Chapter Twenty: So, You Believed It?

“What should we do now, miss?” Are we supposed to go door to door?

“We’ll head out to the fields first.” Shangguan Renran had anticipated she’d be walking a lot today, so she’d chosen a comfortable pair of lace-up canvas shoes. She wore a long-sleeved chiffon blouse, high-waisted straight pants, and had tied her hair into a ponytail. A Korean-style hoop earring adorned her ear, and her bare face radiated seriousness.

For convenience, Ye Xin had also put on flat shoes and wore a black utility outfit, making her look especially sharp. “Miss, there are a few people down there,” she said as they stood on a rise, looking out over the fields.

Several people were working the land below.

“Let’s go. They must be the owners here.” Shangguan Renran led the way to approach them.

“What are you saying? You want to buy these plots?” One of the farmers shouted.

“We won’t sell. This land is our livelihood!”

“That’s right, if we sell, what will we eat?”

“We’re not selling, absolutely not.”

“But have you considered that one day you won’t be able to do this anymore? What will you do for a living then? And your children and grandchildren—most of them work elsewhere and won’t return to help with the farming.” Shangguan Renran’s words cut right to the heart of their reality.

“We only want to purchase your land to build a factory. Think about it: you could work there instead. Isn’t that better than laboring under the sun and rain? I can guarantee your salaries won’t be low, and you’ll have retirement benefits. What do you think?”

“It sounds reasonable, but who doesn’t know that you business people only care about profit? You say this today, but who knows what you’ll say tomorrow?”

“That’s right! Old Liu in our village even got swindled out of his wedding money.”

“Yes, we can’t trust them.”

“It’s not the same, miss, I—” They would be protected by contracts, but Shangguan Renran shook her head, stopping what Ye Xin was about to say.

“Everyone, we are sincere. If you wish to continue farming, we’ll help you find better land so you can keep working. For those who want to join the factory, you’re welcome. Everything I’ve promised can be put in writing, with the law as our witness.”

Her clear voice rang in their ears—firm and full of confidence.

“Let us discuss it among ourselves,” the crowd hesitated.

“Yes, let’s talk it over with Daxiong and the others.”

“Good. We’re staying at the guesthouse. If you have any questions, you can find us there.” Shangguan Renran and Ye Xin returned to their lodging. She had brought the acquisition proposal from President Wang’s company; as long as this contract was signed, she would have fulfilled her promise.

“Miss, those things you mentioned…”

Would the company really be willing to provide retirement funds? And how would they find replacement land for them?

“The profits from these lands are much more than what I promised; they’ll agree. As for finding alternative land, that’s something I’ll have to solve myself.” That was her own burden to bear, but once the factory was built, the area would surely prosper. The local people would benefit too—at the very least, they’d have access to clothing at cost price, and perhaps the area would become a hub for wholesale clothing markets.

As for nearby land that could still be utilized…

“Right, once it’s done, you’ll get two hundred thousand.”

“All right, I understand.” He hung up, eyes filled with determination. Two hundred thousand—how many years of farming would it take to earn that much?

“Daxiong, are you home?” The group from the fields returned, seeking Daxiong’s counsel on whether or not to sell.

“I’m here, come on in, the door’s open.”

“Daxiong, some people came to the fields today, asking if we’d sell our land.”

“Oh? And what did they say?” Daxiong owned the most land in the area. He had farmed since childhood and, over the years, had made a decent living. But he had a fondness for smoking, drinking, and sometimes gambling, and had squandered much of his earnings.

“They said that once the factory is built, we could work there and even get a pension in old age. If we still want to farm, they’d help us find other fields to rent.”

“So? You actually believe them?” Daxiong’s deep voice cut through their hesitance.

“Well, we…”

“They’re lying to you, saying whatever you want to hear. What if they don’t pay your wages? Who will you turn to? And finding other fields for you—how could there be such a good deal?”

“But Daxiong, they said everything would be put in writing, with legal protection,” one of them argued.

“You don’t know anything. Those contracts will be full of loopholes, and they might change the terms when you’re not paying attention. What will you do then?”

“Then what do you suggest, Daxiong? We’ll do as you say.”

“Yes, we’ll follow your lead.”

“That’s right, we’ll listen to Daxiong.”

“I say we ought to drive them out, show those city people that we country folk are not so easily bullied,” Daxiong said, narrowing his eyes and taking the lead.

What did those promises matter? Nothing compared to two hundred thousand in hand.

“All right, let’s drive them out.”

“Let’s show them we’re not to be trifled with.”

“Yes, make them leave.”