Zhang Liunian continued to press, not because he wanted to get the truth from him, but simply because he didn't want to get entangled with Chen Jiayuan. After all, he was the leader of a killer organization and half an enemy to Zhang Liunian.
"There was such a thing, but it has nothing to do with me. I don't know how such a group of people who specialize in scamming their fellow countrymen came to our Hong Kong city. If I had known, I would never have let them do it.
Please don't lump everyone together. We were not involved in that matter, and we are innocent."
Chen Jiayuan, in order to get money from Zhang Liunian, put his old face on the line. If Gu Lou were here, he would definitely say how brazen he was.
That incident did have something to do with him. Although he didn't lead it, he didn't stop it, and even participated in it, making a profit.
Of course, the Gu family also made a small fortune in the same way.
"Since this matter truly exists, then I will definitely have to consider it carefully. After all, I am just an outsider businessman, and I cannot afford to offend anyone. I hope you can understand my difficulties." Zhang Liunian's words were a rejection of Chen Jiayuan, and the fear of offending them was just an excuse.
Chen Jiayuan naturally understood. He immediately felt his face lose its prestige and, at the same time, really wanted to say, so what if they offended mainland businessmen?
How could mainland businessmen be compared to them, Hong Kong businessmen? Those with clear minds knew which side to choose.
However, considering that there were people from both Hong Kong and mainland business circles present, he could not say anything. In the end, he could only say: "Tomorrow, our Hong Kong businessmen will have a project seminar. If you are interested, you can come and participate. As for the invitation, I will have someone personally deliver it to you later."
Zhang Liunian wanted to refuse, but thinking about the situation in Pengcheng later, he didn't say it out loud, "I will definitely attend this seminar."
Chen Jiayuan, having received his definite answer, felt much lighter in his heart. He bid farewell to Zhang Liunian and left.
After Chen Jiayuan left, people from the mainland business association also approached Zhang Liunian.
"It's Comrade Zhang Liunian. Truly a hero emerging from youth. Since no one in our Pengcheng business circle has your capabilities, our mainland business circle will also have a project development meeting the day after tomorrow. I wonder if you are interested in attending."
Zhang Liunian smiled. He knew why these businessmen were all talking about projects; it was mainly revolving around the train station. He was indeed interested, "Okay, I will definitely be there on time the day after tomorrow."
The people from the mainland business association heard that Zhang Liunian had agreed, and he did so much more readily than when he agreed to Chen Jiayuan. They were inexplicably pleased.
This showed that Zhang Liunian had a better impression of their mainland business circle. It would likely not be too easy for the Hong Kong businessmen to get money out of Zhang Liunian.
"Wait a moment, we will also send the invitation to you. We'll be going back now. Let's chat again next time." The people from the mainland business association had matters to discuss, so they turned and left with their people.
After they left, only the people from Fude Village and Zhang Liunian remained.
Zhang Liunian looked at the people from Fude Village. He wanted to bid them farewell, but they looked at him with disdain, as if he owed them millions.
Even the village chief of Fude Village felt uncomfortable looking at Zhang Liunian, clearly shocked by the windfall Zhang Liunian had just made.
He never expected that Zhang Liunian, who had spent only a few hundred thousand to buy the land, would have his land value increase hundreds of times over in a few months, becoming land worth ninety million.
If they had known that the land would be so valuable, they would never have sold it to anyone else, even if it meant death.
But unfortunately, there is no such thing as buying certainty in hindsight.
The village chief sighed and left silently.
Seeing the village chief leave, the other villagers immediately surrounded Zhang Liunian, babbling about wanting Zhang Liunian to give them some benefits.
"Boss Zhang, you made a net profit of ninety million relying on our village's land. Don't you consider repaying our Fude Village?"
"Why don't you give us the remaining half of your land? We'll consider this matter settled."
"That's right, that's right. Give us your remaining land as a return to our village. It would also be a good deed, and we'll feel better about it."
"If our village hadn't sold you the land, you wouldn't have made so much money. One should be grateful."
"That's right, you can't be the only one making so much money while our village gets nothing."
"..."
Zhang Liunian looked at the suddenly changed attitude of the villagers of Fude Village, his heart remained undisturbed. He had seen too many people who turned their backs on others for money.
Therefore, facing the villagers who had changed their attitude towards him, he did not even frown.
"When I bought this land, I didn't know a train station would be built here. I just wanted to build a factory.
Moreover, when I approached you to buy this stone mountain back then, you were all very happy to get rid of this useless mountain.
You also set the price clearly, and it was a willing sale, with no coercion involved.
Now, you cannot demand compensation just because this mountain has suddenly increased in value. There is no such logic." Zhang Liunian refuted their ideas with kind words and stated that he owed them nothing.
Zhang Liunian's words were not wrong. They had sold the stone mountain and even shared the money, and they were all happy to have sold it.
But who could have imagined that the desolate place would be developed into a train station, directly becoming a treasure trove and bringing Zhang Liunian nearly a hundred million in income?
And it was pure income, requiring no effort.
The money he obtained was too easily earned, and they felt jealous and uncomfortable, so they wanted to ask him for benefits.
But they also knew that doing so was somewhat shameless, but who told them they were jealous!
Jealousy is inherently very uncomfortable.
"What you said is true, but you did get ninety million from our stone mountain. Shouldn't you show some gratitude to our village and give us something in return?"
"Yes, you are already so rich, can't you show some compassion and help us poor people?"
"Our village's life is too difficult. We finally welcomed a turning point, but it was taken advantage of by outsiders like you. How can we swallow this?"
"..."
Zhang Liunian listened to their indignant words and said expressionlessly, "That's why I wanted to build a factory on the stone mountain as aćæ„.
Now that the area has been requisitioned, I can only build it in the neighboring village. At that time, I will prioritize hiring you as workers. This is the best reward I can give you, isn't it?"
It was still an era where workers were paramount. Although Pengcheng had begun to develop, the workers' mindset could not be changed in just one or two years. Therefore, when they heard that Zhang Liunian intended to hire them as workers, they were indeed somewhat moved.
However, as soon as they thought of the ninety million Zhang Liunian had received, those stirrings of interest turned into reluctance.
They were truly unwilling. If that ninety million belonged to their village, each family could have received several million, not only would they not have to work, but they wouldn't have to work for the rest of their lives.