Negotiating the Shares

In the hospital lobby, Han Lin saw Howard's attending physician again. "Hey, Doctor, I'm sorry about what happened last time. I was just worried about Howard's injuries. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Dr. Allen had finished work and was waiting to clock out. He had come to the front desk workstation, planning to chat with a few of the nurses about life and dreams.

He had barely said a few words when a familiar voice that made every muscle in his body tense came from behind him.

Allen slowly turned his head. When he saw the figure who had carried him like a chick through the hospital ward, he lowered his head submissively, not daring to look up.

Keeping his head down, he carefully said, "It's fine, it's fine. I'm good, I'm good."

Han Lin looked at the burly man in confusion. He seemed as though he had suffered some tremendous grievance. Han Lin shook his head and headed toward Howard's ward.

This time, Han Lin had no intention of letting Howard stay any longer. He shoved the door open and saw two people kissing.

Han Lin looked speechlessly at the pair, who had been so startled that they did not know what to do next, then said angrily:

"Buddy, I don't want to interfere with your private life, but it's 3:47 in the afternoon. Can you control yourself and wait until tonight to deal with his problem?

"You've been in the hospital for nearly seven days. Your body recovered long ago, okay? Yet you're still pretending to be sick.

"If you really like this nurse, I think you can marry her on the day our hotel opens."

Howard separated from the young nurse and roared at Han Lin, "Lin, if you keep this up, you're invading my privacy. I think it's necessary for me to have the legal department send you a subpoena." As he spoke, he waved to the nurse, signaling for her to leave first.

Ignoring him, Han Lin poured the whiskey he had brought two days ago into a crystal glass filled with ice. As he drank more often, he, someone who could not get drunk, had developed a strange addiction to the burning sensation the liquor gave his digestive system.

Looking at the tightly closed door, Han Lin slowly said, "I got my discharge compensation from the government. All the independent docks in Brooklyn and Queens will belong to me from now on. I also received nearly forty acres of land on the North Shore of Long Island. The government will cover all land acquisition costs. As for hotel construction, they'll invest another ten million. Combined with the twenty-five million I have, I need you to find the best architect in the world to plan our ultra-luxury hotel.

"I need it to become a world-class hotel with auctions, casinos, bars, and banquets."

Howard looked at Han Lin in disbelief and asked, "What did you say? You're lying to me, right?"

"I wish I were. They offered terms I couldn't refuse. Once the hotel is completed, twenty percent of its shares, along with fifty percent of the taxes from the two independent ports, will go to the national treasury. So, our playboy, are you interested in getting discharged soon and helping me manage this huge piece of land?"

Howard rapidly calculated the value of everything and the development costs. After a long while, he said:

"I thought getting one or two acres would already be pretty good, but you got forty acres.

"That's nearly twice the size of the Oheka Castle estate, and they spent around eleven million back then.

"You're planning to use twice the land and three times the money to build a world-class hotel? This is the North Shore of Long Island, where every inch of land is worth a fortune. It'll become the most luxurious hotel in the world."

Han Lin said indifferently, "I found you the money and connections. All that's left is for you to find a team to negotiate with the government, find a designer to create the most suitable hotel on the land designated by the government, find a landscape master to finish the grounds, and then open it!

"Oh, and you'll need to sign the contract with Senator Lawrence. It would be best for your legal department to handle that.

"I don't want them backing out on a verbal agreement later.

"When drafting it, remember to include yourself. As the manager, I'll give you ten percent. What do you think? Or you can exchange Stark Industries shares for it. At a one-to-one ratio, I can give you nineteen percent. How much do you want to exchange?"

Howard hesitated. He did not have many shares left in his hands. If he exchanged any more Stark Industries stock with Han Lin, the company would change hands.

Han Lin saw Howard's hesitant expression and knew what he was worried about.

"Hey, buddy, do you think I'm after your company? I don't know how to run a business, and I don't have your brain for developing weapons. Kicking you out would do me no good.

"We can sign an agreement. My shares will only have dividend rights, not management rights. If one day I want to take control of Stark Industries, the Stark Family will have the right to buy back the shares in my hands and kick me out. What do you think?"

Han Lin's words tempted Howard, and even his breathing grew rapid. Just acquiring these plots of land must have cost the government a tremendous price, yet they had only received twenty percent of the hotel shares in exchange. Han Lin only needed a manager, but he was giving Howard ten percent. Nineteen percent ownership of forty acres on the North Shore of Long Island, plus another ten percent in dividends—its value was immeasurable. And there were also the independent docks in two districts. This would be an enormous fortune.

"Done. I agree to exchange nineteen percent of Stark Industries for nineteen percent of the hotel shares, including the real estate."

"Of course. I won't disappoint a friend!" Han Lin smiled confidently.

That meant Han Lin now held thirty-one percent of Stark Industries, while Howard only had twenty-eight percent left. What Howard did not know was that Stark Industries would become the largest company in the world in the future, and his son Tony Stark would become a man who only knew how to burn money!

"So, our shareholder, you can get up now. You'll have a lot to do in the future. Meetings with the government alone will leave you no time for research, so get out of your little paradise.

"Find some good teams to help you. Hopefully, our hotel can be completed within two years. After the war ends, I'll make it the most dazzling place in the world."

Han Lin's words made the playboy who had been pretending to be sick jump out of bed. "I'll handle my discharge procedures now. I've found a good candidate for the hotel designer: Frank Lloyd Wright, a man who turned architecture into art.

"He said, 'Science can create civilization, but it cannot create culture. Under the rule of science alone, people's lives will become dull and tasteless... Engineers are scientists, and perhaps they also possess originality and creativity. They are creative artists.'

"I've seen his Robie House and Fallingwater. They are truly stunning works that will endure through the ages."

Howard looked as though he had been careless on the surface, but had actually arranged many things over the past few days.

"If you think so highly of him, let him come take a look. If he works out, we'll go with his design. I need to work with Dr. Erskine on my blood lately, so I'm leaving all of this to you.

"Oh, and can you invite Dr. Myron MacLain to join the Strategic Scientific Reserve? We need his research results. Even if he can't achieve Sound-Absorbing Steel, it should still be stronger than our steel.

"Let's bring him into the Strategic Scientific Reserve first. If you think he can join S.H.I.E.L.D. later, then you'll be the one who guides him there."

When Howard heard Han Lin mention Myron MacLain, he remembered his friend in materials science. In truth, many of the materials for his experiments had been supplied by Myron MacLain. Many experiments required extremely rare materials, and the materials scientist could provide excellent substitutes.

Howard nodded and said, "I'll handle my discharge first. Tonight, I'll go talk to Myron and see what he thinks. I'm afraid that once I get busy, I won't have any time to see him."

Han Lin patted him on the shoulder. "You've rested long enough. You need the fulfillment of work. You can do it!"

Then he turned and walked straight out of the ward, not giving Howard a chance to speak.

At the corner, he saw the beautiful, curvaceous young nurse glaring at him as if she wanted to kill him.

He merely smiled unconcernedly. Tony's mother, Maria Stark, was Howard's true love. Just like Iron Man in later years, Howard still needed time to grow. Geniuses always lost themselves along the path of growth.