Seeing that Jiang Chen was absent, Zhang Rou didn’t ask too many questions.
She figured that since he had promised her yesterday, he definitely wouldn’t break his word.
Then, she took Luo Yanran to the village committee office.
A crowd of villagers had been waiting anxiously.
When they saw Luo Yanran arrive, looks of expectation appeared on all their faces.
They were thrilled when they learned from Zhang Rou that Luo Yanran would be distributing the land.
After all, farming was currently the only way out for Xianhuang Village.
The next order of business was the land distribution itself.
Luo Yanran directly shared her plan with the villagers.
The standard rent per acre of land was five hundred, but she would only charge four hundred.
This way, she could answer to both Jiang Chen and the villagers.
For the villagers, it would greatly alleviate their financial pressure.
For Jiang Chen, it meant he wouldn’t lose the entire five hundred thousand.
Hearing this, the villagers became quite excited.
Deep down, of course, their sense of guilt only deepened.
They had assumed that after the way they treated Luo Yanran yesterday, she would definitely demand an exorbitant price.
Even with Zhang Rou there to persuade her, the rent would probably still be higher than standard.
To their surprise, not only was it not higher, but it was actually a hundred less than the usual rate.
All at once, the villagers were moved to tears of gratitude toward Luo Yanran and Jiang Chen.
They expressed their thanks one after another.
After the land was distributed, the villagers left the committee office one by one.
Zhang Rou asked, “Won’t Jiang Chen be angry that you just dropped the rent by a hundred?”
“Of course he won’t!”
At some point, Jiang Chen had appeared at the entrance of the village committee office.
Zhang Rou turned her head and chuckled.
“Then you’ve taken a big loss.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Jiang Chen smiled and shrugged.
“That money wasn’t mine to begin with anyway.” As he spoke, he looked at Luo Yanran.
“As long as she is happy, that’s all that matters!”
“Oh, my!” Zhang Rou touched her cheek.
“You two are exchanging such sweet nothings, it’s going to give me a toothache from all the sweetness.”
“Get out of here!” Luo Yanran rolled her eyes at Zhang Rou.
She stepped up to Jiang Chen and said, “The rent will be fully collected in a few days.
I’ll hand it all over to you then.
Also, a total of one hundred and eighty acres was just distributed.
Out of the remaining twenty acres, ten belong to you.
Sister Rou and I will farm the last ten acres together.”
“You handle it.
You don’t need to report all this to me!”
“No, it’s better if we keep our accounts clear!” Luo Yanran paused.
“However, Sister Rou and I might have to pay you our rent a little later.”
“Just consider it your wages for running around and organizing all this!”
“I—”
“That’s wonderful!” Luo Yanran had wanted to refuse, but Zhang Rou cut her off and smiled at Jiang Chen.
“Thank you, boss!
From now on, us two sisters will follow your lead!”
Jiang Chen grinned.
“Weren’t you going to town?
I happen to be going too.
Let’s go together.”
Zhang Rou nodded.
“It’s still early.
Didn’t you want to look around the area?
How about I show you around first?”
“I already took a rough look just now.
I’ll go for a more detailed look after we get back,” Jiang Chen replied.
“Alright!” Zhang Rou then looked at Luo Yanran.
“Are you busy?
If not, why don’t you come with us?”
Luo Yanran looked at Zhang Rou, then at Jiang Chen, and shook her head.
If Jiang Chen hadn’t been there, Luo Yanran definitely would have gone with Zhang Rou.
However, she always felt incredibly awkward whenever she was around him.
“I’ll pass.
My mom has a package that arrived.
Please help pick it up on your way back.” After saying that, Luo Yanran walked toward the clinic.
Zhang Rou smiled helplessly.
“I tried to get her to come for you, but she didn’t want to.”
“It’s fine.” Jiang Chen shook his head.
“There are still plenty of days ahead of us.”
“Let’s go, then,” Zhang Rou said as she walked over to the wall and pushed out an electric scooter.
“We’re riding this?” Jiang Chen asked.
“There are no cars in the village, and the town buses don’t come our way.
Hailing a ride-share would be too expensive.
The distance isn’t that far anyway, so riding this will do.” Zhang Rou pointed at the scooter.
“Are you driving me, or am I driving you?”
Jiang Chen scratched his head.
“You drive me.
I’ve never ridden one of these before.”
“Okay!”
With that, the two of them got onto the scooter and headed toward town.
The dirt path between the town and Xianhuang Village was muddy and bumpy.
The scooter wobbled unsteadily as it went.
It was fine at first, but the further they went, the redder Zhang Rou’s face became.
Jiang Chen was quite tall.
Coupled with the fact that the scooter was small, the two of them were practically pressed together.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Chen asked.
Zhang Rou took a deep breath.
“Nothing.”
“Why is your body so hot?” Jiang Chen asked.
Zhang Rou’s blushing face looked as if it could drip water.
How was she supposed to answer that?
She could only twist the throttle, hoping to reach the town faster.
Right as they were about to arrive at the town, a large motorcycle suddenly bolted out from a fork in the road.
Zhang Rou’s speed was already pushed to the limit, and so was the motorcycle’s.
Although both drivers slammed hard on their brakes, they still ended up crashing into each other.
CRASH!
The large motorcycle tipped straight over to the side.
Just as Zhang Rou was about to fall, Jiang Chen grabbed her and dodged to the side, leaving only the electric scooter to smash onto the ground.
The scooter wasn’t too badly damaged; the handlebars were just bent and the front headlight was shattered.
The large motorcycle was also mostly fine, aside from two scratches.
Zhang Rou let out a sigh of relief after the scare.
Not bothering to check on her own side, she asked the motorcycle driver, “Are you alright?”
“Are you blind?!”
To her surprise, her kind inquiry was met with malicious cursing.
There were two people on the motorcycle.
The driver in front was wearing casual clothes and a black mask.
The passenger behind him wore a helmet, but judging from the dress, it was a girl.
However, the girl was currently in a daze, leaning against the bike and muttering something incomprehensible.
The driver picked the motorcycle up and cursed, “My bike is brand new, you have to pay for this!”
Zhang Rou frowned and walked forward.
She examined the scratches on the motorcycle, then looked at the girl.
“What’s wrong with her?
Was she hurt in the fall just now?”
A flash of panic crossed the driver’s eyes, and he shoved Zhang Rou.
He grabbed the girl and sat her on the bike, saying, “Hurry up and pay me!
I don’t have time to dawdle with you here!”
“How much?” Zhang Rou asked.
“Ten thousand.”
“What?
Ten thousand just for two scratches?”
“Bullshit!
This is a limited edition BMW 400!” the driver said somewhat smugly.
“Heh, it’s clearly a BMW 310, yet you claim it’s a 400.” At this moment, Jiang Chen walked over from the side.
“You don’t even know what model your own bike is.
Did you steal this thing?”