?67: Chapter 67: Big Business 67: Chapter 67: Big Business Liu Hun, listening to Ye Canghai agreeing to that matter, felt his heart turn cold.

    He hadn’t expected Ye Canghai to be capable of anything underhanded, surmising that the matter involving Fen Ran settling debts was almost a certainty.

    He thought that cultivating blueberries was truly a beneficial thing; they sold at a high price and had a smooth sales channel, with Yang Yide buying whatever was produced.

    However, if he exposed Ye Canghai and Niu Chunsheng right now, Yang Yide would definitely not choose Wanbao Village.

    Even if he used Qi Force to revive the blueberries, the situation would not be salvaged.

    Thus, after much consideration, Liu Hun still believed that for the long-term development of Wanbao Village, he should let Ye Canghai handle the situation first and then step in later to clean things up.

    He was determined to secure the blueberry cultivation in Wanbao Village!

    Right after Ye Canghai left the restaurant, Liu Hun called out to him, and after chatting idly for a few phrases, they both headed back to the village.

    Since Ye Canghai had appeared, he, as the village chief, would handle the poverty alleviation funds and relief funds, and Fen Ran’s matter was their family affair.

    Liu Hun felt it was not his place to interfere.

    When Liu Hun returned to the temple, just as he and Du Yueling were sending the children away, Fen Ran arrived with her eyes red and swollen, carrying several bundles.

    Seeing this, Liu Hun understood that Ye Canghai using Fen Ran to settle debts was indeed happening.

    With nowhere else to go, Fen Ran stayed with Du Yueling in the temple, which had plenty of space and was not a problem.

    The next morning, right early, Ye Canghai gathered all the villagers of Wanbao Village in front of the temple square with great fanfare.

    He was deeply focused on the money now, and as for where Fen Ran went, it did not concern him.

    “Cough, cough, cough...

    Today, I’ve gathered everyone here for a big matter!

    A matter that involves making a fortune!” Ye Canghai shouted to the villagers.

    “What big money-making matter?

    I’m asking you, Qiangzi, when will the town distribute the money?

    There’s no trace of it yet?” a villager immediately asked.

    Ye Canghai immediately responded, with displeasure, “Don’t bring up irrelevant issues!

    When the town will distribute the money is the town’s matter; if you want it, go ask the town for it.

    If this thing I’m proposing works out, it will be worth a hundred times more than what the town might offer!”

    “Just save it!” another villager interjected.

    “We only believe Liu Hun if he tells us this, but you?

    Where are you going to find such a money-making opportunity and still ask us to join?”

    “You may not believe me in this!

    But how can you not trust our Deputy Director of the Cooperative, Niu Chunsheng!

    Now, please allow me to invite Director Niu to introduce this fortune-making opportunity.

    Everyone, listen carefully and stop your nonsensical chatter!” Ye Canghai then invited Niu Chunsheng to the center of the square.

    Niu Chunsheng, with his official demeanor and tone, spoke about cultivating blueberries so convincingly that, combined with how the mayor was optimistic and other villages looked on with envy, the villagers were all persuaded.

    “Hunzi, what do you think of this?

    Sound reliable?” Qin Yue asked Liu Hun, standing beside him.

    If it weren’t for Niu Chunsheng speaking up, she would not have paid any attention to Ye Canghai’s words.

    “With Director Niu backing it, I think this will mostly likely succeed!” Liu Hun simply replied to Qin Yue.

    At this moment, he really found himself siding with Ye Canghai, needing to make sure that blueberries would be cultivated in Wanbao Village.

    With one person playing off of another on stage, and Liu Hun providing support from below, the plan was thus settled in Wanbao Village, followed directly by Yang Yide coming for an onsite evaluation.

    As the village roads were in poor condition, merely allowing tractors to park, Yang Yide’s Mercedes had to be parked some distance away from the village.

    He made his way into Wanbao Village under the escort of Ye Canghai and Xie Heguo.

    Yang Yide was tall with a round belly, and though chubby, his gaze was sharper than that of the official Xie Heguo.

    Upon entering the village, he looked around and nodded with a slight smile, “Mayor Xie, Wanbao Village truly lives up to its name.

    What a marvelous place!”

    “Yeah, our village is...” Ye Canghai was about to chime in but sensed it wasn’t the right moment and stopped himself.

    Xie Heguo, grinning, said, “Mr.

    Yang, our Wanbao Village is indeed a place with extraordinary people and spiritual grounds.

    Look at these mountains; they have everything you want!

    Placing your investment project in our village is definitely the right choice.”

    “It’s indeed a good mountain.

    But whether it’s suitable for growing blueberries still requires an actual inspection,” Yang Yide said, then turned to a woman beside him, “Miss Cai Yan, what do you think about this place?”

    The woman, wearing a tailored woman’s suit and bold red lipstick, her face exceptionally pale but striking, adjusted her black-framed glasses, bent down to pick up and rub a piece of soil in her hands, and then sniffed it before tossing it to the ground and addressing Yang Yide, “Mr.

    Yang, it’s a waste of time here.

    Not to mention blueberries, I don’t even think this soil can produce any decent fruits.”

    “No, no, no!

    Miss...

    you can’t say that.

    Our Wanbao Village has indeed produced good things – mushrooms!

    Cabbages!

    Oranges!

    Go and ask around, everyone acknowledges that!” Ye Canghai became anxious, as a denial from Yang Yide would mean his efforts were in vain.

    “That statement is insulting to my professional integrity and my education,” Cai Yan crossed her arms, and an imposing and intense aura enveloped her.

    Ye Canghai had only ever felt this kind of aura from Liu Hun, like dark clouds pressing down on the mountaintop.

    Even Ren Peiling, who held office, was merely dignified and had not reached the caliber of this woman.

    For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

    “Since Miss Cai has spoken, I regret to say, Mayor Xie, it seems that we...”

    Yang Yide was about to bid Xie Heguo goodbye when suddenly a voice came from behind.

    “Mr.

    Yang, Wanbao Village can grow blueberries!

    The best blueberries in the world!”

    People turned around and saw Liu Hun walking over with a confident, relaxed smile.

    “Who is this?” Yang Yide asked Xie Heguo beside him.

    How could Xie Heguo forget Liu Hun, who had resolved a previous encirclement for him?

    He told Yang Yide, “Mr.

    Yang, this is a notable person from Wanbao Village, named Liu Hun.”

    “Hmph!

    A notable person?

    May I ask where you were educated?

    How dare you speak with such arrogance and audacity?” Cai Yan looked at Liu Hun with a cold and sidelong glance, thinking the so-called notable person from this village was just a charlatan.

    “Right here!

    Wanbao Village!

    The heavens, the mountains, and the people here are my teachers!

    I understand this place, I know what it can do and produce!

    I have the capability, that’s why I dare to speak these words!” Liu Hun stared directly into Cai Yan’s eyes, eager to suppress the spirit of such a forceful woman.

    “Good!

    Well said, Liu!

    I don’t think anyone understands our Wanbao Village better than you!

    Why should a woman crush a piece of clay and then say it’s impossible?” Qin Yue couldn’t help blurting out her thoughts, unconcerned about who the other party was, just eager to cheer for Liu Hun.

    “Exactly!

    I think the same!

    Remember the mushrooms?

    Weren’t they also cultivated by Liu?

    I trust when Liu says something is possible, it surely is.

    Right, everyone?” Bai Lian couldn’t help but shout out too.

    The villagers of Wanbao Village immediately began cheering like a pot boiling over.

    “Quiet, quiet, quiet!

    Didn’t you see the Mayor is still here?

    Qin Yue, watch your mouth!

    Don’t just blabber mindlessly!” Ye Canghai, seeing the villagers supporting Liu Hun, immediately intervened, truly worried that the incident with Xie Heguo might happen again.

    “A bunch of unreasonable troublemakers!” Cai Yan muttered under her breath, no longer daring to confront Liu Hun’s gaze.

    Even in Oxford, abundant with talent, she hadn’t encountered such assertive and confident eyes, as though wherever his gaze fell was within his reach, no matter what lay ahead.

    “Mr.

    Yang, do you trust my professional education from Oxford, or do you believe what this villager says?” Cai Yan asked Yang Yide beside her.

    Before Yang Yide could even respond, Liu Hun continued, “Mr.

    Yang, how about this—if you leave a few blueberry seeds and they sprout in the soil of our Wanbao Village, then we can collaborate.

    If they don’t sprout, I, Liu Hun, am willing to apologize to you and this lady.”

    “Yes, what’s that saying again...” Ye Canghai hurriedly chimed in, afraid the opportunity might slip away, “Practice is the...

    criterion, we need to try it out first to see if it works or not.”

    Xie Heguo glanced at Ye Canghai disdainfully, as if looking at a fool, then turned to Yang Yide and said, “Mr.

    Yang, the village chief is right; practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.

    We too should try it out before making any decisions, don’t you think?”

    “Hmph!

    I didn’t expect someone to eagerly present their face for a slap.

    So be it.

    Let these ignorant troublemakers also gain some knowledge...

    people who have never left the village and don’t understand the vastness of the world.” After saying this, Cai Yan arrogantly turned her head and walked away.

    “Good!

    Xiao Li, give the village chief a pack of seeds.

    Then it’s settled, I’ll come back after a month to see!” Yang Yide instructed his secretary to give Ye Canghai a pack of blueberry seeds, genuinely hoping that Wanbao Village could grow blueberries, thus cutting the cost of breaking the contract by more than half.

    He then left Wanbao Village, escorted by a crowd.

    After receiving the blueberry seeds, Ye Canghai and others immediately planted them in a vegetable garden outside his house.

    He didn’t really care whether the blueberries would grow; he was only interested in money, hoping to recoup his losses and even earn more.

    Thus, after Liu Hun left, Ye Canghai went around the village looking for Bai Cuihua.

    He figured that within a month he could cultivate Bai Cuihua seedlings.

    Throughout that month, Ye Canghai focused solely on his Bai Cuihua seedlings, never visiting the temple once nor caring about Fen Ran’s well-being.

    From the moment he decided to use Fen Ran to settle his debts, his mind had been occupied solely by money and not this woman.