After getting in the car, Fang Yi asked, "Want to go check on the pharmaceutical factory?"
Zhao Yuan retorted as he buckled his seatbelt, "What, are we out of ingredients for the formula again?"
Fang Yi was instantly exasperated. He said helplessly, "Come on, is that the only reason you think I'd ask you to come to the factory?"
"Isn't it?" Zhao Yuan glanced back at him. "You tell me. When has there ever been a time you've asked me to the factory that wasn't because you were rushing me to mix a new batch after running out of raw materials?"
"Uh... I guess you have a point." Fang Yi felt a bit awkward as he thought back on it.
Shaking his head with a wry laugh, he added, "But I'm not asking you to come mix medicine this time. We still have plenty of the last batch you made, so we won't be running short anytime soon. I wanted you to see the area around the factory so I could lay out the expansion blueprint for you. That way, you'll have a better idea of where all this money is going."
Zhao Yuan rejected the idea without a second thought. "Forget it. The expansion hasn't even started yet, so there's nothing to see. I'll wait a while and go take a look when the construction is mostly done. As for how the money is being spent, don't you email me an income and expense report every month? I can just look at that."
"Alright then."
Fang Yi didn't press the issue; after all, Zhao Yuan was the big boss. In fact, the more hands-off Zhao Yuan was, the more trusted Fang Yi felt, which inspired a deep sense of loyalty in him—the kind that makes a man willing to die for someone who truly appreciates him.
"So where are you headed? Back to school?"
After a moment of consideration, Zhao Yuan said, "No, take me to Lakefront House."
"Huh?" Fang Yi was stunned. "Didn't you just eat? Are you hungry again already? Going for another meal?"
Zhao Yuan said irritably, "So you just see me as a glutton, huh? I'm going to Lakefront House on official business!"
Fang Yi gave an awkward laugh and was about to apologize when he heard Zhao Yuan add, "Of course, I wouldn't mind grabbing a bite while I'm there."
"..." Fang Yi was speechless. He couldn't help but roll his eyes and grumble to himself, 'And he says he's not a glutton. What normal person can eat as much as you do?'
Grumbling aside, he obediently drove the car toward Lakefront House.
On the way, he said, "Little Brother Zhao, I don't mean to nag, but you should really buy a car. It would make getting around so much more convenient."
Zhao Yuan threw up his hands helplessly. "I don't have a license, and I don't know how to drive."
Fang Yi said, "That's easy. I know people at a driving school. If you really want to learn, I can find you a one-on-one instructor. I guarantee you'll learn fast and pass your driver's test."
Zhao Yuan thought about it. It was true, having a car would make his life much more convenient. He could even travel back and forth between school and his hometown every weekend.
So he said, "Alright, I'll leave it to you then. Thanks for the trouble."
Fang Yi replied with a smile, "It's no trouble at all. I'll get it sorted for you in a bit."
"Oh, right." Zhao Yuan remembered something and gave an order, "While you're at it, help me find a designer who specializes in ancient architecture. Have them design some small, traditional-style buildings that are both beautiful and livable. And find a reliable construction crew, too."
Fang Yi asked, "You're going to build houses?"
Zhao Yuan answered, "Didn't I set up a Chinese medicinal herb cultivation base back in my hometown? I'm planning to build some housing on the base for the staff to live in."
He said it was for the staff, but it was really for the villagers. After all, everyone currently working at the base was from his village.
The idea of building new homes for his fellow villagers had been on Zhao Yuan's mind for a long time.
When he went home last time, seeing the villagers still living in houses made of mud bricks and thatched roofs solidified his resolve. Coincidentally, he had just obtained the Mirage Array from the Ying Family today, so he decided to use the construction of the new houses to set up a Mirage Array at the medicinal herb cultivation base!
In the future, once the medicinal herbs at the cultivation base matured and were sold, the base would surely become famous. That would undoubtedly attract the prying eyes of criminals. With the Mirage Array in place, even if those criminals had ideas, they would never be able to act on them!
Fang Yi was very surprised. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's going to cost a lot of money!"
"I'm sure!" Zhao Yuan's reply was decisive.
In his view, building new houses was a great idea that killed several birds with one stone. It would improve the living conditions of his fellow villagers, strengthen their sense of belonging and pride in the cultivation base, and, even better, it would guard against petty crooks, nipping any trouble in the bud!
So, why wouldn't he do it?
Even though he had just spent a hundred million, he still had money left over from his previous earnings. Plus, after delivering the Storage Ring, he would get several tens of millions more from the Ying Family. It was more than enough to build the new houses!
Fang Yi nodded. "Alright, since you've made up your mind, I'll find a designer and a construction crew for you later."
Inside, he was muttering to himself, 'Little Brother Zhao really is a kind-hearted person! If he's this good to his hometown villagers, he'll definitely treat a founding member like me, who's been with him from the start, just as well! If I stick with him, the future rewards will be extraordinary!'
After a while, Fang Yi dropped Zhao Yuan off at the entrance to Lakefront House.
As Zhao Yuan was getting out of the car, Fang Yi called out to him, seeming to hesitate.
Zhao Yuan was surprised. "What is it? Just say it. Hemming and hawing isn't like you."
Fang Yi said sheepishly, "It's nothing major, really. I just wanted to ask you for a favor. Could you talk to the owner of Lakefront House and see if he can raise my membership Level here a little?"
Lakefront House had different membership Levels. The higher the Level, the better the dining environment and the finer the cuisine. Members at higher Levels even had the chance to book a meal personally cooked by Hao Li.
During Lin Xue's birthday before, Fang Yi had gotten to taste Hao Li's cooking thanks to Zhao Yuan. He hadn't been able to forget it since, and had even dreamed about it many times. That was why he was making such a strange request to Zhao Yuan now.
"Is that all?" Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "That's a small thing. I'll talk to Hao Li when I see him. I'm sure he'll do me that favor."
Fang Yi was overjoyed and said hurriedly, "Thank you, thank you."
Zhao Yuan waved goodbye and turned to walk into Lakefront House.
It was past mealtime, so in the lobby of Lakefront House, the staff were gathered together, chatting and relaxing, or looking at their phones, watching shows and playing games. When they saw Zhao Yuan walk in, they quickly stood up to greet him—they remembered him well and knew he was an honored guest of their boss!
The lobby manager immediately came forward with a broad smile and asked respectfully, "Mr. Zhao, are you here to dine today, or are you looking for the boss?"
"I'm looking for your boss. Is he in?" Zhao Yuan asked.
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