Xu Milu, disguised as "Ren Honghe," slowly sipped her tea. Zhang Cang was already used to his boss's elusive nature, and he reported on the company's recent situation bit by bit.

"...The seeds of giant delicious radishes in the warehouse have been sold out, and the giant delicious mushrooms cultivated by Ding Shan and his team have also been sold out. They are now preparing to expand the scale of cultivation. If conditions permit, they can consider selling mushroom spore bulbs."

"...The desert contract has been negotiated. It's located in the Tengger Desert in Mengcheng. The desert land contract term is seventy years, and the price is fifty yuan per mu. The land contracted by our company is right on the edge of the Tengger Desert, with relatively convenient transportation. The area covers 50,000 mu, and there are preferential policies. If the greening efforts show initial results, there will be mandatory subsidies."

"...The Agricultural University wants to invite you to become a research professor. Don't worry, it's just a nominal position. I think it will be helpful to the laboratory. I think you can consider it."

"...The agricultural university has synchronized the planting progress of the wheat ear egg plant. In the first batch of four planting sites, one million seedlings have already sprouted and are growing well..."

The lab has hired a new batch of researchers, so we may need to invest more funds in the lab and purchase equipment…

"Currently, Ding Shan and his team are conducting research on the spore cultivation of giant delicious mushrooms, and have already achieved initial results. The spores transplanted from mature mother plants seem to be able to cultivate new mycelial colonies, but the reproductive capacity is very weak. We are still conducting research."

Xu Milu listened intently with her eyes closed. Only after Zhang Cang finished his report did she open her eyes and slowly tap the table.

“Well done. Tell Ding Shan not to worry about funding. Focus on the research. If you need anything, contact Fang Jianguo. You’ve done an unexpected job with the desert chili pepper planting. You’ll be in charge of that.”

Xu Milu understood the principle that "if you want a horse to run, you have to feed it grass," so she paused deliberately and said slowly:

"I'm considering allocating 10% of sales revenue as an incentive for everyone. I'm also thinking of giving 10% of the research institute's shares to long-term employees. What do you think?"

"!"

Zhang Cang's breathing quickened.

Now that the company is growing bigger and bigger, its daily revenue has reached an astonishing figure. It would be a lie to say I'm not tempted.

Even if each person gets one percent of the shares, the dividends at the end of the year would be a huge amount!

This is clearly a perk! What are you waiting for!

"Boss, 10% is too much. It may affect our subsequent operations. I think 5% is more appropriate, so that the ownership of the laboratory will still be in your hands."

Zhang Cang calmed down and gave his advice carefully.

"Okay, then let's go with the ratio of you taking two percent, and Ding Shan, Jiang Wen, and Zhan Na each taking one percent."

Xu Milu quickly accepted the suggestion and gestured for Zhang Cang to look at the Flaming Mandolin Chili peppers in the box on the table.

"This is... a small pointed pepper? Why is it purple? Boss, is this the desert pepper we're supposed to grow?"

After his initial elation, Zhang Cang immediately got to work, picking up the purple flame mandolin and examining it closely.

It's small, with purple and yellow interwoven patterns on its skin, looking somewhat like a flame. Its pointed size is similar to the small red chili peppers we usually eat.

Xu Milu didn't answer him, but instead asked another question:

What are some of the world's hottest chili pepper varieties?

"I know this. I've done my research. The world's hottest pepper, the 'Dragon's Breath', has a Scoville rating of 2.48 million. It's said that it will cause blisters wherever it touches the human body, and eating it raw can be fatal."

Then there's the Carolina Reaper pepper, which has broken world records multiple times, reaching a Scoville rating of 2.2 million. Third is the Bhut Jolokia pepper, and fourth is the Dehong Shuan Shuan chili pepper from our Huaxia Yun City…

As Zhang Cang spoke, he looked at the flaming mandolin chili pepper with a hint of fear:

"Boss, is our new variety of chili pepper one of those that's so spicy it'll kill you?"

Xu Milu shook her head:

"I've tested it, and the spiciness is comparable to hot pot spice, but it won't kill you. You can give it a try."

"!!!"

Zhang Cang swallowed hard, his face contorted with misery: "Boss, can I not eat this? My family is from Guangdong, and I can't handle spicy food."

That's what he said, but his intense curiosity still compelled him to pick up the chili pepper and take a small bite with a death-defying spirit.

The next second, Zhang Cang blushed from head to toe. His fair neck was suddenly stained with varying shades of crimson, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He could no longer feel the tip of his tongue, and a hot, spicy sensation rushed up his chest to the top of his head!

He seemed to want to take a deep breath, but a heat rose in his throat, and he exhaled a small flame with a "poof."

"??? Sha, sha, sha, boss, I, I just...???"

Zhang Cang's nose and eyes were running from the spiciness, but his face was still full of astonishment:

"I just... I... I just breathed fire!?"

"Yes, this is the new variety we're about to cultivate, the Flame Mandolin Chili. Although it's hot enough, it won't harm the human body. Don't you think this side effect is interesting?"

Xu Milu waited patiently to see Zhang Cang's reaction.

Zhang Cang was so overwhelmed by the spiciness that he couldn't speak. He waved his hands and ran out, returning with a belly full of water and his lips swollen from the heat, but his expression was one of ecstatic joy.

"This isn't just biological, it's magic! This is magic!! Bullshit British Dragon's Breath peppers, this is the real deal—the fire-breathing pepper!!!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!