Buying Land

"Forty silver dollars."

Lu Chen took out a handful of silver dollars, counted out forty dollars, and handed them to the landlord.

The price isn't too expensive; it's almost half the price because of the war.

"That land is all yours now."

The landlord was delighted, never expecting anyone to buy land at this time. He took the money, turned around, and left with his men.

"Aren't you going with them?"

After those people left his sight, Lu Chen saw that the man was still sitting on the ground and couldn't help but ask him a question.

"Sir, this field is rented by me. If you buy it, then I am yours too, and I can work the land for you."

Fearing that Lu Chen would stop renting the land to him, the man quickly spoke up.

Lu Chen glanced at Liu Jie, then turned back to look at the man again.

Is this even possible? Buying a piece of land and getting a person as a free gift?

"From now on, don't call me 'Master,' call me 'Boss.'"

"80 catties of grain. Considering the war, I'll allow you to delay for three days. If you still can't deliver it after three days..."

Lu Chen glanced at the child beside the man, not saying anything definitive, but the man understood what it meant when he saw the pistol in Liu Jie's hand.

"Yes, sir... Boss, I'll go harvest the wheat right away, I'll go right away."

The man, holding the child beside him, kept thanking Lu Chen.

Lu Chen said nothing and turned to leave with Liu Jie.

Seeing that the man had a child with him, Lu Chen knew he wouldn't live long if he chased him away, so he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Xiao Jie, drive in the direction that landlord just left, find him, I want to buy more land."

Lu Chen got into the car and spoke. Liu Jie put away his gun, nodded, and started the car, driving off in that direction.

Judging from the landlord's appearance just now, he seemed eager to sell his land. In that case, Lu Chen might as well take this opportunity to buy more.

"Brother Chen, there's something I want to tell you."

Liu Jie glanced at Lu Chen in the rearview mirror, hesitated for a while, and then spoke.

"What is it?"

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. No matter what happened, Liu Jie was always the first person to help him, his most capable assistant.

If he really encounters any difficulties, he will help, but it certainly won't be unconditional.

"Brother Chen, I want Xiao An to go to school."

Liu Jie gritted his teeth. He was embarrassed to trouble Lu Chen, but he really couldn't solve this problem himself, so he could only ask Lu Chen for help.

Reading is always good, no matter when. He had never been to school, but he knew this principle and wanted his younger brother Liu An to study.

"Xiao An? Your younger brother?"

Having known Liu Jie for so long, this was the first time Lu Chen had ever heard his brother's name.

How to arrange schooling?

He remembered that Ka Jingzhou was the principal of a school. Although he had no connection with him, he believed that money should not be a problem.

"Brother Chen, I won't let you do it for free, I can pay you."

As Liu Jie drove, he nervously glanced at Lu Chen in the rearview mirror, afraid that Lu Chen would refuse, so he immediately spoke up.

Lu Chen tapped his fingers and slowly said, "Okay, I'll see if I can solve it. I'll tell you how much it will cost later."

"Okay, Brother Chen, thank you so much."

Hearing Lu Chen agree, Liu Jie breathed a sigh of relief and visibly relaxed.

Liu Jie had previously tried to get Liu An to go to school, but Liu An was a petty hoodlum who had no money or connections and couldn't find any way to get in.

Now that he has some money, he still needs connections to study in the French Concession, which he can't handle, so he thought of Lu Chen.

After driving for a few minutes, a house appeared in front of them. It was a single-story house, but it was much more impressive than the other houses Lu Chen had seen here.

The landlord and his men happened to be standing right at the door, which is how Liu Jie confirmed that this was the landlord's house.

Upon seeing the familiar rickshaw approaching, the landlord and his men stood still.

"What? Are you having second thoughts, young man?"

The landlord frowned; anyone with eyes could see he was somewhat displeased.

How can someone who has done a good business deal go back on their word?

But if Lu Chen is determined to go back on his word, he can only accept it, since Lu Chen has a gun.

"No, I just wanted to ask how much land you have? I'd like to buy more."

Lu Chen and Liu Jie walked up to the landlord and his group.

"You want more land?"

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, the landlord visibly became happier.

The war in the Chinese-controlled area has been going on for a while now. If it weren't for all the farmland here, he would have run away long ago.

Unexpectedly, a sucker actually came along. How could I possibly refuse?

"Hey buddy, how much do you want?"

Thinking of this, the landlord clasped his hands and asked Lu Chen with a smile.

"I want as many as you have."

Lu Chen, with his hands in his pockets, spoke in a relaxed tone.

"Really? You want as many as you want?"

The landlord looked incredulous. Although he was just a small landlord, all the land he owned was not a small amount.

He also didn't believe that the young man in front of him could come up with such a large sum of money all at once.

"Really, just name your price, and I'll send someone to collect it."

Lu Chen waved his hand impatiently; he didn't want to waste too much time here.

"1000 silver dollars?"

The landlord tentatively extended one finger.

"Xiao Jie, here's my office key. There's a cabinet inside. Bring me 1000 yuan."

Upon hearing the landlord's offer, Lu Chen immediately took out a key and handed it to Liu Jie, telling him to go back to the military police headquarters to get the money.

Lu Chen would regularly give his younger sister Lu Xiulian some money, and also give Shen Ruoqiu money to buy groceries. He didn't carry much with him, and kept the rest in the military police office.

Liu Jie took the keys, turned around and got into the car, disappearing from the spot in no time.

Seeing that Lu Chen did not hesitate at all, the landlord was also undecided.

If he were to sell, the price would definitely be half of the normal price; if he didn't sell, he was afraid of losing his life in this Chinese-controlled area.

After much internal struggle, the landlord decided to sell to Lu Chen. No money was better than losing his life.

Do you know which other landowners live around here?

With nothing else to do, Lu Chen simply asked the landlord. Since this matter would have to be investigated later anyway, getting information in advance would save time.

The landlord was taken aback. Did he not have enough land? Did he want to buy more?

The landlord only thought about it; he didn't say these words out loud. Instead, he pondered for a while before answering Lu Chen.

"There are two over there, one over here, and I don't know about the others."

The landlord pointed in two directions, which Lu Chen immediately memorized.

It seems I'll have to find the rest myself.

"Go pack your things, we'll leave once the delivery guy brings the money."

The landlord gave instructions to his men, who were likely servants whose clothing was far inferior to his own and who were always obedient to his orders.

Just then, Liu Jie drove back, carrying a bag in his hand.

"Brother Chen, one thousand silver dollars."

Lu Chen took the bag and keys, stuffed the keys into his pocket, and threw the bag directly to the landlord.

A thousand silver dollars was not light, it was even a bit heavy. The landlord staggered when he took it.

"That's indeed a thousand silver dollars, sir. Then all my land is yours. Shall I send someone to tell you where my land is?"

After the landlord checked the items and confirmed that there were no problems, he looked at Lu Chen with satisfaction and spoke.

"Does that person know?"

Lu Chen pointed in the direction they came from and asked the landlord if he knew who the man they had just beaten was.

"I know, then go ask him, I'm moving out today."

The landlord was stunned for a moment, then quickly spoke. Seeing Lu Chen and Liu Jie leave without looking back, he hurriedly took the money and went back into the house.