So Song Anxin went to the village head and hoped that the village would take over the persimmon cake industry. Song Anxin had thought it through. Her family couldn't always eat meat. She grew up under the red flag and remembered what the great man said: "Let the rich get rich first and help the poor get rich later." She wanted to lead the whole village to a well-off life.

Lin Lizheng's mouth gaped open after hearing Song Anxin's words, and his eyes were wide open as well. He trembled slightly and said, "Feng, Fengnian's mother, are you really willing to give us this business?"

Lin Lizheng wanted to run around the yard right now. He felt like he was about to faint. He knew that Fengnian's mother was good at her business. Her food was always delicious. Instead of keeping the food for herself to make money, Fengnian's mother said she wanted to make it for the village so that everyone in the village could become rich. Fengnian's mother's heart was bigger than a man's!

“Uncle, this persimmon business doesn’t require a huge investment. It’s probably just labor costs and the cost of buying the persimmons. Besides, we need unripe, firm persimmons, which are cheap and perfect for the village. Building a workshop around a yard isn’t difficult either. You can get everyone in the village to bring adobe bricks, and each household can contribute labor to build the workshop. You can then convert the cost of the adobe bricks and labor into their share of the profits.” Song Anxin found it increasingly feasible: “Last time I bought wasteland, and Uncle Bai bought a house in the village, so the village coffers should have some money. Many villagers have also made a lot of money from me recently, and most have also earned money selling persimmons. You could organize a fundraising effort, have them invest money, and then distribute the profits according to the amount invested. Of course, this would be organized by the village, and they would take the lion’s share of the land…”

Lin Lizheng's eyes widened as he listened, and he became more and more impressed. Feng Nian's mother was indeed educated and had a sharp mind.

When Lin Lizheng gathered all the villagers under the big ginkgo tree and told them about it, the villagers were in an uproar. It was the first time they had ever heard of such a shareholding system, and they all started discussing it.

"What is this thing?! Why do we have to put money in it?"

"I've heard that some businessmen in the county also do business with others and then share the profits. This is probably similar to this."

"My goodness! The village head said that even if you don't have money, you can bring adobe bricks and contribute your labor to build the workshop, and you'll get a share of the profits! I never thought I'd have the chance to become a boss, hahaha..."

Everyone knew that this was Song Anxin's idea, and most of the villagers trusted her completely. Only Aunt Fang was furious that Song Anxin had ruined her Xiuhong's marriage to Song Tongsheng and even made Xiuhong pregnant on the spot, causing her family to lose face. Now, her family was being targeted by the Liu family patriarch at every turn, and Xiuhong had even become Lin Gangzi's concubine. Aunt Fang was truly furious with Song Anxin's family.

Aunt Fang shouted from the ground, "Hmph! Why doesn't she do such a lucrative business herself? Could it be that she's conspiring with the village head to swindle us out of our money? Don't be fooled!"

As soon as Aunt Fang said this, almost everyone present looked at her with deep contempt. Everyone knew about her family's affairs, yet she still had the nerve to question Aunt Lin and the village head.

Then some people started mocking her, saying:

“Aunt Fang, how dare you show your face and say such things? You’re not worthy to invest this money!” Fang Chuntian said.

“That’s right, Fengnian’s mother is very broad-minded, unlike you who thinks such dirty thoughts every day. If you don’t believe me, just let it go. When we get rich, don’t say that the Lin family bullied you.” said Fang Cuiying, Uncle Lin’s wife.

"Oh dear, you're really eating someone else's food and then cursing the person who cooked it! Your family must have made a lot of money selling persimmons, right? You're such a mouthful thing, you don't even know how to say nice things. Aren't you afraid of choking on the persimmons you eat?" Sister-in-law Lin glared at her fiercely and cursed.

Today is a holiday for the workshop, so most of the workers are still there.

Aunt Fang was both ashamed and angry after being scolded. She just couldn't stand Lin's second aunt. Why was this wicked widow, who everyone used to curse, now being fawned over by everyone? It even caused her to be pointed at and gossiped about by the villagers when she walked around the village. The most pitiful one was her own Xiuhong, whose good daughter had been given away to become a concubine for someone in the village. But she knew she was in the wrong, so she could only sulk inwardly and not dare to utter a sound.

Sister-in-law Lin continued, "Let me tell you, my sister-in-law is doing this out of kindness to help the village make a living and improve the lives of the villagers, yet people say she has ulterior motives and is trying to swindle money. Isn't my sister-in-law being wronged? Let me tell you, if you have such thoughts, don't interfere. Otherwise, you'll be eating someone else's food and complaining about how bad it is! If I ever hear anyone say that, I'll tear their mouth apart!"

Sister-in-law Lin fiercely protected her family.

Lin Lizheng, his face also showing some anger and his beard trembling, said, "Dongzi's mother's words are rough but reasonable. This is a business that Fengnian's mother passed down to our village. She could have done it herself and made money, but Fengnian's mother said that she is also a part of Linjia Village and wants the villagers to live a good life, wants the children not to be starving and only skin and bones, and wants our Linjia Village to get better and better."

He sternly surveyed the crowd: "Whether you want to invest money, bring adobe bricks, or contribute your labor to build the workshop, I won't force you. Believe it or not. I've been the village head for so many years and have never cheated anyone out of a single penny. Even if the King of Heaven himself came, I would have a clear conscience."

But let me make this clear first: in any business, there are gains and losses. If you invest money and lose it, you can't blame anyone else. But if the village makes money and it's time to distribute the profits, don't come crying to me out of envy. I've already given you that chance!

Lin Lizheng didn't stop for a second: "Also, this was Fengnian's idea, and the food was also her method, so if there's a profit, Fengnian will take 20%. Furthermore, don't let me hear you speak ill of Fengnian's family. Although our Lin family village has been farmers for generations, we still know to remember those who helped us, and we won't do anything so ungrateful! If anyone from the Lin family hears this, don't blame me for punishing them according to the Lin family's patriarchal rules. If you're not from the Lin family, you'd better think twice before saying we didn't include you in any good things we do!"

After Lin Lizheng finished speaking, no one had anything to say. Most of them trusted Lin Ershenzi, and the village head even more so. They had all seen the village head manage the village over the years, and who wouldn't trust him?

“Village head, we still have to trust you and Aunt Lin. Don’t listen to Aunt Fang’s nonsense.”

"Yes, the village head is the fairest person. He even gives grain to the elderly and children in the village. How could he cheat us out of money?"

“Village head, although we are from outside the village, we have lived in Linjia Village for so many years and are already a part of Linjia Village. We trust you!”

"......"

A group of people began to express their opinions.

The Liu family members standing next to Aunt Fangtou immediately moved three zhang away from her. Such a good business could earn them dividends even without spending money or contributing any labor. Who would be crazy not to believe that? They didn't want to be ruined by this woman from the Liu family. The Liu family had already been disgraced enough because of them.

Aunt Fang was so angry that she stomped her feet and felt too ashamed to stay any longer, so she hurriedly ran home.