Chapter 38

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Sun Ronghai was the chief supervisor of the research department and also a senior researcher at Carlphon Agricultural Chemical Co. Ltd., located in Riverine City, east of Suzhou. 

It was the first of May, so it was a holiday today. He was supposed to be on a rest day, but he got into the car and rushed over to Nanjing City in the morning because there were some issues with the collaboration between the company and a research institute in Nanjing City. 

Generally, the agricultural chemical industry would collaborate with university research laboratories and research centers. If there were any new research findings in the university research laboratory, they would sell it to the agricultural chemical industry for industrialized production. This would allow the university to receive tangible benefits while reducing the cost of research for the industry, which was considered a win-win situation. 

Sun Ronghai and the person-in-charge from Nanjing University’s research center discussed for an hour before they managed to solve the issues with great effort. 

The leader of the university left first for a lunch event, so Sun Ronghai and his assistant were left on their own for lunch. 

They had lunch in the university cafeteria. 

During the meal, Sun Ronghai took out his phone and checked through the updates in the industry only to find an unread email sitting in his mailbox. 

He tapped on the mailbox and took a glance at it. 

From: Mr. Zhou 

Time: 30 April, 23:15

Content:

Hello, Chief Supervisor Sun. I’m a student at Jiangzhou University, and I’ve been conducting a genetic modification experiment on rice root aphids recently…

Sun Ronghai pursed his lips and smiled as he read the opening sentence. 

He would receive a large number of emails like this every month that came from the university students from around the country. They would make an unexpected discovery when they were conducting experiments every now and then, and they thought that they could sell the discovery for a good price just by doing this. 

In reality, 99% of these discoveries were indulging in illusion, leaving only that 1% to be fruitful. At most times, these findings contained many uncertainties, such as the category of the scientific achievement.

Generally, he would disregard an email like this after taking one glance. However, it was very apparent that Sun Ronghai was wrong. 

He read to the end of the email, only to discover that there were an attached file and a contact number with the caption ‘experimental data’.

Sun Ronghai was afraid that the attached document was a virus, so he turned on the phone security application on purpose before he tapped on it to download. There was a lot of important information on his phone. In case of a hack, it would be too late for him to cry. 

The document was downloaded soon, and Sun Ronghai tapped on it to read it while he ate. 

The document contained experimental data that was presented meticulously, including the types of chemicals used, experiment procedures and process, and the results acquired from the rice roof aphids in the end. Everything was written up in great detail. 

It was only missing a formula. Otherwise, it could be produced into a pesticide. 

Of course, it was doable for him to reverse engineer the chemical formula using the experimental data, but there was no need for that. As the formula was too low of a grade, the cost of reverse engineering it would be higher than purchasing it. 

As a result, no agricultural chemical company would lose money for this. As for a formula with an even higher value, the company would seek to register a patent for it instead. 

When Sun Ronghai was done reading the experimental data, he said in astonishment, “Huh, this seems rather promising.”

His assistant, seated on the opposite side, asked, “What’s going on?”

Sun Ronghai passed the phone to his assistant. “Take a look.”

The assistant took the phone and took a close look at the contents. He said in surprise, “Hmm, it’s rather impressive, but I wonder if the effect is as good as he claims?”

“Mmhmm!” Sun Ronghai nodded and considered it for a moment before he said, “Our company is genuinely lacking in this area, and we will need to come up with new products soon. Here, give this person a call later to find out more. Also, ask for the price. If it is appropriate, we shall head over and take a look at it after lunch.”

“Alright, Supervisor Sun.”

In the south of Jiangzhou University, Zhou Wen was having lunch with Shen Xue. Shen Xue told Zhou Wen about the stories that happened in the gynecology department, and Zhou Wen storied about the strange events encountered in the laboratory department. The atmosphere was considered rather harmonious. 

But just as they were almost done having lunch, the phone in Zhou Wen’s pocket rang. He took it out and took a glance to find an unknown number.

“Hello, who’s there?”

“You’re Mr. Zhou, right? I’m…”

Zhou Wen was so excited that his heart almost leaped out of his throat when he heard the other person explain that he was from an agricultural chemical company. He did not expect to hear back today when he had just sent out the email last night. 

He hastily walked out of the restaurant with his phone. “Mmhmm… Mmhmm… Mmhmm, please go ahead.”

The person on the phone gave him a quotation. However, based on his understanding of the market price, Zhou Wen added 15% and quoted 400000 RMB. 

“Your price is too high; I can’t help you to give that quotation to my company.”

Zhou Wen kept calm and said, “400000 is not considered high, isn’t it? Why don’t you give me a price then?”

In the call, Sun Ronghai’s assistant, Hu Lin, chuckled and said, “Here, I’m not going to beat about the bush with you anymore. This is a fixed price we would like to offer 100000 RMB.”

“What? Only 100000 RMB?”

“Don’t get put off just yet, listen to me and let me finish speaking. It’s not impossible to ask for 400000 RMB, but only huge chemical industry corporations can afford to offer that price. Yet, you should know that those huge companies would not possibly buy a low-grade formula like yours. So, your quotation is severely higher than the actual value that you will get in the market. Let’s agree on a fair price and make it 200000 RMB. This is the price that our small agricultural chemical company can afford to pay. However, the 200000 RMB is not the on-hand price, but it also includes all sorts of expenses such as the patent registration, invitations to meals, commissions, discounts, and others. Thus, the real price is only at about 100000 RMB.”

Zhou Wen replied, “… Assistant Hu, I don’t know what to say.”

The disparity between his expectation and reality was too huge, yet Zhou Wen felt that it was highly possible that the person’s statement was the truth. 

Assistant Hu chuckled and continued, “There are a large number of similar products on the market and we can’t sell it at a high price. It is merely a coincidence that our company is lacking in this product category, so…”

His statement was the code for ‘otherwise, we won’t even pay 100000 RMB for it.’

Zhou Wen considered then said, “I have a total of three different varieties of formulas that are targeted at different generations of aphids. They are all relatively effective at killing the pests.”

Assistant Hu asked in surprise, “Is that true? Are you certain that those are all your research findings?”

Zhou Wen said, “Of course! I’m 100% sure.”

Assistant Hu considered for a moment before saying, “In that case, we shall discuss more of the specifics when we meet in the afternoon…”

They chatted for a while more before Zhou Wen hung up the call. 

By the time he returned to the restaurant, he had discovered that Shen Xue had already paid the bill. 

Zhou Wen did not find it appropriate, so he wanted to transfer the money back to her immediately. 

However, Shen Xue declined by saying, “The total is only slightly over 100 bucks. Don’t need to pay me back. You did me a huge favor previously that I had yet to repay you.”

Zhou Wen responded, “That’s a different matter.”

Shen Xue considered his response and then said, “Then… You can take me to the movies. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been to one.”

Shen Xue felt slightly embarrassed upon saying that. She felt that she seemed to be a little too bold. 

Fortunately, Zhou Wen did not notice Shen Xue’s expression. He hesitated and said, “Go to the movies, huh…”

“Why? Are you busy?”

Zhou Wen thought about how the journey from Riverine City to Jiangzhou would take an hour at the very least, and they might get caught up in traffic at the service zone for some time. He should be able to meet them in time, so he nodded and said smilingly, “Nope. Come, let’s go to the movies.”

It was the first of May today. The cinema was fully packed, and one could almost describe it as being filled to the brim. 

Zhou Wen went to the ticket vending machine and queued up to purchase the tickets. They were watching the newly-aired movie titled ‘Us and Them’.

By the time he bought the tickets, Shen Xue had already bought coke and popcorn and was waiting for him. 

‘This woman is really good at saving money for me.’ Zhou Wen felt amused. 

They waited for less than ten minutes before the queue to enter the cinema was formed. 

When they emerged from the cinema two and a half hours after the movie, many females left with reddened eyes, and many student-aged girls were sobbing softly. 

Yet, there was nothing unusual in Shen Xue’s expression at all. In fact, she looked a little bored. 

Zhou Wen, who walked by her side, chuckled and asked, “Was it not good?”

Shen Xue nodded bluntly. “Mmhmm.”

Zhou Wen asked, “Which part is not good?”

Shen Xue pondered for a moment and said, “It’s… Too pretentious. The male and female leads are too cheesy. It’s hard to put oneself in their position.”

Zhou Wen could not help but burst out in laughter. 

Shen Xue asked, “Why are you laughing?”

Zhou Wen, who still could not hold back his laughter, said, “A young male or female will find the movie’s depiction touching when he or she has not experienced the hardship of life. A relationship that is built on this premise will appear to be even more precious, and that is why they are crying from being touched by the movie. On the other hand, those who have experienced the hardships of life such as you will see through the cheesiness and sentimentalism of the movie at one glance,and that is why you find it hard to relate to them.”

Shen Xue nodded and asked, “So why are you laughing then?”

Zhou Wen answered, “I’m laughing because a woman like you can’t be easily conned.”

Shen Xue covered her mouth and giggled. 

Meanwhile, Zhou Wen’s phone rang inside his pocket. He took it out and found that Assistant Hu was calling him. 

“Hello. May I inquire where you are now?”

Half an hour later, Zhou Wen, Sun Ronghai, and his assistant arrived in the laboratory located on the third floor of the laboratory department of the First People’s Hospital. 

Zhou Wen had yet to register for patents,, laboratory departmentso a knowledge transfer of this manner would mean certain risks to both sides. He was afraid that he would not be paid a fee after giving away the knowledge while the other party was afraid of being conned into buying a useless formula. 

As a result, Zhou Wen brought the other party to his workplace for safety sake. 

Just as expected, Sun Ronghai had already trusted Zhou Wen upon realizing that he was a formal employee in the First People’s Hospital. Furthermore, since it was only 100000 bucks, it was not necessary for Zhou Wen to risk his great future just to swindle them. 

Soon afterward, Zhou Wen displayed his research findings before the observers and destroyed the aphids with his chemical pesticide. There were a total of three chemical formulas that were used to target three different species of aphids. 

After the demonstration, Zhou Wen answered a few questions proposed by Sun Ronghai before the meeting ended. 

Sun Ronghai was very pleased with the medication’s effect. Later, they found a tea parlor near the hospital and began to negotiate the price. 

The negotiation process went rather smoothly. 

The price of 120,000 RMB was agreed on the first variety of rice root aphid chemical formula after multiple negotiations. 

The price of 50,000 RMB was agreed on the second variety of peach aphid chemical formula. 

The price of 2,000 RMB was agreed on the third variety of cotton aphid chemical formula. 

A total of 172,000 bucks would be paid in addition to the 20% withholding of income tax by Carlphon Agricultural Chemical Co. Ltd. 

Both parties signed a transfer agreement on the spot. 

Sun Ronghai was very forthright. After the agreement was signed, he immediately called up his company and informed the accountant to transfer the money to Zhou Wen…