Once the contract details had been ironed out with the three tea merchants, Su Ling borrowed a computer and printer from the village committee. With nimble fingers flying across the keyboard, he skillfully crafted a new contract and sealed it with his signature. And just like that, it was a done deal.
After bidding farewell to the tea merchants, the village chief beckoned Su Ling to follow him up the rugged slopes of Mount Phoenix.
“Back then, when your grandfather took on the contract to cultivate tea trees in the mountains, most villagers had little faith in him. Five years of losses tested his resolve, yet by the eighth year, a glimmer of success emerged. And now, two decades later, the Dewfall Tea produced from our Mount Phoenix is gaining recognition far and wide.” Village Chief Jin clasped his hands behind his back, letting his gaze draw to the perfectly aligned rows of tea trees. “Who’d have thought your grandfather would leave us so soon?”
Perched upon the mountainside, Su Ling’s gaze swept across an unending sea of tea trees. They stood resplendent in their verdant glow, stretching unbroken as far as the eye could see. The sheer spectacle left him awe-struck, rendering him momentarily speechless. “Did Second Grandfather really single-handedly plant all these tea trees?”
“How is that even possible?” Village Chief Jin cast a sidelong glance at him and explained matter-of-factly, “Old Su hired the villagers, and together they planted those trees.”
A sense of shame washed over Su Ling as he perceived the contempt in the village chief’s eyes. He shifted uncomfortably, his fingers absently tracing his nose as he tried to hide his unease.
Village Chief Jin remarked, “Old Su possessed a wealth of knowledge and culture. Had it not been for his commitment to safeguarding the Su Clan Ancestral House, he would never have chosen to lead the humble life of a village farmer. On the other hand, Eldest Master Su, who found success and relocated to the city, severed all ties with his hometown. For sixty long years, he remained oblivious to Old Su’s existence, showing neither interest nor concern. What’s more, he didn’t even bother to show up for Old Su’s funeral.”
Captivated by every word Su Ling heard, a subtle blush crept onto his face.
Not once in his life had Grandfather breathed a word about their hometown. If it had not been for Lawyer Zhang’s call, he would have forgotten entirely about having a relative who resided in the countryside.
Two months ago, Lawyer Zhang accepted a commission from Second Grandfather. With no means of contacting him, Lawyer Zhang went to great lengths and even enlisted the help of his lawyer friends in City S to finally track down his phone number.
When Lawyer Zhang first dialed the number, Su Ling mistook it for a scam call and promptly blocked the number. Refusing to give up, Lawyer Zhang persistently dialed from different numbers, each time patiently providing a thorough explanation. Only then did it finally dawn on Su Ling that he had once met this relative during his childhood when he accompanied his father on a trip to the countryside.
“Grandfather… has dedicated his entire life to his career, and in recent years, his health has been declining. So, my aunt took him abroad for recuperation,” Su Ling elucidated, choosing his words with care.
After all, his grandfather was never close with the younger members of the family. Growing up, Su Ling always felt somewhat intimidated by his grandfather, so he would keep his distance during Lunar New Year gatherings. On the other hand, his third cousin from his fourth uncle’s family had a way with words and a delightful personality that effortlessly won over his grandfather’s heart.
Now that Su Ling had severed ties with the Su family, he was completely in the dark about what was happening on their end. He had no clue whether they even knew about Second Grandfather’s passing.
Village Chief Jin let out a few disdainful snorts. ”He’s probably afraid of being looked down upon for his past as a mere peasant.”
Upon hearing that, a look of awkwardness clouded Su Ling’s face.
Answering this question proved to be quite the challenge for him, as his grandfather’s intentions were inscrutable and beyond anyone’s comprehension. Yet, undeniable was the fact that his grandfather was a genius in the business world, and it was his sharp investment acumen and remarkable fortitude that had propelled the Su family to its current standing.
As Su Ling lapsed into silence, Village Chief Jin inquired, “What are your plans for the future?”
Village Chief Jin elaborated, “Now that you have received Old Su’s inheritance, will you choose to stay and run the business or sell it and return to the city?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Su Ling found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
With his marriage in shambles, he had no desire to remain in the city. Despite finding temporary refuge in the countryside, the weighty matter of handling his inheritance had eluded his thoughts entirely. After all, the verdant sea of tea trees spanning across the mountainside stood as a testament to the fruits of the villagers’ blood, sweat, and tears. Selling them would not only be a great shame but also a dishonor to the memory of his late second grandfather.
However, what sort of changes would await him if he chose to remain?
Thinking about that point, uncertainty twisted Su Ling’s stomach into knots.
At noon, Su Ling enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at the village chief’s house.
The feast was meticulously prepared by the village chief’s daughter-in-law, who poured her heart into every detail. The vegetables had been handpicked from their garden, each boasting a vibrant green hue that spoke volumes of their organic, pesticide-free purity. Their impeccable freshness translated into a symphony of flavors — tender, succulent, and a delightful crispness that tantalized Su Ling’s taste buds, leaving him craving more with each bite.
With their hunger satiated, Su Ling and the village chief convened in the village committee office once more, ready to hash out the details for tomorrow’s tea harvest.
“Back in the day, the tea merchants would send their own trucks to harvest the freshest leaves. But now that you’ve factored in transportation costs, have you figured out how we should transport the tea leaves out of the village?” Village Chief Jin questioned.
Su Ling answered, “I was thinking of hiring some trucks from town.”
Village Chief Jin’s response came as a surprise, as he shook his head and countered, “Your idea’s great and all, but I doubt the truck drivers would be keen on entering the village.”
Perplexed, Su Ling pressed further, “Why not?”
Who in their right mind would turn down a lucrative deal and be dissatisfied with having loads of money?
Village Chief Jin stroked his beard and inquired, “Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you arrive in the village on Old Liu’s tractor?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Su Ling affirmed with a nod.
Village Chief Jin queried, “How was the ride?”
Su Ling’s brows furrowed as memories of the strangely invigorating yet jolting sensation flooded back, leaving him hesitant at the mere thought of giving it another try.
Village Chief Jin stated, “As a result, the village is inaccessible and impoverished.”
“Is there… no way to repair the road?” Su Ling questioned, his voice tinged with incredulity. As an old Chinese saying goes, “If you want to get rich, build roads first.[1]” Has no one in Stone Creek Village ever thought of improving the road even just a bit all these years?
Village Chief Jin retorted exasperatedly, “You think we haven’t thought about it? We simply don’t have the funds to repair the road!”
Su Ling blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback. “The government didn’t approve it?”
Village Chief Jin explained with a hint of frustration, “No, the approval came through ages ago. Your grandfather and I even personally negotiated for it, but the funds just aren’t enough. So, how can we proceed with the repairs? The village, as you know, isn’t exactly swimming in riches. Even if we squeeze every last penny from selling tea leaves, it wouldn’t cover the costs of the road repairs. And widening the road? Don’t even get me started. We’d have to encroach upon fertile farmland to widen the road, and we’re also talking about a two-kilometer, two-lane highway that’ll be stretching from the village to Noble Willow Pavilion. To make that happen, it’d have to pass through at least two hundred acres of farmland. The funds allocated by the government are limited, and with no wealthy households in sight, who’s going to foot the bill?”
Su Ling never imagined the grueling challenges that came with repairing roads in a village — from financial woes to endless obstacles at every turn. It was no wonder Stone Creek Village remained ensnared in poverty.
He wondered aloud, “How much is needed?”
Village Chief Jin raised his droopy eyelids and reached for his trusty abacus, setting off a symphony of clacks and clicks that filled the room like a lively drumbeat. “The compensation we agreed upon with the villagers is 60,000 yuan[2] per acre, but depending on how much land they own, that could range from 3,000[3] to a hefty 30,000 yuan[4]. Despite the government subsidy of one million yuan[5], we still have to foot the rest of the bill. By the time we factor in road repairs and all the nitty-gritty, we’re looking at a grand total of five million yuan[6] to build a standard highway.”
Five million yuan?
This number was nothing short of a sky-high price tag for those living in the countryside.
Settling into a chair, Su Ling propped his chin on his hand as he delved into the depths of his thoughts.
[1] 想要富先修路 (xiǎng yào fù xiān xiū lù): It’s a famous Chinese saying that emphasizes the importance of infrastructure development as a foundation for economic prosperity. Essentially, it suggests that investing in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and transportation networks is crucial for facilitating trade, improving access to markets, and fostering economic growth in a region.
[2] CNY 60,000 is approximately US $8,279.40.
[3] CNY 3,000 is approximately US $414.00.
[4] CNY 30,000 is approximately US $4,140.04.
[5] CNY 1,000,000 is approximately US $138,007.17.
[6] CNY 5,000,000 is approximately US $690,035.85