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The open area in front of the camp was a bustling scene.

Feng Shan and a group of men began to remove the thermal wrappings. As they unwound layer after layer of the fabric strips, the tightly bound branches sprang loose, revealing the fruit trees within.

Although the branches had been tightly wrapped for protection, you could still see the damage inflicted on them by the extreme cold.

Leaves fluttered to the ground, leaving only bare branches. Some new shoots, tender twigs, and weaker branches had withered and died from the low temperatures.

"Hurry up and plant them in the holes we dug." Feng Shan waved, signaling for Yves to bring over the small utility vehicle.

Back when they were building the airport runway, Manager Sam from the Arctic Slope construction team had left all the small utility vehicles for Feng Shan when he departed.

These vehicles were equipped with attachments for laying foundations and could dig a hole in just a few minutes.

First thing in the morning, Feng Shan had Yves dig planting holes all around the camp.

Although the vehicle’s tracks were highly destructive to the camp’s moss, it would recover quickly under the care of the Fire Seed.

The first batch of fruit trees delivered by helicopter numbered over forty, consisting mainly of apple trees.

The utility vehicle dragged the fruit trees over to the area around the fire pit. The saplings that had originally been planted there had already been dug up and moved to the riverbank.

Yves controlled the mechanical arm to lift a fruit tree and place it in a hole, while the others used shovels to bury its roots with soil.

A fruit tree was planted in less than ten minutes.

However, even though it was planted, whether it would survive was still an unknown.

No one around had ever seen trees planted in such a hurry.

Besides, mature fruit trees were different from saplings. Saplings could adapt to the soil and environment of the Crown Territory, but fully grown trees had already developed a relatively fixed growth pattern in their previous environment, with specific requirements for soil texture, pH, and nutrient composition.

Abruptly changing its planting location, on top of the sudden shift in temperature, was like taking an old man accustomed to the comforts of his long-time home and suddenly throwing him into a completely unfamiliar residence.

It was very likely to cause the fruit tree’s death.

Spending so much money only to end up with a batch of dead trees would undoubtedly be a huge loss.

But Feng Shan didn’t think so.

’With the Fire Seed in my possession, it’s easier to keep them alive than to let them die.’

The moment the fruit tree was buried in the soil, the Fire Seed slowly released an invisible energy that seeped into the earth, nourishing the tree’s root system.

「Time passed.」

One by one, fruit trees were quietly erected throughout the camp.

Although their branches were currently leafless and their bare appearance was indeed a bit unsightly, they faintly exuded a tenacious life force.

According to Feng Shan’s plan, the fruit trees would sprout new buds in just a few days.

「Three hours later.」

A roar echoed from the sky once more as the helicopter delivered the second batch of fruit trees.

Unloading, planting—the site was a hive of activity.

As more and more trees were planted, the once-empty camp gradually became vibrant with life.

After they finished planting the fruit trees within the camp, the operation moved to the area outside it.

Amidst the roar of machinery, patches of fruit groves were scattered across the vast, originally flat expanse of moss.

Feng Shan handed the tree-planting work over to Yves, planning to sneak away for a break.

Just as he crossed the wooden bridge, he saw the Xu siblings walking toward him. Young Master Xu was sporting a pair of black eyes and had several scratch marks on his face, looking both pathetic and comical.

"Mr. Feng, do you have a moment?" Xu Hongxin stopped Feng Shan.

"What is it?" Feng Shan’s gaze shifted to Young Master Xu, who sheepishly looked up, trying to hide his face and mumbling incoherently.

"I’ve already spoken with my cousin. Now I need to ask for your opinion." Xu Hongxin glanced toward the bar, then discreetly kicked Young Master Xu.

Young Master Xu covered his face and said awkwardly, "Brother Feng, let’s talk. It’s not like you have anything to lose."

"Let’s go."

Feng Shan held back a laugh. Young Master Xu had clearly gotten the worst of it; his face was a mess, and he still had to act so humbly.

The three of them walked into the bar. Before Feng Shan could speak, Xu Hongxin skillfully ordered three drinks from the server.

「After they sat down.」

Xu Hongxin didn’t waste any time and went straight to her collaboration proposal.

In the initial stages, everything would remain the same: Feng Shan’s fishing company would be responsible for catching seafood, and Young Master Xu would handle purchasing. The only addition would be a final sales stage, which Xu Hongxin would be in charge of.

Of course, Feng Shan would also need to provide authorization for the use of the Crown Territory trademark.

Trademark authorization.

’Didn’t Young Master Xu already register that? Why are they asking me for authorization now?’

Seeing Young Master Xu blinking at him repeatedly, Feng Shan seemed to understand.

Xu Hongxin placed a document on the table.

"Mr. Feng, I know the Crown Territory trademark is in your hands. As the seller, I will pay a separate trademark licensing fee."

"Of course, I’ll need a contract stipulating that in the future, the catch from the River Beach and your fishing company can only be sold to us."

Feng Shan smiled.

’This woman might look gentle, but she’s got a huge appetite. She not only wants to monopolize my boat, but me as well.’

"An exclusive deal? What’s in it for me? You should know that I have no trouble selling my catch. If you don’t believe me, you can go to Saint Paul Island and see for yourself. When the River Beach docks, tons of buyers are waving checks, begging me for a small piece of my quota."

As if she had anticipated Feng Shan would ask this, Xu Hongxin replied calmly.

"I can guarantee that your profits won’t suffer any loss, and there will even be room for growth. I can pay 30% above the highest purchase price of the day."

"Fifty percent, or the deal’s off." Feng Shan also made an exorbitant demand. After all, he had no problem selling his catch.

Xu Hongxin nodded immediately. "Deal. But the contract has to be for ten years."

’Ten years!!’

’This young lady isn’t very tall, but she sure has a big appetite. Trying to get rich in one go.’

Feng Shan shook his head and picked up his glass, taking a small sip.

"Sorry, the most I’ll sign is a two-year contract. Don’t say another word. If you try to negotiate further, we can just drop it. You need me, I don’t need you."

"But..." Xu Hongxin was very dissatisfied with a two-year term.

’I’m going to be spending real money to build the Crown Territory seafood brand. But with only two years, just as I get the brand established, I’ll have to hand it over to someone else. I might as well not do it at all.’

The word had barely left her mouth before Young Master Xu clapped a hand over it. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Brother Feng, two years is fine! I’ll make the call, we agree!"

Seeing this, Feng Shan smiled, drained his glass in one gulp, and stood up. "Then it’s settled. You guys draft the contract, and I’ll have my lawyer come sign it. See you around!"

She watched Feng Shan’s back disappear through the bar’s entrance.

Xu Hongxin ripped the hand away from her mouth and glared at Young Master Xu. "What are you doing? Who gave you the right to agree? What can we possibly do in two years? Do you have any idea how much manpower, resources, and capital we’ll have to invest, only to pave the way for someone else in the end?"

"Is your brain filled with alcohol? Your dream might be to be a useless freeloader, but that has nothing to do with me."

BANG!

Young Master Xu slammed his hand on the table, his face flushed with anger.

"You’re the one with a pig’s brain! This is the best option we have right now. Didn’t you understand what Brother Feng just said?"

"We need him, he doesn’t need us! He has no trouble selling the catch from his boat. That fifty percent increase? He was doing me a favor. Even if he doubled the price, there would be plenty of people willing to buy. Your head is the one that’s muddled. Not everyone has to rely on the Xu Family to survive."

"Out here, you’d better drop your ’young miss of the Xu Family’ act and think things through properly."

With that, Young Master Xu strode out of the bar.

Xu Hongxin stared blankly at her departing cousin.

For as long as she could remember, this unreliable cousin had always acted like a profligate heir, never taking anything seriously, caring only about having fun and indulging himself. But the words he spoke today made him seem like a complete stranger.

A breeze blew into the bar through the crack in the door, gently brushing against her face, as if to remind her that the world was not as simple as she had thought.

Here in the Far North, the glory of the Xu Family was perhaps not as dazzling as she had imagined.

Xu Hongxin fell into deep thought, beginning to re-evaluate her actions and attitude, and ponder how she should proceed in the future.

「Just outside the bar.」

Young Master Xu’s legs nearly gave out. He stumbled a few steps to a newly planted fruit tree and leaned against it, gasping for breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

’The heavens have eyes!’

’I actually managed to yell at Xu Hongxin for once.’

’And it felt so damn good.’

’Back home, that damn girl, banking on the elders’ affection, was always bossing me around and giving me trouble with that condescending tone of hers.’

’I’m screwed.’

’I just called her a pig-brain. If that damn girl gets over it and snitches on me, I’m in for another beating.’

Young Master Xu pulled out his phone and called Su Ziweng.

He needed Su Ziweng to come up with a plan to get him through this crisis.

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