<h4>Chapter 279: Meeting</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>Lonelytree


    When the meeting happened, the vigers already had an idea of what the agenda was.


    The vast majority of the vigers were willing to rent the mountains to Xiao Lingyu. After all, the mountains had been left empty, and they didn’t have the money to develop them. Other than cutting firewood, hunting, picking mushrooms and herbs, they couldn’t gain much from the mountains. And these harvests depended heavily on luck.


    If they were lucky, they could run across rare animals and nts, but not everyone had good fortune.


    However, renting the mountains out was different. Even they knew simple math.


    Six mountains equaled tens of thousands Mu. Even if the rent was just 150 RMB a year, the total rent for that year was more than 1.5 million. On average, each household would get several thousand RMB. And this was only for one year.


    However, Xiao Lingyu paid them three years of rent in one go. In other words, they would be able to get several ten thousand RMB at once. With that in mind, many people were extremely excited.


    Of course, there were also some who had side goals. Back then, they rented the sandynd to Xiao Lingyu cheaply. However, now that they realized how much money Xiao Lingyu had earned off theirnd, they felt taken advantage of. After all, if they didn’t rent theirnd to Xiao Lingyu, Xiao Lingyu wouldn’t get to grow so many strawberries, and she wouldn’t earn so much money.


    Xiao Lingyu rented theirnd for 300 RMB per Mu, but she earned several ten thousand per Mu. 300 and several ten thousand, the difference was huge. This made them feel ufortable in their hearts.


    Since Xiao Lingyu wanted to rent the mountains, it was clear that there was money to be earned. Therefore, no matter what, they could not let Xiao Lingyu mistreat them anymore.


    The meeting was held at nine in the morning.


    Many vigers came over early and gathered to discuss this matter.


    Most of them were envious of Xiao Zhengyang and his wife. They were really lucky to have such a capable daughter.


    Xiao Lingyu was good at reading and working. She was even better at earning money.


    Back then, when Xiao Lingyu rented thend and said that she wanted to grow strawberries, many people secretly mocked her. They said that she had gone crazy after reading too many books. She was going to grow strawberries at the county where the nt couldn’t grow.


    However, that ridicule turned into envy and jealousy.


    With such a rich and capable daughter, Xiao Zhengyang and his wife could just live at home and enjoy their lives. They didn’t even need to work anymore.


    However, these people forgot the hardships Xiao Zhengyang and his family went through in the past to support Xiao Lingyu’s education. In fact, these very people persuaded Xiao Zhengyang to stop wasting money on a daughter. After all, Xiao Lingyu was to be married off in the future anyway.


    These people took their own advice. They stopped their daughters from studying. They felt that it was enough for a girl to learn how to read and write. Most of them dropped out around junior high. This preference for sons over daughters had harmed many promising talents.


    Xiao Zhengyang and his wife had a correct outlook on life.


    They believed that their children should be treated equally regardless of their gender.


    Even if their daughter didn’te back to serve them and stayed with her inw, having a university degree would still benefit their daughter. They only wanted the best for their children. So they sacrificed everything for their children.


    Xiao Lingyu had made them proud too. They never had to worry about her... except for the young love with Chen Ran.


    Now that she was all grown up, she had made them prouder.


    Their pride made others jealous.


    ...


    “Testing, testing.” Xiao Taiyang cleared his throat and then said to the loudspeaker, “Everyone, please be quiet.”


    Everyone present quieted down.


    The vige chief asked, “Is everyone here?”


    There were more than 180 families in Taoyuan Vige. Even if only one member from each family came, there would be 180 people. Themittee room couldn’t fit all of them, so some had to stand outside.


    “Vige chief, it seems that Xiao Fuqi’s family isn’t here.” Many people paid attention to this since they knew about the bad history between Xiao Fuqi’s family and Xiao Zhengyang’s family.


    “Oh, Xiao Chengcai’s family is not here too,” Someone else said.


    Xiao Chengcai’s family had officially made enemies of Xiao Lingyu’s family. In order to pay off the debt, Xiao Chengcai’s family had no choice but to send someone to work for Xiao Lingyu, and that person was Xiao Chengcai.


    His mother and his twelve-year-old brother were the only ones left in his family. His two adult sons had left the vige to find work outside.


    “It looks like they are the only families not here.” Someone looked around and said.


    The vige chief said, “Forget it. If they don’t want toe, so be it. We’ll start the meeting now. I think everyone already knows why we’re gathered here. Lingyu wants to rent the six mountains in Taoyuan Vige. As Vige Chief, I want to get everyone’s opinion.”


    As soon as the vige chief finished speaking, someone immediately asked the question that they were most concerned about, “Vige chief, how much Xiao Lingyu n to pay us for the rent? How much per Mu?”


    The vige chief said very seriously, “ording to the mountain area rental policy, it’s 150 RMB per Mu.”


    “Only 150? That’s too low.” As soon as the vige chief finished speaking, there were people jeering about the low price.


    When the vige chief heard this, he asked with a serious expression, “Then how much do you think each Mu should rent for?”


    “It should at least cost 400 RMB per Mu. At the very least, the rental should be simr to the rent of the sandynd.” Someone said with an excited expression.


    This would be another high ie for them. Most vigers wouldn’t even need to work anymore.


    The vige chief immediately revealed a look of disdain. He sneered and said, “You people sure are brazen. 400 per Mu, why don’t you go and rob the bank?”


    Someone immediately said unhappily, “Vige chief, since the sandynd can be rented for 400 per Mu, why not the mountainnd?”


    The vige chief said, “The sandynd is part of drynd, and it can be used for farming. But can the same be said for the mountainnd? There are plenty of trees and rocks. How do you expect Lingyu to grow things there without developing them first?


    “We’re all from the same vige. Do you think really think 400 RMB for a Mu of mountainnd is reasonable?


    “Or do you think since Xiao Lingyu is rich, you can scam her all you want?


    “Do you think Xiao Lingyu is a fool, or do you think Xiao Zhengyang and his family are all fools?”