After giving instructions about the patent, Huang Xiuyuan sent Shang Ninghua away and walked over to Lu Xuedong.
"Xuedong, make sure you get some rest."
Lu Xuedong smiled and didn't think much of it. "It's fine. I've finished the official website, and Xiaolin and the others are testing it now. It should be ready to go live in about a week."
"Thanks for all your hard work. How are things at home?"
"Same as ever. My family and I all got tested for a match. Because of our blood types, my younger sister passed the initial matching test, but..." Lu Xuedong trailed off, looking helpless.
Huang Xiuyuan immediately understood. "Your mother must be against it, right?"
"My mom absolutely refuses to agree."
This kind of situation was actually quite common. Older people often didn't want to burden their children.
As the eldest brother, Lu Xuedong didn't want his younger sister to get hurt, either. Besides, a kidney transplant wasn't the permanent fix people imagined.
Sometimes, sticking with dialysis was actually better. It wasn't that he begrudged spending four or five hundred thousand yuan. The transplant itself wasn't difficult; the key was what happened afterward. If the body strongly rejected the kidney, it might not last ten years.
With dialysis, on the other hand, if treatment was managed properly, the diet was kept under control, and the type of kidney disease was suitable for dialysis, a survival period of ten or twenty years was still possible.
According to Huang Xiuyuan's memories of the future, implantable artificial kidneys, which used silicon-chip pressure differentials for automatic filtration, would enter clinical trials in 2028.
By 2040, cloned kidneys grown from the patient's own stem cells and a new generation of nanomembrane artificial kidneys would be almost indistinguishable from healthy natural kidneys.
Perhaps, once the company's technology matured, he could try developing one.
As they chatted, Lin Baijie called.
Back in the office.
"Mr. Huang, we've acquired the new factory. It's right beside Haishan Highway."
Huang Xiuyuan took the documents and flipped through them. "In Guizhuling? It's only fifteen mu?"
Lin Baijie quickly explained, "Mr. Huang, the factory itself is small, but the surrounding land is zoned for industrial use, and there aren't many buildings nearby. It's also far from residential areas. The authorities originally planned to turn it into an industrial park to attract investment, but the economy hasn't been doing well these past two years. It shouldn't be difficult for us to acquire that whole area."
"Then acquire the land around the new factory, too."
Lin Baijie had come prepared. He took out a proposal. "Industrial land in Shanmei is relatively cheap, and there are some preferential policies as well. The current asking price is 124,000 yuan per mu. I'm planning to acquire a hundred mu around the factory."
Huang Xiuyuan, who had other plans in mind, suddenly asked, "Wait. How much industrial land is there in Guizhuling in total?"
Lin Baijie flipped through his notebook. "About 1,460 mu. After deducting the 143 mu already sold, that leaves 1,317 mu."
"A hundred mu is too little. Make it three hundred."
Lin Baijie's forehead began to sweat. He had no choice but to remind him, "Mr. Huang, wouldn't that put too much strain on the company's cash flow?"
"Don't worry. Unless something unexpected happens, I'll transfer some funds to the company at the end of the month. Go ahead."
"I understand." Lin Baijie could only steel himself and take it on.
"Oh, and make plans for the new factory building as soon as possible. I'll need it soon."
"Understood. I'll have the engineering team draw up the plans right away."
The new factory was tied to Suiren Company's next strategic steps, so they needed to get it arranged quickly and avoid delaying any plans.
Although the Materials Laboratory wasn't finished yet, they could start work on some of the basic infrastructure.
For example, a fully enclosed steel-frame factory building, water and power lines, paved floors, and the sorting, shredding, dismantling, and compacting equipment for the recycling plant, along with storage warehouses and the like.
They also needed to purchase a batch of garbage trucks and heavy-duty trucks, then begin hiring drivers, waste sorters, and other related staff on a small scale.
Lin Baijie lost no time in applying to the authorities to purchase industrial land. The government of Shanmei District was delighted by the news.
Three days later.
The district government office building.
Cai Haiyi, a deputy district head in charge of the economy, received Lin Baijie and his delegation.
Suiren Company's intention to purchase three hundred mu of industrial land had taken Cai Haiyi by surprise. The night before, he had hurriedly looked into the company's background.
He learned that it was a company registered locally in Shanmei. Though newly established, it had registered capital of fifty million yuan. It had also recently purchased two factory buildings and was building a laboratory.
It looked like they were gearing up for a major project, so he took the matter very seriously. Even the city government had called to ask him to treat them well and make sure the company stayed.
"Mr. Lin, I've heard a lot about you. Please, have a seat."
"Deputy District Head Cai, you're too kind." Lin Baijie smiled as he exchanged pleasantries.
After a round of mutual flattery, Lin Baijie tentatively asked, "Deputy District Head Cai, I was wondering about our company's plan to purchase industrial land in Guizhuling..."
"Mr. Lin, there's no problem with the land. The district government can offer you a preferential price of 120,000 yuan per mu. How does that sound?"
"Then I'm grateful for your support, Deputy District Head Cai."
Cai Haiyi changed the subject. "However, the district does have one condition. You must invest in building a factory within two years. Otherwise, we'll have to take the land back."
"Well..." Lin Baijie seemed to have some reservations.
Cai Haiyi was a shrewd man and could tell the other party had concerns. He probed, "Mr. Lin, is your company facing some difficulties?"
"Building a factory within two years shouldn't be a problem. We're just concerned that if various permits and procedures can't be handled quickly, we won't dare to build or operate without the proper licenses."
In other words, he was hoping they'd make an exception and expedite the process.
Cai Haiyi naturally understood the implication. In the current economic climate, someone willing to invest and buy three hundred mu of land was a welcome opportunity for Shanmei, which had long been eager to attract investment without much to show for it. They were certainly worth helping and supporting.
"The district will urge the relevant departments to handle the permits as quickly as possible. We can make an exception and fast-track things."
Lin Baijie smiled and continued, "Our company needs a hazardous chemicals business license, a work safety license, a gas business license, and others. We hope the district can lend us a hand."
"A gas business?" Cai Haiyi was taken aback, then asked, "Does your company produce gas as well?"
Lin Baijie already knew what he wanted to bring up during the meeting, so he began to lay out the main point. "It's a research project at Suiren Company. We'll need the district to help make the necessary connections."
"Oh? I'd like to hear more." Cai Haiyi gave his assistant a look, signaling him to take notes. The assistant quickly nodded.
Lin Baijie explained, "Our company is developing a waste-recycling technology to process and recycle all kinds of urban household waste without causing pollution."
"Recycling urban waste?" Cai Haiyi was sorely disappointed. He had thought Suiren Company was a technology firm like Xinli Electronics Factory.
"Deputy District Head Cai, if the district is willing to entrust us with all the household waste from the entire urban area, our company can guarantee the area's cleanliness for just five million yuan a year."
Cai Haiyi asked in surprise, "Five million a year? You're not joking?"
As the official in charge of the economy, he knew how much the urban area spent on sanitation each year. The salaries of the sanitation workers alone, plus fuel for the garbage trucks and the cost of purchasing trash bins and cleaning supplies, added up to a considerable sum.
Lin Baijie took out a document. "We're serious. However, we do have a few conditions: an exclusive operating contract of at least twenty years, the option to take on the sanitation workers, and a guarantee that sanitation standards will be met."
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