However, the main source of income for the common people on the island was still fishing.
Crops were also planted on the island, but because typhoons wreaked havoc every year, the harvests were never good.
If a factory could be built, it would undoubtedly be a shot in the arm for the entire island.
Su Lang glanced at his watch. "There's still time. Please have a seat; I'll be right back."
He quickly changed into his military uniform, put on his hat, and went out.
Deputy Factory Director Qian asked, "Where is Comrade Su Lang going?"
Lin Zhilan smiled. "He should be going to invite the leaders."
"So fast?" Deputy Factory Director Qian was dumbfounded.
Lin Zhilan guessed right. After a while, Division Commander Qin, Director Liu, the local county party secretary, and the county magistrate all arrived.
That wasn't all. A moment later, a pickup truck drove up to the door, and a vigorous older man stepped out.
Everyone immediately gathered around him.
Su Lang walked up behind Lin Zhilan and said softly, "This is Commander Gu."
Lin Zhilan frowned.
Gu—the same surname as the male lead. In other words, the man before her was the male lead's grandfather, the commander.
With people watching outside, Commander Gu simply walked into the courtyard. As soon as the courtyard door closed, he immediately said, "Who's going to tell me about this factory-building business?"
Su Lang patted his wife's shoulder and gently pushed her forward a step.
"I'll explain," Lin Zhilan said, briefly outlining the situation before adding, "Our island has land, people, and my medical formulas. Why can't we build our own pharmaceutical factory?"
Commander Gu's eyes were sharp. "Are you really that confident in your formula?"
Lin Zhilan was not afraid in the slightest. "Yes."
Director Liu said, "Commander, I can testify to that. I've used Dr. Lin's rheumatism pain-relief ointment, and the effects are excellent!"
Commander Gu pondered for a moment. "Can a pharmaceutical factory survive relying on just one medicine?"
This was exactly what Deputy Factory Director Qian was most conflicted about.
Right now, there were too few formulas.
The higher-ups absolutely wouldn't dare to invest on a large scale.
But if the scale was too small, it seemed somewhat unnecessary for him to give up his position as deputy factory director to come here.
Lin Zhilan lowered her head and thought for a moment. "I can provide a few more formulas."
Deputy Factory Director Qian's eyes widened in shock. "Dr. Lin, you... just how many formulas do you have?"
Lin Zhilan's eyes flickered. "Director Qian, how many formulas are needed to apply to the higher-ups to build a factory?"
Deputy Factory Director Qian calculated in his mind, suppressing the number as much as possible, and gritted his teeth. "At least five."
"I have them," Lin Zhilan said.
"What? Dr. Lin, you're not mistaken, are you? I'm talking about formulas on the level of the rheumatism pain-relief ointment."
"Yes, I can provide them." Lin Zhilan immediately listed out five. She was completely unaware of how astonishing her words were, speaking as casually as if she were talking about what she ate for the day.
Rheumatism pain relief, trauma and injury, clearing heat and detoxifying, wind-heat colds, sore throat...
Five completely different formulas.
Deputy Factory Director Qian was already too shocked to speak.
Commander Gu laughed heartily. "Good, good, good! It looks like our island will successfully establish this pharmaceutical factory."
He looked at Deputy Factory Director Qian. "And who are you, comrade?"
Deputy Factory Director Qian hurriedly introduced himself: "Hello, Chief. I am Qian Changling, the Deputy Factory Director of the Capital Pharmaceutical Factory. I came this time for Dr. Lin's rheumatism pain-relief ointment..."
"Alright, alright," Commander Gu interrupted before he could finish. "You can go back now. We have our own pharmaceutical factory now; we're not giving it to your capital."
"Ah?" Deputy Factory Director Qian's mind went blank.
He had originally been a little hesitant, but now that he wasn't allowed to participate, he suddenly felt like he had lost a massive treasure.
"Dr. Lin," Deputy Factory Director Qian smiled bitterly. "Please, say a word for me."
Lin Zhilan was also a bit startled by Commander Gu's rogue style, and she smiled. "Commander Gu, starting a pharmaceutical factory requires a lot of paperwork, and this formula also needs to be sent to the capital for inspection and approval. The procedures involved are complex, so I'm afraid we really will have to rely on Director Qian's help."
Commander Gu asked, "You can't do it?"
Lin Zhilan shook her head.
Commander Gu then looked at Director Liu, who also waved his hands repeatedly.
Seeing this, Deputy Factory Director Qian immediately stated his position: "I can handle all of that, and I can also contact people for the machinery and packaging."
After all, he had worked at the Capital Pharmaceutical Factory for so many years; he still had some connections and resources on hand.
Director Liu whispered into Commander Gu's ear, "Commander, for him to reach the position of Deputy Factory Director at the Capital Pharmaceutical Factory, he's a talent. We have to keep him."
Commander Gu immediately changed his tune, laughing loudly as he shook Deputy Factory Director Qian's hand. "Comrade Qian Changling, right? Our pharmaceutical factory needs talents exactly like you. You must stay."
Deputy Factory Director Qian's eyes filled with tears. "Don't worry, Chief. I will definitely do my absolute best."
It didn't matter if the leader changed faces quickly, as long as he supported the work.
Commander Gu also knew that Lin Zhilan's formulas were the foundation of the pharmaceutical factory, but how could he tie down this talent?
He looked at Su Lang.
He was quite good-looking, the type that young female comrades liked.
Later, he would have to speak with him privately and tell him to properly cherish his family and marriage.
Commander Gu looked at Lin Zhilan and smiled. "Dr. Lin, how about you become the factory director?"
Lin Zhilan politely declined. "Commander, I don't understand management, and my primary job is being a doctor. The position of factory director should be left to a more suitable candidate."
Lin Zhilan loved the medical profession. The sense of accomplishment from curing patients satisfied her much more than the sense of accomplishment from making more money.
Otherwise, in her past life, she could have just coasted by on a few patents instead of working herself to the bone in the hospital.
"However, I do have a few conditions," Lin Zhilan said.
Commander Gu said, "Speak."
"First, if these five formulas are all approved, I hope the hospital can help me apply for a reward and also raise my administrative rank."
With a higher rank, her salary would also increase.
Director Liu immediately said, "That can be done."
This condition itself was in accordance with regulations.
"Second," Lin Zhilan looked around. The military region leaders and local leaders were all present in the courtyard. She said solemnly, "I request that the male-to-female ratio of the employees recruited by the pharmaceutical factory be 2 to 8."
The county party secretary blurted out, "2 for men, 8 for women?"
Lin Zhilan said, "Yes."
Everyone looked at each other in dismay, finding this request both strange and baffling.
"Dr. Lin, how about a fifty-fifty split? After all, men have more strength and energy than women."
Lin Zhilan shook her head. "Leader, a pharmaceutical factory doesn't involve much heavy physical labor. Besides, the women on the island are not weak; you just have to look at the sea women to know that."
Thinking of the look in the eyes of the pregnant woman's eldest daughter, Lin Zhilan still felt a bit chilled.
At seventeen, an age blooming like a flower, the girl's eyes had looked like those of an elderly person in their twilight years, devoid of any vitality.
The island was isolated, and many people never left it their entire lives.
The patriarchal mindset here was deeply entrenched.
Many girls were sent to learn diving at a very young age, in the hopes that they could gather abalones and sea urchins to subsidize their family's income.
There were also many girls who were abandoned by their parents as soon as they were born. Sea women without children of their own would take them home, only for the girls to repeat their tragic fates.
