Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Qi Santai pulled Lin Chen's arm and led him to sit on the stone bench in the pavilion. A group of village officials gathered around, not daring to interrupt, and waited quietly.

Wang Changgui was quick and efficient, and hurriedly helped the two of them wipe the stools.

Qi Santai and Lin Chen chatted casually in a friendly tone; anyone who didn't know better would think they were relatives.

"Xiao Lin, you've been back in the village for a while now. Are you settling in well? Is there anything inconvenient or unpleasant about your daily life or getting along with your neighbors?"

"Whether it's a small matter in the village or a problem in the town, just let us know! Tell me, or tell Changgui, and we'll definitely resolve it for you as soon as possible, ensuring you live comfortably and peacefully!"

Lin Chen smiled faintly and replied calmly:

"Thank you, Mayor Xie. Everything is fine. There's nothing inconvenient. The villagers are all honest and warm-hearted. It's much more comfortable than the city. I feel quite at ease living here."

"As long as you're comfortable, that's all that matters!"

Qi Santai nodded repeatedly, then changed the subject and got to the point:

"Let me ask you, what are your long-term plans after returning to the village this time? You can't just stay idle and rest forever, can you? Have you ever thought about starting a business or doing something in our village or town?"

Lin Chen was well aware of Qi Santai's intentions; he simply hoped that Lin Chen would stay in the town to invest and start businesses, thereby boosting local political achievements and the economy.

He remained completely calm and relaxed, slowly taking out a cigarette, lighting it, taking a deep drag, and then slowly exhaling the smoke, firmly holding the initiative in his hands.

"We definitely have long-term plans, but we're not in a hurry to implement them."

Lin Chen spoke calmly, without a trace of youthful impatience;

"I came back to the village this time because I wanted to escape the fast pace of the city, take a good rest for a while, and enjoy a few days of leisure and peace."

The house renovation isn't finished yet. I need to make sure I'm comfortable and at ease living there first, and get a feel for the situation in the village and town before considering starting a business.

"I have worked hard in Shenzhen for many years and have accumulated enough savings to live comfortably without worrying about food and clothing. I don't need to rush to make money."

Lin Chen's seemingly casual words concealed a strong sense of confidence:

"If the village atmosphere improves and the town provides sufficient support, and I feel comfortable and at ease living here, I wouldn't mind settling down in my hometown, investing some money in some businesses, and incidentally helping the local people increase their income as well."

"On the contrary, if there are people causing trouble and making things difficult everywhere, and I feel stifled and upset living here, then I don't need to stay here for a year or two, and then I'll just go back to the city to develop my career."

Lin Chen's words hit the nail on the head, clearly stating his stance.

Upon hearing this, Qi Santai's eyes lit up instantly, and he instinctively leaned forward, his expression exceptionally earnest:

"Comfortable! Absolutely comfortable! I guarantee you'll have a peaceful and happy stay!"

"If anyone in the village dares to cause you trouble or cause you problems in the future, just tell me directly. If you can stay in our town and invest in businesses, it will be a great thing for the people here, and everyone in the town will remember your kindness!"

Xie Guangkun, who was squeezed in the crowd, felt extremely resentful upon hearing Lin Chen's words. His face was full of jealousy, and he couldn't help but purse his lips and mutter sarcastically in a low voice.

"Tch, that sounds nice, all about building a business and driving development, but it's still nothing, not even close to being a done deal."

Xie Guangkun's voice wasn't loud, but the people standing next to him heard it clearly:

"Who knows if he's just bragging? He said before that he's better than ten Yongqiangs combined, but I think he's just so-so! My Yongqiang is a proper government official, with a secure job!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Santai's face darkened, his brows furrowed, and he was about to reprimand Qi Santai.

A hint of a smile flashed across Lin Chen's eyes. He didn't take Xie Guangkun's sarcastic remarks to heart at all, nor did he get angry.

He turned to look at Qi Santai and said:

"Uncle Qi, to be honest, I originally planned to return to my hometown to develop my career and support the town's development. Although I don't have any plans to start a business at the moment, I do intend to deposit some money in the town's credit union to contribute to the town's financial industry and do my part as a fellow townsman."

"It's not a lot of money, just one million. Let's put it in a one-year fixed deposit first."

He paused, looked around, and continued:

"Of course, if the town needs to promote itself or enhance its image, you can also say that I, Lin Chen, have intended to inject one million yuan of reserve funds into the town to help its development. Consider it my small contribution to the town in advance."

A few simple words instantly silenced the entire courtyard.

The village officials and Wang Changgui's group present all stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief, holding their breath, their eyes filled with shock.

One million! In Ivory Mountain Village at that time, that was an astronomical figure!

Qi Santai suddenly stood up from the stone bench, his body trembling slightly with excitement, and his voice trembling as well:

"How...how much? One million? Kobayashi, you...you're not kidding me, are you?"

"Uncle Qi, I never joke about money."

Lin Chen spoke casually, as if one million was just a small amount:

"This amount of money is nothing to me. Depositing this money into the town's credit union can help the town revitalize its funds. You can lend money to support the town's farms, rice mills, and Liu Yishui's farm. It can help solve some of the people's funding problems and do something practical."

"Great! This is a lifesaver!"

Qi Santai was so excited that he kept rubbing his hands together and pacing back and forth in the pavilion, his face beaming with joy.

"With this million as a safety net, the credit union can lend freely, benefiting countless farmers and small businesses! This is far more effective than setting up a small factory on your own. You've truly done the town a huge favor!"

After the initial excitement, Qi Santai looked at Lin Chen with expectant eyes and quickly discussed the matter:

"Xiao Lin, isn't a one-year fixed deposit too short? How about we deposit for three years? That way, our town's development plan and credit structure can be implemented smoothly, and we'll feel more at ease!"

Lin Chen glanced at Xie Guangkun, who stood stiffly to the side, and sighed softly, feigning helplessness, before speaking slowly and deliberately:

"My original plan was to save for three years, settle down in my hometown, and work well with the town."

"However, it seems that some people are not very welcoming to me. They speak sarcastically and nitpick at everything. I'm afraid that if I stay in the village, I will be targeted in everything and my life will be unpleasant. It will be troublesome to leave if I want to. To be on the safe side, I'd better save for a year first and be more flexible."

Qi Santai instantly understood, followed Lin Chen's gaze to Xie Guangkun, his face turning ashen, and immediately roared in a deep voice:

"Xie Guangkun! What are you muttering about? If you don't want to stay here, go home. Don't get in the way and cause trouble!"

Xie Guangkun was so frightened by the roar that he trembled all over, shrank his neck, and immediately dared not show any anger. He was still counting on Qi Santai to find a job for Xie Yongqiang.

The arrogance and defiance on his face vanished instantly, leaving only fear and embarrassment.

He lowered his head, slunk back two steps, and hid behind the crowd, but he didn't leave. He still had something to ask Qi Santai.

After reprimanding Xie Guangkun, Qi Santai immediately turned to Lin Chen and put on a fawning smile.

"Xiao Lin, don't take it to heart! This old guy is just a chatterbox, shallow-minded and greedy, but he's actually a good person. You'll see once you get to know him."

"Don't worry! From now on in Ivory Mountain, if anyone dares to make things difficult for you or cause you trouble, just tell me, and I'll personally deal with them. I'll definitely give you a peaceful and comfortable living environment!"

Wang Changgui and several village officials looked at Lin Chen with completely different eyes. They all knew that this young man was no ordinary returning youth; he was a veritable god of wealth!

He can casually pull out millions in reserves; his wealth is unfathomable! I must curry favor with him and maintain this relationship from now on.

(I'm almost at 1,000 words short of 100,000, and my OCD is kicking in. Whatever, I'll just write another chapter.)