Fan Xiaoliu did have an idea; it was something he had always wanted to do, but back then he didn't have the money or the opportunity, so he couldn't even bring it up.

But today is different. This money is an unexpected windfall, and the villagers are no longer so poor that they can't get enough to eat or wear. Now that their basic needs are met, he feels he can put his previous ideas into action.

He looked at the men in the courtyard and said, "We are getting better and better now. We have no problem eating and dressing well. Today's windfall is a good thing. It would be nice if each of us could get an ounce of silver."

"I was thinking, why not use the remaining ten or so taels of silver to treat everyone in the village to a feast? Whether it's for the New Year, a festival, ancestral worship, or a harvest celebration, we can all eat our fill for a whole day. What do you think?"

"Okay! I agree!"

"I agree!"

The chorus of agreement was something Fan Xiaoliu hadn't expected. Finally, a slightly aged voice rang out: "I agree too."

Fan Xiaoliu suddenly turned around and saw the old village chief walking out of the main room. He was extremely excited: "Old village chief, you also agree with my idea?"

The old village chief nodded affirmatively.

Pork belly costs over thirty coins per pound, lean meat costs over twenty coins per pound, and pork bones and offal are even cheaper. A whole pig costs four or five taels of silver. Vegetables are free, and after the price of coarse grains rose, they cost eight or nine coins per pound. A dozen taels of silver can even host two or three banquets!

Fan Xiaoliu pleaded, "Old village chief, can I entrust the extra silver to you for safekeeping? When we choose a good day for the banquet, I'll collect the silver from you. I feel most at ease with you managing it!"

"I feel most at ease with you."

"Old village chief, please take care of it."

Looking at the scene before him, Ding Heli whispered to the two people beside him, "It seems that Shanshui Village is becoming more and more united."

Unity is good; when everyone works together as one, it's much safer than going it alone.

After all, no matter how strong one person is, they can't defeat more than thirty men wielding sticks and knives in the perilous situation on the way back to the city!

Fan Jin's gaze was gentle, and he softly hummed in agreement.

He hoped that the villagers would unite and stick together, otherwise they would fall apart on their own even without the refugees attacking.

Just like his elder brother and two nephews.

Under the eaves, the old village chief began distributing silver, one tael to each person.

When the money was allocated to Fan Jinding, Li Huwenhua, and others, the three of them refused it and added it directly to their savings for the banquet.

The man in the courtyard was moved to tears.

Feng Da, Feng Er, Hong Mancang, and Hong Manku each had one tael of silver. When the old village chief called their names, the four of them subconsciously turned to look at Fan Jin.

Li Wen and the others quickly said, "You all put in the effort and got injured, this is what you deserve!"

The four men still looked at Fan Jin, remaining motionless. Fan Jin smiled and nodded, and the four men's faces lit up with joy. They stepped forward, took the silver from the old village chief, and thanked him happily.

They never expected that a trip out would earn them a tael of silver!

Feng Da was injured, but at this moment he felt that the injury was worth it, otherwise he would not have felt at ease taking the money.

Hong Mancang remembered the knife, quickly walked to where he was standing, opened the large bundle wrapped in oilcloth, and said to Li Wenkai, "Brother Li, Brother Wang Ba, look, I did it!"

Wang Laoba: .....Please call me Laoba, he doesn't need a title.

On their way back, the men in the village thought it was already good that they didn't have to pay for the medicine, but when they got to the courtyard, they found out that they could also get a share of silver, with each person receiving a full tael!

There would still be enough silver left to feed the whole village in celebration.

They thought this was the best they could hope for, but it turns out there are still a dozen or so large knives waiting for them?

Good heavens, what incredible luck they've had! Good fortune keeps coming their way!