"That’s exactly right," Hua Old Man quickly nodded.
"But uncles, this matter indeed requires attention. I was thinking perhaps we could hold a eting in the village to inform everyone."
The arrival of the family uncles solved his problem. With the harvest about to be collected in the coming days, he had been wondering how to persuade everyone not to sell the grain. Now, with the opportunity presented, and the uncles’ authority, it would certainly have more persuasive power. Surely, everyone would carefully consider it.
"You’ve thought it through, that’s exactly what we should do."
The several family uncles nodded in agreent with Hua Man’s suggestion.
Being from the sa village, if anything happens, they’re like family. In the case of disasters or hardships, they need to support each other to go further.
"Alright, then after supper when it’s cooler, we’ll gather at the grain drying ground. I’ll have Chengtian notify everyone."
"Do as you say, we don’t have other matters. You carry on," the group stood up.
"Why rush, uncles? My wife is about to finish breakfast, have a bite before you leave," Hua Old Man hurriedly urged them to stay.
"No, no, the food at ho is almost ready. Your aunts are waiting," Hua Huai waved his hand.
Tis are tough, and without special reasons, they can’t eat at soone else’s ho.
"Alright then, no need to see us off, go back quickly."
"Alright, I won’t see you off then, uncles."
The response was the back of the n waving their hands as they left.
Following his father’s instructions, Hua Chengtian began notifying each household.
Because of the village eting in the evening, everyone had an early supper. Before the sky even darkened, they gathered at the grain drying yard, waiting for the village chief and several family elders to arrive.
They didn’t have to wait long, only a short while in the evening.
The grain drying ground was packed with people, almost everyone from Hua Village ca out, both young and old.
It had been a long ti since there was such a formal eting, raising everyone’s curiosity. The grain drying ground was buzzing with chatter and discussions everywhere.
Riding to the eting, they wondered what could be so sudden; it hadn’t happened like this in years, and amidst the curiosity, there was a bit of unease.
They were worried about any bad news, like grain taxes rising again, labor obligations, conscription, or the governnt causing more trouble.
Seeing the village chief and the family elders arriving, the impatient ones in the village couldn’t hold back and asked, "Village chief, what exactly is the matter for hastily calling us to a eting?"
His question opened a flood of words, as the once buzzing grain drying ground got even noisier.
"Yes, village chief, please speak quickly."
"Alright, everyone quiet down," Hua Old Man gestured with his hands, silencing the villagers.
"Indeed, there’s sothing to discuss with everyone; it’s about this year’s unusual weather. Let’s hear what the family uncles have to say first," Hua Old Man directed his gaze towards the family uncles.
Knowing it wasn’t what they feared, they montarily breathed a sigh of relief, but then the village chief’s words caused everyone to furrow their brows and grow serious.
Nobody was a fool; this year was unusually hot, and to this day, they’re still wearing thin sumr clothes, sweating with any movent.
Now, seeing the village chief and the family elders with serious expressions, everyone held back their thoughts.
Under the worried gazes of the crowd, the brave family elder spoke up about the concerns. As the elder spoke, the villagers’ faces turned serious.
Then the village chief, like the family elders, also expressed that not a single grain of this season’s harvest would be sold.
Making the villagers, who were in consideration, feel even more anxious.
"Village chief, if we don’t sell the grain, what do we eat?" soone who didn’t quite understand asked.
No need for the village chief to answer, the villagers beside him answered for him.
"Fool, the village chief said not to sell the grain, but didn’t say not to exchange it for coarse grain."
Life for farrs is tough. Although most of their fields were planted with fine grain, it wasn’t for their own consumption but to sell for a good price. This way, they could exchange for more coarse grain.
Upon hearing this, the speaker chuckled, feeling a bit foolish, while the surrounding people let out good-natured laughs, lightening the mood significantly.
Hua Old Man also laughed, "My fault for not making it clear enough. What I an is we can’t exchange all the grain for silver coins; we must store more grain, especially coarse grain, to ensure at least six months to a year’s supply. Of course, I hope I’m overthinking it, but being prepared is never wrong. Better to be safe than sorry. Even if money is tight, as long as there’s grain, we won’t fear hunger. When the next crop cos out, it’s not too late to sell."
"Besides, as the village chief, I can’t bear to see you all struggling without money!"
Hua Old Man added, sparking everyone’s interest.
"Village chief, what do you an by that? It sounds like you’re going to give us money."
"In your dreams, I wish soone would give money too. There’s no silver coin, but there’s indeed a way for you to make money."
"All of us?"
Upon hearing that they could earn money, the villagers, young and old, stared at the village chief with eager eyes, waiting for him to continue.
"Well, I’m just offering you an idea, but it’s up to you if you want to pursue it or not."
"Of course we want to. What’s the idea? Stop keeping us in suspense," a few of those on good terms with Hua Man couldn’t help but urge, glaring at the old man.
"Why rush? I’m just getting to it," Hua Old Man didn’t humor them, snorting as he glared back.
"Last year, you all know about the winter crops we planted. That’s the idea I’m talking about. However, growing winter crops takes a lot of charcoal, which is why I’m saying it’s up to you if you want or not."
Upon hearing this, the Lin family and Sun family, who benefited alongside the village chief’s family last year, couldn’t sit still.
"The village chief is right. Winter crops indeed earn a lot of silver. Didn’t everyone envy us last year? This year we can earn together."
"Lin Granny, Hua ng’s family, you earned quite a bit last winter, didn’t you? Even buying at," Granny Wei couldn’t help but say, her tone mixed with jealousy and admiration.
The few months after the festival, the scent of at cooking drifted from Lin Granny’s ho several tis. They hadn’t slled it even once in previous years, indicating they earned silver.
Honestly, she’d been tempted for a while and thought about joining in to plant winter crops.
Lin Granny rolled her eyes at Granny Wei but wasn’t angry, "Jealous, are you? If you are, then join in planting. Didn’t the village chief say so?"
It was sowhat of an indirect admission that they indeed earned silver last winter, instantly making several pairs of eyes on the grain drying ground light up.
Granny Wei was delighted, not getting angry at Lin Granny’s retort. As long as she could earn silver, it was all good.
Moreover, the village chief had already given them a ladder, unlike before, when she fretted over how to glean the secret thods from the grannies. Granny Wei couldn’t help but be happy, even shouting again, "Village chief, as long as you’re willing to teach the thods, we’re sure willing to plant."
"Yes, yes, we are willing to plant too," suddenly echoed from many in the crowd.
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