Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 260 The Old Fox and the Little Fox

"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. I won't give it to anyone else." The gentleman readily agreed, smiling as he patted Lin Yan's arm. Mrs. Deng also smiled and nodded, "Comrade Lin, you're very thoughtful. We'll remember that. Come, please sit down, the food will be served soon!"

The atmosphere became much more relaxed as everyone took their seats. Soon, the waiters began to serve the dishes in an orderly manner. Each dish was like a meticulously crafted work of art, with attention to color, aroma, taste, shape, and presentation.

Cold dishes include: Crystal Pork Belly, Osmanthus Salted Duck, Stir-fried Cucumber Rolls, and Four Delights Braised Gluten.

Hot dishes: Clear Broth Bird's Nest, Braised Shark Fin, Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions, Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish, Kung Pao Chicken, Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth, Tan Family Cuisine - Duck with Wood Buns

The main dish was Yangzhou fried rice.

The desserts were pea flour cake and dragon beard pastry.

Mr. Xiangyu warmly greeted, "Comrade Lin, don't be shy. I don't know if these dishes will suit your taste. Try this 'Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth.' It looks simple, but the skill is all in the broth." He personally served Lin Yan the dishes using serving chopsticks.

Mrs. Deng smiled and said, "Yes, Xiao Lin, please make yourself at home."

Lin Yan savored the dishes that embodied the essence of Chinese cuisine, especially the seemingly plain yet incredibly flavorful "boiled cabbage in clear broth," a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. Although he had tasted countless spiritual plants and delicacies from his space, he still admired this exquisite skill of transforming ordinary ingredients into the ultimate flavor.

Lin Yan sincerely praised, "The taste is excellent, especially the 'Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth,' which is truly a simple yet profound dish that I have benefited greatly from."

During the meal, Lin Gang opened a small barrel of wine that had been aged for no less than fifty years. The deep red liquid was poured into a crystal glass, its color magnificent, and its aroma instantly filled the private room. It was a complex fragrance that blended ripe berries and aged oak.

Mr. Xiangyu was a connoisseur of wine. He gently swirled his glass, observed the wine column, and then took a small sip. A look of amazement and admiration flashed in his eyes. He looked at Lin Yan and sincerely praised him:

"Xiaolin, this wine is excellent! The aroma is incredibly complex, the texture is silky and smooth, the fruit flavors are elegant yet structured, and it's not at all heavy. It's a top-quality red wine! It's better than many famous foreign wines I drank when I was studying abroad!"

Seeing that Mr. Xiangyu liked it, Lin Yan was also pleased: "If you like it, you can take this small bucket back and drink it slowly. You can share it with others, no problem. When you finish it, just tell Third Brother, and I'll have him send you more." He added in a relaxed tone, "We have several large buckets of this quality of wine stored in our courtyard house in Beijing. They're all homemade, so there's plenty for everyone."

"Oh? Really? Then I won't stand on ceremony! Such fine wine is indeed worth sharing with a few old friends." Mr. Xiangyu readily accepted the offer.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the atmosphere in the private room became increasingly harmonious. The gentleman gently put down his chopsticks, leaned back slightly, a warm smile on his face, but a hint of inquiry in his eyes. He looked at Lin Yan and spoke gently:

"Kobayashi, do you know why I wanted to see you this time?"

Lin Yan also put down his cutlery, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and met Mr. Xiangyu's gaze sincerely, saying:

"If you think highly of me, just call me Xiao Yan. That's what my family and close friends call me." He paused, his expression becoming more relaxed:

"I know why you want to see me. My third brother already told me about it. I flew back to Hong Kong from New York right after finishing my final exams, without stopping for a moment. I had to take a boat and a car to get to Beijing. It was quite a journey!"

He shrugged and smiled brightly: "How about it? I've shown enough sincerity, haven't I?"

Lin Yan's joking expression faded, and he sat up slightly.

"Sir, I have great respect for you. But in business, the price I proposed for grain was based on a fair calculation of costs and transportation, and that's non-negotiable."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Xiangyu was not disappointed at all. Instead, his smile became even more meaningful, and his insightful eyes gleamed with understanding. He tapped the table lightly, his tone resolute:

"Xiao Yan, I believe you must have other alternatives in mind, right? There can't be only one way."

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow, a sly smile appearing on his face, and asked in return:

How did you know?

The two exchanged a glance, like two foxes, one big and one small, with a tacit understanding in the air that suggested they were evenly matched.

Mr. Xiangyu chuckled and analyzed the situation calmly and confidently:

"If there were truly no room for negotiation and you were determined to trade at the original price, you wouldn't have gone to such lengths to come all the way back from America. Judging from your previous willingness to support the country through barter, you, Lin Yan, are a patriotic young man with a broad vision and passionate heart. You can't bear to see ordinary people suffer from hunger, so even if you suffer a loss yourself, you're willing to deliver grain to the farmers who need it most. Am I right?"

Feeling a little embarrassed that his deepest, unspoken feelings had been so readily exposed, he still stubbornly muttered something in an attempt to salvage his image as a "cold-blooded businessman":

"Can't I just be missing the little bars in Beijing and come back for a vacation?"

"Hehehe," Mr. Xiangyu was amused by his sophistry, pointed at him a few times with his finger, and urged him in an affectionate yet undeniably authoritative tone, "Stop playing coy with this old man! Tell me quickly, what is your 'Plan B'? We're all waiting to hear it."

Looking at Mr. Xiangyu's all-knowing smile, Lin Yan knew that his thoughts had already been seen through. He shrugged helplessly, spread his hands, and smiled:

"Okay, you win." He first reiterated his principle: "My grain price cannot be changed. This is the bottom line for me and my team's operations, and I hope you can understand."

He then changed the subject and revealed his real solution:

"I completely understand that the government can't come up with that much money right now. How about this, I'll try another approach—I'll lend the government money, what do you think?"

He leaned forward slightly and explained in detail: "For this transaction, you only need to pay the portion that is within your budget. The remaining money will be considered a loan I made to the country, and you can give me an IOU (for government bonds)."

As he spoke, a light that seemed to transcend time shone in Lin Yan's eyes, and his tone was filled with unwavering confidence in the future:

"I firmly believe that, given China's size and wisdom, it cannot remain closed off from the world forever in its development. One day, it will open its doors to the world and occupy an important place in the wave of globalization. At that time..."

A knowing smile played on his lips: "I'll use these IOUs to trade with you for a scenic spot to build houses!"

"Mr. Xiangyu, China's greatest advantage lies in its vast territory, abundant resources, and large, hardworking population. Many people may not see this now, but I believe that sooner or later the whole world will realize that China's hundreds of millions of people constitute the world's largest and most promising market! In the future, this population will become the most powerful 'demographic dividend' for national development!"

"Using future land development rights in exchange for urgently needed food and supplies not only solves the immediate crisis but also introduces funds and forward-looking planning for future development. What do you think of my proposal to 'trade space for time'?"

This plan went far beyond a simple grain transaction; it involved finance, national credit, future planning, and a young man's astonishing prediction of the nation's fate. The private room fell silent, save for the lingering echo of Lin Yan's clear voice, awaiting a response.

Mr. Xiangyu's hand, holding the wine glass, froze in mid-air, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He slowly put down the glass, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

"What a brilliant 'trading space for time' idea..." He pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Comrade Xiao Yan, your idea is quite bold. However..."

He changed the subject, his gaze sharpening: "You must understand that land is the foundation of a nation, and this door cannot be opened lightly."

Lin Yan calmly took a sip of his drink: "You've misunderstood. What I want isn't land ownership, but a limited-term development and management right. For example, thirty or fifty years."

He put down his glass and continued, "This is actually a win-win situation. The country solves its current food crisis and gains access to modern infrastructure in the future. And I'm just earning a meager living."

Madam Deng interjected softly from the side, "Xiao Yan, what do you plan to do with these places?"

"Build hotels, resorts, and commercial centers," Lin Yan replied with a smile. "When the country opens up to the outside world, these will be windows showcasing China's image. They can earn foreign exchange and let the world understand the real China."

Mr. Xiangyu nodded thoughtfully: "You do think long-term. However, you can't just choose the specific places."

"Of course." Lin Yan took out a pre-prepared map from his suit pocket and spread it out on the table. "I've initially selected a few places: the Shenzhen Riverbank, some mudflats in Zhuhai, and several wastelands in Xiamen..."

He traced his finger across the map: "These are places that seem worthless now. But I believe that once the country decides to open up to the outside world, these locations, adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao and facing the ocean, will surely become the forefront of development."

Mr. Xiangyu carefully examined the map, then suddenly looked up at Lin Yan: "Your site selection... is quite sophisticated. It seems you've done in-depth research?"

Lin Yan smiled but remained silent.

A brief silence fell over the private room. Mr. Xiangyu stood up, paced around the room a few times, and suddenly turned around:

"In principle, I agree to this plan. But there are several conditions: First, the development must comply with national planning; second, local people must be given priority in employment; third, the operation must be law-abiding; fourth..." His gaze was piercing, "You must ensure that these projects ultimately serve the overall national development strategy."

Lin Yan stood up solemnly: "I guarantee it. Actually, I have another suggestion—we can specify in the contract that the state has the right of first refusal to repurchase these projects in the future."

This suggestion caused a flicker of surprise in Mr. Xiangyu's eyes, followed by a relieved smile: "Alright! Since you're so committed, then it's settled!"

The two foxes, one big and one small, looked at each other and smiled, their understanding unspoken.

"But Xiao Yan," Mr. Xiangyu suddenly lowered his voice, "tell me the truth, when you chose these places, did you foresee something?"

Lin Yan looked out the window at the lights of Chang'an Avenue, his tone full of meaning:

"Sir, the sleeping lion of China will one day awaken. I'm just planting a few trees in advance along the path it will take."

The eyes of the seventeen-year-old boy sparkled with wisdom and foresight beyond his years.