“Old woman, tell me—do you think Yue Shi knows how to process the herbs?”
The clan leader asked with a hint of anticipation.
Wang Shi frowned, thinking back to what Yue Jiuyue had said the day before, and dashed her husband’s wishful thinking.
“She probably doesn’t. Didn’t she say she’d just watched others sell herbs before and remembered they were a type of weed? That’s why she dug up one kind after another and had her third son ask at the medical clinic in town to find out which ones were actually medicinal.”
“Sigh! Never mind. It’s already good enough that our villagers can earn a few copper coins. You figure out who should go up the mountain to dig for herbs. Send a few of the younger ones to spread the word to each household. I’ll go visit the clan elders and share the good news with them first.”
With that, the clan leader left with his hands behind his back, while Wang Shi began organizing her own family—deciding which sons and daughters-in-law would go dig herbs on the mountain and which grandchildren would go spread the news.
She didn’t stay idle either. She had her own close friends to tell. When it came to news about making money, the sooner you knew, the better. After all, people always have their inner circles.
(︶.︶)
Lin Chaobei was full of energy today. Without any prompting from Yue Jiuyue, he swung his hoe high and dug for herbs with unstoppable enthusiasm. Even as sweat poured down his back, it couldn’t dampen his love for this land.
Beside him, Yue Jiuyue looked at her balance—already a full seven taels of silver. She smiled like a flower. A black one. One that had already wilted.
Suddenly, a saying came to mind: She was very ugly, but she was very gentle.
Hmm. That probably didn’t fit her. She was still a wicked mother-in-law.
“Good day, little sister-in-law!”
Another group of villagers passed by the mountain and greeted Yue Jiuyue from a distance.
“Good day, sister! Coming to dig herbs too? Want to join us over here?”
Yue Jiuyue put on a fake smile and politely invited them.
“No need. We’re heading to the next mountain over. We’re off now!”
The group hurried away.
This had to be the umpteenth wave of people. Whenever they passed by the mountain where Yue Jiuyue was digging, they would greet her courteously. Not a single one came up the mountain to compete with her—they all went to other mountains.
Suddenly, Yue Jiuyue found these villagers rather endearing.
She lowered her head and continued swinging her hoe, digging up herbs. At the same time, she cleared out all the goosegrass, plantain, and other weeds nearby.
“Mother, Fourth Brother, I’ve brought you some water. Come rest for a while and have a drink.”
Liu Shi suddenly appeared, carrying a basket and leading little Xiaoman. When she reached the mountain, she pulled out a clay pot and two bowls from the basket.
“Oh! Sister-in-law, you came at the perfect time. I was just getting thirsty!”
Lin Chaobei said as he picked up the two bowls of water that Liu Shi had poured, handing one to Yue Jiuyue.
“Mother, drink.”
After downing two bowls of water, Lin Chaobei grinned brightly and went back to swinging his hoe.
Meanwhile, Liu Shi set Xiaoman down next to Yue Jiuyue. While Yue Jiuyue drank her water, Liu Shi picked up the hoe Yue Jiuyue had been using and began digging herbs herself.
Yue Jiuyue didn’t stop her.
She looked at Liu Shi today. She seemed… different somehow.
Was it the smile on her face?
In the two days since she’d traveled here, Yue Jiuyue had never seen Liu Shi smile. All day long, she either looked miserable or was crying. Just one glance made Yue Jiuyue irritable. Her own mood wasn’t great to begin with, and having someone like that right in front of her kept her constantly on the verge of exploding.
But now, Liu Shi was actually smiling. Truly, there was no greater power than the power of money!