Chapter 17: A Wild Idea

“Hey, Xiao Mo, don’t take it to heart. It’s not that everyone is deliberately making things difficult for you. You’re an intellectual; you should understand that in our remote, poor village, everyone only cares about their own little plot of land. Although many young people have gone out to work in recent years, the older generation still clings tightly to their land. Take Wang Old Woman’s family, Sun Dejin’s family, and so on. They only have one or two old folks who can barely walk, but they would rather die than give up their land. Listen to my advice, you should go back to the big city and work properly,” Zhou Zhishu said, explaining the reason and then couldn’t help but offer his advice.

Ling Mo shook his head, his expression firm. “Director Zhou, I’m afraid another concern is whether I can cultivate the land well if I take it. If I don’t do well, will I ask everyone for refunds?”

In the past few days, Ling Mo had also heard some villagers’ discussions, which boiled down to one meaning: everyone was pessimistic about him.

If he failed and hundreds of thousands of yuan went down the drain, and he asked the villagers for refunds, they would find it difficult to refuse since they were from the same village. This back-and-forth hassle might even delay the farming, so everyone was unenthusiastic about renting out their land.

“Don’t worry, we will sign an agreement at that time, with black and white written clearly so no one can complain. Moreover, as long as I contract this land, I will build a road from the village committee to the mountain ridge. How about that?” Ling Mo dropped a bombshell.

Sure enough, Zhou Zhishu’s eyes lit up instantly. If Ling Mo could build a road from the village committee to the mountain ridge, then most of the village’s roads would be connected. If he could then strive for further support and mobilize the masses, Da Shan Village could have its own road! This would be a great thing for the entire village!

Ling Mo quietly looked at Zhou Zhishu. Zhou Zhishu had been the village director for more than twenty years. Although he hadn’t accomplished much, he was very concerned about his reputation and genuinely cared about the village. Now that he had such a big cake in front of him, there was no way he wouldn’t be tempted.

For Ling Mo, building a road might cost hundreds of thousands or even millions more, but if he wanted to develop here at home, the road had to be built.

In addition, once the road was built, he would name it Hongshan Road, after his father’s name.

Giving this road as a gift to his father, he imagined his father would feel proud when the villagers and people throughout the township knew about this road and spread the word.

A double win.

As for the villagers’ concerns, he would not only rent the land, but also, in the future, make the villagers take the initiative to come to his door, begging to rent more land to him.

His goal was not just those ninety mu* of mountain land.

“Xiao Mo, building a road is no small matter!” Zhou Zhishu said, but his eyes were full of anticipation. “You, you really…”

Having been tormented by the mountains for a lifetime, who in the mountains wouldn’t want a wide, flat road?

Ling Mo said, “Director, to get rich, first build a road. Only with a road will Da Shan Village have the opportunity to prosper. Although I can’t build a wide asphalt road like those outside, a wide and flat dirt road can still be accomplished.”

Zhou Zhishu thought for a moment, his expression subtly excited. “Xiao Mo, Da Shan Village has been poor for too long. It is precisely in need of knowledgeable and cultured people like you to come back and develop. Since Xiao Mo, you have such firm and lofty aspirations, I, as the director, will spare no effort to help you, even if it costs me my old bones.”

Zhou Zhishu walked back and forth in the room for a while, his expression gradually calming down. “Xiao Mo, don’t worry about this matter for now. I heard that leaders from the township are coming down to investigate recently, saying they want to develop the rural economy. I’ll go and sound out the situation first, and maybe they can help you then.”

Ling Mo nodded. Even Zhou Zhishu was tempted, he didn’t believe the villagers wouldn’t be tempted by someone building a road for the village for free.

However, at that time, his image in the villagers’ minds would probably be that of a hopeless fool.

After saying goodbye to Zhou Zhishu, Ling Mo went to the small store opposite the village committee to buy some salt and MSG.

“Ling Mo.”

Just as he arrived at the store, Ling Mo discovered that Zhang Chunqiao was also here buying things. Seeing him, Zhang Chunqiao immediately showed a shy smile and called out with a smile.

“Hi,” Ling Mo responded, with a smile on his face. He found that this young widow was unusually shy, and she would blush almost every time they spoke more than a few sentences.

“Ling Mo, you want to contract the land on the mountain?” Zhang Chunqiao asked, lowering her head but unable to resist her curiosity.

Ling Mo nodded and smiled, “Yes, your family also has a few mu of land on the mountain, right? You must rent it to me.”

Zhang Chunqiao nodded, softly humming in agreement, but quickly raised her head again, her face full of admiration. “You’re so amazing to contract so much land!”

“Hey, I see some people stay in the village not to farm, but for the young widow, right?” Suddenly, a sour voice came from the side. Ling Mo looked over and saw the village’s cripple, Li San, hobbling over, a mocking smile on his face. “College students are so capable, farming dozens of mu at a time. And giving money to everyone for free, no wonder you can attract the young widow so quickly. Your methods are really clever!”

“I, I didn’t. Li San, you, don’t talk nonsense!” Hearing Li San’s words, Zhang Chunqiao was instantly anxious, but even her stern scolding sounded soft and weak. Seeing Zhang Chunqiao’s anxious appearance, Li San’s face was full of malicious smiles, and he became even more energetic.

Ling Mo frowned slightly, took a big step to stand in front of Li San, his tall figure towering over Li San like a mountain.

“You, what do you want to do?” Li San shrank his neck, covering his head with his hands.

Ling Mo smiled calmly and said, “Don’t worry, we are civilized people and won’t resort to violence. But you better watch your mouth and not spread rumors and cause trouble.”

Li San retreated two steps in a hurry, then seemed to be stimulated by Ling Mo’s smile, and raised his neck. “Hey, since you haven’t done anything wrong, are you afraid of people talking? A dignified college student wants to stay in the mountains to farm, no one believes it! I think you just have your eyes on this tender-skinned young widow, deliberately creating the fog of contracting land. You college students are full of tricks, do you really think we’re fools? With the money to contract land, who the hell would stay in the mountains to suffer? Look at the way you two were talking just now, maybe you’ve already rolled into the same bed. Taking advantage of the fact that her man is dead, a lonely man and a widowed woman, dry wood and fire, haha… ah!”

Li San’s body suddenly flew out, and his broken gong-like laughter turned into a scream in the air.

“You, you, you didn’t keep your word.” Li San fell to the ground, gasping for breath, and said in horror and grievance.

Ling Mo patted his trouser leg and said indifferently, “I said I wouldn’t use my hands, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t use my feet.”