Traveling back to 1966, starting by living in a cowshed.

The next morning, Lin Zhou specially changed into a sharp suit and drove to Central with high spirits. At this time, Central was already in a state of panic. Most of the shops on both sides of the street were no longer as bustling as before. Some shops had already closed down. Pedestrians on the street hurried along. The chaos of the past six or seven years had begun to emerge.

The Global Building, located in the heart of Queen's Road Central, is a modern, 30-story building with an impressive exterior. Lin Zhou parked his car in the building's underground parking garage and then took the elevator to the 25th floor to the Global Patent Office.

The receptionist at the firm was a young woman in a business suit, with a sweet smile and a warm attitude. Seeing Lin Zhou enter, she immediately stood up and asked, "Sir, hello, how can I help you?"

"Hello, I'm Lin Zhou. I have an appointment with Mr. David to meet at nine o'clock," Lin Zhou replied politely.

"Okay, Mr. Lin, please wait a moment." The receptionist dialed David's office, exchanged a few words, and then said to Lin Zhou, "Mr. David is waiting for you. Please come with me."

Lin Zhou followed the receptionist through the spacious and bright office area. The decor was simple yet stylish, and the staff were all busy at work, creating a professional and efficient atmosphere. Soon, they arrived at the door of an office with a "David" nameplate.

"Mr. Lin, this way please." The receptionist knocked on the door, and after receiving a response, she opened the door and gestured for him to enter.

Lin Zhou entered the office and saw David sitting behind a large desk, dressed in a well-tailored suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking very refined. Upon seeing Lin Zhou, he immediately stood up and warmly extended his hand, saying, "Mr. Lin, welcome! Please have a seat."

"Mr. David, thank you for your help." Lin Zhou shook hands with him and sat down in the chair opposite the desk.

The receptionist poured a cup of coffee for each of them, gently placed it on the table, and then quietly left, closing the office door behind her.

The rich aroma of coffee filled the air. Lin Zhou picked up his coffee and took a sip. The taste was mellow and the aroma was wonderful, which relieved some of his fatigue from the journey.

"Mr. Lin, this is your global patent document for your air fryer, which covers dozens of countries and regions. All the approval procedures have been completed, so you can use it with confidence." David took out a heavy file bag from the drawer and handed it to Lin Zhou with a sincere smile on his face. "To be honest, it was quite unexpected that your patent was approved so quickly."

Lin Zhou took the document bag; it felt heavy in his hand, filling him with a sense of reassurance. He opened the bag, inside which were neatly arranged patent certificates and approval documents in various languages, each stamped with the official seal of the relevant institution, giving it an exceptionally formal appearance.

"Oh? Is there some other story behind this?" Lin Zhou looked up at David and asked curiously. He had previously learned that the global patent approval process usually takes six months or even longer, so his was processed in just over three months, which was indeed unusually fast.

David smiled and explained, "To be honest, according to the normal approval process, your patent will definitely take at least six months to be approved. After all, there are too many countries and regions involved in global patents, and the review standards and procedures are different in each place. Just the review and transmission of materials takes a lot of time."

"Then why was my patent approved so quickly?" Lin Zhou pressed, a vague guess forming in his mind.

"Because an old classmate of mine has many friends in the international patent application department," David admitted. "I saw that your air fryer patent has a very promising market prospect, and your application materials are very complete and standardized, so I asked my classmate to put in a good word for you and let you jump the queue."

David paused for a moment, then continued, "Of course, this is also inseparable from the value of your patent itself. Your air fryer technology is the first of its kind in the industry; it is not only energy-saving and environmentally friendly, but also easy to use, with huge market potential. The review department is willing to expedite the approval process for such a valuable patent."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhou was filled with gratitude: "I see, thank you so much, Mr. David. If it weren't for your help, I don't know how long I would have had to wait."

"You're welcome," David waved his hand. "We are a professional patent agency, and it's our duty to provide our clients with the highest quality and most efficient service. We'd be happy to help you obtain your patent as quickly as possible."

Lin Zhou carefully reviewed the patent documents in his hands, examining each one with great attention. These documents were not only the culmination of his hard work but also a crucial safeguard for his future business strategy. With these patents, he could legally protect his intellectual property rights globally, preventing others from copying and imitating them.

"By the way, Mr. David, what other services do you offer regarding the follow-up protection of the patent?" Lin Zhou looked up at David and asked. He knew that obtaining a patent application was only the first step; subsequent rights protection was equally important.

"Of course," David nodded. "Our firm can provide you with patent protection services. If we discover any entity or individual infringing on your patent, we will provide you with legal support immediately to help you protect your legitimate rights and interests. In addition, we can also provide you with patent monitoring services, promptly reporting to you dynamic information related to your patents worldwide."

"That's wonderful." Lin Zhou nodded in satisfaction. "I'd like to continue entrusting your firm with the follow-up patent protection services. What about the fees?"

"Don't worry about the cost, we'll give you the best price," David said with a smile. "After all, you're an important client of ours, and your patent has such a promising future. We hope to cooperate with you long-term."

The two then discussed the specifics of patent protection in detail. David patiently answered all of Lin Zhou's questions and developed a comprehensive patent protection plan for him. Lin Zhou was very satisfied with David's professional services and immediately signed a follow-up service contract with him, also paying off the remaining HKD 20,000 balance for the previous patent application.

After the matter was settled, Lin Zhou thanked David again: "Mr. David, thank you so much for your help this time. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

"You're too kind, Mr. Lin." David said with a smile as he escorted Lin Zhou to the office door. "I wish you continued success in your business, and I hope we will have more opportunities to cooperate in the future."

"Definitely." Lin Zhou nodded with a smile, then turned and left David's office.

Stepping out of the Global Patent Agency, Lin Zhou clutched the heavy file folder tightly, his heart brimming with ambition. The sunlight bathed him, warm and dazzling, mirroring his current mood. He looked up at the distant sky, his gaze resolute and confident.

Acquiring the global patent for the air fryer is just the first step in his business empire. Next, he needs to accelerate production, stockpile large quantities of stock, and launch the product into the global market once the trade fair begins, letting the world know about Zhonghua Appliances' air fryers and making his brand a global phenomenon.