Volume One, Chapter 19: Grandfather's Coercion

Debt-free and light as air!

Guo Dong was in an exceptionally good mood, unprecedentedly so!

Riding his little electric scooter back to the village, he greeted everyone he saw.

“Uncle Fu, playing chess? Have you eaten yet?”

“Didn’t you go to the East Village? Didn’t you eat before coming back?”

“What to eat? I can eat later anyway.”

Seeing Guo Dong much more cheerful, the old men playing chess all smiled.

“See that? That’s the power of money! With money, a person really changes!”

“If I sold tens of thousands at once, I’d be even happier!”

The leisure of rural life is something city folk can never fully grasp.

After meals, a few would sit together, playing cards, chatting idly—almost nothing else to do.

This was most evident at the small convenience store outside Xiantao Village.

As Guo Dong’s scooter arrived at his doorstep, his voice carried inside.

“Grandpa, is there still food?”

Guo An was sitting in the yard, tending to his herbs.

Hearing this, he looked up grumpily and said, “What’s going on? You went to the East Village and didn’t even get a bite?”

“Not really. My two aunts were arguing about two trees. I had no appetite.”

After speaking, Guo Dong chuckled and began helping his grandfather with the herbs.

These were plants they usually gathered from the mountains—mostly unused except for their own needs.

But this was Grandpa’s old trade.

In Grandpa’s words, one must never forget their roots; there will always be a time when these skills come in handy.

“Paid off all the debts?”

Guo Dong chuckled, the joy clearly evident inside.

Without even looking up, he replied, “All paid off. The pressure’s gone. No need to find work in the city anymore!”

Find work in the city now? That would be absurd!

With plenty of land and familiar faces at home, growing fruit and making a bit of money, wouldn’t life be better than in the city?

Hearing this, Guo An laughed too.

He sat down on the bench, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

“Guodong, what are you thinking?”

“What?”

Guo Dong didn’t immediately catch on, smiling as he said, “I’ve paid off the debts. Next, I want to renovate the house, get married, and settle down. What else is there to think about?”

Guo An’s smile deepened, filled with meaning.

“How do you expect to get married? After seeing so many girls, which ones do you like?”

Guo Dong was momentarily speechless.

That was in the past—when he had no money and no one wanted to be with him.

Now things have changed, so why bring that up again?

“Listen to Grandpa, don’t keep secrets. You must have your own methods for selling those peaches at such good prices.”

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“Why don’t you share some of that with the village, so everyone can benefit?”

“Grandpa…”

Guo Dong was dumbfounded.

His grandfather, who usually didn’t meddle, was now actively involving himself in his affairs. That was surprising.

And this sounded oddly familiar.

“Did Meng Tianming say something to you?”

Guo Dong didn’t want to be suspicious, but the timing was uncanny!

First Meng Xiaohan, now his own grandfather.

When coincidences pile up like this, it’s rarely just coincidence.

“What are you talking about? That’s your Uncle Tianming!”

Guo An narrowed his eyes and scolded Guo Dong.

“Don’t you know how things are in this family?

If I waited until you rebuilt the house and made money before thinking of marriage, I’d be long dead and buried.

Your Uncle Tianming promised me that as long as you lead the village to prosperity, he’ll take care of your marriage!”

Listening to his grandfather, Guo Dong was utterly helpless.

He didn’t know what to say.

“Grandpa, do you really believe in such empty promises?

Besides, marriage isn’t a bargaining chip for deals.

What era do you think this is? Those old ways won’t bind me anymore!”

Seeing Guo Dong’s strong reaction, Guo An grew anxious and stood up abruptly.

“Fine, then tell me, will you listen to what I say?”

“Of course!”

What else could Guo Dong say?

Would he let his grandfather sulk like a child?

He remembered the last time his grandfather forced him into blind dates and went on a hunger strike. It scared him a bit.

Old man acting like a child.

You can discipline a child, but what about an old man?

Guo Dong didn’t even eat his meal. He stood and said to Guo An, “Okay, I’ll go to—Um, Uncle Tianming’s house now and discuss the land contract with him.”

He had already planned this.

After all, leading the village to wealth was one thing; whether he could do it was another.

Watching Guo Dong leave, Guo An chuckled.

“You little rascal, still can’t be controlled?

You got a good deal, so just enjoy it quietly!”

Guo Dong naturally didn’t hear this.

At that moment, he was walking toward Meng Tianming’s house.

He wasn’t very familiar with Meng Tianming, and they didn’t communicate much.

The village chief was an official, and Guo Dong always felt a bit distant from him.

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The main reason was Meng Tianming’s wife—the mother of Meng Xiaohan—Xu Jie!

Xu Jie was his elementary school homeroom teacher, a respected public servant!

He’d been afraid of her since childhood, so naturally, he still felt uneasy around her.

When he arrived at Meng Tianming’s home, he hesitated for a long time before finally knocking and entering.

“Uncle Tianming, are you home?”

Guo Dong had caused quite a stir in the village these past days. His appearance here made many villagers take notice.

“Oh, Guodong, didn’t you go to the East Village?”

Meng Tianming came out of the room and immediately greeted him.

Cunning and sly, he was sharp as a tack.

He had to use his trump card; otherwise, Guo Dong wouldn’t even step inside his house.

“Just got back from the East Village. I want to discuss something with you.”

Meng Tianming smiled broadly and called inside, “Xiaohan, make some tea for Guodong.

She hides in her room all day; look at her now!”

“Xiaohan’s home too?” Guo Dong was slightly surprised and a bit embarrassed.

“That girl’s been hiding in her room playing on the computer these days, stubborn as ever!”

At that moment, Meng Xiaohan came out.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Guo Dong, but she was startled and immediately ran back inside.

“See, such a big girl and still no peace of mind.

By the way, you said you wanted to talk to me about something. What is it?”

Guo Dong smiled and quickly said, “Well, that wasteland behind the mountain has been lying idle, right?

I was thinking…”

Before he could finish, Meng Tianming slapped his thigh and said cheerfully, “Great, no problem at all!”

What kind of response was that?

He hadn’t even finished talking, and it was already settled?

“Uncle, I just wanted to ask how much money you might need. I plan to…”

“What money? Don’t worry about that!”

Meng Tianming clicked his abacus fingers loudly.

“You just plant away, make money. It’s someone else’s land; just give a little to the owner. If you lose, consider it practice.”

Impossible to negotiate!

Guo Dong smiled bitterly.

This was the worst part of village affairs.

Nothing is clear or transparent, and when things really take off, it’s bound to cause chaos.

So he said nothing more and decided to wait until Meng Xiaohan came out to talk with her instead.

Village chiefs like Meng Tianming were all the same.