Chapter 277 - 9 Planning
When Lin Xiaoguai got her hands on the contract for the three thousand mu of land, it was already October. The stifling heat of summer had passed, and the climate now carried a hint of the refreshing briskness of autumn.
Three thousand mu of land was no small matter; the whole courtyard was abuzz with the news. Acquaintances and strangers alike came knocking at her door to inquire, since everyone knew Shen Chi was good at raking in cash. Who could tell whether the land hid unknown treasures?
Some even fancifully speculated whether gold, oil, coal, or other valuable deposits lay beneath those three thousand mu.
Of course, there were also those who tried to take advantage of the situation, hoping to make a quick buck. The cost of the land contract was no secret, and although people were already aware that Shen Chi’s family was wealthy, now they had a clearer picture, which inevitably led some to scheme.
"Mrs. Shen, if I wasn’t truly desperate, I wouldn’t have come to you," said a gaunt middle-aged woman, wiping away tears. "We’ve managed to gather the money for great-grandma’s surgery, but the hospital says the condition is complicated, and post-surgery care will cost at least seven or eight thousand more, which we just can’t afford. Mrs. Shen, if you’d be willing to lend, I’ll make sure to pay you back by the end of the year."
The woman’s maiden name was Yuan, and Lin Xiaoguai knew that Mrs. Yuan, unlike those who took advantage of the situation to seek favors, was genuine in her plight. However, Lin Xiaoguai couldn’t lend a hand in this case.
She wasn’t short seven or eight thousand yuan, but she just couldn’t set such a precedent. Once started, it would never end.
Moreover... her gaze faintly swept over the other ladies present. This kind of matter could have been discussed privately, yet Mrs. Yuan had specifically invited so many others along. Did she really think Lin Xiaoguai was a fool?