Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 28 - 27: Having an Idea

Chapter 28: Chapter 27: Having an Idea

The silver coins from selling herbs weren’t much, totaling just over seven hundred coins.

But to the people of Chen Family Village, it was a lot, considering it only took two days to gather the herbs.

Old Mrs. Chen held the money bag, her eyes full of smiles: "I’ve always told you, our Miss Chen is capable.

If not, even if these things grew right at our doorstep, we wouldn’t pick and sell them. Even knowing they could be sold, the Paper Workshop would need to buy them, wouldn’t it?"

"Yes."

"Indeed, the lady is right."

Everyone nodded, and Chen Yuyu’s voice was the loudest.

Old Mrs. Chen fondled the money bag: "Miss Chen also mentioned that the herbs sold to the Paper Workshop were collected by everyone, so the silver coins should be shared among everyone."

The villagers of Chen Family Village, although knowing that Old Mrs. Chen called them over to distribute the silver coins, were still both joyful and embarrassed to hear it personally.

The joy was in getting the silver coins, the embarrassment was from feeling they were taking advantage of Old Mrs. Chen and her grandchildren.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "According to me, I wouldn’t want to share, but our Miss Chen says, everyone got through war and famine together, all helping each other. It will be the same in the future, so you should remember Miss Chen for this."

Xie Liangchen knew her grandmother was very happy; that large money bag was warm in her arms. She also knew that while her grandmother was frugal in daily life, she always thought of the village in critical moments. However, she hadn’t expected to be praised like this while distributing the silver coins.

Xie Liangchen wanted to stop her grandmother, but Chen Zigeng held her back: "Sister, let Grandmother be happy, don’t stop her."

Grandmother was happy to share the silver coins, but she was even happier that everyone was willing to protect her grandchildren willingly.

Chen Zigeng whispered, "Grandmother often says, she’s getting old, and I’m still young. If anything ever happens in the future, the Chen Family clan will need to protect us. Now that Sister is back in Chen Family Village, Grandmother has the same thoughts for her."

Xie Liangchen’s eyes blurred; in her past life, she wasn’t by her grandmother and brother’s side, so she didn’t understand her grandmother as well as her brother did.

Moreover, what her grandmother worried about indeed happened in the past life.

In the spring after she was sent back to the Xie Family, a plague in the North spread to Zhenzhou, killing many in Chen Family Village, and her grandmother fell ill at that time, leaving her brother behind.

She pleaded with her second uncle to bring her brother to the Xie Family, but her uncle naturally refused. Despite his young age, her brother was very resolute and insisted on staying in Chen Family Village.

Thinking of those past events and looking at the present situation, Xie Liangchen felt both heartache and relief.

After distributing the silver coins to the villagers, once everyone left, Old Mrs. Chen weighed the empty money bag, looking at Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng with a sense of emotion.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Next time, don’t worship the God of Wealth."

As she spoke, the old lady started walking home, her back not as straight as it was.

Xie Liangchen pulled Chen Zigeng along, listening to Old Mrs. Chen’s mutterings.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "It must be hard on the God of Wealth too, with people stopping by all the time asking for money, it must be troubling, right?" _{free\we\bnov(e)(l).com}

Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but laugh.

Chen Zigeng discreetly slipped five coins into Old Mrs. Chen’s hand.

Old Mrs. Chen’s eyes lit up at the money, but she still returned it to Chen Zigeng: "Who gave it to you?"

Chen Zigeng said, "Sister Xiaoyu."

"Keep it for yourself," Old Mrs. Chen said, "Save it for getting a wife in the future."

Chen Zigeng’s face turned red immediately.

Five coins to get a wife, Xie Liangchen felt sorry for her brother, wondering when he would manage to save enough.

"If it’s not enough, you can marry into the wife’s family," Old Mrs. Chen said, "The family’s silver coins are for your sister’s dowry in the future."

"Then you’ll have to save a bit more," Xie Liangchen held Old Mrs. Chen’s rough hand, "I might have to bring a husband home too."

Old Mrs. Chen seemed struck by thunder, and after a long pause, she scolded her granddaughter: "You shameless girl, don’t say such things again in the future." What if a deity hears and grants it with a wave of a hand, then what would we do?

But after some thought, Old Mrs. Chen felt it might not be a bad idea because then they wouldn’t have to marry off Miss Chen.

The grandmother and granddaughter went home to cook.

Before they could eat, villagers came to deliver food: wild vegetable and wheat cakes, porridge made from mixed grains, even eggs, filling up the table.

Everyone brought their best items.

Old Mrs. Chen frowned and started shooing people away: "Don’t get extravagant just because you got a few coins. We don’t lack these things; take them back for the children to eat."

Xie Liangchen stood in the courtyard, watching all of this, feeling a soft warmth in her heart. The people of Chen Family Village were sincere, which is why in the past life, her brother was willing to stay here.

This time around, everyone would be fine.

After eating, Chen Yongsheng came over to discuss the herbal gathering for the next day.

"The news that the Paper Workshop is buying herbs has spread, and many people will gather herbs to sell. Not just the surrounding villagers, but also the herb merchants will get involved," Xie Liangchen said, "So we should go up the mountain early tomorrow, collect what we can and hand it over to me. I’ll sort it out and deliver it to the Paper Workshop myself."

Chen Yongsheng nodded, having the same thought. The villages around them were not much different; they didn’t fear people gathering herbs to sell, as everyone wanted to earn a little money for a living. What they feared were the herb merchants stepping in; if they did, there would be nothing left for them.

Xie Liangchen noticed Chen Yongsheng’s concern: "Even if the herb merchants sell herbs, the Paper Workshop won’t refuse ours."

Chen Yongsheng wasn’t overly worried; he had seen too many such situations, where even the promises made by the government offices could be reneged.

Xie Liangchen said, "This time, it’s General Song who has promised."

Thinking of Song Xian, Chen Yongsheng felt inexplicably reassured.

Xie Liangchen continued, "But the herbs we send mustn’t have any issues, so once everyone gathers the herbs, I’ll bring people to sort them."

Chen Yongsheng nodded again, realizing that although he was the village chief, he relied on Liangchen.

Xie Liangchen said, "There won’t be many herbs sold to the Paper Workshop this year. What’s important is preparing for next year."

Chen Yongsheng looked up: "Next year?"

Xie Liangchen nodded: "Currently, there’s only one Paper Workshop in Zhenzhou. How many herbs could one Paper Workshop use? Now the government office has a new papermaking method, producing better and cheaper paper.

Who wouldn’t want cheaper paper? Naturally, it can be sold to other prefectures and counties. I guess the government office will build new Paper Workshops in Zhenzhou.

But building now, it will only start papermaking next year, so next year, Zhenzhou will need a large amount of herbs."

Chen Yongsheng was enthralled, hearing Xie Liangchen’s words reverberate in his mind, forgetting to respond.

Inside the house, Old Mrs. Chen heard about needing more herbs and felt like she was already holding untold wealth, while Chen Zigeng kept watching his sister, feeling that her vision always extended farther than others.

Xie Liangchen said, "While we gather our own herbs, I also want to try collecting herbs."

Hearing this, Chen Yongsheng took a breath: "Wouldn’t that mean competing with the herb merchants?"

"Yes," Xie Liangchen nodded, "we must compete." And compete they must since Yangtao Vine and Huang Shu Kui have set prices; other herbs can be treated the same.

Xie Liangchen feared that Chen Yongsheng might be overwhelmed, so she reassured him: "Second Uncle doesn’t need to worry too much; we just need to proceed one step at a time. Tomorrow, we’ll first take everyone to gather herbs, and we’ll discuss future steps together."

Chen Yongsheng felt no need for further discussion because Liangchen already had a plan in mind. Miss Chen appeared gentle, but she had the same strong will as her father, mother, and uncles; once she made a decision, no one could sway her.

That night, lying on the earthen bed at home, Chen Yongsheng tossed and turned, unable to sleep, with Xie Liangchen’s words echoing in his ears. When he finally fell asleep, he dreamed of Chen Zigeng’s father, Chen Yongjing’s trust in him.

Chen Family Village is in your hands, everyone is in your hands.

The next day, Chen Yongsheng led the villagers up the mountain to gather herbs. Surprising them, just as they reached the village entrance, they saw a team of people approaching, led by none other than Song Xian.