Chapter 60: Benefits
Editor: Atlas Studios
When the item was brought back to the village, Liu He, who was knowledgeable, laughed and said, “This thing is at least a hundred years old. Take it to the county and don’t sell it for less than 60 taels.”
As soon as he said this, the entire village erupted in joy.
If it was really worth this much, each family would be able to get at least 900 copper coins from selling it. It had to be known that villagers in the countryside grew their own crops. They would wear their clothes until they became old and tattered, and even then they would mend the holes and continue wearing them. Then, the older ones would hand down the old clothes to the younger ones to be worn for another three years. Therefore, other than when they paid taxes, everyone wanted to exchange things for money. Most of the time, their families did not have any cash.
900 copper coins was an enormous sum of money to them.
The villagers were as excited as if it was the new year. Only Liu He’s family and Fang Zhuzi’s family had a strange atmosphere.
The atmosphere in Liu He’s family was just a tad gloomy, and they merely felt that it was a pity. However, Fang Zhuzi’s family caused a huge commotion.
Madam Fang-Liu poked her son’s head and scolded him, “Why are you so stupid? At that time, you should have dug deeper. Even if you damaged it, it’d at least be worth 30 to 40 taels. Beats getting nothing and getting scolded now.”
Fang Zhuzi said impatiently, “At that time, the tiger and the bear were about to come. Surely I couldn’t have stood there and waited for them to eat me? Forget about ginseng, you won’t even have a son anymore.”
“Wasn’t Ah Ling there? You could’ve just used her as a shield, couldn’t you?”
“Dream on. Back then, she simply left without any hesitation after saying that everyone is responsible for their own lives.” Fang Zhuzi said hatefully, “We’re all her relatives, but she treats Liu Ting and the rest amiably yet is so nasty towards me. Mother, are you really a biological daughter of the Liu family? Don’t tell me you were picked up from the streets?”
“Bullsh*t. What nonsense are you talking about?” Madam Fang-Liu snapped angrily, “Mu Yangling, this young lass.” Madam Fang-Liu gritted her teeth. In the end, she couldn’t figure out how to deal with her, and could only say, “Keep a close eye on Liu Dazhuang’s house. Since you and Dazhuang discovered this together, if the Liu family dares to ask for more, ask for the same amount as them. Do you understand?”
Fang Zhuzi agreed.
The ginseng was sold for a total of 82 taels of silver. It was said that this ginseng was almost 200 years old. They had gone to a few medicinal shops before successfully negotiating for this price.
The village chief gathered the old and young in the village and said, “We agreed long ago that this thing was meant as compensation for shocking everyone. There are a total of 68 families in our village, so each family will be given one to two taels of silver. As for the remaining 340 copper coins, I think we should give it to Ah Ling to soothe her nerves from the fright.”
As Liu He spoke, he turned to look at Mu Yangling and smiled. “Child, I hope you don’t disdain this. Though it’s not much money, consider this as an apology from your Uncle Da Zhuang.”
Mu Yangling smiled and went forward to take it. “Great-uncle, my father has already promised to let me continue bringing my uncles into the mountains, but he doesn’t allow me to go so deep in again. So next time, let’s just walk around the periphery of the forest, but we have to go somewhere further.”
When they heard that the matter of entering the mountain had not been canceled, everyone cheered.
Mu Yangling said, “Everyone, rest for two more days. We’ll enter the mountains when it’s quieter. By the way, Great-uncle, when are we going to settle my eldest great-aunt’s matter?”
Liu He knew that she was worried about Madam Ma-Liu, so he smiled and said, “Don’t worry, we’ve already looked for the Ma family. This matter has already been settled. We’re just waiting for the two sides to choose a good day before officially going over to measure the land. If you have nothing to do in the next two days, you can visit your Eldest Great-aunt.”
When Mu Yangling brought the villagers into the mountain, Liu Daqian took advantage of the time when everyone was grateful to the Mu family to suggest going to West Mountain Village.
With Liu He stepping forward and more than half of the Liu clansmen in their prime going there, no matter how unwilling the Ma family was, they could only give in and agree to temporarily return the farmland they had taken back to Madam Ma-Liu. The Ma clan would only take them back after her passing.
When Mu Yangling heard this, a huge smile appeared on her face. With that plot of land, Eldest Great-aunt Ma-Liu could hire someone to farm it in spring, and would have a much easier time during the autumn harvest. Furthermore, considering how early marriage took place in this era, Ma Xiuhong would be getting married in a few years. The excess grains could be sold to prepare some dowry for her.
Recalling the bountiful gains a few days ago, Mu Yangling planned to give some to Eldest Great-aunt.
Mu Yangling was also given a share of the prey, together with the hunting team. However, the prey that her family brought to town had to be fresh. As the hunting distance increased, Mu Yangling could not guarantee that she would return before noon every day. Therefore, Mu Shi would first come out of the mountains and let Liu Xuan help deliver the prey to town.
As for the rabbits that Mu Yangling received, she either ate them herself or handed them to Liu Xuan and Liu Zhuang to help turn them into jerky.
Liu Daqian felt that since Mu Yangling had done so much for them, it was no trouble at all to help her make some jerky.
Now, the jerky was drying in the Liu family’s courtyard. Mu Yangling carried a basket on her back and picked up a basket to hold in her arms. When Eldest Great-aunt Liu saw this, she couldn’t help but say, “It’s good for you to send some to your great-aunt (Ma-Liu), but you don’t have to send so much. I’m afraid she will feel bad.”
“I know. I’m making an exchange with her. Alright, I’ll get going first.”
Mu Yangling went to the mountain and picked a few large leaves to cover the basket on her back. Then, she strode towards West Mountain Village.
As soon as Mu Yangling came out of the mountain, Madam Ma-Zhang, who was gathering firewood at the foot of the mountain, saw her. She immediately smiled and said, “Ah Ling, come to Aunt quickly.”
Mu Yangling glanced at the firewood under her feet, turned around, and asked, “Second Aunt Ma, are you here to gather firewood?”
“That’s right. We have to start gathering firewood to prepare for the upcoming winter.” Madam Ma-Zhang glanced at Mu Yangling’s basket and asked, “Ah Ling, you’re bringing something to your great-aunt again?”
Mu Yangling thought for a moment before putting down the basket on her back. She took out a smoked rabbit and stuffed it into Madam Ma-Zhang’s hands. “Second Aunt Ma, thank you for taking care of my great-aunt. Although this is smoked rabbit, it tastes pretty good. Take it back and try it.”
Madam Ma-Zhang’s eyes sparkled as she took the rabbit and said with a smile, “How can I accept that? But don’t worry. Knowing your great-aunt is old and Xiuhong is still young, I often ask my son to fetch water for them.”
When Mu Yangling heard this, regardless of whether it was true or not, she took out another rabbit from the basket on her back and stuffed it into Madam Ma-Zhang’s hand. “In that case, Second Aunt Ma, please help my great-aunt more in the future.”
In any case, now that Madam Ma-Zhang had received benefits from her, she could always ask Xiuhong if it was true the next time she came. If Madam Ma-Zhang didn’t help, she could just not give her anything next time. On the other hand, if she did help, she didn’t mind giving her more.
Madam Ma-Zhang was pleasantly surprised.
Actually, she wasn’t lying. Although she liked to take advantage of others, she really sympathized with Madam Ma-Liu. Therefore, when there was nothing to be busy with at home, she would ask her eldest son to fetch water and carry things for Madam Ma-Liu.
Of course, she also did that with the intention of getting some benefits from Mu Yangling.
“Then Second Aunt Ma, go ahead. I’ll go look for my great-aunt first.”
“Alright, alright. Go quickly.”
Mu Yangling’s arrival made Madam Ma-Liu very happy. Seeing that she had brought so many things, she knew that Mu Yangling would continue to do so next time even if she asked her not to. So, instead of saying anything, she went straight to the vegetable garden and picked a basket and two bags of vegetables for her to bring back. She said, “The weather is getting cold now. Take them back and put them in the cellar so that you can eat them in winter.”