As he spoke, the Village Chief handed over a pottery bowl. After Qin Sang took it, she saw that inside the bowl was indeed a complete snake gall:
"Then thank you, Village Chief. When the time comes for me to fetch the supplies, I'll put some into the village's public account."
The public account consisted of supplies left for the villagers to exchange for their labor. For today's meat, the people who worked last night killing the snake and the pig would get a share first, and the rest would all be weighed and entered into the public account.
The Village Chief asked:
"Are you leaving the mountains?"
Qin Sang nodded:
"Yes. Now that the threat of the giant snake is gone, I'll go fetch a load. I'm still not sure if that location has been discovered by the Rebel Soldiers."
The villagers all looked at Qin Sang with hope. Recently, everyone knew there was no water left, and each person was drinking sparingly. But the weather was so hot; if one didn't drink water for two hours, they felt like they were going to be baked to death. However, if they finished the water, their end would truly be near.
Now, hearing that Qin Sang could still go fetch supplies, everyone looked forward to it in unison:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, is there still water?"
"Yeah, we have food and meat now. It would be great if there was water."
Qin Sang did not disappoint them:
"There should be. Steward Huang promised me. However, the water from my family can't be taken for free; everyone must help my family build a house."
Qin Sang pulled a piece of paper from her bosom. It was a drawing she had made of a wooden house, with a central hall plus rooms on both sides, an eastern wing, and a kitchen. The layout was similar to those in Tianjia Village, forming a small courtyard house, and the area was quite large.
The Village Chief took it and looked, somewhat surprised:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, you want to build such a large house?"
Others saw it too:
"Wow, if this is built, it feels like it'll be even more comfortable than the houses in Tianjia Village."
"Da Zhuangs Mother, you aren't thinking of settling down in the mountains and not returning to the village, are you?"
Qin Sang smiled and shook her head:
"How could that be? I'm used to living in big houses and not used to sleeping on the floor. Although we're in the mountains, if I can make myself live a bit better and more comfortably, why not?
In the future, once the Rebel Soldiers are gone, maybe coming into the mountains occasionally to escape the summer heat wouldn't be a bad idea, right?
Don't worry, I won't let everyone work for nothing. For every day you work, I'll provide lunch, plus two catties of water and one catty of flour."
Everyone's eyes lit up:
"I'll do it! When do we start building?"
"I'm coming too."
"And me."
In an instant, all the men in the area raised their hands.
Qin Sang naturally agreed to all of them:
"Alright, with so many people, maybe this house will be built in a day or two."
Qin Sang was very confident about this. Those wilderness bloggers in the future could build a log cabin with their bare hands alone. With dozens of strong laborers in the village, how difficult could it be to build a few more wooden rooms?
Eldest Brothers Wife was a bit worried:
"Mother, you're giving the water away. What if it still doesn't rain?"
"Yeah, Mother, don't let it come to the point where our own family has no water to drink."
Qin Sang patted her hand to reassure her:
"Didn't the Village Chief have people dig a well and say they saw signs of water? I'll find a way to see if I can get a vat; maybe then we can store water.
Besides, can the Heavens really go a whole year without rain? It's impossible."
Without waiting for her family to worry further, Qin Sang spoke again:
"Enough, I still make the decisions in this house. Da Zhuang, San Gui, head back once the meat is weighed; breakfast is ready."
Qin Sang's words carried a tone of seriousness, and her family indeed did not dare to question her further.
The Village Chief remembered something and hurriedly asked:
"Then Da Zhuangs Mother, you'll need help to leave the mountains, right? Should I pick some people for you?"
Everyone was eager to try, but Qin Sang shook her head:
"No need. I'll just take the mule and Horse to haul it back. Too many people would instead make it easy to expose the target."
Everyone couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Now everyone in the village knew that helping Qin Sang with tasks brought generous rewards. They all wanted to go, but unfortunately, she didn't need them now.
Hunter Xu caught up:
"Are you sure you don't want anyone to follow and protect you?"
Qin Sang was absolutely certain. She had no intention of actually walking for two days to leave the mountains; that would be asking for trouble.
If someone from the village really followed her, wouldn't she actually have to go back to Tianjia Village?
She had already made up her mind; she would just find a cave to hunker down in for a night.
"No need. I don't want people knowing the location and then stealing everything."
Since Qin Sang had said so, Hunter Xu couldn't say more. After all, if he insisted on protection, it would seem like he was coveting her supplies.
Back at the tent, Tian Dazhuang and Tian Sangui both spoke up:
"Then Mother, I'll go with you."
"Right, I'm going too."
Qin Sang knew they were worried about her and said:
"No, you can't go either."
"Why, Mother? This is in the mountains, not the Town. What if you encounter wild beasts again? What will you do by yourself then?"
Tian Dazhuang was a bit anxious. He hadn't expected his mother wouldn't even take him or Third Brother; that was too dangerous.
Qin Sang pointed at Da Huang, who was lying obediently in the tent:
"Mother will take him."
Tian Sangui got anxious:
"How can Mother prefer to take Da Huang over her sons? Could it be that your sons aren't as good as Da Huang? Your son is very good at archery now."
Qin Sang was amused by this. Honestly, in the mountain forests, San Gui and the others' combat strength might truly not be as good as Da Huang's.
But of course, she couldn't say that.
"I know you're worried about me, but you are the pillars of the family. While I'm away, I'll have to rely on you to protect your wives, daughters, and younger siblings.
Eldest Brother, Third Brother, after I leave, you must oversee the work. You have to keep an eye on the villagers while they work. Eldest Brothers Wife can't handle making a meal for everyone alone; you have to help.
Also, Third Brothers Wife is pregnant. When you have nothing to do, go over to your mother's side to hang out. Don't go near the construction site to avoid any accidents.
As for Eldest Girl, Si Jin, and Wen Mo, you're small, so don't wander around. Er Fu, you'll be responsible for looking after the little ones, understood?"
Qin Sang gave instructions while ladling porridge. The porridge had cooled quite a bit, so there was no need to worry about burns. Eldest Brothers Wife came over to help carry it away, handing it to the little ones one by one.
Er Fu handed out wooden spoons one by one.
Third Brothers Wife held her porridge bowl and said:
"Mother, for the supervision, I can have my brothers come over to watch. It's too dangerous for you to enter the mountains alone. Don't worry, my brothers won't slack off."
Qin Sang discovered that the children had all become filial, which was also a burden. To allow herself to leave alone without raising suspicion, she deliberately put on a stern face:
"How many times do I have to say the same thing?
Do none of you understand? Or can you not process it?
Taking Da Huang is enough. Da Huang can give warnings. Once there's danger, I can escape on the Horse or the mule.
If I take another person, the mule and Horse will have to carry supplies and a person. Can they still run?
Or do you think that if a giant snake or a fierce beast really comes, having one more of you would mean we could win?
It would just give the giant snake or wild beast a fuller meal; it's useless.
Doesn't this whole family of young and weak need someone to look after them?
Is it that you, Eldest Brother, think you can support a family, or you, Third Brother, think you can shoulder the burden of caring for this home?
If it really comes to that, I wouldn't even be able to rest in peace if I died, do you know that?"