Chapter 18: Have You Eaten? Never Tried It? Come and Take a Fine! (New Book—Please Support and Vote!)

“This is just too much! How could Dad let them treat us like this?” Yu Xueqing’s eyes were red with anger as she accused the gang of villains.

“It all comes down to the previous tea competitions and those few acres of land on the uphill mountain...” Chen Peipei sighed deeply and explained, “Your father is stubborn and blunt by nature. During the last two tea competitions, he openly exposed a group of commercial brokers’ scams. Later, they even started fighting right there at the competition venue.”

“But your father had the support of our Chen Family Village, and they chased that gang away in a flash.”

At this point, Chen Peipei shook her head and continued, “We thought it was all behind us, but at the beginning of the year, we ran into them again.”

“When your father tried to secure the land use rights for those acres, they happened to be there.”

“Those brokers lost the bid and caused trouble, accusing the village chief of favoritism toward your father and complaining everywhere.”

“Our town, Changxi, formerly known as Chen Family Village, elects the village chief through votes by respected local villagers. They stirred up trouble everywhere, spreading rumors about insider deals.”

“The matter escalated to the local security bureau. You were still in school then, so you probably didn’t know.”

“In the end, Village Chief Chen presented a solid, evidence-based rebuttal to their slanders and had them detained for fifteen days for causing disturbances in the village.”

Ansheng’s expression showed sudden understanding as he grasped the general course of events.

The so-called commercial brokers were middlemen who operated across industries, helping sellers market goods and buyers find resources and connections, earning commissions in the process.

Yu Zhenghong had twice sabotaged the opposing party’s business, so it was no wonder those brokers targeted him mercilessly.

But was Yu Zhenghong in the wrong? Absolutely not!

Those men forced people to sell counterfeit goods and acted so arrogantly—anyone else would have slapped them twice. The reputation of a trade depends on all its members upholding standards; selling fake products undermines the livelihoods of everyone involved.

As for the so-called insider deals on land contracts...

Ansheng scoffed. In the Xiadong region, tea farmers have always been strongly supported.

When contracting land, local villagers engaged in the tea industry have priority rights.

If no villagers apply, then the land is awarded to whoever wins the bid in the normal process.

Tea plantation land is a precious resource. Even when the same tea variety is planted on different plots, the resulting tea varies in flavor. The uphill mountain tea gardens are suited for growing oolong tea.

Moreover, it’s the famous Dongding Oolong.

In other words, if managed well, tea plantation land is a veritable golden goose.

The reputation of a tea-producing region is built over many years of tireless work by local tea farmers.

Contracting a ready-made tea garden plot is akin to picking ripe fruit; locals aren’t foolish—they naturally look after their own.

If you’re so capable, why don’t you contract land in the core production area of Longjing tea?

The market price there is at least fifty thousand yuan per jin—how could you not make a fortune?

Though such regulations result from local protectionism and villagers banding together, Xiadong holds tea competitions. Outsiders can gain fame through merit, by contracting land, planting tea, and participating in the annual competition every November.

Achieving a rank there can make the tea garden’s name well-known, allowing one to sell tea or transfer land and technology rights.

Ansheng himself had competed in tea contests in his previous life, even topping the field and winning a fifty-thousand-yuan fine.

The ultimate fate of tea sellers is to cultivate the land.

In his former life, Ansheng took a high-tech approach, inspired by innovations in the aged wine industry. Using irradiation technology, he conducted large-scale improvements on tea saplings to enhance flavor.

The resulting taste was excellent, but lacking certification and safety verification, he was penalized.

No profits were made, but the fines were plentiful. Reflecting on those youthful days, Ansheng sighed deeply.

“Why do they get to be the first to complain like villains?” Yu Xueqing said indignantly. “Dad did nothing wrong!”

Chen Peipei shook her head. “Mom already reported it to the security bureau, but no evidence could be found.”

“When they broadcast, apart from the occasional cuss word in our dialect, they just repeated the same accusations like a broken record—that your father beat people and colluded with officials.”

“The comment sections are full of overseas IPs. Tracking them down would require enormous time and money. For a non-criminal case, the security bureau said... well.”

At this, Chen Peipei shook her head again, troubled by the injustice suffered by good people.

That gang of brokers didn’t harass Yu Zhenghong’s family in reality, but they engaged in endless personal insults and abuse online. Even if summoned, it would only lead to mediation at best.

Yu Zhenghong and Chen Peipei were helpless; every live broadcast turned into a nonstop battle of insults.

Chen Peipei tried live-streaming sales to recoup the cost of the equipment, but that group had seen her before and would hurl abuse at her as well.

After crying twice from the verbal attacks, Yu Zhenghong refused to let his wife do it anymore.

And now, there was simply no way to handle those brokers.

“Ah Qing, listen to your mother. Don’t worry about the investment in equipment; just treat it as a normal summer job helping the family. If those people show up, just end the stream.”

Chen Peipei sat beside Yu Xueqing, took her hand, and spoke earnestly, “Though several thousand yuan isn’t a small amount, family health is more important.”

“If worst comes to worst, we’ll give up the income from sales. Didn’t we survive before on just one family store?”

“You must focus on your studies. Your parents can handle everything else. Think of this summer job as social practice experience—don’t be as stubborn as your father.”

“I understand, Mom...” Yu Xueqing forced a smile in response.

“Good! Now go start the charcoal, and I’ll get the barbecue ready. When Dad comes back, we’ll start the feast!”

A smile appeared on Chen Peipei’s cheek as she pinched Ansheng’s little face.

“By the way, let’s hold a welcome party for the little guy.”

After speaking, Chen Peipei rose from the sofa, humming a tune as she headed to the kitchen to prepare the food.

“Whimper—”

Ansheng looked at Yu Xueqing and let out a small whine, his expression suspicious.

Ah Qing... since they’ve come to bully us, we can’t just back down here!

Damn it, you kicked my food bowl, huh?

I worked hard farming in my previous life. Sure, now I want to take it easy, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten all my farming skills!

Damn it, after such humiliation, watch me put you all to work in the fields!

Pooper scooper! Make a wish quickly—tonight I’m going to quietly take them all out.

“Alright, little An, it’s okay...” Yu Xueqing stroked the white fox’s head and sighed.

She had never worked in society and didn’t know how hard it was to earn sixty thousand yuan.

But her father’s health had suffered because of this, requiring long-term rest, and there was even a risk of a burst blood vessel. This made her furious.

Yet what good is anger...

Even her parents and the security bureau were powerless.

With mixed emotions, Yu Xueqing felt a deep sorrow welling inside, helpless before the situation, unable to change anything.

Wish fulfilled: “Good things happen to good people” (If only they could bring glory to their ancestors and cause smoke to rise from their graves, maybe the Yu family’s fortunes could change? At least, they wouldn’t have to watch the black-haired bury the white-haired.)