Chapter 1: Just After Crossing Over, Uncle Dong Already Wants…

This is the only way for our village to escape poverty!

I will say it again: so long as I can lead our village out of poverty, I, Lin Yaodong, will spare no cost.

Those who follow me will receive fifty percent of the profits; those who do not will get a subsidy of ten thousand yuan per person each month!

I have finished. Who is in favor, and who is against?

Tajai, Dongshan City, in the land of China.

Inside the village committee courtyard.

When the middle-aged man in a traditional suit and gold-rimmed glasses finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

The speaker was none other than the head of the first household in Tajai: Lin Yaodong.

He was also the village Party secretary and the village head.

At this moment, everyone in the meeting room was one of the village’s elite, the standing members of the village committee.

The head of the second household: Lin Yaohua.

And the newly appointed head of the third household: Lin Wendong.

The ostensible purpose of this meeting was to discuss a route out of poverty for Tajai, but in truth it was Lin Yaodong’s final rally and ideological mobilization for the real undertaking ahead.

China’s reform and opening-up had surged forward like a mighty tide. Yet in the midst of that current, Tajai had no industry and no tourist attractions. It fell farther and farther behind, becoming a poverty-stricken village known far and wide.

Sigh.

After murmuring to himself, Lin Yaodong gave a long, sorrowful sigh.

As the village Party secretary and village head, the pressure on me is the greatest of all. Tajai must develop; the villagers must have food, and they must have work. Sometimes I think to myself: just how high must an official rise before his rank can truly be called high?

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Hearing the unfamiliar voice beside him, Lin Wendong slowly opened his eyes, only to feel a stabbing pain in his head.

Looking at the strange surroundings before him, he blinked in confusion.

What is this place? Wasn’t I just typing away in my rented room?

Could it be that a reader traced me through the internet and killed me?

That shouldn’t be right. I only left more than ten books unfinished, let the heroine be taken by a punk, and had the male lead end up with a rich woman weighing three hundred jin...

As the thought crossed his mind, a fresh wave of pain burst through his skull, and the memories of the body’s original owner flooded in like a tide.

After absorbing them, Lin Wendong nearly cried out in shock: I’ve crossed into Tajai?!

From those memories, he learned that this Tajai was not the same as the one in the television drama he had watched in his previous life.

But it was not entirely different either.

That famous uncle was still here.

However, the other members of Tajai were different, and so was the timeline.

In this world, Tajai had three households. The first and second households were flourishing with descendants, but the third household, where he now stood, felt rather bereft of talent.

Lin Wendong thought to himself: Some time ago, the head of the third household had suffered an accident. The original owner, freshly graduated from university, had returned to the village and been elected as the new head of the third household.

Being the head of the third household did not mean being the village’s third-in-command.

Because he was so young, many people in the village committee did not take him seriously.

Just as Lin Wendong was finally piecing together his situation, that uncle’s voice rang out again beside his ear:

I have already explained the stakes. Everyone, please vote by show of hands. What we are about to do concerns the future of Tajai!

When Lin Yaodong finished, he raised his hand first.

There were ten standing members of the Tajai village committee.

Lin Yaohua followed close behind him and raised his hand as well.

The others exchanged glances and then raised their hands one after another.

There was no helping it. Tajai was far too poor. If they wanted to escape poverty and become prosperous, they could only take an unconventional path and risk everything for a sliver of hope.

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Since everyone agrees, then I’ll contact—

Huh?

Lin Yaodong swept his gaze around the room and saw that everyone had raised their hands. Thinking it had passed unanimously, he was just about to speak when he suddenly noticed that Lin Wendong at his side had not moved at all.

Uncle Dong frowned and said with a hint of displeasure, Wendong, what do you think?

Lin Wendong’s body jolted, and he cursed inwardly.

Dammit! I’ve only just crossed over, and already Uncle Dong is about to lead the whole village into action?

And they want my approval too?

If I were just an ordinary villager, that would be one thing. At worst, it would only be failure to report what I knew. But if I raise my hand and agree now...

Then I become the mastermind.

The original owner had graduated from law school, and having inherited his memories, Lin Wendong naturally understood the stakes.

One path led to prison; the other led straight to a bullet in the head.

I do not want to be shot like that someday!

Lin Wendong looked up. With the other nine standing members already in agreement, if he alone objected, would anyone even care?

Lin Yaohua, the head of the second household beside Lin Yaodong,

saw that Lin Wendong still had not moved and gave a heavy cold snort.

From the start, he had opposed making Lin Wendong the head of the third household and bringing him onto the village committee.

In his eyes, what could a young man fresh out of university do besides spout theories on paper?

Wendong, this is the great plan of Tajai. Are you really going to obstruct the village’s development?

Lin Yaohua’s voice reached Lin Wendong’s ears, and he only felt a dull ache in his teeth.

What great plan? This is nothing but sending Tajai straight into the abyss.

He said this inwardly.

With the scorching stares of everyone fixed on him, Lin Wendong felt himself going numb.

Agree? Then enjoy a few years of comfort and, when the truth comes out, simply end it yourself?

Just as he was wavering, Lin Yaodong’s voice came to him:

Wendong, do you have a better way to lead Tajai out of poverty?

Lin Yaodong pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. The position of head of the third household for Lin Wendong had been something he had forcefully pushed through despite all objections.

In his view, a top law graduate would surely have a nimble mind and perhaps some good ideas.

What could he possibly do? Just an armchair strategist, good only at talking.

Nine to one. Even if he disagreed, it would not change Uncle Dong’s decision, would it?

...

The room at once erupted into noise. Lin Wendong had not moved for so long that everyone was growing impatient.

Lin Yaodong let out a sigh. Just as he thought he had misjudged him, Lin Wendong suddenly raised his hand.

Has he agreed? Lin Yaohua’s lips curved into a cold smile.

I object!

Lin Wendong swept his gaze around the room and calmly said these three words.

The moment he spoke, the entire room fell silent.

What are you, exactly? This concerns over a thousand households in our village. You dare object?

Hmph. Give you a feather, and you think it’s an order.

...

Faced with the reprimands of the surrounding committee members, Lin Wendong ignored them completely. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The reason he was so confident was simple: his system had arrived.