Back to 2008: I Helped My Dad Become the Richest Man

Chapter 85 A Favor for a Pig's Tail

In the provincial capital, in the upscale apartment that Luo Xiyuan bought.

Grandpa Liu was sitting on a recliner on the balcony, with a blanket covering his legs, listening to opera on the radio.

His complexion looked much better than right after the surgery, and his face had regained some color.

Luo Xinde was cutting fruit in the kitchen, while Li Minxia was mopping the floor, making it spotless.

Doorbell rang.

Luo Xinde put down the fruit knife, wiped his hands on his apron, and ran to open the door.

Standing outside the door was Wang Defa, manager of the Jinhaiwan Hotel, carrying two exquisite fruit baskets and beaming with smiles.

"Oh, Manager Wang, what brings you here? Please come in, please come in!" Luo Xinde quickly welcomed him in.

Wang Defa changed into slippers, walked into the living room, and placed the fruit basket on the coffee table.

"Chairman Luo, I've come to see Mr. Liu. How is the old man's recovery going?" Wang Defa asked politely.

"That's great, that's great. Thanks to you for arranging the specialist and the ward." Luo Xinde poured a cup of tea and handed it over.

Hearing the noise, Luo Xiyuan came out of her study. She had just been on the phone with Xu Yang, arranging for the technical team to prepare for their trip to the provincial capital.

"Manager Wang, what a rare guest." Luo Xiyuan walked over and sat down on the sofa.

Wang Defa looked at Luo Xiyuan, his smile deepening: "President Luo, I've come today for two reasons: first, to visit the old man, and second—to ask for my pig's tail back."

As he spoke, he laughed first.

Luo Xiyuan smiled too. She knew that Wang Defa was a man who wouldn't do anything without a profit; his personal visit today was definitely not just for that little bit of pork.

"Dad, go to the kitchen and take that red insulated box out of the refrigerator," Luo Xiyuan instructed.

Luo Xinde quickly went to the kitchen, took out a box, and placed it on the coffee table.

Luo Xiyuan opened the box, inside was vacuum-packed premium organic pork, with clear marbling and a perfect balance of fat and lean. On top, in a separate sealed bag, was a thick pig's tail.

"Manager Wang, this is the first batch of Danish crossbred white pigs ready for slaughter. I personally inspected the meat, and it absolutely meets the requirements of your Golden Bay." Luo Xiyuan pushed the box over. "I specially had someone save this pig's tail for you."

Wang Defa's eyes lit up as he looked at the box of meat.

He's a discerning person; he could tell at a glance that the quality of this meat far surpassed that of ordinary pork.

"President Luo is very particular about his work!" Wang Defa patted the box with satisfaction. "With this batch of meat, we've got our signature dish for Jinhai Bay next month sorted out. Chef Li will be overjoyed."

Luo Xiyuan picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked at Wang Defa: "Manager Wang, you must have come here for something else today, right?"

Wang Defa stopped smiling and leaned forward.

"President Luo, let's not beat around the bush. I heard you went to the Science and Technology Department to see Director Li yesterday?" Wang Defa lowered his voice.

Luo Xiyuan nodded, making no attempt to hide anything. This matter had probably already spread among the provincial capital's high-ranking officials.

"Director Li is very interested in your internet project; word has already spread throughout the province," Wang Defa said. "But, Mr. Luo, you may not know this, but you're not the only one eyeing this lucrative opportunity in the province."

Luo Xiyuan frowned slightly: "Who else?"

"A large software outsourcing company in the south, called iFlytek Technology." They also want to acquire land in the provincial capital to build an industrial park.

Moreover, they have the backing of another provincial leader. Wang Defa revealed a key piece of information.

Luo Xiyuan's heart sank. She knew that acquiring land was never a smooth process.

"iFlytek Technology?" Luo Xiyuan thought about the name for a moment.

In my past life, I remembered that this company did acquire a piece of land in the provincial capital, but the project was abandoned and turned into ruins due to a broken capital chain.

"What conditions did they promise the province?" Luo Xiyuan asked.

"They promised to invest 1 billion yuan to build a software outsourcing base that can accommodate 30,000 people. Their main goal is to solve the employment problem," Wang Defa said. "The province now attaches great importance to the employment rate, so some leaders are inclined to allocate the land to them."

Luo Xiyuan gave a cold laugh.

Software outsourcing, to put it bluntly, is like a low-end contract manufacturer in the internet industry, doing manual labor without core technology.

"What do they have to compare with me?" Luo Xiyuan's tone was disdainful. "I make my own products. My profit margin and technological barriers are something those contract manufacturers can't match."

"That's true, but not all provincial leaders understand the internet," Wang Defa cautioned. "What they value are tangible investments and the number of jobs created. Mr. Luo, you need to find a way to prove that your technological strength and profitability far surpass that of iFlytek."

Luo Xiyuan remained silent for a while. She knew Wang Defa was right. In the system, you can't just make empty promises; you have to demonstrate real strength to command respect.

"Manager Wang, thank you for telling me this," Luo Xiyuan said sincerely. This information from Wang Defa was invaluable.

"Don't mention it. We're strategic partners now, we share the same fate, we share the same fate." Wang Defa stood up, picked up the insulated box, and said, "Then I'll head back now, I still have some things to take care of at the hotel."

After seeing Wang Defa off, Luo Xiyuan returned to her study.

She took out her phone and dialed Xu Yang's number again.

"Xu Yang, book the fastest flight immediately, take Zhao Peng and the two core architects, and fly to the provincial capital." Luo Xiyuan spoke quickly and decisively.

"What happened, Mr. Luo?" Xu Yang sensed the urgency of the situation on the other end of the phone.

"Some people in the province want to take over our territory. I need you to come here and give a live technical demonstration to the provincial leaders," Luo Xiyuan said.

"What are you demonstrating?"

"I want to demonstrate how we can handle tens of millions of concurrent users. I want those leaders to see what true core internet technology is. I want them to know that awarding land to iFlytek, that outsourcing company, is a waste of their potential."

"Understood. I'll arrange it right away." Xu Yang didn't waste any words.

After hanging up the phone, Luo Xiyuan walked to the window.

The sky over the provincial capital was somewhat overcast, and it looked like it was going to snow.

The battle for the industrial base came faster and fiercer than she had anticipated. But she enjoyed the challenge.

Only what you gain by trampling your competitors underfoot is truly secure.

That evening, Li Minxia prepared a feast. Grandpa Liu also came out of his room and sat down at the dining table.

"Xiyuan, I'm almost fully recovered. I'm going back to my hometown tomorrow," said Grandpa Liu, sipping his pork rib soup.

"Mr. Liu, please stay a few more days. The doctor said you need to be observed for a month," Luo Xinde advised.

"Observe what? Don't I know my own body? I feel so stifled living in this building, I can't even smell the earth. I have to go back and check on my pigs." Old Liu's temper flared up again.

Luo Xiyuan knew Liu Ye's temper; forcing him to stay wouldn't work.

"Alright, Mr. Liu. I'll arrange a car to take you back the day after tomorrow," Luo Xiyuan said. "It just so happens that things here are at a critical stage. If you go back, my parents will go back with you. There's a lot going on at home that needs someone to take care of."

"Can you manage all by yourself in the provincial capital?" Li Minxia asked worriedly.

"Mom, don't worry. A team from Shanghai will come to help me." Luo Xiyuan put a piece of meat on Li Minxia's plate. "It's going to be a tough battle here, and I need to keep an eye on things personally."

Master Liu glanced at Luo Xiyuan but said nothing.

He knew that what this little girl had done was beyond the comprehension of this old man.

The only thing he could do was to manage the pig farm behind her and not hold her back.