187 Packing

“You might not know this, but recently, many people in the village have surrounded our two families’ land and have been looking at us with eager eyes.

“I came here today because I heard about Wencai’s wife’s gossip two days ago at the village entrance.”

Li Miao whispered mysteriously. After listening to her, Yue Jiaojiao lowered her head and pondered seriously.

It seemed that they had to wait for all the soybeans and chilies in the village to be harvested before they could go to Hekou County. Otherwise, if they left, Li Miao and Dashan might not be able to get the job done without being criticized by others.

After all, it was their own business. Yue Jiaojiao thought it through and chatted with Li Miao for a while longer as she waited for Zhao Zhan to return before sending him off.

After listening to Jiaojiao, Zhao Zhan only muttered to himself for a moment before nodding his head. If he was quick, he would be able to collect all the things here in about a month. Then, by the time they reached Hekou County, they would be able to reach during the end of the year.

“Jiaojiao, we might have to spend the New Year outside.”

“That’s okay. Even if we set off now, we might not be able to make it back in time for the New Year. It’ll be worse if we’re on the move during the New Year. Maybe we can experience the culture and cuisine in Hekou County.”

Since they had made a decision, Zhao Zhan went to find Yang Dashan the next day. The two of them squatted on the ground and pinched the already crispy pods, “These soybeans are growing very well.”

‘Perhaps the seeds from the mountains were better than the average ones?’

Zhao Zhan shook his head to get rid of the thoughts in his mind.

“Dashan, let’s harvest them today. I built an empty three-room house behind my house.

“The room is very dry. I’ll split the place into two and put the harvest in it.

“When our beans are almost dry, the other guys in the village can collect all the soybeans and chilies.”

Zhao Zhan calculated the silver he had on hand. He had earned a total of 120 silver from selling the deer to Doctor Zhou. He didn’t have the time to hand it over to his sweetheart for safekeeping yet, so he took it out now to give everyone the money they needed.

However, in this way, the money needed to go to Hekou County would be reduced.

“Zhao Zhan?”

Yang Dashan saw that Zhao Zhan was distracted and shouted.

“Zhao Zhan!” Before Zhao Zhan could reply, he heard the voice of an acquaintance from afar.

Yang Maozhong’s trousers were still stained with mud, and his shoes were also dusty as he walked up to Zhao Zhan. “I heard that you’re going to harvest these beans. I’m here to take a look at them as well.”

Zhao Zhan raised his head and glanced at the people who were following Yang Maozhong. He nodded and said, “I was planning to take them in today.”

“Maozhong, can I trouble you for something? I want to borrow your weighing rod. I will give Dashan some silver after I finish the harvest.”

As soon as they heard about the silver, the people behind Yang Maozhong became noisy. Wangshan Town was only so big, and they would always see the Hundred Flavors Restaurant when they went to the town.

They were always curious as to who would go in and spend a few copper coins to try it. They saw the white thing called tofu pudding in the bucket. When they thought about the tofu that Zhao Zhan had made before, everyone knew that this thing was most likely made from soybeans.

Therefore, everyone craned their necks to see how much silver Zhao Zhan would give Yang Dashan.

“Don’t worry. I’ll weigh it for you after you’re done packing. I’ll help you out first. Otherwise, it won’t be good if I mess up your things when I’m packing at home.”

Seeing his insistence, Zhao Zhan silently agreed. He decided that he would also go and help when the time came.

The group of people started to get busy.

It took Yang Dashan and Zhao Zhan three days to finish collecting all the beans and chili and drying them.

Yang Dashan’s family’s harvest was paid for every day. Zhao Zhan had paid him 22 silver three days ago. After deducting the ten silver that he had given him as a deposit, he had been given 20 silver in the end.

When the silver was in their hands, even if Yang Dashan and Li Miao tried their best to endure it, they could not hold back the tears in their eyes.

The soybeans and chili could be planted more than once a year. After winter, it would not be a problem to plant another batch.

In this way, it would not be a problem to save a few dozen silver a year. This was something that he did not even dare to think about in the past.

The onlookers were also a little envious when they made the exchange.

Who would have thought that these unremarkable seedlings could actually earn so much silver?

“Zhao Zhan, can we harvest the soybeans in our fields too?” Someone raised his voice and asked, “Our land is different from others’. It’s full of sunlight, and I think the beans we have are almost dried.”