CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158: SOMEONE IS EAVESDROPPING

After sitting for a while at Jiang Hu’s house and discussing the matters, they prepared to leave.

The village chief planned to notify the villagers in the afternoon for a meeting to discuss Jiang Hu’s suggestion.

As for whether everyone would follow through, the village chief wouldn’t insist, but he would make sure to explain the idea and the reasons clearly.

"Village chief, I’ve got things to do in the afternoon, so I won’t be able to attend. Besides, my family’s grain this year isn’t for trade; you know, Liu Ze stays with us because he can’t eat grain from outside."

The village chief nodded: "That’s fine, we understand your family’s situation, and again, this is not being forced."

However, those in the village who wish to maintain good relations with others will have to be more generous this year.

Last year, some people already came to buy seeds from our village, and if this year yields a good harvest, even more will come to buy seeds.

But there weren’t many seeds to begin with last year, and even fewer were sold; everyone expects to keep an eye on Fu’an Village this year.

If Fu’an Village gains a reputation, the benefits will extend beyond just helping the young men find wives.

Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t refuse at this time.

Of course, the premise is that everyone should keep enough seeds for their own needs next year, and only then use the surplus for trade.

"Thank you, village chief, for understanding. Please also explain this to the others."

Liu Yang patted his chest in assurance, telling Jiang Hu not to worry, as he would explain to the others.

As for what Master Xie said, about distributing seeds to the entire Cheng County next year, not even Jiang Hu or the village chief Liu Yang cared much about it.

Just how big is Cheng County?

Dozens, if not hundreds, of towns, each with a dozen or so villages underneath.

With only over forty households in their village, each having about four to five thousand jin of sorghum and corn, it totals around twenty thousand jin; can it really be divided among all the villages in Cheng County?

Even if every village could get a share, how much would there be? And how many would each household receive?

Therefore, in this first year, it’s impossible to cover everything, and by then, many would come to trade seeds with them.

Just as a few left, the second aunt walked out from the house.

"Hu, what have you been talking about for so long?"

It turned out that the second aunt had been awake for a while. Seeing them talking in the kitchen, she hadn’t come over.

"Just discussing other villages wanting to sell seeds."

Jiang Hu stretched and moved his body, explaining the village chief’s and Liu Yang’s intentions, along with his ideas and plans.

As for the matters that made him angry, Jiang Hu didn’t mention them, not wanting to trouble second aunt with such trivialities.

After all, he also misinterpreted it, so there was no need to bring it up and unsettle her.

Listening to Jiang Hu’s explanation, second aunt casually washed a few used teacups.

"Didn’t you rest at all? Why don’t you go and take a nap?"

Jiang Hu shook his head: "It’s alright, it’s getting late, and the kids will wake up soon. Let’s go and dig some more sweet potatoes. From tomorrow, Brother Liu and the others will start eating the purchased grain; let’s get them more of our sweet potatoes."

It’s not that Jiang Hu is stingy with grain; it’s because Liu Zhi asked for it specifically.

The homemade sweet potatoes are delicious. If the sweet potatoes didn’t cause heartburn from overeating, Jiang Hu would rather eat sweet potatoes every day than bought grain.

Over the years, he’s grown picky, accustomed to home-cooked meals, and if given a choice, he’d prefer to eat his own.

However, the sweet potatoes haven’t reached their full size yet, and it’s not time to dig them up.

So they’re planning to be careful, using bamboo knives to scoop them rather than dig them up, plucking the largest one beneath each sweet potato plant and letting the rest grow.

Next to the kitchen is Liu Ze and Qixi’s room, which also serves as the granary, with a utility room opposite primarily storing various farm tools, along with some dry leaves for kindling.

Between the two rooms is the largest room, which Jiang Hu divided into several small rooms; the whole family lives there, and it’s the furthest from the kitchen.

Liu Ze wasn’t asleep at the moment. He was leaning against the bed with a book in hand, but he hadn’t turned a page in a long time.

The room is next to the kitchen, and the thatched hut isn’t soundproof.

Liu Ze sleeps neither soundly nor lightly but lighter than an average child.

When Liu Yang called for the village chief with a loud voice earlier, he woke up.

There are two beds in the room, one inside, one outside. Since Liu Ze wanted to read, he chose the outer bed near the window; once the door is open, it’s quite bright.

However, this position is right by the kitchen door and the dining table by the kitchen door.

Qixi is still fast asleep, only muttering a few words when Jiang Hu slammed the table earlier, then quickly fell back asleep.

Liu Ze, however, couldn’t get back to sleep, so he sat up to read; but with the noise from the kitchen, he couldn’t focus, and ended up listening to their conversation.

He knew why Uncle Jiang got suddenly angry and heard Liu Sheng ask why, and was also curious.

Due to different living environments, Liu Ze wasn’t as straightforward as a typical seven-year-old; he thought more deeply.

For instance, he was suddenly curious about why Uncle Jiang coincidentally got separated from the family and ended up with them.

Moreover, now that the family is doing well, they never once mentioned looking for the family they were separated from.

Second aunt had risen, and Liu Ze turned a page without paying much attention, no longer dwelling on it.

Everyone has their own secrets. He could see that Uncle Jiang and Aunt were treating all the children equally, and that was enough.

"Oh? Liu Ze, you’re awake. We’re going to the field soon. It’s a bit hot. Do you want to come with us?"

Hearing Tie Dan stir awake, second aunt was preparing to return to the house when passing by Liu Ze’s window for the second time, she finally noticed Liu Ze sitting up in bed.

Liu Ze put down the book and smiled gently: "I’ll come with you. Otherwise, it’ll be quite boring for me alone at home."

Miss Xiaoxue would definitely help in the fields, and Xiaomi loved to run around, so she wouldn’t stay home. If both sisters left, Tie Dan certainly wouldn’t stay home alone.

"Then you get up first, and remember to bring plenty of water. Don’t forget your bamboo container."

The bamboo container second aunt mentioned is similar to the one used for chrysanthemum tea earlier in the day but it’s meant for water.

As long as it’s kept upright, it won’t spill, and each family member had one to conveniently drink water while working in the fields; plus, it was large and cheap, and easy to replace if damaged.

After second aunt gave Liu Ze her reminders, Tie Dan came barefoot, looking for his mother.