Not long after Qin Chuan drove away, Huang Naixiang had already come into contact with these uninvited guests.
"May I ask who you are..."
Huang Naixiang looked at the group of strangers with confusion. Their clothes were so out of place compared to the impoverished village.
And their skin, so delicate and fair, clearly indicated they lived a comfortable life, enjoying affluent living. Their aura was even more pronounced, each of them exuding an innate sense of superiority.
"Huang Naixiang, you idiot, how can you not recognize our county's new county magistrate?"
Before Huang Naixiang could finish his question, a bald, middle-aged, plump man strode out from the crowd and reprimanded Huang Naixiang.
Huang Naixiang was startled, his eyes widening. He then recognized the bald, plump man as Director Liu Liansheng of the Residents' Committee, whom he knew well.
"Director Liu, hello! Hello!"
"It's my eyes, they've been getting worse with age lately. At a distance, people appear double, and beyond ten meters, I can't distinguish between humans and animals!"
Huang Naixiang quickly apologized and then recalled Liu Liansheng's words, startled. He lowered his voice and asked, "What did you just say, the new county magistrate? Where is he?"
A new county magistrate had indeed come to Yongnan County in the latter half of last year, but this was of no consequence to ordinary people, and indeed, ninety-nine percent of them didn't know him.
It didn't matter who was the county magistrate; the county remained impoverished and undeveloped. This led to people not caring who was in charge.
"Hello, Village Chief Huang!"
"I am the new county magistrate. My name is Ye Qingping!"
As Huang Naixiang and Liu Liansheng were whispering, a voice sounded from beside them, causing both of them to look up.
At this moment, Huang Naixiang finally got a clear look at the new county magistrate's appearance, and only one thought came to his mind—too young!
The man before him looked at most in his early thirties, fair-skinned, refined, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and not short, standing at 1.8 meters.
"County Magistrate, hello, hello!"
Huang Naixiang snapped back to reality, his expression filled with trepidation. It was indeed the first time he had met this new county magistrate.
The surrounding villagers of Huangjia Village also wore expressions of shock and curiosity, as if they couldn't fathom why such an important figure would visit their secluded village today.
"Please come inside, it's quite cold outside!"
Huang Naixiang, as the village chief, quickly recovered and warmly invited Ye Qingping into his home for tea.
"Certainly!"
Ye Qingping didn't stand on ceremony. He turned and called out to the men and women standing behind him, "Manager Qiao, let's go inside and warm up!"
"Alright, Magistrate Ye!"
The person called Manager Qiao was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a suit with a mink coat over it. He had a slicked-back hairstyle and carried himself with great flair.
A group of people entered Huang Naixiang's home, which made his entire family feel uneasy, excited, and nervous. No one knew why the new county magistrate had made a surprise visit.
"Oh my, Village Chief Huang's home seems to have just hosted guests!"
Upon entering the house, Ye Qingping immediately noticed the teacups, tea set, cigarette pack, and the numerous cigarette butts scattered on the floor, all remnants of a recent gathering.
"County Magistrate, I'm truly sorry. We just saw off two guests a moment ago!"
"I'll have my wife clean it up immediately!"
Huang Naixiang apologized profusely, hurriedly calling his family to clear the mess and make fresh tea.
"You're too kind, Village Chief Huang. There's no need for such trouble. Just make a new pot of tea. We'll be on our way after a brief sit-down!"
Ye Qingping stopped Huang Naixiang's family from tidying up. Soon, new tea was brewed. The courtyard outside Huang's house was filled with villagers, all curious about why Ye Qingping had made a surprise visit today.
"It's like this!"
A few minutes later, Ye Qingping finally spoke. "The reason we've suddenly sought out Village Chief Huang today is to understand some information."
"Please speak, County Magistrate. We're all listening!"
Huang Naixiang sat opposite him obediently, like a student facing a teacher. The surrounding villagers were also silent, straining their ears.
"Recently, the county government plans to make some minor changes to our county town! To improve the situation of prolonged backwardness!"
Under their gaze, Ye Qingping took a sip of tea and spoke unhurriedly.
"And these changes will require some land. Your Huangjia Village happens to be the first on the list, so I've brought people here today to have a chat with you, the village chief, first."
"I wonder if everyone here is willing to accept the government's arrangements!"
Rumble!!!
As Ye Qingping finished speaking, the previously calm crowd erupted. All the villagers of Huangjia Village widened their eyes, seemingly unable to believe that such a thing could happen.
Even Huang Naixiang himself was stunned, staring speechlessly at the county magistrate and the others.
In the eyes of many, this was an overwhelming display of surprise, as such an event, at any time or period, was a momentous good thing.
The government's decision to acquire land and improve the county town's appearance was undoubtedly a great act of benevolence for the country and the people.
"County Magistrate, may I ask if this acquisition is for the entire village?"
Suddenly, someone asked loudly.
"Yes, it's for the entire village!"
Ye Qingping nodded.
The crowd buzzed again.
"Then may I ask how much the compensation price from the county government will be?"
Another villager asked.
"This... the government is still researching it, and the final plan has not yet been decided!"
Ye Qingping replied.
"County Magistrate!"
At this point, Huang Naixiang could no longer hold back. "It seems you're a step too late. Just before you arrived, a businessman from out of town bought the land from many of our villagers!"
"What did you say?!"
Ye Qingping's expression changed slightly.
At the same time, the expressions of the leaders who had been sitting leisurely drinking tea on the stools also changed.
Even Manager Qiao, who was wearing the mink coat, narrowed his eyes...
"Yes, leaders! This just happened!"
"Just a few minutes ago, right here at Village Chief Huang's house, we signed a supplementary agreement with Boss Qin and received all the demolition compensation!"
At this moment, the villagers gathered at the entrance also began to interject chaotically, their expressions agitated.
"That businessman from out of town just left as you arrived. The time difference between you was less than a minute, and you almost met!"
"Yes! We saw him too!"
As the villagers spoke in a jumble, Ye Qingping and his entourage's expressions grew increasingly solemn. They exchanged glances, their faces grim.
"Quiet down!"
Director Liu shouted loudly.
The noisy crowd quieted down, and Ye Qingping asked, "I have a few questions. What is the name of that businessman from out of town? Where is he from? And how much land did he buy from you?"
"His name is Qin Chuan. We don't know where he's from, but he was very generous and handled things efficiently. He bought land from twenty-five households here."
Huang Naixiang replied immediately.
"Land from twenty-five households, that much? From where to where?"
This time, a beautiful woman sitting next to Manager Qiao asked, her voice pleasant.
"The first two rows along the road, he bought all of them!"
A villager chimed in.
This time, everyone's expression changed completely.
Because that businessman from out of town had bought almost all the best and most valuable plots of land!