In less than two days, village chief Li of Shangshui village returned. He was accompanied by village officials and a few village representatives. They were all villagers with relatively high prestige in the village.

Xiao Taiyang was the representative from Taoyuan Village.

This meeting was held at the village committee.

Xiao Lingyu’s father, Eldest uncle Xiao, third uncle Xiao, fourth uncle Xiao, Grandpa Xiao, and Grandma Xiao all went to attend the meeting. After all, contracting the reservoir was also a big matter. They were worried that Xiao Lingyu would be bullied.

The reservoir was jointly owned by the two villages, so it involved two villages. After Chief Li had a meeting with his villagers, he returned to talk to Chief Xiao. After all, this involved their common interests.

Although Xiao Taiyang was partial to the Xiao family, he still had to take care of the benefits of the majority of the villagers.

Village chief Li said to Xiao Lingyu, “After I had a meeting with the villagers, we agreed to your contract. Today, a few of our village representatives came over to discuss the contract with you.”

After a few bosses had contracted the reservoir at a loss, the villagers of Shangsui Village were worried that the reservoir would be left unattended in the future. Therefore, when they heard that Xiao Lingyu was willing to contract the reservoir, most of them agreed unanimously. Only a few of them wanted to wait and see. However, the minority had to listen to the majority. Most villagers didn’t want to wait because they didn’t think anyone other than Xiao Lingyu would contract the reservoir.

Besides, Xiao Lingyu was very famous in the neighboring villages. Everyone knew that Xiao Lingyu was very rich. Plus, she had made Taoyuan Village rich alongside her. They didn’t need to worry about Xiao Lingyu owing them the rent. If anything, they were worried that Xiao Lingyu might change her mind and find another reservoir. Therefore, Shangshui Village accepted the contract readily.

To prevent other accidents, the villagers urged Chief Li to come to solidify the contract with Xiao Lingyu after the meeting.

Village chief li said, “Xiao Lingyu, at present, we have no objection to renting the reservoir for 300 RMB per mu per year. However, can you really guarantee that our rent will be paid and increase by 20% once every three years?”

Xiao Lingyu smiled and said, “Village Chief Li, Taoyuan Village and Shangshui village are neighbors, right?

“When I was young, I went to Shangshui village many times. I know many villagers there, and many villagers also know me.

“I always keep my word. The day the contract is signed is the day I give you the rent. I think that our village chief uncle and a few Taoyuan Village elders will attest to that.”

“That’s right. Lingyu has always been very trustworthy. You can trust her,” Xiao Taiyang said with a smile. The elders of Taoyuan Village also nodded in unison. “She has done the same for our land and hills.”

Village chief Li and the others finally felt relieved. Village chief Li said with a smile, “In that case, there won’t be any problems for the villagers and me. The biggest problem was the issue of the rental payment.”

Xiao Lingyu said, “That’s fine. I hope that the contract will be signed as soon as possible. Spring is coming soon. I want to have the fish inside the reservoir before spring.”

Village chief Li and the others nodded and said, “Okay.”

“Alright then. I’ll call someone to draw up the contract. It can be done tomorrow at the earliest,” Xiao Lingyu said seriously. “After the contract is done, I’ll need the official seal of your village and the signatures of your representatives.”

“Okay, no problem.” Village chief Li nodded and said.

Xiao Lingyu thought for a moment and then asked, “Village chief Li, village chief uncle, do you know where to find fish spawns?”

Village chief Li thought for a moment and said, “I do know a few people who sell them. But what kind of fish spawn, and how many of them do you need?”

Xiao Lingyu said, “How many fish can we raise in the reservoir?” She had not done this before, so she really didn’t know.

Village chief Li and the others, “…”

Village chief Li Thought for a moment and asked with some doubt, “Don’t you know how to raise fish?” This was basic knowledge.

Xiao Lingyu shook her head and said, “I don’t.”

“If you don’t know how to raise fish, why are you contracting a reservoir?” A villager from Shangshui village could not help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll suffer losses like the previous owners?”

Village chief Li and the others, “…”

The Xiao Family, “…”

“Hey, how can you say that?” Fourth uncle Xiao said unhappily, “Who says that people who don’t know how to raise fish can’t contract the reservoir? Who says that people who don’t know how to raise fish will definitely lose money if they raise fish?”

The villager was a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and did not say anything else. He did not want to make things worse!

Xiao Lingyu did not explain. She said, “I have never raised fish before, but I can always learn.”

Everyone, “…” Such was the power of money. It could move the world.

At this moment, Father Xiao said, “Yu ‘Er has already asked me to go look for someone who knows how to raise fish and look after the reservoir. I’ve found said person. When the contract is completed, I’ll have him go over and access the situation.”

Everyone, “…”

Xiao Lingyu smiled and said, “Alright then, Dad, I’ll leave this matter to you.”

…

Xiao Lingyu got someone to finish the contract the next day. After Xiao Lingyu carefully looked at the contract, she talked to the Taoyuan Village Chief and Shangshui village chief Li to confirm the time for signing the contract.

…

For the next two days, the villagers of Shangshui Village were very happy.

“I thought no one would rent this reservoir anymore. I didn’t expect Xiao Lingyu of Taoyuan Village will rent it!”

“Yeah. The village chief said that the reservoir would be rented to Xiao Lingyu at 300 RMB per mu. After three years, the rent will increase by 20%. Speaking of which, Xiao Lingyu is really rich.”

“That’s right. She’s really rich!” Many people’s eyes flashed with envy.

“Xiao Lingyu has been working hard since she was young. When she was admitted to the university, she was the county’s top scorer. It caused a sensation. At that time, who didn’t know that Taoyuan Village had a female top scorer who was very good at studying?”

“Speaking of which, education is very important. Even when she’s farming, she can make a wonderful career out of it.”

“Xiao Lingyu is very capable. I heard that she married a very rich husband.”

“I heard that the husband is very rich.”

…

“Hey, how much money do you think we can get from renting the reservoir this time?”

“We own 480 Mu of the reservoir. One Mu is rented for 300 RMB, so the rent will be… let’s see, it should be over 100,000 RMB, right?”

“Yes, 144,000 RMB,” someone said at the side. “There are 220 households in our village, so each household can get 654.5 RMB, which is 80-90 RMB more than before.”

“Only 650 RMB?” someone said in disappointment. “I thought I could get a few thousand.”

“But that is only for one year. Three years of rent is almost 2,000 RMB,” the villager added.

“That is almost equivalent to half a year’s income from farming.”

“No wonder the villagers at Taoyuan Village have made a fortune from renting their hills.”

“Yes. They got their rents based on population. Everyone got several thousand each. Think about it. A family has at least two or three people. That’s at least tens of thousands.”

“And they get paid once every three years, and the rent will increase by 20 percent every time.”

“Xiao Lingyu will contract the reservoir for ten years. Are we getting the same contract as the hill rentals from Taoyuan Village?”

“It’s the same. Village Chief Li has said so.”

“Oh, that’s good. Next time, we can get more than two thousand.”

“But, when can we get the money?”

“We have to sign the contract. After signing the contract, we will get the money.”

…

“Village chief Li, village chief uncle, this is the contract. Please take a look at it carefully. If there are no problems, this contract will be finalized.” Xiao Lingyu showed them the contract that had already been prepared.

Village chief Li took the contract and skimmed through it. Then he said, “Xiao Lingyu, can I take this contract back and slowly read it?” Actually, he was going to the town to consult the relevant professionals.

Xiao Lingyu nodded and said, “Of course, there’s no problem. After you’ve finished reading it, if there’s no problem, you can sign the contract.

“I’ll go to Shangshui village to get the signed contract. Is there any other problem?”

“No problem, of course, there’s no problem!”

…

After leaving Taoyuan Village, Li Changchun told the other elders, “Let’s take the contract to the town and ask the relevant professionals to see if there’s any problem.”

An elder smiled and said, “Village chief, is there a need to be so serious? We didn’t even do that when the previous bosses contracted the reservoir.”

However, Village chief Li said very seriously, “The previous few times we signed the contract, it wasn’t so formal, and on the issue of compensation, it wasn’t so serious either.

“But this time, it is different. This contract is very formal, and it contains a lot of legal jargon. We have to be more cautious.”

“Don’t you believe Xiao Lingyu?” Elder B asked very seriously.

However…

“It’s not that I don’t believe Xiao Lingyu. It’s that I have to be on the lookout for the villagers, and I need them to take this seriously,” Village Chief Li said earnestly. The three elders fell silent.

Village chief Li’s words implied that he was worried that the villagers would go back on their words in the future. As they consulted a professional, the villagers would take this contract more seriously. In other words, Village Chief Li showed that he had confidence in Xiao Lingyu’s success.

“Village chief, are you so confident in Xiao Lingyu? Are you sure that she won’t be like the few bosses before her?” Elder A said with a smile.

Village Chief Li said, “Xiao Lingyu is a capable person. Even if she fails in her first year of fish farming, there will still be a second and third year.

“She is already very rich now. She doesn’t care much about the small amount of money invested in the reservoir. However, since she has already set her sights on this reservoir, she must be aiming for success. In any case, she’ll find a use for this large reservoir.”

“Village chief, you’re right!” The elders nodded.

They came by motorbike, two motorbikes and four people.

After going to town, they found the relevant departments and professionals.

Not long after, they left town with smiles on their faces.

Two days later, Xiao Lingyu, Xiao Lingyun, and Father Xiao went to Shangshui Village with over 400,000 in cash. Xiao Lingyu signed the contract with the village committee and a few village representatives. She was not responsible for handing over the individual rent payment. To be careful, she handed the money to the village chief in front of all the village elders.

After signing the contract, Xiao Lingyu took the contract in her hand and said very seriously, “Village chief Li, from now on, the right to use the reservoir belongs to me. I hope the villagers can restrain their children and be careful around the reservoir. If something happens, I won’t be responsible.”

Every year, many children went to the reservoir to play. Xiao Lingyu had heard of many accidents over the years. Now that she was responsible for the reservoir, she would attach great importance to safety.

Xiao Lingyu thought for a moment and said, “Village chief, for the sake of safety, from tomorrow onwards, I will have people put iron fences around the reservoir. If the villagers need to go to the reservoir to do anything, please let me know.”

Village chief Li nodded and said, “Okay, I got it. I will inform them later.”

“Okay, then thank you, Village chief Li,” Xiao Lingyu said.

After Xiao Lingyu left, the villagers of Shangshui Village came to get their rent.

After giving out the money, Village Chief Li gave the announcement.

“Since this reservoir has been contracted to someone else, it belongs to Boss Xiao now. Just now, Boss Xiao said that from tomorrow onwards, she will put an iron fence around the reservoir.”

“Ah? Then how will we be able to wash our clothes? Usually, we go there to do our laundry!”

Village chief Li’s face darkened, and he said, “Can’t you do it at home? Don’t you have a well at home? Besides, the reservoir has been contracted to raise fish, not for you to do your laundry!”

“But we’ve been using the reservoir to wash our clothes!” A woman said unwillingly, “We could still do that in the past when the other bosses contracted the reservoir.”

“So that’s why those bosses lost money,” The village chief said sharply, “Their fishes were poisoned to death by your detergent.”

The villagers, “…”

“But we…”

Village chief Li raised his hand. “If you want to use the reservoir for laundry, then give back the money that you have put into your pockets.”

Hearing this, the villagers were stunned at first. Then, they quickly covered their pockets.

One of the villagers immediately smiled embarrassedly and said, “Village chief, so we won’t do our laundry there in the future. Why the need to be so serious?”

The others nodded.

Village chief Li said seriously, “Also, you have to watch your children. Don’t let them go to the reservoir to play. If something bad happens, the boss won’t be responsible.”

“Okay!”