“That’s true,” Chief Ji nodded. “People driven mad by poverty are capable of anything, so we have to be on guard.”
If it were him, he wouldn't be able to resist either!
So, the most valuable silver and copper coins were divided among the group, and the rest were all taken to Jiangjia Village.
"Brother Jiang, Brother Huang," Chief Ji said, very embarrassed, "did our village receive too much money?"
The total amount was over 1,700 taels of silver, of which their village received over 800 taels.
Although he was happy, he felt guilty!
“Not much,” Chief Jiang said enviously, “You have a large population, so naturally you’ll get a larger share.”
Of the three villages, Huangjiakou had the fewest people, but all the men in the village came, plus Jiang Nuan and others, for a total of 73 people.
Out of gratitude to Jiang Nuan, the entire Ji family village mobilized, with the elderly and infirm carrying hoes to help. The village had the most people, a total of 168.
Although Jiangjia Village has a large population, Chief Jiang did not dare to push too far, only allowing one person from each family, totaling 98 people. However, his own family sent four people, more than any other family.
“Some people don’t count,” Chief Ji said, his face slightly red. “They’re just here to make up the numbers and fool people.”
Just like Ji Qin's father, he's useless at all when it comes to work, even more incompetent than a woman. Expecting him to fight is like expecting a pig.
“Why can’t it count?” Huang Shi retorted. “Not a single person ran away or admitted defeat today. Just for that reason, we can’t judge people with old eyes.”
“That’s right,” Chief Jiang said with a smile. “The fact that this matter was accomplished today is thanks to everyone’s efforts. It should be counted by the number of people. Don’t think too much about it.”
Chief Jiang knew perfectly well that they weren't even thugs tonight.
The Huang family members were the ones who came up with the ideas, rushed ahead, and even found the items first.
Everyone knows the credit is right. The Huang family distributed the credits based on personal relationships, so the Jiang family has no right to complain.
Besides, no one in Huangjiakou had any objections to receiving the smallest share, so he certainly wouldn't.
Huangjiakou: There are so few of us. If it weren't for everyone's help, we would have been killed long ago.
“But in my heart,” Chief Ji smacked his lips, “I just feel like something’s not right.”
I don't know if I was too happy or what, but I kept feeling anxious and uncertain. One moment I wanted to put the money in my pocket right away, and the next I felt that I shouldn't take it.
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Jiang Nuan overheard their conversation and came over to reassure them. “Today’s harvest is what we deserve, so just accept it without worry.”
They were doing a service to the people, cleaning up what others had left behind in their warehouses; it wasn't excessive.
“Madam Jiang,” Chief Ji saw Jiang Nuan and immediately found his pillar of support, “The Huang family contributed the most tonight, but the Ji family village took the lion’s share. I am very ashamed!”
"Why are you worrying about this?" Chief Jiang looked at Chief Ji with a disappointed expression. "Since there are more of you, you should naturally get more of what everyone is dividing up."
If it were him, he would have jumped up and down eight feet in joy long ago.
“That’s right, since there are more of you, you should take the lion’s share,” Huang Shi chimed in. “Don’t overthink it. Everyone agrees. If it weren’t for your help today, the outcome would have been very different.”
Huang Shi was terrified afterward.
When they arrived at Qingfeng Temple, they realized that these people were not to be underestimated. With so many of them, the advantage of the situation, and the fact that they had been entangled for so long, it was hard to say what would have happened if it weren't for the help of the two villages.
"Clan Chief Ji, don't overthink it. Since it's divided equally, no one is losing out or gaining an advantage. Just accept it without worry."
This incident showed Jiang Nuan just how terrifying the cohesion of a village can be.
The three villages combined are a winning combination.
She always thought that the relationships in Huangjiakou were loose, and even if they acted together, some people would be unwilling and difficult to command. After all, after spending a long time together, there would inevitably be some friction, and she herself had offended people several times.
Unexpectedly, the results were surprisingly good. In the face of life and death, not a single person backed down or complained. They followed orders and acted accordingly, and no one faltered at the crucial moment.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
After Chief Ji finished speaking, he couldn't help but grin, not just because he had received a large windfall.
For the first time in all these years, I've truly appreciated the goodness of our ancestors. If it weren't for their blessings from heaven, how could I have encountered such a wonderful thing?
I felt a greater sense of closeness to Huangjiakou and Jiangjia Village.
These two villages are honest and kind, and worth getting along with.
He neither looked down on people because Jijia Village was poor, nor was he dissatisfied because of such great benefits. He was magnanimous and upright in his actions.
Two hours later, the sun was high in the sky, but the person who hadn't slept all night felt no fatigue.
“Madam Jiang, the goods have been distributed almost completely. Let’s have someone report the situation to the authorities,” Chief Ji said cheerfully. “Who knows, the authorities might even offer a reward.”
"You wish," Chief Jiang said with a sneer. "We've gained so much benefit; the county magistrate is green with envy. How could he possibly recommend us for credit?"
Besides, does he even care about those things from the government?
At most, it's ten catties of rice and two catties of meat, a matter of a hundred copper coins.
"Are you sure it's all cleaned up?" Jiang Nuan reminded her. "If there are any valuables left behind, the government will confiscate them directly."
“I’m sure,” Chief Ji assured, patting his chest. “The bricks in the yard have all been pried off and taken away, and the walls have also been dismantled to collect the bricks.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan lowered her head to hide the smile in her eyes.
This behavior is typical of farmers; they will take anything of even a little use for themselves.
"Why were they still demolished?" Huang Shi couldn't help but ask. "How will we explain this to the authorities?"
They dug up the ground three feet deep, and nobody believed them when they said they didn't take anything.
“Many young men want to get married, but they don’t have a house. They look at me longingly, and I really can’t bear to refuse them,” the clan chief sighed. “If they weren’t so afraid of poverty, who would be so short-sighted as to not even let go of a single brick?”
With so many people, if each person gets their share, what can they possibly do?
However, they were very excited.
They even carried back the rotten and broken items.
If he hadn't stopped them, the house would have been demolished.
"Let them take us away then," Jiang Nuan said nonchalantly, suppressing her smile. "Just deny it to the death. Anyway, no one will hold this against us."
“I think so too,” Chief Ji excitedly slapped his thigh. “I’ll have them tear down all the houses right now. So many houses, tens of thousands of bricks.”
"No," Jiang Nuan was startled by these words, "please don't, this is a different matter."
“Exactly,” Huang Shi also said with a black line on his face, “It’s a Taoist temple after all. We’ve taken all the valuables, but let’s keep the house. In the future, when beggars come to the neighborhood, they’ll have a place to shelter from the wind and rain.”
“I agree with that,” Chief Jiang immediately chimed in. “They’ve torn down the houses. That’s just too much. If word gets out, won’t we lose all our face?”
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