Chapter 58: A Golden Phoenix Arrives in the Mountain Hamlet

"That's wonderful news!"

Hearing what Li Youfu said, Li Fu couldn't help but smile as well. When running a business, one naturally hopes for more favorable policies and strong government support, which can make many complicated matters remarkably simple. Now that Li Youfu was already making such promises on behalf of the Meijiang County government, it was clear that Li Fu would receive substantial support for his future endeavors.

Just then, a hearty voice rang out from the doorway. The newcomer was Dong Liye, the top official of Sanjiang Town—a man in his early thirties who had already become the town's leading figure and was regarded as very promising. Wearing glasses and possessing a presentable appearance, he strode into the meeting room with a broad smile, shaking hands with Li Fu and greeting him warmly.

After some pleasantries, the conversation turned serious once more.

"A golden phoenix has emerged from our remote mountains, and now it has returned home. Sanjiang Town finally has hope for real development," Dong Liye said, his face aglow with delight. As a young man already in charge of a whole town, he naturally aspired to rise further. To climb higher, one must produce concrete achievements, but in a rural backwater like Sanjiang, that was no easy feat.

Now Li Fu was planning to invest in Sanjiang Town, setting up a company to produce medicine for treating HIV. This was the golden phoenix landing in their mountain nest, capable of propelling Sanjiang’s economy to soar.

As the top official, Dong Liye could ride this wave as well. Such an accomplishment would add a glorious chapter to his professional record and be invaluable for his future career. That was why, during the New Year festivities, he had hurried over from a neighboring township.

"Secretary Dong flatters me," Li Fu replied with a gentle shake of the head, smiling. "In truth, seeing the underdeveloped state of my hometown, I feel it is my duty to contribute to its progress. If everyone keeps leaving, our hometown will never prosper."

He turned toward the map in the meeting room and began outlining his plans.

"I intend to base all my enterprises here in my hometown. If conditions allow, I will establish a university in Sanjiang Town. The company’s headquarters and all laboratories will be located here as well. Downstream, in Yuanjiang Town with its broad, flat terrain, I plan to set up various factories. At the headwaters upstream, I’ll place the research institutions."

Dong Liye, Li Youfu, Zhou Yi, and the others had not expected Li Fu’s plans to be so grand—setting up a company, building laboratories, research institutions, and even a university in Sanjiang Town. Everyone was stunned by the scale of his blueprint.

"It's almost unimaginable—if all of this comes to fruition, what kind of place will Sanjiang Town become?" Li Youfu was deeply shaken by Li Fu's vision. His eyes widened in disbelief. In a lifetime of dreaming, he had never dared to dream so big. But now, Li Fu was telling them he would realize this grand plan right here in Sanjiang.

If it had been anyone else making such claims, they would have chased him out in an instant. But this was Li Fu, a globally renowned biologist who had developed a treatment for HIV—a scientist of the highest caliber. Science and technology are the primary productive forces, holding infinite possibilities. They were convinced that Li Fu was not one for idle boasts.

"Mr. Li, if our Sanjiang Town truly has a chance to realize this great vision, please let us know whatever you need—we in government will give you our full support," Dong Liye said, taking a deep breath. He had never anticipated that Li Fu would already have drafted such a far-reaching blueprint, one that far exceeded anything he had imagined. At first, he had thought Li Fu merely wanted to set up a company; now it seemed he intended to transform his hometown completely.

"Zhou Yi, please record all of Mr. Li's plans in detail. I'll go straight to the county leadership and report. Whatever policies we can secure, I'll fight for them all. This time, Sanjiang Town is truly going to take off," Dong Liye instructed, barely able to contain his excitement. If Li Fu’s plans were realized, Sanjiang Town would need a new name. And as its leader, Dong Liye's own status would rise accordingly.

He now addressed Li Fu as "Mr. Li," a sign of the great importance he attached to him. He sensed that this man might well be his benefactor, the one who could help him ascend.

"Mr. Li, your medication for AIDS should be brought to market as soon as possible. Even though it's the New Year holiday, if you need anything, everyone in town—starting with me—is ready to serve you at any time," Dong Liye said, quickly regaining his composure after his initial delight. His aim was simple: to get Li Fu to commit to his investment as soon as possible. As long as they could anchor Li Fu here, Sanjiang Town would have a bright future.

"I think the same. Since I happen to be home for the New Year, I wanted to get the company registration done. But with everyone on holiday, I had no choice but to trouble our local officials," Li Fu replied with a relaxed smile. This was precisely why he had sought out the town leadership.

"That's easy to arrange. I'll have Zhou Yi accompany you throughout the entire process and make sure everything is handled as quickly as possible. And, Mr. Li, as for land in Sanjiang Town—wherever you want, I have the authority to allocate it to you. We can get the office buildings, factories, and so on constructed as soon as possible. Time is money, especially since this HIV medication concerns the lives of millions," Dong Liye said, immediately switching into work mode. Pulling out the map of Sanjiang Town, he began discussing options with Li Fu, eager to see the transformation of Sanjiang Town at the earliest opportunity.

"I have my eye on the stretch of land from my home village, Lijia Village, to the town itself. The terrain is broad and level—perfect for the company's headquarters. I’ll also set up my laboratory there," Li Fu said, showing no hesitation as he drew a large circle on the map, joining the discussion in earnest.

...

Over the next few days, Li Fu truly experienced the famed efficiency of Huaxia. In just one day, his company—Fuyun Technology—was registered, with tax registration, bank accounts, and all other formalities completed, even though at the moment the company consisted of nothing but himself—no office, no factory, not even the minimum facilities required by regulation.

But with the vigorous backing of Dong Liye, Li Youfu, and the Meijiang County leadership, none of that posed a problem. Especially when they saw five hundred million yuan deposited into Fuyun Technology's bank account, all doubts vanished and their support for Li Fu was unwavering.

There was a sense that the officials were more anxious than the emperor himself. Dong Liye, Li Youfu, and others would frequently visit Li Fu at home, urging him to hurry up with the construction of factories and office buildings.

Naturally, Li Fu couldn't entrust the construction of the main factory to the local companies. However, for the staff dormitories and temporary headquarters, he was perfectly willing to employ local builders.

The Sanjiang Town government office had become Fuyun Technology's de facto headquarters, and Li Fu spent every day there. At this moment, the meeting room in the town government building was packed to capacity with every well-connected construction company from Meijiang County, all eager for a piece of the action.

Zhou Yi bustled about distributing bottled water to everyone, while Dong Liye and Li Youfu presided over the tendering session. The project involved constructing Fuyun Technology's headquarters and future staff dormitories, with an initial budget of fifty million yuan—a major contract for the local construction companies.

"Because we require rapid construction without any compromise on quality, we've divided the entire project into thirty-two separate contracts. Please study the tender documents carefully and only take on what you can handle. If the quality doesn't meet standards or the project isn’t completed on time, payment won't be so easy to collect," Dong Liye said forcefully to the assembled contractors. Unlike his deferential tone with Li Fu, he was all business now.

Yet, even in his stern words, his enthusiasm was obvious. He was determined to see Li Fu’s company up and running as soon as possible, with speed as the top priority.

The projector in the meeting room displayed the master plan—created by Xiao Ying at Li Fu's request. Over a dozen buildings, most of them for employee housing, and an imposing twenty-story tower designated as the company’s future headquarters. The entire blueprint was grand and elegant, with beautiful landscaping and meticulous design. Each building was clearly numbered, and the construction companies all had detailed dossiers in hand, poring over them with keen interest.

They realized this was a highly lucrative opportunity. Although the schedule was tight and the quality requirements strict, there was no need for under-the-table dealings, and the government’s backing meant they could focus on doing the job right.

The tendering meeting proceeded smoothly. Each bidding company left smiling, having secured a substantial portion of the project—a rare and valuable opportunity.

Before long, the whole of Sanjiang Town—and indeed Meijiang County—knew that Li Fu was establishing his pioneering HIV medication company in Sanjiang. The Fuxing Technology sign was already up, and the site of the future headquarters was soon a hive of activity. Everyone realized that the golden phoenix had truly flown into their mountain nest.