309 Its Complicated (2/2)

”How much is Xiao Luo actually earning out there? He's transforming his father's farm into a leisure farm.”

”That is truly a generous sum of money!”

”Looks like we've all underestimated Xiao Luo. He's the most excellent youth in your village.”

Everyone in the village praised Xiao Luo. To be so bold as to carry out a large-scale project to transform his father's isolated farm signified his true capability and courage, as it was located at a deserted piece of land that was thousands of acres wide. When the news of the Mount Luo Ranch project and Xiao Luo's capabilities spread, their family's reputation soared to new heights, not only in their own but in all villages within ten miles of Luo Village. Instantly, Xiao Luo became a local celebrity in Gushan, and people delighted in talking about his achievements and exploits.

But, there were some voices of dissent as well. Xiao Qiudong, who had already been discharged from the hospital, was among those who were perpetually bad-mouthing Xiao Luo. He kept telling everyone that Xiao Luo had managed to ensnare a rich girl, and it was her wealth that paid for the farm construction. Xiao Luo was nothing more than a gigolo.

It came to the point that many of Luo's Village villagers had had enough of him, and they simply told him off in his face.

”So what if Xiao Luo's a gigolo? If he has what it takes to be one, then good for him. If you're capable enough, you should try and get yourself a rich girl as well.”

”Yeah, your mouth is so full of crap, you jealous sod!”

”In the past, I felt that Xiao Luo was inferior to you. But now, I realize that it is you that's inferior to him, you can't even be compared to even a single strand of his hair.”

Xiao Qiudong was shocked by the support given to Xiao Luo and left speechless. He left his home at Luo Village, along with his wife and kids, to returned to Zhoukou City. Before leaving, he let loose his rage and shouted at everyone in the Village, ”You're all a bunch of imbeciles! Go ahead then, continue sucking up to Xiao Luo. Let me see if their family will reward you with even a spoonful of grain.”

As soon as he said that, a sudden realization smacked him right back in his face.

The land, spanning across a thousand acres, was a consolidation of land plots belonging to the villagers. And after it was converted into a leisure farm, every household would become a shareholder in the venture, and enjoy dividends from the farm's year-end performance. Not surprisingly, only Xiao Qiudong was excluded--Xiao Luo made no plans to include the land that belonged to his family.

Finally, realizing what was happening, Xiao Qiudong almost vomited blood…

The plan to make every household a shareholder wasn't Xiao Luo's way of getting back at Xiao Qiudong; he wasn't such a petty man. His motives were much more than that: to drive the enthusiasm and garner the Luo villagers' support, thus preventing possible conflicts and making it easier to develop the leisure farm.

With Xiao Luo's legacy spreading far and wide, visits to his grandparents' home now became more frequent. Many of them, friends and relatives who had not been in contact for several years, suddenly emerged like wild mushrooms after the rain.

This certainly gave credence to an old saying: When you are poor, even if you live in a crowded city, you will be alone. But when you are rich, even if you live in the uninhabited mountains, the most distant relatives will come flocking to you!

Xiao Luo's uncle, who had once humiliated his father in his presence, also appeared one day to pay them a visit. He came with his son Hua Xiaorong, and they brought along some fine wine and other gifts. However, his uncle had barely spoken a few words before asking about a loan from Xiao Luo.

”Xiao Luo, now that you're rich, could you possibly lend me 400 thousand dollars? I have my eyes on a second-hand house in the county. I've already settled the deposit, I'm just waiting to pay off the full amount now.” His uncle, Hua Dexing, spoke with great enthusiasm as he tried to compel his nephew into making the loan.

His cousin, Hua Xiaorong, leaned back on the sofa with his legs crossed, acting like he was in his own home. His shifty eyes kept roaming fleetingly to Ji Siying, who was sitting gracefully beside Xiao Luo.

...