"Yo, Village Chief Wang, busy with everyone, congratulations!"
Laughter echoed from outside the orchard, and Wang Damao couldn't help but look back, then froze.
The person approaching was Zhang Shunshui, the village chief of the neighboring Plum Blossom Village, followed by many villagers holding hoes and shovels.
The news that Taohua Village was building an orchard was no longer a secret; almost everyone in the surrounding villages knew about it.
Hearing Zhang Shunshui's words, after a moment of stunned silence, Wang Damao walked up with a smile.
He said, "Oh, it's Village Chief Zhang. What wind brought you here!"
Zhang Shunshui smiled and said, "Isn't it that your village is starting to build an orchard today? This is a big event! As fellow villages, we naturally have to come and congratulate you!"
Wang Damao smiled and said, "Really? Village Chief Zhang is truly thoughtful. Thank you, thank you."
"If we weren't all busy here, I would definitely treat you to a good drink!"
Zhang Shunshui waved his hand and said, "Oh, you're too polite. We're all good friends, there's no need for such formalities, right?"
"By the way, look, I've brought so many villagers with me. They want to work alongside everyone!"
Wang Damao only then noticed that the people from Plum Blossom Village were holding tools.
He couldn't help but laugh, "Village Chief Zhang, what are you doing? How can we let your villagers help us with our work? No, no!"
Zhang Shunshui smiled and said, "What's wrong with that? After all, this orchard will be used by both our villages."
"We have to contribute something, otherwise, we'd feel quite embarrassed!"
"What did you say?" Wang Damao thought he misheard and asked reflexively.
Wu Tian also sensed something was amiss and stepped forward to ask Wang Damao, "Village Chief, what does he mean by that?"
Wang Damao said blankly, "I don't know either. This is our village's own project, how did it become shared?"
He then asked Zhang Shunshui again, "Village Chief Zhang, what did you mean by that just now? I don't understand!"
Zhang Shunshui acted as if nothing was wrong. He put his arm around Wang Damao and laughed heartily, "Village Chief Wang, your Taohua Village and our Meihua Village are only a few miles apart, right? Fifty years ago, we were still one village!"
"We should be considered family, shouldn't we? Since we're family, shouldn't we earn money together?"
"So I say this orchard also has a share for us. There shouldn't be any problem with that, right?"
Zhang Shunshui's words completely bewildered Wang Damao.
What kind of logic was this? Where in the world could such a cheap thing exist?
He couldn't help but force a smile, then pulled his hand away from Zhang Shunshui and said, "Village Chief Zhang, you're not joking with me, are you?"
Zhang Shunshui said, "Village Chief Wang, how could this be a joke? Every word I say is the truth!"
"This orchard rightfully belongs to our Meihua Village. What's the problem with that?"
"Don't worry, Village Chief Wang, we know our place."
"So, if we come to help, we won't ask for too much money at the end of the year. If you give us forty percent, that should be enough. What do you think?"
"You want a share?!" Wang Damao was even more surprised.
He looked at Zhang Shunshui with disbelief and said, "Village Chief Zhang, this orchard is an internal project of our Taohua Village. By rights, your village shouldn't be getting any share!"
"Just for coming here and saying you want a share of our money, isn't that inappropriate?"
Zhang Shunshui's expression immediately turned grim.
He said, "Village Chief Wang, what do you mean by that?"
"So, you're eating meat now and don't care about our survival? Aren't you being too selfish?"
"We're selfish?" Wang Damao felt Zhang Shunshui was being unreasonable.
He glared at Zhang Shunshui and said, "Village Chief Zhang, don't forget how Meihua Village separated from Taohua Village."
"Back then, you were the west end of the village, and we were the east end. But your west end developed better, and you felt that we in the east end were holding you back, so you moved out."
"For so many years, our Taohua Village has gone through so many difficult times, but you've never once helped us."
"And now you tell me we're family? Doesn't your conscience hurt when you say that!"
Wang Damao was truly angry when he said this, his body even trembling slightly.
Wu Tian, hearing this for the first time, had also completely defined Zhang Shunshui and his group in his heart.
It seemed that this Zhang Shunshui was simply envious of the development of their Taohua Village and wanted to get a piece of the pie.
Such a person was truly shameless.
After hearing Wang Damao's words, Zhang Shunshui showed no sign of guilt, but rather an air of entitlement.
He said, "Village Chief Wang, it's not good for you to say that. You're clearly creating animosity between our two villages!"
"No matter what you say, our Meihua Village did come out of Taohua Village."
"Since that's the case, then if your Taohua Village develops, you should give us some benefits."
"I'm only asking for forty percent, which is already giving you face. Besides, I'm not taking it for nothing; I've called people to help you, haven't I?"
"In any case, you have to pay for the labor, right?"
Wang Damao said angrily, "Did I ever say I wanted your help? You've clearly come uninvited, so why should you demand money from us?"
"I'm telling you, you'd better leave here now."
"We in Taohua Village do not welcome people like you, nor do we need your help. Please have some self-awareness."
Zhang Shunshui was determined to get his share today, so Wang Damao's words naturally couldn't persuade him to leave.
He persistently said, "Wang Damao, no matter how much you argue, this logic is not correct. We are not leaving."
"If you insist on driving us away, then I'm sorry, if we can't plant, then you won't be able to plant either. We have plenty of time to waste with you!"
"You!" Village Chief Wang was truly angered.
"This is you being unreasonable!"
"Zhang Shunshui, is this how you be a village chief? What is this if not banditry?"
Zhang Shunshui laughed sinisterly, "Bandits? You're being too harsh with your words. How is this banditry? We're just fighting for our rightful interests!"
"In short, I'm making my stance clear today: if you want to drive us away, forget it!"
"If you don't believe me, just try to move the soil!"