21: Chapter 21: A Million-Dollar Fryer Across America! A Ten-Year-Old Chinese Millionaire!

Standard Oil shelled out two million dollars in exchange for a thirty percent stake in the Lin-Smith Oil Company.

As soon as the contract was signed, a system notification chimed in his mind.

"Ding... Congratulations, Host. The family's total assets have reached one million dollars."

"Family upgrading!"

"Upgrade complete!"

[Family: The Lin Family]

[Level: 3]

[Description: A small family just beginning to show its potential, now in the sights of top figures in the USA. Please continue to increase your level.]

"Ding... An upgrade gift package has been issued. Open it immediately?"

Lin Tian was ecstatic; he had finally leveled up again.

He immediately thought, "Open!"

"Ding... Congratulations on obtaining one vial of the Perfect Serum from the Resident Evil game world!"

"The t-virus?! Cough, cough, cough..."

Lin Tian, who was in the middle of signing the contract, was so shocked he started coughing, causing everyone around to look over.

"I'm fine, Uncle John!"

Lin Tian hurriedly waved his hand to explain.

Old Smith nodded and continued discussing the follow-up with the representative from Standard Oil.

A two-million-dollar deal could be considered a monumental transaction even for all of California.

Old Smith and Lin Tian put their heads together and decided to host a grand banquet, leveraging the name of Standard Oil.

They planned to invite the Governor of California, the Attorney General, and the Treasurer to gather in San Francisco.

After all, they had only sold thirty percent of the shares; the remaining seventy percent were still in the hands of the Lin family and the Smith family.

The oil field still had to be managed by themselves; Standard Oil would at most send a few financial auditors.

If they wanted the oil field to earn money steadily, they had to cultivate relationships with the California officials.

The representative from Standard Oil not only didn't object but was actually very supportive, as it would help the company expand its influence on the West Coast.

Thus, both parties decided to issue the invitations jointly.

While Old Smith was chatting and laughing with others, Lin Tian found an excuse to slip out of the wooden office building.

He was completely at ease leaving the socializing to Old Smith.

Returning to his temporary residence in Boston Town, Lin Tian locked the door behind him.

Walking to the bedside, feeling both expectant and nervous, he thought, "Retrieve the t-virus Perfect Serum!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a glass test tube emitting a blue fluorescent light and filled with a sense of high technology appeared in his hand out of thin air.

The system had also thoughtfully provided a special syringe specifically designed to extract the blue liquid.

Looking at the two items, Lin Tian swallowed hard.

He knew deeply that the t-virus before him was not the weakened version from the movies, but a monstrous product fused from the Progenitor Virus and leech genes in the game.

It could forcibly rewrite biological DNA; it was originally a devilish thing used to create biochemical weapons.

Ordinary organisms couldn't withstand the mutation at all; once infected, they would all turn into mindless monsters.

Out of tens of millions of people, at most only one could withstand its power.

Lin Tian gripped the glass tube containing the spiral-shaped liquid tightly and couldn't help but ask, "System, will I turn into a monster if I inject this thing into my body?"

The system, which usually played dumb, unexpectedly sounded with a rigid electronic voice in his mind:

"t-virus Perfect Serum: The risk of genetic mutation has been completely eliminated; it is the most perfect product after system optimization."

"After injection, it will repair defects in the organism at the genetic level. The Host is expected to gain comprehensive enhancements in strength, spirit, and vitality!"

"Note: This reward is absolutely safe and has no side effects."

Hearing the system's guarantee, Lin Tian let out a long sigh of relief, and his heart instantly bloomed with joy.

This bottle of Perfect Serum meant that he was about to be reborn and transcend mortals.

Not to mention anything else, just the vitality enhancement alone would certainly prolong his lifespan significantly.

Besides, the t-virus in the movies could give people super-healing and psychic powers; the perfectly enhanced version produced by the system would definitely be stronger, not weaker!

Lin Tian wished he could inject the serum into his veins immediately.

But he forcibly held back and put the test tube and syringe back into the system space.

There were too many eyes here; it was better to wait until he returned to San Francisco and found a quiet, safe place before proceeding.

...

A few days later, news of the signing spread completely.

Major newspapers in California all got wind of it.

The Daily News Chronicle, the San Francisco Evening News, and the Industrial Worker all published bombshell news on their front pages.

Seeing the skyrocketing sales of The New York Times recently, these newspapers were all green with envy and naturally refused to miss the chance to ride the trend.

The headlines were more sensational than the last: "Miracle Boy Creates Brilliance Again!", "The Chinese Genius You Must Know!", "Revealing the Real Life of the Miracle Boy!".

With those helping to boost his image, there were naturally those who jumped out to cause trouble.

Newspapers controlled by the KKK began to smear him crazily, loudly promoting white supremacist theories: "The Conspiracy Rise of a Dangerous Race!", "The True Face of a Ten-Year-Old Conspirator!", "Is It Publicity or Hype?".

No matter how the outside world argued, the topic that was about to cool down was once again red-hot, sweeping across the entire country.

The general public across the country first heard that Lin Tian had invented a safety razor, then learned he had taken down a generation of fierce bandits, and now, he had actually become a millionaire!

When everyone finally realized it, they discovered that Lin Tian, who held half the shares of the oil field, was already worth several million dollars.

It was 1882!

The value of a millionaire was even more staggering than that of a billionaire in later generations.

In a place like the USA where capital was supreme, money was the symbol of status.

A ten-year-old Chinese child achieving this much made countless people green with envy and heatedly discuss it.

Coupled with the fueling from The New York Times, just as Lin Tian returned to his home in San Francisco, he was surrounded by a group of reporters.

"Mr. Lin Tian, how did you find the oil field in the remote countryside?"

"Some say you used Eastern black magic; is that true?"

"What were you thinking when you killed the fierce bandits?"

Facing the group of crazy reporters, Lin Tian felt a massive headache.

His bodyguard, Alan, hurriedly brought people over, forcibly squeezed out a path, and protected Bruce as they rushed into Fu Man Lou Restaurant.

It was just in time for mealtime.

The restaurant was full of energetic Chinese fellow countrymen with long braids.

Upon seeing Lin Tian enter, everyone looked at him with respect and shouted in unison:

"Young Master!"

Lin Tian nodded to his compatriots and walked through the main hall straight to the backyard.

He hadn't seen Sister Meier for over half a month, and he missed her very much.

Jiang Meier, with her shiny black braided hair and wearing a floral dress, heard the commotion in the main hall and was just about to lift the curtain to see what was happening when she ran straight into Lin Tian, who was wearing a blue suit.

"Young Master!"

Jiang Meier shouted, her face full of surprise and joy.

"Sister Meier!"

Lin Tian ran up quickly and hugged her.

The two held each other tightly.

After a while, noticing the Young Master's head rubbing against her chest, Jiang Meier felt both joyful and a bit sorrowful.

Ever since the Lin family opened the razor factory and the oil company one after another, the number of times she had seen the Young Master could be counted on one hand.

The days of being together from morning till night were gone forever.

The men were busy running around outside all day; although Jiang Meier felt a bit lost, she understood that the men were undertaking earth-shattering great causes.

She could only hide her reluctance deep in her heart and guard this family business well for the Lin family.

It really must be said, ever since the Spanish thugs' disturbance was quelled last time, business at Fu Man Lou Restaurant had become increasingly prosperous.

Not only did Chinese people love to come, but recently it had also attracted quite a few white customers.

The two-story wooden building was packed every day, and diners even had to line up outside.

Jiang Meier, who was in full charge of the restaurant, had long reported the situation to Lin Shi.

Lin Shi calculated for a moment and decided to open another branch in San Francisco to properly divert the customers.

After hugging for a while, Jiang Meier let go and carefully examined her Young Master, complaining with heartache, "You've tanned and thinned out from hunger; you must have suffered a lot out there!"

Looking at the Jiangnan water town girl before him with fair skin and sparkling big eyes, Lin Tian smiled and said, "It's no big deal. As a man, one must endure the bitterness of bitterness to become a person above people!"

"Hee hee, you call yourself a man!"

Jiang Meier covered her mouth and laughed, teasing, "Young Master, you're only ten years old, okay? Even after the New Year, you'll only be eleven!"

Being teased by the beautiful sister in front of him for not being a man, Lin Tian deliberately put on a straight face and pretended to be dissatisfied: "Hmph, Sister Meier, you just wait. When I grow up, I'll definitely eat you up in one bite!"

Hearing such straightforward words, the precocious Jiang Meier instantly blushed.

Although she was born in the USA, she had received a traditional education in female virtues since childhood, and she had always felt that she was the Young Master's maid and would sooner or later be taken into the Young Master's room.

"Even if I can't become the main wife, as long as I can serve the Young Master for a lifetime, I will be content."

Jiang Meier thought to herself, her cheeks burning red.

Looking at the girl's shy appearance, Lin Tian, who harbored an adult's soul, was overjoyed.

This girl clearly had a place for him in her heart.

It was a pity that his ten-year-old body was completely unable to do anything about it.

After the small talk, Lin Tian asked about his father, Lin Shi's, recent situation.

Jiang Meier said that the Master had been leaving early and returning late every day recently, and had even specially hired a white manager to take over the oil company.

Hearing this, Lin Tian understood everything.

His father was definitely carrying out a major reorganization of the Hongmen at the headquarters.

Recently, he had heard a lot of good news from various channels; his Chinese compatriots were undergoing earth-shattering changes.

Lin Tian admired his father's efficiency very much.

He vaguely felt that the glorious days for the Chinese to stand tall and be people were definitely not far away!