Meanwhile, having received approval from the Li family, Lin Pei was in high spirits and ready to make a big splash.
He first took out the case files of several impoverished villages in Shaoguan County and carefully compared them with the map of the prefectural government.
Shuxia Village, oh no, it's now called Lijia Village.
The success of Lijiacun showed him a path, a path that could help impoverished mountain villages achieve success.
If the government takes the lead and lets the villagers pool their money to set up workshops, they can immediately see the return on their investment as soon as the products are produced.
Can't this impoverished village become rich right away?
Thinking it through and acting on it, Lin Pei eventually decided on six villages.
When the village chiefs were summoned, they were all filled with trepidation.
Everyone was dressed in old clothes, huddled up, looking like they would kneel down and beg for mercy at any moment.
"Poverty makes one lose ambition," Lin Pei sighed.
"Please sit down, gentlemen. I have called you here today because I have something good to discuss with you."
The group of people dared not act arrogantly. They sat down as instructed, but they didn't dare to sit down properly. They heard it was a good thing, but they didn't dare to think too much about it. It was a good thing for the gentlemen, but it might not be a good thing for them, the poor.
Have you ever heard of a tofu workshop?
Lin Pei didn't expect these people to reply, so he asked directly.
Everyone reacted to that.
"Yes, Your Excellency, I have heard of it."
"Sir, the tofu workshop is famous in Shaoxing, so I've certainly heard of it."
Several people responded one after another. Among them, an old man, seeing that Lin Pei's attitude remained warm and friendly, sat down firmly on the stool, reached for a piece of pastry on the coffee table next to him, and secretly hid it in his sleeve.
“….”
Lin Pei observed this without showing any emotion.
"Since you've all heard about it, that makes things easier. The Li family's tofu workshop is changing its business. They plan to seek cooperation outside in the production of tofu. I called you here today to give your villages a chance."
The group looked at each other, not daring to speak.
“I have carefully selected your villages. There are no two villages that can cooperate to pool their money to make tofu together. With the government taking the lead, as long as the quality of your tofu is guaranteed, the Li family workshop will purchase it.”
Before he could finish speaking, and before the others could say anything, the old man began to wail and complain.
"We are deeply grateful for your kindness, sir. However, we are already very poor, and we certainly don't have the extra money to build this workshop. We are afraid we will have to disappoint you..."
These adults are all ignorant of the hardships of ordinary people, coming up with one solution after another.
If you really want to win them over, why not just give them money directly?
Lin Pei frowned slightly.
"Sir, how much will this tofu shop cost? We really have nothing of value, so we'd like to have a better idea of what it will be like."
The old man who spoke earlier was from Blackwind Village, but this time the speaker is from Blackstone Village, which is adjacent to Blackwind Village.
That's a more palatable statement.
"The recipe for this tofu has been published by the government. It doesn't cost much; it's just the cost of buying soybeans. The Li family will collect whatever amount is made. If you want to make more, you can naturally contribute more money. It's up to you."
"Sir, we have no money. Can the government help us set up the workshop? If our village prospers in the future, we will definitely present you with a 'Ten Thousand People Umbrella'!"
The village chief of Black Wind Village rolled his eyes and continued to embellish the story.
"Sir, you've helped us to the very end! Our Black Wind Village is so poor, we have so few young men. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, sir. On behalf of Black Wind Village, I thank you!"
The village chief of Black Wind Village looked down on this "good deed," as he found it exhausting.
The county magistrate clearly saw them as a political achievement, so he was looking for ways to cause them trouble, and he wanted them to pay for it themselves.
I've lived for decades, and it's always been others who give me money. Don't even think about asking me to give money away.
As the village chief of Black Wind Village continued to spout increasingly outrageous nonsense, Lin Pei's brows furrowed so deeply they could have trapped a mosquito.
It's true that bad people often come from poor and remote areas.
Lin Pei's eyes were opened.
"Is that what you all think too? The government won't give you a single penny. If you want to do it, then do it; if you don't, then pretend I never said anything."
"My lord, we of Blackstone Village are willing!"
Blackstone Village quickly expressed their support, saying that this was a windfall, and they wouldn't have been able to close the deal if they had gone to the Li family on their own.
"Sir, our village is fine too!"
Seeing Lin Pei's tone turn cold, the village chiefs from the other villages spoke up one after another, afraid of missing a good opportunity.
The village chief of Black Wind Village curled his lip.
It's just that the bigwigs up there want to put on a show. They don't even give them any money, yet they expect them to be grateful. I never dreamed of such a wonderful thing.
If this workshop really goes up, they might try to squeeze money out of them. How much money does he have to play around with? He won't participate.
Let these idiots scramble to do it; they deserve to be exhausted.
"Please don't be offended, sir. Our village really doesn't have the money to start a tofu workshop."
"Someone, take him away."
Seeing that Lin Pei looked unwell but only told someone to send him away, the old man shamelessly and quickly poured out all the tea and snacks on the coffee table.
Then he bowed and scraped to Lin Pei, a sheepish smile on his face.
"Please forgive me, sir, but the young children in my family have never had this snack before. I'll take a few back for them to try. Thank you, sir."
Lin Pei waved his hand, telling the guards to quickly drive the person away, out of sight, out of mind.
"Don't be angry, sir. The people in this village are very lazy and good-for-nothing. They make a living by having and selling their children."
Born in that village, there was basically no hope left. Being sold off was one thing, but those who stayed behind faced only hardship.
Young and middle-aged children are indeed rare. Our village doesn't dare to associate with theirs, for fear that they'll steal our children and sell them.
The village chief of Blackstone Village offered words of comfort.
Although the government explicitly prohibits the buying and selling of people, there are always ways to circumvent policies. When it comes to matters of mutual consent, the government can't do much about it.
Lin Pei was displeased with this person, but not by much.
These people and he were from two different worlds.
He's already shown kindness by being willing to lend them a hand; those who wouldn't even open their mouths to eat even if food were offered to them deserve to starve.
Lin Pei's expression was cold. He could save some people, but not everyone.
Those who seek their own demise will simply fall into utter depravity; he was reluctant to even glance at them.
After the people from Black Wind Village left, Lin Pei made a pact with the people from the five villages and sternly warned the village chiefs that they could not cut corners on the tofu they made for the Li family. He would have the Li family inform them of their requirements for the tofu.
Once they get back, they can start making preparations.
These village chiefs remembered that earning a penny or two was still earning money, so what did it matter if it was a little hard and tiring?
At first, the people of Black Wind Village laughed at Black Stone Village for being stupid after hearing their village chief's words.
Later, these villages really did become wealthy by making tofu in family workshops, making a steady stream of income, which made Black Wind Village extremely envious.
But it was too late for regrets; they couldn't even get into Blackrock Village.
A few years ago, fearing that people from Black Wind Village would steal children, anyone from Black Wind Village was not allowed to enter Black Stone Village. Anyone who dared to enter would be beaten. In addition, every household kept a dog, and they were very fierce.
All they can do is admire from afar, while they themselves continue to rot and stink in the mud.
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