I couldn't take it anymore; when I went home for Chinese New Year, the family genealogy book ha

Charlie eventually left.

He scrambled and stumbled, being carried by two security guards and shoved into the only Maybach that could still be started, before disappearing in a flash from the village entrance.

Jiang Chen's life returned to calm after this brief financial turmoil, which barely even served as a warm-up.

This calm was even a little boring.

That afternoon, the weather was so hot and humid it felt like a giant steamer, and even the cicadas seemed to be chirping weakly.

Jiang Chen, wearing a tank top, beach shorts, and flip-flops, lay unkempt on a creaky bamboo rocking chair in the old house courtyard, fanning himself idly with a palm-leaf fan.

The financial statements from Changsheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital are delivered to his mobile phone every morning without fail.

Jiang Chen had no interest in even clicking on the astronomical figures.

As for the secret account that stirred up trouble on Wall Street for three days, the funds in it multiplied several times after the huge success of shorting Pfizer, and now it's a number that even he himself feels numb to.

"Why……"

Jiang Chen looked up at the sky above, which was fragmented by the grapevines, and sighed deeply.

"Every day when you open your eyes, you can't help but want to make money; tens or hundreds of billions of dollars just come knocking on your door."

"This life is so unchallenging, so boring."

His exclamation came from the bottom of his heart.

But to the people around them, it didn't sound like that at all.

"puff--"

Wang Dagou, who was holding half a chilled watermelon and eating it with a spoon, couldn't stop spitting out a mouthful of watermelon seeds when he heard this.

He hurriedly wiped his mouth, nearly choking on the watermelon.

"Chen... Brother Chen, if those working-class people outside who squeeze onto the subway every day, eat instant noodles, and work themselves to the bone for a few thousand yuan a month heard what you said, let me tell you, they wouldn't even need anyone to lift a finger. One spit from each of them would be enough to fill up the clear river in front of our Jiangjia Village."

Wang Dagou looked at Jiang Chen with a complicated expression.

He simply couldn't understand Chen Ge's troubles.

Counting money until your hands cramp every day, isn't that the happiest thing in the world?

Jiang Chen sat up from the rocking chair, kicked off his flip-flops, and stepped barefoot onto the cool bluestone slabs, feeling the oppressive feeling subside slightly.

He stood up and walked to the front gate of the old house.

Looking around, Jiangjia Village today can be described as a paradise on earth.

The roads are paved with white marble, the streetlights are made in the style of antique palace lanterns, and the houses on both sides are either Hui-style white walls and black tiles or Suzhou-style gardens and courtyards, with exotic flowers and plants planted in front of every household.

Occasionally, villagers would drive by in the latest Mercedes-Benz or BMW, silently gliding across the smooth, mirror-like road. Upon seeing Jiang Chen, they would respectfully stop their cars, roll down their windows, and greet him with "Hello, Brother Chen."

everything is fine.

It's as good as a painting, an exquisite and expensive fake painting, but lacking a soul.

Jiang Chen stroked his chin, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Da Gou, come here."

He waved to Wang Dagou.

Wang Dagou came running over, carrying a watermelon.

"Brother Chen, what's up?"

"Don't you think our village is... a little too high-class now?"

Jiang Chen pointed to the street, so clean that not even a single fallen leaf could be found, and slowly said.

"It's lost that... that smoky, chaotic atmosphere, no, that warm, lived-in feel of before?"

Wang Dagou scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then nodded.

Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit true.

"Back then, everyone was poor. When they had nothing to do, they liked to squat under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village, smoking pipes, chatting and gossiping. They could talk about everything from local gossip to national affairs. If someone bought a new motorcycle, the whole village would gather around to watch for days."

"And now?" Wang Dagou sighed. "Every family lives in a big villa, and they all drive cars that cost at least 500,000 yuan. They are all very polite to each other, afraid of saying the wrong thing and lowering their own status."

"In the past, if someone in the village had a fight, the whole village would come to watch. Now, there are fewer and fewer people even talking loudly."

As Jiang Chen listened to Wang Dagou's description, his expression grew increasingly serious.

Isn't that the root of his irritability?

He built Jiangjia Village so well that everyone can live a prosperous life.

But after they became rich, the lively and vibrant rural atmosphere gradually disappeared.

People have become more polite to each other, but also more distant.

No, absolutely not!

What Jiang Chen wanted was a Jiangjia Village that was rich, prestigious, and substantial, but even more importantly, vibrant!

Just then, a long-forgotten memory flashed through Jiang Chen's mind.

When he was a child, what he looked forward to most was going to the market in town with his grandfather.

The crowds, the wide variety of goods, the aromas of food and the cacophony of voices—these were his most vivid childhood memories.

"Got it!"

Jiang Chen slapped his thigh, his eyes regaining their light.

Wang Dagou was startled and almost dropped the watermelon in his mouth.

"Brother Chen, what's wrong?"

"Tell me, do you still remember the busiest market day in Qinghe County, the one held every 8th of the month?" Jiang Chen asked excitedly.

Wang Dagou nodded repeatedly: "I remember! Of course I remember! Every year on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of the lunar month, people from all around would flock there. It was so lively! Later, wasn't it said that the site was too messy, didn't meet fire safety standards, and affected the city's appearance, so the county shut it down?"

"Right!" Jiang Chen grinned slyly. "If they give up, we'll take over!"

Jiang Chen's style has always been to act decisively.

He pulled out the specially made walkie-talkie clipped to his waist and pressed the channel of the chief engineer directly.

"Hello! Old Zhang? This is Jiang Chen!"

A flattered voice came from the other end of the walkie-talkie: "Oh! Mr. Jiang! What are your orders?"

"Immediately! Level that hundred-acre plot of land at the south end of the village, along the Qingshui River! Yes, that wasteland!"

"Build greenhouses! Lay electrical wires! Install water pipes! I'm going to create the largest rural market in the entire province, no, in all of China!"

Jiang Chen's voice was filled with an undeniable air of dominance.

There was a half-second silence on the other end of the walkie-talkie, then an excited shout erupted: "Roger that, Mr. Jiang! Mission accomplished!"

Jiang Chen's phone call was like pressing a start button.

In less than ten minutes, the tranquility of the entire Jiangjia Village was shattered.

Hundreds of bulldozers, excavators, and heavy trucks, like a steel torrent, drove towards the wasteland at the south end of the village.

Such a commotion naturally alerted the village committee.

The newly appointed village chief is Wang Fugui, the former Party Secretary of the neighboring village. He is a fairly reliable and hardworking person.

Upon hearing this, he was so anxious that he broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly rode his Forever brand old-fashioned bicycle, speeding all the way to Jiang Chen's old house.

"Chen... Chenzi!"

Wang Fugui leaned his bicycle against the wall, not even bothering to wipe his sweat, and ran over to grab Jiang Chen's arm, looking anxious.

"I heard you're going to... set up that kind of messy market in our village?"

"That won't do!"

Wang Fugui was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet.

"Chenzi, listen to your uncle's advice. What is the status of our Jiang Family Village now? It's a nationally renowned 'Village of the Super-Rich,' a 'Holy Land of Immortality' that countless wealthy people yearn for!"

"You've worked so hard to improve our village's standards by building roads and a hospital. If we were to set up one of those chaotic markets selling roasted sweet potatoes and geese, wouldn't that just lower our own status?"

"If that happens, all the big bosses and tycoons who come to our Changsheng Hospital for treatment will be scared away, and the losses will be enormous!"

Wang Fugui spoke earnestly, believing that Jiang Chen was simply wasting his time and causing trouble.

Jiang Chen laughed after hearing this.

He patted Wang Fugui on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

"Uncle Wang, I understand your concerns."

"But you've got one thing wrong."

Jiang Chen's gaze swept over the construction site in the distance, which had already begun to roar, and his eyes became deep.

"The reason why Jiangjia Village is Jiangjia Village is not because of how many wealthy people come here for medical treatment, nor because of how luxurious the houses are."

"It's because this is my home, and it belongs to the Jiang family."

Jiang Chen turned his head, looked at Wang Fugui, grinned, and revealed a set of white teeth.

"Therefore, I'm the one who calls the shots on this turf."

"I don't care what those rich people think. What I, Jiang Chen, want is that lively, bustling, and vibrant atmosphere of everyday life."

"If anyone finds this unacceptable, then they shouldn't come!"

"Tomorrow, issue me a notice in the name of the Jiang Group!"

"Jiangjia Village Market is now officially open for business!"