In Li Yulong’s shelter, he looked at Chen Xin and the special forces soldier standing beside him, his eyes filled with envy and undisguised shock.

Li Yulong was certainly very impressed by Chen Xin, especially since the apocalyptic disaster struck. Chen Xin’s various responses and his transformation after the disaster made Li Yulong see him in a new light and admire him even more.

But he never imagined that Chen Xin would become an academician at the highest science academy in Flame Country, and have special forces assigned for personal protection.

This kind of treatment could only be seen in online novels before. In reality, which of those academicians isn’t of high age, virtue, and with a plethora of publications to earn such treatment?

"Brother Chen, you are truly amazing with the academician title and special forces protection, such prestige! If there’s ever anything I can help with, you must let me know!" Li Yulong praised Chen Xin.

Coming from a merchant family, he had almost an innate instinct and ancestral skill about whom to flatter, network with, and the attitude to adopt.

However, to Chen Xin, these were things he had heard so often lately that his ears were practically calloused.

And for Chen Xin, who considered Li Yulong as a brother and friend, he didn’t like him being like this now.

"If you keep talking like that, do you believe I’ll punch you?" Chen Xin shook his head, saying to Li Yulong, "If there’s a benefit, you won’t miss out, and if there’s trouble, you won’t miss that either. I consider you a brother, so don’t play games with me."

Upon hearing Chen Xin say this, Li Yulong immediately laughed, but his expression became much more natural: "Hehe, it’s just that Brother Chen, you’ve become so incredible all of a sudden, I’m having a hard time adjusting!"

"What’s so hard to adjust to, aren’t we still interacting as before?" Chen Xin said indifferently, but he was well aware that it was impossible to truly interact as before.

Back when writing novels, it was often depicted that some people in high positions wanted to interact and have fun with friends as before but couldn’t. Even though they maintained their past mindset, as their identity and status changed, friends around them could no longer return to the past.

Calculations of various gains and losses, there was no longer the simple and straightforward manner of the past.

Originally, Chen Xin thought this only happened in novels or was only felt by those really in high positions, lamenting the coldness at the heights, but now he had to experience the same feelings himself.

Li Yulong, as a second-generation rich kid, was originally the best-off among Chen Xin’s group of friends. Combined with his decent personality, everyone was willing to interact with him, considering him a friend and brother. Although they didn’t flatter him because of his status, it inevitably had some impact.

But now, even second-generation rich like Li Yulong had to flatter and please Chen Xin. With the previous Deputy Mayor being careful about him, it forced Chen Xin to reflect. Indeed, once the identity changes, not only do the people you interact with change, but others’ attitudes towards you undergo a significant change as well.

Taking a moment to calm himself, clearing away these unnecessary thoughts, Chen Xin finally spoke to Li Yulong: "I’m here to discuss serious business with you."

"Brother Chen, speak, I won’t shirk from anything I can accomplish!" Li Yulong saw Chen Xin’s serious expression and also became more serious, looking at Chen Xin while waiting for him to speak.

"I am currently building a research base, and later there will be approximately 15 hectares of a planting greenhouse for ecological agriculture research. My plan is to use it to find ways to increase the yield of grain and vegetables." Chen Xin explained the situation to Li Yulong, and after letting him understand the general idea, he continued: "Later, my place will produce quite a bit every month. I’ve already talked with the municipal government; they will purchase these outputs, but they haven’t decided how to allocate them yet."

"So do we have an opportunity to get involved?" Li Yulong’s eyes lit up immediately, his business intuition sensing an opportunity.

"No, no, if it were just getting involved, it wouldn’t need to be this troublesome. I’d just give you a share of the output and be done with it." Chen Xin raised a finger and shook it, his face also breaking into a smile, as he said, "I want you to handle the distribution of these fruits and vegetables’ output. On one hand, this counts as looking out for you, and on the other hand, it’s for the allocation of more outputs in the future."

"More output? But..." Li Yulong hesitated for a moment but quickly understood.

Since Chen Xin could build one greenhouse, he could surely build more in the future. Once there are more greenhouses, there will be a continuous output of food.

Now it may only be a little, insufficient to satisfy everyone’s needs, but what if there are more greenhouses?

Eventually, it would be possible to satisfy everyone’s needs.

And during this process, Li Yulong would undertake the distribution of outputs. As the total output increases, he would rise with the tide, eventually participating in the supply of the city’s resources.

This is undoubtedly a great opportunity for Li Yulong, even before the disaster, such opportunities were rare and incredibly hard to come by, almost nonexistent.

For ordinary people, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are the four most important things, with eating being the most crucial, otherwise, there wouldn’t be the saying that food is the paramount necessity of life.

And being able to control a city’s food supply, even just a part of it, would be enough for Li Yulong to grow into an influential figure in the city, perhaps surpassing his father.

Originally, such an opportunity would never have fallen to Li Yulong, but now Chen Xin has placed it in front of him.

Next, it depends on whether he can seize this opportunity and whether he can grow.

"Brother Chen, from now on, you are like my real brother! You tell me, what should I do?" Li Yulong burst with excitement, pounding his chest, ready to face any challenge.

However, Chen Xin still shook his head and told him, "How to do it is something you need to think about yourself. I’m just informing you about this matter. Also, consider it as a test for you; handle the material distribution work with your ability, or else even if I give you the opportunity, you will struggle to maintain it in the future."

Upon hearing Chen Xin say this, although Li Yulong felt a bit disappointed, he nodded in understanding.

Having been educated by his father since childhood, he understood that doing business based on relationships could only last for a while. People could help you once, but not for a lifetime. Only if your capabilities are strong enough can you sustain the business long-term.