Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

After saying that, Zhang Dabiao turned and left. What a joke! Previously, when Xiao Rizi offered a 5-year license for $10, representatives from their country were present but didn't bid. Now, they've come—they clearly understand the immense market value of this thing.

Why are they lowering prices instead of raising them?

Want another 20-year license?

Dream on!

If Lou Yufan's price is lower than the annual licensing fee for Japan, Zhang Dabiao is prepared to go to Hong Kong to offer his services.

Go ahead and yell at him!

They've gone so far as to ruin their business with dogs!

Director Zhao and the others did not stop him, nor did they try to persuade him of any grand principles.

Tian Youfu, the deputy director who criticized Zhang Dabiao for being presumptuous last time, has been demoted and is having a tough time lately. They don't want to follow in his footsteps.

The most crucial point is that Zhang Dabiao is not one of their department members; he is merely a "nominal" designer.

Furthermore, the patent application was permitted by their department, but the patent holder is Lou Yufan.

No matter what you say, this matter has little to do with Zhang Dabiao.

But as soon as Zhang Dabiao stepped out, he was stopped by someone arranged by Director Zhao and taken to another place to talk.

Then, Zhang Dabiao was surrounded by even more leaders...

There were leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Ministry of Light Industry, and even former leaders from the Ministry of Metallurgy...

Zhang Dabiao was a little scared—

What the hell is going on now?

What the hell did I do wrong this time?

Why make such a big fuss?

Seeing that Zhang Dabiao seemed a little hesitant, Director Zhao smiled and offered him a cigarette, then had his secretary serve him tea before explaining the situation to him.

The prices Lou Yufan quoted to these three companies in Hong Kong—

5 years, $20, non-exclusivity.

Or 10 years, $30, divided by region—such as BIC being limited to Europe, meaning that other European countries will not be authorized;

Zippo is limited to the Americas, while Cartier is limited to the Commonwealth.

As for sales, that's none of our business.

A complete buyout is impossible. Lou Yufan is still hoping to make more money from this patent in batches, and then raise the price again in 10 years depending on the market situation, right?

In reality, no one understands this market, but the Japanese have already ventured into it and the market response has been very good. It sells extremely well in Asia, so the great British and French are tempted to seize the market first.

There's also some good news: a French furniture manufacturer has bought the patent for the push-down mop for $5 over 10 years. The money should arrive in the next few days, and then I'll transfer it to Zhang Dabiao.

Zhang Dabiao was startled when he heard this. It meant that, including these three companies today, the lighter authorization...

Can you buy it for as low as $70? (Xiao Rizi is the first one, with a $10 patent licensing fee over 5 years)

Adding the $5 for the mop, I'll take 8% of it, which translates to...

75万*0.8*2.4618（汇率）=147万7080人民币？！

A millionaire for 60 years?!

Zhang Dabiao was stunned...

This is insane...

Having money is good, but he can't use it to invest or do business in Hong Kong because it's all been locked up by the ministry.

Aside from depositing money in the bank and letting it accrue interest, Zhang Dabiao had no autonomy whatsoever.

For example, if Zhang Dabiao takes out 10 yuan today, someone will immediately come and ask him what he is going to do with it.

First, you can't do business. Second, Zhang Dabiao, you have no worries about food and clothing and don't lack rent. You're still studying. What do you need so much money for?

So, apart from remaining on paper, Zhang Dabiao couldn't do anything before the reform and opening up.

And this is a death warrant...

Moreover, once you make money in foreign exchange, everyone in the department and neighborhood knows about it, and they'll even send you banners of appreciation...

Can't you be a little more low-key?

Zhang Dabiao was at his wit's end.

"So, what do you want to do?"

Zhang Dabiao didn't understand what Director Zhao meant. Why was he making such a big fuss and saying so much to him?

"Da Biao, this money will also go through the ministry's account, and the ministry will help you exchange it for RMB. Is that alright?" Director Zhao said in a friendly tone.

Zhang Dabiao was powerless to object. "I did want to keep some of the US dollars to do business in Hong Kong, but it's easy to find out who bought the patent and how much they spent. It can't be kept secret."

Once Lou Yufan transfers the money to me, I can only redeem it through the official website; I can't keep it for myself.

Furthermore, since Lou Yufan is not a relative, the money cannot be deposited in the bank in US dollars and must be exchanged.

I've already discussed it with the department, and I can't make the decision myself, so how can I refuse?

He said he wanted to keep a sum of US dollars?

How is that possible?

So Zhang Dabiao could only nod: "No problem."

Director Zhao then asked Zhang Dabiao in a "friendly" tone, "Dabiao, the country urgently needs foreign exchange. Could you design something else to generate more foreign exchange for the country?"

Zhang Dabiao narrowed his eyes: "Design something else? Generate foreign exchange? How?"

"Director Zhao, please explain in detail."

Director Zhao was a little embarrassed, but he still mustered up the courage to say, "For example, could we design some inventions that the Ministry of Light Industry and the Ministry of Metallurgy could use, inventions that could be exported and generate foreign exchange?"

"Or maybe that instant noodle you made last time, the Yi Fu Noodles, could you collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Health on that?"

He hesitated to say what he was about to say, then coughed. A leader from the Ministry of Light Industry next to him said in a bureaucratic tone, "Or if you have any good designs or inventions, you can register them in Hong Kong in the name of the ministry. We'll cover the costs for you this time."

Zhang Dabiao chuckled: "Oh, so you guys helped cover the patent registration fees this time. When the licensing fees come in, will they go to me or you?"

The leader said in a serious tone, "If the patent is registered with the state's payment and is registered in the name of the ministry, then the patent licensing fee naturally belongs to the state."

"But don't worry, Comrade Zhang Dabiao, the country won't treat you unfairly. You'll receive a reward, and after you graduate, you can choose any job you want from these departments. You'll be a cadre position right away!"

"Young people need to have a broad perspective. The country's foreign exchange reserves are tight, and this is precisely the time when your contribution is needed."

That's what I meant...

Director Zhao wanted to hit someone, but he was also in a dilemma.

He was too ashamed to say it aloud, but he couldn't stop the leaders of other departments from having the same idea.

Isn't this just a case of taking advantage of someone and then leaving them with nothing?

Zhang Dabiao chuckled as he smoked, "Do I need your money? With my abilities and the share the Lou family receives, they would be 100% happy to subsidize my patent application if I have any new designs or inventions."

"I don't have to spend any money to apply for a patent!"

"Or, I could make a phone call and ask them not to transfer the money to me, but to keep it for them to use when applying for a patent later. That would also work."

The official slammed his fist on the table: "You dare?! You still want to open a separate account in Hong Kong? This is colluding with foreign powers! This is treason!"

Zhang Dabiao spread his hands: "No need to open an account, Lou's Trading Company can hold it on my behalf, and I can just give it to them when I need it."

"My money is neither stolen nor robbed. I'm free to put it wherever I want and however I want it, isn't that my prerogative?"

"Director Zhao, am I breaking the law by doing this?"

Director Zhao smiled awkwardly: "Da Biao, it's best to send the authorization fee back to China directly, since we're the ones on our side."

Zhang Dabiao coldly took a drag of his cigarette: "So, you're one of us? You're just targeting my patent licensing fees? You think you can just pay a registration fee and take all the future value my patents will generate? Are you trying to make me a lifelong servant for you? Sign a contract of servitude, and all my inventions belong to you?"

"Lou Yufan may be a capitalist, but he has a contract in hand and can split the profits 20/80. But what about this leader?"

"Good heavens, he wants them all!"

"This is called bureaucratic style, extortion and plunder!"

"Even landlords and capitalists in the old society wouldn't dare to be this ruthless!"