Chapter 109: It’s Just Hard on the People Outside

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: It’s Just Hard on the People Outside

Yun Xiu brought his bowl over to eat with the rest of his family.

"How does it taste? The village chief and I washed the mutton several times. We added the spices you bought to bring out the aroma, along with those vermicelli noodles you mentioned," Yun Xiu said. "I have to say, the items from the Immortal Realm surprise me every time. This vermicelli was as stiff as a board, but once soaked, it softened up just like regular noodles."

"I just took a bite," Yun Zhen replied. "The noodles are coated in meat juices and taste like mutton. They’re smoother and chewier than regular noodles."

"Dad and the village chief really did a great job cooking this," Yun Zhen praised.

Hearing this made Yun Xiu quite happy, though he knew it wasn’t really their doing. "It’s not our cooking skills; it’s the mutton itself that tastes so good. I finally understand why wealthy families love eating mutton so much. I just had a piece of meat right off the bone, and it was so delicious I nearly bit my tongue off."

"Enough talking, old man. Any more nonsense and your mutton soup will get cold," Yun Duo urged him to eat.

Yun Xiu nodded and dug into his meal.

"The meat Mommy brings back is always so tasty!" Xiaobao not only finished her meat but also licked the bottom of her bowl clean. She burped in satisfaction.

Yun Zhen stroked the little girl’s face and turned to Yun Duo. "Mom, don’t you think Xiaobao is getting plumper by the day?"

Before, Xiaobao had been as scrawny as a baby chick, barely able to walk steadily. Recently, Yun Zhen had been fighting hard in the other world and hadn’t paid much attention to her. Yet, it was visible to the naked eye that the girl was gaining weight every day.

The dark circles under her eyes had also disappeared, and she looked much more energetic.

Yun Duo smiled. "It’s not just Xiaobao; the whole village has put on weight. We get to eat our fill every day, and we even have meat for one meal. It’d be strange if we didn’t gain weight.

"I’m having Xiaobao take the same health-nourishing foods as me now. She eats milk, peanuts, and red dates right alongside me. It won’t be long before she’s chubby and fair."

Yun Zhen nodded, feeling a surge of inner joy.

She turned back to Yun Xiu. "Dad, how is the stone wall coming along?"

"It’ll be finished in another two or three days," he replied.

"That’s wonderful!" Yun Zhen said cheerfully. "Once the stone wall is built, we won’t have to worry about wild beasts coming down from the mountain to hurt everyone."

Yun Xiu nodded. "Exactly. Once the wall is up, everyone can just huddle in their tents for the winter."

Everything was slowly getting better!

Yun Duo was full of anticipation. "I hope the heavy snow stops soon. We still need to plant seeds next spring!"

"Don’t worry, Mom," Yun Zhen comforted her. "We have enough to eat and drink now, we live in warm houses, and we eat meat regularly. The books record that this snowstorm will last for half a year at most. If everyone holds on, we will definitely live to see the spring flowers bloom.

"It’s just the people out there who are suffering."

Yun Zhen sighed. Who knew what the heavens had arranged?

She also hoped the heavy snow would stop soon.

Who knew how many lives this once-in-a-century blizzard would claim?

However, her abilities were limited; she could only take care of the people in her village.

Yun Xiu interrupted her train of thought. "Let’s not talk about that. Zhen Niang, have the wooden items made by Uncle Zhao and Uncle Wang sold yet?"

If they had sold, the village would have another money-making craft, which would make everyone happy. If not, Carpenter Zhao and Hunters Wang would certainly be disappointed.

At the mention of the woodwork, Yun Zhen smiled. "Dad, the wooden hairpins, fridge magnets, and jewelry boxes that Uncle Zhao and Uncle Wang made all sold. We earned over four taels of silver."

"Really!" Yun Xiu clapped his hands in joy.

Yun Duo was just as delighted. "The village has another source of income now."

"I’ll go tell Carpenter Zhao and Hunters Wang the news right away," Yun Xiu said. "They’ll be thrilled to hear it."

He gulped down the rest of his mutton soup in two or three bites. "I’m done. Hand me your bowls and I’ll go wash them. I’ll also call the village chief, Carpenter Zhao, and Hunters Wang over. They were so anxious to know if the woodwork sold that they asked me about it two or three times already."

"Alright," Yun Zhen said. "Dad, please call Aunt Cui Lan over as well. I need to give her the crochet material packs."

"Will do!" Yun Xiu said, heading out.

A moment later, the village chief’s voice rang out from outside. "Goddess, may we come in?"

"Come on in, Village Chief," Yun Zhen replied.

The village chief, Carpenter Zhao, Hunters Wang, and Li Cuilan walked in together.

"Please, have a seat," Yun Zhen offered, gesturing to the wooden stools.

The group sat down.

"Goddess, did our woodwork sell?" Carpenter Zhao asked nervously.

Hunters Wang was just as eager to know the answer.

Yun Zhen smiled at them. "Uncle Zhao, Uncle Wang, the wooden hairpins, fridge magnets, and jewelry boxes you made have all been sold!"

"Really!"

Carpenter Zhao abruptly unclenched his hands, only then realizing his palms were covered in cold sweat.

Hunters Wang let out a massive sigh of relief and shouted in jubilation, "That’s fantastic! Doesn’t this mean our money-making craft is secured? The village has another source of income!"

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful!" the village chief cheered repeatedly.

Li Cuilan chimed in, "The woodwork combined with the crochet crafts will earn a huge sum of money for the village. Our lives will get more prosperous by the day."

Yun Zhen retrieved the crochet material packs from her mind’s treasure land. "Here are seven crochet material packs and two hundred crochet hooks. Aunt Cui Lan, distribute them as you see fit. There’s no need to use up all the materials at once. Have everyone make one item first, and try to make it as exquisite as possible. Give each person three hooks, and keep the rest with you for safekeeping."

Li Cuilan handled the seven large packs and the hooks as if they were precious treasures, hugging them to her chest. "Rest assured, Goddess. I’ll head back and distribute these right now, and I’ll deliver the finished items before you rest."

She hurriedly left with the items in tow.

"Goddess, here are the wooden hairpins I made," Carpenter Zhao said, holding up an animal skin bag. "There are thirty of them, ten more than yesterday. There are also three solid wood jewelry boxes, one more than yesterday."

The bag contained the hairpins and three jewelry boxes of similar sizes.

Yun Zhen inspected them one by one.

Uncle Zhao’s wooden hairpins were as exquisite as ever, with the heads carved into cloud patterns, animal motifs, and various flowers and plants.

The three jewelry boxes each had their own unique features.

One was shaped like a longevity lock, engraved with two koi fish. Between the koi was a large character for "Fortune," surrounded by Hehua and lotus leaves.

One was circular, magnificently carved with birds, beasts, the sun, the moon, mountains, and rivers.

The last one was hexagonal. In the center, a charming and adorable little rabbit holding a carrot and gazing at the moon was carved out, creating a simple yet elegant design.

"The wooden hairpins will sell for one hundred copper coins each, same as before," Yun Zhen said. "These three jewelry boxes have even more delicate patterns than yesterday’s. Let’s sell them for three hundred copper coins each."

If no one wanted them for three hundred, she could always drop the price to two hundred.

Hunters Wang opened his own animal skin bag and took out a series of small ornaments. "Goddess, these are the ornaments I made. I made them a bit larger this time, since the small ones don’t earn as much money."

Yun Zhen looked them over carefully.

Uncle Wang’s craftsmanship in making small ornaments was truly excellent.

The little animals were lively and adorable.

The wooden household items had a strong sense of everyday life.

Every single piece was incredibly beautiful.

"Uncle Wang, let’s price your fridge magnets at one hundred copper coins each," Yun Zhen decided.

Hunters Wang did some quick mental math. "I made thirty small ornaments today. Doesn’t that mean I can sell them for three taels of silver!"

"Carpenter Zhao, Hunters Wang, you two are the ones who contributed the most to bringing a new money-making craft to our village!" the village chief said with deep emotion.

"It is our honor to be able to bring income to the village!" Carpenter Zhao declared.

Hunters Wang laughed. "We only have these good days thanks to the Goddess’s blessings. Being able to help the Goddess and bring prosperity to the village is a blessing I must have cultivated for ten lifetimes."