Chapter 5: Discussion

"Huh? Third Brother, why are you back?" After An Jianmin clearly recognized An Jianping’s figure, he immediately took a few long strides to greet him.

Jiang Shanshan, who had been whispering and discussing things with him just a moment ago, had a slight change in expression.

She thought about the things they had just discussed at the branch secretary’s house, and she felt a bit of regret that Jianmin had wanted to agree directly while she had wanted to consider it further.

An Jianping greeted the couple first, but as for An Jianmin’s question, he didn’t answer it directly.

After all, the things he needed to ask about and discuss were not suitable to be brought up in a place like this.

But seeing An Jianping’s demeanor, An Jianmin’s thoughts aligned with his wife’s.

He hurriedly greeted his Third Brother and headed toward their home.

Jiang Shanshan followed behind the two men with her lips slightly pursed, not saying a single word until they reached the house.

Once the brothers had poured some tea, she said, "Third Brother, you and Jianmin go ahead and talk; I’m going to check on the garden."

"Third Brother, why don't you stay for the night? I’ll go catch a chicken and dress it in a bit?"

"No need, sister-in-law. I have something to discuss with Jianmin, and I’ll head back to the city once we’re done!" An Jianping hurriedly declined.

If he could confirm certain things through his younger brother, he wouldn't be able to sit still for even a moment, let alone stay until the evening.

Jiang Shanshan didn't press him further, instead saying, "Then Third Brother, don't be in such a rush to leave. I’ll go to the garden and cut some vegetables for you to take back to the city later."

This time, An Jianping did not refuse.

Once Jiang Shanshan was out of sight, An Jianping looked at An Jianmin with a rather troubled expression.

Along the way, An Jianping had actually thought a lot.

But now that he really needed to speak, he didn't know where to begin.

An Jianping didn't know how to start, but An Jianmin didn't hesitate

"Third Brother, what do you think about what I mentioned on the phone last time?"

An Jianping’s mind was entirely occupied by the demolition news, and for a moment, he didn't realize what his younger brother was talking about.

Thinking that way, he asked directly: "Which matter?"

An Jianmin found it a bit strange; he had assumed that since his Third Brother had returned to the village specifically to wait for him, it meant he had already made up his mind.

Though he thought that, he still said with extra patience

"The matter of building houses together!"

"If your family joins in, we can build three houses together, five stories each. That’s a significant project."

"Whether it’s negotiating with the contractors or sourcing materials, we should be able to get quite a few discounts."

An Jianmin didn't mention his nephew’s plot of land.

After all, he knew his Third Brother was still thinking about buying a house in the city for his nephew to get married.

If he really had that plan, he would likely have to put all his money into that.

With his current net worth, helping to build one house wasn't a problem.

But if they were to build two at once, it would be a bit troublesome.

Just earlier, An Jianmin and his wife had been at the village branch secretary’s house discussing the contracting of fish ponds, mulberry gardens, and flower gardens.

An Jianmin wanted to build a house because every farmhouse-style restaurant in the village was doing quite well.

Although his fruit shop was doing well, he didn't want to pass up money that was right in front of him.

An Jianping didn't know the various thoughts in his younger brother’s mind; he looked at An Jianmin’s sincere expression and felt a sigh in his heart.

"Jianmin, why did you suddenly think about building a house?"

As soon as An Jianping asked this, An Jianmin instantly perked up.

He even felt that this was a sign that his Third Brother was wavering.

Otherwise, he had mentioned this more than once in the past, and his Third Brother had never once proactively asked for details!

Of course, An Jianmin temporarily forgot that every time he went to see his Third Brother, he had proactively spilled all his own plans.

After all, in the eyes of the entire An family, An Jianping, who had moved to the city early and established a firm footing, was indeed the most reliable one.

"Most of our village is developing farmhouse tourism now. Some have planted small orchards for people to pick fruit."

"Some grow vegetables for people to harvest."

"Some offer fishing and barbecues."

"Some rely on their skills, using vegetables and fruits grown in their own gardens and free-range chickens and ducks to make authentic farmhouse dishes."

"Some have even built swimming pools and set up beaches."

"Others have even utilized the marginal wasteland, using stream valleys and open spaces to create places for playing, resting, and renting out tents."

"Third Brother, you know that we Shuncheng people can lack anything, but we can't lack food."

"Plus, after the bus line to the lower counties opened two years ago."

"There’s a direct route from the city to our village."

"Whether it’s bringing the family out for a rest on the weekend, or just eating and playing, it’s very suitable."

"The village still has fish ponds, mulberry forests, and flower fields that haven't been contracted out yet."

"The branch secretary is thinking of contracting everything out this year and then getting the whole village involved to achieve economies of scale!"

"We’ve gone to look a few times. If it weren't for the fact that the remaining fish ponds and mulberry fields aren't near the village, they would have been snapped up long ago."

"What I’m hesitating about now is building on that homestead; there are no other houses around, and the road might not be very accessible."

There was no need to say the rest; An Jianping already knew.

After all, An Jianmin had discussed it with him more than once since last year.

It was just that in the past, An Jianping hadn't asked so carefully.

An Jianping couldn't help but carefully study the expression on An Jianmin’s face

It seemed he didn't have any news?

Was it just a simple case of hitting a good opportunity?

An Jianping thought to himself.

"Third Brother? What do you think?" An Jianmin asked again: "I know that because of my nephew’s wedding, your finances are a bit tight right now."

"But it doesn't matter. While my wife and I aren't exactly flush with cash, we can still manage to build your house along with ours."

An Jianmin wasn't just being blindly generous to his Third Brother.

There were six siblings in total.

But only the two of them were the closest, and there was certainly a reason for that.

Now, it was An Jianmin who wanted to help his Third Brother.

But in the past, it had always been An Jianping helping him.

After thinking for a long time, An Jianping had made up his mind.

He stood up decisively, walked out of the courtyard first, and observed the surroundings.

Then he went back into An Jianmin’s house and carefully checked it, almost room by room.

An Jianmin was confused and was about to ask what his Third Brother was looking for.

He saw An Jianping sit down beside him.

He lowered his voice and said, "Jianmin... when your niece was working at the hotel, she heard a guest on the top floor say that a logistics center is going to be built here."

"The neighboring village seems to have been requisitioned the year before last? And more than two-thirds of it was taken."

"What’s left shouldn't be enough."

"A logistics center?" An Jianmin’s eyes widened instantly. He finally understood why his Third Brother had been looking around everywhere just now.

If he had such news, he wouldn't dare let it reach a third person’s ears either.

"Yes!" An Jianping nodded firmly, then added: "You’ve been asking me about building a house since last year, and you even called me specifically this year."

"I originally thought you had some news too!"

An Jianmin shook his head wildly.

What kind of news could he have?

He was just a fruit seller. If he had news, it would have been flying all over the village and beyond.

However, An Jianmin was quick-witted, and he immediately called out to his Third Brother

"Let’s go, let’s take the motorcycle and go take a look over there first."

The two villages weren't far apart, and that piece of land had been requisitioned for nearly two years now.

Logically speaking, the construction should be nearly finished.

Especially according to the news his niece had heard.