?54: Chapter 54: Pathways 54: Chapter 54: Pathways Lin Degui felt a deep sense of regret and hatred, wanting nothing more than to get rid of these two foolish individuals.

    He was reluctant to pay the money, but there was no escaping it now.

    “Look at him, Lin Degui, he clearly doesn’t want to pay up.

    We’re already at this point, and he’s still clinging to his money as if from beyond the grave!”

    “Shameless and reckless, all for money!

    If he doesn’t pay us, let’s go to the Township Government and report him to the Mayor, make sure he can’t hold his small-time official position anymore!”

    “Hey!

    I say we go all out.

    Deal with him like we did with his two lackeys, give him a good beating!”

    “...”

    Lin Degui was utterly terrified.

    He couldn’t win an argument, nor could he win a fight.

    Seeing the crowd growing more enraged, he had no choice but to nod and agree to pay the money immediately.

    After a lot of trouble, Lin Degui and the other two finally repaid the ten thousand yuan they had accumulated over months of dining at the restaurant without paying, back to Shi Bingyu.

    “Here!

    Try this, see how it tastes!

    Eat to your heart’s content, there’s more!” Shi Bingyu happily placed the food on the table, not expecting that Liu Hun, the man in front of her, would be both loyal and capable, finally resolving the issue.

    “Anyone would stand up in this situation, and even if this hadn’t happened, I planned to come find you anyway.” Liu Hun put down his chopsticks, intending to discuss serious matters with Shi Bingyu.

    “Oh?!” Shi Bingyu smiled like an orchid, asking Liu Hun, “What’s up?

    Have you heard of me before, coming here specifically to find me?”

    When Shi Bingyu smiled, a tear mole near her eye seemed to smile along with her.

    At that moment, the woman shed her earlier stubbornness and exuded charm.

    “I’m from Wanbao Village.

    Recently, our village has started growing mushrooms, but the Cooperative only accepts ten thousand pounds.

    I estimate our production will exceed that, so I’m here to seek out additional sales channels.” Liu Hun smiled as he spoke to Shi Bingyu, not stating it explicitly but making the matter clear.

    “Wanbao Village grows mushrooms?

    This is the first time I’ve heard of it.

    Before this, I’d only heard that Wanbao Village’s vegetables were especially good, never thought it could produce mushrooms too.

    Mushrooms are great, our restaurant’s signature dish is chicken stewed with mushrooms, and it sells remarkably well.

    Unfortunately, mushrooms aren’t always available, especially the good ones.

    Didn’t expect you to bring them right to my doorstep.” Shi Bingyu laughed heartily, almost like a man.

    “But how many does your restaurant need?

    Fresh mushrooms or dried ones?” Liu Hun asked somewhat puzzled, as he didn’t know much about the restaurant business.

    “You’re underestimating me!

    Let me tell you, my restaurant’s been in Taiping Town for years, it’s well-known!

    Everyone from the Mayor and Party Secretary down to the villagers comes to enjoy a bite here.

    When it’s market day, it’s up to me whether I want to serve them or not!” Shi Bingyu said, her smile fading as she continued, “Business is booming three seasons a year, but in winter, there’s nothing to eat.

    If you can get me mushrooms, that’d be excellent.

    I’d change the menu for winter and offer various mushroom dishes, and business would be even better!”

    Liu Hun was overjoyed, realizing he had found the sales channel he was looking for.

    With Shi Bingyu’s help, mushroom farming wouldn’t just be a one-time deal but could be a long-term plan.

    Although it might not make much money, it was like a small stream slowly feeding into the barren soil of Wanbao Village.

    What delighted Liu Hun even more was that Shi Bingyu, this extraordinary woman, also had a restaurant in the neighboring town.

    With a market now found, Liu Hun led the villagers enthusiastically to work.

    Starting with planting on a pile of dead wood, Liu Hun used his superpower to make mushrooms grow rapidly, sprouting like bamboo shoots after a rain.

    The villagers of Wanbao Village were overjoyed, smiling in their sleep.

    As Wang Dajiao put it, “So happy that you can unlock it with a belly button key!”

    The mushrooms were harvested batch after batch, and each household dried them accordingly.

    Soon, the Cooperative’s quota was fulfilled, and the steady flow to Shi Bingyu’s restaurant wasn’t on the same scale, so Liu Hun greatly reduced the mushroom planting scale.

    After a whirlwind of busy activity, the Wanbao Village villagers found themselves with more leisure time.

    The hardest times in Wanbao Village were over, buried fields were cleared, and with the money from Liu Hun, houses started being built one by one.

    Although they weren’t as big as the homes their ancestors had built, they finally had a place to take shelter.

    According to Du Yueling’s accounting, the recent busy period brought in over 120,000 yuan in revenue.

    After deducting various costs, 110,000 remained.

    After dividing up the profits among the villagers, Liu Hun had over 60,000 left in his pocket, bringing his total savings to exactly 150,000.

    In Wanbao Village, being a millionaire for whom this was the first time, it was quite the groundbreaking achievement.

    Even the former village tyrant Rascal Chen had only about 70,000 or 80,000 at most.

    So, outsiders believed Liu Hun could now enjoy a prosperous life, but Liu Hun didn’t think this way.

    His goal was to make Wanbao Village the number one village in Huaxia.

    This 150,000 was just the start.

    After selling vegetables and mushrooms, Liu Hun realized something: around Wanbao Village, there was a limit to what could be sold.

    Surplus wouldn’t sell.

    If there were a road to a big city, with convenient transport, things would be different.

    But for now, that was just a dream.

    Since there was a limit to selling a single product, why not diversify?

    Ten thousand yuan from vegetables, ten thousand from mushrooms... What other options were there?

    Fruit!

    As Liu Hun mused, a flash of inspiration came to him, and when he looked up, he found himself at Ye Canghai’s Orange Garden.

    It was as if someone had offered him a pillow just when he wanted to nap.

    Liu Hun’s heart stirred, and he immediately walked into the Orange Garden.

    After a few steps, he heard someone talking and saw it was Fen Ran.

    “Who’s that man?” Liu Hun mumbled, walking closer to the two.

    “We were meant to be together!

    If it weren’t for your parents insisting you marry Ye Canghai, we’d be together now!” the man said, reaching to pull Fen Ran into his arms.

    Fen Ran pushed him away and pointed, “Ding Yajun!

    We’re impossible now!

    Give it up!”

    “Fen Ran!

    I got money now!

    I’m not the old Ding Yajun!

    I’ve been thinking of you, causing sleepless nights,” Ding Yajun professed with a grin.

    Fen Ran scoffed, looking at him like a toad drooling, “I know you’re rich now.

    I also heard about your affairs in town with many women, staying up late fooling around.

    Of course, you can’t sleep!”

    Ding Yajun, embarrassed, quickly tried to defend himself, “Fen Ran, you’re who I care about!

    Please understand my feelings!”

    “Enough!

    You can leave now, don’t pull and tug at me, we have no relationship!” Fen Ran said and turned to leave, only to be grabbed by Ding Yajun.

    “Fen Ran, I know Ye Canghai can’t satisfy you.

    Let me do it.

    I’ll make you feel heavenly,” Ding Yajun said, becoming handsy.

    Fen Ran pushed him away, exclaiming, “What nonsense!

    Let go, or I’ll call for help.”

    “What nonsense?

    I often play cards with Ye Canghai.

    He even asked me for some secret tips.

    You think I don’t know how you feel?

    You’ve left your fertile land fallow, let me plow it well,” Ding Yajun said, trying to force himself on her.

    “Smack!” Fen Ran slapped Ding Yajun across the face and tidied her clothes before saying, “You’re an animal!

    I must have been blind to like you!

    Let me tell you, Ding Yajun, even if I need a man, it won’t be you!”

    “Damn woman!

    Today I’ll do you right here, make a scene if you dare!

    Let everyone see what happens.

    We’ll see who’s shamed!” Ding Yajun said with a sneer, lunging at Fen Ran.

    “Thud!” A dull grunt, and Ding Yajun’s face felt dislocated, a sudden metallic taste in his mouth.

    Pain flashed to his mind.

    “Ouch... Damn!

    You blind thing, how dare you hit me!” Ding Yajun clutched his numbed face, eyeing Liu Hun, who had somehow appeared.

    “Hit you I did!” Liu Hun retorted, swinging another punch to the other side of Ding Yajun’s face.

    Ding Yajun didn’t expect Liu Hun to strike, leaving him dizzy with stars in his vision, his head heavy like it had gained more weight, and he fell to the ground.

    “Hun!

    Stop beating this beast, lest you dirty your hands.

    Let him crawl home!” Fen Ran stepped forward and held Liu Hun back, grateful for his timely appearance.

    Without him, her fate might have been dire.

    However, she worried if Ding Yajun were seriously injured, it might trouble Liu Hun, which she couldn’t accept.

    “Alright, Sister Yue, as you say.

    I’ll stop hitting, but he needs to learn a lesson!” Liu Hun said, dragging the limp Ding Yajun to the roadside, stripping him of his clothes and tying his hands with his belt to a tree stump.

    Then he said to Fen Ran, “He thinks he’s something, let the villagers of Wanbao see what a weakling he is!”

    Fen Ran, looking at Ding Yajun’s pathetic state, stole a glance at Liu Hun, her face flushed like she’d drunk a couple of shots, muttering, “No comparison to you.”

    Liu Hun didn’t hear what Fen Ran said, focused on serious matters, and told Fen Ran, “Sister Yue, let this scoundrel cool off here.

    I’ve got serious business to discuss with you.”