Sunlight streamed through the windows into the simple meeting room, dust motes dancing in the air, seemingly restless with anticipation of the upcoming negotiations. Lin Yue sat at one side of the long table, her eyes revealing both determination and caution. She had barely slept the night before, her mind racing, calculating every possible scenario. She knew the importance of these negotiations for the village; they concerned not only the development and utilization of the new crops but also the future lives of the villagers. She wore a light blue coarse cloth blouse, the patches on which now stood out starkly—marks of a life of hardship, yet also imbuing her with a simple yet resilient air. Her hair was neatly combed back, a few stray strands falling loosely, yet they did not detract from her dignified bearing. She gently bit her lip, her hand unconsciously clenching the hem of her garment—a small gesture she made when nervous.

Chen Yu sat next to Lin Yue, his posture upright, his gaze fixed intently on the empty seat opposite him, where the other party in the negotiations would soon take their place. His heart was equally unsettled; on one hand, he was excited about the potential cooperation opportunity, and on the other hand, he worried that the conditions proposed by the other party might be detrimental to the village. He wore a dark, old shirt, the cuffs slightly faded from repeated washing. His face had strong features, and his bronze skin gleamed healthily in the sunlight. He frowned slightly, his hands clasped in front of his chest, displaying his composure and seriousness.

The village chief and several elders were also present, their expressions varying—some filled with anticipation, others with worry. The village chief cleared his throat, breaking the silence in the meeting room: "In this negotiation, everyone must remain calm and not be easily led astray by the other side. We must fight for the greatest benefit for the village." His voice was hoarse but powerful, and his eyes revealed an undeniable authority, a sense of responsibility accumulated over many years as village chief.

A moment later, Captain Li led the out-of-towners in. Captain Li was still wearing his sharp Zhongshan suit, a confident smile on his face. He introduced them, "Gentlemen, this is Boss Zhao and his team. They are very experienced in business operations. Today, we'll discuss the cooperation details." Boss Zhao walked in front, dressed in an elegant suit, his shoes gleaming, his hair meticulously combed. His eyes were sharp, as if they could see through everything, and a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth exuded the confidence and shrewdness unique to businessmen. Several assistants followed behind him, each carrying documents and materials, appearing well-prepared.

Boss Zhao walked to the table, nodded slightly, and then sat down. His gaze swept over Lin Yue and the others, finally landing on the village chief. He smiled and said, "Village chief, let's get straight to the point. We are very sincere about this cooperation and believe it will bring huge benefits to the village." His tone was relaxed, but his eyes were fixed on the village chief, trying to glean information from his expression.

The village chief looked at Boss Zhao and replied with a serious expression, "Boss Zhao, we also hope that this cooperation will go smoothly, but we need to make things clear, especially regarding the parts that involve the interests of the villagers." His voice was steady and showed no sign of backing down.

Lin Yue continued, "Mr. Zhao, our biggest concern is the price. This new crop is very valuable, and we hope to get a reasonable price." She looked directly into Mr. Zhao's eyes, her gaze firm and fearless. Her hands rested on the table, her fingers tapping lightly, displaying her confidence.

Mr. Zhao smiled, picked up a document, and pushed it to the center of the table: "This is our preliminary pricing plan. Based on market research and cost estimates, our purchase price is [X] yuan per jin." A hint of confidence shone in his eyes, as if he was quite certain about the price.

Lin Yue picked up the document and glanced at it, her brows immediately furrowing. The price was far below her expectations, and she knew that at this price, the villagers might not receive the compensation they deserved for their hard work. She looked at Chen Yu, their eyes meeting, both seeing dissatisfaction in each other's eyes. Lin Yue took a deep breath, trying to keep her tone calm: "Mr. Zhao, we cannot accept this price. We all know that this new crop is a valuable medicinal plant, its value far exceeding this. Moreover, we must consider the villagers' efforts and costs." Her eyes sharpened, fixed intently on Mr. Zhao, awaiting his response.

Boss Zhao frowned slightly, seemingly surprised by Lin Yue's rebuttal. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and said, "Comrade Lin, this price is the result of comprehensive consideration of many factors. We also have to bear a series of costs and risks related to transportation, processing, and sales." His tone was somewhat forceful, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

At this moment, an elder from the village stood up and said excitedly, "You can't do this! It's not easy for us to grow these crops, you can't drive the price down so low." His face was flushed, his eyes were filled with anger and helplessness, and his hands trembled slightly, showing his inner turmoil.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and a sense of tension filled the meeting room. Seeing this, Captain Li quickly tried to smooth things over: "Everyone, please calm down. The price can be discussed further. We're all working towards this cooperation; mutual benefit is our goal." His gaze darted between the two sides, attempting to ease the tension.

Lin Yue nodded. She knew this wasn't the time to argue; they needed to calm down and resolve the issue. Looking at Boss Zhao, her tone softened slightly: "Boss Zhao, we understand you have costs and risks, but we can't ignore the interests of our villagers. We hope the price can be raised to [X + Y] yuan per jin; this is our bottom line." A resolute glint remained in her eyes; she knew this price was carefully considered and represented the bottom line for protecting the villagers' basic interests.

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