Chapter 35: The Cat-Dog Battle Is About to Erupt

The data Cao Shujie mentioned didn’t seem all that surprising to Ma Changrong and Song Zhichao.

In their view, with such a large investment, earning just over 25 million in 25 years—especially factoring in inflation—still seemed too little.

But from Cao Shujie’s analysis and data, they could clearly see that he’d have no trouble repaying the loan in the future, and that was enough.

Song Zhichao nodded, reached behind him, and the tall Guo Kun immediately handed him a black leather notebook. He opened it and began jotting down the key figures Cao Shujie had just mentioned.

Once Cao Shujie finished in one breath, Song Zhichao smiled and asked, “Mr. Cao, anything else you’d like to add?”

Cao Shujie thought for a moment, then shook his head. “That’s all.”

“Hmm, based on Mr. Cao’s statement just now and the materials he submitted earlier, I personally believe one million isn’t a problem,” said Song Zhichao.

He added objectively, “In fact, we could go even higher for more security.”

Before coming, he hadn’t known the specifics, and only came because of Ma Changrong’s request. But after seeing everything and hearing Cao Shujie’s presentation, he suddenly felt the loan wasn’t much at all.

Cao Shujie agreed wholeheartedly. He also knew that when the bank actually disbursed the loan, they’d probably knock 20–30% off the assessed value.

At noon, Cao Shujie treated them to a meal at the best hotel in town.

During the meal, each of them drank more than a pound of baijiu, followed by two bottles of beer to wash it down.

Song Zhichao seemed genuinely drunk. Swaying, he slurred, “Mr. Cao, your pricing is really low.”

“I’m counting on you, Manager Song. If it works out, the more the better. No more words—our bond’s in the booze.” Cao Shujie clinked glasses with him again.

Song Zhichao thought, “That’s not what I meant!”

…

At the mountain fields contracted by Cao Shujie in Cao Family Village—

After Cao Shujie left with Ma Changrong and Song Zhichao, Gao Fengting, Li Xiumei, Cao Jianfang, and the others all continued working dutifully.

But inside, the 12 of them were far from calm.

While Cao Shujie had been explaining his plan to the bank managers, a few nearby had overheard bits and pieces.

As a result, sensitive phrases like “annual income over one million” and “more than 25 million” had made their way into their ears.

Once Cao Shujie and the others were gone, the remaining workers huddled together and shared everything they’d overheard—leaving only gasps of astonishment.

They felt that with 80-plus mu of mountain land, as long as one worked hard, earning a million a year wasn’t out of the question.

Now, if anyone dared say Cao Shujie was a failure who couldn’t make it in the city, they’d probably tear that person’s mouth off.

“Shujie is really something!” Li Xiumei exclaimed in amazement. “When he was little and played with the other kids, I could already tell he wasn’t ordinary. Now I know I was right!”

“Oh come on, Xiumei, now you’re just making stuff up. I never heard you say that before,” said another middle-aged woman, Cao Juan.

Li Xiumei didn’t get mad. She shot back, “Juanzi, what do you know? I just didn’t tell you, that’s all.”

“Alright, enough with the chatter, back to work,” said Gao Fengting. “Shujie said he’d pay us when he got back this afternoon—we can’t just take money without doing the work.”

Most rural folks are still very honest. Hearing this, the others stopped gossiping and got back to work.

Cao Shujie returned a bit after 3 p.m. His face was slightly flushed, but he didn’t look drunk.

After sending Song Zhichao and the others off, he went with Ma Changrong to the bank and withdrew 20,000 yuan in cash, all in tens and fives for easier wage distribution.

By 6 p.m., while it was still light out, Cao Shujie called it a day: “Auntie, let’s stop here for today. I’ll settle up with you all now.”

Seeing that he was really paying them, those who’d been feeling unsure finally relaxed.

Cao Jianfang even shouted, “Come on, Shujie’s someone who earns a million a year—you think he’d short us a few dozen bucks?”

Hearing that, Cao Shujie froze for a second, then smiled wryly. “Uncle Jianfang, I was just bluffing this morning to impress them. If I can make 300,000 to 500,000 a year here, that’s already pretty good.”

“Why’d you bluff them?” asked Cao Jianfang, who was straightforward and not one to overthink things.

Cao Shujie sighed, pointed at the mountain land, and said, “I had no choice. I’ve contracted such a big area—I need to clear and plant fruit trees as soon as possible. But I don’t have enough money, so I need a bank loan.”

“If you want a loan, you’ve got to talk big. Otherwise, how would they believe in me? If I can’t convince them, how would I get enough money?”

Seeing the heavy expression on Cao Shujie’s young face, Cao Jianfang, Gao Fengting, and the others believed him and realized he might really be low on funds right now.

Still, they felt that even earning just 300,000 to 500,000 a year was a lot.

After all, in all of Cao Family Village, including those who’d left to work elsewhere, barely a handful could earn that much annually.

But that very night, word spread that Cao Shujie had contracted 78 mu of mountain land and could earn 300,000 to 500,000 yuan a year—it became common knowledge in the village.

What really impressed the villagers was that he truly paid wages daily.

Thirty-five yuan a day wasn’t much, but without doing this work, no one would give them 35 yuan for free.

So the next morning, over 30 people came to the Village Committee courtyard to sign up to work for Cao Shujie on the mountain.

Cao Shujie was stunned!

Wang Yuelan, who had come to help her son, also heard some of the “rumors.” After chatting with Gao Fengting and Li Xiumei, she figured out what was going on.

When there was no one else around, she scolded her son for talking nonsense and bringing trouble on himself.

“Shujie, now the whole village is saying you make over 300,000 a year. What are we going to do?” asked Wang Yuelan.

Cao Shujie gave a helpless smile. “Mom, how was I supposed to know it’d turn out like this?”

“Besides, I didn’t steal or rob anyone. I invested so much—if I make a bit later, what’s wrong with that?”

…

“Doggie, come here.”

At home, Mengmeng was squatting on the ground, holding Daha’s leash in one hand and tugging at her skirt with the other. “Doggie, look, does it look nice?”

“Woof!” Daha gave a bark, rolled its eyes, and flopped on its side playing dead.

Mengmeng got mad and kicked it.

“Woof!” Daha yelped and rolled over, getting back up. It seemed angry now and barked at Mengmeng.

But just then, the stray cat on the roof, basking in the sun, gave a sharp “Meow!” Its glowing cat eyes locked onto Daha like lasers—warning it not to scare Mengmeng, or else.

A cat-dog war was about to break out when Cheng Xiaolin came out of the house and yelled, “What are you all doing? One more bark and I’ll toss you in the trash can!”

(End of Chapter)