Chapter 147: Back to the Village
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The journey back to the village was long. When they came, Jiang’s family had hitched a ride with Zhou Juan’s father.
On their return, however, they were riding back grandly on a donkey cart, with Jia Guang included.
When they returned to the village, the sky was almost dark. However, yet it didn’t stop familiar faces from greeting the family from a distance as they approached.
Everyone was curious. They wondered why they had returned to the village so soon.
As they reached the entrance to their home, many villagers had already rushed to Jiang Chuan’s door after hearing the news.
“Brother Jiang, why are you back so soon?”
Their neighbor Xiao Li was undoubtedly the happiest to see them. Thanks to Zhou Lan, who always invited Xiao Li over for meals whenever they cooked something delicious.
“We’re back, and we bring good news!” Jiang Chuan announced cheerfully.
“What good news?” Xiao Li asked, glancing at Jia Guang who had returned with them.
“I’ve heard you can dig up wild vegetables here. If that’s true, 1’11 buy them from you and trade for grain,” Jia Guang stepped forward at the right moment.
The crowd looked at each other, skeptical of the stranger’s words. Could there really be someone willing to offer grain for vegetables?
Xiao Li, however, trusted the Jiang family unconditionally. On hearing Jia Guang’s words, he promptly volunteered, “Really? While you were away, 1 went up the mountain and dug up some wild vegetables. II planned to eat them myself, but I could show them to you?”
Jia Guang was a smart man. He could tell from Xiao Li’s words that this village indeed had something unique to offer.
“Alright, let me see. If they’re of good quality, I’ll buy them.”
When Xiao Li heard this, he quickly ran home and brought over a large basket of wild vegetables that he had dug up.
After a quick inspection, Jia Guang confirmed that these were the same as what the Jiang family had brought him. He said, “Alright, I’ll take these. They weigh about four pounds, right? 1’11 trade you two pounds of cornmeal. Does that sound fair?”
“Absolutely! That’s a great deal!”
Exchanging four pounds of wild vegetables for two pounds of cornmeal was an irresistible offer.
Jiang Chuan’s business attracted the attention of the village chief. As Xiao Li finalized the deal, the village chief walked over from the crowd.
“Chief.” Jiang Chuan greeted.
“Grandpa Chief,” Jiang Xia and Jiang Gu chimed in.
“Hey, Xiao Xia, Xiao Gu, you’re back.” The village chief looked at the two children kindly before turning his attention to Jia Guang, “And who might this be?”
Following the family’s respectful address towards the elderly man, Jia Guang also respectfully introduced himself to the Village Chief.
“Oh, 1 see,” the Village Chief nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing the Village Chief, a few villagers gathered their courage and asked Jia Guang, “Do you want the vegetables from our homes too?”
“Yes, as long as you have them, I’ll buy them.”
“My home has some.”
“And mine too.”
“Can I trade some too?”
His words instantly sparked excitement among the villagers.
As more and more people started talking, the Village Chief first silenced the noisy voices, then walked up to Jia Guang with a smile, and said, “Since you are here with the Jiang family to buy wild vegetables, why don’t I find a couple of villagers who are familiar with the area? They can help you gather the vegetables and accompany you to pick up the grain. What do you think?”
Jia Guang looked around and saw quite a crowd gathered outside the Jiang’s house. Realizing it would take a while if he went by himself, he agreed, “Alright.”
“Xiao Li, Xiao Wu,” seeing that Jia Guang agreed, the village chief shouted towards the crowd.
Xiao Li and Xiao Wu immediately stepped forward, ready to follow the village chief’s instructions to gather wild vegetables in the village.
During the few days when Jiang Chuan was not home, the villagers had been cultivating the seeds left by him. Their spare time was spent digging wild vegetables from the mountains.
These wild vegetables were rare during this drought. Every household that managed to find some didn’t consume them right away. They saved them at home, hoping to trade them for some grain.
Little did they know, their wish was about to come true in such an unexpected way..
