Chapter 27: What on earth did Uncle Dong do for a living in the past?!

Li Batian suddenly recalled that Zhang Youqian had called him some time ago, proposing a partnership. He had lent him one hundred million. Including the interest, his share at the end would be at least one hundred and thirty million.

"One hundred and thirty million. As long as that money is still there, I can resume the 'ice' production. The losses from these past few days will be recouped sooner or later."

Thinking of this, Li Batian’s expression improved slightly. To be safe, he immediately picked up the phone and called Zhang Youqian.

"When can that money be recovered?" he asked straight to the point as soon as the call connected.

"Brother Li, it’s already been over ten days. There are only fifteen days left until the repayment date. Just wait a little longer," Zhang Youqian said, calculating the days.

"I need that money urgently right now. Are you sure you can get it back for me by then?" Li Batian asked in a deep voice.

"Don't worry about that. I've been running loan shark operations for over a decade and I've never failed once. Besides, I've already lined people up. If they dare not pay, I'll send a hundred-man gang directly to their doorstep!"

Zhang Youqian spoke with extreme confidence; he truly believed in it. Putting aside everything else, with Wang Dalong leading a hundred tattooed thugs, the sheer intimidation factor—who wouldn't be afraid? Those villagers in Tazhai were just simple farmers, after all.

One way or another, that money was definitely coming back.

After hanging up on Li Batian, another call came through a moment later. It was Niu Youde.

At the beginning, when Zhang Youqian was short on funds, he had borrowed tens of millions from Niu Youde... no, it couldn't be called borrowing; it was an investment.

Niu Youde’s call was the same as Li Batian’s, inquiring about when the money could be collected.

"There was an accident these past few days. The 'pigs' in my park actually rioted. Many ran away and many died, causing me heavy losses. I urgently need cash to stabilize the situation!" Niu Youde's voice on the other end was low.

Zhang Youqian shook his head and said confidently, "Brother Niu, don't worry. There are only about ten days left until the repayment date. I will definitely transfer the money to you the moment I receive it."

"I am currently in the park, and the entire place is like a powder keg. Once my men see that I can't bring them profits, they will surely turn against me!" Niu Youde sighed and said gloomily.

"Rest assured, fifteen days! In fifteen days, I will definitely collect the money and send it to you." Zhang Youqian promised repeatedly.

After hanging up, Zhang Youqian calculated the time again, licking his dry lips.

"Fifteen more days, and I'll have the money back. Just calculating the profit, I'll have thirty million all to myself."

Thirty million in pure profit! For anyone, that would be an astronomical sum. Many listed companies might not even make that much net profit in an entire year. And Zhang Youqian? He was making that much in just over a month. One could imagine his current mood.

Tazhai.

After ten days of development, the entire village had taken on a brand-new look compared to before. It could be said that it had undergone a complete transformation.

In the past, Tazhai was dilapidated. Most of the roads in the village were dirt paths, and even the concrete ones were riddled with potholes. But now, after over ten days of development, brand-new concrete roads ran through every street in Tazhai, and all the villagers' homes had been renovated. There were parks, activity rooms, and equipment—everything one could ask for.

If a local born and raised in Tazhai had gone out to work for a month and returned, they would likely suspect they had arrived at the wrong place.

Lin Yaodong, serving as both the Party Secretary and the Village Chief, looked at the current Tazhai and nodded with great satisfaction.

"We have now completed the first step of poverty alleviation in our Tazhai!" Uncle Dong sighed with pride.

Beside him, Lin Wendong smiled slightly and took over the conversation. "Uncle Dong, this is just the beginning. Just wait, I will definitely take our Tazhai to the next level!"

Uncle Dong turned to look at him, his admiration plain in his eyes. "Truly, the younger generation is to be feared!"

In less than a month, he had brought about a heaven-shaking change to Tazhai. While it was true that all the villagers had worked together to exploit the online loans, the greatest contributor was the head of the Third House standing right before him: Lin Wendong.

If it weren't for his suggestion, they never would have thought that one could take out online loans without ever having to pay them back.

"By the way," Uncle Dong suddenly raised his eyebrows, as if thinking of something, and asked Lin Wendong, "Calculate the time; it's two weeks until repayment. When the time comes and we don't pay, what methods will the other side use?"

Lin Wendong thought for a moment and said, "Probably things like: phone harassment, intimidation, door-to-door collection..."

In his view, those were the only tactics those online lending companies had. After all, with annual interest rates exceeding 40 percent, the law didn't even recognize the debt. Even if they wanted to sue Tazhai in court, the courts wouldn't even accept the case.

"Violent debt collection by the underworld?" Uncle Dong murmured, then said slowly, "The underworld? Where would you find the underworld in China nowadays? After the crackdowns in recent years, they’ve either changed professions or moved abroad."

"Some I knew went off to become mercenaries, and others went abroad to work as hitmen."

Lin Wendong looked at Uncle Dong with suspicion. A question suddenly popped into his mind: 'What did Uncle Dong do in the past?'

In the TV show from his previous life on Earth, the 'Uncle Dong' who led Tazhai in 'ice' production had been in the real estate business before that. But... the Uncle Dong of this world was completely different!

"Wait... if he were just a simple, honest farmer born and bred here, let alone where he would get the guts and courage to lead the whole village in 'ice' production..."

"Even if he dared, he wouldn't have the connections!"

Lin Wendong's pupils constricted as a thought flashed through his mind like lightning. He felt as if he had just hit upon something truly extraordinary!