I couldn't take it anymore; when I went home for Chinese New Year, the family genealogy book ha

At 10:00 AM, in Jiang Chen's office on the second floor of the village committee building.

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on Jiang Chen's young yet serene face.

He was leisurely savoring the top-grade Da Hong Pao tea that Su Tianhao had sent, the air filled with the refreshing aroma of rock tea.

The office door creaked open.

Third Grandfather, leaning on his cane and with a hunched back, slowly walked in, followed by a dozen or so villagers who looked equally dejected and embarrassed.

This group of people were the "stubborn ones" who had the most resolute attitude at the village meeting a few days ago.

At this moment, they all looked like defeated roosters, having lost all their former arrogance.

"Cough cough..."

Third Grandfather walked to Jiang Chen's desk, his cloudy old eyes avoiding direct eye contact with Jiang Chen.

His wrinkled old face turned bright red, like a freshly steamed pig's liver.

"Chen... Chenwazi..."

Third Grandfather's voice was dry and hoarse, with an obvious hint of ingratiation.

"Um...we...we've both figured it out."

He rubbed his calloused hands and stammered.

"This land is best left to you young people to cultivate; we old folks really can't do it anymore."

"So... do you think... we can still... invest now?"

After saying this, Third Grandfather lowered his head even further.

The villagers behind him were all looking at Jiang Chen with expectant and pleading eyes.

Jiang Chen didn't show any surprise after hearing this.

He slowly and deliberately placed the teacup in his hand gently on the table.

"Clatter".

A soft sound rang out, unusually clear in the quiet office.

It was like a small hammer, striking heavily on the hearts of everyone present.

Jiang Chen raised his eyelids, his gaze calmly sweeping over the group of people in front of him, and slowly began to speak.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

"Third Grandfather, and all my uncles and aunts."

"It's too late."

Those two short words were like a bucket of ice water, poured over the hearts of Third Grandfather and the others from head to toe!

Everyone's face turned pale instantly!

"Is it...too late?"

Grandpa San was getting anxious; he could barely hold onto his cane.

"Chenwazi! You...you can't just stand by and watch him die!"

Jiang Laowu, with his pointed mouth and monkey-like face, also joined in the shouting.

"Yes, Jiang Chen! We're all from the same ancestor! Now that you're rich, you can't just ignore the lives of us poor relatives! If you do that, what will people say about you behind your back!"

Jiang Chen listened to these words and a faint mockery appeared on his lips.

Now you know how to talk about family ties?

When you were stirring up trouble and spreading rumors that I was going to sell the land, why didn't you think of family ties?

Jiang Chen ignored their moral blackmail. He simply looked at his third grandfather and calmly continued speaking.

"Third Grandfather, when I said 'too late,' I didn't mean I wouldn't let you invest."

These words caused everyone's hearts, which had sunk to the bottom, to leap up again!

There is still hope!

"What I mean is..."

Jiang Chen leaned forward slightly, interlaced his fingers and placed them on the table, his eyes becoming sharp.

"Our [Jiangshi Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.] officially concluded its first round of 'angel round financing' three days ago, at the end of the village meeting."

"Angel round funding?"

Grandpa and the others were completely baffled and had no idea what it meant.

Jiang Chen smiled and explained in a language they could understand.

"Simply put, those villagers who believed in me from the very beginning and followed me are the company's original shareholders and enjoy the most favorable investment conditions."

"And now, if you want to join, you are no longer considered original shareholders."

Jiang Chen's gaze swept over the astonished faces of the crowd.

"If you join now, you're just reaping the benefits without any effort."

"The company's land has been leveled, sown, and fertilized; the seedlings have even sprouted. All the initial investment and risks were borne by me and the original shareholders."

"You haven't put in a single penny or effort, yet you expect to enjoy the same treatment as them?"

Jiang Chen's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying a sense of pressure typical of business negotiations.

"Do you really think there's such a cheap and easy thing in the world?"

"Is this fair to the villagers who trusted me unconditionally from the very beginning?"

This series of questions left the third grandfather and the others speechless, their faces turning red, unable to even lift their heads.

That makes sense, that's definitely the truth.

But they just weren't willing to give up!

Third Grandfather gritted his teeth, put on a thick face, and said in an almost pleading tone.

"Then... Chenwa, tell me, what exactly do you want in order for us to join in?"

Jiang Chen was waiting for these words.

He leaned back in his chair and calmly extended one finger.

"If you'd like to invest, that's fine."

"But the conditions must be changed."

Jiang Chen's face revealed a standard capitalist smile.

"First, your land-for-equity ratio and profit-sharing ratio should be reduced by 30% from the original contract."

"What?! A 30% discount?!"

Jiang Laowu screamed on the spot!

"How is this any different from robbery?!"

"Quiet!"

Jiang Chen's expression instantly darkened, and a powerful aura suddenly emanated from him!

"Jiang Laowu, did I give you permission to speak?"

Jiang Laowu trembled all over when Jiang Chen glared at him with such cold eyes that he swallowed back the rest of his words and didn't dare to utter another word.

Jiang Chen ignored him and continued speaking.

"Secondly, in addition to the discounted dividends, each of you will also have to pay the company an extra 'technical service fee' based on the acreage of land you've invested in!"

"This money is to compensate the company for the costs of drone operations, seeds, fertilizer, and my proprietary [plant growth solution] that we will be investing in on your land in the early stages!"

The crowd erupted in uproar!

"A discount on top of extra charges? Jiang Chen, that's outrageous!"

"Exactly! This is even more ruthless than Zhou Bapi!"

Despite the murmurs and discussions among the crowd, Jiang Chen remained unmoved.

He stood up, walked to the office window, pointed to the thriving scene downstairs, and his voice became serious and solemn.

"Uncles and elders, I'm not doing this today to earn a little extra from you."

"I want to use this incident to set a rule for the entire village!"

Jiang Chen turned around, his gaze sharp as he swept over everyone.

"That's business, it's business! Family ties can't replace rules!"

"Opportunity only comes once! Seize it, and you'll live the high life with me! Miss it, and you'll have to pay the price for your wrong choice!"

"Only in this way can our Jiangjia Village and our Jiang family unite as one and grow stronger!"

"Today's lesson is a free gift from me!"

"Now, the choice is in your own hands."

"Whether you sign or not, it's up to you."

After saying that, Jiang Chen sat back down in his chair, picked up his teacup, and said no more.

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Third Grandfather and the villagers looked at each other, their expressions shifting between light and dark.

It felt like two little people were fighting inside them.

One person was cursing Jiang Chenxin for being ruthless and heartless, even to her own family.

The other one, however, was telling them that Jiang Chen was right.

If we let them join so easily this time, then whenever the village makes any decisions in the future, there will definitely be troublemakers who will jump out and oppose us.

In any case, there will be no loss in the end.

But now, Jiang Chen has told everyone in the most direct and cruel way.

Disobedience will come at a real price!

Finally, the third grandfather let out a long sigh.

He seemed to age ten years in an instant, his back hunched, as he stepped forward and picked up the new contract that Jiang Chen had prepared long ago, with completely different terms.

"I...I'll sign!"

With trembling hands, he wrote his name crookedly at the end of the contract.

Although it hurts my heart and my wallet, just like Jiang Chen said, it's much better than guarding those few acres of land and ending up with nothing!

With the third grandfather taking the lead, the others could only grit their teeth and step forward one by one to sign this treaty, which could be described as "unequal".

At this point, the entire land of Jiangjia Village was finally managed in a 100% centralized and large-scale manner!

Jiang Chen stood by the window, looking at the boundless green ocean that stretched out into one continuous expanse, and a surge of unprecedented pride welled up in his heart.

That goal, which deserves a separate page in the family genealogy and brings glory to the ancestors, has finally laid the most solid and fundamental material foundation!

Just then, the familiar, pleasant system notification sound appeared in his mind as promised!

[Ding! Detected that the host has swiftly and decisively completed the integration of all land resources in the village, initiating the initial formation of a "modern agricultural empire"!]

[System Assessment: The host's territory control and family cohesion have received an epic boost!]

[Rewards being processed...]

[Congratulations, host! You have received a special reward—Blueprints for a modern, large-scale food processing plant (complete set)!]

[Congratulations, host! You have received a special reward—Aura Upgrade: Family Cohesion Aura has been upgraded to LV2!]

[LV2 Effect: Within the aura's coverage area, all system-recognized family members and villagers will see a 20% increase in work efficiency, and a 50% increase in their agreement with and execution of the host's decisions!]