Super Strong Little Divine Farmer

Chapter 31: Chapter 031: Road Building and Land Enclosure

Lin Chen said to Zhou Yunshan, ”Uncle Zhou, I’ve heard that if you want to get rich, you should first build roads. The dirt road from our Taohua Village to the city is over ten kilometers long and too difficult to travel. I’ve earned some money recently, so I plan to help repair the road for the village.”

Hearing Lin Chen’s words, a look of approval appeared on Zhou Yunshan’s face.

Zhou Yunshan smiled, ”Hmm, Lin Chen, it’s great that you have such awareness. However, if we let you, a high school student, pay for the road repair, where would that leave us government officials with our pride?”

Lin Chen was delighted upon hearing Zhou Yunshan’s words, ”Does that mean the city will fund the road repair for our village, Uncle Zhou?”

Zhou Yunshan nodded and said to the county magistrate beside him, ”Magistrate Li, this matter is now in your hands. Allocate funds from the city treasury and complete the road as soon as possible.”

”Alright, Mayor Zhou.” Magistrate Li was overjoyed upon hearing this news. He had applied several times for the repair of the road to Taohua Village, but the city had never approved it. He hadn’t expected that Lin Chen’s words would solve this longstanding issue so easily.

”Thank you, Uncle Zhou.” Lin Chen had not anticipated that Zhou Yunshan would agree so readily, and that the government would fund it too.

”What’s there to thank me for? This is what I should do. The fact that I haven’t done it before shows our government’s lack of concern for the grassroots. I really should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I would have never come to Taohua Village, nor would I have known about the existence of such a village tyrant here,” Zhou Yunshan said with deep feeling.

Lin Chen nodded, ”Taohua Village has a simple and honest village culture, and there are plenty of resources in the mountains. If we make good use of these, there will be significant development in the future.”

Zhou Yunshan smiled, ”Lin Chen, what’s the second thing you wanted to talk about?”

Lin Chen said, ”Uncle Zhou, Magistrate Li, there’s a large expanse of unused land at the base of Qingyang Mountain in Taohua Village. It’s been lying fallow, which I think is a real waste, so I want to lease it and put it to good use.”

”You want to lease that wasteland?” Magistrate Li looked at Lin Chen as if he were seeing a strange creature.

Zhou Yunshan had just seen that piece of wasteland too and had inquired about it with Magistrate Li.

”Yes, it’s too much of a waste for such a large area of land to be left unused,” Lin Chen said.

Magistrate Li chuckled bitterly, ”Lin Chen, not to dampen your enthusiasm, but the land there is of very poor quality; nothing can be grown on it. What will you do with it? Isn’t that just throwing away money?”

If it were anyone else, Magistrate Li would be more than happy to rent out the land.

He noticed that Lin Chen had an unusual relationship with Mayor Zhou. If Lin Chen really rented the land and then discovered issues and came back to them, it would be a big problem. So, he told Lin Chen about the wasteland’s issues in advance.

Lin Chen waved his hand dismissively, ”That’s okay, I just think it’s such a shame for the land to remain unused. Don’t worry, Magistrate Li, we can sign an agreement. Even if I lose money, I won’t regret it.”

Zhou Yunshan nodded and said, ”Magistrate Li, since Lin Chen wants to lease it, let him have it. Give him the maximum policy discount, but let me be clear, if you do end up losing money, Lin Chen, don’t come crying to me because there will be no refunds.”

”Don’t worry, Uncle Zhou,” Lin Chen nodded.

With Mayor Zhou’s word, Magistrate Li also felt reassured, ”The land can be leased for seventy years. Within my authority, I’ll give you a discount; eighty thousand, and the barren hill next to it is included for free. How’s that?”

”Great, thank you Uncle Zhou, and thank you, Magistrate Li.” Hearing about the additional barren hill, Lin Chen was ecstatic.

A single bottle of his Xingyang tea sold for one hundred thousand yuan. A vast expanse of land for only eighty thousand, with an additional barren hill thrown in for free, was an excellent deal.

Of course, Lin Chen also knew that the reason the price was so low was due to Mayor Zhou’s influence. Otherwise, even a barren piece of land leased for seventy years would cost at least two to three hundred thousand yuan.

”Lin Chen, the reason I’m willing to rent this land to you is that I believe you can make good use of it and bring about even greater changes to Taohua Village. Don’t disappoint me,” Zhou Yunshan said with a meaningful tone.

Zhou Yunshan, a veteran in the world of politics, knew well that a talented individual like Lin Chen was hard to come by. Taohua Village had been a poverty-stricken area on the provincial list for a long time, so he hoped that Lin Chen could lead the villagers in shedding that label.

”Don’t worry, Uncle Zhou, I definitely won’t let you down,” Lin Chen declared confidently.

Zhou Yunshan stood up, ”I have to leave for a meeting soon, so I won’t stay any longer. Lin Chen, I am really looking forward to your Seven Stars Tea!”

”No problem, I’ll bring some to you later,” Lin Chen said with a smile.

The group left the house with laughter and chatter, but Lin Chen suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His family’s doorstep had turned into a luxury car show, with Ferrari, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi all on display.

Normally, Wu Bin’s BYD was already quite a sensation in the village, but the sudden influx of luxury cars had the whole place buzzing.

Lin Chen’s doorway was crowded with people, many children curiously looking at the cars from all angles, and some of the braver ones even touching the smooth car bodies.

Wang Hu, who was standing beside the cars, saw Zhou Yunshan and quickly threw away his cigarette to greet him, ”Mayor Zhou, you’re so busy, how do you have time to visit Taohua Village?”

Wang Hu was a local entrepreneur, so he was very familiar with Zhou Yunshan.

Zhou Yunshan smiled and replied, ”Lin Chen saved my life. I am here to express my gratitude. What brings you all here?”

Wang Hu smiled, ”We’ve all come to buy Qingyang Tea.”

”Qingyang Tea?” Zhou Yunshan’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He pulled Lin Chen aside, ”Lin Chen, you’re really not playing fair, keeping good tea to yourself without offering me any.”

”Uncle Zhou, it’s not that I wouldn’t let you have it, but Qingyang Tea is for... men’s vitality,” Lin Chen said, his face turning red as he spoke softly.

”I see,” Zhou Yunshan said as he suddenly understood.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yunshan’s face went slightly red, and he whispered in Lin Chen’s ear, ”Lin Chen, could you give me a bottle of that tea?”

Upon hearing Zhou Yunshan’s words, Lin Chen couldn’t help but laugh, realizing that even the mayor had such needs!

”Sure, no problem. I’ll get it for you right away,” Lin Chen said, running back into the house with a smile.

Zhou Yunshan left happily with his tea, not realizing that the small bottle of tea was actually worth a hundred thousand yuan; otherwise, he would not have dared to accept it.

After seeing off Zhou Yunshan and his party, Wang Hu and the others surged forward, ”Lin Chen, is the tea ready?”

”It’s ready. I’ll get it for all of you in just a moment. Please wait here,” Lin Chen said as he headed back into the yard.

Lin Chen brought out the prepared Qingyang Tea, and by then, Wang Hu and the others were already showing signs of impatience.

”Lin Chen, sell me a few more bottles,” Wang Hu said excitedly, holding the Qingyang Tea he had reserved.

”Brother Wang, one bottle is enough for a month, and besides, this stuff expires after a month,” Lin Chen explained.

”Oh, I see. Well, alright then,” Wang Hu said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He had wanted to buy a box or two to keep at home.

At that moment, a balding man in his fifties squinted at the Qingyang Tea in his hand, ”Does this stuff really work? It’s not some kind of trick, is it?”