HLnovel Chapter 439 Finally living a proper life
Chapter 439 Finally living a proper life
Qu Xiao also said, "I also think Xiao Tang is trustworthy. She comes from a well-off family and should be living a life of luxury at home. She is willing to endure this hardship and suffering and sacrifice so much for everyone. We should not doubt her and make people feel disheartened for no reason."
Those who were unwilling to leave the mountain argued back against Huo Qi and Big Beard, and were still trying to persuade their elder brother to change his mind and stay on the mountain.
Scarface, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke in a cold voice.
"Let's all keep quiet. I know Xiao Tang's identity perfectly well, and there's no need for anyone to comment. It's a good thing that everyone who made a mistake has the courage to come down the mountain and face it. It's an effort to atone for their sins and return to being ordinary people. There's no question of being deceived by anyone."
Ask yourselves honestly, what kind of life did we lead before Xiaotang came up the mountain, and what kind of life did we lead during the time Xiaotang was on the mountain?
"This young girl has helped us so much, both financially and physically. Can't we see it?"
Those who were willing to go down the mountain to support their elder brother and Xiao Tang nodded in agreement, while the dozen or so people who were unwilling to go down the mountain and tried to dissuade their elder brother from doing so blushed, lowered their heads, and remained silent.
"Since everyone is silent, then this matter is settled. Anyone who changes their mind during the medicinal herb harvest period should let me know. If there's nothing else, everyone can go home and do what they need to do."
The atmosphere on the mountain has changed since that gathering to discuss things.
Those who planned to go down the mountain worked with great enthusiasm, their faces beaming with smiles. Those who refused to go down the mountain all looked dejected, as if everyone owed them money. They looked lifeless and no longer had the diligent spirit they once had.
Scarface looked at his brothers and felt a bit disappointed, but he ignored them.
Everyone has their own path to walk, and we shouldn't force others to follow his lead just because he thinks it's good.
In the past, he would never have imagined that one day he would want to repent and start anew.
A month later, the medicinal herbs matured. However, because the climate on the mountain was not as good as that at the foot of the mountain, the herbs matured half a month later than those at the foot of the mountain.
Lin Xiaotang was directing everyone in the field on how to dig up medicinal herbs without damaging them or losing their medicinal efficacy.
The bearded man was stunned. He said anxiously, "Xiao Tang, Uncle Beard is clumsy. I dug it exactly as you said, but how come the skin is still broken?"
Scarface said speechlessly, "You're so stupid, just watch me."
He walked up to the bearded man, squatted down next to him, and picked up a small shovel to begin demonstrating.
"You have to do it like this: place the shovel about halfway outside the root of the herb, and go down straight with the shovel. Never tilt it. Dig down in a circular motion... That way, the herb won't be damaged when you dig it up, understand?"
After hearing this, the bearded man suddenly understood and immediately grinned and chuckled.
"I understand, I understand. Big brother has personally taught me. If I still don't understand, I'll be in big brother's shoes."
"It's not like I beat you every day. If you're going to succeed, hurry up and get started. You're so clumsy and slow, what will you do when you get down the mountain?"
The bearded man curled his lip and said, "I work with my older brother and Xiaotang. I'll do whatever you do. I may be a little clumsy, but at least the work I do won't be worth less than a meal."
Lin Xiaotang couldn't help but laugh, "Worth it, totally worth it, hahaha..."
Dozens of people worked for only six days and dug up all the medicinal herbs, which they then transported down the mountain together.
Lin Xiaotang and Huo Qi went to the town at the foot of the mountain and hired several horse-drawn carriages. Big Beard and Scarface also went down the mountain together. The four of them each drove a horse-drawn carriage to Pingding County to sell the medicinal herbs to Shopkeeper Xue.
The bearded man shaved his beard clean these past few days, making him look much younger and less rugged.
Scarface wore a straw hat with the brim pulled low, and because he rarely looked up, the scar was hidden in the shadows.
The group drove the horse-drawn carriage, which bumped along the way, and arrived safely in Pingding County.
Shopkeeper Xue was taken aback when he saw Lin Xiaotang and the other two arrive in a carriage to sell medicinal herbs.
He exclaimed in amazement, "Xiao Tang, you're amazing! You said you'd lead them to grow medicinal herbs, and you actually did!"
"Of course, they are very loyal. Once they decided to grow medicinal herbs, they didn't abandon their responsibilities. So, Uncle Xue, I didn't let you down, did I?"
Xue Zhiyuan chuckled and said, "Of course. Your uncle knows Xiaotang's abilities very well. You've never messed up anything. Don't just stand there, come in and have some tea. Your uncle will have the shop assistant unload these medicinal herbs and weigh them."
He invited the group into a side room of the pharmacy, where the clerk poured them tea and then went out to attend to other tasks.
Now that he saw that Lin Xiaotang had actually led the bandits to grow medicinal herbs, and that the quality was quite good, he was satisfied, and his prejudice against the scarred man, the bearded man, and Huo Qi had lessened.
"The climate on this mountain is different from that in the fields down below, so the medicinal herbs mature a bit later. Fortunately, we have a large demand, so we don't have to worry about sales. As long as the quality is good, Uncle will still charge you the same price as when your family and Manager Su delivered them together. How about that?"
After saying that, he glanced at the three men, including Scarface, and asked for their opinions.
Scarface said, "We are all rough men, and this is our first time selling medicinal herbs down the mountain. We don't know anything about it. We will listen to Xiaotang. Mr. Xue, it's up to you and Xiaotang to decide."
Lin Xiaotang smiled and said, "Alright, if you have no objections, then I will decide with Uncle Xue. Uncle Xue's price is fair. The medicinal herbs that my family grows together with Manager Su are also sold to Uncle Xue, and the prices have all been agreed upon."
They walked out of the side room and watched as the shop assistant weighed the bags one by one. The accountant quickly turned the abacus and calculated that it was more than a thousand taels of silver.
Manager Xue immediately ordered the accountant to settle the accounts with cash for them, and then exchanged pleasantries with them.
Once the group returned to the mountain with the silver, they immediately gathered everyone together to discuss how to divide the silver equally.
Scarface said, "Logically, this money cannot be divided equally, because Xiaotang got the medicinal herb seeds and farm tools. She also worked tirelessly to lead everyone in planting medicinal herbs, and she also found the connections to sell them. Without her, none of this would have gone so smoothly. Xiaotang deserves the most credit, but she is not arrogant and asks to share it equally with everyone."
The bearded man chimed in, "Although Xiaotang is a girl, she is more righteous than any man. That's rare. We have to give her a round of applause."
So everyone applauded Lin Xiaotang, and many people cheered, "Well done, Xiaotang!"
Scarface placed all the silver and copper coins he had exchanged beforehand on the table, and everyone stared in disbelief.
It's incredible that they earned all of this through their own labor.
"My God, after being bandits for so many years, we can actually earn money through our own efforts? I feel like I'm dreaming!"
"People would be so excited if they knew, we're finally living a proper life."