Lin Fan scanned the sea of curious eyes below and smiled, "Actually, it's just that a friend I treated before, who happens to be quite wealthy, was willing to contribute a sum of money to help Luofeng Village get our cooperative off the ground."
Hearing this, the villagers finally understood. It was all Lin Fan's doing!
The benefactor was repaying his kindness by investing without seeking profit.
Recalling his frequent trips to the city to treat patients, the villagers connected the dots.
"Xiao Fan, you've done a good deed!"
"Good deeds are rewarded!"
"Xiao Fan, thank you!"
Some villagers in the front rows shouted out.
Lin Fan smiled and nodded, his heart filled with excitement and joy as he saw his sister-in-law dancing with delight.
"It's nothing. I'm a member of Luofeng Village, and I'm happy to be able to do something for everyone."
Lin Fan cleared his throat and continued with a smile, "Since I brought in the investment, my friend asked me to be the supervisor, responsible for overseeing the cooperative's accounts to prevent any untoward incidents."
"Right, right, someone needs to be in charge."
"Xiao Fan, you must keep a close eye on the money."
"Don't let..."
Although the words were stopped in time, Tian Mengyao's expression revealed a hint of embarrassment.
"Secretary Tian, I wasn't talking about you."
"Yes, she's getting senile."
"Please don't take it to heart, Secretary Tian!"
Tian Mengyao smiled, "It's fine. I've just started working, so it's normal for people to not fully trust me."
"Cough, cough."
Lin Fan coughed twice and added, "Secretary Tian, it's not that everyone doesn't trust you."
"It's just that in the past, some people in the village committee didn't act like decent people. They didn't think about the common folk, only about lining their own pockets and figuring out how to extract wealth from us."
As he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall turned serious.
Every single person present, without exception, harbored hatred for the dog-like Cao Dewang who had already gone to hell!
Even Wu Lei, who had once been Cao Dewang's lackey, gnashed his teeth in resentment.
"And there were others who acted as accomplices, wielding power they didn't possess, and causing harm to the common folk!"
Lin Fan shouted this last sentence.
As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes turned to Wu Lei.
Wu Lei hastily lowered his head, his face turning ashen.
He was like an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit or stand comfortably, and yet unable to leave.
He had lived this long, but even when Han Xiangxiang called a few days ago to say she wanted a divorce, he hadn't felt this agonizing discomfort.
Seeing that his point was made, Lin Fan continued, "We'll put aside the past for now. Secretary Tian is in charge now, and I believe under her leadership, everyone will live a good life!"
"Hooray!"
The crowd cheered and applauded enthusiastically.
Clap, clap, clap...
Lin Fan deliberately brought up the corrupt village officials of the past to draw a contrast, making the villagers see the newly arrived Tian Mengyao as an angelic savior!
"Thank you, everyone!"
Tian Mengyao bowed deeply to the audience, her smile radiant.
Her face, eyes, and heart were filled with happiness.
She had been in Luofeng Village for so long, enduring so much hardship and injustice, and today she finally gained the genuine recognition of all the villagers!
As the applause subsided, Lin Fan's face suddenly turned stern. "However," he said, "there are still many challenges before us."
"One million yuan sounds like a lot, but building roads at the foot of Luofeng Mountain, leveling the medicinal fields, and purchasing seedlings and pesticides."
"This money can only be considered a drop in the bucket."
"Furthermore, Secretary Tian even wants to establish a processing center for medicinal herbs."
"All of this will cost a great deal of money!"
Lin Fan spoke, shaking his head and sighing.
Tian Mengyao looked at Lin Fan in surprise, puzzled, "Didn't we agree to use the Cao family's Western-style house as the processing site? What's he doing?"
After a period of sighing and shaking his head, Lin Fan emphasized, "Just the processing center alone is estimated to cost around three hundred thousand yuan, not including other equipment!"
As he spoke, he winked at Xia Xue and Song Yue.
He had a flash of inspiration and thought of a good idea.
After all, the Western-style house was private property of the Cao family. If the village committee were to forcibly seize it, it would be morally justifiable but legally questionable!
However, if it was the will of the people, then things would be different.
No matter how great the law, wasn't it meant to benefit the people?
Xia Xue blinked, understanding Lin Fan's mischievous plan.
But in front of so many people, she didn't have the courage to stand up and speak.
"Doesn't the Cao family have that Western-style house? We can use that!"
Song Yue covered her mouth with her arm and shouted.
"Yes!"
"We can use that Western-style house, and save a lot of money!"
"That Western-style house is huge and well-built!"
"The Cao family also has an old house!"
"The money needs to be spent wisely, let's use the Cao family's!"
The villagers clamored loudly, each one more righteous than the last.
Lin Fan feigned hesitation and said into the microphone, "Everyone's sentiments are understandable, but that is still the Cao family's private property..."
"What Cao family's? We paid for it to be built!"
"That's right, it was all obtained through corruption!"
"Xiao Fan, Secretary Tian, just use it!"
"If the Cao family dares to come back, we'll beat them out!"
"They bullied us for so many years, and now that they're dead, they still want to throw their weight around? Impossible!"
The villagers gritted their teeth, wishing they could dig up Cao Dewang's ashes and scatter them in a cesspit!
"Then..."
Before Lin Fan could finish speaking, someone from the crowd shouted, "No need to discuss it further, just use it!"
"If the police come to arrest people, then arrest all of us!"
"That's right, we all agree!"
Lin Fan nodded vigorously, "Alright, we'll do as everyone says!"
Tian Mengyao looked at Lin Fan, her eyes filled with admiration, "You've got some tricks up your sleeve, kid!"
He had completely absolved himself of responsibility. Even if something happened later, it would be a case of the law not punishing the masses.
Lin Fan winked at Tian Mengyao, mouthing, "Am I amazing?"
"Nonsense!"
Tian Mengyao gave Lin Fan a charmingly flirtatious glance, then addressed the crowd, "So, this village committee meeting is now concluded."
"Everyone can go back to their work."
"Thank you again for your strong support!"
And so, the village committee meeting ended amidst enthusiastic laughter.
The villagers of Luofeng Village dispersed in groups.
They were all smiles, praising Lin Fan one moment and Tian Mengyao the next, thoroughly delighted!
Wu Lei had kept his head down and remained silent from the beginning to the end.
After most people had left, he followed the crowd out.
Tian Mengyao wanted to call out to him, but Lin Fan stopped her, "Don't bother. He's probably gone home to brood."
Xia Xue and Song Yue had not left.
They walked up to Tian Mengyao and greeted her with smiles, "Secretary Tian."
"Hello, Secretary Tian."