Chapter 285: 281. Even? (Please subscribe, please vote for monthly tickets!)

To get Zhang Ran and the others to leave quickly so they could clear space to entertain their distinguished guests, these people were truly putting in the effort.

Not only did they help arrange a place, but they also helped move their things.

Watching their impatient expressions, Zhang Ran suddenly felt like laughing.

"Brother Zhang, don't be angry, it's not worth it," Huo Zhiyuan said softly, walking by Zhang Ran's side while holding the little hands of the two children.

Zhang Ran smiled and said, "I'm not angry. But, little girl, do you think I've failed as a person?"

Huo Zhiyuan's heart tightened upon hearing Zhang Ran's words; this was the situation she feared most. Huo Zhiyuan knew that even though Zhang Ran seemed not to care about anything, the betrayal by Tian Yaohui and the others had still affected him.

Zhang Ran had always treated his own people with sincerity; he had never demanded anything of his friends, it was always him, Zhang Ran, doing what needed to be done.

But now?

Tian Yaohui and these people had betrayed him, Zhang Ran, for the sake of profit. After such a long time, Zhang Ran seemed to have adjusted.

But today's situation truly left him feeling a bit dazed.

He, Zhang Ran, asked himself if he had ever done anything to wrong Tianjia Mountain Village. From the very beginning, when he saved Chang Meilan, Zhang Ran had truly been moved by that group of simple, honest villagers.

So he paid out of his own pocket to help them build an industry for their village, even finding them sales channels, and he even had Yaotian Pharmaceutical pay them extra.

Was Zhang Ran asking for anything in return?

What could the people of Tianjia Mountain have given him back then?

Zhang Ran had never wanted to gain anything from them; he just wanted to give them a helping hand.

At the time, Chang Meilan said the jade bracelet was a gift from the people of the village to thank him. Although he didn't show much on his face then, the joy he felt from the bottom of his heart could not be concealed.

When Zhang Ran first saw Tianjia Mountain Village, his first thought was to see if he could help the village some more.

But the reality of the situation had truly chilled his heart to the core!

For the sake of so-called distinguished guests, they were going to drive him, Zhang Ran, out!

And all just so they wouldn't disturb this distinguished guest!

"Brother Zhang, don't think like that. This isn't your fault; they are the ones who are ungrateful," Huo Zhiyuan said nervously.

Seeing Huo Zhiyuan's nervous expression, Zhang Ran suddenly started to laugh, "What gratitude is there to speak of? It's all just profit."

"Brother Zhang, you still have us," Huo Zhiyuan finally said, truly not knowing what else to say.

In front of Zhang Ran, she felt as if she had forgotten how to speak.

"It's fine, I'm just feeling a bit sentimental. Don't worry, I'm really fine," Zhang Ran said lightly.

Watching Zhang Ran's feigned ease, Huo Zhiyuan felt a deep ache in her heart!

Since when did Zhang Ran need to feign ease to hide his inner feelings?

At this moment, Huo Zhiyuan turned her head to look at the receding Tianjia Mountain Village, her gaze gradually turning cold and sharp.

Although she, Huo Zhiyuan, was hailed by the public online as a "Goddess of Charity," she was not a true saint, especially when it concerned the man in front of her.

She, Huo Zhiyuan, asked for nothing else in this life; since the heavens had sent this man back to her, she could forgo everything else, asking only to be able to stay by his side.

Susu, the little one, was very sensitive; she quickly sensed her grandfather's mood. Although the little one didn't understand what was happening, she pulled her hand away from Huo Zhiyuan and tucked her own little hand into her grandfather's large one.

Zhang Xiaotao was not as quick as Susu in this regard, but seeing Susu do this, he thought for a moment and quietly took his other little hand to hold his grandfather's large hand.

Seeing these two little ones, Zhang Ran's previously gloomy heart was suddenly filled with sunshine, and a smile returned to his face, as if he truly didn't care anymore.

Seeing Zhang Ran like this, Huo Zhiyuan breathed a slight sigh of relief, but soon after, she quietly sent out a message.

Ligou Village was not far from Tianjia Mountain Village, about a twenty-minute drive. Due to the national policy of connecting village roads, the road here to Ligou Village was also paved with cement and was relatively wide.

Principal Su also breathed a sigh of relief along the way. This was for the best; as long as the road conditions were good, a little extra distance wasn't a problem, and there was also the professional medical team that Huo Zhiyuan had invited.

However, the situation in Ligou Village was clearly much worse than in Tianjia Mountain Village, both in terms of housing and other facilities.

But this seemed to have more of a pastoral flavor, and more of the Miao ethnic charm.

"Alright, you can go now," Zhang Ran said to the people who had followed them, seeing the people from Ligou Village already standing at the village entrance to welcome them.

Hearing Zhang Ran's words, these people left without a word. However, before leaving, the young man named Xiaoyuan said, "Now we are even. Don't use those little favors from back then to make demands later."

Zhang Ran smiled upon hearing this and said, "Don't worry, no matter what, I will never look for you again, and I don't want to see you again either."

"Hmph, that's for the best." Having said that, Xiaoyuan led the people away.

As soon as Zhang Ran and the others got out of the car, the people from Ligou Village came up to greet them. The person leading them was a middle-aged man who looked somewhat aged; just from his appearance, he looked to be over sixty, but judging by his steady and vigorous gait, he was likely only in his fifties.

"Welcome, welcome everyone to our Ligou Village. My name is Xin Man; you can call me Old Xin, or Village Chief Xin is fine too," Old Xin introduced himself with a face full of smiles.

However, Zhang Ran could tell he was a bit nervous; his self-introduction seemed to have been prepared for a long time before he managed to say it all in one breath.

To make it easier for everyone to address him, he even told them to call him "Village Chief" directly, without using the unique Miao title.

"Village Chief Xin, we may have to trouble you from here on out," Principal Su stepped forward to liaise with Xin Man.

Xin Man immediately said, "No trouble, no trouble at all. If you have any needs, just ask, and we will certainly do our best to satisfy them."

After everyone entered the village, Xin Man said somewhat apologetically, "I'm sorry, our Ligou Village is much worse than Tianjia Mountain Village; please don't mind it."

This was their first time hosting so many people. Their village was far inferior to Tianjia Mountain Village, and they had only just gritted their teeth to start this project recently, so they were feeling quite nervous at the moment.

Principal Su smiled and said, "No, this is already very good. Besides, being able to let the children have more contact with authentic Miao customs is a good thing for them.

By the way, Village Chief Xin, could you explain the specific situation to us?"

"Of course I can."