At this moment, Henry Shaw also guessed in his heart the reason why crops couldn't survive on that mountain—the energy from the energy stones was too strong, and ordinary grass probably couldn't withstand the heat from that energy and would get burned.

Maybe there were spiritual herbs or something similar for cultivation growing on the mountain?

Thinking of this, Henry Shaw wanted to go up and see what the situation on the mountain was really like.

“Brother Shaw, hurry and have some breakfast.” This time, some noodles had been brought back, and Diana Brooks cooked a bowl of noodles for Henry Shaw.

Seeing that there was also an egg in the bowl, Henry Shaw knew it was probably from the chickens raised by The Brooks Family. He’d heard they were supposed to be sold for money, but now it was cooked for him to eat.

“Is Mr. Shaw at home?” While he was eating, Henry Shaw heard someone loudly asking outside.

Edward Brooks immediately stood up and called out, “Village Chief Thompson, you’re here?”

As he spoke, a middle-aged man in a worn-out suit, with a belt around his waist, walked in with a big smile.

Following Village Chief Thompson in was also a middle-aged woman, her face equally full of smiles.

“Mr. Shaw, hope we’re not disturbing you. I just got back from a few days of meetings in the township and haven’t seen you around.”

That Village Chief Thompson had already reached out to shake hands with Henry Shaw.

Henry Shaw hurriedly stood up to shake hands with Village Chief Thompson.

Edward Brooks introduced them to Henry Shaw: “This is our village chief, Frank Thompson, and this is our village accountant, Grace Cole.”

Henry Shaw quickly invited them to sit down.

After everyone sat down, Frank Thompson said, “Mr. Shaw, you’ve really done a great thing for our village this time!”

Henry Shaw replied, “I only happened to find out by chance that Xiagou Village is suitable for planting honeysuckle. In the past, you didn’t have any channels and were forced to sell at low prices. This year, I’m here to purchase, so the villagers shouldn’t lose out much.”

“Of course! Didn’t you see, the whole village went up the mountain early this morning. If I wasn’t here to see you, I’d be up there picking too, haha.”

“Village Chief Thompson, Xiagou Village is actually a great place. If it’s developed well, I think it has a lot of potential.”

Grace Cole smiled and said, “The key is that we don’t have a leader. You know, we rural folks don’t have much experience. If you could help our village more, I believe we’d develop even better.”

This woman really knew how to talk!

Henry Shaw glanced at Grace Cole.

At this moment, Edward Brooks said, “Chief, just now Little Henry mentioned something to me. He wants to invest here. Look at that mountain—he wants to contract it. I was just about to ask you about it.”

“Contract that barren mountain?” Frank Thompson looked at the barren mountain in the village that no one wanted, then looked at Henry Shaw.

Henry Shaw nodded and said, “Xiagou Village should have a lot of development potential. I’d like to build a villa or something here, though I haven’t decided yet. It’s just an idea. If it’s too expensive, then forget it.”

Hearing this, Frank Thompson became anxious. He could tell that Henry Shaw was a wealthy boss, and if he could keep Henry Shaw here, it would be extremely important for the development of Xiagou Village.

“If Mr. Shaw likes, building a villa or something would be great. No one wants that mountain. Just make an offer, it’s not expensive, really.”

Grace Cole pointed at the barren mountain and said, “That mountain is about two hundred mu. It doesn’t bring in any income, and no one wants it. If Mr. Shaw really wants it, it’s really not expensive—just ten or twenty yuan per mu per year.”

Frank Thompson said, “If you really want it, we’ll hold a village meeting to decide. Ten yuan per mu, and it’s yours.”

Ten yuan!

Henry Shaw looked at Frank Thompson in surprise, never expecting the barren mountain to be so cheap.

At this moment, Edward Brooks loudly said, “Village Chief Thompson, don’t fool Little Henry. Who would pay ten yuan for that barren mountain? I think five yuan would already be good.”

“Little Henry, don’t contract it, it’s too expensive!”

Henry Shaw was even more speechless.

Frank Thompson gave an awkward laugh and said, “Mr. Shaw is a wealthy man, and he’s also helping our Xiagou Village. Only here could you find barren land for ten yuan per mu. Try asking elsewhere!”

“Chief, I have to ask, in a place with no transportation like ours, who would bring money to contract such a barren mountain?” Edward Brooks was clearly helping Henry Shaw bargain.

At this point, Henry Shaw looked at Frank Thompson and asked, “Chief, what’s the longest period I could contract it for?”

Grace Cole said, “It depends on the land use: the contract period for farmland is thirty years; for grassland, thirty to fifty years; for forest land, thirty to seventy years. For special forest land, with approval from the State Council’s forestry administration, it can be extended. Our county is a poor area, and there are official documents about contracting barren mountains. For barren mountains like ours, the contract period can be extended to fifty to seventy years. For that mountain, if you go to the county and talk to them, a seventy-year contract is possible.”

Henry Shaw did some calculations. If it was for seventy years, it would only be about 140,000 yuan. He felt a bit excited—if he could really get that barren mountain, he could finally do his own thing up there.