Chapter 219: Conflict with Villagers—1
Translator: 549690339 |
Wei Ruo made so concessions.
The village head shook his head, his attitude firm: “No, it must be one hundred taels of silver, and one thousand coins a year thereafter, not a coin less.”
“Is there really no room for negotiation?” Wei Ruo asked.
“None.” The village head stood his ground, his expression proud.
“Well then, there’s no need to continue the conversation.
Wei Ruo suddenly got up, ready to leave with Xiui and Manager Yu.
Her departure was decisive, not for show.
The village head’s face changed dramatically. He hadn’t expected the Xu family mber to just leave.
This was far from his estimation. He thought since the Xu family mber had taken so much effort to find this place and was so wealthy, as long as he showed a tough attitude, things would definitely not be too difficult!
Watching as Wei Ruo and the others took several steps out, the village head hastily ordered the villagers to intercept them.
“You all stop! Don’t leave!”
The village head’s shouts fell on deaf ears to Wei Ruo.
Seeing that his shouts did not stop Wei Ruo and the others, the village head quickly ordered the young people in the village to intercept them, “Quickly stop
them for !”
Several young villagers promptly ran in front of Wei Ruo and her party, obstructing their path.
Wei Ruo was forced to stop and turned to look at the crowd: “What is the aning of this. Village Head Wang?
“Please sit down and continue to negotiate, Young Master Xu.” The village head’s expression was sowhat ugly, but he remained resolute.
The villagers had been having a hard ti these past two years, and now that soone had co to offer them money, they certainly couldn’t let them walk
away so easily.
As the village head, he represented the villagers in price negotiations, and a successful negotiation would not only lead to more silver in his hand but also garner the villagers’ affection and respect.
However, if the negotiations failed, and this source of inco was lost, the villagers would hold it against him, affecting his prestige.
He realized his judgnt had been wrong; this Xu family mber wasn’t as easy to manipulate as he had thought. But the situation had escalated to this point. For the sake of his face and the villagers’ benefit, he couldn’t just let the
Xu family mber walk away.
Seeing this, Manager Yu was regretful. If they had known the villagers to be so unreasonable, they would have brought more people when they ca. After all, they had plenty of strong n in their mansion.
The village head’s arrogance was simply because they had only brought a few people, and their master, despite his costly attire, was a businessman who wanted to buy land to open a distillery, not soone with an official background.
Subconsciously, Xiui moved closer to Wei Ruo, ready to protect her at any mont.
‘■But Village Head Wang just said the price was not negotiable, didn’t he?” Wei
Ruo said.
“The price is not negotiable, but the business can definitely be discussed.” The village head replied.
As the village head, he had already said it, he definitely could not back down
now.
Even if he had to use so force, he would have to close the deal at the price he quoted. As long as the deal was completed, the villagers would get more money in their hands, and then it would prove that what he had done today was right, and no one would dare to say anything against him!
“Is the Village Head trying to strong-arm this?” Wei Ruo chuckled. She had encountered difficult negotiations before, but this was the first ti she had encountered such arrogance and unreasonableness.
Village Head Wang coldly told Wei Ruo: “Don’t use words like ‘strong-arm’, it sounds ugly. The Daqing Mountain is a good place, with its green mountains and rivers. Otherwise, why would Master Xu co all the way here to buy land
from us?”
■’Daqing Mountain is indeed a good place, but it seems that the village head has forgotten one thing. I chose Daqing Mountain under comparable conditions. If you quote a price too high, Daqing Mountain will not be the optimal solution for . I can easily choose another place. There are many other good places with mountains and rivers around the Governnt City, not just Daqing
Mountain.” Wei Ruo replied.
On hearing this, expressions of anxiety and even regret about the village head’s decision appeared on the villagers’ faces.
If the village head hadn’t caused this trouble, each household could have already received a tael of silver and ten coins a year, which would have greatly improved their lives’.
And now, all their efforts are in vain!
So villagers were already feeling a bit weak. Village mber Wang Qi pulled at Village Head Wang’s arm and said: “Village head, maybe we should drop it.
We don’t want to cause trouble.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Don’t you want your son Emiu to get married? With one hundred taels of silver received, your family could get a share of four taels! You could still have two taels left after you get a wife for Emiu and build a room!”
The village head scolded angrily.
Wang Qi, Who was originally timid, shut up instantly at the ntion of four taels of silver and his son’s marriage.
A family mber of Wang Ergou quietly suggested: “We can just go with the original price. We could earn less but at least it is sothing.
“What do you know about being a peasant woman? The price I quoted is not a problem, we have to do it big if we are going to do it!” Village Head Wang remained firm.
Others who wanted to say sothing also quietened down after hearing the village head’s words.
in the past two years, everyone had been having a hard ti. The crops in the field yielded little, and after a harsh winter, there were barely any stored grains left at ho. Those better-off households could only afford to eat for another two or three months, while those poorer ones might not last even a month.
Anyway, they had no way of making it till this year’s harvest. They were destined to run out of food. Therefore, the money from the Xu family was
crucial to them.
Regardless of whether they agreed with the village head’s thods, they could only follow him now and try to get the money.
Having pacified the villagers, Village Head Wang sternly told Wei Ruo: “Master Xu you have no other options. Daqing Mountain is your best and only choice. As long as you are willing to buy the valley of Daqing Mountain at the price I just ntioned, our entire village will help you successfully build your
distillery.”
Wei Ruo responded: “If you think you can force into submission, then I can only tell you that you’ve miscalculated. Even if you kill here today, I will not give you a single coin.”
The determined attitude of Wei Ruo darkened the face of Village Head Wang.
“If Master Xu refuses to make the deal today, then I’ll have to keep Master Xu in our village for a few days, where you can enjoy your stay.” Village Head
Wang said, coldly.
The situation had already escalated to this point; he could not just let it go! Though Village Head Wang didn’t dare openly rob Wei Ruo, as long as he could pressure Wei Ruo into signing the agreent, the money he would receive would be fair and square.
With that, Village Head Wang ordered the strong n in the village to escort Wei Ruo and the others to the ancestral hall.
Among the villagers, so were fearful and hesitant, but so were bold and greedy, ready to take a gamble. The more courageous villagers obeyed the orders of Village Head Wang, and ard with their farming tools – hoes, carrying poles, and pickaxes, among others, they surrounded Wei Ruo, Xiui, and Manager Yu.
just when a conflict seed imminent, a group of people riding tall horses appeared at the village entrance..
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