Back on the mountain, Jiang Zhi sold the formula and was going to stay in the county town for a few days to teach people how to make medicine. Xiao Man's family also found out about this.
"Chunfeng, bring out everything in the house that needs to be sold. Black fungus will definitely sell better in the county town than in Lihua Town," Jiang Zhi said enthusiastically.
Chunfeng was also delighted. Half a year had passed, and she had harvested several kilograms of dried wood ear mushrooms from the cellar. She had been worried that they wouldn't sell well in Lihua Town, so she had been storing them at home.
Besides wood ear mushrooms, there are also dried bamboo shoots, mushrooms, homemade dried radish, and oak vermicelli. Because I was worried that the villagers would find out and cause trouble, I never took these things out.
In addition, there were straw sandals and hemp thread that Xiaoman hadn't sold in Pear Blossom Town.
Xiaoman filled a large basket with everything and secured it with a rope from the top: "Auntie, should we still sell these things at the stall?"
He was a little intimidated by setting up a stall, feeling like a fool standing on the roadside, being stared at and bombarded with questions.
Actually, Xiaoman misunderstood. In this small town of Lihua, after a year of turmoil, everyone was haggard and no one was doing well.
But this young man, who was dressed neatly and smartly, tall, well-proportioned, and with a healthy complexion, was really eye-catching. It was obvious at a glance that he came from a good family and had not suffered any losses.
It's normal for people to look around and ask questions. Some people even come every time they go to the market to find out which family's child it is, hoping to make a connection or arrange a marriage. But after a few times, they can't find the person anymore.
Jiang Zhi said, "We'll still set up a stall, but let Li Laoshi do it, and you'll stay by my side."
Li Laoshi is someone who doesn't like to work.
The reason he was asked to supervise others' work in the early stages was because everyone in the village had to work in the fields, and with so many people and such a large area, he needed to keep an eye on things.
These days, performing corvée labor is basically doing work for nothing. Since there aren't many people, everyone is lazy and doesn't do it well. He's always slacking off and trying to get away with things, which has already angered everyone. He should probably stay away for a few days.
If you let him sell goods, he'll definitely be happy to go out for a stroll.
"Alright!" Xiaoman was instantly happy that she didn't have to watch the stall.
Little Man, standing beside him, said nothing, lit his most beloved pipe, and smiled broadly.
The Huo family did not specify when they would go to the county town, only saying that they would do it as soon as possible, and even paid in advance with silver notes.
Jiang Zhi didn't delay. Before going up the mountain, she asked Zhang Juntou for help, hoping to hitch a ride on the way.
Xujia Village is located along the official road, and every day, if not in a constant stream, there are always three to five vehicles passing by.
Jiang Zhi asked Zhang Jun and his men to find a ride during their patrol.
He also asked Zhang Juntou if he had anything to take to the county government office, so he could bring it along.
This was a minor matter, and Zhang Juntou agreed. He didn't bring any documents, only telling her to come down the mountain before noon, when it would be easiest to find a car.
On the third day, Jiang Zhi took Er Rui and Xiao Man into the city. Since they would be away from home for a few days, Chun Feng would go up the cliff at night to stay with Qiao Yun.
Worried that Peppa might chase people away again at night, since she's quite strong now and no one can control her when she's being difficult.
Jiang Zhi specially brought Chunfeng to her home to lie down for a while, and then patiently talked to Peiqi by pulling her ear.
"Pork belly, you must behave yourself even after I leave. Don't kick me out tonight!"
"Um!"
"Don't steal the herbs!" The herbs we planted before were right next to the wild boar's toilet, and Peppa would steal a few every time she went to poop.
"Um!"
"Remember to search for rabbit holes in the wheat field during the day!"
The wheat is almost ripe, and the corn, cotton, and sweet potatoes are all tender leaves. Xiaoman is busy with things down the mountain, and the rabbits are getting rampant.
So Jiang Zhi sent the wild boar to search, and when they found the rabbit hole, they dug it up and filled it in.
"Um!"
"Remember you promised, as long as you do well, I'll buy you some fried dough twists!"
"Uh-huh!"
The transaction was completed, and the agreement between the two parties was reached voluntarily by the wild boar.
On the third day, after arranging things at home, Jiang Zhi and her group waited for their carriage by the official road.
This time when Jiang Zhi went to the city, she didn't bring any medicinal herbs to sell, but the four of them and one big basket still took up a lot of space. Zhang Juntou helped to stop them twice, and they finally managed to get on the bus.
This is a mule caravan of merchants, escorted by several workers.
The vendor was a young man in his twenties who was forced by the inspectors to bring people along, but dared not speak out against it.
He said he had never given anyone a ride on the road since he started doing business.
Especially now, if it weren't for the patrol department's intervention, they certainly wouldn't let strangers get on the bus.
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "There will definitely be more of these kinds of things in the future. After Xujia Village has a post station, you are welcome to come to the village to rest and have tea often."
Seeing that the woman who got on the bus was quite friendly and even invited him to rest in the village in the future, the merchant's previous displeasure gradually dissipated.
Xiaoman is an active person. It's rare for her to see these traveling caravans, so she becomes more talkative and keeps asking about things outside.
When it comes to things outside, everyone has endless things to say, especially about the incident where Xu Family Village was burned down by bandits.
From the chatter of the men, Jiang Zhi learned that the villages along the road had all suffered, and several towns had been robbed.
These things were actually done by those mutinous soldiers.
When the new army rose up, officials sent by the imperial court to various prefectures and counties fled, and the local soldiers also lost their discipline.
These soldiers were used to extorting money from merchants and civilians, causing widespread resentment. They knew that if they were caught, they would be beheaded.
As a result, the soldiers of the garrison banded together and looted the villages and towns along the way.
Now, some of the rebel soldiers were captured and surrendered by the new army, some disguised themselves and mingled with the refugees, and some became mountain bandits.
Of course, Xujia Village is the first village to be burned down like this, and it is also the first village to recover its popularity so quickly.
"People from other villages still live in hiding and dare not go out, and their land is left to lie fallow."
"I see that not only is all the land cultivated in your village, but you also provide corvée labor services. Your village chief must be quite capable," one of the men praised.
They are often away from home, so they have a keen eye. Although Xujia Village is still a simple shack, the people's spirits are noticeably different.
It's like a flock of sheep that's anxious and at a loss, versus a flock of sheep with a leader who knows where they can graze.
Both teams braved the wind and rain, but one was disorganized and chaotic, while the other was organized and well-structured.
Xiaoman chuckled, "Our village will be better in the future!"
If he were in the town or village, he would certainly boast about his aunt's position as village chief, but now, on the roadside, he restrained himself.
The road is still not safe.
According to the caravan members, there were several sections of the road where bandits would rob travelers, and they would need to bring enough men to travel through them.
Such things have a great impact on their business, but the bold get rich while the timid starve. As long as they make a trip, they can earn a lot of money.
Jiang Zhi listened quietly: The chaotic world is not far away.
Traveling hundreds of miles through mountains and forests, the effect of a few dozen people like Zhang Juntou is limited. Just like the escort mission in Somalia, the deterrent effect is greater than the annihilation.
After a bumpy journey to Pingchuan County, Jiang Zhi once again felt that the chaos of the world was far from over.
Outside the city gates, there were more refugees who had been dispersed last time, living in shacks built in the same woods they used to live in.
Jiang Zhi frowned slightly: "Magistrate Zhang ordered the refugees to return to their hometowns, so why are there still so many people?"
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