Chapter 170: You Should Make Some Friends
“Bad news?” Chen Yang asked doubtfully.
Aisha said slowly, “University of Sheffield has stopped Professor Flori and Dr. Qian En’s research and development fund.”
“Next, you need to provide research and development funds for the laboratory yourself.”
“Taylor negotiated with the other party. University of Sheffield provides 20,000 pound sterling in research and development funds to the laboratory each month.”
“However, the person in charge of the laboratory hopes to increase it to 50,000 pound sterling.”
“They believe this medicine has theoretically succeeded, and what’s missing is only the process of mass production.”
“If there is sufficient funding, their research and development speed will also be much faster.”
Chen Yang’s brows furrowed slightly, and his right hand gently tapped the desktop.
“Chen, personally, I think you should agree to them.” Aisha walked to one side of the room, opened the safe, took out a thin report from inside, and gently pushed it in front of Chen Yang.
The document header read the English words “Penicillin Patent Assignment Agreement”（, that is, Penicillin patent transfer agreement）. Below the words was a line of English, evaluation report, numbered “U-38-09-14”.
“What is this?” Chen Yang opened the document. Although it was all in English, he read it effortlessly.
“This is the evaluation report from the Dutch Royal Academy of Sciences’ laboratory affiliated with the medical school of Utrecht University.”
“They believe that the current Penicillin research at University of Sheffield has surpassed Fleming’s early team.”
“There is also a Penicillin strain purification assessment above, and its purity and stability already meet the conditions for mass production.”
“Now it just depends on how much money you can offer.”
“Also, do you know what price Dr. von Grueber from Berlin’s William Emperor Institute is willing to offer for this investigation report? I heard that Field Marshal Göring has great personal interest in any ‘miracle drug’ that can reduce non-combat losses for empire soldiers.”
Chen Yang said in surprise, “Field Marshal Göring, isn’t he the air force leader?”
“You know about him too.” Aisha was a bit surprised but smiled slightly. “But don’t forget, Göring is not only air force field marshal but also the person in charge of the German Scientific Research Committee.”
“One could say he is a remarkable person.”
“Let me tell you a secret. The ones interested are not just him. Actually, when Taylor was in contact with the person in charge of the Penicillin laboratory, he already discovered that the British are also very interested in it.”
“Unfortunately, these noble masters have been stalling the procedures and refusing to process them. You’re lucky. I’ve seen the full report. If this thing goes into formal mass production, Chen, you will be the next world’s richest man.”
“So, you shouldn’t care about these now, but should increase investment.”
Chen Yang stared at Aisha and said, “Your Highness, you’re strongly urging me to increase investment, mass-produce Penicillin, and even using connections to do various evaluation reports. I think you must have other ideas.”
“We are partners, collaborators. Shouldn’t you tell me what’s on your mind!”
Aisha was stunned for a moment. At this moment, her pair of deep blue eyes, once like the calm North Sea, revealed a trace of astonishment and a bit of panic.
In an instant, her spine seemed to become somewhat stiff, her finger joints appearing somewhat pale from excessive force, trembling slightly.
She seemed to be trying hard to conceal her emotions to avoid arousing Chen Yang’s suspicion.
However, Chen Yang’s eyes were like sharp swords, piercing straight into Aisha’s heart.
“Forget it, I knew I couldn’t hide it from you.” Aisha’s expression was somewhat grave. She walked to the window and pulled open the heavy curtains with a swish.
The strong afternoon light instantly flooded into the room, dispelling the gloom in the room and clearly illuminating Aisha’s beautifully contoured side profile.
Outside the window, the streets of the French Concession still maintained a deliberate facade of prosperity, with trams clanging and people dressed decently hurrying along.
Aisha’s gaze passed over those tree canopies and the spires of Gothic architecture, looking toward the northeast, at the tall buildings standing across the Suzhou River.
Chen Yang just watched her quietly, as if waiting for her answer.
After a long while, Aisha said leisurely, “Chen, you are the smartest Chinese man I’ve ever met. I really need Penicillin too much, so I’ve done a bit more.”
“I know its value, but those fools in the Dutch Royal Family treat it as an ordinary anti-inflammatory drug. They think sulfonamide anti-inflammatory drugs are sufficient to handle current inflammations.”
“They don’t care to invest large amounts of funds to research and develop new drugs. They even think this is a princess using her status to force them to make choices.”
“A bunch of blind wastes.”
Aisha cursed angrily, then said solemnly, “I have no other demands. Penicillin has always belonged to you. I only hope to hold a little shares.”
“Combined with Taylor, we at least need to get twenty percent. These shares can be under your control. We only need to get the revenue.”
“As an exchange condition, Taylor suggested to me that we can use part of Shell’s equity in exchange.”
Chen Yang suddenly smiled. “Your Highness, we are partners, no doubt, and I also greatly admire Your Highness.”
“However, I want to ask you. Since you already clearly know the value of Penicillin, do you think Shell’s shares can exchange for twenty percent shares?”
Aisha was silent for a while. “Chen, I know this value does not match the interests in your heart.”
“However, I think you need me very much now. Once the value of Penicillin is discovered, with your current strength, you can’t protect it at all.”
“I can help you weave a protection net before the drug’s efficacy is disclosed.”
“You know, those noble masters in the United Kingdom won’t easily do transactions with a businessman who has no background.”
“In this aspect, I believe I can definitely help you and find you a protective umbrella.”
Oil, medicine, protective umbrella…
Chen Yang fell into contemplation again, as if weighing the value of these things.
After a long while, he smiled. “Your Highness, I think you are right.”
“Alright, I think we can continue cooperating. I can give you and Taylor twenty percent shares, but these shares must be formalized in an agreement with me as the nominee holder.”
“Also, you can exchange Shell’s shares with me. I want to know what Taylor is exchanging. He is very shrewd and capable, but not enough to prove Penicillin must have him.”
Aisha seemed to have anticipated that Chen Yang would say this and smiled. “Taylor has gone back to sell his William Castle. He raised 300,000 pound sterling, only asking for five percent shares.”
“As for the nominee holding shares you mentioned, Taylor said you would definitely do that.”
“So, we have already prepared the documents.”
With that, Aisha took out the documents prepared in advance.
Chen Yang took the documents, looked at the content and the final signatures, picked up the steel pen on the table, and quickly signed his name.
Now, he and Aisha—no, with the Dutch Royal Family—were deeply bound together.
Aisha looked at Chen Yang’s signature on the document and smiled. “Chen, thank you. Then, next, you should get to know more people.”
