Chapter 295

To ensure there was a place in the village for children to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic, the men in the village were working even harder than before when they went out to transport bricks and tiles or sell rabbits!

The busy farming season was almost over, with only winter wheat left to sow. More importantly, dozens of acres of potatoes had already been planted. Although it would be several months before harvest, having potatoes meant there was hope—a hope for a good harvest.

After securing food and clothing, their greatest concern was the education of their children.

Previously, literate people like Fan Jin were not highly regarded in the village. Even his own mother and elder brother often said that studying was useless. But the facts proved otherwise! At least Fan Jin’s family was gradually improving their lives step by step, demonstrating the usefulness of literacy.

Their good days were brought about by Fan Jin and Shuiqing. Their children might not be as outstanding as Fan Jin, but they hoped their children could read, write, and do arithmetic. Even if their lives couldn’t be as good as Fan Jin’s, at least it was better than being illiterate!

The men pulled carts, each full of enthusiasm, and set off.

There were more than thirty carts in the village, and not a single one was left behind!

The old village chief and others watched the convoy disappear into the distance. As soon as they returned inside the gate, members of the patrolling team immediately closed and secured the gate.

With the increase in money from selling rabbits and the purchase of food and various goods, the village’s security team became more organized and respected!

Nowadays, even shift changes were seamless. If someone was late to take over, the previous person would rather stay longer to ensure all posts were covered.

Instead of going straight home, the old village chief, leaning on his cane, walked towards the high ground.

Seeing this, the others immediately understood that the old village chief was going to check on Fan Jin and Shuiqing’s medicinal herb workshop. They happily followed suit.

While the strong men of the village were out transporting bricks and tiles, many skilled men were helping to build houses. They were going to check on the progress—after all, the workshop was connected to each household, as everyone had family members working there to earn money!

Oh, right, except for Fan Qian and Zhang Tuzi’s families.

But last night, it was heard that Fan’s mother had started causing trouble, wanting to give work to Fan Qian’s family. They didn’t know if it would succeed in the end… but whether it succeeded or not was none of their concern; doing their own job well was the main thing.

Li Qiang was digging foundations. When he saw his father leading a large group of people over, he quickly ran up and asked, “Dad, what brings you here?”

He also brought along a bunch of elderly and infirm people. The strong men in the village were carrying bricks and tiles outside, while the remaining men were digging foundations and trenches to prepare for the work. The leftovers were either on patrol or following Fan Jin up the mountain to dig drainage ditches. The nimble women were all in the courtyard, while the remaining ones were either old, weak, or young. Wasn’t his dad taking these people with him?

Old man Xu happily said, “We have nothing to do now, and there’s no need to worry about food for the time being. It’s not good to just nest at home all the time. Isn’t it good to come out for a walk, check on progress, and move your body a bit?”

Li Qiang nodded blankly, thinking they hadn’t done enough farming before. If it were up to him, he’d lie at home every day!

How comfortable it would be! He didn’t want to come out and move his body.

The old village chief looked around and asked his younger son, “Where’s your elder brother?”

“Oh, he went up the mountain with Fan Jin to see how to dig the drainage ditch more efficiently,” Li Qiang scratched his head and replied.

Seeing Old Man Xu about to ask further, he quickly added, “Little Brother Xu also went!”

“It was close! Otherwise, if Old Man Xu, the chatterbox, had spoken first, what could have been settled in a sentence might end up being a long speech.

On the mountain, Fan Jin, along with Li Wu, Xu Laosan, Ling Ran, Feng Da, and Feng Er, were watching the spring water flow.

Feng Da and the others still carried shovels and hoes, ready to dig at any moment.

“This spring water is clear. It must be good for washing medicinal herbs!” Li Wu praised, holding a handful of spring water.

“Well water is even better. It’s warm in winter and cool in summer. Except for last year being quite cold, most years here are not particularly cold in winter. Even if it is cold, it quickly passes. People say that in winters further north, snow can block roads, and the earth, rivers, lakes, and roads can freeze, but only well water won’t freeze. The water drawn up even carries a faint warmth.”

They only knew that well water in summer was refreshingly cold, perfect for soaking fruits. They couldn’t experience the warmth carried by water drawn in winter. However, precisely because winters here aren’t generally cold, spring water isn’t affected. Washing medicinal herbs in winter won’t be too cold.

Xu Laosan also thought the same.

His wife was also selected among the workshop personnel! Of course, he would pay attention to all aspects.

Feng Da and the others didn’t care. Compared to their previous lives in the village, this was nothing.

Thinking that their eldest daughter and second daughter had also been selected to process medicinal herbs, they couldn’t help but feel excited.

Six hundred wen per month—something unimaginable before.

In the past, they could only get some silver by selling forty percent of their own grain, and this silver had to be used to buy oil, salt, cloth, and various essential items. Often, it wasn’t enough, and they had to cut back repeatedly until nothing worked, and they still didn’t have enough.

They had never had extra copper coins on hand. They would split a wen into two halves to spend it, never imagining they could have a monthly income of six hundred wen!

They didn’t know how their wives were doing?

Madame said she would manage the midday meal for over thirty people. They probably couldn’t eat dry food. Even if they could, they shouldn’t eat openly, as there were too many people… But it’s okay, they can eat it for dinner.

The water was clear, carrying the autumn stars back. Late summer’s three people were preparing the work meal in the kitchen.

They only needed to manage the midday meal. The medicinal herb workshop wasn’t ready yet, so they worked in their own yard and naturally cooked in their own kitchen.

When the medicinal herb workshop was completed, with its own kitchen, the work meal could be transferred there.

The cook would also change.

“Mother, have you decided who will cook?” Xing Hui lit the fire, added a few large logs, and asked with concern, poking his head out from behind the stove hole.

His mother cooked deliciously and generously. When they moved later and had fewer people, the food would inevitably decline no matter how they looked at it.

In other words, whoever cooked would be compared.

How would Mother solve the cook problem?

“For over thirty people’s meals, two dishes and a soup will do. It’s not difficult, and with two people cooperating, it won’t be tiring.

What I’m thinking is, aside from our eldest daughter and second daughter, the other thirty people can be paired up, taking turns to cook for half a month. They’ll cook twice a month, and no one will complain. How about that?”