Chapter 280: Bestowal of Favor Without Extent

Originally, mid-October was the time for autumn harvest, and everyone at the timber yard should have been busy with harvesting and threshing.

Without the heavy hailstorm, the scene at the timber yard should have been one of bustling activity, with every household out working. Four-wheeled carts would be shuttling back and forth on the main road, hauling bean threshers and trailers loaded with people.

From dawn until late into the night, even under the stars, people would work by the light of their carts, busy and energetic.

The whole year's effort was concentrated in these few weeks, and every ounce of strength was poured into this short period.

But the hailstorm had completely changed the rhythm of life at the timber yard.

The crops in the fields had been so severely frozen that they had melded with the soil. Some diligent folks even tried to harvest the soybeans by hand, but a whole field yielded only a few bags, and the beans had swelled with water and were worthless.

Seeing the fields strewn with fallen soybean stalks and getting angry, many families simply decided to ignore the situation and moved on.

If it weren't for Li You's broadcast urging, many families would have already started preparing for autumn vegetables.

In the timber area, temperatures were low, and people started preparing for winter in October.

They were making pickles, drying corn, slicing potatoes, cutting beans, drying apples, and preparing radishes. Everyone was getting ready for the winter, tightening their belts for the hard days ahead. With the harvest ruined, they had to think about how to feed themselves. It was a tough year, and people had learned to be particularly diligent and resourceful in their hardships.

But after hearing Li You's broadcast, many people's minds started to churn. Although most hadn't understood or trusted Li You's economic theories during his campaign, there was a choice to be made back then with subsidies and reduced rent as bait.

Now that Gao Dashan was out of the picture and Li You had just come to power without much influence in the bureau, people had given up on the idea of subsidies and rent reductions. So, the ideas about creating wealth through enterprise and recovering the harvest from the mountains had become a fill-in-the-blank question.

Go or not go—those were the only two options.

Before Li You had even returned from the broadcast room, many people had already hurried to the new house of Li's family to inquire about the details of recovering the harvest from the mountains.

Everyone was familiar with Schisandra and Acanthopanax, but they were concerned about how these would be processed once harvested.

With Li You still absent, these questions naturally fell to Li Xian.

"Second brother, tell us honestly what you're planning. What are you going to do? With the harvest ruined and the crops in the field useless, we were thinking of earning a bit of pocket money by threshing for others this half-month. If your father and you are working on this mountain specialty development, if it pays us a wage, it would save us from having to go out. Staying home isn't so bad. Isn't it?"

"Yeah, second brother, if we go up the mountain to harvest Schisandra and Acanthopanax, what happens after we get them? Do we process them here at the yard, or will your family keep them? Will we get cash right away?"

"Second brother, we know you're trying to help us, but the logging season is about to start. If everyone goes up the mountain to harvest, how will we manage the work at the timber yard? Should we go or not? Don't think we're just focused on money, but you know the situation this year. If you can make money, that's great. If not, we can't just be left empty-handed. Don't you think that makes sense?"

The main concern was money.

Standing in the yard, Li Xian calmed the barking big yellow dog and addressed the crowd.

"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me for a moment!"

The crowd quieted down.

Looking at the anxious but hopeful faces, Li Xian took a deep breath and explained the situation about contracting the Berry Research Institute and the plan to set up a primary processing plant for mountain specialties.

"My plan is that if things go smoothly at the Berry Institute, within a month…"

He intended to say that within a month, the timber yard's collection and primary processing plant would have progress. But just as he started, he felt a sharp jab in his lower back from Li Daoyun.

Feeling his grandfather's silent cue, he turned and looked at him, "Grandpa?"

Li Daoyun let go of Li Lingling's hand, adjusted his pipe, and tugged at his blue cloth shirt, which had fallen to his shoulders, and stepped forward.

"We're all from the same village, so let's be straightforward. Although our family is better off now, we still don't have much spare money. To be honest, even the money for contracting the Berry Institute was cobbled together from various sources by our second brother.

The goal is to help everyone and add some income to the yard. You all know that doing business these days isn't easy and carries risks. So, we can't guarantee how this business will turn out.

If you think it's feasible and trust our Li family, then join us. If you're skeptical and think it's risky, then we can't force anyone. It's up to you. However, we've calculated, and no matter whether it succeeds or not, we may not see any money in the first month. You all should think it over.

If you think it's worth it, we'll start going up the mountain tomorrow. Harvest as much Schisandra and Acanthopanax as we can, and deliver it directly to the old elementary school's sawmill. We'll keep a record of the quantity. If you don't want to go up the mountain, we're also hiring workers at the yard to help with sorting mountain products at sixty yuan per month, with lunch provided. But for hiring, you'll need to consult Li You. He decides who works or not."

After laying it all out, Li Daoyun waved his hand.

"That's it. I've said everything that needs to be said. Everyone, go back and spread the word so those who didn't come can know."

With their concerns addressed, people went their separate ways, each with their own thoughts.

Once everyone had left, Li Xian approached his grandfather. "Grandpa, even though we're short on money, it's not just a matter of thirty or fifty thousand yuan. Why make them doubt us?"

Li Daoyun waved his hand and lit his big pipe.

Facing the autumn wind and puffing out smoke, he wiped his nose and said, "Your father is too carefree to think of these things. You're thoughtful but don't consider these small matters.

I've seen people report their saviors before. Why? Because as long as the benefactor was around, they felt they owed them a debt that could never be repaid. This is what happens when favor is bestowed too broadly—it breeds resentment and turns into enmity.

When favor is too widely spread, fewer people remember your kindness. Just like the old communal dining days—everyone had food, but no one was truly full, and it was barely enough.

With so many people in the timber yard, not everyone can help. Did you see that? When they first came, they all spoke of money. Who thought of you and your father's kindness? If a small group benefits and remembers your kindness, you'll find people sticking to you. When it comes to power and winning hearts, you can't be too generous and indiscriminate. Winter is long; a temporary hunger won't kill anyone. Do you understand, my grandson?"

Li Xian chewed his lip.

Looking at his grandfather's calm face and knowing strategies, he suddenly felt inexperienced.