"I see," said Xia Xue.
She felt that Tian Mengyao was being unreasonable yet also recognized that the rural cooperative was a good initiative. Thus, she was in a dilemma, unsure who to support.
"Sister-in-law Xia Xue, the herb planting will commence after the new year," Tian Mengyao continued.
"By autumn, we'll have the first batch of medicinal materials harvested."
"Therefore, if we want to build a processing center, we must prepare in advance."
Tian Mengyao glanced at Lin Fan, thinking, 'That Captain Zhang's Black Gold Card must hold a considerable amount of money!'
'Since you're unwilling to fund it, I'll have to start by breaking through your sister-in-law!'
Tian Mengyao had also heard the rumors circulating about the Lin family siblings. While they were exaggerated and largely based on speculation, they at least proved the deep affection between the two.
"I, I don't understand these things either," Xia Xue said, looking a bit embarrassed at Tian Mengyao.
Tian Mengyao's spirits lifted. She walked up to Xia Xue and said earnestly, "Sister-in-law Xia Xue, I've always believed that Luofeng Village's poverty can be solved!"
"With the villagers' hardworking hands and the government's correct policies, how can we fail?"
"Now that we have a direction, the entire village is eagerly anticipating it!"
"They all yearn for a better life!"
Tian Mengyao's voice grew impassioned. She grabbed Xia Xue's hand and continued, "Sister-in-law Xia Xue, shouldn't each of us contribute something towards this goal?"
Xia Xue nodded vigorously. "Of course, we should!"
She was completely moved by Tian Mengyao's spirit.
In her heart, she even felt an immense sense of responsibility surge.
Lin Fan stared, mouth agape, utterly bewildered.
'You cunning little thing!'
'Yesterday, I saw you were in a difficult situation, and you were genuinely contributing to the villagers, so I was willing to invest.'
'I never expected you heartless girl to set your sights on my remaining money.'
'It's fine if you covet it, but you're using my sister-in-law to corner me.'
'Impressive!'
Tian Mengyao noticed Lin Fan's angry expression and thought, 'I'm so sorry, truly sorry!'
Scanning Luofeng Village, there wasn't another local rich man who could afford hundreds of thousands.
"Sister-in-law Xia Xue, could you please ask Little Fan to help and speak to that investor?"
"For wealthy individuals, thirty thousand is nothing, but it's different for our Luofeng Village."
"With the medicinal herb planting base and the processing center, many people will have jobs and receive a monthly salary!"
Tian Mengyao looked into Xia Xue's eyes, her gaze filled with hopeful anticipation.
"Then..."
Xia Xue turned to Lin Fan and pleaded, "Little Fan, could you just help by saying a word?"
"Heh, heh," Lin Fan let out a cold laugh at Tian Mengyao, thinking, 'That's my money!'
'What do you mean, it's nothing?'
'You're truly pretending to be ignorant when you know perfectly well.'
"Sister-in-law, I actually think Secretary Tian's proposal for a processing center is absolutely fine."
"However..."
Lin Fan's mind raced, and he suddenly had an idea.
He raised his voice and continued, "However, our village truly doesn't need to build another medicinal herb processing center."
Tian Mengyao blinked in surprise and retorted, "Then what do you suggest?"
"We can't just put up a tent and fool people, can we?"
"Even if people can endure it, medicinal herbs are delicate. They'll spoil if they get even a little damp, so that won't work either!"
Lin Fan raised his right hand, extended his index finger, wagged it back and forth, and explained, "I'm not saying we shouldn't care for the herbs, nor am I saying processing them is bad."
"What I mean is, why not use a readily available good location instead of spending two or three hundred thousand and being a big spender."
"Do you really think other people's money grows on trees?"
Tian Mengyao took a breath and murmured, "A readily available good location?"
Song Yue, who had been silent until then, suddenly thought of something and exclaimed in surprise, "Little Fan, are you talking about... the Cao family's western-style house?"
"What?"
"That won't do at all!"
Tian Mengyao and Xia Xue had a sudden realization and objected almost simultaneously.
Lin Fan looked genuinely confused and asked, "Why not?"
He spread his hands. "Think about it, is there any better place in the entire village?"
"The first floor is at least two hundred square meters, right?"
"The large courtyard outside is perfect for drying and processing the herbs!"
Tian Mengyao frowned and said softly, "But someone died there."
"Who told you that? Isn't that just a rumor?"
Lin Fan stood up and looked at Tian Mengyao's slightly fearful face. He explained, "Cao Dewang died in the hospital, not at home."
"Besides, once there are many people, and the yang energy is strong, what kind of ghosts and spirits can't be suppressed?"
Xia Xue sighed softly. "Little Fan, that's the Cao family's house, not the village's. It has no official status, and we can't just seize it from them."
"Sister-in-law, how did the Cao family acquire that house?"
"Wasn't it all from the hard-earned money of the Luofeng Village villagers?"
"Did they earn it themselves?"
Lin Fan became more animated as he spoke. "Using the common people's wealth for proper purposes and benefiting the people is called taking from the people and using it for the people."
"In my opinion, even the old Cao house can be used as a warehouse."
"Their house is built with solid materials; it won't collapse for decades."
After hearing this, Tian Mengyao was stunned, as if she were meeting Lin Fan for the first time.
'This is what they call exploiting the deceased's assets, isn't it?'
'And the kind where everything is taken!'
Song Yue tugged at Lin Fan's arm, worrying, "Little Fan, what if they find out and come looking for..."
"They wouldn't dare!" Lin Fan declared with an air of righteousness. "If the Cao family dares to come back, we'll rally all the villagers!"
"We don't need to say anything, just stare at the Cao family members!"
"Anyone with a shred of decency would run for their lives!"
Song Yue chuckled. "Little Fan, I never knew you could be so devious!"
Xia Xue felt the same.
Tian Mengyao had to admit that the idea was indeed feasible, though a bit underhanded!
"Serving the people is my duty!"
Lin Fan placed the folder in his hand on the table and turned to Tian Mengyao. "Secretary Tian, since I have some free time now, I can accompany you to inspect the site."
"Once we get there, you'll see how suitable the location is."
Tian Mengyao was immediately taken aback.
Why would they be going to such a place first thing in the morning?
She knew quite a bit about the Cao family's affairs.
Although they still hadn't found out who broadcast on the radio that night, it was still a case of evil deeds meeting their just deserts.
However...
It was a place where a murder had occurred. Let alone for her, a young woman, even the villagers usually avoided it.
Was such a place truly suitable for repurposing?
"Sister-in-law, I'll be back soon. Secretary Tian is new here and doesn't know the situation, so I'll take her to have a look."
After speaking to his sister-in-law, Lin Fan said to Tian Mengyao, "Let's go, Secretary Tian. The sooner we go, the sooner we can arrange for it to be cleaned and renovated where needed."
He added as an afterthought, "The entire village is eagerly anticipating it!"
These were Tian Mengyao's words from earlier, which Lin Fan was now repeating back to her.