Chapter 225

The other women present shifted their focus to the medicinal herbs!

If they needed processing, what kind of herb was it?

The whole Ding family came to help, so it must be a profitable venture.

But asking about a profitable business could be awkward if the other party didn’t want to answer, making one appear tactless.

Unexpectedly, Shuiqing took the initiative to explain: “The reason the Bai family didn’t plant their potatoes in our fields is because we and the Ding family have been collecting seeds for this medicinal herb, preparing to plant it ourselves.

If we fail, the loss is ours alone. But if we succeed, next year you can all get seeds from us to plant. We’ll buy the harvested herbs at market prices. Medicinal herbs are worth more than grains, and maybe our village can become wealthier from selling them!”

Shuiqing’s words filled the women with joy.

They hadn’t expected that after solving their food problem with potatoes, Shuiqing was now helping them test planting medicinal herbs!

If the herbs failed, so much land would go to waste without any food to eat.

Aunt Li, one of the few women who could make decisions in the village, immediately declared, “Shuiqing, if you fail, I’ll bring potatoes over for you! You won’t go hungry.”

Aunt Zhang echoed this sentiment: “Don’t worry. You know we had a good potato harvest this year. Whether you succeed or fail, I’ll bring you potatoes!

If you fail, the potatoes will keep you full. If you succeed, we’ll trade the potatoes for herb seeds. We can’t let you suffer a loss.”

For the second time in her life, she felt it was good to be a widow. If her husband were still alive, how could she make such bold decisions?

Having money, leisure, and a voice was a comfort she’d never dared to dream of.

She looked at Shuiqing, knowing her good life now was thanks to her. She was determined to stick closely to Shuiqing and follow her lead!

The other women, unable to make decisions themselves, silently took note, planning to discuss it with their families later. They looked at Aunt Li and Aunt Zhang with envy.

How dashing it was to be able to make decisions! The more they looked, the more they admired them!

No one even asked what the herb was called or what price the pharmacy would pay. They all agreed joyfully.

They thought simply: if Shuiqing said it was better than growing grain, it must be worthwhile.

Over there, Ding Jiajia, hearing Shuiqing explain, softly told her peers, “Once we have more herbs, and if my parents and I can’t manage, Sister Shuiqing said she’d ask for your help.

Sister Shuiqing has already thought about it. Those who come to help will be paid, but it can’t happen yet. We need to wait for the herbs to mature and be harvested, so please be patient.”

Hearing that there would be work and wages in the future, Zhang Xiaocao and Li Tiantian were thrilled.

They quickly said, “We’re not in a hurry.”

“Waiting is normal, we understand.”

“This is great! I hope Sister Shuiqing can successfully grow the herbs!”

The more herbs planted and harvested, the more work there would be, and they could earn money by helping process them!

“I’ve never earned money in my life. I really want to earn some; it must feel great,” Zhang Xiaocao said expectantly.

Xu Ting and Fan Xiang nodded vigorously.

They also wanted to earn money themselves!

Li Tiantian, pampered at home, often received money from her mother, who was in charge of the household. She had saved twenty-three coins.

But thinking about how her two brothers could earn over eight hundred coins on a trip, she felt her twenty-three coins were so little.

Relying on her mother’s secret gifts wasn’t sustainable; she needed to earn money herself!

At least then, she could spend it openly and buy the hairpin she wanted without hesitation.

“Jiajia, if Sister Shuiqing needs people in the future, please tell me, okay? I’ll give you a red hair ribbon.”

“Tell me too, I’ll, I’ll weave a pair of straw sandals for you!”

“I’ll give you a small bamboo fish basket.”

…

Shuiqing, Qin Yilin, Hu’s mother, and the other women were chatting enthusiastically, while Ding Jiajia and the young girls were having their own quiet conversations, with laughter erupting from both groups occasionally.

Meanwhile, Aunt Zhang, Zhang Chunhua, Sun Jinhua, Fan Sanzhu, and Fan Sizhu felt left out. No one invited them to join the conversation, making their presence increasingly awkward.

Zhang Chunhua, noticing Qin Yilin’s deliberate exclusion, whispered to her mother, “Mom, let’s go back. We can come again when Aunt Ding isn’t around.”

With the Ding family present, being contrary might affect her standing with Hu’s mother.

Aunt Zhang also felt uncomfortable. It was clear the women were there for a specific purpose with Shuiqing and were waiting for them to leave to discuss it. They had no reason to stay.

“Alright, let’s go. Besides, that person will be back in a few days. We don’t need to approach his mother right now.”

Zhang Chunhua understood immediately, blushing as she turned away, embarrassed. “Mom, what are you talking about~”

Fan Sanzhu and Fan Sizhu were reluctant to leave. They wanted to spend more time watching Ding Jiajia. Aunt Zhang’s place was lively, unlike their own home where there was nothing to do. Listening to the chatter here was more entertaining.

Sun Jinhua, furious, scolded, “Can’t you see they’re ignoring us? No one’s talking to us!”

Fan Sanzhu and Fan Sizhu were confused, not understanding how their mother came to that conclusion.

Why not just join the conversation instead of waiting for someone to approach? They weren’t important guests after all.

Over there, Ling Ran and Bai Ziqian hadn’t said a word either, yet they seemed fine sitting quietly. They were outsiders too but didn’t seem to feel ignored.

It was just their mother overthinking, always feeling slighted by everyone.

Reluctantly, the brothers followed their mother and Aunt Zhang, leaving unwillingly.

Once the five were out of sight and Zhou Yu had closed the gate, Aunt Li stopped chatting and began discussing the main issue: “We came here to talk about raising rabbits.”

Neither the Zhangs nor Sun Jinhua’s family raised rabbits, fearing that mentioning it would make them envious and lead to sabotage, so they waited until they were gone.

The Ding family didn’t raise rabbits either, but they had other ways of earning money and wouldn’t be interested in rabbit farming profits, only seeing it as hard work.

The atmosphere quieted as Shuiqing listened patiently.

“Next month, the rabbits in our village will be ready for market. Our rabbits are fat, with more meat, better than those outside. The old village chief suggests we set a unified price and avoid undercutting each other.

Also, no one should sell live rabbits outside the village. If other places breed them, they’ll be ready for market in a few months, and they might lower prices, forcing us to lower ours until the price drops to nothing.”

As Aunt Li explained, Shuiqing nodded in agreement.

While she was planning the herb cultivation, the old village chief and others had already figured out the rabbit sales strategy.