In the end, the old shopkeeper handed over most of the copper coins from the clinic and added another two taels of silver to make up the full amount.
The village head decided to exchange the silver into copper coins at a money shop—after all, silver wasn’t easy to divide among so many people.
“Little fortune star, I’ll go buy you some candied hawthorn,” Tie Zhu’s father said, heading off to get one.
Seeing this, the other men didn’t want to be outdone. One after another, they each went to buy a skewer of candied hawthorn.
“You’re all buying so many—she can’t possibly eat them all! Just bring one home for your own children,” Su Sanlang tried to stop them.
But no one listened. Each of them happily returned with a skewer and handed it over.
Su Muyao looked at the dozen or so skewers being pushed toward her, then glanced down at her tiny hands.
Seeing this, everyone quickly stuffed the candied hawthorns into Su Sanlang’s hands instead.
On the way back, the group rode the cart, humming songs and chatting cheerfully.
At the village entrance, a few older women spotted them from afar and hurried forward excitedly.
“I can’t see clearly—did they sell it? Looks like they didn’t bring anything back!”
“If nothing came back, then it must have been sold!”
A sharp-tongued old woman immediately scoffed, “Not necessarily. Maybe it wasn’t even medicinal herbs. If the shop refused them, they might’ve just dumped it by the roadside. Would they really drag those roots all the way back?”
“You old crone, can’t you hope for something good? If it really sold and turned into silver, don’t expect a share for your family!”
Hearing that, the old woman bristled. “What do you mean my family won’t get any? Did you discover the herbs yourself?!”
The village head’s wife quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Alright, alright—they’re back now. We’ll know soon enough. Stop arguing.”
Moments later, the group arrived.
“Well? Did it sell?” she asked eagerly.
The village head grinned. “Of course it did! Just like our little fortune star said—it’s kudzu root, and it sold for quite a good price!”
The villagers figured that even a few dozen coins would already be a decent earning, considering they hadn’t worked long.
But then the village head brought out a large sack of copper coins and had his son carry out a square table from the house.
Right there, in full view of everyone, he poured the coins onto the table.
The group that had gone to the mountain had already recovered from their shock—but now the rest of the villagers stared in amazement, whispering among themselves.
The pile of copper coins on the table was impressive. In truth, most households barely had a few coins in hand. Money was usually controlled by the elders, and even then, having one or two taels of silver in total was already considered quite good.
In the end, the village head divided the 5,640 coins among the 15 people who had gone up the mountain. Each person received 376 copper coins.
Those who hadn’t gone couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Originally, the village head had said each household could send someone to learn about herbs, but some people hadn’t believed it. They thought it would be a waste of half a day and chose to stay back and weed their fields instead.
Who would’ve thought that in just over an hour, those who went earned 376 coins?
For comparison, a strong laborer at the docks earned only about 12 coins a day—and that didn’t even include meals. They worked from before sunrise until after sunset.
Among those complaining the loudest was the sharp-tongued old woman’s family.
“Why does everyone else get a share, but not us?!”
The village head sighed, clearly exasperated. “It’s not just your family—anyone who didn’t go gets nothing. What, you didn’t want to dig earlier, but now that others made money, you want a share too? Where in the world does that make sense?”
“Honestly, at your age, shouldn’t you have a bit more shame?”
“Well, that’s not quite right—when has she ever cared about saving face?”
Someone in the crowd tossed out that remark, and laughter immediately erupted.
The sharp-tongued old woman, perhaps realizing it wasn’t worth arguing, said nothing more. Instead, she turned and eagerly approached the little fortune star.
Seeing this, Su Sanlang quickly scooped his daughter into his arms. He had no idea what the old woman might do—better safe than sorry.
Missing her chance to get close, the old woman didn’t mind. She smiled warmly at Su Muyao and said, “Little fortune star, why don’t you come visit Grandma’s house? I’ve got sweets—I’ll give them all to you.”
Su Muyao waved her hands quickly. “Grandma, next time we go to the mountains to gather herbs, just let your son come along with everyone.”
The old woman’s face lit up instantly. She knew it—the little fortune star wasn’t just lucky, but clever too. She had said exactly what the old woman wanted to hear.
Once the money was distributed, the village head dismissed the crowd.
He went home—but the Su family’s house quickly became packed with visitors. Even villagers who rarely interacted with them came bearing small gifts: some brought vegetables, others sunflower seeds or peanuts.
One elderly woman even brought a piece of yellow floral cloth, saying it was for making clothes for the little fortune star.
Old Madam Su initially refused to accept it, but the woman stubbornly refused to leave unless it was taken. In the end, she had no choice but to accept the cloth.
Su Muyao absolutely loved it. The pattern reminded her of the floral dresses that had been popular in her previous life. She even imagined asking her grandmother to add lace trimming—it would look beautiful when worn.
But then she thought of their current house—so fragile it seemed like it could collapse with a strong gust of wind. Building a new home had to come first.
After the villagers left, she brought it up with her grandfather.
“Grandpa, let’s build a new house.”
Old Master Su and Old Madam Su exchanged a glance and nodded.
Seeing how easily they agreed, Su Muyao eagerly continued sharing her plan.
“We should build a courtyard house—about two mu in size. I’ll even draw up the design.”
At this, Old Master Su shook his head vigorously. “No, no—that’s too big!”
“Grandpa, listen to me. In the future, my brothers will get married and bring home wives. It won’t be too big at all.”
Old Madam Su chimed in, “Sweetheart, two mu is way too large. If you need to use the toilet, you won’t even make it there in time—you’ll already have an accident!”
Su Muyao burst into laughter.
“Grandma, how do you manage to say something so funny with such a straight face?”
Old Master Su coughed awkwardly beside them. His wife really had no filter.
But Old Madam Su stood her ground. “I’m not wrong! Even if you’re not sick, just trying to get to the toilet in time would be hard—it’s too far!”
“Well, Grandma, I’ll just design the toilet to be inside the main house.”
That instantly made Old Master Su sit upright. “No, no—that won’t be necessary! Grandpa will find someone else to design the house. You just wait and move into the new place when it’s ready.”
Old Madam Su laughed so hard she could barely stand. “Sweetheart, you really dare to think big—putting a toilet inside the house? Wouldn’t that stink?”
Su Muyao slapped her forehead.
“Oh heavens… if only someone could teach me how to make a proper toilet and drainage system. I’ve read so many books, yet I don’t actually know how to build one.”
At that moment, she truly understood—
It’s one thing to imagine something; it’s another to make it real.