Chief Lin and Chief Pan wanted to invite Lin Yinan to discuss something.

Although it was Chinese New Year, Lin Yinan still had many things to deal with.

She likes to make plans before doing anything.

Spring planting is underway, grain production is being coordinated, and most importantly, salt will soon be on the market. It's always better to prepare in advance for the various problems that will arise after its market launch than to be caught off guard at the last minute.

Chief Lin looked at Lin Yinan, who was busy, and felt a little reluctant to disturb him.

Seeing his hesitant expression, Lin Yinan looked up and asked with a smile, "Grandpa Clan Chief, just say what you need to say."

"Anan, could you allocate a piece of land for us?" Chief Lin asked hesitantly, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Island?" Lin Yinan looked at the Lin clan chief with a puzzled expression.

Chief Lin nodded, "Yes, I want the county government to allocate a piece of land to build an ancestral hall for our village, so that we can bring back the ancestral tablets and receive the incense offerings from our descendants, and let our ancestors continue to bless us."

“That’s no problem at all,” Lin Yinan readily agreed.

Chief Lin and Chief Pan exchanged a glance, both delighted that the city lord had agreed so readily.

Chief Lin was about to leave; he needed to hurry back and discuss with the villagers where it would be best to build the ancestral hall.

Chief Pan stood still, looking at Lin Yinan as if he had something to say.

Lin Yinan raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly, "Clan Chief Pan, please speak freely."

Chief Pan then said, "Lord of the city, our village has only a little over a hundred villagers, and none of them have much money. I... I was wondering if the county government could give us some money to build an ancestral hall?"

Chief Lin was stunned, looking somewhat bewildered. He had never considered asking Anan to pay for the construction of the ancestral hall.

Linjia Village still has some money. Last year, everyone worked hard and received monthly bonuses, so each family saved up some money. He thought he would ask the villagers to contribute, and those who really didn't have money could contribute more labor so that the ancestral hall could be built.

Lin Yinan pursed her lips, her smile fading slightly, and she frowned as she looked at the Lin clan leader.

"Grandpa Chief, what do you think?"

Chief Lin quickly waved his hand and said firmly, "Building the ancestral hall is to worship the Lin family ancestors. This is the merit of every villager. We still have some money in our coffers, and we can let the villagers contribute some. There is no need for the county government to allocate money specifically."

"What if it's not enough?" Lin Yinan asked with a smile, looking at the adorable old man.

"If all else fails, I still have some savings for my funeral. If that's still not enough, I'll take my time to prepare. There's no rush. I don't think my ancestors will blame me."

His words surprised Lin Yinan. She really couldn't believe that this old man, who was usually so stingy, was willing to spend his own money.

After Chief Lin finished speaking, Chief Pan became somewhat anxious, "City Lord, our Pan family is dwindling in number and we came to the village later than the Lin family, so our clan's resources are naturally not as abundant as theirs."

Lin Yinan glanced at him, her gaze deep, but a polite smile still lingered on her lips.

“I understand Chief Pan’s difficulties, but I think Chief Lin’s words make sense. The purpose of building the ancestral hall is to worship ancestors and continue the incense offerings, to express our remembrance of our ancestors, and to strengthen the cohesion of the clan members.”

"Therefore, the county government can provide land for the construction of ancestral halls, but it is not appropriate to interfere in other matters. These matters should be resolved internally by the village chiefs and villagers themselves."

After she finished speaking, Chief Pan looked somewhat embarrassed, but he still persisted, saying, "Lord of the city, the saltworks have sold so much salt and the income is quite substantial. Building the ancestral hall won't require much silver."

Chief Lin's eyes were filled with astonishment, and he felt that he was being delusional.

A fierce glint flashed in Lin Yinan's eyes, cold and sharp, as if it could see through a person's heart.

“The county government has a lot of people to support now, soldiers and horses in the military camp, and the daily food expenses for several thousand people in the city. The two seasons of rice planted last year are not enough to feed everyone. Chief Pan should know that grain prices have been high all the time, and it takes a lot of money just to buy grain.”

"As for the matter of building the ancestral hall, I think Chief Pan should go back and discuss it with the clan elders."

By the end, Lin Yinan's tone was clearly displeased.

As soon as she finished speaking, Pan Qingfeng rushed over.

His face was ashen, and he pulled Chief Pan outside.

"Grandfather, please come back with me quickly, I have something important to say."

Before leaving, he looked apologetically at Lin Yinan, “City Lord, I’m so sorry! The Pan family is not able to build the ancestral hall at the moment. It was my grandfather’s oversight.”

Lin Yinan smiled and nodded, "I trust you to handle things!"

The implication was obvious, and Pan Qingfeng, ashamed, pulled his grandfather away.

After the two left, the clan chief sighed, secretly regretting his poor judgment. He had previously treated Lin Yinan like a brother, but he never expected that Lin Yinan had such intentions. He felt somewhat ashamed towards Lin Yinan.

“Anan, I never expected Chief Pan to be this kind of person.”

“Chief, please don’t say that.” Lin Yinan could understand, but she did not agree with Chief Pan’s approach. She continued, “Everyone has different positions and it’s normal to have selfish motives. Chief Pan is also considering the interests of his people.”

"I'm getting old," said Chief Lin.

When the topic of ancestral hall came up, Lin Yinan thought of the farmland again.

“Grandpa Chief, I’ve decided to distribute some clan land to the clan after the New Year.”

"The output of clan land is generally used to take care of the elderly and orphans in the clan." Thinking of what Chief Pan had done, Chief Lin said, "The Pan family only has a little over a hundred people, so don't give them clan land. Let them pay for it themselves. Don't let them get too big for their britches."

The clan chief and Lin Yinan were thinking the same thing, and Lin Yinan's lips curled up slightly.

“I don’t plan to distribute it. There are several thousand people in the city, and several hundred or even dozens of people in the villages. The county government doesn’t have that much land to give them.”

Then she asked the clan chief, "Will the land be distributed to the villagers this year?"

The clan chief frowned and waved his hand, "I've asked the villagers about this. They're shrewd and really don't want the land. They all want to work with the people who signed the agreement. They get meals provided in the canteen and receive a monthly allowance. They think it's a good deal."

"If we don't distribute the land now, they'll have to pay for it themselves if they want it in the future," Lin Yinan joked.

Let them be.

So the two decided that Linjia Village would continue to operate the same way as last year.

Chief Lin said that Wu Xu and the others should follow the rules of Linjia Village.

After the Lin clan chief came out, he secretly went to find Lin Yiheng, Lin Yuanzhi, and Lin Tiezhuang.

He had a short meeting with them and told them to pay more attention to the Pan family in their future work. He felt that the Pan clan chief had some ulterior motives, and the villagers below must be the same.

Lin Yiheng believes that no matter what Chief Pan's intentions are, after spending more than half a year with Pan Qingfeng, he is an upright person and still trustworthy.

Lin Yuanzhi and Lin Tiezhuang nodded repeatedly.

"I'm just telling you to be careful. Nobody writes 'I'm a bad guy' on their forehead, right?"

Speaking to them nearly drove Chief Lin mad with anger.

Unlike the joyful atmosphere on Chief Lin's side, the atmosphere on Pan Qingfeng's side was much more subdued, with all the men from every household in the village gathered together.

"Clan chief, how did the inquiry go? Did the city lord agree?"