Finally, it was unknown which villager broke the silence first: "If it is Master Zhang, I have no objection."

Then, voices of approval came like a tide, "I have no objection. Look at how chaotic the outside world has become in the past few months, and then look at our village. It is really thanks to Master Zhang. So I agree."

"I agree."

When Mr. Guo witnessed the warm and harmonious scene before him, an indescribable feeling of relief surged in his heart. The smile on his lips became more intense, and his eyes flickered with anticipation for the future.

He turned around briskly and faced Zhang Laoer, with a smile on his face like a spring breeze, and his tone was a bit teasing and expectant: "Village Chief Zhang, you are the one that everyone wants, so don't keep us in suspense, and quickly share your great plan with everyone."

Zhang Laoer felt the eager gazes from all directions converge on him, and a warm ripple arose in his heart.

This invisible support was like a warm current, quietly melting the last trace of hesitation in his heart.

He looked up inadvertently and his eyes met Xu Liyun's clear eyes.

Xu Liyun raised her eyebrows slightly, and there seemed to be silent encouragement in her eyes: Go ahead and do it, you are suitable for a broader stage. We once braved the wind and waves in the business world, so what's the point of worrying about the affairs of a mere village?

When he first came to Zhangjia Village, the only thing on Zhang Laoer's mind was to find his lost wife and children and to find a peaceful place for them.

After that, how to protect this small home from being disturbed in the difficult times became the theme of his daily thoughts.

Helping the village was just a simple task at first, but it turned out to be like sowing seeds, and it yielded a rich harvest quietly.

Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to continue to shoulder his responsibilities and move forward.

"The trust of the villagers is more important than Mount Tai, and I, Zhang Laoer, dare not neglect it. Now, let me talk about the blueprint for the future transformation of our Zhangjia Village."

As he spoke, Zhang Laoer slowly unfolded a planning blueprint that he had carefully prepared, which detailed his ideas and vision for the future of Zhangjia Village.

"This plan is the result of my careful consideration. Please look here," he pointed to the north with his finger and explained to the villagers in detail, "I plan to make the north a residential area. All new houses will be concentrated here, and they will all adopt stable and durable brick and tile structures."

"A brick house!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a mixture of surprise and worry rang out among the crowd.

This is both what they dream of and a luxury dream under current conditions.

"Master Zhang, no, village chief, how much money will this cost? We haven't even warmed up the relief money we just received yet, and we have to pay out again?"

A realistic question, like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguished the enthusiasm of the crowd.

Indeed, brick and tile houses are good, but how can it be easy to build them when food and grass are not sufficient and the future is still uncertain?

"Indeed, a simple mud house can do the job."

Voices of agreement arose one after another.

Zhang Laoer remained silent. He had expected this reaction.

He waited patiently until a faint reminder came from the villagers. It was Guo Jiajie, who used his plain words to awaken everyone's memories of the past: "A few months ago, we dug a well together without spending a penny, and it was successful, wasn't it?"

Zhang Laoer felt unprecedented strength in this rekindled enthusiasm. Although this feeling of being placed with high hopes made him a little uncomfortable, it was more of a motivation.

"Okay, let me continue. Don't interrupt me. Let's discuss it together after I finish speaking. How about that?"

After getting the villagers' nod of approval, Zhang Laoer explained his plan in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.

"First and foremost, the village needs to temporarily take back and manage everyone's existing homesteads and farmland in order to unify planning."

As soon as these words were spoken, the voice of objection that was about to be raised was promptly dissuaded by the villager sitting next to him, and he finally swallowed it back.

"The new houses will be built in a uniform manner with their own doors and courtyards, and you can choose one based on the size of your original homestead. If the area is insufficient, it can be supplemented by the extra land in the village; if it exceeds, you will naturally have to use your own land to make up for it. As for whether the price is fair, I think everyone can judge for themselves."

“And the fields to the east will be combined with the new additions, remeasured, and redistributed fairly according to the number of families.”

"As for the northeast corner, my idea is to build a school so that all children in the village can have the opportunity to read and learn. As the scale has not yet been determined, the reserved land cannot be too small, and at the same time, the unfavorable terrain on the southwest side must be avoided."

"To the northwest, at the foot of the hill next to Honggou Village, we plan to open a brick and tile factory, which can not only supply our needs but also sell to the outside for profit. We are considering developing the southwest into a commercial district to boost the economy. Okay, if you have any questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them."

As soon as Zhang Laoer finished his speech, the villagers immediately became excited and discussions broke out one after another.

Seeing this, Mr. Guo quickly stepped forward to maintain order: "Come one by one, don't be anxious, don't be anxious!"

"Do we need to pay for the construction of the house?"

Some people couldn't wait to ask questions.

"Of course we need it. Without funds, we won't have a new home. But..." Zhang Laoer deliberately prolonged his voice, causing everyone to hold their breath. "The cost will never exceed everyone's affordability. We guarantee that no family will fall into trouble. The specific sharing plan will be explained in detail later."

Upon hearing that the costs were within an affordable range, some people were delighted, thinking that they could easily afford it; others remained cautious and waited for further explanation.

"What about school? Can my child afford the tuition? Will it be as expensive as the private school in town?"

A villager asked worriedly.

Zhang Laoer answered confidently, "The reserved land at the west end is reserved for commercial development. The purpose is to open up more ways for everyone to make money. For example, the brick and tile factory that is about to start up can not only meet the needs of the village, but also sell the surplus. The profits will belong to the village and be used to build schools or craft workshops to further expand the source of income. The operation of the factory requires manpower, so everyone does not need to go to the county town to do odd jobs, and can find jobs near home. The money earned can naturally solve the children's education expenses. As for the tuition issue, I promise to make it affordable for everyone to ensure that every child can go to school."

These heartfelt words were like a ray of warm sunshine that shone into the hearts of every villager.

When Qi Kai heard about the plan to build a school, he was already eager to make it.

His teenage son was sent to a private school in town, but because the journey was too long, he started crying and refused to go after a few days.

If the school is built right next to home, the children probably won’t have any objections this time, right?

"Village head, are there any teachers in the school? How about you teach?"

A villager asked half jokingly and half seriously.

The only slightly educated gentlemen in the area were the town's tongsheng. If one wanted to find a private school at the scholar level, one had to go into the city.

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