?55: Chapter 55 Rent 55: Chapter 55 Rent Fen Ran had just taken a step when she realized something was off.

    Looking down, she found her heel had actually fallen off.

    Turning to Liu Hun, she said, “Hunzi, support me as we head back.”

    Fen Ran leaned on Liu Hun as soon as she finished speaking, feeling his muscular arms, and thought to herself, “This is the kind of man who really knows how to work the land; he could even draw water from the driest soil!”

    Liu Hun had no idea what was going through Fen Ran’s mind.

    After helping her back inside, he asked a few questions about Ding Yajun, but seeing her reluctance to elaborate, he steered the conversation back to the main topic.

    “Sister Yue, the mushroom farming needs to be a slow and steady process, which I’m sure you understand, right?”

    “Mhm!

    Of course, I know.” Fen Ran gave Liu Hun a slight smile, her thoughts still drifting like clouds on the horizon.

    Liu Hun continued, “Right now, our village is going through the toughest times, but it’s these mushrooms that have helped us pull through.

    I believe we need not only to get back to our former level but to go even further and at least shed this label of poverty!”

    Fen Ran liked this kind of strong, ambitious man.

    The more she looked at Liu Hun, the more she took a liking to him.

    Puckering her lips, she smiled and said, “So, what do you want to do?

    No matter what, I’ll support you, anything you want to do, just let you.”

    After she spoke, Fen Ran’s heart fluttered, her body tingling from her toes to her hair.

    She hoped Liu Hun would understand the meaning behind her words while also fearing that he would.

    It was like having a mouthful of piping hot soup––too hot to swallow but too delicious to spit out.

    Liu Hun was delighted when he heard what Fen Ran said, and he immediately responded, “Sister Yue, let’s let the mushrooms grow slowly and steadily.

    I’m planning to plant fruit trees next.

    I’ve noticed that your family’s Orange Garden is quite large, and it seems to be neglected now.

    What do you think about renting it to me to work on?”

    Liu Hun truly felt that Ye Canghai’s ready-made Orange Garden was a great opportunity.

    With a little Qi Force, he could achieve a good harvest.

    If he started his own orchard, he would have to wait for the seedlings to grow into fruit trees, which would take several years–something he couldn’t afford to wait for.

    Moreover, if he used his Qi to make the seedlings grow rapidly, he would be treated as a freak, so the garden was indeed the perfect treasure.

    “You want to take care of this garden?” Fen Ran asked Liu Hun, and without waiting for his response, she began to speak for herself, “Hunzi, this garden isn’t easy to manage, not like veggies or mushrooms.

    You see how large it is, but in reality, Canghai and I can only manage a portion of it, and the harvest isn’t even good.

    Most importantly, think about it: before, whatever you did, there were always people willing to help out, but it wouldn’t be the same with this garden.

    If they don’t see any benefit, who would be willing to help then?

    Everyone’s as stingy as can be, and you would end up exhausted.” Fen Ran finished speaking, her Liu Mei eyebrows seductively raised, her head lowered resembling a young wife protecting her man.

    “Clap!” Liu Hun clapped his hands and exclaimed, “That’s exactly what I want!

    Sister Yue, to tell you the truth, I’ve also felt that the villagers are too lazy.

    Even with opportunities right in front of them, we have to go door to door to get them involved.

    If it continues like this, our village surely won’t get rich.

    So, I need to manage this garden well and can’t let them interfere.

    I’ve got to provoke them, make them anxious, and let them understand that if they want a share of any good fortune in the future, they have to devote themselves wholly; every person has to give it their all for our village to prosper!”

    Fen Ran looked at Liu Hun as if he were a general commanding thousands of soldiers on the opera stage – the more she watched, the warmer her heart felt.

    Unable to resist, she reached out and pinched Liu Hun’s arm, “The old and young, men and women of our village don’t have the same strength as you.

    Just look at these muscles, tsk tsk!”

    “Sister Yue, you’ve got the wrong idea.

    I don’t need them to be capable; what I’m looking for is for them to have the right spirit and mindset.

    This way of scratching a living from the soil day by day has to fundamentally change,” Liu Hun explained, a principle he had come to understand after beginning his work in the village.

    “Then tell me, brother, if not by farming their lands, what should they do?

    Especially for men, shouldn’t they take good care of their own land?

    If the land isn’t cultivated, leaving it barren would be agonizing, don’t you think...It wouldn’t be a problem to have someone else work it, right?” Fen Ran moved closer to Liu Hun, and the more she spoke, the more she felt her body heat up like a steamed bun in a bamboo steamer.

    Liu Hun, unaware of the thick, honey-like meaning behind Fen Ran’s words, further explained, “Sister Yue, don’t laugh at me for thinking too big, but I’m here to guide all of us out of Wanbao Village’s current state toward a better tomorrow!

    After everything we’ve been through, I feel the first step is to mobilize everyone’s enthusiasm, and then we can make the next move.

    As for letting our own land lie fallow, that, of course, won’t do, and I agree that the able-bodied should work it.

    We just need to figure out the best way.”

    “Hunzi...

    I think you are the best farmer in our village.

    Tell me, what do you think about this plot of land...

    would you be willing to lend your strength to help your sister out with this,” Fen Ran said, lowering her head, her voice husky as if parched for three days, her heart pounding as if it were at the County Government Office, sounding the drum of grievance.

    Liu Hun chuckled and said, “Sister Yue, listen to what you’re saying.

    Didn’t I come here today specifically to discuss working on this piece of land?”

    “Working on what land?

    What are you two talking about here?” Ye Canghai walked in, his face aglow, joining the conversation.

    At the sight of Ye Canghai, the fire that was about to burst forth from Fen Ran’s heart suddenly died down.

    Nervously, she squeezed her legs together and asked him, “What brought you back?”

    “Just in time!

    Village Chief, you’ve come at the right moment; Sister Yue and I were just discussing it.

    You really need to think about it,” Liu Hun said, quickly inviting Ye Canghai to take a seat with enthusiasm.

    If it were someone else doing this, Ye Canghai would be quite pleased, but Liu Hun had already been labeled in his mind as a troublemaker.

    Anywhere Liu Hun went, trouble wasn’t far behind.

    So with some trepidation, Ye Canghai asked Liu Hun, “Cheng...

    you rascal, what’s going on?

    You seem so eager.

    It’s not that you want me to get into a fight and cause a ruckus at the Township Government, is it?”

    “Look at you, all high and mighty.

    When have you ever done anything right?

    Why would someone like him bother seeking you out?” Fen Ran cast a sidelong glance at Ye Canghai and said, every time there was a big issue or a small matter, the first one to run away was definitely Ye Canghai.

    Ye Canghai immediately took offense and turned to Fen Ran, “What kind of talk is that?

    If he’s seeking me out, it means I’m capable.

    Why is your face so red?

    What are you twisting your two legs together for?

    You got fleas?

    Move over a bit!”

    Fen Ran shakily moved a little to the side.

    This was almost a critical moment, and Ye Canghai’s interruption meant more dawdling was inevitable.

    “Hooligan, if you’ve got something to say, spit it out!” Ye Canghai sat down carelessly and lit a cigarette.

    After what his wife just said, he felt more at ease—fighting and making trouble were Liu Hun’s strong suits; it was unlikely he’d be looking for help from him.

    Liu Hun then explained the matter of wanting to plant the Orange Garden in detail to Ye Canghai and finally asked, “Village chief, what do you think?

    Does it work for you?”

    This was like a pie falling from the sky; all one had to do was bend over to pick it up.

    Ye Canghai was more than willing inside, but he had to discuss how the pie would fall, “Rascal, I don’t doubt your abilities, and I’m all for supporting you in doing big things.

    But...

    just look at my situation...

    you know, I still have to provide for a wife...”

    “Ah!” As Ye Canghai was speaking, Fen Ran suddenly made a humming noise and then her whole body started to shake.

    “This woman, never happy...

    What’s the matter?” Ye Canghai sensed something was off about Fen Ran and immediately bent down to ask.

    Liu Hun also looked at Fen Ran with concern, seeing that her eyes were almost dripping with water, and her cheeks were flushed with red.

    But he wasn’t really worried about her having an accident relying on his Qi.

    Only Fen Ran herself knew what was really going on.

    After struggling to recover some energy, she said to them both, “Nothing...

    nothing.

    Just had a cramp in my stomach, I’m fine now.

    Continue with your talk.”

    “Women always make a big fuss over nothing,” Ye Canghai took a puff of his cigarette and continued to address Liu Hun, “Rascal, you...

    you understand what I’m getting at, right?”

    Liu Hun nodded and said with a smile, “Village chief, I completely understand.

    Let me manage the Orange Garden this year.

    After the harvest, we’ll split the earnings fifty-fifty.

    How does that sound?”

    That was precisely the sentence Ye Canghai had been waiting for.

    He smacked his thigh and said, “Done!

    Just like that!

    We’ve reached an agreement, then.

    The Orange Garden is yours from today onwards, rascal.

    But when it comes to the harvest, we’d better...

    put it in writing.” He was about to say “do not forget our agreement,” but then thought better of it and decided to be cautious.

    Liu Hun had caused some big income turnovers in the village before, counting in tens of thousands, and that money could not be missed out on.

    After negotiating, Liu Hun went off to make preparations, and Ye Canghai shamelessly said to Fen Ran, “Wife!

    Look at me, how did I do in the negotiation?

    That’s what they call ‘negotiation’ in big cities!

    It’s all about blending strength and skill!”

    “Pshaw!

    Give it a rest!

    You just took advantage of an opportunity that fell into your lap, and you dare talk about strength and skill.

    You’ve got nothing!” Fen Ran rolled her eyes at Ye Canghai and said.

    Now that she had let out her frustration, she felt much better.

    “Hey!

    Wife, thanks to this rascal, so many people in our village have made a fortune.

    Now it should finally be our turn.

    With him around, we can take it easy from now on.

    Tending to the orchard all day long, my body’s been getting worse and worse.” Having said that, Ye Canghai finished off the last drag of his cigarette.

    Fen Ran could deeply relate to Ye Canghai’s last comment.

    She pursed her lips at Ye Canghai and said, “With the state you’re in, when have you ever taken care of our land?

    It’s always been me looking after it.

    You act like you’ve put in so much effort; the orchard’s yield gets worse every year.

    You still have the face to talk?”

    Ye Canghai just chuckled and scooted over to Fen Ran’s side awkwardly, and not so innocuously placed his hand on Fen Ran’s thigh, saying, “That’s why I say, let’s just hand over the entire orchard to the rascal.

    If we can’t manage the land outside, at least I can take good care of the land at home.”