Tian Mengyao glared at Lin Fan unconvincingly, "Fine!"
She knew Lin Fan was deliberately provoking her.
Thus, the two of them, one after the other, left the clinic together.
Lin Fan strode ahead, looking smug.
Tian Mengyao walked behind with a stern face and asked, "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
The breeze stirred her short, ear-length hair. As she tidied it, she said, "I admit it, it was wrong of me not to discuss it with you beforehand."
"I originally wanted to talk to you first this morning, but who knew..."
"Who knew my sister-in-law would be there too," Lin Fan interjected. "So you used my sister-in-law to pressure me, didn't you?"
Tian Mengyao pouted her small lips, complaining, "But I was doing it for the villagers of Luofeng Village."
"Besides, you're not short of money, and the cooperative is yours. It's about doing something for the villagers."
Lin Fan rolled his eyes, "I have money..."
He had wanted to say, "Having money doesn't mean spending it recklessly!"
But seeing Tian Mengyao's beautiful, flawless face and her pouting lips and pitiful look, his words changed to, "I'm saving money to get married, how can I give it all to you?"
"If I don't have money to get married later, will you take care of me?"
Tian Mengyao glared at him, "What does that have to do with me?"
"Exactly," Lin Fan spread his hands. "You won't take care of me when I get married, yet you want to empty my pockets. Is that how it works?"
"Fine, keep your money to get married. I'll find my own way."
Tian Mengyao walked ahead angrily.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't be angry!"
Lin Fan chased after her and said, "Since you want to build a processing center, I can cover the costs for renovation and purchasing equipment."
He didn't want to make things too difficult for Tian Mengyao.
After all, if Tian Mengyao, an outsider, could work tirelessly for the people of Luofeng Village, what kind of person would he be if he, with money, did nothing?
"At least you have some conscience."
A brilliant smile finally appeared on Tian Mengyao's exceptionally beautiful face.
She even slightly opened her small mouth, revealing two pearly white fangs.
Soon, the two arrived at their destination.
It was at the east end of the village.
The small Western-style building before them was dilapidated and desolate. Even in broad daylight, it exuded a chilling aura, quite terrifying!
Especially since some unknown child, or perhaps villagers who had been oppressed by the Cao family, had retaliated. Not a single intact pane of glass remained on the entire two-story building.
The dark windows, with their irregularly shattered shapes, resembled fangs, like the gaping mouths of hellish demons, as if ready to tear and devour Lin Fan and Tian Mengyao at any moment!
Seeing this, Tian Mengyao immediately chickened out, "How about we come back another day to investigate?"
Despite the warm weather, her body trembled; she was clearly terrified.
"We've come all this way, and you want to postpone it?"
Lin Fan knew she was scared and smiled contemptuously, using provocation to spur her on.
Her face was etched with worry, and she didn't want to go in. But seeing Lin Fan's disdainful smile, she gritted her teeth, hardened her resolve, and followed Lin Fan.
Lin Fan pointed at the cement ground in the yard, "See, it's all ready. If there's not enough space, there's an empty plot next door, making expansion convenient."
When the Cao family was in power, they built houses however they pleased, as large as they wanted.
Thinking of this, Lin Fan's anger surged.
They should have confiscated the Cao family's house and used it for the welfare of the common people!
"It is quite good."
Tian Mengyao had only glimpsed the striking Western-style building from afar before, knowing about the events that had transpired with the Cao family.
But now, standing at the entrance of the yard, she realized that, while not opulent, it occupied a substantial plot of land.
"Let's go inside and take a look."
Seeing a large padlock on the main iron gate, Lin Fan looked around and found a large stone.
He bent down, picked up the stone, and was about to smash the lock when Tian Mengyao stopped him, "Hey, don't do that. It's not good."
"What's not good about it?"
Lin Fan gently shook off her hand from his arm and said nonchalantly, "What are you afraid of? You're the secretary now, aren't you in charge of everything in Luofeng Village?"
With that, Lin Fan stepped forward and with two forceful blows, completely deformed the lock.
"There."
Lin Fan yanked off the broken padlock.
Screeeech~
The iron gate, long unopened, emitted a goosebump-inducing creaking sound.
Lin Fan pushed the gate open and said, "Let's go in. If you're scared, stay behind me and don't wander off."
Tian Mengyao softly replied, "Okay," and cautiously followed behind Lin Fan.
"There's a doghouse here. We can make use of it."
"Medicinal herbs are quite valuable. We can keep a dog to watch over them."
Lin Fan's expression was calm, and his heart was undisturbed.
He felt guilt and a sense of sin when he did bad deeds.
But for the sake of eliminating harm to the people, he had a clear conscience!
"That works too."
Tian Mengyao timidly scanned her surroundings. Any slight rustle sent a jolt of fear through her, as if vengeful spirits might suddenly emerge from the Western-style building.
"The water and electricity are already there, but they'll need some adjustments. It won't cost much."
After Lin Fan spoke, Tian Mengyao asked nervously, "Xiao Fan, how do you seem so familiar with this place?"
Lin Fan thought for a moment and explained, "When I was in primary school, this Western-style building had just been completed. It was very impressive in the village."
"I came to see it closely back then, thinking our family might build such a beautiful and grand house someday."
Tian Mengyao replied, "Oh," and added, "Your family is already building one, and it will be even more beautiful than this one."
She chided herself for being suspicious and felt a sense of admiration for Lin Fan.
He had achieved a good life through his own efforts, even obtaining a Centurion Black Gold Card, a true example of a grassroots success.
"Let's go inside and take a look. The main door doesn't seem to be locked."
"Okay, okay."
Tian Mengyao didn't want to go inside, but Lin Fan was already at the entrance, and she hadn't noticed anything amiss after being here for so long. So, she nervously followed him.
Suddenly!
In the corridor of the main entrance of the Western-style building, there was a loud rattling noise.
A gray shadow darted out like lightning!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa~"
Whoosh!
Tian Mengyao was thoroughly startled and immediately jumped onto Lin Fan's back.
At the same time, Lin Fan saw clearly that it wasn't some demon or ghost, but a large rat.
This large rat stopped motionlessly at a distance of five to six meters, staring at the two of them.
It was likely that the Cao family had left in a hurry, leaving behind plenty of food, which had nourished this rat to be so plump, weighing about two pounds.
This large rat seemed not to fear people much.
It stood there, staring directly at the two uninvited guests.
Furthermore, its eyes seemed to burn with a furious flame.
"Ahhh!"
Tian Mengyao screamed again when she saw the large rat.
Out of fear, she clutched Lin Fan with her hands and feet, using all her might.
Lin Fan had already known that she was quite well-endowed.
He had known it when he carried her down Luofeng Mountain.
But Lin Fan had never imagined a day would come when she would jump onto his back and hold him so tightly, as if trying to suffocate someone.
"It's a rat!"
The more Tian Mengyao was scared, the more she couldn't help but observe the rat's movements.
But this large rat was truly strange.
It remained in place, looking up as if in defiance, meeting Tian Mengyao's gaze.
This made Tian Mengyao even more frightened, her entire body trembling.