Translator: Lonelytree
With Xiao Lingyu’s reminder, the villagers immediately thought of Liu Family Village. They had also contracted out their mountains. A Big Boss had rented out the mountains to develop a mine. Mining would cause serious pollution, but the people of Liu Family Village didn’t mind.
Liu Family Village didn’t have as many hilltops as Taoyuan Village. There were only three mountains. The Big Boss believed there were rare minerals in the mountains. He rented the mountains for 100 RMB per Mu. The mountains were quite big, with a total area of 3,000 Mu.
The Boss only rented it for two years, but the rent was distributed to everyone. It was still quite a lot of money.
Of course, the Liu Family villagers welcomed the money. After all, after two years, the mountains would still belong to the Liu Family Village.
As for the pollution?
Since the mountains were far away from their village, they didn’t care. As for farmland near the foot of the mountain, the Big Boss promised to compensate if they were destroyed during mining. After a few years, when the mines stopped operating, they could start planting on the mountains again.
Currently, development was going at the mountains. Since this was a mining development, the Big Boss had to hire people. He directly hired the people from Liu Family Village. In the past year, almost all the adults at Liu Family Village had gone to work as miners. Their lives improved slowly. This made them the envy of many nearby villages.
“I remember now. Liu Family Village rented their mountains for 100 RMB per Mu.”
“Yes, the people from Liu Family Village told me that too.”
In comparison, the price of 150 RMB per Mu given by Xiao Lingyu was too generous. Xiao Lingyu continued, “That’s right. The Liu Family Village rented out their mountains for 100 RMB per Mu. I feel that my offer is already very fair. However…” Xiao Lingyu’s sharp gaze swept across all the villagers present, then she looked at her seventh uncle and continued, “If seventh uncle and all the villagers present feel that the price I offered is too low, then feel free to go and find the boss who is willing to rent your land for 200 RMB.
“As for me, since Taoyuan Village is unwilling to help me, I’ll seek better opportunities at the surrounding villages. I believe that if I offer them 150, no, 120 RMB per Mu, they will be glad to rent their mountain land to me.”
These people really thought they could bully her with this. Did they think she was so dumb?
Once Xiao Lingyu said that the faces of the villagers present changed. What did she mean by that? Did she want to rent the mountains from another village? Did she intend to benefit outsiders instead of her neighbors?
Many people were displeased… well, most who wanted a higher rent were displeased. They were so greedy. Xiao Lingyu had already offered them a high price, but they still wanted more. They really thought Xiao Lingyu was a pushover.
Someone immediately said with some dissatisfaction, “Lingyu, we’re your neighbors. You refuse to rent from us but instead want to benefit other villages? How is that acceptable?”
Xiao Lingyu replied indifferently, “You can’t blame me for this. I’ve already given everyone face by offering a fair rent. However, some people still think that is not enough.
“Even though I’ve earned some money in the past year, renting the mountains still requires a huge sum of money. I don’t have the funds to offer a higher rent.
“In that case, I have no choice but to settle for the second-best scenario. If I rent from another village, I’ll even save money.
“After all, my money didn’t fall from the sky that I can squander them. That’s the money my family has earned through hard work.”
She almost said, ‘I’m not a fool that you can take advantage of easily.’
As soon as Xiao Lingyu said that, the scene fell silent.
At this moment, Xiao Chengbang said loudly, “Lingyu, don’t listen to some greedy people. The rental price you gave is already very fair.
“You’re contracting the mountains, not to mine like the Big Boss at Liu Family Village. You are going to plant fruit trees. And you even allow us to continue foraging on the mountain. We should be glad that you’ve treated us so nicely.
“Anyway, I don’t have any objections!”
As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately retorted. Xiao Laiguo said, “Xiao Chengbang, who doesn’t know that you have a good relationship with her family? Of course, you don’t have any objections.”
Xiao Chengbang’s sharp eyes swept over him as he asked sharply, “So do you have objections? Only because you want Lingyu to pay you 400 RMB per Mu? Xiao Laigou, how greedy can you be? Plus, the mountains aren’t even yours!”
Xiao Laogou said indignantly, “It’s true that the mountains aren’t mine, but my family owns part of it. So why can’t I have objections?”
“Your family is one of the many who own parts of the mountains. Your objection doesn’t matter!” Xiao Chengbang said.
Xiao Laogou was furious.
“Enough!” The village chief immediately stopped them from arguing. Then, the village chief said seriously, “Xiao Lingyu’s rental price is already very fair. She even offers us extra because we’re from the same village.
“Certain people shall not take a mile when given an inch. If you want a higher rental price, go and find your own boss to rent. You can rent it for 200 or 400, and you’ll get rich immediately.”
Then, he pointed at the two cardboard boxes on the table, “Now, let us vote. Everyone has a card with a serial number. Those who agree to rent it to Xiao Lingyu put your card in the box on the left, and those who disagree put it in the box on the right.
“If more than half of the people agree, then it means that the village has agreed to rent these mountains to Xiao Lingyu and vice versa. Does everyone understand?”
“Yes!” They nodded.
Of course, there were also people who raised doubts and said disdainfully, “Why are we wasting time? Isn’t the result obvious?”
The majority would agree.
The village chief ignored them and said directly, “Alright, then let’s start voting now.”
The villagers rushed to the boxes and dropped their cards.
In a short while, everyone had finished voting.
The village chief and a few village officials verified the results on the spot.
Finally, the village chief announced, “There are a total of 186 households in Taoyuan Village. Other than Xiao Fuqi and Xiao Chengcai’s families, there are 184 here, so the halfway point is 92 votes. The village elders and I have tallied the votes. 162 votes are in favor of Xiao Lingyu, and the others are 22. So, Xiao Lingyu is allowed to contract the mountains.”
No one was surprised by this result.. There was only a small number of people who were greedy.
