Chapter 330
330 Little Ah Yu’s Little Wish
These things were related to an old matter from many years ago, so there was no big risk now.
However, to be safe, Zhang Zhan still did not send anyone from the county office. Instead, he sent his personal subordinates from Wanning City.
Village Chief Hu stayed in the county office for the night. The next day, three people dressed as ordinary commoners followed Village Chief Hu to Hu Family Village.
When they reached the village, they realized that everyone was digging with hoes.
Those people were puzzled. “What are you guys doing?”
At this moment, Old Madam Wang happened to pass by and asked Village Chief Hu, “Where are these people from?”
As Village Chief Hu got off the donkey cart, he said, “Oh, I brought them back from the county city.”
Recalling that Lord Zhang had said not to expose their identities, Village Chief Hu continued, “They’re here to look for work.”
“Alright, you guys are in charge of digging a cellar over there.” Old Madam Wang took out two hoes and a shovel from the side and handed them to the three stunned guys. “Don’t be idle.”
Then, she said to the stupefied Village Chief Hu, “They’re not working for my family this time. The money has to come from the village.”
Village Chief Hu: “…”
The three guys: “…”
Chi Ding passed by with a hoe on his shoulder and smiled at them. “Brothers, work hard. You can earn twenty copper coins a day!”
The three of them: “!!!”
It was Old Madam Wang’s idea to dig out some cellars to store ice before the ground completely froze.
At this moment, she didn’t think about keeping a low profile. As long as she could make everyone’s lives better, she would do whatever she could.
Now, they would dig the cellars and wait for the river to freeze. Then, they would store some ice cubes in the ice cellar. It would be useful in the future when the weather turns hot.
In the heat of summer, buying ice cubes from the county city would cost a lot of money. It was even impossible to buy them most of the time.
It was better to have storage themselves.
The forty to fifty boxes were locked in the ancestral hall by Village Chief Hu.
At the end of the twelfth lunar month last year, the cellar that Little Ah Yu had discovered was also used by the villagers. Because it was relatively warm inside, it was even reconstructed to have more than ten rooms. When winter arrives, they would invite the weak and old to stay in it to prevent everyone from being too cold so that they could survive the winter.
As they worked, the end of the year approached. Every family began to prepare for the new year.
There were two rounds of heavy snowfalls in Hu Family Village. Fortunately, it was not on the scale of the snow disaster last year. The road to town was still smooth, but the weather was a little cold, but the adults could not bear to spend a lot of money to buy too many clothes.
Naturally, they would not go out if they could.
The cured meat prepared by each family was hung on the roof beams. The children were not afraid of the cold and were as excited as monkeys who had just left the mountain.
They formed a long line and darted from one house to another from time to time just to eat the fruit cakes from various families.
Other than Old Master Hu and Village Chief Hu’s family, the Wang family made the most sumptuous food.
Wang Chuanyuan and his wife had also closed the steamed bun shop in town and returned. They had been cooking for a few months, and their skills had also improved.
The buns were exquisite and beautiful, and the taste was not bad.
The children ate until their mouths were laced with oil.
Everyone was holding buns, except for Little Ah Yu, who was holding a small steamed bun in each hand. She ate until her eyes narrowed.
“Big Brother Ah You must have never eaten such delicious little steamed buns!” Little Ah Yu said to Meatball in the spatial pocket, “Elf, can you eat steamed buns?”
Meatball: [… Not yet.]
Strictly speaking, it was just an existence projected from the Origin Space into Ah Yu’s consciousness.
However, it was more advanced than this. It could project physical objects.
“That’s really pitiful.” Little Ah Yu smacked her lips. She was in a good mood.
Wang Wulang was holding a meatball in his hand. As he blew on it, he walked towards Little Ah Yu. “Little Sister Ah Yu, do you want to try it? Third Aunt Hu just gave it to me!”
“Yes, yes.” Little Ah Yu took it and took a bite before handing it back to Wang Wulang.
Wang Wulang casually threw it into his mouth.
After chewing a few times, he asked, “Do you have any gifts you want for the New Year this year?”
Little Ah Yu thought for a moment and said, “I heard Grandma tell Second Uncle that she wants him to get an imperial mandate, but Grandma said that as long as he’s a scholar, it’s possible to get it.”
Wang Wulang felt that something was wrong and wanted Little Ah Yu to stop talking.
However, Little Ah Yu had already said quickly, “Fifth Brother, I don’t want any gifts. Can you give Grandma an imperial mandate too? It’ll be good if everyone can give her one. I’m also studying. I’ll give her one too!”
Wang Wulang: “…” Do you think an imperial mandate is the same as a big carrot?