Being able to feed the entire village and last through next spring? Even in his dreams, Wang Jiafu hadn't dared to imagine such a good thing!
Adding up all the old and young in the village, there were over 1,500 people. Even if each person only ate 2 liang of coarse rice a day, that would still be 300 jin of food, 9,000 jin a month!
Now until next year's harvest, there were at least 5 more months left, requiring 45,000 jin!
"Li Yao, don't joke with uncle," the village head said. "I know you've earned quite a bit of money, but if you want to help the entire village, I advise you not to. Rice charity arouses resentment, not every person will remember your kindness. If you really want to help, just pick a couple families who really can't get by and give them a little support. The rest of the people all have functioning hands and feet, they'll always find a way."
Li Yao knew he had misunderstood her meaning.
"It's not me giving money to everyone, but another method," Li Yao said. "But first you have to accept this silver, then I'll tell you."
"Village Head, just take it!"
Seeing him still hesitating, Wang Xiao Si directly grabbed the silver ingot and stuffed it in his pocket. The Village Head could only say: "Ai, you kids really have kind hearts. Fine, I'll accept it. This method you mentioned is..."
"Let's go inside to talk."
Li Yao had already thought of a way last night to distribute the sweet potatoes to the villagers without causing chaos.
She had the Village Head first find thirty trustworthy people, best chosen from the Wang and Fang families, the two biggest clans in the village, to go to the valley and dig up sweet potatoes.
Before all the sweet potatoes were dug up, these people couldn't return home.
As for the rest of the villagers, they couldn't just sit at home waiting for food to fall from the sky. If they wanted to eat the sweet potatoes, they had to contribute labor.
First, so many sweet potatoes needed to be transported back, so a road was required. This would be the responsibility of all the remaining villagers. Whether male or female, old or young, even kids just a few years old, all would help fix the road to Li Yao's home.
Of course, Li Yao definitely wouldn't pay them, but instead distribute sweet potatoes based on how much work people did.
Hearing that there really were so much food in the mountain, Wang Jiafu had been dumbfounded all along, feeling like he was in a dream.
But after he recovered, he quickly realized Li Yao's plan wasn't completely reasonable.
"Thirty li road doesn't need that many people," the Village Head said. "Let's do this, split into two groups. One group goes to build the road, one helps work at your home."
"My home doesn't have work needing that many people."
"How could there not be?" the Village Head said. "You just bought thousands of mu of barren mountain, it can't just stay barren forever. Eventually you'll want to open it up and plant things right? I'll just have half the people go open up wasteland, so next year you can plant too."
The wasteland definitely needed to be opened up. Li Yao had originally planned to hire people to help after the sweet potatoes were harvested.
Since the Village Head had arranged it this way, she was happy to save some money.
"Also," the Village Head continued, "Now everyone knows working at your home means getting fed. But with so many people to feed, you can't be expected to pay for it all. Last time when you bought the wasteland the village got some silver, just use that to buy some coarse rice and broomcorn millet. Although it won't compare to your family's food, with so many people able to eat their fill, I'm sure no one will complain."
"Then let's do as you proposed," Li Yao said. "Also during the day when everyone's working in the mountain, people need to be arranged to guard the village."
"Mother, I can do it!" Wang San'er immediately stood up when he heard this. "I guarantee I can guard the village well!"
The Village Head immediately thought this was perfect.
Boys Wang San'er's age, at least ten something in the village, weren't much use for labor. Better to have them stay and watch the homes.
Anyway it was broad daylight, they wouldn't encounter anything too difficult.
"Alright, I'm going to gather people then!"
Wang San'er shot off like an arrow to find his little friends.
The Village Head also hurriedly went to find the heads of the Wang and Fang families and some others, quickly pulling together a thirty man digging team, all strong youths around twenty, including Wang Yuanbang.
Seeing the Village Head gather so many young men, Da Zhuang felt a bit strange.
Were they going to start a fight with another village?
"Village Head, what are we going here for?"
"Don't ask," the Village Head said sternly. "Remember to bring your weapons. That's all you need to know."
The crowd exchanged glances, excitement shining in their eyes.
Wang Yuanbang was seventeen this year, hot blooded youth. He thumped his chest and asked: "Uncle, go on, which village provoked us?"
"What provoking or not?" The Village Head frowned when he heard this. "You brat's not small anymore, still thinking about fighting and killing all day. Serves you right for not having a wife yet!"
"Hahaha..."
The crowd burst out laughing, joking about him.
"Fourth Uncle Wang won't have trouble getting a wife. It's Fifth Uncle Wang who won't get a wife."
"Right, Fourth Uncle has a great sister-in-law, how could he not get a wife?"
"That's right, Fourth Uncle you better go beg your sister-in-law. Look how young Big Zhuang is, he might be a dad next year already."
Wang Yuanbang's face burned red with embarrassment: "Piss off! I'll earn money myself to get a wife, why would I need my sister-in-law's help?"
"Alright, stop bickering!" The Village Head shouted. "Go get your tools, I've prepared them for you."
The crowd followed the Village Head to Li Yao's new house. Opening a door, they saw it was filled with hoes, baskets, shoulder poles and other farming tools.
"Are we going to help the widows in the next village with work?"
"You brats, always talking nonsense!" The Village Head scolded. "Listen up, later young mistress Li will tell you where you're going and what you'll do. You all must listen to her, got it?"
When they heard they would be working with Li Yao, the crowd immediately quieted down.
If this was asked of them before, almost none of the young men would be willing to work with a shrew like Li Yao.
But things were different now.
Everyone knew the reason the Zhuang family was so wealthy now was because of Li Yao. The families in the village who did business with Li Yao had all earned lots of money.
Even Wang Yuanbang's dad, after learning to process kapok, was now busy non-stop everyday. He had even bought a small ox to pull a cart, traveling dozens of li around processing kapok.
So knowing this was arranged by Li Yao, they all vaguely felt they were about to strike it rich.
Soon Li Yao arrived leading her yellow ox, carrying two big bundles.
"Bring your things and follow me," she said simply.
Not daring to ask much, they silently picked up their tools, led their oxen, and followed her up the mountain.
Reaching the edge of the valley, Li Yao had them stop and rest.
The crowd was even more curious, but no one dared ask. They all looked pleadingly at Wang Yuanbang. Finally unable to endure, he asked: "Sister-in-law, where exactly are we going?"
"Down below."
She wanted them to go down Ghost Valley?
Hearing this, they immediately grew uneasy.
From young they had heard the adults say that Ghost Valley must never be entered lightly.
Not only were there wild beasts inside, but poisonous miasma and more. Few who entered came back out. Even seasoned hunters generally would turn back at this point.
Now Li Yao wanted them to descend into Ghost Valley. What exactly did she intend?