Looking at the silver in hand, Gulan could understand what Li Da had brought. After all, as Li Da said, she was the one who dealt with the two bandit leaders, so she should have a share of the money collected, and the biggest share. But the village chief gave her one anyway. Looking at the determined expression of the village chief and remembering that she once said that she was also a part of this village, Gulan couldn't refuse to take it. The village chief would use what she said to stop her, unless she did not consider herself a member of Lijia Village.
After thanking the village chief, Gulan held a few taels of silver in her hand, feeling mixed emotions. This was the feeling of being valued. Even though she didn't care much about the money, she was still happy that she was not excluded. The village chief is worthy of being the village chief. He is very tactful in doing things.
Although the few taels of silver may seem like a small amount, it is actually the farmers' living expenses for two years. The fact that the farmers, who always value money and are always thrifty, are willing to give her this share shows their appreciation for her. Gulan felt really comfortable.
When the village chief was leaving, Gulan stuffed a bag of pastries into his pocket. After returning home, the old couple were filled with emotion when they saw the old man opening the package of exquisite pastries. This bag of pastries must have cost quite a bit of money.
Gulan stuffed the silver into her arms and began to pack up the spoils from entering the city with the help of Xiang Yunjin. Grain, cakes, chicken and duck eggs, red dates, etc. were all put in the cart. As for vegetables, they were still placed in a willow basket at the front of the cart for easy access. There is also a piece of thick and fatty pork belly, which is slightly marinated with salt and saved for making braised pork tomorrow.
Daya, who was very tactful, had already started to make a fire, and Gulan was preparing to boil lard. Ten pounds of lard can produce a lot of oil, and soon the aroma of oil will waft out. If they hadn't been so hungry these days, the fragrance would have almost aroused their greed again. But they still looked at Gulan with envy. It took a long time to cook ten pounds of lard, but the lard residue was really fragrant. Gulan fried some green vegetables in the hot pan, and each person had a piece of vegetable cake, which was so delicious.
They ate with relish, and so did everyone else. Almost every family got a good share of silver, and they were all very happy. Plus, the added bonus of the oil residue from Gulan made them take out their remaining meat and have a good meal.
"Husband, don't you think that since Master Gu came, our lives have become more and more exciting and better?" Li Mu Mother looked at her two grandsons who were eating happily, and felt emotional. She felt even more excited when she thought about the silver she had just received.
Before they fled famine, they could only eat meat a few times a year. These days, the amount of meat they eat is as much as the total amount of meat they ate in previous years combined.
"You just realized that, I had discovered it a long time ago. If it weren't for Master Gu, we wouldn't have come this far, let alone the life we have now. I'm afraid..." Thinking of the bandits that day, Li Mu's father still had some lingering fears. If it weren't for Gulan that time, they would have been robbed clean. With the bravery of the men in Lijia Village, many people would have died. Even if they survived, how long could they last without food and water? Looking at their grandchildren, they couldn't even imagine such a scene.
Li Mu Mother nodded in agreement. What her husband said was right. If it weren't for Master Gu's medicine, how could her son sit down and eat peacefully? Li Mu Mother was really grateful to Master Gu. It should be said that all members of the Li family were very grateful to Master Gu.
This scene happened in many families. Everyone couldn't help but sigh while holding the silver and eating the food. Especially for the families who participated in the fight with the bandits, they received a lot of silver, and one can imagine how excited everyone was. They understand that this journey to where they do today is inseparable from Master Gulan. The night was very peaceful and dark, with heavy clouds and a cold wind blowing. It was still a night without stars or moon.
...
On the other side, Su Qiaoxiu from Xiaohe Village was tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep.Although she was persuaded by her mother yesterday and she felt that what she said made sense, Su Qiaoxiu still felt that something was leaving her. She went to bed early after dinner and thought she would fall asleep quickly, but she just couldn't fall asleep no matter how much she tossed and turned. Normally, she would fall asleep as soon as she touched the bed.
Unable to fall asleep for a long time, she simply sat up. Su Qiaoxiu knew that she was still a little unwilling. If the epidemic was true, how could she be willing to give up such a great contribution? As the saying goes, fortune and honor are achieved through risk, she knows this. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been the last trip. She was so beautiful, and she was unwilling to live a mediocre life in the countryside all her life. Her mother's words really frightened her, and she is still afraid now, but after a day and a night, she still can't suppress the desire in her heart.
A crazy light flashed in Su Qiaoxiu's eyes again. After changing into her darkest clothes, Su Qiaoxiu got out of bed, peeled off a brick from the bed leg against the wall, and took out something wrapped in a piece of rag.
There were a few dimes of silver in it, which added up to less than two taels. This was part of what was left over from the last time she left. These were all the money she had saved from embroidery over the past few years. Over the years, she had saved nearly five taels of silver. Unfortunately, she took more than half of it away last time. This was her last bit of silver.
Looking at the silver, Su Qiaoxiu felt a rare flash of guilt, especially when she thought about what she said to her mother yesterday. She was indeed a little hasty and spoke without thinking. It is undeniable that her parents attitude towards her is not as good as before, but they really loved her before. There are almost no girls in farming families like her who are about to get married and have saved so much money. But all these could not overcome her desire to turn things around and become the superior one.
Su Qiao held the silver tightly and kept it close to her body. Unfortunately, the men's clothes she wore last time had been taken away by her parents. Fortunately, although the clothes I was wearing were women's clothing, the color was very dark, and if I removed the belt it would still look like men's clothing.
She adjusted her hair accessories into a simple men's style, took off her silver earrings and covered her ears with her hair. She packed a piece of clothing and a pair of shoes in her package. When she was ready, Su Qiaoxiu opened the window on one side.
These days, as if afraid that she would become depressed again, her eldest brother would lock her door every night. But the family seemed to have forgotten that the door was not accessible, and there was still a window.
Although the window in her room was not big, she could easily get out. When she came out, she glanced at the hourglass. It was around midnight, the time when everyone was sleeping soundly. Even so, Su Qiaoxiu moved very quietly and did not dare to make the slightest noise. She carefully climbed out of the window, went into the kitchen and took out a few pieces of grain pancakes that she had saved for breakfast yesterday. Looking at the main house where her parents lived with a complicated expression, Su Qiaoxiu chose to climb over the wall and leave.
The door was locked tightly and she couldn't open it at all. The only way was to climb over the wall. Su Qiaoxiu, who had never done such a thing before, was scared. She spent nearly half a cup of tea sorting out her thoughts. If she hadn't been afraid of being discovered by her family, she would not have been able to make up her mind where to climb out.
The wall of her house is slightly higher than that of other houses in the village, about one and a half meters high. There are no sharp rubble on the top of the wall, which is why Su Qiaoxiu dared to set her sights on the top of the wall. Finally, with the help of tree in the yard, Su Qiaoxiu managed to climb to the top of the wall with all her might. She closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and slowly jumped down.