Wang Zhenbo now manages all the financial transactions in Lijiapo. Apart from distributing dividends to the villagers, he knows best how much money is in the overall fund.

"Currently, our village has approximately 583,300 yuan in available funds."

Li Xiangdong nodded, and the others remained silent, their eyes shining brightly as they stared intently at him.

"The land that the provincial capital gave us covers 20 acres. We'll start by planning the first phase of the factory. Materials, labor, new equipment, raw materials, and purchasing new transport vehicles, etc., will cost at least 400,000 to 500,000 yuan."

Li Tang smiled and said, "That's great, that's almost enough money. Once the new food factory ships the goods and brings in payment, the money will be transferred."

Liu Changhai frowned. "If we invest all the working capital, what if something happens during this period and we need the money?"

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

Li Qing retorted, "Then what can we do? We can't just not build a factory in the provincial capital, can we? That's the provincial capital! If we go there, our food factory's reputation will be even greater!"

Now, Baiyanghe Food Factory's reputation only extends to two or three nearby prefecture-level cities.

Guo Jinfang exhaled a round smoke ring and slowly said, "Anyway, everyone's wallets are pretty full right now, so how about we hold off on dividends this quarter?"

Not distributing dividends and using the profits for working capital is also a viable option.

The others nodded in agreement, suggesting that for the sake of the bigger picture, the dividends could be distributed later.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiangdong flatly refused, saying, "Not a single penny of the dividends can be shortchanged, and the timing of the dividends cannot be postponed even by a day."

“Every family relies on dividends to make a living. Now they’re saying they won’t pay us any money. This not only damages our reputation, but also the trust that our fellow villagers have in us!”

Everyone fell silent for a moment; they, too, hoped to receive their share of the money on time.

But the difficulties are right in front of us, and we have to find a solution.

"Why don't we borrow some money from the bank?"

A soft voice came from the corner.

Everyone looked over, and it was Zhao Xiaojun who was speaking.

"What? Borrow money! You spendthrift! I'll beat you to death! You've actually learned how to borrow money!"

Zhao Xiaojun's father, Zhao Suixin, the slaughterhouse director, was furious. He took off his cloth shoes, which were covered in horse manure, and was about to hit Zhao Xiaojun.

Zhao Xiaojun was quick-witted; he slipped into the crowd in a few seconds and ran directly behind Li Xiangdong, saying, "Dad, your thinking is too outdated. What's wrong with borrowing money?"

Zhao Suixin didn't dare to throw her shoe at Li Xiangdong, so she could only point the sole at Zhao Xiaojun and curse fiercely, "What's wrong with borrowing money? What's wrong with borrowing money! We're honest farmers, living our lives honestly, why would we borrow money? How are we going to pay it back! Ah! Sell the house, sell the land, sell our children?"

Others echoed this sentiment, criticizing Zhao Xiaojun.

"Your dad is right. What kind of good person borrows money? They're all lazy and good-for-nothings who only borrow money when they can't make ends meet!"

"Yeah, borrowing money isn't easy; you have to be shameless and go all out!"

Looking at the disapproving gazes in the room, Li Xiangdong was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

These uncles and elders are terrified of the mere mention of borrowing money, as if it were as dangerous as opium addiction—you'd be skinned alive if you got involved.

Zhao Xiaojun retorted defiantly, "It's borrowing money from a bank, not from a loan shark with exorbitant interest rates!"

Zhao Suixin shouted angrily, "So you don't have to pay back money you borrow from the bank?"

"certainly......"

"Of course it can be repaid, but the interest is very low, some even interest-free. It's not like usury."

Before Zhao Xiaojun could finish speaking, Li Xiangdong spoke up.

Given Li Xiangdong's de facto leadership position in Lijiapo, the moment he spoke, the others immediately calmed down.

"Xiang Dong, tell me, what happened?"

"Yes, the interest rate is incredibly low!"

"If the interest rate is very low, I would definitely consider it!"

Zhao Xiaojun: ......

His face was filled with grief and indignation, and he silently gazed at the heavens!

Li Xiangdong found it amusing, but said aloud, "Xiao Jun, introduce him to everyone."

Zhao Suixin's first reaction was, "What could he possibly know?!"

Zhao Xiaojun retorted, unconvinced, "I don't understand, but I came up with this idea. You guys do understand, so why don't you explain it to me!"

"You little brat, you..."

Li Jin stopped Zhao Suixin, "Suixin, the children are all grown up and doing quite well. Don't always look at things with old eyes. Listen to what the children have to say!"

Then, looking at Zhao Xiaojun with encouraging eyes, she said, "Go on!"

Zhao Xiaojun looked back with gratitude and silently vowed to prove himself.

"Before my second brother went to the provincial capital, he asked me and Yu Xi to consult with the credit union. They said that for industrial enterprises, they have low-interest loans, and for planting, breeding and agricultural enterprises, the policy is interest-free and indefinite loans."

Zhao Xiaojun had clearly done his homework.

“Our village has pig and fish farming bases, as well as Chinese medicinal herb planting bases. We can definitely apply for relevant interest-free and indefinite loans from the rural credit cooperative.”

"In that case, we won't have to worry about repaying the principal and interest for ten or twenty years, and by then, the food factory in the provincial capital will have already made a profit."

One stone stirs up a thousand waves.

Those inside the room who heard Zhao Xiaojun's speech felt like they were listening to some kind of fantasy!

What is a "no-term, no-interest loan"?

Why does this sound so much like a trap?

Could such a good thing really happen to us farmers?

If it weren't Zhao Xiaojun who said that, any stranger they didn't know would have beaten him up!

They're trying to fool me like I'm a fool!

Zhao Xiaojun originally thought that once he told everyone about this great news, they would immediately look at him with admiration.

Even if my status isn't as high as my second brother's for the time being, I still have to rise like a rocket!

Why is everyone looking at him like he's an idiot?

Something's not right, something's really not right.

The others in the room had given up on criticizing him; they treated him like a joke, chatting quietly and smoking with relaxed expressions.

Zhao Suixin was no longer in the mood to beat her son.

Sigh, with my son's simple mind, who has fooled him?!

"Xiao Jun'er, go home now and tell your mother that I want to eat leek leaf noodle soup for lunch."

Sigh, I can't let my son embarrass himself here again.

Zhao Xiaojun was slow to realize what was happening, but by then he had come to his senses. He was filled with grief and indignation, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Second Brother—"

Before he could finish speaking, his throat tightened and he choked up.

Li Xiangdong patted him on the shoulder and said reassuringly, "This is something that has never happened before. No one will believe it if I tell them! You need to explain the whole story to everyone."

"You need to make others believe in you willingly."