Chapter 42 - 43: An Agreement

Chapter 42: Chapter 43: An Agreement

"Uncle Bin."

Chen Yuan headed straight to Chen Wenbin’s office the moment he arrived at the village committee, moving like he owned the place. Out of habit, he reached into his pocket for a cigarette — and came up empty.

All gone.

He’d started the morning with two full packs, and somehow burned through every last one making his rounds without even noticing.

"Have one of mine. Can’t compare to Hua’s brand, but don’t hold that against me."

Chen Wenbin picked up the cigarette pack from his desk and held one out.

"Oh nice, Ziyun — that’s actually my favorite."

It wasn’t just flattery. In his past life, Chen Yuan had genuinely loved this brand.

Cheap as it was, it hit just right. Shame it would get reformulated in a couple of years — same price hike, none of the flavor.

"You..."

Chen Wenbin smiled. Whether it was genuine or not, hearing it still felt good.

He pulled a paper cup from the drawer, scooped some loose leaves from his own tea pouch, brewed a cup, and set it in front of Chen Yuan.

The village secretary personally making tea for a guest — not many people got that treatment.

"I’ve already had a word with the village. None of that nonsense will happen again. You have my word."

"With you around, Uncle Bin, nothing in this village can get out of hand."

Chen Yuan smiled as he picked up the cup, blew on it, and took a small sip. Not bad at all.

Chen Wenbin relaxed visibly at that, his smile warming into something genuinely content.

Smart men didn’t need to spell everything out. Hit the right notes, and that was enough.

Chen Yuan had gotten his assurance, and Chen Wenbin understood that Chen Yuan wasn’t going to actually go after Liu Fang. The village would stay peaceful.

They were all from the same village, all surnamed Chen. Chen Wenbin and Chen Dequan were distant relatives, after all. Push things too far and whatever goodwill existed between them would be gone.

Fortunately, this kid Chen Yuan really did know where the line was.

"By the way, there’s something else. Zhou Jianming just came by. He wants to lease the Old Pond — said he wants a ten-year contract right off the bat."

With the Liu Fang matter settled, Chen Wenbin felt noticeably lighter. He reached into his drawer and produced a contract.

"If he wants to lease it, let him."

Chen Yuan barely glanced at it before looking away, completely unbothered.

"You don’t have any thoughts on that?"

Chen Wenbin studied him curiously.

"Rules are rules. Follow the rules, and nobody has anything to complain about. It’s not like I can be the only one allowed to lease land while everyone else gets shut out — that’d just be making trouble for the village committee, making trouble for you, Uncle Bin."

Chen Yuan crossed his legs, took a long, satisfied drag, and grinned.

"Besides, it’s not like I came out empty-handed. Dozens of fish — two hundred jin at the very least."

"Ha! You little..."

Chen Wenbin burst out laughing, and the warmth on his face said everything.

This kid really did know how to play it.

Sure, nobody had said it out loud, but everyone knew where Liu Fang’s fish had come from. And Zhou Jianming? He didn’t dare ask for them back. Didn’t even dare go after Liu Fang about it — do that, and he’d be implicating himself.

So he had no choice but to swallow the bitterness. Two hundred jin of fish, and he had to just eat the loss.

As for Zhou Jianming coming to the village committee to sign a contract, Chen Wenbin had brought it up precisely to feel out Chen Yuan’s reaction. If Chen Yuan had wanted to make things difficult, Chen Wenbin probably would have helped block it.

But that would have cost them something. Their relationship would have cooled — Chen Wenbin wouldn’t regard Chen Yuan the same way after that.

There’s a principle to these things: I can go out of my way to make things right, I can have your back — but the moment you see an opening and demand something, it becomes a transaction. And transactions have no warmth in them.

"The way I read Zhou Jianming, leasing the Old Pond is probably not his only play."

Chen Wenbin glanced toward the office doorway, then leaned forward slightly and dropped his voice.

"I figured. Fair competition, right?"

Competition was part of any business. What Zhou Jianming was pulling in the village was small-time. Sooner or later, Chen Yuan’s fishing spot would catch the attention of bigger players — and that’s when things would get really interesting.

"Besides, not just anyone can run a fishing operation like mine."

Chen Yuan stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his casual smile carrying a quiet but unmistakable confidence.

Chen Wenbin liked that about him.

Sharp, perceptive, and measured.

"Flies don’t land on an uncracked egg. If you want this place to grow, you can’t leave any loose ends. Get every permit and license you need — all of them. Otherwise, all it takes is one inspector rolling through and they can shut you down on the spot. You understand what I’m saying?"

"I hear you, Uncle. Loud and clear."

Chen Yuan knew exactly what Chen Wenbin was getting at. His operation wasn’t just a fishing pond anymore — he was serving food, selling cigarettes, liquor, water, the works.

Liu Fang’s little stunt had been aggravating, but it had also been a useful reminder. Some things you simply had to have in order.

"Good. If you need any help getting them sorted, just say the word."

Satisfied that Chen Yuan had understood and actually taken it to heart, Chen Wenbin let it go and flipped through the contract, stamped it, then entered it into the system. Only then was it official.

"Actually, there is one thing I wanted to ask."

Chen Yuan leaned forward, resting both arms on the desk. "You know how the small pond’s got earthen banks on three sides — they get slippery when it’s wet. I was thinking about laying down a layer of concrete. Make it a bit safer."

"Safety always comes first. And you’re the one leasing that pond — you can do whatever you want with it."

"Thanks, Uncle."

Chen Yuan flashed a bright grin. One thing sorted.

But he still didn’t move, staying propped against the desk with a cheeky smile aimed straight at Chen Wenbin.

"What else do you want, you little schemer?"

"Well, there’s that little slope right next to the pond. Thought it could use a bit of clearing up — it’d make getting to the big pond a whole lot easier too, wouldn’t it?"

Chen Yuan’s grin widened.

"You little... you’re talking about clearing land? Wait — don’t tell me you’ve got your eye on the big pond too?"

Chen Wenbin had been smiling, but as the full picture clicked into place, his expression shifted.

"Just thinking about what’s convenient for the village."

Chen Yuan didn’t confirm or deny it. They both knew what he meant. It all came down to what Uncle Bin thought.

Chen Wenbin tossed the contract back in the drawer, pulled out two cigarettes, handed one to Chen Yuan, and lit his own.

"That slope — go ahead and clear it. Whatever you want to do with it, I’ve got your back. But the big pond? Don’t even think about it. Not yet."

He’d thought it through. Chen Yuan wasn’t in a position to take on the big pond yet.

"Understood. I’ll follow your lead, Uncle Bin."

Chen Yuan settled back in his seat, lit his cigarette, and took a deeply satisfied drag.

Done.

The concrete for the embankment and the slope — both taken care of. And as for the big pond, Uncle Bin said not yet. He didn’t say never.

There was still a door open there.

"You crafty little..."

Chen Wenbin shook his head repeatedly, laughing despite himself, the pride on his face impossible to hide.

Chen Yuan knew how far to push, had a quick mind, and caught on instantly. Hard not to like a kid like that.

Brring brring.

They’d barely finished talking when Chen Yuan’s phone rang. The goods he’d ordered earlier had arrived and were waiting for him to sign off.

"Go on, get to it."

Before Chen Yuan could even say anything, Chen Wenbin watched him hang up and waved him off with a smile.

"I’ll head out then. I’ll come visit again soon, Uncle Bin."

Chen Yuan walked out of the village committee with a satisfied smile. Well worth the trip.

Not only had he taken a huge step forward with Uncle Bin, he’d knocked out two things on his list in one go. Now he could start building in earnest.

He hopped on his three-wheeler and swung back toward home. From a distance, he spotted the familiar truck — and the familiar driver leaning against the cab door with a cigarette hanging from his lip, casual as ever.

"Sign here, Boss Chen. Same as always — I’ll help you bring the stuff inside."

Even the words were the same as always.

"Come on, level with me. You going to sit there and tell me you’re not from the system?"

Once or twice could be a coincidence. But every single time? That meant something.

"I’m just a delivery guy."

Same answer as always. Chen Yuan pushed harder, tried every angle he could think of — but he couldn’t get a single thing out of the man.

Once the goods were carried inside, the driver climbed straight back into the truck, floored the accelerator, and was gone in a cloud of dust.