This city simulation game can affect reality.

"What is certain now is that someone doesn't want us to make progress smoothly, but their intentions are not clear. It seems more like they are using information asymmetry to create chaos and try to raise our negotiation costs."

"Perhaps they are laying the groundwork for future intervention, but it cannot be ruled out that they simply want to trip them up."

Having just finished coordinating funds with the bank, Lao Zhou sat on the sofa, reporting the scattered information he had collected.

"Can we pinpoint the exact source? Who are the potential instigators?"

Chen Jun is only concerned about this now.

Although the scope of Hita's contract renewal was limited, it still genuinely involved more than ten villagers.

Once the news spreads, it can no longer develop in a "standalone" manner like a linear business.

Attention, covetousness, and even obstruction from all sides are normal occurrences that must be faced on the road to expansion.

"To be honest, it's very difficult to get to the bottom of this kind of thing. After all, they're hiding in the shadows, and as an outside company, we didn't have any way to track down the primary source of information without having spies in the village beforehand."

Old Zhou sighed, showing a hint of helplessness.

"However, we can perhaps start from the stakes involved in the matter itself and deduce logically. By listing the victims and beneficiaries of this event and comparing their names, many things will become clear."

This did give Chen Jun a wake-up call.

Although it's still impossible to immediately identify who it is, at least a potential suspect has been identified.

He immediately followed this line of thought: "Our high-profile approach to renewing the lease from the very beginning will inevitably attract envious people, as well as those who already have hidden interests in the land."

Small companies that want land but can't afford the price; middlemen who sublet land from villagers; local businesses that depend on the land for their livelihood...

These groups all fall within the scope defined by Chen Jun.

Old Zhou nodded: "There are still many targets within the scope, but at least we have a potential profile in mind, and we know which types of people to guard against, so we won't be completely clueless anymore."

After a moment's thought, Chen Jun made a decision: "We shouldn't delay. Let's get the money distributed tomorrow morning."

"Now that we've confirmed that someone is trying to sabotage us from the shadows, we need to be even more high-profile. Perhaps a grand display of fulfilling our obligations will make the other side unable to hold back and reveal their true colors."

"Whether they are small, insignificant fish hiding in the shadows, or a truly formidable opponent, we can take this opportunity to weigh them. Even if they don't show themselves, we've already achieved our goal."

He looked at Lao Zhou: "Have you arranged for someone to contact the village committee? The venue setup needs to be done in advance, and it should be as grand as possible."

"We've already sent people there." Old Zhou nodded. "The location is the grain drying ground in front of the ancestral hall in Zhongmen Village. It's a spacious place, and the ancestral hall itself represents the clan covenant, so it has a certain symbolic meaning."

The two sat idly for a while. Although the plan was very detailed, Chen Jun couldn't calm down because he was worried about the unknown variables.

......

January 2, Zhongmen Village.

Around nine o'clock in the morning, Xita's men arrived in the village in a large group, led by Chen Jun and Lao Zhou, followed by a large group of people including financial staff and legal personnel.

Li Yangfei, who had just joined the company, also accompanied Lao Zhou at his request.

The entire event was well-organized, with the red banner with white lettering being particularly eye-catching.

[Scene of land renewal payment distribution at Xita Farmhouse]

Chen Jun made two preparations for this funding: cash and bank cards.

After all, we have to deal with all kinds of men, women, young and old, so the payment channels must be as complete as possible.

Several long tables were joined together to form a worktable, covered with a green velvet cloth.

In order to preserve evidence and prevent potential accidents, Chen Jun specially arranged for someone to record the entire process.

"Good morning, fellow villagers of Zhongmen Village. I am Chen Jun, the person in charge of Xita Farmhouse. We are here today for no other purpose than one word: faith."

"The new rent for this land renewal, as well as the promised compensation for the previous price difference, will all be paid to every villager today."

Chen Jun was quite decisive. He walked to the makeshift podium, picked up the megaphone he had borrowed from the village committee, and began to speak.

Since the distribution of funds was conducted publicly, in addition to those renewing their contracts, many villagers who came to the event were also onlookers.

His opening remarks drew cheers from the audience.

Seemingly unaffected by the rumors, most villagers only showed their anticipation for real money.

Chen Jun gave Lao Zhou a wink, and the latter immediately understood. He turned around and walked to the side and back of the worktable, whispering a few words of advice to several employees in plain clothes.

The group then discreetly retreated to either side of the worktable, silently observing the scene.

Chen Jun then moved to the back, handing the stage over to the finance team.

To maximize the publicity effect of this contract fulfillment, after each villager received their money, the staff would conduct a brief interview with them.

All of this was recorded on camera and shown to the crowd who had come to join in the fun.

"The money is much more than I expected. My husband just had his third child, and we were worried about money at the time. Now we have the money for baby formula."

"I used to think that the land in this remote mountain valley was worthless. Apart from growing some grains that didn't sell for a good price, it wasn't very useful. But Boss Chen's actions have completely revitalized it."

"..."

Most of the villagers expressed their gratitude and simple hopes for the future, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

The camera also captured the excited smiles and stacks of cash, which will serve as powerful evidence to refute false rumors in the future.

However, amidst all the smooth sailing, discordant voices eventually emerged.

When it was the turn of a dark-skinned middle-aged man, he took the money and suddenly raised his voice: "Boss Chen, let me ask you, who set this so-called market price, you or someone else?"

These words made Chen Jun's heart skip a beat. According to the information this person filled out, he was the male head of the household who had initially planned to refuse to rent the land to grow Anoectochilus roxburghii.

Chen Jun, having seen his share of big events, wasn't overly sensitive and remained calm: "Of course, it's determined by the market. It's not up to Hita, nor is it up to me personally. The prices are all rigorously evaluated and calculated."

"All the evidence and report copies are available for review by our legal counsel. We welcome all villagers to supervise us at any time."

This explanation drew nods from the surrounding villagers, and their hushed discussions suggested they were quite satisfied.

After all, everyone's smart enough to have done some research behind the scenes.

The middle-aged man's lips moved slightly, but he uttered a curt sentence: "I've taken the money and rented the land. From now on... just focus on your business and don't have any other ulterior motives. You know what you're supposed to do."

This statement was somewhat abrupt and even carried a warning connotation.

After saying that, he looked at no one else, clutched his money, and left.

Chen Jun followed the man's back with his gaze, tilted his head slightly, and gave a wink to his subordinates beside him. One of them immediately moved silently toward the door.

This minor incident did not affect the subsequent money distribution process. To the villagers, it was probably just a momentary remark from a stubborn person, and there was no need to think about it too much.

But none of the people on Shita's side could dismiss the man's words as meaningless air.