The sun had long since dipped below the horizon when Sam and Mr. Patel reached the public square.
A hushed anticipation filled the air as the villagers huddled in their groups, their quiet murmurs of speculation punctuating the evening calm.
Why had they been called for a gathering this late in the day?
The curiosity was palpable, and the villagers cast anxious glances toward Sam and Mr. Patel as they approached.
Mr. Patel went to the center of the square, casting a long shadow under the soft glow of the nearby lamppost.
The murmurs of speculation fell into silence as he cleared his throat to speak, "Good evening, everyone!"
His voice was amplified in the silent square, the echoes bouncing off the surrounding homes.
"We gathered here today because of Ryan's son, Sam. Sam has achieved some success in City N and has created a company named Orion Enterprises. He has earned a good deal of money and wants to use that wealth for the benefit of our village. He approached me yesterday with this noble intention."
The villagers listened in stunned silence as Mr. Patel spoke about Sam's accomplishments.
The little boy they remembered, who used to run around the village with his friends, was now a successful businessman.
The silence gave way to murmurs, then exclamations of shock, admiration, and a hint of pride.
"Let's hear more from Sam himself," Mr. Patel said, gesturing to Sam, standing off to the side.
Applause filled the square as Sam moved forward.
The recognition from his fellow villagers brought a warm glow to his cheeks, but he brushed it off with a small smile, "Thank you, everyone. I'll get straight to the point. This village is my home, and you all are my family. Now that I have the means, I want to give back to this community."
He was met with cheers and laughter from the crowd.
An older man called out, joking, "Ooi Lil' Sam, we all remember our village's '3 Naughty Villains'. You can't play king now!"
The square filled with laughter as Sam joined in.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia as he remembered the days when he and his two friends were referred to as the '3 Naughty Villains', always up to some mischief.
Sam took a deep breath before continuing, "I have been in talks with the Mayor of Town B, Mr. Eric Johnson. We have agreed to convert the current road to Town B into a 2-lane road. The work is slated to begin next week."
An uproar filled the square as villagers gasped and whispered amongst themselves, their eyes wide with surprise.
They had long desired this but had given up due to a lack of resources.
"How did you manage that, Sam? We've been wanting that for years!" A voice called out from the crowd.
Sam's smile widened, "As the owner of Orion Enterprises, I had some sway. But I do have a request. I would like to keep my identity as the owner of Orion Enterprises a secret, at least for now. With fame comes unwanted attention, which I'd like to avoid."
The villagers nodded in understanding, promising to keep Sam's secret.
Mr. Patel then announced that all the improvements Sam had planned for the village would be made under the name of an anonymous investor.
Sam's eyes scanned the sea of faces before him, taking in their varied expressions of curiosity and disbelief.
He cleared his throat, the echo of it bouncing back at him from the surrounding homes.
"I want to start with the water issue," he said, and the crowd hushed in anticipation.
He went on to explain his plans about installing a state-of-the-art water purifier for the village that could transform all forms of water into something usable for their daily needs.
His voice carried conviction as he spoke about the need for this system, bringing up the high TDS levels and the health risks they posed.
As he concluded his thoughts on the water purifier, he could practically feel the villagers holding their breath, waiting to hear what else he had in store.
A ripple of discussion spread through the crowd, but Mr. Patel voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"What about the maintenance cost, Sam?"
Sam offered a reassuring smile, "I've thought about that too. And the next couple of projects should take care of those costs."
His eyes twinkled with excitement as he shared his plans to create a factory to manufacture small, portable water purifiers capable of purifying rain, bath, ground, and even river water.
"The village will own this factory. The profits, as well as any losses, will belong to the village. But with such an innovative product, I believe we'll only see profits."
Before the villagers had a chance to absorb this new information, Sam forged ahead to his third point.
He wanted to set up another factory, this one for creating bio-fertilizer.
He spoke passionately about the benefits this fertilizer would bring to their farming community, revitalizing their soil, increasing yield, and eliminating the need for harmful chemicals.
"But to make this work, we must change some habits. We'll have to start segregating our garbage," he added, looking pointedly at Mr. Patel, who nodded in understanding.
The villagers were visibly taken aback as they tried to wrap their heads around the enormity of Sam's plans.
Even Mr. Patel, who had been privy to some of these plans, looked surprised.
The concept of making Sunset Village self-sufficient, something he had dreamt of, was now within their reach, thanks to Sam.
Just as the initial shock wave began to recede, Sam dropped his last 'bomb.'
"Lastly, I want to upgrade our infrastructure. To minimize dirt, I plan to make the wiring underground and install blocks on our roads and outside everyone's homes. I also want to plant trees and plants around the village to increase oxygen levels. I'll fund all of this," Sam said, pausing to let his words sink in.
Then, with a smile, he added, "Plus, I wish to donate 2 million for the daily functioning of our village."
His words hung in the air for a few seconds, followed by the deafening silence.
All around him, the villagers were silent, as if the enormity of his plans had left them speechless.
The villagers were completely taken aback, a stunned silence settling over the crowd.
Sam's words hung in the air.
2 million.
It was an amount so astronomical that most villagers couldn't comprehend it.
Their lives were spent in calculations of hundreds and thousands.
This figure was almost mythical.
Mr. Patel was no exception.
He found himself lost for words, overwhelmed by the sheer generosity of Sam's offer.
But he understood, more than anyone else, the profound implications of Sam's plan.
If everything went as Sam had outlined, in a decade, anyone in Sunset Village who wasn't a millionaire would be the anomaly.
Slowly, applause began to ripple through the crowd, growing louder and stronger.
Their faces, previously marked by anxiety and skepticism, now glowed with gratitude and admiration for Sam, their once naughty village boy turned benefactor.
Mr. Patel finally found his voice, his tone filled with admiration and a tinge of concern.
"Sam, what you are proposing is unprecedented. It's not just the money, but these technologies - they're like a golden goose. They can generate endless income. Why not operate these factories yourself and simply pay taxes to the village?"
Sam looked at him, an earnest look on his face. "No, Uncle. My goal is for Sunset Village to become self-reliant. I want you all to prosper, even if I am not around. Don't consider this a business deal. I am not doing it for gratitude or personal gain. I genuinely want Sunset Village to thrive. If everyone around me prospers, I will naturally prosper."
A silence followed his declaration.
The villagers now began to fully understand the implications of Sam's plan.
Running the factories themselves would mean sharing the profits among every family.
They would essentially become shareholders.
They would decide who to hire and how to run these factories.
It was a daunting responsibility.
But with that responsibility came the opportunity to significantly improve their lives.
"Representing the Village, I would like to thank you, Sam, for all of this. God knows what good we did in our past lives to have a child like you born in our village," Mr. Patel finally said, his voice choked with emotion.
Echoes of gratitude filled the air as others added their thanks.
Sam felt a sense of accomplishment.
There was a profound satisfaction in being able to help his people, his home.
This endeavor was reshaping his worldview.
Unlike characters in web novels who pursued power, money, or beauty, he found himself on a different path. His focus was on community, on making lives better.
His approach might not be entirely selfless, but he knew he would go to great lengths for his people.
The meeting ended with loud applause, echoing through the otherwise quiet night. Many villagers approached Sam to express their gratitude.
His plans would change not just their lives but also the future of their descendants.
Sam's father, Ryan, stood watching the scene unfold with a proud expression. His son, and his teachings, were making a difference.
Ryan felt his heart swell with happiness.
Later that night, Sam lay in his room, his mind buzzing with the day's events.
He knew there was still work to be done.
He had made promises, and he intended to keep them.
He pulled open his laptop and began a conversation with Gaia.
He was ready to make his dreams, and those of Sunset Village, a reality.