Chapter 85 - 85 85 Reaping What You Sow

Words : 2031 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

85: Chapter 85: Reaping What You Sow 85: Chapter 85: Reaping What You Sow Lin Fugui’s mind turned quickly, and devious thoughts flowed out of him like squeezing a sponge. He immediately said to Xie Heguo, “Mayor, after hearing what Director Ren said, I think we need to carefully consider this matter.” “What’s your opinion?” Xie Heguo asked Lin Fugui, as Lin Fugui was someone he trusted greatly. Lin Fugui had been waiting for Xie Heguo to ask, and he immediately replied, “We must give our full support to the development of Wanbao Village!” When Lin Fugui said this, Liu Hun and Ren Peiling were both stunned as if seeing a bull giving birth or the sun rising from the west. Then Lin Fugui continued, “By agreeing to Liu Hun’s proposal, we would be putting all of Wanbao Village, and our township’s future, entirely on Liu Hun’s shoulders. We must have him make a solemn promise! We can’t let him mess around like he’s playing with baby chicks, doing whatever he wants!” Ren Peiling had not yet had the chance to plead for an alternative course of action when Liu Hun readily took up the offer, saying, “Mayor Xie, as long as you agree to let me re-plan Wanbao Village! I’ll make that solemn promise right here and now!” “Are we done here, or not? We are done! Can you wait until I finish speaking before you agree, is that alright?” Lin Fugui gave Liu Hun a weary look, then said to Xie Heguo, “Mayor, we should let Liu Hun do this—first ensure that the per capita income of Wanbao Village reaches a certain threshold, then let him re-plan. Tell me, if he re-plans and it doesn’t reach that threshold, who would want to deal with that mess at the end?” “Mayor Xie, isn’t that too harsh on Wanbao Village? The land resources they can use are already so limited.” Ren Peiling tried to argue for more advantages for Wanbao Village, as she knew that Lin Fugui’s earlier words weren’t genuinely intended for the village’s benefit. “I actually think Director Lin’s words make a lot of sense! In our work, we must consider the people and not take too many risks. What do you think, Liu Hun?” Xie Heguo asked Liu Hun with a smile, believing that Lin Fugui’s proposal was the best of both worlds and should be followed. Liu Hun thought it over in his mind, knowing that it would certainly be a challenge, but for Wanbao Village to break free from development constraints, the risk was worth taking. Thus, he loudly declared, “Alright! Let’s do it as Mayor Xie suggests!” Seeing Liu Hun readily agree, Ren Peiling and Lin Fugui both had different feelings about it. In the end, Liu Hun made the “solemn promise,” ensuring that Wanbao Village, a provincial-level impoverished village, would reach a high standard of an average annual income of fifty thousand per capita. Upon meeting this standard, Wanbao Village could immediately apply to shed its impoverished status and re-plan its development without any constraints. If the standard wasn’t met, Liu Hun would have to bring everything in Wanbao Village back to its original trajectory. Liu Hun would never let Wanbao Village return to the old days of begging for government money, with every household poor and down-and-out, relying on superstitions and the whims of the heavens for sustenance. “Hey! I didn’t realize you actually had the guts to sign the agreement!” Lin Fugui looked Liu Hun up and down, then with a sly smile said to him, “Liu Hun, you better take care of your health, this isn’t something you can just show off. Here’s some advice for you; you should visit the clinic often.” After saying this, Lin Fugui tried to leave but was unexpectedly stopped by Liu Hun, making him ask fearfully, “This is the Township Government! What are you trying to do, Liu Hun?” “Director Lin, don’t be nervous!” Liu Hun said as he released Lin Fugui’s arm and then also smiled at him, “Director Lin, I have a piece of advice for you too.” “What?” Lin Fugui asked with some confusion. “You should visit the clinic often.” Liu Hun repeated Lin Fugui’s own words, the twist of using Lin Fugui’s advice to slap his own face felt quite satisfying. “Why should I go to the clinic? It’s you who should be going!” Lin Fugui replied coldly to Liu Hun. Liu Hun patted Lin Fugui’s shoulder and said, “Director Lin, I find the tea you serve quite special, don’t you think?” “What...what do you mean?” Lin Fugui felt a chill run down his spine as he sensed that Liu Hun’s words had a deeper meaning. “Don’t you taste something very smooth in your tea? I think you should know what that stuff is. And again, you should visit the clinic often!” After saying this, Liu Hun chuckled at the dumbfounded Lin Fugui and then left the Township Government courtyard. Lin Fugui was stunned for over a minute, eventually collapsing to the ground, his legs trembling. Frightening terms like hepatitis, lung disease, and tuberculosis twisted together in his mind, ultimately condensing into two words—ruined! After returning to the village, Liu Hun pondered that there really was no need to increase the area for blueberry cultivation; ensuring the stable yield of the existing planting area would be enough. However, after crunching the numbers, even a bumper blueberry crop would only yield a little over twenty thousand per household, which was still more than halfway from the “solemn promise’s” fifty thousand target. The grain fields were untouchable, and blueberries, vegetables, and mushrooms occupied almost all of the remaining private plots. At this point, the only resource Wanbao Village could utilize was the surrounding mountains. Liu Hun sat in Ying Nanhong’s restaurant, pondering the whole way as he delivered mushrooms, about what exactly he could pull off with this venture and see its benefits within a year, that the Cooperative would be willing to buy and also allow him to earn some money. “What are you dazing and pondering about?” Ying Nanhong smiled as she served Liu Hun a dish, taking a seat opposite him. The more she thought about their last encounter, the more regretful she felt. She always felt that if she had been bolder, seizing that moment to speak her mind, she might’ve actually achieved what she wanted. Liu Hun looked up at Ying Nanhong and suddenly thought that since her restaurant saw all sorts of customers and she was well-versed in the ways of the world, she might actually have some useful advice to offer. Thus, he shared the situation in Wanbao Village with her. Listening intently, Ying Nanhong suddenly said, “Eh! I heard a boss surnamed Jia talking while dining here yesterday, mentioning he has a good number of tea trees. What do you think about that?” “Tea trees?” Liu Hun really had no clue about this, though he knew the Cooperative would definitely buy tea leaves, and at a good price, so he asked Ying Nanhong to help get in touch to see what it was all about. Three days later, Liu Hun met Jia Qingmao at the Keren Lai restaurant, who was dressed in quite fashionable casual wear, looking rather short and thin. “Mr. Jia, I heard you have a batch of tea trees?” Liu Hun didn’t beat around the bush and directly inquired with Jia Qingmao. Taking a sip from his tea cup and inspecting Liu Hun, Jia asked, “What? You’re interested?” Liu Hun smiled and replied, “I’ve never dealt with this stuff before. I want to ask some things clearly, and if it seems good, I’ll buy!” “What a straightforward guy! Ask away, whatever you want to know!” Jia Qingmao said to Liu Hun, very heartily. Immediately, Liu Hun asked, “Mr. Jia, how large are these tea trees? Are they saplings or what?” “You’ve hit the nail on the head! Brother, to tell you the truth, these are not your average tea saplings. I’ve got ancient tea trees that are over a hundred years old! Do you know how much those old tea trees are worth? Go to the Cooperative and ask around! Everyone there is desperate to get them. Holding onto them is like holding a bar of gold!” Jia Qingmao said to Liu Hun with a face full of sincerity, looking more serious than if he were swearing an oath under the party flag. “Can these old tea trees still produce tea leaves? Will we see tea in the first year after planting?” Liu Hun asked Jia Qingmao, still quite unfamiliar with the concept. “If a tea tree doesn’t produce tea leaves, what’s it gonna grow, fruit? The yield might be a bit low in the first year after transplanting, but the next year will be better for sure! I guarantee you there will be no problems!” Jia Qingmao reassured Liu Hun, patting his chest, and then went on to talk up a further bunch of things. After listening, Liu Hun felt that such an opportunity had indeed come his way; if he could successfully acquire it, the per capita income in Wanbao Village could be more than fifty thousand for the year. Yet, he still had some doubts and asked Jia Qingmao, “Mr. Jia, if these hundred-year-old tea trees are so profitable, why would you sell them?” “Heh! Smart question! You’ve touched on the heart of it!” Jia Qingmao took a sip of his tea, smacking his lips before saying, “Because I’ve found something even more profitable! They’ve discovered minerals in the mountains. What do you think will bring in money faster: picking tea leaves year in, year out, or digging up real gold and silver with a shovel?” Liu Hun thought there was truth to this, but even mines have an end, while trees that last a hundred years are a true, lasting wealth for descendants. “One hundred ancient tea trees, eight thousand each. What do you think?” Jia Qingmao didn’t waste words and directly made an offer to Liu Hun. Liu Hun smiled slightly and said, “Mr. Jia, if you’re serious about doing business, make it a bit cheaper.” Scratching his head, Jia Qingmao glanced at Liu Hun and asked, “Straight to the point, how much can you shell out?” “Five hundred thousand, not a penny more. If you nod, then it’s a deal. Once I see the trees, the money’s yours,” replied Liu Hun, calculating in his mind. He had three hundred and sixty thousand on hand, and with the recent sales of mushrooms and vegetables, he almost had another three hundred seventy or eighty thousand. The rest would have to come from the villagers. Jia Qingmao pondered while stroking his chin, then slapped the table and said, “Alright! Five hundred thousand it is. Selling at a loss, consider it making friends with you. Two days later, I’ll bring the tea trees to the entrance of Wanbao Village, we see the trees and exchange the money, how about that?” “Deal!” Liu Hun agreed on the spot, thus the deal was set. No sooner had Jia Qingmao left, Ying Nanhong came over and said to Liu Hun, “I think we’ve picked up a great bargain with this, but why does fifty thousand make me so nervous?” “There’s no guarantee things are as good as we think. A pie falling from the sky wouldn’t just hit me, Liu Hun, on the head, and even if it did, it would be a headache!” Liu Hun shared with Ying Nanhong, already with a plan in mind. “So what should we do? Should we reject Mr. Jia’s offer?!” Ying Nanhong suggested to Liu Hun, looking at him with worried eyes. She intended to bring good fortune to Liu Hun, and if this ended up being a pitfall she’d led him into, she’d be filled with regret.

Chapter 85 - 85 85 Reaping What You Sow

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