Chapter 279: Meeting

Translator: Lonelytree 

When the meeting happened, the villagers already had an idea of what the agenda was.

The vast majority of the villagers were willing to rent the mountains to Xiao Lingyu. After all, the mountains had been left empty, and they didn’t have the money to develop them. Other than cutting firewood, hunting, picking mushrooms and herbs, they couldn’t gain much from the mountains. And these harvests depended heavily on luck.

If they were lucky, they could run across rare animals and plants, but not everyone had good fortune.

However, renting the mountains out was different. Even they knew simple math.

Six mountains equaled tens of thousands Mu. Even if the rent was just 150 RMB a year, the total rent for that year was more than 1.5 million. On average, each household would get several thousand RMB. And this was only for one year.

However, Xiao Lingyu paid them three years of rent in one go. In other words, they would be able to get several ten thousand RMB at once. With that in mind, many people were extremely excited.

Of course, there were also some who had side goals. Back then, they rented the sandy land to Xiao Lingyu cheaply. However, now that they realized how much money Xiao Lingyu had earned off their land, they felt taken advantage of. After all, if they didn’t rent their land to Xiao Lingyu, Xiao Lingyu wouldn’t get to grow so many strawberries, and she wouldn’t earn so much money.

Xiao Lingyu rented their land for 300 RMB per Mu, but she earned several ten thousand per Mu. 300 and several ten thousand, the difference was huge. This made them feel uncomfortable in their hearts.

Since Xiao Lingyu wanted to rent the mountains, it was clear that there was money to be earned. Therefore, no matter what, they could not let Xiao Lingyu mistreat them anymore.

The meeting was held at nine in the morning.

Many villagers came over early and gathered to discuss this matter.

Most of them were envious of Xiao Zhengyang and his wife. They were really lucky to have such a capable daughter.

Xiao Lingyu was good at reading and working. She was even better at earning money.

Back then, when Xiao Lingyu rented the land and said that she wanted to grow strawberries, many people secretly mocked her. They said that she had gone crazy after reading too many books. She was going to grow strawberries at the county where the plant couldn’t grow.

However, that ridicule turned into envy and jealousy.

With such a rich and capable daughter, Xiao Zhengyang and his wife could just live at home and enjoy their lives. They didn’t even need to work anymore.

However, these people forgot the hardships Xiao Zhengyang and his family went through in the past to support Xiao Lingyu’s education. In fact, these very people persuaded Xiao Zhengyang to stop wasting money on a daughter. After all, Xiao Lingyu was to be married off in the future anyway.

These people took their own advice. They stopped their daughters from studying. They felt that it was enough for a girl to learn how to read and write. Most of them dropped out around junior high. This preference for sons over daughters had harmed many promising talents.

Xiao Zhengyang and his wife had a correct outlook on life.

They believed that their children should be treated equally regardless of their gender.

Even if their daughter didn’t come back to serve them and stayed with her in-law, having a university degree would still benefit their daughter. They only wanted the best for their children. So they sacrificed everything for their children.

Xiao Lingyu had made them proud too. They never had to worry about her… except for the young love with Chen Ran.

Now that she was all grown up, she had made them prouder.

Their pride made others jealous.

…

“Testing, testing.” Xiao Taiyang cleared his throat and then said to the loudspeaker, “Everyone, please be quiet.”

Everyone present quieted down.

The village chief asked, “Is everyone here?”

There were more than 180 families in Taoyuan Village. Even if only one member from each family came, there would be 180 people. The committee room couldn’t fit all of them, so some had to stand outside.

“Village chief, it seems that Xiao Fuqi’s family isn’t here.” Many people paid attention to this since they knew about the bad history between Xiao Fuqi’s family and Xiao Zhengyang’s family.

“Oh, Xiao Chengcai’s family is not here too,” Someone else said.

Xiao Chengcai’s family had officially made enemies of Xiao Lingyu’s family. In order to pay off the debt, Xiao Chengcai’s family had no choice but to send someone to work for Xiao Lingyu, and that person was Xiao Chengcai.

His mother and his twelve-year-old brother were the only ones left in his family. His two adult sons had left the village to find work outside.

“It looks like they are the only families not here.” Someone looked around and said.

The village chief said, “Forget it. If they don’t want to come, so be it. We’ll start the meeting now. I think everyone already knows why we’re gathered here. Lingyu wants to rent the six mountains in Taoyuan Village. As Village Chief, I want to get everyone’s opinion.”

As soon as the village chief finished speaking, someone immediately asked the question that they were most concerned about, “Village chief, how much Xiao Lingyu plan to pay us for the rent? How much per Mu?”

The village chief said very seriously, “According to the mountain area rental policy, it’s 150 RMB per Mu.”

“Only 150? That’s too low.” As soon as the village chief finished speaking, there were people jeering about the low price.

When the village chief heard this, he asked with a serious expression, “Then how much do you think each Mu should rent for?”

“It should at least cost 400 RMB per Mu. At the very least, the rental should be similar to the rent of the sandy land.” Someone said with an excited expression.

This would be another high income for them. Most villagers wouldn’t even need to work anymore.

The village chief immediately revealed a look of disdain. He sneered and said, “You people sure are brazen. 400 per Mu, why don’t you go and rob the bank?”

Someone immediately said unhappily, “Village chief, since the sandy land can be rented for 400 per Mu, why not the mountain land?”

The village chief said, “The sandy land is part of dry land, and it can be used for farming. But can the same be said for the mountain land? There are plenty of trees and rocks. How do you expect Lingyu to grow things there without developing them first?

“We’re all from the same village. Do you think really think 400 RMB for a Mu of mountain land is reasonable?

“Or do you think since Xiao Lingyu is rich, you can scam her all you want?

“Do you think Xiao Lingyu is a fool, or do you think Xiao Zhengyang and his family are all fools?”

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