Chapter 482

They'll come, don't worry about so much, when the time comes I'll get it going, you take charge, then we'll find a few aunts in the village to help out, and we'll all make money together.

Zhang Guafu still had a dazed look, and could only mutter a sentence.

You'd better eat first, we can talk about this after you finish, it's not urgent.

Um, oh, right, let Han Xiaotao's sister-in-law come over to help later." Han Xiaotao should at least have a steady job.

Upon hearing Han Xiaotao, Zhang Guafu immediately burst into a sarcastic laugh.

I understand, I understand, how could we leave her out?

Ye Cheng gave her a white eye, then hastily finished breakfast and left.

Today I need to go withdraw money and settle the matter of raising free-range chickens.

I withdrew a total of 150,000; besides the contract fee, I also need startup funds and this year's living expenses for the Zhu brothers.

Savings: 250,000; external debt: 10,000; mortgage: 300,000.

I checked my bank balance and actually still had 250,000; I need to spend it, quick.

No need to go deliver money to Xiao Hu; Ye Cheng told Xiao Hu to prepare for going out to sea this afternoon.

How long has it been since I went out to sea? I feel like I'm not right.

After withdrawing the money, Ye Cheng rode his motorcycle to Xia Ling Village; having ridden there once before, this time it felt like second nature, and he soon reached the village entrance.

As soon as he arrived at the village entrance, the sight gave Ye Cheng a big fright.

Holy crap, whose family is holding a banquet?

Why are so many people standing at the village entrance?

Oh, here you are, here you are.

Is this it?

He's so young, I don't even know if he's married.

Seeing Ye Cheng, the crowd at the village entrance started chattering, making him a bit nervous, as if he'd walked into a spider's den.

Xiao Ye, Xiao Ye over here.

Aunt Li stood in the crowd and shouted, and the Zhu brothers came out one by one, excited and enthusiastic.

What are they doing? Could they be welcoming me?

What else could they be doing? Everyone heard you're coming to contract the mountain to raise free-range chickens; the villagers are happy, and they're thinking maybe they can help sell the chickens too.

After Aunt Li said that, Ye Cheng also understood; the villagers have been poor for a long time.

Having finally got such an opportunity, everyone wants to improve their lives.

That's not impossible; as long as the product is good, Ye Cheng believes it will definitely sell.

Aunt Li, let's first get the mountain contracted; as for selling the chickens, I haven't looked for channels yet, no rush, we still have time.

Okay, okay." Aunt Li and the Zhu brothers embraced Ye Cheng and headed to the village office, with the other onlookers following behind.

Ye Cheng glanced back, seeing a pair of simple eyes filled with the desire to get rich.

As the saying goes, poor mountains and wicked waters produce troublesome folk.

But troublemakers are after all a minority; in fact most villagers are simple and kind.

Brother Cheng, we've talked with the village chief and settled on an annual contract price of just 2,500." On the way, Zhu Liwen quietly told Ye Cheng.

Saving 500 is not bad; saves some money.

Arriving at the village office, this place compared to Baiyun Village's office is simply incomparable.

It's just a mud house; a bearded, rough-looking old man stood at the door looking forward, and upon seeing visitors he immediately went out to greet them.

Brother Cheng, this is our village chief Zhu Weiguo." Zhu Liwen introduced him.

Chief, hello." Ye Cheng greeted him.

Zhu Weiguo excitedly shook Ye Cheng's hand,

Big boss, I didn't expect the boss to be so young.

I'm not really a big boss, just made a bit from fishing earlier; chief, it's still early, why don't we sign the contract?

Eh, sign, sign!" Zhu Weiguo's beard trembled with excitement.

Taking out the contract, Ye Cheng gave it a quick look; it was handwritten, quite something, but the characters were neat.

I wrote this, Boss Ye; do you think it's okay?" Zhu Weiguo looked at Ye Cheng a little nervously.

Ye Cheng read it through front to back; no traps, 2,500 per year, 30-year term, totaling 75,000.

It's written well, total 75,000; I'll pay now, then we'll sign and stamp.

Saying this, Ye Cheng pulled out a thick wad of cash.

Zhu Weiguo stared at the money, his eyes going straight; when has the village ever had this much money?

I, I'll stamp it." Zhu Weiguo fetched the village office seal and hurriedly stamped it, afraid Ye Cheng might change his mind.

Ye Cheng didn't sign, just looked at Zhu Liwen,

You sign.

Huh? Me sign?" Zhu Liwen pointed at himself, somewhat incredulous.

Right, you sign; I'm just investing." Ye Cheng nodded.

He knows village affairs; if he signed himself, there's no guarantee the village won't later regret it and say they gave the mountain to an outsider.

By then he'd be alone, with nowhere to reason.

But Zhu Liwen is a native of the village, and with his four brothers they are absolutely the local bosses; later whoever dares to gossip will get a direct visit.

That's just how the village ecosystem works; if you mess around in the village, you have to follow its rules.

Zhu Liwen held the pen, his heart surging, feeling he couldn't even write his name; with Zhu Weiguo beside him constantly urging, he finally managed to scribble his name, crooked and awkward, feeling for the first time that his writing looked a bit ugly, unworthy of over 70,000 yuan.

Seeing the writing set, Zhu Weiguo's eyes fixed on the money in Ye Cheng's hand, unable to stop rubbing his hands together.

Ye Cheng, however, did not hand over the money right away, but instead continued speaking,

"Village Chief, may I ask how you plan to use this money?"

"Huh? How to use it?" Zhu Weiguo scratched his head; he really hadn't thought about what to do with so much money.

"Well, this money belongs to your village; rest assured, I definitely won't interfere with how you use it, but I personally suggest repairing the road into the village—it's in terrible shape, making it a hassle for vehicles to enter."

He'll need to come into the village later to haul free-range chickens and eggs; this broken road is aggravating just to drive on.

As the old saying goes, to get rich you first build roads—there's truth to that.

"Yes, yes, first fix the road, make it smooth and level, so everyone can come and go easily," Zhu Weiguo replied repeatedly.

Seeing Zhu Weiguo like that, it seemed he genuinely wanted to repair the road, so Ye Cheng handed over the money.

As for whether it will actually be repaired later, he has no say in the matter.

Zhu Weiguo held that large stack of money in his hands, and the beard on his chin trembled with joy.

With the village committee matters settled, Ye Cheng followed him back to the Zhu household.

Li Danniang had originally said she wanted him to stay for a meal, but thinking he still needed to go out to sea in the afternoon, Ye Cheng directly refused.

He took out 10,000 yuan and placed it on the table,

"Auntie, this 10,000 yuan is for you to buy chicks and then put up some fencing on the mountain."

"We don't need that much—chicks cost just over a dollar each, so over a thousand is enough; for the fencing we can cut trees on the mountain, which costs nothing," Li Danniang said, offering to return about half to Ye Cheng.