A lonely, unlucky military officer with a stubborn fate insisted on marrying me.

Sure enough, Song Yi said passionately and indignantly the next moment, "Fellow villagers!"

This mountain is the root of our Lianxi Village! It is the foundation that we have guarded, cultivated, and protected generation after generation, cutting through thorns and brambles!

Even if Comrade Lin had the approval document, so what?

Can a production license feed you? Can it be used as firewood?

"No!" "No!"

"Yes, we can't just cut off people's livelihoods."

I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled! An outsider took away our protector with just a few words!

I am not willing to let the mountain that our ancestors have relied on for survival be occupied by others.

She's an outsider; she doesn't understand the significance of this mountain to us! But we do!

Think about it! This mountain is not only our food source, but also our responsibility! It is our responsibility to our ancestors and to our descendants!

What we're protecting isn't immediate gains, but our collective cause!

As she spoke, Song Yi clenched her fists, her tone firm, "So, I don't want to just accept it like this!"

I'm going to town tomorrow!

If the town won't do anything, I'll go to the county!

If the county won't help, I'll go to the city!

Even if I have to kneel and die at the door, even if I'm arrested, I will still seek justice!

"Yes, Song, the educated youth, is right. I'll go too!"

"I'm going too!"

"Count me in! I'm going too!"

"Thank you, fellow villagers."

With tears welling in her eyes, Song Yi said, "There's strength in numbers, the higher-ups won't ignore us!"

"Yes, we won't ignore it! Even if we have to kneel and die, we'll go! We can't let her cut off our livelihood!"

"Yes, we'll risk our lives to get that hill back!"

The crowd was immediately outraged.

"Yes, we will resist to the end!" Song Yi added, looking at Lin Yinyin triumphantly.

Lin Yinyin's expression was solemn.

Li Jinye stood firmly beside Lin Yinyin, supporting her waist with one hand, keeping her away from the people around them.

He was afraid that these incited idiots would get too excited and bump into his wife.

Wang Erhua stood with her hands on her hips, her chest heaving with anger. She wanted to step forward and retort, but Lin Yinyin quietly pulled her back.

Lin Yinyin gently shook her head, signaling her to calm down.

To deal with someone like Song Yi, a direct confrontation won't work; you have to deliver a fatal blow.

Lin Yinyin remained calm. "Comrade, please calm down."

I'd like to ask you, what are you trying to achieve by fanning the flames and instigating your fellow villagers to gather and clamor to 'make trouble' in the city or county? ...A rebellion?

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Oh?"

Lin Yinyin sneered, her tone sharp as a knife, "Heh! You keep saying that this mountain is the root of Lianxi Village!"

It is the foundation that you have been building and protecting!

"Don't even mention that this is a new society; even in the old society, none of the princes and grandsons were as 'passionate' as you!"

Or do you intend to emulate the grasshoppers' uprising and seize this mountain to become their king?

"Sigh!" Lin Yinyin exclaimed quickly, "How many years has the People's Republic of China been established? How come there are still people wanting to start a revolution!"

Song Yi's face turned pale instantly? She dared not accept this hat!

"Stop making baseless accusations! Don't try to pin this on me!"

"Oh? Who was it that was just shouting about going to the city or county to seek justice?"

"Isn't it because you think the leaders in the town, county, and city are all blind and their heads are full of shit that they can't see your so-called 'injustice'?"

Everyone: ...You said that!

Lin Yinyin continued, "I remember that the national law clearly states that inciting the masses to gather and cause trouble or obstructing the performance of official duties is a serious crime that will land you in jail!"

How could you, a mere educated youth, think of upholding the greater good of the collective and rising up in rebellion?

Do you really think that just because you raise your voice, say a few nice words, and make empty promises to your fellow villagers, they will follow you into danger, rebel against the government and the organization, and start a revolution?

The words "start a revolution? Rebel against the government, rebel against the organization" were making everyone's heads buzz.

The clamor in the courtyard abruptly ceased, and all the villagers froze in place.

"How dare you pin this on me!" Song Yi was so angry that she trembled all over.

"You were just shouting that you wanted to form a team to cause trouble in the county and the city, that you weren't afraid even if you knelt to death at the door, wasn't that just to go against the government?"

"Isn't it just because you think the organization's decisions are wrong? So you incite the villagers to overthrow the regime on the spot? Even to the point of sacrificing their lives to stop the fighting—what is this if not a revolution?"

She looked around at the frozen villagers and said clearly, "Fellow villagers, have you all thought this through?"

Today is the new China, a new society led by the Party and the government!

"Making a revolution" is a capital offense!

Song Zhiqing wants to cause trouble, that's her own death, and you all want to follow her and destroy your own homes?

Can your elderly relatives and children withstand such repercussions?

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over the villagers' heads.

Everyone panicked. They looked at each other, their minds blank. Why did preventing land enclosure turn into a revolution?

Everyone held their breath.

"And you too!" Lin Yinyin turned to look at Wang Laoshi!

This person is not honest at all!

"You're all shit, from the ass to the brain! You just let her raise her arms and shout! Fanning the flames, are you pretending to be ignorant, or are you on her side?"

"Comrade Lin! I dare not say anything reckless! I dare not say anything reckless!" Wang Laoshi felt that this woman was too quick-witted, and she was more skilled at labeling people than the Revolutionary Committee itself.

"Comrade Lin, Song, the educated youth, is just young and impetuous, and speaks without thinking. I just couldn't stop her in time!"

"Didn't have time?" Lin Yinyin sneered, not giving him any face at all. "When she was shouting herself hoarse here, I saw you were quite happy watching."

I'm not going to waste my breath on you. I have decisions from three levels of government, and the procedures are legal and compliant. This meeting can be cancelled if you don't want to talk; just say so.

"No, no, that's not it!"

Wang Laoshi dared not make any further moves, and he got straight to the point, "Comrade Lin, please try to understand us, the people who make a living off the mountains."

If this mountain were gone, everyone would be really worried.

Or, you could compensate us. Five hundred and eighty people, one hundred and twenty yuan per family, how about that? That way we can rest assured and let you keep the mountain, and we'll never cause trouble again!

Upon hearing this, the villagers, who had been looking dejected, instantly brightened up!

One hundred and twenty yuan per household! That's no small sum.

The villagers were very satisfied with the conditions.

"Yes! Let's do as the village chief says! One hundred and twenty yuan per household!"

"That's right! We have to pay compensation! Once we have the money, we won't stop us!"

"One hundred and twenty yuan per household, not a penny less!"

Their faces were filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Hehehe—"

Lin Yinyin looked at the scene before her with a mocking smile.

What a boastful tone!

One hundred and twenty yuan per household, so five hundred and eighty or ninety households would amount to seventy thousand six hundred and eighty yuan!

This village chief really dares to ask for an exorbitant amount!

Lin Yinyin slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. Her tone, which had been relatively calm, now carried an undeniable resolve.

"In that case, there's no need for further discussion."

"Everyone, I'll say it one last time: the procedures are legal and compliant. Whether you agree or not, I'm determined to take over Baihua Mountain."

After saying that, he tugged at Li Jinye, who was standing next to him, signaling him to come from behind.

After a long and heated argument, she was exhausted and didn't want to continue.

Some of the things Li Jinye said were more intimidating than what she said.