Chapter 247 Beginning the Harvesting of Mothwing Grass
Ning Jinli did not answer, but asked, "If everyone in Blackwater Village were to collect moth-wing grass, how much could they collect in a day?"
Hei Da thought for a moment and said, "There are a total of 893 people in Heishui Village. Excluding the old, weak, sick and disabled, there are 781 men and women who can pick grass. In addition, there are moth wing grasses everywhere. In a day, we can pick at least 150,000 to 160,000 catties."
Ning Jinli made a rough estimate.
Although a daily output of around 70 to 80 tons is far from meeting the basic domestic demand for producing Bismuth subsalicylate, it is already sufficient for production.
Moreover, this was under extremely poor conditions.
With the subsequent investment of tools and even large-scale equipment to assist in data collection, production capacity will definitely be able to keep up.
“Okay, then gather the people to collect the materials and transport them to my place,” Ning Jinli said decisively. “I won’t let you work for nothing; I will give you generous rewards.”
Hei laughed and said, "Gathering moth-wing grass is not difficult. Since Miss Ning needs it, I will give the order. As for the reward, it doesn't need to be too generous. Just enough to feed the brothers who work there will be fine."
The matter was settled.
Ning Jinli then took out another flashlight and told Hei Da that this was the treasure he thought it was.
Hei Da scratched his head sheepishly and said, "To be honest, it's not that I'm greedy for treasures. Only rich people would covet these kinds of useless things. My intention was to rob them and sell them to buy food and clothing..."
"No, no, no, big brother, you've got it wrong!" Hei Er swallowed the food in his mouth with a stiff neck, and hurriedly took out the flashlight that Ning Jinli had given her. "This isn't just for show, it's excellent for lighting. Look!"
Hei Da looked completely bewildered. "Little sister! How could you take our benefactor's things? Return them immediately!"
The brother and sister had been in the underworld for a long time. Besides robbery, they also knew some thieving skills. Hei Da thought that his sister had just taken something from someone because she was itching to steal it.
He would be more than happy if his sister did that to deal with those rich and heartless people.
But the two people in front of me are clearly good people, how can I act recklessly?
Seeing that Hei Da had misunderstood, Ning Jinli quickly explained and even gave Hei Da the flashlight she had just taken out.
Hei Da hesitated to accept the flashlight, then stared at it curiously and asked, "I've never seen such an exquisite and unique lighting tool before. It really doesn't need fuel, can control the light, and can even be used underwater?"
Hei Er immediately demonstrated it to him, leaving Hei Da dumbfounded.
"Boss, take this." Ning Jinli handed it over again.
Hei Da is very conflicted.
It's impossible not to be tempted.
This thing is simply a divine artifact. Not only is it far rarer than those flashy but impractical treasures, but it also has functions beyond imagination.
After hesitating for a long time, he wiped his hands vigorously on his clothes before carefully taking the flashlight. He looked at it from left to right, pressed the switch, and grinned from ear to ear.
Afterwards, Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi went to visit Madam Xing.
Living conditions at Rotten Ship Fort were very poor, but the two best rooms were still arranged for Madam Xing and her son, as well as Uncle Fu, and several quick-witted and experienced women were assigned to take care of the mother and son.
After checking in, Madam Xing was helped to take a bath and eat something. Now she is lying in bed and has fallen into a deep sleep.
Two of the women who cared for her had given birth less than a year ago, and they were just the right age to be wet nurses for Madam Xing's children.
The baby just finished feeding and has just fallen asleep.
He lay in an old but clean cradle lined with fine, neat animal fur, showing that the people here took great care of him.
Ning Jinli inquired about the baby's condition.
The wet nurse praised the baby for being very healthy, eating more milk than a typical newborn, and being in excellent condition, saying that he would definitely grow up to be a brave and strong man.
Xiao Qidi stood beside the cradle, gazing at the baby's sleeping face.
According to the historical development of Ning Jinli's world, the Xuan Dynasty was destroyed by the Second Emperor. Two years before the Second Emperor of Xuan died, Xing Lie launched an uprising against the tyranny of the Second Emperor.
Around the same time, the magistrate of Ting County was killed by the local people, and Li He also launched an uprising.
At that time, Li He was nearly fifty years old, while Xing Lie was only in his early twenties.
About two years later, the Xuan Dynasty fell, and Li He and Xing Lie fought for control of the country.
After another four years of fierce fighting, Xing Lie, despite his unparalleled martial prowess, was ultimately defeated due to his stubbornness and lack of strategy. After being besieged, he committed suicide.
Li He inherited the Chinese throne and became the founding emperor of the new dynasty.
That is a legendary history that is still talked about with great interest by people of later generations even after two thousand years.
At this moment, Xiao Qidi looked at the newborn Xing Lie and recalled the young Li He he had met some time ago, feeling a strange sensation.
"What are you thinking about?" Ning Jinli walked to his side and asked softly.
Xiao Qidi came back to his senses. "I was thinking, if I hadn't had an interaction with you in a parallel world and been affected, I would have been replaced by a puppet like me in your world, died in a dark and sunless underground palace, and would have had no chance to see Li He and Xing Lie in person."
Ning Jinli smiled and said, "Not to mention you in that world, even the puppet that replaced you in that world has never seen them in its lifetime."
Xiao Qidi pondered for a moment, then turned to ask the nanny who was busy nearby, "May I hold him?"
Although he delivered the baby, the situation was urgent at the time, and he didn't have time to examine it closely.
The nanny said, "Okay, but you have to be gentle."
Xiao Qidi then carefully reached out his hands and slowly picked up Xing Lie. Looking at the baby's chubby appearance, he couldn't help but smile. He then gently touched the little guy's soft body. "Hmm, not bad, not bad. Excellent physique. He is indeed a martial arts genius, one in a million."
"Jinli... what do you think... our future children will look like?"
Xiao Qidi's sudden remark caught Ning Jinli off guard.
Ning Jinli blushed. "We're not married yet, and according to the laws where I live, you're still a few years away from getting married."
Xiao Qidi chuckled. "According to my rules, we could have gotten married long ago."
"Hmph," Ning Jinli wrinkled her nose, "I never said I wanted to have a child with you, so don't overthink it."
Xiao Qidi said, "If you don't have children with me, who will you have them with? Do you want to marry another man? If so, you should have told me sooner."
Ning Jinli looked up into his eyes, "Little brother, what do you mean? Are you already planning to break up with me?"
“No,” Xiao Qidi leaned closer, a smirk playing on his lips, “If you had told me sooner, I could have killed that man sooner. Let’s see who else can marry you then. In any case, no one else will do but me.”
Ning Jinli chuckled and pinched his ear.
At this moment, Madam Xing woke up and saw Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi beside her. She hurriedly called out "My two benefactors" and then got up to pay her respects.
Xiao Qidi immediately put the baby back in the cradle.
Ning Jinli quickly helped Madam Xing up, "You just gave birth, don't move around."
Madam Xing's eyes glistened with tears. "If my two benefactors don't mind, could you... could you accept Lie'er as your adopted son? I will definitely teach him to repay your kindness in the future."
Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Madam Xing said, "Ah... if you two mind, then... then please forgive my intrusion."
"We don't mind at all!" they both said in unison.
They couldn't have asked for more than Xing Lie as their godson.
Thinking back to how he had previously recognized Li He as his sworn brother, and now he had taken Xing Lie as his adopted son, it was truly a strange and delightful experience.
Madam Xing was delighted, but then she realized she didn't know the names of her two benefactors, so she asked them.
This left Xiao Qidi momentarily speechless.
After all, the Xing family was a family of military generals in the Ze Kingdom, while he himself was the king of the Xuan Kingdom.
This relationship is quite awkward.
Ning Jinli thought for a moment, then asked the women in the room to leave for a moment before nodding to Xiao Qidi.
Xiao Qidi understood immediately and said seriously, "Madam Xing, I have the utmost respect for the Xing family. If I were to hide anything from you, I would feel guilty. But... please be prepared."
Madam Xing was taken aback. "You...are you fugitives?"
Before Xiao Qidi could answer, Madam Xing immediately said:
"It's alright... I know you two are definitely not bad people. These days... the world is in chaos, there are many tyrannical rulers and treacherous officials. Even fugitives are often wronged and unjustly accused. So no matter who you are, I have no objection, nor should I. In short, you two are my and Lie'er's saviors."
Xiao Qidi said softly, "I am Xiao Qidi, the King of Xuan Kingdom."
“Xuan…” Madam Xing froze instantly.
“Her name is Ning Jinli,” Xiao Qidi added, “and she is my…beloved.”
It took Madam Xing a while to recover from her shock, but she still couldn't believe that the person standing in front of her was the king of Xuan Kingdom. With a complicated expression, she asked, "You... how did you get here?"
Ning Jinli said, "It can't be explained in a few words. In short, please trust us."
Lady Xing pondered for a moment and smiled, "It's not that I don't believe it, but I just find it too bizarre... My son and I are truly blessed to have been rescued by the King and Queen of Xuan Kingdom..."
Hearing her refer to Ning Jinli as Queen, Xiao Qidi's mouth practically stretched to his ears in a wide grin.
Lady Xing continued, “The Xing family’s fervent desire was solely for the people of Ze Kingdom to live in peace and prosperity, and for Ze Kingdom to flourish and endure. Yet, this is the end result we have received. The king of Ze Kingdom disregarded the countless contributions the Xing family had made to the royal family for generations, and exiled our entire family… to the point that almost our entire family was tragically killed and nearly died out! We are better off without such a king! From this day forward, my son Xing Lie is a citizen of Xuan Kingdom!”
Hearing these words, Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli were relieved and deeply moved.
Indeed, those who support Lord Xing and General Xing must not be stubborn and pedantic; Madam Xing is truly a person of great principle.
In order not to disturb Madam Xing's rest, the two then took their leave.
Further careful planning is needed to determine how to properly settle the mother, son, and Uncle Fu in the future; for now, the only option is for the three of them to continue living in Blackwater Village.
Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi bid farewell to the two leaders of Blackwater Village and returned to the Delta, where they informed the special operations team of their plan to gather hundreds of people from Blackwater Village to collect moth-wing grass.
Therefore, the special operations team selected several suitable locations from the surveyed area to receive and store mothwing grass.
These locations are all near the delta, at which time Ning Jinli will be able to teleport back to the modern world in batches.
At Blackwater Village, Hei Da and Hei Er quickly led their men out by boat to harvest moth-wing grass.
Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi also carried tons of grain, so that they could take the grain back after the people from Blackwater Village delivered the moth-wing grass.
Through this model, a virtuous cycle of mutual benefit can be formed. In the future, the variety of food, other supplies, and advanced tools can be gradually increased to help these suffering people who were forced to become outlaws return to normal life.
It was evening that day.
One after another, dilapidated wooden boats of varying sizes, laden with moth-wing grass, arrived near the delta in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi were already waiting there, directing them to unload the harvested moth-wing grass at designated points.
The lead boat, where Hei Da and Hei Er were located, was the first to unload the cargo. After that, the two leaders immediately went to pick more fruit, saying that the weather was good today and the sun had not yet completely set, so they could pick more.
Ning Jinli advised, "This is enough for today. There's no need to make everyone work too hard. I see there are dozens of people on your lead ship, so stay here for now and help me out later."
Since she said so, the Hei siblings, Hei Da and Hei Er, would naturally listen.
Then, Xiao Qidi lifted the green waterproof cloth covering the area, revealing grain packed in burlap sacks.
The two siblings, Hei Da and Hei Er, stood by and watched curiously.
“This is the reward we’re giving you today,” Ning Jinli explained. “It’s all packed. Please help distribute it later. Each bag of food should be enough for ten people for a day.”
Hei Da stared at the sacks piled up like a small mountain, his dark, rough face full of surprise. "Do you two know magic tricks? How could you move so many out of thin air in less than a day?"
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Ning Jinli said with a smile, opening a burlap sack. “Here, take a look.”
When the brother and sister saw the bag of rice, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Brother... I'm not seeing things, am I? This... this is..."
"Rice! It's actually rice?!"
Blackie's hands trembled as he reached out and scooped up a small handful.
At that moment, he really thought he was dreaming, so he said to Hei Er, "Little sister, quickly slap me!"
Smack! Smack!
The sound of a slap rang out.
Hei Er obediently patted him, then slapped himself in the face.
The brother and sister winced in pain, finally realizing they weren't dreaming.
"Rice... My God!" Hei Da exclaimed, tears welling up in his eyes. "I've only ever gotten my hands on rice twice in my life, when I hijacked a large merchant ship!"
Hei Er nodded vigorously, his braid swaying from side to side as he swallowed hard and said:
"Yes, yes, I remember too. Both times were five years ago, and the total amount was less than this bag! We cooked it into several big pots of thin soup, and everyone had a sip. It tasted so good!"
Ning Jinli was not surprised by the siblings' exaggerated reaction; she only felt heartbroken.
During this period, the staple food of ordinary people was mainly coarse ancient yellow millet, beans, and grains, and they often did not know where their next meal would come from.
Due to limitations in planting and processing techniques, wheat and rice yields were very low, and only people in wealthy areas or high-ranking officials and dignitaries could afford them.
Blackwater Bay was clearly not a wealthy place. The two of them only saw rice because they were lucky enough to hijack a large merchant ship; otherwise, they would never have been able to eat it in their entire lives.
Life was just that hard for ordinary people in ancient times.
As if waking from a dream, Hei Er hurriedly asked:
"Sister Ning, please don't tell me that this huge pile next to us... is all rice?"
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