CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: JIANG HU’S INTENTION

Jiang Hu first expressed his gratitude and emotions, having everyone recall the hardships on the road of escape.

Then he spoke about how he always felt grateful, so when he caught sparrows, caught fish, or captured game, the first thing he did was to share the methods with the villagers because he cared about everyone’s well-being.

After this speech, fifteen minutes had passed.

Xiaomi blew a bubble out of boredom, thinking that if her father were in modern society, he would at least be a small leader, the kind who specializes in holding meetings.

Of course, Xiaomi was probably the only one thinking like that.

Because everyone else was already tearing up; only those who had personally experienced such difficulties could deeply understand the meaning of Jiang Hu’s words.

After finishing speaking, Jiang Hu paused to take a sip of water, clearing his throat before beginning to discuss the main matter.

"But the past hardships are over; now everyone’s life is getting better, so I won’t dwell on that. Let’s talk about current matters instead."

Finished speaking, Jiang Hu smilingly patted the little Xiaomi in his arms: "Everyone says Xiaomi and Tiedan are reincarnations of lucky stars. Indeed, because of Xiaomi and Tiedan, our village has changed."

"However, for Xiaomi and Tiedan to be successfully born, it couldn’t have happened without everyone’s support on the road, so it’s only right to repay everyone’s help."

Jiang Hu said this, looking toward the village chief: "Village chief, you previously asked me how the crops grew better. At that time, I really didn’t know; it was only later, when Liu Yang found out, that I understood the reason."

The village chief nodded: "That’s indeed the case. Liu Yang used the manure from your house, and only he knew where to use that half bucket of manure."

At this point, an old man spoke up: "Why not let all of us use the Jiang family’s manure?"

Just as he finished speaking, Liu Yang snorted, giving no face at all.

"Uncle, it’s not that I disrespect you, but that’s a bit too greedy, isn’t it? Our whole Fuan Village, even if we’re only planting sorghum and corn, added up, isn’t there some two hundred acres all together?"

Xiaomi also shouted "ah ah" at Liu Yang’s uncle several times, even waving her fists, Big bad guy, if you all use it, then what will my family use? Don’t our crops get watered?

Liu Yang burst out laughing instantly: "Haha, see, even Little Lucky Star knows, uncle, what you’re saying is nonsense."

Liu Yang’s uncle was instantly flustered, his face flushed red, but knowing his words were problematic, he merely let out a forceful hum, turning aside without saying more.

The village chief promptly intervened: "Alright Liu Yang, your uncle just spoke too quickly, the whole village can’t use all the Jiang family’s manure, and you’re too thoughtless in your words, at least show some respect for your uncle."

However, Little Lucky Star’s reaction earlier did surprise everyone a bit, as if she understood what Liu Dabo said and was particularly angry about it.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi pondered that it seemed Liu Yang’s relationship with his uncle wasn’t so good.

Liu Yang let out a hum too, and with that, the matter was considered past.

At this point, another old man cleared his throat.

"Village chief, I think, little Jiang has always been generous and righteous, and this time he’s invited us to discuss this matter, indicating he has already thought it through, so why not let little Jiang speak?"

The village chief nodded, looking towards Jiang Hu: "Little Jiang, what do you think?"

Jiang Hu pondered for a moment; indeed, he had been thinking about this issue seriously these past few days.

"Village chief, I didn’t expect the manure from my house to have these benefits, and I couldn’t have known earlier, but since it has such benefits, it truly can’t be monopolized only by my family."

"But Liu Yang is also right; my family’s fields need it too. So, how about this: every two months, each household can bring a bucket to my house for exchange, how does that sound?"

Xiaomi, eager to leave with her dad earlier, hadn’t eaten her fill, and was now sucking her finger, secretly feeding herself milk powder.

Eating while listening to everyone earnestly discuss the issue of manure did indeed feel a bit strange.

But oh well, having heard countless times about how to evenly deal with one’s own waste, this scene was no big deal!

However, as soon as Jiang Hu’s words were spoken, some were immediately displeased.

"One bucket every two months, isn’t that too little? It’s not even enough for a tenth of an acre."

Liu Yang nodded empathetically: "It’s indeed not enough. Last time brother Hu gave me half a bucket, and it only covered ten seedlings."

Xiaomi instantly felt no longer hungry, the milk powder lost its flavor, and she felt like she had totally misjudged!

Yet the next moment, she heard Liu Yang continue speaking.

"But Grandpa Zhang, don’t forget, we have forty to fifty households in our village. If every household takes a bucket of manure, that’s fifty buckets. Unless your family’s manure is as good, would you allow others to come every two months to carry away fifty buckets?"

Xiaomi continued sipping her milk powder, thinking, surely, her father, being so smart, wouldn’t misjudge people.

The village chief nodded: "Liu Yang is right. The entire Fuan Village has forty-eight households; excluding Jiang’s own family, that’s forty-seven buckets each time, and if Jiang’s family uses less water, maybe even a bucket every two months wouldn’t be available."

Jiang Hu glanced around at everyone, seeing some nodding quietly, some still hesitating, and some clearly unsatisfied.

So he stood up, holding Xiaomi: "Village chief, why don’t you discuss amongst yourselves first, I’ll take Xiaomi out for a walk; she hasn’t really been around the village, I’ll take her to have a look, and come back in a while."

The village chief nodded, allowing Jiang Hu to leave first.

He also knew that while Jiang Hu was holding Xiaomi, people were hesitant to speak freely, for fear of offending Little Lucky Star, who seemed particularly intelligent and clever, and protective of her father.

Because the main hall faced the courtyard gate, everyone could see Jiang Hu carrying Xiaomi out.

Once Jiang Hu was out, the village chief said: "Alright, now speak up. I’ll make my stance known first. I think little Jiang’s method is good, each person every two months can go to his house to exchange for one bucket of manure."

Someone immediately said: "But village chief, one bucket every two months is too little, isn’t it? It’s not enough for anything."

Village chief: "I too would like one bucket a month, but you have a big family of seven, even more than Jiang’s family. Let me ask you, could you provide forty-seven buckets of manure apart from what your family uses each month?"

That person immediately deflated: "We’re not raising pigs now, and the toilets are just full of old rooftop water, where’s the manure from?"

Besides, even with feeding pigs, there’s not that much.

The village chief looked at everyone, knowing that everyone understood this reasoning, but selfishly they still wanted to get more benefits.

Finally, he looked at Liu Yang: "Liu Yang, you’re the closest to little Jiang in the village, and you’re smart; what do you think?"

Liu Yang didn’t stand on ceremony, cleared his throat: "Village chief, let me tell you this, I think brother Hu is generous, loyal, and particularly selfless, truly."

"For the current situation, if it were anyone else in this room, could any of you reach the extent of brother Hu’s generosity?"

"Moreover, based on my interactions with brother Hu during this time, he isn’t particularly warm or likes making friends; you’ve seen it too, apart from my initiative to get close, isn’t he just neutral with everyone else in the village?"

"But even then, brother Hu is willing to share his family’s benefits, can you achieve that? Have you seen anyone else do that?"

"So really, don’t be too greedy. Brother Hu is just separated from his family, not without family; if you push him too much, he may just take his wife and kids to find his family, then how would you miss Little Lucky Star’s blessing?"