Chapter 45: A Promise of Prosperity

At this moment, Fred stood up excitedly. "Alright, alright! I never expected Secretary Suzie to be such a capable leader. Having someone like her come to Mistwood is a blessing for our entire village! Now, let me tell you the second piece of news."

The crowd quieted down, eager to hear what he had to say.

"This second thing is about the funds and technology Ethan brought back. You may have heard some rumors — well, let me set things straight. Ethan returned this time with hundreds of millions in investment funds and some incredible agricultural technology. Using the seeds he provided to grow vegetables, his friend's company will buy them back at a price one dollar higher than the market rate."

The villagers gasped in surprise. One dollar higher than the market price was unheard of.

"Pay attention," Fred emphasized, "it's not the wholesale price we're talking about, but the market price! This means a huge profit for everyone. If you're interested in contracting fields, you can register with Accountant Walter after this meeting. The village will handle the arrangements. Now, let's welcome the man behind all of this — Ethan!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted.

Ethan waved his hand, politely declining the microphone. He circulated a bit of his Genuine Qi and spoke clearly, his voice reaching every corner of the crowd. "I'm just a villager like you, so I wouldn't normally have the right to stand here and speak. But as the representative of this investment, I'd like to have a heart-to-heart chat with everyone."

The villagers quieted down, their attention fully on him.

"I've heard a few things over the past couple of days. Our village has been nicknamed 'Lonely Hearts village' by others. I looked into it — Mistwood has 89 families. Out of those, from ages 25 to 63, there are 199 men who don't have girlfriends. Including me, that makes it 200 bachelors."

The crowd burst into laughter, and Ethan smiled, letting the humor settle before continuing.

"There are many reasons for this, but at the root of it all is one word — poverty! On top of that, the gender imbalance makes things even harder. Honestly, it's no wonder they call us 'Lonely Hearts village.'"

The villagers nodded in agreement, their expressions somber.

"But!" Ethan's voice rang out loud and clear, his eyes burning with conviction. "Today, I promise you — in less than half a year, we'll no longer be 'Lonely hearts village.' We'll be 'Love Hearts Village!' And trust me, when that time comes, even the oldest bachelor in the village, Old man Su, will be able to marry a beautiful wife!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, laughter, and thunderous applause.

Ethan waited for the excitement to settle before continuing, "Here's how we'll make it happen. If you know how to grow vegetables, grow vegetables. If you know how to raise poultry, raise poultry. If you want to breed fish and shrimp, go for it. Golden Ring Corporation will buy everything back at One dollars above the market price per pound. Of course, the cost of seeds and poultry will be deducted when the company collects the goods — but at market rates."

The villagers murmured in excitement, already calculating the profits in their heads.

"Now, about our two beautiful village leaders," Ethan said, casting a glance at Natalie and Suzie, who both blushed. "They're new to this, but they've got heart. If there's ever something they don't know, help them out — don't yell at them. And if anyone thinks they can bully these young women…"

His eyes swept across the crowd, sharp as a blade. The Genuine Qi behind his gaze made everyone feel as if a ghost had just brushed past them, and a shiver ran down their spines.

Ethan suddenly grinned, dispelling the tension. "Of course, I know our villagers are good people. You wouldn't cause trouble."

The crowd laughed nervously, relieved by his shift in tone.

"Finally, I need to confess something." Ethan sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "I got tricked by these two beauties!"

Even Natalie and Suzie looked stunned. "When did we trick you?" their eyes seemed to ask.

"Well," Ethan continued, "last night, they came to my house for dinner. Somehow, the conversation turned to building roads, bridges, and a villa for myself. Then they hit me with this: 'Ethan, if you're helping the village, how can you live in a big fancy house while the villagers stay in old, run-down homes?'"

The villagers chuckled, and Ethan shook his head with mock despair. "I couldn't argue with that! Besides, Natalie has been my childhood friend, and Suzie… well, she's got a straightforward personality that I admire. So, I made a decision."

He took a deep breath, scanning the faces of his fellow villagers.

"Our village has 89 households. Including Secretary Suzies', that makes 90. I'm going to give each family one million yuan to build a villa — no strings attached."

The crowd fell silent. Then, as the realization sank in, the square exploded with cheers, tears, and disbelief.

Ethan raised his hand, quieting them once more. "But there are two conditions. First, don't go around saying it was my money. The story is that our two beautiful leaders borrowed funds from Golden Ring Corporation to build these homes. Understood?"

The villagers nodded eagerly.

"Second, while the house is yours to live in, you can't rent or sell it. If you ever decide to move to the city, the house stays in the village — for future generations of Mistwood."

No one had a single complaint. In fact, some of the elders were crying, overwhelmed by Ethan's generosity. Soon, chants of "Long live Ethan!" echoed through the village.

Ethan nodded humbly and sat back down. Almost immediately, Natalie and Suzie slipped into the seats beside him, their eyes glistening with gratitude.

"Thank you," Natalie whispered, her voice barely audible. Suzie nodded in agreement.

Ethan smiled. "Hey, it's for the village. Besides, you two have the courage to lead Mistwood into a better future — I'm just doing my part."

After the meeting, the village buzzed with activity. People lined up at the village office, eager to register for land contracts. Fred puffed on his cigarette while Walter recorded names. Of course, everything had to go through proper planning first.

As for Ethan? Well, he had his own task.

"Ethan, go home and cook!" Suzie ordered. "Whiskers is still young. Don't let him starve."

"Hey!" Natalie huffed. "Ethan, Missy wants your braised pork again. Go home and cook!"

Ethan sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright… looks like I'm still the village chef."

The two women giggled and followed him home, leaving behind a village filled with hope for a brighter tomorrow.