Leo was someone who hated owing favors. After I gave him this huge insider tip about the land acquisition, he agreed to my request without hesitation.
The surrounding villagers, who were chatting, immediately shifted their attention to us. They were curiously looking my way as they saw us being all secretive.
Afraid that the news might leak and affect the demolition plan, I reminded Leo to keep it secret before heading to the village committee.
My parents died young. They left the farm and two shops to my brother and me.
My brother, Aiden Taylor, wasn't like me. He dropped out of middle school and went to work.
As the older brother, I acted like a father. He begged me in tears. I chose the barren farm and gave him the shops, ensuring he would have a steady monthly rental income.
After the marriage, Luna somehow heard about this. She kept calling me a fool and urged me several times to go to my brother and have the shops and farm redistributed.
I refused, and she threw a fit. Eventually, she went behind me, taking my daughter to see my brother and his wife.
After that visit to my brother, she never brought up redistributing the properties again.
I still don't know how my brother and sister-in-law convinced her...
In the previous life, she didn't hold any grudges and eventually sold the farm to my brother at a low price to get some cash.
"Are you sure you don't want to add your wife's name?" The village committee confirmed again.
"I'm sure!" I replied firmly.
This farm was divided before Luna and I got married. It was my pre-marital property.
Being rural land, it never had a deed. Perhaps due to the impending demolition, the village committee recently started organizing everyone to get their deeds.
In the last life, I took this opportunity to add Luna's name to it. I never imagined that she would end up selling the farm to my brother at a low price just before the land acquisition.
Fortunately, this time I was in time to remove her name before the village committee submitted the paperwork.
As soon as I finished the village committee's business, Luna's call came in.
"Julian, can you come to Tanaxes tomorrow if you have time? I have something to discuss with you!" Luna said.
"What is it? Can't you tell me over the phone? Do I really need to make a special trip?" I asked knowingly.