Well, whether poor or rich, there must be disadvantages to both sides.
Nevertheless… to the villagers, there were more advantages to going to the city than staying in the village. The most crucial one being MARRIAGE!
Their fear was that their children would never marry if they kept staying here. Do you know that in the entire country, their village ranked as the top in turns of how many bachelors stay bachelors till they die?
The matter about their poverty is a well spread matter across the entire COUNTRY… So whose mother would want their daughter to marry into poverty and hunger?
The biggest fear for many parents in Geldhan village is that their sons won't marry.
Daughters are easy to marry because a daughter moves into her husband's home. Most of them are very glad when people from neighboring villages, cities and countries choose their daughters for marriage.
The matchmakers are paid handsomely to introduce their daughters.
Of course, most daughter's also marry boys in Geldhan village, and continue living in Poverty.
But as the generations passed, there were far more boys in Geldhan village compared to girls. The ratio is 6 to 1. So naturally, all mother's fought vigorously to have their sons marry the few girls in the village.
… Or else what are the chances that these poor guys would go out to other places and compete with boys there and win?
Although some people successfully married after leaving Geldhan village, most failed the moment they told their partners where they came from.
This was how poor, wretched, and desolate Geldhan village was seen across the county and other parts of the world.
That's why when Gort promised to make them rich and make their sons marry, many felt a burst of willingness to grit their teeth and pull out money from hidden places to secure their children's future.
At this point, their hopes were all riding in the Fairbang Family to pull them out from the darkness. Thinking like so, everyone dressed extra nice today, feeling like true shareholders. After seeing the smiles from the leaving buyers, many felt their luck was about to change.
With grin smiles and chests puffed proudly, they slammed and locked their windows and doors shut, marching towards the Prairie close to the company.
This was it! This was it… the dawn of a new day.
****
One by one, group by group, people showed up for the celebrations.
The Prairie was filled with countless heads perching on its many beds of soft grass. Unlike other festivals in Geldhan village that started off with immediate festivities, this one was different.
It was funny that some people were speaking, and the people around them instantly shushed them up.
Shhhh!~
Quiet!
Can't you see they are at a company dinner party?
1…2…3…
The entire place fell into neck-deep silence. Even those who coughed, felt like they did something wrong. No one had the heart to celebrate without hearing the news from Gort.
"Look! They're coming!" Someone yelled, and like synchronized robots, everyone's head turned in one direction.
Gort, Park Fairbang, the guards, staff and Gort's sworn buddies, were all approaching from the company's gates. Soon, they stood on the massive stone podium Gort had long requested to be built during the time construction was going on.
He already chose this place to be a meeting spot between himself and all the shareholders. Next time, they will use the Village Hall for such matters. But for now, it was easier to use the Prairie.
"Welcome everyone, to our company's first Diner party after today's success."
"I know many of you still have doubts, but I just want to tell you that our company has managed to grow 1,200 watermelons, 500 Ginseng, and 800 Tomatoes."
800 tomatoes? That's it?
??????
Know that if you can fill 2 drums with 800 tomatoes. Is that really all?
Was that all it took to make the Investors happy?
Pfft~
"A bunch of idiots!" Welland Poe's voice echoed out, followed by another person.
"Didn't I tell you? You all will lose your initial Investments!!"
Instantly, many villagers turned grim.
"Get out! Get out of here! Can't you see that Gort hasn't finished talking yet?"
"If you don't know how to shut up, this old man will teach you how!"
Several people lashed out in an instant. Their emotions traveled through their voices, because deep down, they also felt that growing 800 tomatoes was nothing to brag about. In the end, they have seen more yields in their life.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten that 1 week ago, there were no tomatoes whatsoever.
So how could everything, from watermelons to tomatoes and Ginseng grow so much in such a short time?
.
~Ting!
Bunten and Bullen, the twins, children of Hendo, rang the triangle in their hand to call for order.
"Everyone, please settle down… I'm not done yet." Gort's voice was unhurried, yet, it had an air of authority to it. "I know you must all have doubts, but perhaps, this… will clear things up for you."
~Whoosh!
A cloth was pulled off the objects on the table, revealing an enormous Tomato, watermelon and Ginseng. No… what sort of gigantic foods were these?
Seeing their expressions, Gort smirked while putting the last icing on the cake. "Uncles, aunties, everyone… one week was all we took to grow them to this size."
WHAT? 1 week? Impossible!
Everyone's eyes moved maniacally, even the little children couldn't before what they heard and saw.
They were children of farmers and knew much about the soil and agriculture. So who can tell them what was going on?