My attempt to show off during Chinese New Year shocked the entire nation.

Li Feng didn't move, he just looked at him: "Just say what you have to say, Chaoyang is not an outsider."

Li Shulin's face stiffened; he clearly didn't want a third person to hear.

He walked to the door, peeked outside, then closed the door tightly before lowering his voice, "It's like this, I want to repair the road in our village."

Before Li Feng could reply, Li Chaoyang, sitting upright on the sofa behind him, suddenly raised his voice, "Road repair? That's a fantastic thing! Look at the roads in our village, they're muddy when it rains and dusty on sunny days, making it a bumpy ride even when hauling grain. They should have been repaired a long time ago!"

Li Shulin's eyelids twitched in surprise at his shout, and he glared at Li Chaoyang with an annoyance that seemed to say, "You're everywhere."

She quickly turned her gaze back to Li Feng, her face pleading, but her tone still tinged with caution: "Li Feng, what do you think about this..."

Li Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely guessed what was going on, but he remained outwardly calm. "Road construction is a good thing; the village should have had it done a long time ago. But the money..."

"The money is what I came to you about." Li Shulin rubbed his hands together, his eyes glancing at the enamel mug on the table. "The town has given some funding, but there's still a huge shortfall. You see, your factory is doing very well now, and you're a capable person who's made it out of our village, could you... lend me some money first?"

Li Chaoyang was listening nearby and was about to interrupt when Li Feng stopped him with a look.

"How much padding?"

"Not much, just... 200,000." Li Shulin's voice was barely audible, but he quickly added, "This money isn't a waste! Once the road is repaired, it'll be easier to transport the village's mountain products out, and your cannery will benefit too. Besides, we'll pay you back as soon as the village's collective land rent comes in next spring!"

"Two hundred thousand isn't enough?" Li Chaoyang couldn't help but ask. "Do you know how much cement and gravel two hundred thousand can buy? Besides, is the rent from the village even enough to cover the interest?"

Li Shulin's face flushed red: "What do you know! This is for the benefit of the whole village! Li Feng is a big boss now, what is 200,000 yuan to him?"

"It's nothing to me, and I can't be a sucker," Li Feng said calmly. "Road repairs are fine, but we have to follow the rules. How much is needed, how to raise the funds, and how to spend the money all have to be made public so that the whole village can supervise. I can contribute more, but it can't be an advance payment; it has to be voluntary donations, and every penny has to be spent transparently."

Li Shulin's eyes flickered: "There's no need for such trouble..."

"Is it really that complicated?" Li Feng interrupted him. "Otherwise, I wouldn't pay a single penny."

He stood up and said, "If you truly care about the village, then clarify the accounts so everyone can see your sincerity regarding the road repair."

Li Chaoyang stood up as well, adding before leaving, "Don't even think about trying to skim some profit; the villagers are sharp-eyed!"

As Li Chaoyang walked out of the village committee office, he was still indignant: "I think he just wants to get your money out of you. As for whether or not it will be repaired, and how it will be repaired, who knows!"

Li Feng looked at the bumpy dirt road in the village and remained silent for a moment: "Road repair is really necessary, and it's worth spending more money."

"We can't let him fool us!"

Li Feng patted Li Chaoyang on the shoulder, the moonlight shining on his face. "That's why we have to follow the rules. If he really wants to build the road, he should be able to withstand scrutiny; if he tries to play tricks, I won't let him get the money so easily."

As the two walked back, a few barks of dogs echoed in the distance, making the night seem exceptionally quiet.

"Actually," Li Feng suddenly said, looking at the crooked streetlights by the roadside, "I've been thinking about repairing the road for a long time."

Li Chaoyang, who was listening nearby, was stunned for a moment. He leaned up from the sofa, looking puzzled. "You thought about that before? Why did you want that thing? Although the road in our village is not easy to travel, we've gotten used to it after so many years. Why bother with that?"

Li Feng stopped and kicked away a small pebble that was in his way. "If you want to get rich, build roads first. If Li Family Village wants to develop, it definitely needs to build a wide road."

He paused, then added, "But this can't be rushed. If Li Shulin really sorts out the accounts, I'll take the lead and donate 100,000. The remaining shortfall can be raised voluntarily by everyone, and if it's still not enough, I'll make up the difference."

Upon hearing this, Li Chaoyang's eyes nearly widened in shock. He exclaimed, "One hundred thousand? Fengzi, you're incredibly generous! Your cannery is just starting out; you need the money right now..."

Li Feng turned around and smiled at him, a smile that carried a longing for his hometown. "Money can be earned back, but seeing the smooth roads in the village, where the villagers no longer have to wade through the mud, is more comfortable than anything else."

Hearing this, Li Chanye's expression was complex, showing surprise and emotion.

Seeing the light in Li Feng's eyes, Li Chaoyang swallowed back the words of advice that were on the tip of his tongue, and after a long while, he scratched his head and laughed.

"Since you've put it that way, I have nothing more to say. I'll donate some too, though not as much as you, but it's the thought that counts."

Li Feng patted his arm. "Don't force yourself. Just do what's best for your own situation. Road construction is everyone's business. As long as you're willing to do it, that's good enough."

As they talked, they walked to Li Feng's house. "Would you like to come in and sit for a while? Let's chat some more."

Li Chaoyang waved his hand, raised his wrist and glanced at the shiny digital watch on his wrist; it was already twelve o'clock.

"Why are you sitting down? It's getting late, my eyelids are starting to droop."

He yawned, a few tears welling up in his eyes. "Besides, I have to get up early tomorrow to help Li Bao."

"That's true, the wedding preparations can't be delayed." Li Feng smiled and didn't press the matter. "Then drive carefully, and let me know when you get home."

"Don't worry, I can walk this dark road with my eyes closed." Li Chaoyang patted his arm, turned around and walked towards his home, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows deep in the alley.

Li Feng stood at the door for a while before turning around and pushing open the courtyard gate.

The courtyard was quiet. Li Feng stood at the gate, his hand resting on the door.

It's already past midnight, I wonder if Grandpa has come back from Li Bao's house yet.

"You're back?"

An old but clear voice suddenly came from the direction of the main room, startling Li Feng.

Immediately afterwards, the light in the main room turned on with a "snap," and Grandpa came out wearing a cotton-padded coat.

"I remember you left Li Bao's house a while ago," Grandpa walked up to him, coughed twice, his voice a little hoarse, "Why are you back later than me?"

Looking at the concern in his grandfather's eyes, Li Feng's frustration from earlier at the village committee gradually subsided.

He reached out and took the coat that had slipped off his grandfather's shoulder, draped it over his arm, thought for a moment, and then told him the whole story.

"The village party secretary, Li Shulin, came to see me. He called me to the village committee in the middle of the night, saying he wanted to repair the road in the village and was urging me to do so."

He paused, then added, "I told him that road construction is a good thing, but the accounts need to be clear. If it can be really clear, I'll donate 100,000 first, and we can all figure out the rest together."