After completing the paperwork and paying the remaining money, Lu Yingshan's eyebrows curved with joy. Her village finally had hope.
"Boss Li, thank you, thank you. Please stay for a simple dinner tonight. I'll get things ready."
Lu Yingshan was bustling with energy, and by the time she spoke, she was already at the doorway. However, Li Haochen called out to her, "Secretary Lu, there will be many more opportunities for meals in the future. I have some business to attend to."
Thinking about it, he had leased a thousand mu of their sea area. He would naturally have to visit often. Moreover, she was in a hurry to finalize the lease, otherwise, the funds couldn't be used.
"Alright then, next time for sure."
Li Haochen walked out of the village, said a few words to Wei Dayong, and then walked alone towards the bay. When he arrived, he saw several figures bobbing near the reef. Curious, he walked over and found they were collecting oysters, likely villagers from Niuwei Village.
"Auntie, collecting oysters? They're quite plump."
Li Haochen's voice startled the several aunties. Seeing that he was a stranger, they didn't seem inclined to talk. After a couple of glances, they continued collecting oysters.
Li Haochen didn't seek trouble and walked around the reef area by himself. However, it was strange; he didn't see many sea snails, and the ones he did see were very small. It shouldn't be like this for such a long reef area.
After walking a considerable distance, it was still the same. Li Haochen couldn't help but frown. Had people been clearing it out regularly?
He walked back. The aunties were already packing up, seemingly having collected enough.
Li Haochen politely walked over and asked, "Aunties, did you have a good haul?"
"Not bad."
They were truly stingy with their words, and there was a hint of wariness. However, it was understandable. In such a desolate place, a stranger appearing here? Anyone would be a bit defensive.
"Aunties, may I ask why there are so few sea snails here? I saw a video and thought there would be a lot to pick up while foraging on the shore."
"Hmph, you try coming here every few days to clear it out and see if anything is left."
"That damned Niutou Village. It's clearly our territory, and they still do this. They deplete the resources, wishing they all die without offspring..."
As soon as the aunties mentioned Niutou Village, they were filled with anger. They continued walking and grumbling, completely ignoring Li Haochen. But looking at their eyes, although there was resentment, there was also a hint of helplessness.
"It seems the animosity between these two villages is deep-seated."
Li Haochen looked at the bay again. Now that he had money, it was time to start the construction. Having tasted the sweet rewards of Butterfly Bay, if he could turn this place into a massive fish cage, the daily seafood yield would be unimaginable. It would surely be ten times, or even dozens of times more than Butterfly Bay.
"We need to resolve the issue with Niutou Village first. Otherwise, the construction ships won't be able to enter, and we can't proceed with the work."
Li Haochen turned to leave. Upon returning to the village entrance, he called out to Wei Dayong to depart.
Niutou Village was not far from Niuwei Village, just a few hundred meters away. In a few minutes, they arrived at the entrance of Niutou Village. From the outside, it was significantly better than Niuwei Village. Three-and-a-half-story self-built houses were common, and several were magnificent and imposing.
Getting out of the car, Li Haochen walked in. He didn't need to ask anyone; the words "Village Committee" were so conspicuous that it was impossible not to notice.
He walked over, pushed open the door, and saw several men inside engaged in heated conversation. There were men of all ages, and each of them wore floral shirts, with collars open, and thick chains around their necks. They were likely gold, judging by their brilliance. They also wore wooden bracelets on their wrists, of some unknown wood, dark and lustrous. For a moment, Li Haochen thought he had walked into a gang hideout.
Seeing Li Haochen enter, the men stopped talking abruptly, their eyes all focusing on him. Li Haochen felt a little nervous. Could it really be a gang?
"What is it?" the fashionably dressed old man at the head of the group asked.
"Uh... hello, I'm looking for the village secretary."
"That's me. Is there something you need?"
"Yes, there is."
Li Haochen glanced at the people beside him, hesitating to speak. The old man, seeing his thoughts, spoke up, "You guys go and watch the oyster rafts. They'll be going to market soon. Don't let anything go wrong."
"Alright, we'll head to Uncle Hui's then."
"Young man, let's talk inside."
The old man poured Li Haochen a cup of tea and then asked, "Young man, just say what you need to. I still have some influence here, haha!"
Some influence? Li Haochen didn't think so. Judging by his confident old face, this Niutou Village was likely ruled by him.
After a brief chat and introductions, Li Haochen got straight to the point, "Secretary Liu, I'd like to lease the sea area outside Niutou Bay. I wonder if that's possible."
Liu Dahui narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Li Haochen, flicked some ash from his cigarette, and took a puff. "We don't lease that sea area to outsiders."
Li Haochen took a sip of tea, leaned back in his chair, and smiled, "Everything has a price, doesn't it?"
Liu Dahui paused, then looked at Li Haochen again, and then chuckled, "Oh, if young Mr. Li really wants it, it's not impossible, haha!"
"I'm all ears!"
"No partial leasing, only the entire area. Five hundred per mu for a 30-year term. Also, our oyster rafts should be compensated at their original value, and we need to purchase all the oysters currently being farmed at market price, haha!"
"Alright!"
"Pfft~" Liu Dahui actually stated these conditions to make Li Haochen back down, as he had no intention of leasing it out. That area brought millions in income to their village every year, and his own pockets were also considerably lined. How could he give it to someone else?
But Li Haochen's answer caught him off guard. Agreeing to this, was he out of his mind, or did he have some hidden agenda?
"Young Mr. Li, you're not joking, are you?"
"Secretary Liu, I am very serious. After the deal is done..." Li Haochen glanced at the door, then dipped his finger in some tea and wrote a "five" on the table, softly saying, "This much annually, Secretary Liu, what do you say?"
"Deal!"
Liu Dahui agreed without a second thought. If he didn't agree, he'd be a fool. An additional annual income of fifty thousand was more than the illicit income from managing these oyster rafts, and it came with less hassle.
More than two hours later, Li Haochen and Liu Dahui walked out of the administrative office, smiling. All the procedures were completed. The speed was remarkable, showing that the old man had very strong connections.
Returning to Niutou Village again, Li Haochen paid the additional 1.2 million for the oyster rafts. As for the oysters, Liu Dahui originally said they would be valued when they went to market at the end of the year. However, Li Haochen didn't want to wait that long. He offered another twenty thousand, and the matter was settled. He just needed to pay the one million for the valuation.
Regarding the valuation amount by the old man, Li Haochen didn't believe he had estimated it based on their current size, but it didn't matter. He wasn't short of a little bit.