The Happy Farmer Wanderer-Chapter 803: Village Renovation

The pedant seemed somewhat skeptical of Li Qing’s words. He calmly lit a cigarette, his head tilted amidst the swirling smoke, and asked, "Qingzi, I know your business has grown considerably, and it’s booming. But when it comes to business, one must prioritize honesty. You can’t just say anything you want. I’ve read that article carefully twice, and it’s both talented and unpretentious."

"That kind of article, anyone with clear eyes could tell was written by someone truly capable, representing an official stance and tone."

Li Qing rubbed his forehead. "There’s no point in arguing with you about this. Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter to me. The current advertising methods are varied, and I’m sure Uncle Pedant doesn’t understand them all. Let me just share my perspective. Not only do I want to make money myself, I also want everyone to have the opportunity to make money and prosper together."

"That’s my position. I don’t want the reputation of our village to be affected because of certain individuals. I don’t want the current popularity of the village to fade away as a short-lived interest where we only make a quick buck. That’s why I called everyone here today."

Tang Jianmin glanced around at the crowd, focusing a bit longer on the pedant, and then stood up and said loudly, "Qingzi, just get to the point. There’s no need to tell everyone about how you do business. There are good and bad people everywhere, and not everyone in our village necessarily wants to make an honest living. You set the rules first, and then if there are objections, we can discuss them."

Li Qing nodded. Old Tang’s assist was right on target.

"Alright, then I’ll get straight to the point," he said out loud. "Firstly, those who are willing to do this should take care of all the necessary procedures, whether you run a family hostel or a regular homestay. Once the number of guests increases, we need to have all the proper documentation in place. Otherwise, you might find that what you earn may not even be enough to pay the fines."

"Secondly, it’s pretty much what Uncle Pedant just mentioned. We need to select people in the village to regularly check sanitary conditions and also conduct service feedback. Since we’re doing this, let’s treat it as a long-term commitment. We can’t let it just be a flash in the pan."

"Our village has beautiful scenery too, with mountains and waters, right? If things go well, we might even consider further development."

"I, Li Qing, don’t want a penny of what you make. That’s all yours. If people are selected in the village to take care of this, you can just take a part of your earnings and pay them for their services. No one is going to work for free, right?"

"I misjudged your vision, Qingzi," said the pedant, shaking his head. "I completely agree with your views."

"Our main focus right now is self-improvement and eradicating pests. Once visitors arrive at our village, for those who meet the hosting standards, we can put a sign at the door. For those who don’t meet the standards, don’t join this bustle. Try to improve your own situation first, and then we can consider endorsing you later."

"I agree, there’s nothing wrong with this approach!" someone shouted loudly. "What’s the use of making a quick buck? If we do this, we should aim for the long term."

The crowd began to chatter animatedly.

After Li Qing declared he wouldn’t be taking their money, everyone’s attitude became markedly more lighthearted.

Their main opposition stemmed from wanting to keep a tight hold on their wallets.

Li Qing shook his head and chuckled. He had plenty of ways to make money, there was no need for him to squabble over trivial sums with them.

But with the situation as it was, Li Qing felt the need to take this into consideration, otherwise he would find it too bothersome.

Once everyone had nearly finished sharing their thoughts, Li Qing continued, "What I’m asking you to do is quite simple, not requiring you to spend more on refurbishing or anything like that. Just keep your homes tidy and clean, maybe prepare some fruit for guests, provide hot water for baths, supply clean towels, slippers, and the like—just some minor details."

"Nowadays, people are very picky, especially about details. We can’t offer our rural roughness in serving our guests. Believe me, if you provide good service, your business will flourish. It’s all about the reputation. Otherwise, do you think my little shop could have maintained such steady business since its opening? Low prices and attentive service."

"If anyone has any more feedback or suggestions, speak now. If not, let’s select someone as soon as possible and start monitoring together."

The crowd buzzed with discussion again.

This time around, there were no dissenting voices; instead, everyone began offering constructive ideas.

Li Qing spotted Xu Sanwang in the crowd, enthusiastically sharing his opinions and spitting as he spoke.

"Qingzi, I think it’s actually better if you decide directly, there’s no need to pass the authority to the village," Qin Wenjun whispered.

Li Qing looked around at the crowd and said with a light smile, "What authority do I have? No authority, just trouble. It’s better if they are willing to do it. Why would I want to get involved in this hassle? I already have enough to handle without taking on more."

"Our objective now is to maintain the current momentum and improve our reputation. Appoint people to monitor and weed out those who are not serious. If we can also raise the standards of hygiene and service, then we’re pretty much set." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"I can see that you’ve gotten addicted to being a Hands-off Manager," Qin Wenjun said irritably. "Look, this situation was created by your investment. You could just find a few businesses to partner with and provide accommodations. It’s easier to manage and involves fewer issues."

"If Tang Rou’s advertisement continues to make an impact, future visitors will come to the village not just for the scenery but to experience village life. This is related to our barbecue, but it’s not the direct attraction anymore. How we arrange accommodations for these guests isn’t easy to decide."

"And Rou’s strategy is the right one. Once the village catches on, our barbecue stand will get even hotter. It’s actually more difficult to promote the barbecue stand alone rather than a broader approach."

Wenjun nodded thoughtfully, "That makes sense."

"I see how it is, this will all fall on me, won’t it? Auntie Yu Lan and I will take the lead, and the village will select a few other people. That should do it," Qin Wenjun concluded.

Li Qing laughed, "You guessed it, and you’re absolutely right. You’re indeed the one to lead this. If our village really achieves something and becomes a place like Shili Yi, your position as the village head will certainly benefit."

"Benefit? I have to put in the work," Qin Wenjun retorted, rolling her eyes.