"I'll go to the village to talk about the shovel later," Chief Huang said thoughtfully. "No matter how rare the shovel is, it's not as precious as life. I'll go borrow it myself, and anyone who dares to keep it will be dealt with according to the clan rules."

As he spoke, Chief Huang's expression softened. "Fifth Sister-in-law, if you have any other thoughts, let's continue."

“Besides tools, all we have is food and drink,” Jiang Nuan said in a heavy tone. “The rations the village prepares are mostly cornbread made from mixed grains, and at best, white flour steamed buns. That’s not enough.”

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Huang's eyelids twitched.

He felt that his younger siblings had become arrogant.

"Ya Ya, why not white flour steamed buns? They're a great food, the most nourishing thing you can get."

“What good stuff?” Jiang Nuan’s lips twitched. “It’s okay normally, but the corvée labor isn’t enough. Such heavy work requires rice, flour, oil, sugar, eggs, and meat. If you don’t get enough nutrition, your body can’t handle it.”

"Rice, noodles, oil, sugar, eggs, meat?"

Chief Huang and Village Chief Huang exchanged a glance and both gasped.

“I don’t even dare to answer,” Village Chief Huang said, rubbing his nose. “I don’t even dare to dream about this kind of food.”

His family already had a very good diet, with rice every meal and the occasional meat to satisfy his cravings, but he still couldn't imagine a life where he had no shortage of rice, flour, oil, sugar, eggs, or meat.

His younger siblings are even more imaginative than he is.

“The idea is good,” Chief Huang smacked his lips, “but it’s impossible. Bringing a couple of pieces of meat as an extra meal is fine, but no family can afford more than that.”

His family was considered moderately wealthy, but they only dared to eat meat once every three days.

Two pounds of meat were divided among a dozen or so people, and it was gone before they could even taste it.

“Well,” Jiang Nuan clenched her hands and said hesitantly, “I’ve recently earned some money and originally planned to build a school in the village. But the corvée labor is more important, so let’s focus on that first.”

"A school?" The two clutched their chests in disbelief. "Is this true?"

"Of course it's true, how could I joke about something like that?"

“No,” Village Chief Huang turned his head urgently, “Ya Ya, how could you have such a thought?”

Village Chief Huang had considered building a school and even had a serious discussion with Clan Chief Huang.

They felt that this matter should be delayed for three to five years. At that time, the two families would pool their money and the villagers would contribute as well, and together they would build the school.

“With so many people in the family, sending them to school would be a huge expense. It would be better to build a school and hire a teacher, which would also benefit the villagers.”

This unexpected answer left the two speechless.

After a long silence, Clan Chief Huang cleared his throat and asked, "Fifth Sister-in-law, how much silver do you have on hand?"

“I only have three taels right now,” Jiang Nuan said, taking out some loose silver. “I had some left over from collecting cabbage flowers.”

This was the last bit of money she had.

Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a disappointed glance.

Building a school would cost at least ten taels of silver; three taels would be far from enough.

Changing the subject, Jiang Nuan continued softly, "However, the kimchi I made the day before yesterday is ready. There are three thousand catties of it, which can be sold for more than ten taels of silver."

The two, who were initially disappointed, were instantly overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Really?" Village Chief Huang spoke rapidly, spitting as he spoke. "Yaya, if we can really build a school, you will be a great hero of Huangjiakou. We must open an ancestral hall to comfort our ancestors."

sweat!

Building the school made him a great contributor to Huangjiakou.

It's just a few houses, the clan can afford to build them, does it have to be so exaggerated?

Thinking of this, Jiang Nuan blinked and asked in confusion, "Clan leader, elder brother, building a school doesn't cost much money, so why isn't anyone building one? Is it because they can't find a teacher?"