Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 80: The Dust Settles, Crisis in Su Family Village Temporarily Resolved

Su Family Village.

An unfamiliar carriage rolled up dust and stopped at the village entrance, immediately causing a stir. For this impoverished, isolated mountain village, a four-wheeled carriage was a rare sight that only wealthy families in the town could possibly own. And any outsider could bring opportunity, or herald trouble.

Villagers working in the fields straightened their backs, women picking vegetables at their doorsteps stopped their hands, even children chasing and playing halted their steps, all looking curiously and with a touch of wariness toward that imposing carriage.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Dequan's heart sank heavily. His first thought was: Trouble has arrived! Is it from those in town who are jealous of the paper-making workshop, or people behind that mysterious Merchant Chen? He jogged to the village entrance, forcing a cautious and humble smile onto his face, though his heart felt like a tightly drawn bowstring.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a decently dressed, kindly-faced, slightly plump middle-aged man stepped down.

Zhao Dequan hurried forward to greet him, probing, "Sir, you are... looking for someone?"

The middle-aged man sized up the lean man before him, glanced at the nervous, plainly dressed villagers behind him, and maintained his gentle smile, not directly stating his purpose.

"May I ask, who is Zhao Dequan, Village Chief Zhao?"

"That's me, that's me." Zhao Dequan grew even more nervous inside.

Only then did the middle-aged man take a letter and a document stamped with a bright red official seal from his robe."I am surnamed Wang, entrusted by someone to deliver this letter and this document to Village Chief Zhao. You will understand upon reading them."

He handed over the letter from Su Ming and the official document.

Zhao Dequan took them. When he saw the bright red seal of the County School, his hands trembled slightly, and his hanging heart finally settled completely to the ground.

It's done!

It's really done!

He opened the letter and quickly scanned it. In the letter, Su Ming used concise language to clearly arrange the follow-up plan.

Reduce production, show weakness, share profits, maintain secrecy.

The sudden news momentarily stunned Zhao Dequan, followed by wild joy! So it wasn't trouble, but a massive backer actively coming to their doorstep!

The caution and humility on his face were instantly replaced by excitement and awe. He was about to bow deeply to Mr. Wang, his voice trembling uncontrollably, "So... so it's Mr. Wang from the County School! Ah! This old man is blind! I didn't know such an honored guest had arrived, my neglect! My neglect! You must be tired from the journey, so tired!"

The villagers behind him, though not fully understanding the specific meaning of the document, vaguely sensed from words like "County School," "official seal," and the Village Chief's suddenly respectful attitude that a big shot had arrived, and it was a tremendous piece of good news! Their gazes toward the carriage instantly shifted from wariness to curiosity and awe.

Only then did Mr. Wang smile and gesture to stop the bow, "Village Chief Zhao, no need for such courtesy. I am here on orders from Director Zhou to handle the workshop handover matters. Let's just follow official procedures."

Zhao Dequan carefully folded the letter paper and bowed deeply to Accountant Wang.

"Mr. Wang, I understand everything. You must be weary from the journey, please come rest in the village. We have prepared simple tea and humble fare."

Accountant Wang waved his hand with a smile, "No need for a meal. Director Zhou instructed to handle official business officially, without disturbing the village. I'll go check the workshop accounts first."

Zhao Dequan hurriedly led him toward the workshop.

The paper-making workshop in Su Family Village was more... rudimentary than Accountant Wang had imagined.

A few half-open thatched sheds, several large lime pits, and a row of wooden racks for drying paper were all there was.

was filled with a strange odor mixing lime

villagers were working, their movements listless, the whole scene looking desolate and quiet, far from the image of making a

prior instructions, Su Yang handed over

account book and casually flipped through

with income and expenditure clear at a glance. However, the daily output

business hasn't been good?" Accountant Wang

tinkering. It was good for a few days earlier, but once the news spread, several families in town grew jealous. They sent people

Dequan's words were half-truths, half-fabrications,

and didn't ask

trip wasn't to audit accounts in

closed the account book and smiled, "It's fine. From today onward, this place bears the County School's nameplate. Those people likely won't dare act recklessly anymore. You just

inspecting the area, he prepared to take his

stuffed a pre-prepared, heavy

token of respect from the workshop for the County School this month. It's not much, but please forward it on our behalf. Also, this bit is for your tea money. I sincerely hope you

bag in his hand, the smile on his face becoming

courteous." He said verbally, but his hand didn't push it away, "Since that's

the carriage, and drove off under the awed gazes of the

Zhao Dequan stood at the village entrance, watching the dust raised by the carriage gradually settle, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

had been carrying another equally heavy, yet

contract samples with someone. The letter explained clearly: one copy for Clerk Sun in town,

finished his duties, waiting in the quiet alley

the smile on his face became a bit more genuine. He casually tucked the contract into his sleeve, only vaguely saying, "Village Chief Zhao, you're thoughtful. We're all working for the community. This clerk will naturally consider giving appropriate care," before walking off

hurdle of "the King of Hell is easy to meet, but his little devils are hard

heart drum even louder. He steeled himself and went to the Zhou family's detached residence, only to be thoroughly snubbed as expected. Zhou Kang wore a long face, didn't even glance at the contract, his words dripping with sarcasm, complaining the dry share portion was too small, like

Su Ming's instructions. Bowing deeply, he spoke with extreme humility, yet carefully embedded key phrases like "Director Zhou," "County School

at Zhao Dequan, as if trying to see from his face whether this was a threat

the contract with extreme impatience, glanced at the words "half-percent dividend, paid

his back breaking out in a cold sweat. He knew Zhou Kang had tacitly consented, but had also noted down this humiliation. Yet, they had temporarily

Without the "officially supervised, privately operated" status from the County School pressing down, would Zhou Kang have been content with just those dry

contract terms, and rushed to town again without stopping.

stop was a small official office in the

and Su Shan, his brow subconsciously furrowed, his tone carrying its usual impatience, "You

placed a money pouch containing three taels of silver on the corner of the desk, slightly covering it

his voice, his face wearing just the right amount of respect and flattery, "Thanks to your blessing, the official document for our village's little workshop to become 'officially supervised, privately operated' by the County School arrived today. As per the contract agreement, this is the workshop's dry share dividend for this quarter. This is... a small token of our regard. The workshop just started, times are tough, it's not much,

money pouch into a

considerably, even taking on a hint of "encouragement," "Since it's a pilot project personally designated by Director Zhou, then do it well, don't cause any trouble. On the town's side, if there's any movement, I will

Sun!" Zhao Dequan repeatedly

was already fuming inside because his eldest brother had turned that broken workshop into some "pilot project." When he saw Zhao Dequan and Su Shan arriving

his master's chair, holding a teacup, not even

an exquisite wooden box containing three taels of silver

Master, as per the contract agreement, this is the workshop's dry share dividend for this quarter. According

his elder brother's actions, his anger

get angry either, just bent his waist even lower, but his tone remained steady, "Second Young Master, please calm your anger. It's a small business, just starting, and these are troubled times, truly difficult. Fortunately, it now bears the County School's nameplate, with Director Zhou personally overseeing it. He sent Accountant Wang to audit the accounts, saying all future income and expenditure must be

spoke as if to himself, yet also as if for Zhou Kang to hear, "Director Zhou said this 'officially supervised, privately operated' pilot is the first of its kind, must be done properly. In

Kang's vital point. His hand holding

to manage the accounts?

least not openly! If he caused trouble now for the immediate profit of a few taels, ruining the

white, his fingers gripping the teacup turning pale. Finally, he spat out a