"Cough, cough."
Tian Mengyao gave two fake coughs, then said to Wu Lei, "Village Chief Wu, Director Li from the seed station said he'll buy some medicinal herb seeds back in the next couple of days."
"Why don't you go for me?"
Tian Mengyao was young and shy. Although she clearly wanted to send Wu Lei away, her face turned red as soon as the words left her mouth.
"Secretary Tian... you... you..."
Wu Lei started to say something but didn't dare to finish.
Although she was young and only the acting secretary, her parents were not to be trifled with.
"It's okay to go another day."
Tian Mengyao just said it, but she still wanted to send Wu Lei away.
Wu Lei understood and said, "I'll go now."
The moment he stood up, he looked more than ten years older.
"Uh, take the money back first. I'll talk to Xiao Fan first and then decide."
Tian Mengyao respectfully handed the envelope on the table to Wu Lei.
Wu Lei sighed, "Alright then."
"Xiao Fan, such a young man, so capable!"
As he was leaving, Wu Lei praised Lin Fan meaningfully.
Lin Fan cupped his fists, "Thank you for the compliment."
After Wu Lei left, there were only a man and a woman left in the office.
"Have a seat."
Tian Mengyao's tone carried a hint of warmth.
Now, facing her was no longer a bad Lin Fan, nor a Lin Fan who angered her, but the great benefactor Lin Fan!
After Lin Fan sat down, she asked again, "Xiao Fan, you said just now that you'll cover this sum of money entirely?"
"That's right, it's only five to six hundred thousand. I have enough here."
Lin Fan spoke with confidence and a casual demeanor.
Tian Mengyao had been observing Lin Fan's expression.
Seeing Lin Fan's sincerity at this moment, Tian Mengyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been worried that Lin Fan had found this sum somewhere and was trying to show off.
"But you want ownership of the cooperative..."
Tian Mengyao's eyebrows furrowed.
The cooperative was a collective enterprise led by the village committee, its nature and scope were entirely public welfare. If it became Lin Fan's alone, wouldn't he have absolute control thereafter, doing whatever he pleased?
What if his temperament changed one day and he did something detrimental to the villagers?
"Don't worry, I'm not seeking fame or fortune by paying this money."
"I just want the villagers to have a better life."
Lin Fan said this sincerely, then suddenly changed the subject: "But Secretary Tian, have you ever thought that you can't work here forever?"
"What if you get transferred someday?"
"While you are here, I can guarantee that I won't interfere with the cooperative's affairs."
"But when you're gone, I can't just stand by and watch some parasites devour all my contributions."
Tian Mengyao took a deep breath and tidied her hair.
Simply put, Lin Fan didn't trust the village committee.
As a native of Luofeng Village, he knew too well what the village committee had been doing over the years, to the point where he had lost all trust in them.
Only someone like Tian Mengyao, who was not short of money and not seeking fame or fortune, a fresh graduate, was willing to work hard.
Relying on Wu Lei?
Wu Lei had put in twenty thousand, hoping to get back two hundred thousand or even more!
"I can agree to your terms."
Tian Mengyao knew that she was being overly hesitant.
Firstly, besides Lin Fan, no one else could come up with this sum of money.
Secondly, Lin Fan had always been easygoing and dealt with matters calmly, making him a trustworthy person.
"I can give you the money anytime, but..."
Lin Fan chuckled, "I have a small request."
Tian Mengyao immediately became vigilant.
The words suddenly echoed in her mind: "I just have my eyes on the new beautiful secretary, I'm thinking about her!"
These were Lin Fan's own words!
Tian Mengyao's beautiful eyes, like autumn water, stared intently into Lin Fan's eyes, her pen clutched tightly in her hand.
It looked like if Lin Fan dared to say anything offensive, she might use the pen to poke him.
Lin Fan smiled and continued, "It's like this, I think doing good deeds shouldn't be for fame or anything like that."
"And also, the principle of not flaunting wealth."
"You know a thing or two about rural matters. Envy, jealousy, gossip, rumors, and all sorts of trivial matters are abundant."
Lin Fan scratched the back of his head and continued, "Secretary Tian, when the time comes, please conceal my name and say it's an investment from a big boss in the city."
Tian Mengyao was utterly astonished, her beautiful eyes wide open.
What she heard was vastly different from what she had imagined.
As the saying goes, great wealth without returning home is like wearing brocade at night!
She was aware of Lin Fan's situation before.
Now that he had finally struck it rich and become successful, shouldn't he be showing off and making a name for himself?
Throughout history, how many capable individuals risked their lives, not for the sake of bringing honor to their ancestors and holding their heads high!
But...
Lin Fan actually wanted to voluntarily conceal his name, and even not publicize his good deeds for the villagers!
What was going on?
"I hope you won't tell the villagers that I'm the one who provided this sum of money," Lin Fan repeated.
If his sister-in-law found out about this, explaining it would be a real problem.
"Xiao Fan, I'll remember your contribution to the village. One day, the villagers will also know... they will be grateful to you."
Tian Mengyao didn't know what to say for a moment, her words of praise becoming incoherent.
In her heart, Lin Fan's image had become incredibly tall, even resplendent.
"It's nothing," Lin Fan smiled calmly.
He didn't feel any pain about the money he got for free.
Moreover, with the cooperative belonging solely to him, even if Luofeng Village produced another Cao Dewang in the future, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble for him.
Lin Fan shook the Centurion Black Gold card in his hand and asked, "Should I go withdraw the money myself, or should you take it to withdraw?"
He had absolute faith in Tian Mengyao's character and was not worried about her abandoning her principles for profit.
"Once I've completed all the necessary procedures, you can directly transfer the money to the cooperative's account."
Tian Mengyao handled matters in an orderly fashion.
"Alright, then you can notify me when the time comes."
Lin Fan put away the Centurion Black Gold card, stood up, and said with a smile, "Secretary Tian, I'll be going back now. The clinic can't be left unattended."
After he spoke, he was already at the door.
Tian Mengyao watched his retreating figure until he opened and closed the door, then she finally withdrew her gaze.
"It's really like Father said... he's a talented person!"
"Mother was right too, he must be a miracle doctor!"
Tian Mengyao meticulously recalled everything about Lin Fan.
From her initial dislike, that label had now been removed.
Now, she only felt a profound respect for Lin Fan.
In her eyes, in the entire Luofeng Village, and even all the surrounding villages.
The only outstanding individual was undoubtedly Lin Fan!