"Vote if you want, who's afraid?" Liu Xincheng said resolutely, turning his gaze to the people beside him. "Everyone, didn't Liu Yifeng say fifteen thousand for three years' rent?
If you vote for me, I'll rent it for sixteen thousand for three years, ten thousand more than him. I'll still hire people from the village to work, with daily wages, and I guarantee you won't lose out."
After hearing his words, several people wavered. After all, an extra ten thousand meant they could get a bigger share of the money.
Even if it wasn't much, it was still money!
Moreover, for them, it didn't matter who they leased the land to, as they weren't building the agritainment center themselves.
But some people still remembered Liu Yifeng's kindness, especially since he had agreed to let them invest and actively helped them make money.
To not vote for him for such a paltry sum of a few dozen yuan would be too ungrateful.
Seeing that Liu Xincheng also wanted to rent the land, Liu Huogen agreed to both their proposals. "Since you both want to rent this piece of land, let's decide by vote. Whoever gets more votes wins!"
"Also, regarding the land rent, do you want to deposit it with the village committee for future village construction, or do you want to distribute it? I respect everyone's choice."
"We definitely want to distribute it. When the village needs money in the future, we can donate then!"
"Right, we demand it to be distributed first. Money only feels secure in our hands. Otherwise, if this money stays with the village committee, I'm afraid it will never reach our pockets."
…
On this matter, everyone's thoughts were unanimous.
"Alright, it's settled. Since we don't have enough paper and pens, everyone go back now. Tomorrow morning, bring your voting lists to my house, and I'll tally them. Once the results are out, I'll announce them via broadcast."
The meeting didn't last very long, about half an hour.
After the meeting, everyone went their separate ways, preparing to write down the name of the person they were voting for.
Liu Yifeng wasn't too concerned about the final outcome. If it didn't work out, he would just find another piece of land.
Besides, he didn't think Liu Xincheng could run a successful agritainment center.
His own intention to open one was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea.
However, he and Du Ziheng had put considerable thought and effort into their plans.
Just as Liu Yifeng was about to head back, Li Dongmei blocked his path.
"Yifeng, I'm sorry about just now. I shouldn't have said what I did, it caused Liu Xincheng to misunderstand our relationship."
"It's alright, people have their own mouths, and we can't control them. As long as our conscience is clear," Liu Yifeng said indifferently.
"Yes, but don't worry, I'll definitely vote for you, and I believe you'll succeed."
"Thank you. It's getting late, you should head back!" Liu Yifeng remembered his father's words and didn't want to be alone with Li Dongmei for too long.
Given what Liu Xincheng had said earlier, gossip was likely already spreading in the village.
If he were to be seen talking to her alone in front of everyone now, he wouldn't be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
At this moment, Li Dongmei suddenly looked a little embarrassed. "Then… can I trouble you to walk me back? It's too dark, and there are no streetlights in the village. I'm a bit scared to walk alone!"
By now, most of the villagers who had attended the meeting had left, and the remaining ones didn't live near Li Dongmei.
Liu Yifeng found it difficult to refuse. Since she had asked, it would be unreasonable of him not to help.
But if he did help, gossip would likely start again.
As he was caught in a dilemma, Qiangzi arrived.
"Yifeng, why are you still chatting here? Your son is crying!"
"What?" Liu Yifeng was immediately anxious upon hearing this. He looked apologetically at Li Dongmei. "I'm truly sorry, but I'm afraid I can't walk you back.
Let Qiangzi escort you. You live quite close to his house!"
Qiangzi hadn't attended the meeting. He and his father hadn't separated yet, and their household registration was still together, so his father was the head of the household.
Moreover, he worked every day and wouldn't return until seven or eight o'clock. By the time he got home, the village meeting was almost over.
It was Uncle Liu who had called him to ask Yifeng to come home.
This led to the current situation. Now he finally understood Uncle Liu's concern.
He happened to see Liu Yifeng and Li Dongmei talking face-to-face, and almost misunderstood their relationship.
Although both of them were single now, it wasn't morally wrong for them to be together.
However, he still hoped Yifeng could find a young, beautiful woman from a good family.
After all, Yifeng was now a money-making expert; what kind of woman couldn't he find?
A rural woman like Li Dongmei, widowed and with children, truly didn't deserve him.
This wasn't him looking down on Li Dongmei; in fact, he thought the woman was quite admirable.
It was just that Yifeng was his childhood friend, and when choosing a wife, he would naturally consider it from his friend's perspective.
Li Dongmei suppressed the sense of disappointment in her heart and said hurriedly, "It's okay, you hurry back!"
Liu Yifeng looked at Qiangzi. "Li Jie, please trouble you to take her home."
"Don't worry!" Qiangzi nodded.
After the two watched Liu Yifeng leave, Qiangzi looked at Li Dongmei. "Let's go!"
Back home, Liu Yifeng looked at Tongtong, who was watching cartoons, showing no signs of having cried, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Dad, Tongtong is fine. Why did you let Qiangzi trick me into thinking Tongtong was crying?" He didn't quite understand his father's actions.
Liu Chunsheng snorted. "I asked your third uncle, and he said Li Dongmei also attended the meeting.
And Liu Xincheng misunderstood your relationship. After the meeting, Li Dongmei stopped you.
If I hadn't asked Qiangzi to find you, who knows what Li Dongmei would have entangled you with." It turned out Liu Chunsheng had been worried that Liu Yifeng and Li Dongmei would be the subject of gossip during the meeting.
Therefore, he had called his third brother, and from him learned that not only were they being gossiped about, but Liu Yifeng had also been detained by Li Dongmei after the meeting.
This Li Dongmei was truly clueless. After being rumored about, she still stopped Liu Yifeng alone after the meeting.
Was she afraid people wouldn't misunderstand their relationship? So he immediately called Qiangzi.
As a result, his foolish son didn't know why he had called him over, truly wanting to anger him to death.
"These people are unbelievable. I just asked Sister Li to do some work for our family, and in their mouths, it became an improper relationship," Liu Yifeng sighed.
"In any case, from now on, you must avoid being alone with Li Dongmei.
The gossip has already spread, and this is a critical moment. Don't give them any more opportunities to gossip, otherwise, you'll never be able to clear your name, even if you jump into the Yellow River." Liu Chunsheng sternly warned.
Liu Yifeng nodded. "I understand. It's getting late, Dad. You should rest early. I'll watch Tongtong."
Liu Chunsheng yawned. "Alright, you two should also sleep early. I'm exhausted."
After speaking, he returned to his room.
As for whether the land was rented or not, he already knew through his third brother's mouth, so he didn't ask further.
He was just waiting for tomorrow's voting results, but he had faith in his son.
He watched Tongtong still intently watching TV, and Da Bai had already fallen asleep beside him.
Liu Yifeng remembered his plan to contact Yun Duo'er.
So, he went out into the yard, opened his phone, stared at Yun Duo'er's phone number, and hesitated for a moment.
Finally, he dialed it. He knew Yun Duo'er didn't want to answer his calls.
But for Tongtong's sake, he was willing to be thick-skinned.
However, as soon as he dialed, he heard a notification that the call could not be connected.
He tried several more times, but each time it showed as unreachable.
In such a situation, it was highly likely that Yun Duo'er had blocked his number.
Did she hate him and their son to this extent? To the point of blocking their only means of contact, so afraid he would disturb her and affect her career?
It seemed to be fate.
Their father and son were destined to have no further connection with Yun Duo'er.
In the future, he could only make up for Tongtong in other ways.
As for Yun Duo'er, he no longer intended to contact her. So be it!
Immediately, Liu Yifeng put away his phone, tidied his mood, and returned to the room. He picked up Tongtong and sat him on his lap. "Tongtong, Daddy will watch TV with you!"
"Okay!" Tongtong wriggled happily on Liu Yifeng's lap.
While the father and son were happily watching TV that night, Yun Duo'er, under her company's arrangements, was drinking and socializing with several producers.