"It seems we misunderstood Yi Feng. He hasn't forgotten everyone after making money."
"Yi Feng, don't think a thousand yuan can buy loyalty. This money is rightfully yours. That land behind the mountain, no matter what you plant, will yield a great harvest.
From what you said, you intend to plant watermelons there long-term.
We agree to let you plant watermelons, but we never said you could plant them there for free indefinitely.
This is village land, not your personal property. Everyone has a share.
If you want to plant watermelons, I want to plant sweet potatoes there too!
Because of your watermelons, mine can't be sold," Liu Xingcheng, who was contrary, said. /
He was still upset about Liu Yifeng refusing to sell his watermelons to him before.
In reality, his watermelons couldn't be sold had nothing to do with Liu Yifeng. It was because the watermelons he grew were small and not sweet.
At least, the people who bought watermelons from him had all terminated their cooperation with him.
This resulted in over a hundred thousand catties of his watermelons stuck in the fields. However, watermelons ripen fast and rot just as quickly.
Leaving them in the field for too long would cause them to overripen and rot.
Therefore, he had no choice but to sell them at a ridiculously low price of one cent per catty.
Otherwise, once they rotted, no one would want them even if they were given away for free.
As a result, not only did he not make money on his watermelons this year, but he also lost a significant amount.
Seeing Liu Yifeng's watermelons selling so well now, he was consumed by jealousy.
He was also convinced that the reason Liu Yifeng's watermelons grew so well and matured so quickly was due to the fertile land in the back mountain. He had gotten his advantage once, and he couldn't let him keep taking advantage.
Liu Yifeng had long anticipated Liu Xingcheng's attempts to stop him from planting watermelons.
Although he was the richest man in the village, he had never thought of leading the villagers to prosperity on his own.
However, he had harbored this idea for a long time. Money could never be earned in full, and he alone could not monopolize the entire market.
Moreover, the country did not permit market monopolization. So, why not let the villagers prosper with him? It could be considered a contribution to Liu Family Village.
Thinking this, he said, "Everyone, I, Liu Yifeng, am not someone who only looks out for myself. If I have the ability, I will help everyone.
You must know that I am building vegetable greenhouses. If you are willing to invest, I can expand the greenhouses. The profits from selling vegetables then can be distributed as dividends."
Upon hearing this, the crowd instantly erupted in excitement. They had long heard that Liu Yifeng's vegetables were sold to five-star hotels, and the prices they paid were not low.
Those with good relations with Liu Yifeng's family had tasted his vegetables, and the flavor was indeed more delicious than delicacies.
It was hard not to be popular, but they never expected Liu Yifeng to be willing to let them invest. This was clearly handing them money!
Many doubted the authenticity. One person impatiently asked, "Liu Yifeng, is what you're saying true? Is there no catch?"
"Exactly. Your vegetables are obviously capable of making a lot of money. Why would you share a piece of the pie with us?"
Seeing the disbelief in their eyes, Liu Yifeng smiled and said, "Everyone, I know you're afraid I'll cheat you out of your money.
But I grew up in Liu Family Village. Anyone who knows me should understand my character.
It is precisely because I firmly believe that the vegetables I grow can make money that I want to lead all the villagers to make money together.
Only when everyone prospers together can our Liu Family Village truly flourish.
Furthermore, my vegetable greenhouses are not small in scale. We will also need people to manage them. If you have shares, you will be more motivated to work, won't you?"
"I'll invest, but I don't have much spare cash. I can only put in twenty thousand!" This was all his savings.
Others also scrambled to say they wanted to vote, because they knew this was like picking up money.
That's why they were surprised Liu Yifeng was willing to let them invest.
Hesitating for even a second would be disrespecting money.
Seeing this scene, Liu Xingcheng hurriedly said, "Everyone, investing requires caution!"
"What's there to be cautious about? Yi Feng isn't afraid to lead us to make money, so why should we fail to live up to his good intentions."
"Exactly. You, Liu the richest, have been rich in the village for over ten years, and we never saw you say you wanted to lead us to invest and get rich.
But Yi Feng, in such a short time, is already thinking of us elders and folks. We must invest."
At least two-thirds of the people were willing to join Yi Feng in the vegetable greenhouse business.
The rest either had no money or were from Liu Xingcheng's branch of the family.
"Thank you all for trusting me. Rest assured, I will never let you down. I won't boast about other things, but I will definitely help you make money.
In the next few days, I will tally the number of investors and the amounts. Then I will decide how much to expand the scale."
The vegetable greenhouses he was building now occupied over twenty mu, but if everyone invested, it would definitely be too small.
Only by expanding the scale could everyone truly make money.
Moreover, there would be people who would work diligently in the greenhouses, and there would be no need to worry about laziness or lack of responsibility.
After all, this also concerned their personal interests.
"Since Yi Feng thinks of us even when making money, then I have no objection to him planting watermelons in the back mountain.
Originally, the land was just lying idle. Although we could also plant sweet potatoes, watermelons aren't something you can just plant. It's his good cultivation technique.
Just like his vegetables and crayfish, these all prove Yi Feng's personal ability, not the land's.
Otherwise, if we planted sweet potatoes there, they definitely wouldn't grow so big and so well."
"Yes, yes, I agree too. Yi Feng, you can plant with confidence. Since you think of us making money, we can't argue with you about this.
Besides, you're not planting for free. You've not only given us two big watermelons, but also a thousand yuan red envelope. On this point alone, we can't stop you from planting!"
They say the minority obeys the majority. At this point, even if Liu Xingcheng's branch of the family tried to stop it, it would be futile.
Finally, only Liu Yifeng's renting of the empty land by the bridge remained. The crowd naturally had no objections.
But just as it was about to be finalized, Liu Xingcheng suddenly raised his hand and said, "Village Chief, I also want to build a farmhouse. I want to rent that piece of land too."
He suddenly felt that building a farmhouse there would be quite good, a profitable idea.
"Liu Xingcheng, don't you think this is too much? This was Liu Yifeng's idea, and now you suddenly say you want to build a farmhouse. I think you just can't stand to see him do well at anything.
Besides, if you were to open a farmhouse, could you even manage it?" Li Dongmei said indignantly.
Liu Xingcheng's anger turned into a smile. "No one else has said anything, yet you're in such a hurry.
I find it strange, why are you so concerned about Liu Yifeng's affairs?
I heard you've been working for Liu Yifeng these past few days. Why didn't he find anyone else but you?
Could it be that you two have some unspeakable matter?"
Li Dongmei blushed with shame and anger upon hearing this. "Don't talk nonsense. Liu Yifeng and I have nothing. I just felt what you're doing is too much, so I said a few extra words."
By rights, women were not allowed in the ancestral hall, let alone an outsider woman.
However, Li Dongmei's family situation was special. Her family had no laborers, her husband had died several years ago, and her father-in-law was in poor health, wheezing even when walking.
And for the sake of her children, she had stayed in Liu Family Village. Therefore, the villagers had tacitly accepted her as part of the village.
For village assemblies like this, each household had to send a representative, so she could only participate.
Although her father-in-law could come, his health was poor. If any accident occurred during the meeting, no one could bear the responsibility.
"How am I being excessive? This is village public land. If he can rent it, why can't I?
Since you say you have nothing to do with Liu Yifeng, then mind your own business. It's not like you're paying for it," Liu Xingcheng said impolitely.
He did not show any deference to Li Dongmei just because she was a woman.
He was a man of chauvinistic beliefs, and women in his eyes were merely accessories.
Li Dongmei was rendered speechless by his words and felt somewhat wronged. Her gaze involuntarily turned to Liu Yifeng.
"Liu Xingcheng, it's fine that I'm a man, but Sister Li is a woman. If you slander her like this, how will she live in the future?
I hope you watch your words and maintain some decorum.
As for your wanting to rent that piece of land, let's compete fairly. We'll decide by vote. Whichever one gets more votes, the village will rent the land to. What do you think?"