Two bowls of noodles were brought over, and Lu Fan and Wang Yan began to eat.
*Pfft*... Wang Yan suddenly let out a laugh. Having grown accustomed to delicacies at home these past few years, eating banmian occasionally felt quite good. The most important thing was being able to dine alone with Lu Fan; she was happy eating anything.
“Boss! How much?” Lu Fan called out to the owner after finishing his bowl.
“Brother! You’re the first person to drive a sports car to eat my banmian. I won’t take your money. But, can I take a photo and post a short video?” the noodle stall owner said with a smile.
“Haha! You’re quite sharp, brother! Then I won’t be polite!” Lu Fan and Wang Yan got up and left.
The young owner quickly took a set of photos. Watching Lu Fan and Wang Yan leave, he smiled so widely his mouth couldn't close. He immediately posted a short video.
Lu Fan and Wang Yan had no idea that their simple meal of banmian would make a video and a street stall banmian incredibly popular. Many people came specifically to eat the banmian!
As soon as Lu Fan and Wang Yan returned home, they saw a group of people standing outside their villa. Upon seeing Lu Fan’s car drive back, the crowd immediately swarmed over.
“Xiao Fan!”
“Xiao Fan!”
“Xiao Fan, you’re back…”
Lu Fan frowned. He wasn't dead yet; if he were, would so many people be calling out to him like this?
Wang Yan got out of the car and opened the main gate. Lu Fan drove the car directly into the garage.
“Lu Fan, we still want to work with you. Won’t you come back to Bufan Group?” someone suddenly shouted.
“Yes, Lu Fan, why don’t you start another company and lead us again?”
Others chimed in.
“Everyone, I’m alone now, with nothing. If you follow me, you’ll starve. Hurry back and continue working at Bufan Group. Bufan Group is so large, it can still support all of you.” Lu Fan said loudly.
“Bufan Group is finished. We haven’t had any business for a long time. Our vegetables aren’t selling. Ever since Wang Yan stepped down as general manager, Bufan Group started dabbling in tourism and resorts. In the end, the group pocketed all the profits. The villagers didn’t see much increase in income. Now that it’s not making money, the group members packed up and left. The villagers were left uncared for,” someone in the crowd shouted.
“That’s right, Lu Fan. You built all the villas in the village. You were the one who managed the village’s development. Xiao Fan, come out of retirement. With your vegetable-growing skills, we can definitely make a comeback,” another person echoed.
“Heh! If Bufan Group hadn’t collapsed, would you believe in me like this? You probably wouldn’t even remember me. Forget it, everyone go back. I’ve long since thrown away my vegetable-growing skills,” Ye Shisan waved his hand, pushing through the crowd and heading back into the villa.
“Go back, go back, everyone go back!” Wang Yan immediately urged everyone to leave.
Back in their room, Wang Yan looked at Lu Fan with some hesitation. After a long pause, she said, “Xiao Fan, why don’t you lead the villagers again? The common folk are easily swayed and lack their own opinions. But we can’t just abandon them!”
“It’s not about abandoning them, but about not intervening too easily. Otherwise, no one will value your contributions, and your efforts will be taken for granted.
They say dedication is without expectation of reward, but if your dedication doesn’t bring about significant change for many, and instead creates many bad people, is your dedication worth it?” Lu Fan said calmly.
“Then… then what should they do?” Wang Yan asked.
“I don’t know. Let’s wait and see,” Lu Fan replied, shaking his head slightly.
…
In the evening, Wang Yajie arrived.
“Xiao Fan Ge, Wang Yan Jie! Everyone from the company has left,” Wang Yajie said, her head bowed.
“You’re a senior executive of the company. Why didn’t you leave with them?” Lu Fan suddenly asked.
“I took on the role of sales supervisor to help the villagers sell more products. Now that the village’s vegetables aren’t selling, I can’t just pack up and leave. I want to continue working with the villagers. I… I want your support,” Wang Yajie said.
“It was the villagers who sent you, wasn’t it?” Lu Fan asked, glancing at Wang Yajie.
“Yes!” Wang Yajie nodded.
“How many villagers support you?” Lu Fan asked.
“About a dozen people came to find me!” Wang Yajie replied truthfully.
“Not enough! If more than ninety percent of the villagers support you, then come back to me. Otherwise, before you achieve anything, you’ll likely be crushed by various troubles,” Lu Fan said.
“No… that can’t be right?” Wang Yajie widened her eyes in disbelief.
“Can’t be? Hmph! Firstly, Bufan Company won’t allow you to use their resources. They can throw their resources in the trash, but they’ll never permit others to pick them up.
Secondly, the villagers are all modestly wealthy now. They’re not interested in small gains, and they can’t make big money. They’re all impetuous and unruly, so why would they listen to a young girl like you giving orders? If you don’t believe me, try it. Just say you want to lead the villagers yourself and see what happens,” Lu Fan said calmly.
“Okay!” Wang Yajie nodded, half-believing, and turned to leave.
…
As soon as Wang Yajie left, Lu Fan’s phone rang. Lu Fan glanced at it; it was Jiang Chao.
“Boss! I haven’t heard from you in years. You’re finally back.” Jiang Chao’s voice came through.
“Jiang Chao. I heard you’ve become the uncrowned king of the provincial capital. Congratulations! Your boss is no longer what he used to be. I’ll have to rely on your care from now on!” Lu Fan said with a faint smile.
“In my heart, you will always be my boss! Without you, I, Jiang Chao, wouldn’t be where I am today. Don’t worry, I’ve already told my subordinates that no one will bother your clothing store anymore,” Jiang Chao said immediately.
“Thank you for that! I’ll treat you to a meal another day,” Lu Fan said lightly.
…
After hanging up the phone, two old men looked at Jiang Chao with slightly tense expressions. “Boss! Is it really Lu Fan who’s back?”
The two were Xuan Ming Er Lao from the Black Tiger Gang.
“I don’t know if he’s back. But as soon as he appeared, the Bai family was ruined like this. This person is too terrifying. We must absolutely not provoke him!” Jiang Chao slowly put down his phone, letting out a long sigh.
“I heard that the young girl beside him, Duanmu Xiu, has already left,” Xuan Lao suddenly said.
“Don’t talk about that girl leaving. Even if he were paralyzed and unable to move, I would never dare to offend him. That old man from the Bai family was shrewd his entire life, but became foolish in his old age,” Jiang Chao said meaningfully.