Chapter 11

A month later.
At dawn, Yang Bufan got up and went to the sheep pen. Yesterday two sheep had stolen corn from the warehouse. Rumen impaction. Bellies swollen round. Right now the barn was full of snoring. Only those two spinning like tops, drinking water.
Worried they’d die, she hadn’t slept all night.
Sheep intelligence was sometimes appalling. They could surprise you by dying at any moment. Eat until they burst. Fall and die going out. Deliberately stick their heads in bars and get stuck. Fight, bite each other’s butts, get tetanus, die of infection…
They wouldn’t do a single thing to help themselves survive.
Always eyes wide, head tilted, that stupid look: “Let me think, what’s the best way to die today?” Now Yang Bufan handled them skillfully. Disobedient? A good slap.
Yang Bufan used manual restraint to hold the sheep. Mom brought medicine. Fed both sheep 10 baking soda tablets each.
Mixed digestive aid into the other sheep’s feed. Helped digestion. By the time they finished, it was 8:30.
Dad had already made breakfast, set it on the table. Also unloaded a cart of cement. Taking advantage of good weather, they planned to build the barn. Today was the construction team’s first day.
As for funding, Yang Bufan had pretty much solved it.
Three years ago, Cousin Uncle borrowed 100,000 from Mom to buy a house. Mom asked a few times, didn’t get it back. This time Yang Bufan called. Didn’t expect Cousin Uncle to agree immediately. Told her to contact the manufacturer first, build the barn. He’d get the money together and transfer it right away.
So Yang Bufan paid the deposit first, reported to the village committee, picked a date to start.
But today she couldn’t focus on that. Had to go to a village committee meeting first. Running late, wolfed down two bites of rice noodles, grabbed a handful of coffee beans, stuffed them in her pocket, went out.
Xu Jianguo quickly called his daughter. “Eat a few more bites. Won’t take long.”
Yang Bufan swept out like wind. “I’m taking the bike!”
The three‑wheeler sped off. Five minutes to the Southeast Asian‑style village committee entrance. Crowded. Everyone chatting.
Inside and outside the yard, banners everywhere: “Fintech, We Walk Together,” “Xinyun Public Welfare Agricultural Aid Program,” etc. Flower arches. Uniformed staff handing out booklets. Very impressive.
Yang Bufan followed the crowd in, sat down. On time, the village head raised a mic, said emotionally: “Thanks to all villagers for coming on time. Thanks to leaders from banks and financial institutions for attending. Today’s meeting is mainly about financial agricultural aid promotion.”
The crowd booed.
The village head hurried: “Ah, don’t sigh yet. Let me finish.”
When the crowd quieted, the village head said: “Most of our village are individual businesses. Raise lion‑head geese, grow guava, raise sheep, run guesthouses. All face funding difficulties, expensive loans. Right?”
“Gathering everyone today is to solve this! The government, together with six financial institutions, set up a 18‑billion loan pool. Low interest, even interest‑free loans. Help our countryside get rich, solve difficulties.”
When they heard “interest‑free,” everyone clapped like anxious seals. *Clap clap clap.*
“Now, let’s welcome Deputy Director Zhu Daming of the People’s Bank Shantou Branch, CEO Jiang Qishen of Shenzhen Xinyun Fintech, Agricultural Bank Longdu Branch…”
Yang Bufan saw Jiang Qishen walk in with choppy steps, from the end of the red carpet. Expensive, refined clothes. Commanding composure. Radiated privilege, high status.
When he appeared, flashbulbs kept going. Blinded Yang Bufan.
Jiang Qishen sat down, a distant smile on his face. Gave Lao Zhang in the crowd a look. Lao Zhang squeezed in, set three flypaper strips in front of him.
The village head gave some polite words, then asked each to speak.
Jiang Qishen’s turn. The village head’s expression was full of joy. Said: “Next, let’s have CEO Jiang from the Xinyun platform say a few words.”
“Right, let me say more about Xinyun!”
“Xinyun is backed by tech giant Yunchang. For years it’s been a major Shenzhen taxpayer. Since independent operation, total taxes over 3.025 billion. As of last month, total credit accounts exceeded 400,000. Average credit about 150,000… It’s a legitimate platform. Welcome CEO Jiang!”
Thunderous applause.
Yang Bufan thought: *Having money is great. If I had money, I’d uninstall Pinduoduo immediately.*
Jiang Qishen said unhurriedly: “Hello everyone. I’m Jiang Qishen, CEO of Xinyun. Responding to national calls, fulfilling corporate social responsibility, our company will actively engage in public welfare, stay rooted in agriculture, rural areas, farmers, give back to society, fulfill corporate responsibility.”
“On one hand, help enterprises, support small and micro businesses. Launch lion‑head goose loans, sheep loans, agriculture loans, and other specialty loans. Interest‑free, low‑interest. Reshape public welfare finance. Help more people solve funding difficulties.”
“On the other hand, we’ll integrate financial products into agricultural production supply chains. Main approach: one, scale collection of agricultural materials, lower procurement costs; two, build digital platforms, open agricultural product sales channels, expand nationwide, full‑chain cost reduction and efficiency for agriculture, resolve risk control and cost issues in financial agricultural aid…”
After he finished, the place was quiet as if muted. The aunties and uncles’ eyes were full of thirst for knowledge, and complete confusion.
Only Yang Bufan understood: he wanted to do agricultural finance supply chains. Control upstream and downstream supply chains firmly. Expand new growth points.
He had vision, ability. Could catch fish in rivers, refine oil from swill.
Of course, from farmers’ perspective, early‑stage funding and technical benefits were real. Hard to judge.
After the speech, financial village official Xiao Liu handed out booklets one by one. Inside: loan conditions, application process, etc.
Jiang Qishen’s gaze swept over Yang Bufan. Expression indifferent.
Village‑level events didn’t need his attendance. But they needed some down‑to‑earth news material, so he’d detoured here.
But this place was near the guava orchard. Farm manure was rich. Flies were way too fucking many. If he were a mantis, he could eat until he burped in ten seconds in this shithole.
Soon, the flypaper had caught over a dozen flies. He looked away, both satisfied and uncomfortable.
A breeze. Foul smells from the fields drifted over. He held his breath. Attention had to shift elsewhere. When his gaze moved, Yang Bufan was right in his line of sight again.
Weird. A hundred seats in the place. Up, down, left, right, corners. Why did she have to sit right under his eyes?
And Yang Bufan—that overalls covered in wool, forget it. Just that weird perm. Looked like a walking steel wool ball. Age lower than IQ.
Hands playing with a 2‑yuan turquoise hair tie from a discount store. A broken phone. Crocs. Sketched out all the flavor of her current life.
Several midge bites on her calves. Shocking red bumps connected in lines. She attracted mosquitoes. Before, to spare her, he’d moved home from the 8th floor to the 16th, had regular pest control. What hardship had he made her suffer?
Now, living with cattle and sheep, attracting midges went without saying. Also easy to get sick. One type was anthrax, forgot the other name…
Ungrateful. Served her right.
He looked at her hands and feet again. At least those were still intact.
Seemed like to avoid his gaze, Yang Bufan buried her head in her phone, typing. Then put the phone down, stared straight at the black screen, not looking anywhere.
Looked like every strand of hair was straining.
Thinking that, Jiang Qishen’s expression took on a hint of mockery.
As expected, after leaving him, her life was more destitute than imagined. Right now, she must be too ashamed to face him.
The next second, that broken phone of hers vibrated. Started walking on the chair like a bulldozer.
Jiang Qishen looked away, surveyed the square village committee yard. Narrow, cramped. Had some aesthetics, but ultimately shabby. Air still had a bad musty smell.
The call was from Cousin Uncle. Yang Bufan hung up directly, kept texting him.
「Cousin Uncle, I’m at a village committee meeting, can’t answer. Just wanted to ask—the workers installing the greenhouse came today. Have you got the money together? 😁😁」
Reply came: 「Don’t trust your uncle? Let them work in peace」
Yang Bufan put down her phone, relaxed, sat quietly waiting for the meeting to end.
Half an hour later, the meeting finally ended. Villagers lined up to consult about interest‑free agricultural loans. Yang Bufan had no need. Plus home was busy today. Planned to go home.
Hadn’t left the village committee yard when the village head suddenly called: “Yangzi, come here.”
Yang Bufan had to go over. The village head made tea, said to her: “Sit, sit! Don’t be shy. CEO Jiang is very easygoing.”
Lao Zhang behind Jiang Qishen winked at her in greeting.
Yang Bufan sat down. The village head poured boiling water from high into the teapot. Tea leaves churned. Covered the lid. Introduced Yang Bufan.
“CEO Jiang, this is our village’s newly appointed river chief, Yang Bufan. Top university graduate. Worked at a big company in Shenzhen. This child is down‑to‑earth, hardworking, careful. Did great in Shenzhen, very excellent. But knowing her hometown needed her, she resolutely decided to come back and build her hometown. I and the villagers were very moved.”
“The garbage and dead sheep in our village river—she was the first to discover and report. The village committee unanimously elected her river chief. Supervise the masses, prevent water pollution.”
Jiang Qishen was disinfecting his hands, listless. Had just shaken hands with many people. Nerves were tense.
“Is that so.” He didn’t look up.
Yang Bufan laughed dryly. Hurried: “Village head, don’t say that. I came back on my own. Don’t dare claim that credit.”
After rinsing cups, the village head poured tea. Said: “CEO Jiang, see, this child’s been humble since she was little. We don’t want to waste this talent. But our temple is small. Her intelligence can’t be used. CEO Jiang, I just want to ask—your business, will this area need more hands later…”
He had a warm heart. Had heard some gossip. Plus Yang Siqiong had come to see him. Really recognized Yang Bufan. Wanted to help her out.
After all, an educated, smart young woman—how could she do rough work like herding sheep?
Seeing Jiang Qishen smile slightly, Yang Bufan hurried: “Village head, I appreciate your kindness. But my family really has lots of work. Can’t handle it all.”
The village head was about to object when someone came over, whispered in his ear. His expression changed slightly. Told Yang Bufan: “Yangzi, serve tea for me. Don’t neglect CEO Jiang.”
Left in a hurry.
Tea fragrance filled the air. Yang Bufan poured herself tea. Asked: “CEO Jiang, can you handle Phoenix Dancong?”
Jiang Qishen’s expression changed. The previous good mood vanished.
Yang Bufan poured a cup each for him and Lao Zhang. Took a sip herself. Said: “Didn’t expect the company to be doing so well. Business reach extends all the way to our village.”
Jiang Qishen didn’t look at her: “If someone hadn’t introduced you, I really wouldn’t have recognized you.”
Lao Zhang was puzzled.
When Little Yang got off that dirty, broken three‑wheeler like a Gypsy, the boss had seen her.
She’d driven under a sprinkler truck, freeloading. Dirty water poured down the body. He’d even seen the boss smile.
Yang Bufan thought: *Exes who breathe are really too much.*