Chapter 74: A Coincidental Deal

Obviously, Third Uncle thought Xu Zhiquan was deliberately holding onto the factory and its equipment, planning to wait two more years for a comeback.

Third Uncle continued:

“Second Brother, take my advice and just shut down the factory for good!

Sell me the buildings and machines, then you can focus fully on the seedling business!”

“I remember you once told me that burning your boats with no way back is the only way to succeed!

Yet you’re still clinging to this factory—it’s just a mental block stopping you from throwing yourself wholeheartedly into seedlings!”

Xu Chen blinked in surprise. He didn’t expect Third Uncle’s smooth pitch; he really knew how to persuade people.

But unfortunately, Third Uncle had already dug his own hole before offering advice…

Fourth Uncle Xu Zhilin listened silently, speechless.

It seemed his Third Brother truly believed Xu Zhiquan only turned to the seedling trade because losing that factory order left him no choice.

Yet Xu Zhilin knew very well that his brother’s pivot wasn’t a desperate survival move but a bold, promising venture.

Just landing one of those two or three seedling project bids would earn far more than the old foundry parts business ever did…

Back then, Third Uncle Xu Zhihai and Fourth Uncle Xu Zhilin both followed Second Brother Xu Zhiquan to start the factory.

Later, Third Uncle got cocky, revealed his true nature, and forced a split—showing no care for brotherly ties, leaving chaos behind.

He even tried to poach business and secretly sabotaged them…

Fourth Uncle had seen all these actions and despised them.

He’d long since lost respect for his Third Brother…

Third Uncle Xu Zhihai ran his hand through his greasy hair and added:

“Second Brother, think it over—if you’re willing to sell the factory and equipment, I’ll take them off your hands!

I just got a loan from the bank and am itching to get a factory up and running.

Buying yours would save me prep time so I can start production sooner.

You’ve switched to seedlings anyway; those old machines are just gathering dust!

Don’t mind my bluntness—there aren’t many big orders out there now. Your foundry parts factory has little chance of a comeback.

Better to sell the place and throw yourself into farming!”

Fourth Uncle looked up at Xu Zhiquan, actually tempted.

He was in charge of external procurement and strapped for cash.

Selling the factory to Third Uncle would solve their immediate cash crunch.

Xu Zhiquan puffed on his cigarette, expression unreadable, as if still weighing it.

He paused a moment, then spoke:

“Third Brother, knowing you as I do, I never thought you’d主动 come to me with this.

Last time you asked for those bid documents, you must’ve been out of options.

What made you think of me this time?”

Third Uncle Xu Zhihai chuckled twice, glanced at Xu Chen, and said:

“We have Xu Xiaoyang to thank for this!

I didn’t even know you still had the factory and equipment.

Xiaoyang bumped into Xiaocheng playing games in the city and brought it up.

Our Xiaoyang is thoughtful—even at his young age he worries about the family business and reminded me immediately.

My boy’s sharp—he’ll outshine me one day!”

Xu Zhiquan inhaled, then looked at Xu Chen.

His expression was odd, but he quickly smiled at his son.

Xu Chen blinked innocently, as if to say, “Dad, don’t look at me—this has nothing to do with me…”

Xu Zhiquan stubbed out his cigarette and said,

“Third Brother, come inside. Let’s talk price.”

Third Uncle laughed again, tucked his satchel under his arm, and strode indoors.

Fourth Uncle and Xu Zhiquan also turned and went inside.

Eldest Uncle’s son Xu Xin hesitated but didn’t follow.

Xu Chen politely said, “Brother, come in and have some fruit.”

Xu Xin looked awkward and replied,

“No thanks. I’ll wait in the car.”

He turned and climbed into the driver’s seat.

Xu Chen returned to washing the car with Li Rui.

…

Nearly an hour later, the three brothers emerged from the house.

Third Uncle held his satchel, looking very pleased.

He shook Xu Zhiquan’s hand and said,

“Second Brother, this deal’s done. Here’s to your seedling business opening soon!”

Xu Zhiquan just smiled without replying.

Third Uncle then turned to Fourth Uncle and said with a grin,

“Fourth Brother, if things don’t work out here, come work for me!

My factory could use you—I’ll make you Vice President!”

Xu Zhilin’s expression was cold as he said,

“No thanks. I won’t work anywhere but with Second Brother.”

Third Uncle sneered, then strode toward his Audi A4.

Eldest Uncle’s son Xu Xin got out and opened the rear door.

At the car, Third Uncle said,

“Alright, it’s settled. Tomorrow I’ll come to the factory grounds; we’ll sign the contract and complete the handover!”

Xu Zhiquan said nothing, nodding with the cigarette between his lips.

The engine roared to life.

The black Audi A4 U-turned and drove off…

Only then did Fourth Uncle Xu Zhilin break into a smile and turn to Xu Zhiquan:

“Second Brother, this is fantastic!

I never expected Third Brother to solve our funding problem.”

Xu Zhiquan squinted through his smoke and said,

“Third Brother’s really put his money where his mouth is…

He can’t get that factory order without burning cash!

No factory or equipment, no way he finishes the job!”

Xu Zhiquan’s face flickered with complexity:

“I guess we all get what we need… I wish him well.”

Fourth Uncle half-joked:

“Whether he succeeds or not, we sure did once we sold the factory and equipment!”

Fourth Uncle glanced at Xu Chen:

“Xiaochen, it sounds like this all happened thanks to you!”

Xu Chen looked innocent:

“It really wasn’t me. I just talked to Xu Xiaoyang while gaming! How could I know he’d go home and urge his dad to buy our factory?”

Xu Zhiquan laughed,

“That was quite the coincidence!”

Xu Chen:

“Dad, I’m heading straight back to school. With the college entrance exams coming up, I need to study!”

Xu Zhiquan:

“Let Li Rui drive you there.”

Li Rui stood by the car and promptly replied.

Xu Zhiquan waved to his son: “Come on in.”

Inside the study, Xu Zhiquan opened the safe and said,

“Do you have enough pocket money? Feel free to take whatever’s in here!”

Xu Chen looked down to see stacks of cash.

“Dad… you just gave me a few thousand last week. As a high schooler, I can’t spend it all!”

Xu Zhiquan said seriously,

“All this money is yours!

You saved me 120,000 yuan on fertilizer yesterday, and Third Brother just brought in a few hundred thousand…

All this was earned by you for your old man!”