Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"How much?"

Chen Dong's straightforward answer surprised Feng Yuanshen. On his way here, he had anticipated several possible reactions from Chen Dong upon hearing this.

Feng Yuanshen originally thought that Chen Dong would be mostly dissatisfied when he heard the news, but he didn't expect him to be so generous. It turned out that he had been judging a gentleman by his own petty standards.

"They said they'd only agree to sign if the price was at least 3,000 yuan per mu!"

"hiss!"

"This is robbery!"

After Feng Yuanshen finished speaking, Chen Zaiguang gasped, while Tian Chulian shouted, "Director Feng, are the people from Hongping Village trying to rob us?"

"Comrade Chu Lian, don't speak so harshly. What do you mean by 'stealing'? We're discussing it right now," Feng Yuanshen said, his eyes fixed on Chen Dong as he observed him.

Feng Yuanshen was eager to see how Chen Dong would react after hearing about the land compensation of 3,000 yuan per mu. However, to Feng Yuanshen's disappointment, Chen Dong remained calm throughout the entire process, without the slightest fluctuation or abnormality.

"Why would Hongping Village demand 3,000 yuan per mu in compensation? There must be a reason," Chen Dong asked calmly, puffing on his cigarette. "I've also looked into your Tuocheng's policies regarding land acquisition for road construction. 700 yuan per mu is already the highest compensation your government can offer!"

"Why? Why does Hongping Village feel the compensation is too low? I need a reason!"

Chen Dong remained calm throughout, his tone showing no sign of anger. This led Feng Yuan to believe that Chen Dong, the wealthy man who had returned with America, had already agreed to the compensation price of 3,000 yuan per mu proposed by Hongping Village.

Feng Yuanshen thought about it and agreed. Such a wealthy man might not care about a few tens of thousands of dollars. He was willing to spend a hundred million US dollars to help his relatives escape poverty in Lianzhai. He might be able to accept Hongping Village's request.

Then Feng Yuanshen smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, it's like this. In Mengyu Commune, near the mountain, in Hongping Village, generations of people have been farming there. Those terraced fields were all created by the hard work of the villagers of Hongping Village."

"To extend the road from Lianzhai to the city, we must utilize the existing terraced fields in Hongping Village; otherwise, the construction will be difficult and the subsequent road elevation changes will be significant!"

"The villagers of Hongping Village, considering that their terraced fields, on which they depend for their livelihood, are to be permanently expropriated, demanded a compensation price of 3,000 yuan per mu to prevent them from going hungry due to reduced grain production in the future!"

Chen Dong laughed after hearing this, but it was a forced smile. It seemed that his efforts over the past few days had made some people around him think that he was rich and could make demands on him at will, causing him to give more.

But I, Chen Dong, am a capitalist!

What kind of illusion makes these people think that they can just make any outrageous request and they will agree to it? Do they really think that every village is a contiguous village?

"Mr. Chen, what do you think of the compensation price of 3,000 yuan per mu for the villagers of Hongping Village?"

Chen Dong didn't directly answer Feng Yuanshen's question. Instead, he shook his head and smiled, "I deeply sympathize with the concerns of the villagers in Hongping Village, and I understand them. After all, they really depend on these terraced fields for their livelihood!"

"Our Guangdong Company came to Huaxia to invest and set up a factory for profit. Considering the concerns of the villagers of Hongping Village, I, as the second largest shareholder of Guangdong Company, have decided to revise the construction drawings and build an elevated highway to bypass the section near Hongping Village!"

"It doesn't matter if the cost increases a bit. We can't cause too much concern for the local people," Chen Dong said with a smile throughout.

Upon hearing this, Feng Yuanshen on the other end was stunned. What did this mean? Modifying the construction drawings, erecting an overpass, and going around it? He hurriedly said to Chen Dong, "Mr. Chen, perhaps I wasn't clear enough. Let me..."

Chen Dong raised his hand to stop Director Feng Yuanshen from speaking further. "No need, Director Feng. I understand what you mean. You've made it very clear: the local people have concerns, and we must make improvements!"

Feng Yuanshen was extremely anxious. What did he mean? Was he planning to abandon Hongping Village and build an elevated road instead? What would happen to Hongping Village then? Would the villagers still be able to enjoy the benefits of the road after it opened to traffic?

Feng Yuanshen looked at Chen Zaiguang and gestured for him to persuade his cousin Chen Dong that building the elevated road would cost a lot more money, so it would be better to just agree to Hongping Village's request.

But Chen Zaiguang had no intention of speaking. He just sat there quietly, smoking, like an outsider, not feeling at all that it was wrong for him, as the major shareholder, not to express any opinion.

On the contrary, Tian Chulian, the village party secretary, understood the meaning behind Chen Dong's words. Chen Dong was willing to spend more money to build an elevated road rather than let the threats from those people in Hongping Village succeed.

Since Chen Dong came to Lianzhai to meet his relatives, he has always treated people with courtesy. This is the first time he has shown any strength in front of Tian Chulian and his group, which serves as a reminder to Tian Chulian, the village secretary.

No matter what, Chen Dong is a super-rich man who can easily pull out a hundred million US dollars. Tian Chulian knows that a rich man like Chen Dong is the least able to stand being threatened by others.

Everyone has a temper. The price of 700 yuan offered by Zhaoyang County was already the maximum, which was considered giving Hongping Village face.

But they thought that apart from their Hongping Village, Guangdong Company was helpless. Without Zhang the butcher from Hongping Village, Guangdong Company would have to eat pigs with hair still on.

But Chen Dong directly proposed to revise the drawings, saying that he wouldn't take the route around Hongping anymore. You think 700 yuan is too little? Fine!

Don't even think about getting any of the benefits after the road is completed and open to traffic!

My Guangdong Company would rather spend an extra 100,000 yuan to build an elevated road than threaten Hongping Village. Having more money means you're generous!

After listening to Feng Yuanshen's words, Chen Dong felt angry. He only had a good impression of his relatives and the village where his grandfather had lived. If the people in the village asked for too much, Chen Dong would also feel disgusted!

As for the others, they're dreaming if they think they can use the land requisition issue to threaten Chen Dong!

If they don't give them a satisfactory compensation price, I won't sign. If they won't sign, I'll just bypass them and get the repairs done.

"Mr. Chen, please reconsider. Things don't need to escalate to this point. If you feel that three thousand is too much, I can speak with Zhaoyang County. Tell me your acceptable price, and I'll call the county immediately!"

"No need, Director Feng, there's no need to make things so complicated. I think it's easier to just revise the blueprints directly. I'm not afraid of spending more money; I just don't want to be threatened into doing things. Do you understand what I mean, Director Feng?"

Feng Yuanshen realized the situation was serious. How was he supposed to reply to Secretary Lin Deying? He sighed and said, "Alas, Mr. Chen, we haven't done our job well!"