Chapter 81 (1/2)

Huang Jindi's condition had stabilized. However, this also meant that the chances of his condition improving were getting slimmer and slimmer. Huang Xuan enthusiastically offered financial aid to a few medical inst.i.tutions. The only thing he could do now was to sit and wait for their replies.

QIAGEN was the reagent company that Dutoit had chosen for him. It was a renowned company in Germany. It had patented technology for separation and purification of nucleic acids. Moreover, it became a global leader in biotechnology due to its high yield and purity. Huang Xuan, however, was not concerned about its products. He had offered to sponsor US$10,000,000, yet all he could do was to wait for a response.

Citigroup's suggestion was the California Inst.i.tute of Biomedical Research. In the industry, it was known as QB3. It was also one of the most prestigious inst.i.tutions in the world. The organization was made up of the top laboratories in the University of California, San Francisco, Berkeley, and Santa Cruz. Many n.o.bel Prize winners contributed to its development. Naturally, they were very careful with accepting sponsors. Huang Xuan similarly heard nothing from them.

Huang Jindi's condition was beginning to worsen. Each afternoon, he was only conscious for a short while. When Huang Xuan visited him again, Huang Jindi reached out for him semi-consciously. Weakly, he mouthed, ”Be brave.”

Huang Xuan thought he was. However, when he saw the condition of his once mighty grandfather, he became unexpectedly devastated.

Huang Qunsheng remained in the hospital. Zhang Xinyi ran back and forth between various meetings and negotiations. As Huang Xuan walked out of the hospital, he bit his lips and said, ”Brother Qing, please call Aubrey for me.”

”Okay.” Li Qing had followed Huang Qunsheng back to the country. Zhang Xinyi figured that it was best to let him follow her son, given how capable he had become. That way, he would at least have a driver.

Aubrey answered the phone call using broken Mandarin, ”Boss, good afternoon!”

”Good afternoon.” Huang Xuan wanted to laugh about it. However, when he recalled his grandfather's condition, he lost all humor. His face sunk. As he boarded the car, he asked, ”Mr. White, has QB3 gotten back to us?”

Although the California Inst.i.tute for Biomedical Research was equally troublesome, the Germans' QIAGEN had far too many problems which required time to resolve. These included obtaining visas. Additionally, Huang Xuan wanted to test the formula which Guy had handed to him earlier. Huang Xuan trusted QB3 with this more than companies that were driven solely by profit.

Aubrey had guessed that Huang Xuan would question him. However, he still hesitated for a moment before answering, ”I'm sorry, you know what politicians in Was.h.i.+ngton are like...”

”Mr. White!” Huang Xuan exclaimed. ”I thought Citibank could familiarize us with the Western market and techniques, so I tolerated their inefficiency. However, Mr. White, if they're both inefficient and incapable of helping me, then I apologize for what I have to do.”

Aubrey began to panic. Not only did Huang Xuan have US$100 million in Citibank, Capres and the Xihuang Industrial Company were also the envy of many others. He hurriedly said, ”Mr. Huang, please give me one more week. I'll definitely...”

”No, Mr. White!” Huang Xuan emphasized each word. ”I do not have a week to wait! I want you to listen to me now!”

”Yes.”

”I can afford to spend a little more money, but I want to make sure that I get what I pay for. Do you understand?”

”Yes.”

”I know there are countless lobbyists in Was.h.i.+ngton: politicians, upper-cla.s.s lawyers, former senior government officials, public relations experts, and political advisers. You also know countless senators, representatives from the House of Representatives, the President, and the former President. I only want one thing, and you know what it is. Right?”

”Yes.” Aubrey swallowed. Huang Xuan's tone reminded him of the tough fellas on the Board of Directors.

Huang Xuan softened his tone and said, ”I will only wait one more day. ONLY one more day! Do you understand?”

Aubrey paused for a moment. He answered with a long and confident, ”Yes!”

Huang Xuan let out a long sigh. He finally leaned back in his seat. The Bentley he was in was his mother's second vehicle. She had specially given it to Huang Xuan to reward him for his accomplishments. It also doubled up as a surprise birthday gift. The fact that they had only gotten it less than three years before, and that Li Qing was good at driving, meant that car rides were always comfortable for Huang Xuan.

There were only cans of Coca Cola, fruit juice, and tea left in the car's mini refrigerator. The red wine and whiskey had been stored back at home. Huang Xuan brewed himself a cup of Kopi Luwak coffee. It was said that the coffee beans had been defecated by civets. Although it sounded disgusting, the taste was amazing. The coffee was thick and fragrant — it tasted lovely. This was what Zhang Xinyi told Huang Xuan. He didn't fancy the caramel taste of the coffee before, but when he tasted it again after what he had been through, he fell in love with the richness of it.

En route home, Huang Xuan thought of Aubrey once again. If they failed to agree, Huang Xuan would have no choice but to sneak into a laboratory. Rolin had already reserved 50,000,000 kWh of energy for this — that was sufficient to take over half of the city. However, Huang Xuan shuddered when he thought of the possible consequences of doing this. It would probably take them years to clean up that mess.

More importantly, Huang Xuan was unsure if Rolin, and himself, would be able to produce the medicine they wanted in such a short time. What's more, they had to conduct clinical tests to determine the medicine's toxicology and pharmaceutical properties...

The next morning, Huang Xuan met Aubrey. The financial experts who were present had bloodshot eyes from working through the night.

Although Citigroup was a huge financial group, it was challenging for the middle management level to network with them.

In reality, Huang Xuan's request was easy to fulfill. However, it was not easy for Aubrey to fulfill it on his own. Originally, he had only been prepared to manage US$2,000,000. He hadn't thought that this golden opportunity would fall from the sky; Huang Xuan's investments skyrocketed, far exceeding the amount that Aubrey was capable of managing. He was evidently in a more difficult position than Dutoit.

Therefore, when Huang Xuan gave him an ultimatum, he had no choice but to seek help from those above him. Despite that, one day was far too short. They failed to move the firm QB3.

Aubrey was slightly nervous when he stepped into Huang Xuan's house. He felt like he did when he went for his first interview after graduating from university. After he had shaken Huang Xuan's hand, he said, ”Mr. Huang, we have met with some problems trying to fulfill your request.”

Huang Xuan had stopped learning languages through the base. However, in merely one month, he had built a solid foundation. Practicing with his mother and speaking to Aubrey and the others also improved his English drastically. He could now hold a proper conversation without a translator. In an Eastern accent, he asked, ”What problems?”

”Due to time constraints, QB3 needs to hold a meeting to discuss your request. I mean, although we've provided them with financial support, they're unwilling to specially set aside a laboratory and manpower for you.” Despite Huang Xuan's explanations, Aubrey and the rest were still under the impression that he wanted to manufacture some strange Chinese medicine. Of course, this was not far from the truth.

”In other words, you've failed?”

”No, no.” Aubrey licked his lips nervously like his friends from Brooks. He continued, ”Actually, we contacted a major client for you, Pfizer Group. They're one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies — among the top 500.”