In fact, Xu Ning was not unwilling to give Li Liehu a clear answer on the spot, but because she had more profound thoughts in her mind.
Agreeing to take the two cities was inevitable, but letting Li Liehu and his family follow her was not.
Xu Ning knew very well that Li Liehu's hasty words about following her were based on their previous interactions and the bustling scene in Xiacheng that he saw now.
But after so many years, it is impossible for a person to remain unchanged, and his mentality is naturally different.
At the same time, due to the change in status, Xu Ning hoped that Li Hunter would see the true prosperity of Xiacheng and make a rational choice again. This was also something she had carefully considered for him based on their previous friendship.
"Lord City Lord, all the ingredients needed for the barbecue have been prepared. I wonder if they should be distributed to everyone immediately?" The person who spoke reported the situation to Xu Ning respectfully.
You should know that the preparations for these tens of thousands of barbecues had already begun when the ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled. Items like charcoal were prepared first, while the fresh vegetables and meats were only slaughtered and processed this morning.
"Well, distribute them. You have worked hard during this period. Remember to notify me after all the distribution is completed." Xu Ning took a sip of the cup of tea that had long since cooled, then slowly stood up and led Li the Hunter and his son, as well as Jiang Yan, towards the small building in the center of the square.
It has to be said that Xiacheng's management team was extremely efficient. Not long after, a large group of Xiacheng people hurriedly entered the square carrying heavy charcoal and various kinds of food.
The scale of the square today is far greater than that of the original one, which could only accommodate tens of thousands of people. After several expansions and renovations, it has become a vast space capable of accommodating all the people of Xiacheng.
Xu Ning's journey to the small building in the middle of the square took considerable effort. At that moment, the entire square was bustling with activity, with crowds jostling each other shoulder to shoulder. At a glance, it was a sea of black, thronged heads, the intensity of the crowds no less intense than those Xu Ning had witnessed during his travels on statutory holidays.
"Bao, this huge sea of people in front of me, could it be the people who have rushed here from other places?" Xu Ning asked the treasure box in her mind with surprise. She looked at the densely packed and bustling scene, her eyes were dazzled, and she couldn't count accurately, but her intuition told her that the crowd gathered here was far more than 200,000.
"That's right, dear players. When the people heard that you were going to generously treat everyone to delicious barbecue, many of them not only came by themselves, but also called their friends and even their aunts and uncles to join in the fun. According to statistics from this treasure box, the number of people on the scene is now close to 300,000!" The treasure box quickly gave a reply.
"Oh my, no wonder it's so noisy, it makes my head buzz. But fortunately, I have foresight and have made sufficient preparations early on. I guarantee that they will all have a full belly and be satisfied!" Xu Ning said proudly to the treasure chest.
By the way, the first batch of sweet potatoes this year has already been stored in the warehouse. Xu Ning generously took out all the sweet potatoes except those reserved for seeds, and told his men to share them at tonight's barbecue feast.
In addition, she also purchased a full 5,000 fat pigs from the treasure chest, and 5,000 each of chickens, ducks, and geese, along with a variety of seasonal fresh vegetables and sweet and delicious fruits. These ingredients alone, plus the mountains of sweet potatoes, were enough to feed the 300,000 people for a whole day and night.
Li the Hunter and his son were stunned by the sheer number of people and the vibrant atmosphere, their jaws dropping for a moment. In contrast, Jiang Yan remained much calmer and composed. He arranged for his own men, along with Xu Ning's tens of thousands of staff, to swiftly and orderly move the carefully prepared food and supplies for three hundred thousand people, ensuring that everything was in perfect order.
Soon, nearly 300,000 people came like a tide, tightly surrounding the exquisite small building in the center of the square.
At that moment, Xu Ning, standing on the small building, looked calm. After tactically clearing her throat, her crisp and loud voice, carried by the microphone, echoed throughout the square: "Dear fellow Xiacheng people, please light the barbecue grills in front of you! Because next, our long-awaited first barbecue event in Xiacheng is about to begin!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in excited shouts, rising and falling like surging waves. However, amidst this clamor, Xu Ning calmly raised his hand and signaled for silence.
The well-trained administrators immediately raised their bright red flags high, as if they were generals commanding a vast army on the battlefield. The common people, upon seeing this, understood what was going on and quickly fell silent. They all looked at Xu Ning expectantly, waiting for her to continue.
Looking at the obedient and sensible people before him, Xu Ning felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and a gratified smile appeared on his face. After all, it was no easy task to gain the consistent support and cooperation of so many people!
So, she took a deep breath and spoke quickly but clearly, briefly explaining the specific operation methods and precautions of barbecue. After everything was explained, Xu Ning finally announced loudly: "Now, I solemnly declare—our first barbecue event in Xiacheng has officially begun!"
Almost at the same moment, on the towers surrounding the square, colorful and huge fireworks roared into the sky, blooming into dazzling flowers.
Then, the rousing music Xu Ning had specially requested from the treasure chest began playing at the perfect moment. Its cheerful and powerful rhythm, like the beating of war drums, stirred everyone's blood. At that moment, everyone's hearts seemed to be tightly bound together by an invisible force, sharing this joy and passion.
In a corner not far from the small building, Jiang Yan's deep eyes stared at Xu Ning's figure on the stage for a long time.
He discovered that as they spent more time together, he saw more and more shining points in Xu Ning. This girl who seemed unruly at first now not only possessed extraordinary wisdom and courage, but also possessed extraordinary leadership skills...
Before they knew it, Li the Hunter and his son had already been infected by the atmosphere and started barbecuing with Jiang Yan in the small building!
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