Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 369 Clash of the Century

The following morning, the autumn sun shone on Tiananmen Square. Lin Yan, dressed in a dark gray suit and gleaming leather shoes, stood tall and straight in front of the Jinshui Bridge. He held Xiao Qi's hand, and the little one was looking around curiously.

Lin Yan's gaze lingered on the enormous portrait in the center of the city gate, past the bustling crowds and bicycles. The man in the portrait had a resolute gaze, looking down upon the country he had personally created.

"Xiao Qi, look over there." Lin Yan turned his head slightly and spoke to the little guy.

"That old man was truly remarkable. Back then, when the country was ravaged, he led his troops from south to north, from east to west..." He began to recount those arduous years in a calm tone, from Jinggang Mountain to Yan'an, from the three major battles to "going to Beijing for the imperial examination."

Lin Yan was only brought back to his senses when Xiao Qi let out a soft "woof," seemingly a little impatient.

He glanced at the city gate one last time, a smile playing on his lips, and gently patted Xiaoqi's head: "Alright, I'll tell you the story later. Come on, let me take you to try some authentic douzhi (fermented mung bean juice). The taste... I guarantee you'll never forget it."

True to his word, Lin Yan led Xiao Qi into an alley near Qianmen. Deep in the alley was an inconspicuous stall with a sign that read "Fermented Bean Juice and Fried Dough Rings," steaming hot.

"Boss, a bowl of soy milk and two fried dough rings." Lin Yan sat down and placed Xiao Qi on the bench next to him.

Little Qi wrinkled its nose, looked around curiously, and wagged its tail expectantly.

A steaming bowl of grayish-green liquid was served, releasing a unique, mellow aroma with a hint of sourness. Lin Yan's lips curled into a mischievous smile. He stirred it gently with a spoon, scooped up a little, blew on it, and handed it to Xiao Qi.

"Come on, Xiao Qi, this is authentic Beijing flavor, have a taste." His tone was as sincere as a seasoned gourmet recommending a delicious meal.

Xiaoqi, completely unsuspecting, happily stuck out her pink little tongue and licked it.

The next second, Xiaoqi's entire furry body suddenly stiffened, and its golden eyes widened instantly, as if it had been subjected to an unprecedented shock.

It looked at the bowl in disbelief, then looked up at Lin Yan, who had a "benevolent" expression on his face. Its little eyes were filled with shock, accusation, and deep suspicion that "you actually gave me this to drink."

Immediately afterwards, it began to shake its head frantically, making "puff puff" sounds, trying to spit out the strange sour taste in its mouth. Its front paws were also haphazardly pawing at its mouth, and its whole face was scrunched up.

Lin Yan finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking. He broke off a small piece of the fried dough ring and handed it to him: "Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. Eat this, it's delicious."

Xiao Qi glared at him angrily, then looked at the fried dough rings. After hesitating for a long time, she couldn't resist the temptation of the food. She carefully picked one up and started chewing it. But she would still glance at the bowl of soy milk with a resentful look from time to time, and then at Lin Yan who was laughing non-stop. Her little head was thinking, "Is my brother's sense of taste broken?"

The stall owner and several regular customers nearby couldn't help but laugh as they watched the interaction between the man and the dog.

After teasing Xiaoqi, he decided to make amends.

"Xiao Qi, don't be angry. Let's go home and have Sister Yuling make you roast duck!"

The little guy immediately forgave Lin Yan, quickly licking his palm, "Hurry up, hurry up! What are you waiting for!"

The night was as dark as ink, but the courtyard was brightly lit. Inside the hanging flower gate, in the spacious study, wisps of smoke rose. Everyone sat around, their eyes fixed on Lin Yan, who was dressed in a suit and tie.

After the pleasantries, tea was served. Gu Mu gently tapped the table: "Xiao Yan, there are no outsiders here. We've taken your 'question' to heart. Openness—how exactly does 'openness' mean? We old folks want to hear what the 'outsiders' think first."

Lin Yan put down his teacup, and the relaxed expression on his face faded like the tide, replaced by a sharp and shrewd look.

He leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone, as if he had instantly transformed from a neighbor's nephew into an opponent sitting on the other side of the negotiating table.

"Alright. Well then, everyone, please allow me to temporarily change my identity."

"I am no longer Lin Yan. I represent a company... well, let's call it 'Global United Capital'. We have seen signs that your country is about to open its doors, and we are extremely interested in it. Tonight is an informal 'investment intention inquiry'."

The chief designer paused, his hand holding the cigarette twitching, his eyes sharpening: "Welcome. I wonder what your 'capital' sees in us?"

Lin Yan smiled, tapping his fingertips on his knees: "What we value most is your country's untapped, unified, and vast consumer market. A billion people—even if each person only spends one dollar a year, it's still a remarkable figure. We are willing to make large-scale investments in your country's most urgently needed sectors, such as daily chemicals, food processing, and light vehicles, to build modern factories."

Gu Mu leaned forward, hitting him squarely in the head: "We welcome you. What are the conditions?"

"The conditions are simple. To ensure that the technology is not leaked and that management remains pure, we require sole ownership, or at least absolute control. In return, we can bring the latest production lines, train workers, and produce products—such as laundry detergent, biscuits, and cars—that will greatly enrich the Chinese market and meet the needs of the people."

Chen Yun opened his half-closed eyes. "Sole proprietorship? In other words, we can't interfere with how the factory is managed, how profits are distributed, or what technology it uses. We only need to provide land, labor, and market access?"

"You understand perfectly," Lin Yan nodded. "This is international practice. We take the risks, invest capital and technology, so naturally we want to control the core. In return, your country gains jobs, tax revenue, and high-quality goods. It's a win-win situation."

Li Xiannian interjected, "Then how are the taxes calculated?"

Lin Yan smiled: "To support our huge initial investment, we hope to obtain a long-term 'tax holiday,' such as a ten-year exemption from income tax, and thereafter a tax rate far lower than that of companies in your country. At the same time, all imports of raw materials and components needed for production, as well as the repatriation of profits, need your country to provide a full foreign exchange quota guarantee and tax exemption. After all, we earn RMB, and we need to convert it into USD to account to our shareholders."

A moment of silence fell over the study. Yu Guangyuan scribbled rapidly in his notebook, his brow furrowed. He looked up: "Mr. Lin, under these terms, you've taken almost all the profits and control the core enterprise, while we've ceded the market without gaining any substantial technological advantage, and we'll have to bear the loss of foreign exchange. Where is this 'win'?"

Lin Yan said frankly, "Sir, you are a wise man. But this is precisely the logic of capital—using capital and technological advantages to exchange for market exclusivity and the right to claim long-term profits. We are not doing charity. If your country could produce laundry detergent and cars of the same quality and cost within five years, you would naturally not need to come to me. But time waits for no one, and there is market demand. This is the 'value' we bring, and also our 'bargaining chip'."

The chief designer slowly exhaled a puff of smoke: "Besides these, what else are you interested in?"