Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 171: The Cotton Gold Alliance

The autumn night in New York was chilly, the wind biting at their faces. Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en walked back along Park Avenue. Although it was cold outside, they were both preoccupied with their own thoughts and didn't find it too unbearable.

Tang Liuqian knew he might be making a major decision today. Abandoning his familiar path in finance and turning to an industrial blueprint drawn up by a sixteen-year-old boy, built on the magic of cotton—it sounded unbelievable. But a voice deep inside him told him that if he missed Lin Yan's opportunity, he would definitely regret it later. Yang Xi'en gently held his hand, and he felt that silent support, which made him feel much more at ease.

Back in the apartment, a warm feeling washed over them. Gu Weijun was sitting on the living room sofa, holding a teacup—the box of Da Hong Pao tea Lin Yan had given them yesterday. He squinted slightly, his expression focused, as if savoring the tea. Only when he saw them return did he put down the teacup and say, "You're back."

Yan Youyun smiled and gestured for them to sit down, asking with concern, "How was it? Did you have fun at Xiaoyan's house?"

Tang Liuqian gathered his thoughts and then recounted Lin Yan's views on the financial industry that day, as well as his subsequent proposal to collaborate on establishing a high-end clothing brand using cotton. After he finished speaking, he looked at Gu Weijun and Yan Youyun, wanting to hear the opinions of these two experienced elders.

After listening, Gu Weijun and Yan Youyun remained silent for a moment. Lin Yan had surprised them once again. A sixteen-year-old boy could see the world so clearly; the knowledge and perspective revealed in his words far exceeded his age. They couldn't help but wonder again: How did this child grow up? What kind of family was the Lin family behind him? Yan Youyun considered herself to have met many prestigious families, but she had never heard of such a Lin family before.

After a while, Gu Weijun spoke first, his tone calm and pragmatic: "Liu Qian, for both personal and practical reasons, you should discuss this matter carefully with your father first, and then let the family make the decision." He frankly said, "I don't know much about the specifics of the textile business. But just the idea of ​​creating a high-end clothing brand itself, I think there is indeed great potential in it."

He analyzed the situation clearly: "Judging from Xiaoyan's proposed solution, he has almost cleared away the biggest obstacle for you. He has handled the most crucial and difficult-to-replicate issue of raw materials all by himself. As for the rest, whether it is finding excellent designers or how to conduct marketing, although it is not easy, it is ultimately a problem that can be solved with funds and manpower."

Gu Weijun's tone carried a hint of approval: "However, what I agree with most is Xiaoyan's emphasis on real industry. What he said makes sense. No matter how the world changes, people still need to eat and wear clothes. Machines can print countless banknotes, but banknotes themselves can neither keep you warm nor fill your stomach. Being able to establish a solid foundation in real industry is a safe and promising path."

He concluded by suggesting, "Tomorrow, you should send a telegram to your father, explaining in detail what happened today and what we said."

Tang Liuqian nodded seriously. His father-in-law's calm and insightful analysis gradually calmed his initially agitated emotions, making them clearer and more resolute.

In the Manhattan villa, Li Wenbin was as excited as a wound-up top, constantly circling around Lin Yan, who was sitting on the sofa, muttering about his vision for the brand's future. Lin Yan was dizzy from his constant spinning and finally couldn't resist, so he reached out and grabbed Li Wenbin by the back of his collar, forcibly stopping him.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Lin Yan said irritably. "Can't you calm down? Why are you behaving the same way as when Xiao Qi was pestering me for meat?"

Although Zheng Jiaming remained seated on the sofa, trying to maintain his composure, his slightly flushed cheeks and bright eyes betrayed his inner excitement and unease. He was thinking a step further than Li Wenbin, and with a hint of worry, he looked at Lin Yan and cautiously asked, "Yan, this matter… don't you really need to discuss it with your elders? Such good cotton, if your Lin family made the fabric and garments themselves, wouldn't you earn even more? Why share the profits with us?"

Lin Yan released Li Wenbin, sat up straight, and looked at his two friends with a serious expression. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable weight: "I'll say it again, in my own home, I can make the decision on this matter without asking anyone."

He went on to explain, “As for why I don’t do it myself? It’s simple, I don’t want that kind of trouble. Hiring new people, buying land, building a factory, and managing an unfamiliar production line would take up too much of my time and energy. The Tang family has an existing, well-functioning factory and well-trained workers, which can save me a lot of time. And time,” he paused, emphasizing, “is more valuable to me than the cotton itself. With the time I save, I can create far greater value than if I monopolized this small profit.”

He looked at Zheng Jiaming, who seemed lost in thought, and continued, "Jiaming, Wenbin, today I'll teach you a principle of doing business in China: Don't let yourself monopolize all the money. When you're eating meat, remember to share some soup with others. Only in this way can you firmly bind capable partners to your cause and form a stable community of interests. It's like... well, what the mainland leader Mao Zedong said: 'We should make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible.' You know? The most brilliant business often has an altruistic attribute, and ultimately it can lead to your own success."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jiaming's gaze towards Lin Yan completely changed, filled with shock and admiration. This insight had far exceeded his understanding of a sixteen-year-old boy. Even the usually oblivious Li Wenbin was deeply impressed, feeling a pang of embarrassment at his own ignorance beyond eating, drinking, and having fun. But being naturally optimistic, he never dwelled on things; not understanding was no problem—he could just ask Lin Yan!

He immediately moved closer to Lin Yan, a little embarrassed but very honest, and asked, "Yan, tell me, how much money do I need to prepare in the early stages to start this clothing brand? I want to go back and talk to my dad to see how much he's willing to support me." He was just being realistic about his budget and had no intention of taking advantage of the situation; he simply wanted to participate as much as possible.

Lin Yan smiled upon hearing this. He greatly admired Li Wenbin as a friend, appreciating his ungreedy and genuinely motivated attitude. He thought about the mountain of US dollars he had stored in his storage ring and decided to take this opportunity to spend some of it.

"Wait a minute," Lin Yan said, and then ran upstairs in a flash.

Less than five minutes later, he came down carrying two heavy-looking, extremely ordinary flour bags. Under the questioning gazes of Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, he casually tossed the two bags onto the wool carpet in front of them, and even clapped his hands as if they were actually covered in flour.

"Well," he said casually, as if commenting on the nice weather, "here's 1000 million US dollars, that should be enough to get things started for a while. If that's not enough, there's more to come."

"Wh...what?!" Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming jumped up from the sofa as if they had springs under their butts.

Li Wenbin's eyes widened as he pointed at the two unassuming bags on the ground, his voice cracking as he roared, "Ayan! Are you crazy?! You just left so much cash at home?! My God! This... this might not even be enough to raise this much cash if we sold our entire family! How could your elders let a little kid like you have so much money in your hands?! Is there no justice in this world?!" He added indignantly, "My entire year's allowance only adds up to 10 Hong Kong dollars!"

Zheng Jiaming was completely speechless at this point. He just stared blankly at the two bags of money, then at Lin Yan's calm expression. Only one thought was swirling in his mind: What kind of friend had he made? This wasn't just a golden thigh; this was practically a diamond-cast Optimus Prime!

Lin Gang, who was helping to tend the plants in the courtyard, heard the commotion in the living room and, thinking something had happened, hurried inside. As soon as he entered, he saw Li Wenbin pointing at two bulging flour bags on the floor, yelling at his young master.

"Young Master Wenbin, what's wrong?" Lin Gang asked calmly, his gaze sweeping over the bag on the ground, already guessing seven or eight parts of the truth.

Li Wenbin, as if he'd found a savior, grabbed Lin Gang's arm, pointed at the two bags, and stammered, "Brother Gang! You've come at the right time! You have to do something about Ayan! He said he wanted to invest in a brand, and then... and then he brought two sacks of money downstairs! He said it was 10 million US dollars! This... doesn't your family care about him? So much money just sits at home, and he's just a minor who can spend so much money like that?" His voice trailed off at the end, tinged with grievance, as he repeated the heartbreaking figure: "I only make 1000 Hong Kong dollars a year..."

When Lin Yan heard Li Wenbin mention the word "little brat" for the second time that evening, the little flame in his heart finally ignited. Taking advantage of his height of 188 cm, he stepped forward and easily tucked the wailing Li Wenbin under his arm, using his arm to choke him.

"Tell me to call me a little brat again! I'll show you what's what today!" Lin Yan threatened with a smile.

For a moment, the living room was filled with Li Wenbin's exaggerated pleas for mercy and Zheng Jiaming and Lin Gang's uncontrollable bursts of laughter.

After their playful fight, everyone sat back down on the sofa, panting. Lin Gang then explained with a smile to Li Wenbin, who was still shaken and full of curiosity, "Young Master Wenbin, you really don't need to be too surprised. This little bit of money is just your own pocket money; the family never interferes. Please don't worry about it."

Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming exchanged a glance, both seeing the same numbness and shock in each other's eyes. Well, they might never understand this guy's world, but following him was definitely the right thing to do!