“Ah sir, sir is at the village headman’s.” Aunt Lucy pointed to the room she had come back to.
Christine White narrowed her almond eyes, “What’s he doing at Grandpa White’s?”
“That I don’t know.” Aunt Lucy spread her hands.
Christine White mused for a moment and lifted her feet towards the village headman’s house.
When she arrived at the village chief’s door, she hadn’t even knocked on the door before she heard the village chief’s booming voice come out, “Lane ah, on behalf of all of our villagers, I thank you!”
“You’re welcome, as it should be.” Baird Lane called back.
Christine White’s whole head was filled with confusion when she heard this.
What on earth did Baird Lane do to make Grandpa White so grateful to him?
Dang!
Christine White couldn’t resist any longer and knocked on the door of the village headman’s house.
Soon the door opened.
The village headman poked his head out from inside, seeing her, he immediately smiled with sharp teeth and no eyes, “It’s Christine girl, why did you come over?”
“I’m coming over to …”
“Came over to see Lane, right?” Before she could finish her sentence, the village chief interrupted her.
Christine White nodded, “… Well, I came over to see what he was doing in your place.”
“Lane is here to see me about an investment.” The Mayor opened the door fully and let her in.
“Talking about investments?” Christine White’s volume rose in surprise.
The mayor nodded, “Yes.”
“What kind of investment is he looking for you to talk about?” Christine White was even more confused.
In her opinion, there was nothing worth investing in a place like the countryside.
“Oh, this ah, I can’t say it clearly for a while, after all, I don’t know much about business matters, it’s better to let Lane tell you.” The village chief said, leading Christine White into the hall.
As soon as Christine White enters, she sees the man sitting in a chair relaxing with a cup of tea.
The man cast a glance toward her, “Wake up from your nap?”
Christine White looked away a little uncomfortably, and gave a thin, muffled hmmm in her voice.
She was now certain that she had indeed been carried above him on the bed.
She just didn’t feel it at all for some reason.
“Christine girl why are you standing, sit down.” The village chief poured a cup of water over, and seeing Christine White still standing, he hurriedly greeted her.
Christine White clearly felt a change in the village chief’s attitude towards her this time, kind with a hint of gratitude.
Is it because of the Baird Lane investment?
Christine White took the glass of water and sat down, “Thanks Grandpa White.”
“You’re welcome, you and Lane chat first, I’ll go to the kitchen, and you all stay for dinner later.” After saying that, the village chief left the hall.
Christine White and Baird Lane were the only ones left in the parsonage.
Christine White looked at Baird Lane, “What brings you to Grandpa White’s?”
“I came over to find out about the village.” Baird Lane answered her.
Christine White frowned, “What’s there to know? Grandpa White just said you were talking to him about investments, is that right?”
“Something like that.” Baird Lane put down the teacup in his hand.
Christine White stood up, her tone serious, “Mr. Lane, this is the countryside, I don’t think there’s anything worth investing in, you’re suddenly talking to Grandpa White about investment, you’re not lying to him, are you?”
Hearing this, Baird Lane pursed his lips in some displeasure, “Is that what I am to you?”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way, it’s just that I can’t really think of anything worth investing in here.” Christine White looked at him.
Baird Lane rubbed his brow, “It’s surrounded by mountains, and while it’s not suitable for tourism, it’s worth investing in for its agricultural products.”
“Produce?” Christine White was slightly surprised.
Baird Lane nodded, “Not bad.”
“But as I recall, The Lane Family Group isn’t involved in the restaurant side of things, right, so what are you doing investing in agricultural products?” Christine White looked skeptical.
Baird Lane raised an eyebrow in some surprise, “You know quite a bit about The Lane Family group, even if it’s involved in catering.”
“I … I’ve read about The Lane Family Group before, so I know.” Christine White’s eyes flickered as she sheepishly returned.
She didn’t want to tell him truthfully that she used to get to know him and incidentally The Lane Family Group in order to get to know him.
But Baird Lane how shrewd, which can not see that she is lying, thin lips slightly hooked, to also did not demolish her meaning, “The Lane Family Group although not involved in food and beverage, but can help to acquire these mountain goods, resold to the company involved in food and beverage.”
“Resale?” Christine White realized something and asked tentatively, “You mean you just want to be a middleman?”
“Pretty much.” Baird Lane nodded.
Christine White was even more puzzled, “With The Lane Family Group’s position in the business world, you don’t even care about earning that little bit of money from the middleman, do you, but you’re doing it, why on earth, I don’t believe there isn’t a reason.”
“For the sake of this village, of course.” Baird Lane stomped the ground under his feet.
Christine White bit her lip, “For the village?”
“Good, for the sake of the village and for you, this is where you grew up, and I can see that you have a strong sense of belonging here, and as your husband, it is my duty to help this place grow, as a way of giving back to the land that raised you.” Baird Lane looked at her, his voice slightly softer.
Christine White’s eyes rounded incredulously, “So you’re helping the village sell their mountain goods to help me thank them?”
Baird Lane hmmm’d, “I was thinking of allocating a sum of money directly to Grandpa White to build a road and a school for the village, but on second thought, that’s not a good idea, it’s all well and good to take the money directly to them, but what do you do with the money once it runs out and in time to need it? So …”
“So you made an offer to Grandpa White to buy the village’s mountain goods?” Christine White picked up on his words.
Baird Lane had a glint of approval for her in his eyes, “Yes, that would amount to a steady income for every household in the village, not a lot when divided equally, but it would get them by.”
“So that’s it.” Christine White had completely heard it now, and her emotions were mixed.
As he had just said, she had grown up here, had a strong sense of belonging, and had always wanted to help the village.
But her abilities were limited, and she hadn’t given much back to the village up to this point.
I didn’t realize that it was now instead up to Baird Lane to make that wish come true.
With that thought in mind, Christine White walked up to Baird Lane and, under his deep gaze, bent a bow to him, “Mr. Lane, thank you!”
Baird Lane grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, a little disgruntled, “I told you, I’m your husband, I’m obligated to help your village, you don’t have to say thank you to me.”
“Thank you or not.” Christine White drew her hand back, her voice cool and scanty, “And there’s one thing you’re wrong about, you’re not actually obligated to help my village, after all, I’m me and you’re you, and we won’t be a couple anytime soon.”
“So what you’re saying is, you still want a divorce?” Baird Lane sank his handsome face.
Christine White’s lips twitched, “… is.”
“Christine White, do you have to?” Baird Lane stood up and towered over her, cold air spilling out around him.
Christine White scrunched her neck and subconsciously stepped back.
But after taking two steps back, he was held down by Baird Lane’s shoulder and said coldly, “Christine White, do you realize that you are now angering me, do you know what consequences will come from angering me? I can interrupt the investment that I agreed with the village chief at any time, and not purchase the mountain goods from your village.”
Christine White was stunned when she heard this, “You … How can you do this, haven’t you and Grandpa White already discussed this, how can you back out!”