After everyone left, Xu Kuo had a sudden thought and opened the system shop, using his points to exchange for several bags of premium fertilizer.
Xu Kuo strode to the farmland at the edge of the village, sunlight shining on his resolute face, casting a golden glow. He placed several bags of premium fertilizer on the ground with a muffled "thump."
"Come here, everyone, spread this fertilizer on the ground," Xu Kuo waved his hand to call out.
Niu Erbao was the first to run over, grabbed a bag of fertilizer, and hoisted it onto his shoulder with a heavy slack. The fertilizer was so heavy that it made his shoulder ache, but his face was beaming with excitement.
"Master, I'll lead the way!" Niu Erbao roared, rushing into the field first, wielding his hoe, and working hard to turn over the soil.
The others, however, looked hesitant and dawdled, unwilling to step forward.
"What's wrong? Everyone looks so dejected?" Xu Kuo frowned, keenly sensing that something was amiss.
“Brother Xu, this…we still have a lot of vegetables in our own fields. If we turn them all over, then…” A villager rubbed his hands and stammered as he spoke.
“Yes, Brother Xu, the harvest was just around the corner. If it's all ruined now, it'll be a complete waste,” another villager chimed in.
Xu Kuo understood that these people were reluctant to part with the vegetables in their own fields. He looked around, his gaze sweeping across each person's face as if trying to see through their thoughts.
“Alright then,” Xu Kuo pondered for a moment, then announced loudly, “I’ll take all the vegetables from your fields! I’ll buy them at twice the market price! But you have to help me plant them first.”
The crowd erupted in chaos, as if a boulder had been thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
"What? Double? Brother Xu, are you kidding me?"
"Really? This...this is way too expensive!"
"Brother Xu, you're a living bodhisattva!"
The villagers stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief, then turning to ecstatic joy. They tugged at each other, afraid they had misheard. Double the purchase price—it was like a windfall!
"Brother Xu, let's do it! Let's do it right now!"
"Brother Xu, just you wait and see, I guarantee I'll make sure the land looks beautiful!"
"Brother Xu, we'll work for you from now on!"
The villagers' emotions were instantly ignited, and they rushed to the fields, wielding hoes and working hard.
Niu Erbao was even more energetic. He worked up a sweat, turning the soil deep and evenly, as if he had inexhaustible strength.
Looking at the bustling scene before him, Xu Kuo smiled with satisfaction. He knew his plan had succeeded, and these villagers were now firmly under his control.
"Next, I should go find Secretary Wen," Xu Kuo thought to himself, then turned and walked towards the town.
...
Town Committee, Secretary Wen's Office.
As Xu Kuo pushed open the door, a faint aroma of tea wafted in, refreshing and delightful. Secretary Wen was sitting at her desk, engrossed in reviewing documents. Hearing the sound, she looked up, saw Xu Kuo, and immediately a kind smile appeared on her face.
"Comrade Xu Kuo, please sit down, please sit down," Secretary Wen greeted him warmly, pointing to the chair in front of him.
Xu Kuo didn't stand on ceremony and walked straight over, plopping down in a chair.
Secretary Wen took a document out of the drawer and handed it to Xu Kuo: "Xu Kuo, this is for you."
Xu Kuo took the document and flipped through it with a puzzled look. It was a shop lease contract, which stated that the town would rent a shop in a good location to Xu Kuo at a discounted rent.
"Secretary Wen, this is..." Xu Kuo was somewhat puzzled.
"This is a special favor the town is giving you," Secretary Wen explained. "Considering that you've been setting up your stall at the entrance of the vegetable market, exposed to the wind and sun, it's been too hard for you. Luckily, there was a vacant shop in the town, so we secured it for you. You can sell vegetables there from now on."
Xu Kuo was deeply moved; he hadn't expected Secretary Wen to be so considerate of him. Especially during this rainy season, having a shop to shelter him from the wind and rain was extremely important.
"Secretary Wen, thank you so much, you have really helped me a lot." Xu Kuo expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
"Don't mention it, it's all for the people." Secretary Wen waved his hand.
Just then, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and Deputy Secretary Shi Jixing strode in, his face grim.
"Have you thought of a way to solve the infectious disease?" Shi Jixing asked bluntly, his tone aggressive.
Secretary Wen frowned, his face looking rather grim: "I'm still thinking about it."
"Still thinking?" Shi Jixing sneered. "How long have you been thinking about this? If you keep thinking about it, the whole town will be infected!"
He wouldn't have dared to speak to Secretary Wen like that before, but now that Secretary Wen was helpless and about to be dismissed, Shi Jixing naturally had no more scruples.
"I'm telling you, you'd better come up with a solution quickly, or you can pack your things and get out!" Shi Jixing threatened without any politeness.
Secretary Wen was so angry that he trembled all over. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Shi Jixing, get out of here!"
Shi Jixing remained unmoved, glancing smugly at the contract in Xu Kuo's hand. "Oh, isn't this Xu Kuo? What, still thinking of opening a vegetable shop? Trying to steal business from my vegetable market? I advise you to give up on that idea!"
He turned to look at Secretary Wen, his tone even more arrogant: "Once you're dismissed, I'll be the first to kick him out of town!"
Secretary Wen suppressed his anger and comforted Xu Kuo: "Xu Kuo, don't worry, with me here, he won't dare to do anything to you."
Xu Kuo sneered, "Him? He won't have a chance to get rid of me."
"What did you say?" Shi Jixing was taken aback, then flew into a rage. "You brat, you're really arrogant! Who do you think you are?"
Xu Kuo ignored Shi Jixing's clamor, took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, and gently placed it on Secretary Wen's desk.
"This is..." Secretary Wen picked up the porcelain bottle with a puzzled look, opened the stopper, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out.
“This pill can cure infectious diseases,” Xu Kuo said calmly.
"What?!"
"Are you kidding me?"
"These few pills can cure infectious diseases? Do you think we're three-year-olds?"
Shi Jixing and Secretary Wen were both stunned. Then, Shi Jixing burst into laughter, and Secretary Wen smiled bitterly, his face full of disbelief. Clearly, neither of them believed Xu Kuo's words.
After all, how could Xu Kuo, a vegetable grower, possibly cure an infectious disease that even rural doctors were helpless against?
Secretary Wen shook his head and sighed, "Xu Kuo, I appreciate your kindness, but as for these pills... let's forget about them."
Xu Kuo pushed the porcelain bottle in front of Secretary Wen, saying, "Secretary Wen, why don't you give it a try? Let's see what it's really like."
Seeing this, Shi Jixing sneered sarcastically, "Oh ho, you won't shed tears until you see the coffin? Fine, since you're so ungrateful and insist on hitting a brick wall, then I'll grant your wish!"
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