Chapter 40: A Drop in the Bucket

Walter trembled as if struck by lightning. His hands waved frantically. "No, no, don't give it to me! Branch Secretary Suzie, if you hand me that card, I'll never sleep again. I still want to live another eight or ten years — please, spare me!"

Suzie sighed, turning to Natalie. "Director Su, since Old Walter doesn't dare to keep it, you should." She held out the bank card again.

Natalie quickly shook her head. "No way. You're the one in charge, Secretary Suzie. I'll be leading the village's development, but you should control the funds. Honestly, if I held onto that much money, I'd be too scared to sleep."

"Alright then." Suzie slipped the card into her branded purse, patting it lightly. She turned to Ethan. "Now that the formalities are done, care to share your grand plan with us, Ethan?"

Ethan chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Okay. Did you all enjoy the dishes I made earlier? Fresh and flavorful, right? Well, it wasn't just my cooking skills — it was thanks to a special solution I developed. Soak ordinary vegetables in this solution for two minutes, and they become exceptionally fresh and nutritious. It even purges harmful substances. Here, take a look."

He handed over a test report, and the group huddled around it, eyes widening as they read. Walter let out a long whistle. "No wonder! I knew there had to be a secret behind those dishes. Ethan, this is revolutionary!"

Fred gave Ethan a hearty slap on the back. "No wonder you're so generous. You've got core technology in your hands!"

Ethan nodded. "Exactly. My plan is simple: I'll provide seeds to the villagers. Once they're grown, my friend's company will buy them at one yuan above the market price per pound. It's a win-win. The villagers prosper, and the company gets premium produce. Ideally, they should grow everything in greenhouses. If they don't have the funds, my friend can provide loans upfront."

Suzie's eyes sparkled. "That's incredible! Does this work with any crop?"

"Pretty much. But to maximize profit, we should align with market demand," Ethan explained. "And it's not just vegetables — livestock can benefit too. I can provide specialized breeds of chickens, ducks, fish, and pigs. My friend's company will buy them back at two yuan more per kilo."

"That's why I pushed to increase the rent," Ethan added. "Once the villagers see the results, they'll want to expand. Trust me, their own land won't be enough. The village's empty fields will become prime real estate."

Walter clapped his hands in excitement. "Haha, don't worry about land! Mistwood Village is massive compared to other villages. There are barren lands, fruit orchards, peach groves, apple trees, and mixed forests. If the land runs out, we'll clear the useless trees and plant more crops!"

"No!" Ethan and Suzie shouted in unison, startling everyone. They exchanged a glance, then chuckled softly.

"Those trees aren't useless," Ethan explained. "If I apply my solution, they'll flourish again. The fruit will taste unlike anything you've ever had. I'd actually like to contract those orchards myself."

"Not just that," Suzie added. "Imagine turning the village into a tourist destination. We've got mountains at the front, water on three sides — the scenery is already beautiful. If Ethan revives the peach blossoms, it'll become a natural paradise."

Walter scratched his head. "But rich tourists have tasted every fruit under the sun. Would they really pay a premium for ours?"

Ethan smiled knowingly. "Let me prove it." He stood, slipped into the back room, and returned with a small bag of apples from his ring space. "Here, try these."

No one hesitated. Natalie carefully washed hers, but Suzie grabbed one and bit into it straight away. "Mmm! Incredible!" she mumbled, juice dripping from her lips.

Walter and Fred devoured theirs, not even bothering to speak. Natalie tried to remain composed, nibbling politely, but her eyes widened with every bite.

After finishing, Suzie wiped her mouth and declared, "Forget contracting the orchard — the village should cooperate with you. No rent. We'll split the profits fifty-fifty on tourist sales, setting the price at fifty yuan per jin. If any fruit remains, your friend's company can sell it at no less than our price. Deal?"

Ethan grinned. "Deal."

"Perfect! We'll need proper accommodations for tourists," Suzie continued excitedly. "But… we only have that two million yuan. It's barely a drop in the bucket."

Ethan leaned forward, smirking. "Who said we needed village funds?"

"Huh?" Suzie blinked. "You're willing to lend us the money?"

Ethan shook his head. "Not a loan. An investment. I'll fund the construction. In return, I'll take seventy percent of the profits from tourist accommodations, while the village gets thirty percent. No risk for the village."

Walter and Fred exchanged glances, then nodded. "Agreed! The village has nothing to lose."

Suzie's eyes shone. "Alright, let's make Mistwood Village the envy of the entire region!"

As laughter and cheers filled the room, Ethan felt a warm sense of purpose. Mistwood's transformation had only just begun.