"But this contains all my family's grain and property. Most of what's here and over there belongs to my family. Back then, my family brought a lot of things, and they were all stolen. Can we take our own things back before they're distributed..." The young woman's voice grew softer as she saw Su Minghui's expression.
"What do you mean by 'here and over there are all yours'? Have you no shame? That grain is all mine. My family's name is written on it. Zhang Quan, do you see? My former husband was called Zhang Quan. All of that is my family's property. Why should it be shared with others?" Another woman immediately stepped forward, declaring her intention to reclaim what belonged to her.
And so they went on, arguing, and the few of them were about to get into another fight! Su Minghui was getting a headache. The sky was growing darker, and torches were already lit! These women were still here, squabbling. It was so annoying! ka nshu wu. xi a
"All of you, shut up! Anyone who speaks another word will be thrown out... I said! What's here will be distributed after we've sorted it out! You can't just take whatever you want!"
"But those things were originally ours..." The young woman still wanted to try and fight for them. But when she saw Su Minghui's look, as if he would chase her away if she said another word, she was actually quite scared.
She didn't want to be the one to speak up, but for the sake of her own and her child's food, she had to endure the unfriendly stares. She changed her question and asked again, "So, will all the grain be distributed? How will it be divided? Is it per person?"
"I said, all the grain will be divided up. It will be distributed per person. And don't you come telling me which items belong to your family! How much of your family's property was stolen? There's no proof now. No one knows whose these things are. They are ownerless property! If we were heartless, we could have taken all these things and not given you any, and you wouldn't have been able to do anything about it! So, after we've finished distributing, if you come to me complaining that you had more before and you've received less now, then I'll confiscate your share as well! Do you understand?" Su Minghui's words were forceful and intimidating! They immediately made those with ulterior motives give up their ideas! And those who had little to begin with breathed a sigh of relief!
Seeing that the women were frightened into silence and stopped their incessant chatter, Su Minghui continued, "After we've distributed all the grain! We will give it out one by one to families who have had new additions. The rest will be confiscated! Used to reward families who actively search for supplies. Other valuable items will be stored centrally. Once we are settled, we will exchange them for silver, and use it for the cost of building the village!
Lin Rongrong's stepmother, Qian Shi, smiled obsequiously upon hearing the village chief's distribution plan. She had three daughters, plus her own share. That meant she would receive four portions!
With so much grain in her hands, who would refuse them? Moreover, once she got those things, she could buy a small courtyard in the prefectural city and then ditch this good-for-nothing and find a better family.
So, she quickly began to flatter him, saying the village chief was fair and just! She even offered to stay and help! Everyone knew her true colors, so no one paid much attention to her.
Su Muqing saw Qian Shi's triumphant expression becoming more and more uncontrollable, like those who win big in a lottery in later generations! Could she have some unexpected windfall? Or was there some incredible treasure hidden underground?
After a while, another twenty-odd people arrived from Houxi Village. Everyone started carrying things and transporting the supplies to the convoy.
While everyone was gathered around the supplies, Su Muqing backed away towards the haystack that Qian Shi had been sneaking glances at! She mentally probed 217, "217, can you detect anything under that haystack?"
"Please, host, walk to the location you need to detect." 217's reply made Su Muqing's heart leap.
Qian Shi, who was still lost in her beautiful fantasies, suddenly saw the brat who opposed her approaching the haystack. Her heart tightened, and she immediately wanted to run over.
But then she thought better of it and forcefully restrained the foot she was about to lift. The woman comforted herself in her heart. This girl was probably just happening to go that way. She couldn't possibly know about that bag of silver. If she rushed over now to drive the brat away, it would only arouse suspicion from others. Therefore, she had to remain calm!
The reason Su Muqing was walking backward was to observe Qian Shi's expression. When she saw the obvious flicker of nervousness on her face followed by her current pretense of composure! Her suspicion that there was definitely something here grew even stronger!
She stopped about a meter away from the haystack and didn't retreat any further! Seeing that Su Muqing wasn't going any closer, Qian Shi breathed a huge sigh of relief! She then put on a smile and pretended to go help! But her peripheral vision was constantly watching this area!
"217, is this distance enough?" She was now only a few steps away from the haystack.
Upon receiving the command, 217 began to scan and broadcast, "Scanning, please wait... Reply to host, the system has detected something one meter away. Beneath the haystack is a packet of silver ingots. Roughly estimated to weigh over ten catties. And three chests are buried beneath the soil layer three centimeters below where the host is standing. Based on density analysis, they contain gold and silver. Does the host wish to immediately collect them into the space?"
Over ten catties of silver under the haystack? How much money would that be? Tens of thousands? She had been here for so long and hadn't seen any money from this dynasty yet! Silver was supposed to be very expensive, right? That's how they showed it on TV. No wonder Qian Shi looked so nervous.
Su Muqing immediately asked, "Can I telekinetically collect things into the space?" If that were the case, wouldn't it be convenient from now on? Being able to retrieve things from a distance, and remotely make them disappear!
"Reply to host, not at this stage. For space storage below level four, the host must have substantial contact with the items to be collected." 217's reply dashed Su Muqing's beautiful fantasies.
"Then if I collect them into the space now, won't the spot where I'm standing collapse? What if I fall into a pit?" All her efforts were in vain. She was standing on top of the boxes now. If they suddenly collapsed, she would definitely fall in. Then she would have to use water to wash, which would be too wasteful! kan shu le
"Please wait, searching for similar issues... I'm sorry, the system cannot provide answers to similar questions! Does the host have any other questions?" 217's answer section did not include this question!