Chapter 384: Such Sharp Eyes

The village elders were persuaded.

Yan Lao’er’s words had served as a reminder to them.

They really did need to consider things more thoroughly.

Doing a bit more now and spending a few extra copper coins would make the villagers feel more secure.

The reason the men of each household were unwilling to leave Xiao’an Village to become officers in the army was simply because life in the village was good.

This “goodness” had to be multifaceted. The village needed to be safe, life needed to have prospects, the old timers like them had to be fair, and there needed to be things that warmed people’s hearts, making them unable to leave and willing to risk their lives to protect it…

When Yan Yu returned home, the first thing she did was pour herself two cups of water.

Good heavens, her throat was so dry it felt like it was about to start smoking.

Yan Lao’er laughed at her. “Did you have to say everything in one breath? Couldn’t you have taken it one thing at a time?”

“The sooner it’s done, the sooner it’s settled.” Yan Yu climbed onto the heated brick bed, kicked off her small shoes, and crawled toward the inner side using both hands and feet. She placed the folded quilt against the wall behind her and leaned back, wiggling around until she was comfortable.

“I’ve discussed it with your father. I’m taking forty taels from my share of the reward silver to divide among you four children.” The bulk would go to the children, and she would keep the rest for herself.

Li Xuemei continued, “Your father and I calculated that your reward silver should be enough to purchase a property in Yongning City. You can go look for one yourself. Once you’ve made a choice, let your father go buy it.”

Yan Yu nodded repeatedly, having no objections whatsoever.

Owning her own property, earned by her own hands, brought a sense of accomplishment that was exceptionally satisfying.

Her eyes were curved into crescents from smiling, and they hadn’t opened back up since.

“Daughter, look, you can’t spend this money right away. It’s a waste to just let it sit there. Why don’t we put it into circulation and earn a short-term profit?” Yan Lao’er negotiated with his daughter very sincerely.

“Dad, what kind of opportunity do you have in mind?” Yan Yu asked.

Yan Lao’er said, “Gufeng is short on medicine, Guiyuan has grain, and your Grandmaster^[1] is having a hard time. He wants to make up for Crouching Tiger’s deficit.”

The father and daughter were perfectly in sync. Yan Yu understood instantly.

Transporting medicine to Gufeng to earn the price difference, then buying grain from Guiyuan to bring back and relieve the people of Crouching Tiger.

Since a report of victory had been submitted, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask for disaster relief again.

The imperial court would likely send down some rewards, but after deducting the pensions for the dead and wounded and various other expenses, there wouldn’t be much left. Furthermore, there was no telling when that money would actually arrive.

The situation in Crouching Tiger was urgent; they had to find a way to save themselves.

The government office was penniless. If they wanted to flip goods to earn a profit, the more starting capital they had, the better.

“Besides your share, I was thinking of raising funds from the village. Well, not exactly raising funds, but letting each household contribute silver as shares. It just so happens we’ll need manpower for the trip back and forth, and Crouching Tiger really can’t spare any idle people. Daughter, see if you can help organize this.”

Yan Yu thought to herself that since her father had asked so sincerely, she might as well agree.

The journey would be a bit grueling and time-consuming, but it was a great deed that benefited both others and themselves.

“Dad, let me say this upfront. The people of Crouching Tiger are pitiful, but we’ve only just escaped poverty ourselves. We have to earn at least enough to cover our travel expenses.” Yan Yu laid out the hard truth first. They couldn’t work themselves to the bone, sleeping in the wind and rain, for nothing. What would be the point of that?

They had received a fair share of the bounty per head, but everyone had also spent a lot on household supplies and grain.

“I was the one who taught you that principle, and here you are using it to shut me up.” Yan Lao’er didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Yan Yu was still crying poverty. “Dad, you can’t touch the family’s money either. We still need to buy that forest land to the south. Grandma Qi already gave me the silver.” She nudged a bundle at the edge of the bed with her small foot.

The bundle made a slight clinking sound.

As soon as Yan Lao’er heard it, he knew it contained silver.

“I know what I’m doing.” Yan Lao’er sighed. “It’s just… if we can help, we should help a little.”

Yan Yu nodded. She understood. Her father wanted to do something, otherwise he wouldn’t feel right in his heart.

Dragging her small backpack over, Yan Yu began pulling out silver.

“This is the money our family advanced for the bamboo, the money for Uncle Qi Wu making the doors, the medicine money for my uncle-in-law’s family, the nursing money for the aunts and sisters…” When Yan Yu reached the last item, her small face crumpled, and her voice grew lower and lower. “The money for our family’s jerky…”

Yan Lao’er laughed until tears came to his eyes. He said to Li Xuemei, “Look at how our daughter calculates the accounts. No one is sharper than her, yet every single entry is a loss.”

Li Xuemei’s eyes also crinkled with a smile.

“That’s why I have to earn money!” Yan Yu cheered herself up, her spirit reviving. “I want to buy a shop. It’ll mainly feature our home-made scented soap, shampoo, tooth powder, and recycled paper. I’ll put them all on display, and then sell some vegetables and dried fish on the side. There are plenty of wild fruits in the mountains right now, plus walnuts and hazelnuts. People will definitely buy them. Anyway, I’m not picky. I’ll sell whatever can make money.”

Yan Lao’er couldn’t stop laughing. “So it’s just a general store.”

Yan Yu was perfectly serious. “A general store is a general store, as long as it makes money.”

She had another profitable business venture that she couldn’t tell her parents about.

That is, going over the mountain…

…

The person who came to collect the Northern Rong corpses was none other than Banner Commander Xue.

This Banner Commander Xue had a strong heart. He had been quite dejected before, but now he had pulled himself together again.

He brought a convoy of wagons.

Although the Heir Apparent had already told him the numbers, he was still shocked when he saw it with his own eyes.

He knew these villagers had seen blood before, but he hadn’t expected them to be so… fierce.

If he had known, he should have come sooner.

The five newly appointed Squad Leaders would be soldiers under his command from now on.

Banner Commander Xue didn’t stand on ceremony. He immediately told them to follow him and return to the military camp today.

He wandered around the village, poking and prodding.

His eyes weren’t looking at anything else; they were fixed solely on the men of the village.

When he saw something he liked, he would even chuckle to himself.

Yan Lao’er followed beside him, thinking he looked more and more like he had some sort of mental illness.

Yan Yu felt a bit of regret. She shouldn’t have let her eldest uncle leave so early. Just now, her uncle and this Banner Commander Xue had crossed paths. Her uncle’s aura was clearly strong enough to suppress Banner Commander Xue.

Now things were looking bad. It was obvious that Banner Commander Xue was eyeing the uncles in the village.

That greedy intention was practically carved onto his face.

The father and daughter glanced at each other, both feeling somewhat helpless.

The man was currently just looking and hadn’t said anything. Until the Northern Rong corpses were finished being loaded, he wouldn’t be leaving. Other than treating him well, what else could they do?

But as the saying goes, whatever you fear most is bound to happen.

After Banner Commander Xue finished wandering through the village, it was unclear whether he gave a look or a secret signal.

The soldiers who had been actively moving corpses just moments ago suddenly looked like they were in slow motion. Their speed dropped instantly.

That wasn’t all. Several soldiers pushing the handcarts started having stomach aches.

The horses they had ridden in on wouldn’t stay still either, breaking away from the group and running toward the mountains…

Yan Yu was speechless.

This Banner Commander Xue had such sharp eyes!

Why would he go into the mountains for no reason? It was because there was treasure in the mountains.

What treasure?

Horses!

Xiao’an Village hadn’t just killed people; they had also captured horses.

The dead ones were being prepared to be made into jerky, using the old method.

But the ones that were still alive and kicking, Yan Yu wanted to keep.

Originally, as farming folk, they weren’t allowed to keep horses. If they sold them, other than to the military or the government office, it would be a significant amount of silver.

But the Heir Apparent was kind-hearted and didn’t want to steal their credit for nothing. He had granted them five Squad Leader positions. Now, these horses were a different story entirely.

With military status, they were naturally qualified to keep horses.

(End of Chapter)