After a brief stop at his sister's place, Yang Jian and his group headed straight for Xinqiao.
As they arrived at the entrance of the template factory, Jiang Bin, along with over two hundred workers, welcomed them on both sides of the road, with firecrackers and fireworks lining the route.
As the motorcade passed, firecrackers blazed in unison, and fireworks bloomed in the sky, creating brilliant patterns. The spectacle was extraordinary, even in daylight.
The scene was akin to welcoming a victorious hero, making Yang Jian feel a bit embarrassed to linger at the factory entrance. He accelerated towards the village.
Lu Hao, who was at the very back, observed the workers on both sides clapping enthusiastically. He could tell that the smiles on their faces were genuine, indicating that Yang Jian was a very important person to them.
Yang Jian's house couldn't accommodate so many cars, so everyone parked their vehicles at the village entrance on the drying ground and proceeded on foot.
However, Lu Hao had brought a lot of things. Seeing Yang Jian's red sedan enter the village, he instructed his driver to follow, driving directly to Yang Jian's house.
At this moment, the entrance was already crowded with villagers. Liu Xingzhi had placed a fire basin at the yard entrance and was holding a smoking mugwort stick.
As soon as Yang Jian stepped out of the car, Liu Xingzhi waved the mugwort stick in front of and behind him, fumigating him from all directions, and then had him step over the fire basin to enter the house.
After this ritual was completed, Li Jin, Biao Biao, Song Jianhao, and others followed. They first greeted Yang Jian's grandmother, then had a cup of tea and left, as the house was filled with Yang Jian's relatives, and there was no need to disturb the family reunion.
Lu Hao waited until the villagers had dispersed before getting out of the car. He opened the trunk, and together with the driver, carried the gifts into the main hall.
"Brother Hao, what are you doing?"
Busy chatting with his family and relatives, Yang Jian had forgotten about Lu Hao. Seeing him carrying a large pile of things, he remembered that he hadn't left yet.
Lu Hao placed the gifts on the table. "It's my first time visiting. I heard there are elders at home, so I brought some health supplements for them."
"These things are too valuable, I can't accept them."
Yang Jian casually glanced at the gifts and recognized them as high-end items, including famous brand cigarettes and liquors, as well as ginseng, deer antler, and cordyceps, all of which he had only seen on television.
The value of these gifts was definitely no less than a hundred thousand, and the eyes of all the uncles and relatives in the room widened.
"I've already brought them, so I can't take them back. Don't dawdle, introduce me to your family."
"Okay, this is my grandmother."
Yang Jian knew that Lu Hao was a wealthy man and that his gifts were sincere. He no longer hesitated and introduced his family members and relatives one by one.
Lu Hao shook hands with everyone and gave cigarettes to the men.
"Er Jian, don't go back to the casinos this time. Focus on running the lumber mill, expand its scale, and let more villagers work in the factory. We are all counting on you to lead the entire village to prosperity."
Village head Yang Huailin stood up to leave. Before departing, he didn't forget to offer some advice.
Yang Jian smiled. "Uncle Huailin, it was precisely because I was involved in casinos that I had the money to invest in the lumber mill. Otherwise, with no connections and no funds, how could I have the ability to expand? Besides, this time, my involvement has nothing to do with casinos."
"That's true. Our Yangli Village is a poor and remote place. For generations, no official has emerged from here. Although many college students have gone out in recent years, and a few have achieved success, they have only settled in the city. No one has truly had the ability to change the face of their hometown. Our village committee has placed all its hopes on you."
"No, no, Uncle Huailin, you flatter me too much. I am now a person with a criminal record, having been in prison twice. It's good enough if the common people don't point fingers at me behind my back. How can I possibly live up to such great expectations from you?"
Yang Huailin waved his hand. "Oh, don't be so self-deprecating. In the Xinqiao area, no one speaks ill of you, nor do they consider you a ruffian.
Especially this time, even when you were imprisoned, your wife still paid off the wages owed to the migrant workers from last year, and the road widening project remained unchanged. The common people are grateful to you and are eagerly awaiting your release."
Yang Jian scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Is my image that great? It seems I must achieve something to live up to this reputation."
"That's the right way to think. Getting involved in casinos is ultimately not the right path. You have many friends, and judging by the good cars they drove earlier, they are all capable people. You can attract some bosses to invest here, expand our village, and then you won't feel so much pressure."
Yang Huailin said this with a sense of hopeful expectation, but he didn't truly expect any major bosses to invest in such a remote village with no unique characteristics or resources.
"Director Yang, how many people are in your village, how much land do you have, and what are the main crops?"
Lu Hao, who had been listening for a while, suddenly interjected.
Yang Huailin was taken aback. "Our village has over three thousand people and more than six thousand mu of land. Originally, the main crops were cotton and rice. Cotton cultivation has been canceled in recent years, and some farmers are growing vegetables. However, most of the young people have gone out to work, and more than half of the land is planted with trees or has been abandoned entirely. Rice cultivation is only about a thousand mu."
Everyone in the room, except for Yang Jian, did not know Lu Hao's identity. They knew he was likely a wealthy man and were a bit surprised by his sudden question.
Yang Jian slapped his forehead. "Uncle Huailin, didn't you say you wanted major bosses to invest? Here's one! Brother Hao is the president of a large supermarket chain. It's a piece of cake for him to support a village's development."
Yang Huailin didn't quite grasp it. "A supermarket boss? But we can't open a supermarket here."
Lu Hao smiled and offered him another cigarette. "Director Yang, our supermarket is a provincial chain, and we have a significant share in the sales of agricultural products. Young Yang's intention is to include your village's agricultural and sideline products in our procurement channels. Am I right, Young Yang?"
Yang Jian quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, yes. I've heard that the entry threshold for ordinary goods into large supermarket chains is very high, and you can't even find a way in without connections. Since Brother Hao is here, why not take a look? See what agricultural products we have that can enter your sales channels?"
Yang Huailin understood at this moment and immediately became excited. "President Lu, don't stand, please sit down. Let me tell you about the specialties of our village."
"Haha, Director Yang, don't worry. Since Young Yang has made this request, I will definitely fulfill it. Your village has over three thousand people, which is considered a large village. I'll stay here for two days and conduct an on-site survey in the village. Young Yang, can you arrange two rooms for us? If it's inconvenient, we can go to the town or the county seat to stay in a hotel."
"Of course, it's convenient. I'll take you to the factory later, and I guarantee you'll want to stay. Of course, you won't be able to leave if you don't leave a project here. Uncle Huailin won't let you go."
Yang Jian's remark made everyone in the room laugh.