Chapter Fifteen: The Fish Head Village Fund

"Secretary Xiu'e, there's no need to be so excited. This fifteen percent stake isn't just being handed to you for nothing. In the future, you'll need to serve in Yutou Village for fifteen years—no, ten years will do. Only after you've completed ten years will you be entitled to this fifteen percent share in the village company. The same goes for me!" Tang Long added with a smile.

Zhang Xiu'e was taken aback. In fifteen years, she would be a woman in her forties; even in ten years, she'd be in her late thirties. Was she really to spend the prime of her youth in this impoverished mountain village for the sake of a collective enterprise? The calculation was indeed precise.

"Secretary Xiu'e, what do you think?" Tang Long grinned, unfazed by her scrutinizing gaze.

She couldn't help but laugh at his words. After a moment's thought, she nodded and asked, "So if I don't serve out the full ten years, does that mean I won't get any shares in the company?"

Tang Long chuckled. "Not exactly. Let's set ten years as the term. If you stay for the full ten years, you get the full fifteen percent. If you serve a year, you get one percent; two years, two percent, and so on. The longer you stay, the more you get!"

The money itself was not Tang Long's main concern; what mattered was Zhang Xiu'e herself. Her continued presence in Yutou Village would bring greater benefit to the villagers.

Zhang Xiu'e stared at him, now understanding the calculations in his mind. She blinked and asked, "So you'll have to stay for ten years as well, to get your full share?"

"That's right. The same rules for both of us," Tang Long nodded.

Zhang Xiu'e then turned to the representatives of the villagers and asked, "What do you all think?"

Auntie Yang replied cheerfully, "I support Village Chief Tang Long's proposal!"

"We all agree!" the other representatives echoed.

Zhang Xiu'e considered for a moment and said, "Let's leave this matter for now. It's not enough for just you all to agree; we need everyone currently in Yutou Village to consent. Even one dissent means it won't pass."

She paused before continuing, "Now, let's discuss the rest of the share distribution: how much each villager should get, and the difference in treatment between those who work and those who don't."

Tang Long smiled, "As I said, the company founded by Yutou Village will allow every villager to hold shares accounting for twenty percent of the total. These are not individual shares, but rights to dividends only, distributed equally each year."

"We'll set aside another twenty percent as the 'Yutou Village Fund,' which will also only collect dividends. This money is reserved for building public facilities and rewarding villagers who make outstanding contributions to the village or society."

"For instance, if a student from Yutou Village gets into university, prize money will come from the fund. If a young villager joins the army and earns distinctions, their family can collect a reward from the fund. Should any villager make great sacrifices for the collective, their family and children will be sustained by the fund in perpetuity."

"In the future, once the collective company is running smoothly, the Yutou Village Fund will be well-established. The fund cannot be misappropriated or diluted for any reason, and is only to be used for the development of Yutou Village and to honor and reward those who bring distinction or make significant contributions to the village."

He paused, then continued, "The forty percent of shares held by the collective villagers and the fund are original shares and must not be traded, converted to cash, or diluted for any reason."

Zhang Xiu'e gazed at him, her eyes full of wonder. How could this man seem to know everything? When it came to founding a company, he spoke of original shares and collective funds, as though he had already mapped out the future.

Was he really just a recently discharged soldier? If these words had come from a corporate executive, Zhang Xiu'e would not have been surprised; but hearing them from Tang Long made her mind race with speculation.

By Tang Long's plan, once the village enterprise was established, Yutou Village would have a solid foundation for sustainable development, and the villagers would have real hope for a better future.

"Secretary Xiu'e, what do you think?" Tang Long noticed her gaze and gave a mischievous smile.

Zhang Xiu'e nodded. "It's excellent!"

Tang Long did not mention that the fifteen percent stakes held by him and Zhang Xiu'e each were also protected from dilution.

"Since there are no objections, let's settle the matter of shares for now. Tomorrow, when everyone's awake, we'll draft a collective agreement for everyone who stays in the village to sign," Tang Long said cheerfully.

He understood Zhang Xiu'e's concerns. Even if the village company achieved overnight success, their interests should be secured beyond doubt, so that they could hold them without guilt or suspicion. Effort and reward should be proportional; Tang Long did not want any villager to feel disheartened.

One of the representatives asked, "What about those who haven't returned to the village? Should we notify them?"

Tang Long looked at the speaker, a man about ten years his senior, named Wang Youfu, and asked with a smile, "What do you think, Brother Youfu? Should they be told?"

Wang Youfu's question was prompted by his elder brother, who hadn't returned this time, saying he was too busy with work and the boss wouldn't allow leave, so only Wang Youfu came back to represent the family. The Wang family had three sons, all said to be doing well outside, with Wang Youfu considered the least successful among them.

Everyone in the village understood what was on his mind the moment he asked.

"What are you asking for? The old village chief himself hasn't come back. If you ask me, those who didn't return shouldn't get a share—no point rewarding wolves you've fed for nothing," Liu Guaizi snapped.

This bachelor in his fifties was known for his stubbornness. When Zhang Deshun was alive, a single word from him was enough to make Liu risk life and limb. Despite his lameness, in his youth, he had once jumped into a flood and singlehandedly dragged a tree as thick as a grown man's waist to shore. Nowadays, people would call him a real man.

He was the sort to speak his mind, and in all Yutou Village, only Zhang Deshun could keep him in line.

"Heh, Uncle Guaizi, don't be angry. I was just asking. We won't call those outside," Wang Youfu said with a conciliatory smile.

Tang Long nodded. "Almost every family has someone here. Privately, you can call around. Anyone willing to come back now will still be counted."

Wang Youfu laughed awkwardly and kept quiet. Truth be told, some villagers were just there for the fun of it; business and shares held little meaning for them. Other than Zhang Xiu'e and Tang Long, who had somehow secured funds from Qiangyuan Company, the village enterprise was nothing more than a name at this point.

There was nothing else—no assets to speak of! If it made money one day, it would be a treasure; if not, could it really earn more than working outside?

To most, it was just a novelty, nothing to take seriously. If one day the shares were worth tens of thousands, everyone would be envious and disputes would arise. That was why Zhang Xiu'e and Tang Long wanted to establish rules for the company now, to guard against future trouble.

When poor, everything is easy to agree on. But what about later, when fortune comes? It's easy to weather hardship together, but not always to share prosperity. Human nature is best left untested—a truth some philosopher once said, and how right they were.

"Next, we have to address the issue of 'staying' or 'leaving'," Tang Long said, sweeping his gaze across the representatives.

He smiled, "Yutou Village will be registering its own company. The 'Liangou Hollow' will no longer be leased or taken over by Qiangyuan Company—we'll manage it ourselves. As for 'leaving,' it refers to those who still want to go out and work. I've discussed this with Secretary Xiu'e. We won't force anyone to stay, but we do hope more people will remain, so we can work together and make something of ourselves."

"Every family has its own troubles. The company is just starting out and may not be profitable right away. Everyone has mouths to feed, so we support those who choose to work elsewhere. When the company prospers, they'll always be welcome back. No matter what, Yutou Village is home, and we're all family, bound together by blood."

"For those willing to stay, we wholeheartedly support you. Though times are hard now, I swear—I, Tang Long, will see you through to better days!"

As Tang Long looked towards her, Zhang Xiu'e caught his meaning and added with a smile, "No one will be forced to stay or go—whether you choose to work outside or stay and help, there should be no pressure. As Village Chief Tang Long said, we are always a family, and we understand."

"Those who choose to stay should be rewarded, so no one's hearts are chilled," Qiu Yuxia chimed in, blushing. She was a representative but rarely spoke. She would be taking Ermao to the provincial capital for treatment in the morning, but had still attended the meeting.

"Yuxia is right. Those who stay shouldn't be left out. I'll work with Tang Long and the committee to work out a concrete reward plan," Zhang Xiu'e said firmly.

She had no idea how many people would stay. If things went on as before, with only the old, the weak, women, and children left behind, then their enterprise would be doomed before it even began.

Nothing can be accomplished without people—especially a collective enterprise like theirs, which needed manpower at the start. Only by coming together as one, united in purpose, could they look forward to a brighter future.