Chapter 1672: Xia Qing's Fourth Exchange Plan

If Wu Chengyu had only offered ten million points, Xia Qing wouldn't have been tempted, but with the addition of the precision instruments developed by the big shot—especially those not yet on the market—Xia Qing was genuinely a little tempted.

Tempted as she was, she didn't fully trust Wu Chengyu and couldn't possibly let him, his family, or his dogs move into Territory Three or the Ninth Center.

Unable to accept his exchange terms yet wanting his supplies, she had to propose an exchange plan both sides could agree to.

The negotiation had begun!

Xia Qing's face was expressionless, her spirit vigorous, proceeding step by step.

First, she stated that her territory didn't meet the conditions. "Having your family and dogs move in, and guaranteeing their safety, would require me to hire more security personnel, which goes against my original intention of leaving the safe zone to enter the territory."

Then, Xia Qing explained that the Ninth Center couldn't accommodate them either. "The Ninth Planting Center was officially built by Hui-Three Base; its core function is farming and protecting Sange's safety. This will not change at any time."

Wu Chengyu nodded calmly. He had anticipated Xia Qing would refuse, but he hadn't expected her to refuse so directly and cleanly.

After making clear that the exchange conditions proposed by Boss Wu couldn't be met on her end, Xia Qing proposed a new plan. "The area where you landed when you arrived was cleared by Hui-Three Base last winter. The soil quality isn't great, but after soil improvement, crops can be grown there. If you agree, you can become the new lord of Northern District One, join the Territory Alliance, and become an ally of Sange and me."

Wu Chengyu endured a bout of stomach pain and asked calmly, "Director Xia, you mean for me to cooperate with Hui-Three's officials?"

Xia Qing, who was seriously studying micro-expressions, judged from Wu Chengyu's expression and tone that he was unwilling to deal with the officials. With an expressionless face, she abandoned the third plan and proposed the fourth—she would step forward to negotiate with Hui-Three Base's officials.

"Not with Hui-Three officials, but with Sange and me. The premise is—you hold the patent rights to those unmarketed precision instruments."

If Wu Chengyu didn't hold full licensing rights to the precision instruments, then once Xia Qing got the design drafts and produced the instruments, she could only use them herself and couldn't sell them externally—otherwise she'd have disputes with Lan-One's officials and attract a great deal of subsequent trouble.

The Territory Alliance Xia Qing had built with her allies had indeed grown strong, but it was in an entirely different weight class from Lan-One Base, the largest and most comprehensively powerful base in Lan City.

Wu Chengyu nodded. "I haven't applied for the patent yet. If I can reach a cooperation with Director Xia, I'll apply for the patent immediately, then sign an exclusive patent licensing agreement with you. Could you describe in detail how, after I become a lord here and a member of the Territory Alliance, you'll protect my family and... dogs, and ensure they can move freely within the territory?"

The two Border Collies lying on the floor raised their heads at the same time, looking at Wu Chengyu.

Wu Chengyu held the shallow water dish to their mouths. Because this meeting room was heated by a fireplace, the indoor temperature met the standard but the humidity was too low, so his dogs needed to replenish their water in time.

Wu Chengyu had never heard or used the term "family dogs" before, but he felt it was especially good. When he said it aloud, it was indescribably comforting to his heart.

The two Border Collies obediently stood up, quickly drank all the water in the shallow dish, then gently picked up the dish in their mouths and put it back in its place.

Xia Qing didn't directly answer Wu Chengyu's question. She stood up and first added water for the two Border Collies before asking, "Professor Wu, could you tell me about your wife and children?"

Wu Chengyu was slightly stunned, and a smile appeared on his pale, thin face.

He was somewhat of a celebrity domestically, so obtaining information about his family members would be very easy for Xia Qing. The fact that Xia Qing had never investigated showed that the information she had was the same as what Wu Chengyu had gathered: this lord with the largest territory in Hui-Three was very principled, focusing only on her own affairs, neither caring about nor seizing others' supplies.

As for whether ordinary people and evolvers had equal status and rights within the Territory Alliance she had built, Wu Chengyu didn't need to ask. He could visit the territories and verify it himself.

"My wife Shi Youning is an ordinary person, a Chinese Department lecturer at Lan-One University and director of the Lan City Human Continuity Archives. My son Wu Wencan is 13, my daughter Wu Wenjian is 4; neither has been detected with evolution abilities. All three of them have no disabilities or mental illnesses."

Survivors of the Calamity era, even those physically healthy, would more or less have some psychological issues. The fact that Wu Chengyu's family and dogs were all healthy was a manifestation of his ability.

If he hadn't gotten cancer, this big shot would never have left Lan-One and entered this territory with his two evolved dogs.

Xia Qing nodded and answered Wu Chengyu's earlier question. "I won't take your ten million points. I only want your instruments and design blueprints, then open a precision instrument factory to produce these instruments, and give you and your family a twenty percent share. Your territory joins our mutual aid alliance, your children can study at the school within the Ninth Center. As for the safety of your family and territory, you'll hire evolvers to guard them. If you don't have suitable candidates on your end, the alliance can provide a list of backup personnel."

That's it?

Wu Chengyu waited two seconds, confirmed Xia Qing had finished speaking, then asked seriously, "Director Xia, if I die from a failed surgery, or die from a recurrence after a successful surgery, could you provide assistance to my family and dogs?"

Xia Qing answered clearly, "Helping you secure that land, enclosing it within Northern District One's walls, making that territory's lord a member of the Territory Alliance, recommending trustworthy security personnel for you, and giving you a twenty percent share in the precision instrument factory—that is my complete exchange offer. If subsequently your family and dogs need my assistance, that would be a new transaction, and it depends on whether they can pay the corresponding price."

Wu Chengyu used his highly evolved brain domain to quickly analyze the conditions Xia Qing had proposed.

Xia Qing saw Wu Chengyu's worry and laid out the facts. "Professor Shi is healthy and learned; your eldest son is already 13, two years older than the youngest lord in our Territory Alliance. At that age, in the Calamity era, one can already shoulder responsibilities."

After finishing the Wu family's human resources, Xia Qing's gaze turned to the two evolved Border Collies squatting on either side of Wu Chengyu, staring at her solemnly. "These two beside you are evolved dogs in their prime, with intelligence no weaker than humans. Even if you're gone, they hold at least ten million points, and will receive a twenty percent dividend from the instrument factory every year thereafter. As long as no extreme natural disasters occur, they'll definitely survive. As for their quality of life, that depends on their survival ability."

The exchange conditions Xia Qing offered were entirely beyond Wu Chengyu's expectations. This was an opportunity mixed with risk. It might not be the easiest choice, but it was the only one that would let his family and dogs survive with their heads held high.

Wu Chengyu endured the pain and sat up straight, then asked solemnly, "I need to discuss with my family and dogs. May I give you an answer in three days?"