“Little Fu Bao said we can plant two crops a year. After next year’s harvest, we can plant another crop. As long as there’s a yield, it’s better than leaving this land barren for half a year, isn’t it?” The old clan chief was practically rubbing his hands together in anticipation. “Besides, if we don’t plant something now, we’ll really starve until next autumn! Do you think the disaster relief grain distributed by the young master of the Wen family will last until next autumn?”
Steward Zhang chuckled and said, "Our farmland is just sitting idle anyway, so we're thinking of planting a hundred acres to see how it goes."
With these two people taking the lead, the villagers felt more at ease and began to collect grain and corn seeds.
Little Youran then said in her childish voice, "You haven't thanked us yet."
The old clan chief laughed heartily and led the way in bowing to Xiao Youran, saying, "Thank you both, my two little darlings!"
Xiao Youran nodded vigorously, "Yes, brother is also a lucky baby!"
The villagers then followed the example of the old clan chief, bowing to the brother and sister in gratitude.
Xiao Youran watched as the luck value in the little notebook rose sharply, breaking through 30 again. The little notebook then prompted whether to perform an automatic check.
She decisively chose no.
A woman rushed over from the side, pointing at the group and cursing, "You heartless bastards! Why didn't you do good deeds a couple of days earlier? If you had given me this bushel of rice a couple of days earlier, my poor eldest daughter wouldn't have had to be sold off for just ten pounds of rice and flour..."
The old clan chief's face darkened, and his wife stepped forward to defend him: "Dazhu's wife, don't talk nonsense! Nobody could have predicted this flood. Do you think the Wen family's young master and the Jiang siblings have to do good deeds just in time for your daughter's marriage proposal? Besides, it's because you couldn't bear to see your Dazhu go hungry that you rushed to marry off your daughter. You agreed to give her away for just ten catties of rice and flour. Who can you blame?"
The woman cried out, "My poor eldest daughter... why didn't you do it a few days earlier..."
She suddenly rushed towards Xiao Youran, crying, "Who said no one could predict floods? These two siblings knew! As soon as they arrived, the mountains collapsed and the waters flooded! What lucky stars! Bah! I think you're just jinxes! Disaster stars!"
The clan chief's wife quickly pulled her away, "Dazhu's mother, what nonsense are you talking about!"
The old clan leader was furious, "If your family doesn't care about this grain, then don't take it!"
Da Zhu's father, who was queuing behind, immediately objected, "Old clan chief, this woman is just a little sad because she was thinking about my daughter, and she's complaining a bit. How can you not let me take her away?"
"You can't just say Xiao Fubao is a jinx! You're not on our side, so why are you receiving disaster relief food if you're not on our side? Besides, Xiao Fubao and his sister also contributed money to this disaster relief food! Since you think they're jinxes, why are you eating the food they bought?! Don't eat it!"
A villager nearby chimed in indignation, "That's right! Don't you think about it? It had been raining for almost half a month before they came! If they hadn't come, our whole family would have been buried in that landslide! If you dare call them jinxes again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
"Yes! Which village within this radius hasn't been flooded? The entire autumn harvest in Wufeng County has rotted in the fields! How dare you pin such a massive natural disaster on a little girl like her? You really have the nerve to say that! Aren't you afraid of being struck down by the heavens?!"
"Isn't that right? Tian Kuang's family was almost starving those few days! After she came, they had meat every day! Even now, the aroma of meat fills the air every day, something we could only dream of!" The auntie changed the subject, "Little Fu Bao, why don't you come to my house? I'll make you some pancakes!"
"Go away, who wants your bitter vegetable pancakes?!" Someone immediately pushed the aunt aside and grinned at Xiao Youran, "Little Fu Bao, come to our house! We also have sweet glutinous rice cakes!"
"Come to our house!"
Come to my house!
Xiao Youran hid behind Jiang Youchen in shock, watching as the villagers who had originally fought for her inexplicably started a kidnapping spree...
The old clan chief waved his hand, "Stop arguing! Little Fu Bao told us about the method of growing vegetables by the kang (heated brick bed), has anyone figured it out yet?!"
Someone in the group immediately raised their hand, "Yes, yes, yes, I grew bok choy!"
"I have some too! My little chives have sprouted! Old Master Wang in town has already pre-ordered two catties! Thirty-five coins a catty!"
"Dazhuang, that's impressive! These chives usually only cost two coins a pound!"
"Absolutely! Eating greens is so precious in winter! I reckon we can harvest a batch next month!"
Xiao Youran was shocked and speechless again. How did this conversation turn into a winter get-rich-quick experience exchange meeting?
She suddenly had a brilliant idea, "Uncles and elders, these corn seeds can be germinated in a warm room first, and then planted in the ground. That way they will grow faster."
The villagers were taken aback at first, then overjoyed, giving her a thumbs up. "Wow, great idea! Great idea, Xiao Youran, you're truly our lucky charm!"
Seeing that the old woman was starting to praise Fu Bao again, she broke free from the clan chief's wife's grasp and lunged at her again, crying, "You have to compensate me for my daughter! You have to compensate me for my daughter!"
The old clan chief's face darkened. "Dazhu's father, why aren't you taking your wife away? If she causes trouble again, I'll decide to divide your share among everyone!"
Da Zhu's father quickly stepped out of the line and pulled Da Zhu's mother back home, saying, "You're such a worry, why aren't you home yet!"
The scene gradually calmed down, but everyone looked at Xiao Youran with the eyes of hungry wolves staring at a bone.
Xiao Youran shuddered and quickly pushed her brother away, "No, no, no... Actually, I'll tell you a secret: the real Fu Bao is actually my brother! I was young and ignorant, so I stole his credit to play with."
Jiang Youchen: ...
The old clan chief was taken aback, then burst into laughter, "You two are both our lucky treasures!"
The villagers all chimed in, "Yes, yes, you two are our lucky charms!"
Then Steward Zhang and the villagers got busy.
Jiang Youchen looked at his younger sister with a somewhat complicated expression.
Xiao Youran pulled Jiang Youchen aside and whispered, "Brother, there's something I need your help with."
Jiang Youchen gave her a questioning look.
Xiao Youran pulled him further away and whispered, "Brother, have you ever heard of a rabid dog biting someone, and then that person went mad and died?"
Jiang Youchen nodded, "Last year when we were in Dingzhou, we heard that the third son of the Marquis of Anyuan was bitten by a rabid dog, and he went insane within a few days and eventually died."
Xiao Youran said earnestly, "That's because animals carry pathogens. When they bite or scratch someone, they transfer those pathogens to that person, making them sick. Just now, Young Master Wen was scratched by a lynx. I'm worried that the lynx might have some pathogens on it, which could also be transmitted to him. He needs to get a rabies vaccine. Could you help me, brother?"
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