Volume 1 Chapter 20 The Wager

When Meng Xiaohan walked back out, Guo Dong was stunned.

He hadn't realized that when she ran back inside earlier, it was to change her clothes. Goodness, this is your own home—did you really need to be so formal? Not only had she changed, but she was also wearing light makeup. With this fresh and elegant look, it didn't look like she was at home at all; it looked exactly like she was heading out for a date.

"Guodong is here?" Meng Xiaohan asked, feigning ignorance, her tone noticeably softer as she busied herself with tea and fruit.

The scene was becoming a bit too much even for Meng Tianming to watch.

"Guodong came over today to discuss leasing that patch of wasteland behind the hill. I’ve already talked it over with him; I told him to go ahead and farm it for now, and we can settle the profits once he starts making money."

Meng Tianming’s words left Guo Dong speechless, not knowing how to refute him.

"Dad, what do you know about this? Have you even calculated the annual rent or how many years the lease should be? You can't just do things like this—you’re always so haphazard with your decisions." With that, she produced a document and placed it firmly on the table. "Guodong, this is a document I put together. Take a look; it’s a bit rushed, so it’s not perfect yet."

Guo Dong took the document and scanned it. Meng Xiaohan was definitely more reliable! Everything was clearly and meticulously detailed, far better than Meng Tianming’s casual approach. After a quick glance, he set it back on the table.

"I don't have any issues with this. Once the last batch of peaches is sold tomorrow, I'll have the capital. I'll lease it for five or six years for now. As for what to plant, I definitely won't be planting peaches again."

Meng Tianming, having been scolded by his daughter, had intended to stay quiet, but hearing this, he grew anxious. "Guodong, you’re not going to plant these peaches that sell for thirty yuan a catty? What do you plan to grow instead?"

"Uncle, there are plenty of things to plant. Why must it be peaches?"

"That won't do! Besides peaches, can you guarantee that anything else will sell for the same price?"

"No!" Guo Dong shook his head. "Uncle, that land is just sitting there barren. You provide the land, I provide the money. As long as what I grow isn't illegal, I don't see what the problem is."

"You..." The two of them were getting heated.

Seeing this, Meng Xiaohan knew she had to intervene. She quickly pulled her father aside. "Dad, it’s not like Guodong is wrong. He’s paying, we’re providing the land—what he chooses to plant is none of your business. Besides, whether he makes money or not has nothing to do with you."

Meng Xiaohan was clearly taking his side.

Meng Tianming looked at his daughter and lowered his voice. "That’s not what we agreed upon. We said he would lead us to prosperity, not just do whatever he pleased."

Meng Xiaohan glanced back at Guo Dong, a smile appearing on her face. "You don't understand, so how can you say he's just 'doing whatever he pleases'? When he first started planting peaches, everyone said he was being reckless, but look at him now—he’s making money!"

Meng Tianming was speechless. He couldn't win an argument against his daughter, yet he still felt this whole thing was unreliable. Seeing that her father had no response, Meng Xiaohan deliberately raised her voice so Guo Dong could hear. "Dad, these plots of land are being leased to Guodong. Even if he leaves them empty and plants nothing, it has nothing to do with you. You're overstepping."

Guo Dong sat there, nodding repeatedly. Meng Tianming was fuming, looking from one to the other. It seemed he couldn't afford to offend either of them. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. Plant whatever you want, that’s none of my business. But Guodong, let me make one thing clear: you have to lead us to make money. Only when we’re making money will the agreement between me and your grandfather take effect. Otherwise, forget it!"

"Agreement? What agreement?" Guo Dong jumped to his feet, staring intensely at Meng Tianming. Just hearing about it made his blood boil. This arranged marriage business—he didn't even know what the girl looked like, and yet they had used it as a bargaining chip to settle his future. Given his current situation, once he sold the fruit tomorrow, bought a new phone, and got a car, he refused to believe he couldn't find a wife on his own.

"Uncle, we can't do things this way. Leading the village to make money is your job; what does it have to do with me? Even if I, Guo Dong, was poor before, you can't use this to threaten my grandfather!"

Meng Tianming was also losing his temper. "I am threatening you, so what? You think I’m happy about sacrificing my own daughter? Fine, if you're so capable, do it yourself. Without my signature, you won't be leasing that land. And don't you dare set your sights on Xiaohan. Guo Dong, I’m telling you, what you plant is your business, but I still have the final say regarding my daughter's marriage."

The more he listened, the stranger it sounded! Guo Dong stood there, completely dumbfounded. What was going on? How did Xiaohan get dragged into this? He wasn't stupid. Looking at Meng Tianming’s exasperated expression and then at Xiaohan, who was standing there looking flustered and at a loss for words, he finally understood.

He stared at the documents on the table for a long time. Suddenly, his expression shifted faster than a flipping book, and he began to grin. "Uncle, you said it yourself. If... if I can make the village prosperous, then Xiaohan..."

Seeing his smug look, Meng Tianming was irritated. "I said it! As long as you can do it, I'll give you my daughter—so what!"

Guo Dong was ecstatic. He grabbed the documents and ran out. "I'll hold you to that! I'm taking the papers, and I'll give you results by tomorrow!"

*Bang!* He threw open the courtyard gate. Outside, several old men were huddled against the wall, eavesdropping. As soon as Guo Dong ran out, they immediately pretended to be minding their own business.

Only Meng Xiaohan was left in the courtyard, still in shock. It wasn't until Guo Dong had left that she angrily asked, "Dad, did you even ask me about this?"

"What? You don't agree?" Meng Tianming looked at his daughter, who looked like she was on the verge of tears, and began to second-guess himself. Had he misjudged the situation? Did his daughter not like Guo Dong? But that couldn't be right; he watched her every day. Whenever it involved Guo Dong, no one in the village was more attentive than she was. Every time she went to see him, she always dressed up beautifully. If he were wrong about that, he’d truly be blind.

"I solve my own problems; I am not a bargaining chip for you to use in your bets! What was that you said earlier? 'Give me my daughter'—I am a person, not a piece of merchandise!"

Hearing this, Meng Tianming finally realized he had misspoken. He chuckled and said intentionally, "Alright then, before that kid realizes what happened, I'll go take the documents back. Actually, just pretend your dad was drunk and talking nonsense; it doesn't count."

He turned to run out, but Meng Xiaohan grabbed him. "A word spoken is like water spilled! You already promised him, where do you think you're going?"

Meng Tianming stood tall and shouted, "Empty words aren't worth anything! I didn't sign a contract; who can prove I said that? No, I’m going to chase that boy down right now!"

Behind him, Meng Xiaohan’s exasperated voice rang out as she hurriedly chased after him.