Er Gou, life in the countryside is so carefree!

With the special funding of 50,000 yuan approved by the county, plus the money Chen Ergou earned himself, the construction of the standardized greenhouse progressed at a rocket-like speed.

Li Mei finally found a place to use her skills. With blueprints in hand, she spent every day on the construction site, directing the workers on how to build steel frames, how to lay plastic sheets, and how to install drip irrigation systems, acting as professionally as a chief engineer.

Chen Ergou was happy to be a hands-off manager, occasionally taking a stroll around with his hands behind his back to check on the progress, and praising Li Mei's work highly.

"Consultant Li, that's impressive! This greenhouse is even more grand than the ones in the city!"

Li Mei was secretly pleased by his praise, but her face remained serious: "These are the most basic standardization requirements. We'll also need to install an automatic temperature and humidity control system later."

When the news reached the county, the leaders took it very seriously, considering it a great example of rural revitalization. They even sent a reporter from the county television station to come down and report on it.

On the day of the visit, the entrance to the greenhouse base was crowded with villagers who came to watch the excitement. Red flags were waving and drums were beating loudly, making it even more lively than the Spring Festival.

The reporter, carrying a camera, first filmed the impressive shed, and then proceeded to interview the main character, Chen Ergou.

Chen Ergou pulled the reporter aside, grinning as he pointed to Zhang Qiaofen, who was explaining things to the workers, and said, "Comrade reporter, you're interviewing her. She's our logistics manager here, and also... well, the head of our household. Without her support, I, Chen Ergou, couldn't have accomplished this."

The meaning behind those words couldn't be clearer.

The reporter understood immediately and pointed the microphone at Zhang Qiaofen.

Zhang Qiaofen had never seen anything like this before. She was so frightened that she hid behind Chen Ergou, her face turning bright red with embarrassment.

"Sister-in-law, don't be afraid. Just tell me how to grow vegetables and how to build greenhouses!" Chen Ergou encouraged her by putting his arm around her shoulder.

Encouraged by Chen Ergou and the villagers, Zhang Qiaofen stammered through the interview. Although nervous, her words were simple and sincere, and every sentence revolved around Chen Ergou's kindness and her hopes for the future.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Chen Ergou insisted that Zhang Qiaofen hold the scissors and stand in the very center.

"Sister-in-law, you cut it! This is auspicious, you have to do it!" Chen Ergou stuffed the red ribbon into Zhang Qiaofen's hand.

Looking at the bright red silk in front of her, at the envious and blessing looks from the surrounding villagers, and then at Chen Ergou beside her with a smug look on his face, tears welled up in Zhang Qiaofen's eyes.

She knew that Chen Ergou was officially recognizing her status in front of the entire county!

With a "snap!" the red ribbon was cut, firecrackers went off, and applause thundered.

Looking at the confetti fluttering in the air, Zhang Qiaofen felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey. The jealousy and insecurity she had felt earlier because of the women vanished in an instant.

As the financial director, Wang Cuihua was busy registering the gift money, her abacus clicking away. Although she felt a little envious, she was more excited as she looked at the ever-increasing numbers in the ledger.

With her connections in the county town, Zhou Caixia made the name of "Longwang Brand Green Vegetables from Xiushui Village" very well-known. Orders came in like snowflakes, and the price was five times that of ordinary vegetables, yet the supply still couldn't meet the demand!

Lin Yuqing wasn't idle either. Under the guise of "joint police-civilian construction to safeguard rural economic development," she became the "legal advisor" for the greenhouse base. Although there wasn't anything specific to her, her presence in her police uniform was an invisible deterrent.

Four women, by a twist of fate, actually managed to each do their part and keep the greenhouse afloat.

Looking at this scene, Chen Ergou felt incredibly happy.

He seized the opportunity to launch a "membership system," where only VIP customers who pre-deposited high fees could have priority in ordering the most premium "Dragon King Cuisine," making the most of Zhou Caixia's high-end connections in the county.

His career is thriving and booming.

However, the big tree attracts the wind.

That day, Chen Ergou was checking the growth of the new batch of cucumbers in the greenhouse when a villager rushed in in a panic.

"Ergou! Something terrible has happened! Blind Chen... Blind Chen is causing a scene at the entrance of your greenhouse! And... he's even brought a hoe!"

Blind Chen? Chen Ergou was taken aback.

This blind man, Chen, is an elderly man living alone in the village. He is partially blind and makes a living by telling fortunes and consulting feng shui masters. He has a very low profile in the village. Why would he come here to cause trouble?

Chen Ergou quickly went outside.

A large crowd had gathered at the entrance of the greenhouse.

Blind Chen, leaning on a cane, sat on the ground, slapping his thigh and wailing, "This is outrageous! Chen Ergou! You've encroached on my family's ancestral burial ground! You've built a greenhouse on it, disturbing my ancestors and bringing misfortune upon my family! You have to compensate me! You have to pay me 100,000 yuan! Otherwise, I'll come and curse you every day! I'll make sure nothing grows on your greenhouse!"

He cried and wailed while secretly glancing around at the reactions with his half-blind eyes.

The villagers were talking about it, some sympathizing with Blind Chen, and others thinking he was being unreasonable.

Zhang Qiaofen and Wang Cuihua also rushed over upon hearing the news, looking anxious.

"Uncle Chen, what makes you say that?" Chen Ergou walked up to Blind Chen and asked calmly, "This land was approved by the village. It used to be wasteland. How did it become your family's ancestral burial ground? Aren't your family's ancestral graves on the back hill?"

Blind Chen, his neck stiff with arrogance, retorted, "I said it's true! My father told me before he died! Our Chen family's ancestors are buried under this land! Now you've ruined the feng shui by digging with this machine! You have to pay compensation!"

Chen Ergou sneered inwardly as he looked at Chen the Blind's blustering but cowardly demeanor.

Without making a sound, he activated the "Qi Observation Technique" of the Dragon King's Manual and carefully looked at Blind Chen.

Upon closer inspection, the problem was indeed discovered!

A faint aura of decay enveloped Chen the Blind, a sign of misfortune. But beyond this aura clung a thread of "wealth energy"—a wealth energy not belonging to him, imbued with greed and calculation! This wealth energy was still new, subtly connected to a certain direction!

Moreover, Chen the Blind Man's eyes were darting around and his breathing was unsteady when he spoke, clearly indicating that he had something to hide!

He was instructed by someone to extort money from us!

Chen Ergou understood.

He crouched down, leaned close to Blind Chen, lowered his voice, and said with an undeniable air of authority, "Uncle Chen, tell me the truth. Did someone pay you to cause trouble here? The smell of brand-new banknotes on you hasn't even completely dissipated yet."

Blind Chen trembled, as if his secret had been exposed. His face turned deathly pale, and his lips trembled as he stammered, "You... what nonsense are you spouting!"

Chen Ergou continued to exert pressure, his eyes sharp: "Uncle Chen, I respect you as an elder and don't want to argue with you. But aren't you afraid of retribution for using someone else as a pawn? The person who ordered you around paid you a few hundred? Is that enough to buy your conscience, enough to make you unable to hold your head up in the village from now on?"

Blind Chen was intimidated by Chen Ergou's imposing manner and those eyes that seemed to see through everything, and his psychological defenses completely collapsed.

He burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. "Ergou... Ergou, my nephew... I'm so sorry! It was... it was Liu Dahu from the neighboring Liu Family Village! He gave me five hundred yuan to cause trouble, saying he'd give me another five hundred after it was all over... I was so senile! I was out of my mind!"

The truth is revealed!

The villagers were in an uproar!

"So it was that bastard Liu Dahu!"

"That's so unethical! If they can't compete, they resort to dirty tricks!"

Chen Ergou helped the limp Chen the Blind to his feet and shouted to the villagers, "Everyone heard that! It was Liu Dahu who did it! It has nothing to do with Uncle Chen! Uncle Chen was just confused for a moment! Let's just let it go!"

His attitude of repaying evil with kindness won him even greater favor from the villagers.

Blind Chen thanked him profusely and slunk away.

But Chen Ergou's eyes turned cold.

Liu Dahu?