In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 278 A Great Event in Xiahe Village

Li Qiang was clearly not expecting Chen Dao to call his name. He paused for a moment before getting up and following Chen Dao into the house.

After Chen Dao left, the villagers outside started talking amongst themselves.

"What are you planning to do? Should we hand this land over to Daoge'er?"

"I need to think about it some more."

"I need to go back and discuss it with my wife. I've farmed for half my life, and now that I'm suddenly told not to farm, I really don't know what to do!"

"..."

Most of the villagers were hesitant.

On the contrary, young people like Chen Gou were very decisive: "What's there to consider? How can this kind of land be better than working for Dao Ge'er? You've been farming for so many years, and you still can't even fill your stomachs. It's better to hand over the land to Dao Ge'er and work for him! Anyway, I've already decided to hand over the family's land to Dao Ge'er!"

After saying that, Chen Gou added, "Tell me honestly, has Dao Ge'er been good to you? Has he ever let you suffer any losses?"

Naturally, that's good.

Everyone nodded subconsciously. Chen Dao was extremely kind to the villagers of Chenjia Village, ensuring they had enough to eat. Today, he even slaughtered two hundred chickens to reward them. If it weren't for Chen Dao, who knows how many people in the village would have starved to death during this period.

"I've also decided to hand over the land in my house to Brother Dao! Anyway, Brother Dao won't let us suffer any losses!"

Chen Mu also stood up and said that his family was a loyal supporter of Chen Dao and would definitely support Chen Dao's decision unconditionally.

"Me too! Farming can't fill our stomachs anyway, so I might as well hand it over to Brother Rice and get a job that guarantees a stable income regardless of drought or flood!"

"That's it!"

“I’ll go back and tell my dad to hand the land over to Daoge!”

"..."

There are quite a few people in the village who trust Chen Dao completely, especially the young people. They support Chen Dao unconditionally because they believe that Chen Dao would never let the villagers suffer.

Seeing this, many families were tempted, but they were still hesitant.

…………

…………

"Village Chief Li, have some tea!"

In the living room, Chen Dao poured Li Qiang a cup of tea. It was the tea that Xu Zhiwen had brought over last time. Chen Dao couldn't taste how it was, but it was good for entertaining guests!

"Brother Dao, you're too kind!"

Li Qiang smiled, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The greasy taste in his mouth, which had just been filled with meat, vanished instantly, leaving a lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth.

"Village Chief Li."

Chen Dao sat down opposite Li Qiang and said, "I plan to acquire the land in Xiahe Village as well. I wonder what Village Chief Li thinks?"

Li Qiang was taken aback and subconsciously said, "Brother Dao, are you going to take over our village's land?"

"Not bad!"

Chen Dao nodded. The land in Xiahe Village was connected to the land in Chenjia Village. If he could take over the land in Xiahe Village as well, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for Chen Dao. It would mean that he could produce more grain and it would be more convenient to centrally manage these farmlands.

"I have two proposals. Would Village Chief Li like to hear them?"

"Brother Dao, please speak!"

Li Qiang said, his eyes gleaming.

Chen Dao plans to acquire farmland in Xiahe Village, which is definitely a good thing for Xiahe Village!

Just look at the treatment Chen Dao gave to the villagers of Chenjia Village before. Each household received two taels of silver and was also provided with meals. This was the kind of treatment that the villagers of Xiahe Village dreamed of.

"The first solution is to rent the farmland to me, just like our village did before, and then each household in Xiahe Village will receive 2 taels of silver every six months!"

Does it include meals?

"in spite of."

"Then let's talk about the second option!"

"The second plan is the same as what I just said: all the land in Xiahe Village will be given to me, without rent! However, I will provide jobs for the villagers of Xiahe Village, and each able-bodied young man can receive 500 coins a month."

As Chenjia Village needs to build more and more, the labor force is becoming increasingly scarce. Under these circumstances, Chen Dao naturally needs to consider increasing the labor force, and Xiahe Village, which is adjacent to Chenjia Village, naturally becomes Chen Dao's first choice.

"I choose the second option!"

Li Qiang made his choice almost without thinking. As the village chief, he was more farsighted than the ordinary villagers and knew very well how favorable the second option was!

You should know that even if the farmers of Xiahe Village worked themselves to the bone for half a year to tend to their fields, the harvest might not even be worth two taels of silver.

By handing over the land to Chen Dao, each person could earn 500 coins per month. If a family of three worked together for Chen Dao, they could earn 1 taels of silver per month, which was much more than what they could earn from farming.

"In that case, I'll trouble Village Chief Li to go back and persuade the villagers of Xiahe Village!"

"no problem."

Li Qiang readily agreed, and finally asked, "May I ask, Brother Dao, can the people of Xiahe Village buy grain from you at half price, just like the villagers of Chenjia Village?"

"cannot!"

The half-price grain was a preferential treatment given by Chen Dao to the villagers of Chenjia Village, so naturally the villagers of Xiaohe Village could not receive the same treatment.

"All right!"

Li Qiang wasn't too disappointed. He quickly left Chen Dao's house with a happy expression and hurried back to Xiahe Village.

"Dad, you're back."

As soon as he got home, his son Li Mu came up to him and asked, "How's the food in Chenjia Village?"

Upon hearing this question, Li Qiang couldn't help but lick his lips, as if the aroma of fried chicken still lingered between his teeth.

"The food is pretty good; there's stir-fried chicken, chicken giblets, and scrambled eggs..."

"Gulu."

Li Mu couldn't help but swallow hard. Just by looking at Li Qiang's expression, he knew how well Chenjia Village had eaten today. What a pity...

Chenjia Village only invited Li Qiang; even the able-bodied men who came to Chenjia Village to repair the road didn't get to eat this meal.

Li Qiang glanced at Li Mu, knowing he was craving meat, but said nothing, only saying, "Hurry up and gather the villagers before the sun sets."

"Why are we gathering the villagers?"

Li Mu asked with a puzzled look.

"Great news! Fantastic news! In any case, go and call everyone in the village over right away. Remember, all of them!"

"Fine!"

Li Mu ran out of his house full of questions, and soon the whole village of Xiahe came over.

"Village chief, what do you want with us?"

"I heard the village chief went to a banquet in Chenjia Village today! He must have gotten to eat meat!"

"Of course! The village chief still has oil on his lips! He must have eaten a lot of meat!"

"I wish I could go to Chenjia Village for a feast! I want to eat meat too!"

"Village chief, what do you want us to do here in this freezing weather?"

"..."

The villagers gathered outside Li Qiang's house wore the same puzzled expressions as Li Mu. When Li Mu informed them, he only said it was a good thing, without specifying what it was, so they were very confused.