... a major first-tier city."
He shook his head vigorously, "I see no hope here."
After a moment's thought, he stated bluntly, "I don't even think any pharmaceutical company in this godforsaken place can meet our production needs."
"If they can't meet the requirements, then we'll build a new factory," Zheng Yue's lips curved slightly, displaying the immense power of wealth.
Alex was left speechless and rushed to say, "But that takes time! Why don't we find a suitable pharmaceutical company? I've never doubted China's capabilities; they must have high-standard pharmaceutical factories."
"Here, it will take more time and more money. You should know how many research institutes like ours are developing anti-cancer drugs. Our time is precious."
He spoke at length, trying to persuade his boss to change her mind.
All of this was not purely out of concern for Zheng Yue, nor for some ridiculous reason like repaying a debt of gratitude.
Alex's research team had experienced countless failures, and after innumerable days and nights, they had finally developed a new drug ready for market.
Now, every single one of them dreamed of selling the patent for an astronomical price!
Then they could all live in luxurious houses with swimming pools, drive expensive sports cars, and enjoy a life of decadent pleasure, soothing their tired and weary bodies and minds.
Zheng Yue's proposal was not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also carried significant risks.
What if other brands of new drugs appeared on the market during the construction of the new factory? Wouldn't all their efforts be in vain?
"Abandon your old notions. I will provide sufficient financial support, and the new plant will appear before you much faster than you anticipate," Zheng Yue tapped the table, producing a few dull thuds.
Alex helplessly spread his hands, "Boss, can you give me a reason to do this?"
"I find it hard to imagine why you would go to such great lengths to do something so arduous and thankless. It's really not like you."
As he spoke, admiration gleamed in Alex's eyes.
In his eyes, Zheng Yue was serious, astute, and calm—arguably the most decisive woman in the world.
"Because..." Zheng Yue was organizing her thoughts when suddenly the door of the coffee shop was pushed open, striking the wind chime hanging by the entrance and producing a clear, melodious sound.
A figure in a hurry entered, scanning the surroundings with bright, shining eyes.
Upon seeing this person, Zheng Yue's lips curved slightly, and her smile gradually widened.
To Alex's astonished gaze, she stood up, resembling a young girl meeting her beloved, her smile filled with boundless happiness.
"The key person has arrived," Zheng Yue remarked, then quickly walked forward to meet him.
"Fuck!" Alex muttered under his breath.
He then picked up his coffee and drank it down in one gulp.
At this moment, he finally understood Zheng Yue's intentions.
It turned out that all his assumptions were one-sided!
Alex naively believed that Zheng Yue, a woman of noble birth, would naturally seek a union with an outstanding man.
Who could be more outstanding?
Naturally, it was Alex himself!
Young as he was, he had gained international renown and, more importantly, led his team through numerous challenges to develop a new drug ahead of everyone else.
Wasn't it a natural progression for the new drug to be launched, sell for a fortune, him becoming a billionaire, then proposing to his beautiful boss, and finally achieving both wealth and love, becoming a life winner?
Now he realized that he had been a complete fool!
Thinking of this, Alex wished he could slap himself twice.
"Miss Zheng," Lin Fan said with a hint of nervousness.
"Why are you so late? It's almost dark," Zheng Yue complained, but without anger, for he was her beloved after all!
Lin Fan smiled sheepishly, "It's good that I managed to come. I just learned to drive, and I fell into a ditch once on the road and crashed into a tree twice. The car is completely ruined."
"Pfft!" Zheng Yue burst into laughter, "Why didn't you say anything? I would have sent Zheng Ke to pick you up."
Lin Fan scratched his head, "How could I possibly bother you? Besides, I wanted to practice."
"Don't do this again in the future. It's too dangerous!" Zheng Yue chided him affectionately.
Then, very naturally, she linked her arm with Lin Fan's and returned to her seat.
Seeing a foreigner sitting opposite them, Lin Fan was momentarily stunned. "Are you guys together?"
"Is there something wrong with that?" Alex's tone was not friendly.
"What?" Lin Fan frowned slightly.
In reality, neither of them understood what the other was saying.
"Xiao Fan, let me introduce you. He is the head of the pharmaceutical research institute under our group," Zheng Yue said, her smile fading.