This time, everyone had followed her out and waited for over ten days, even carrying back so many Charcoal Stones; Qin Sang would not treat them poorly.
Si Jin did not ask why she gave so much and went to handle it immediately.
Qin Sang said to Er Fu:
"Everyone's shoulders are chafed. Go and treat them. The weather is still very hot, so tell them not to touch raw water."
Er Fu nodded obediently:
"Okay, Mother."
After Qin Sang invited the Old Village Chief to sit down, she said to everyone:
"This trip was delayed for some time, but the situation has been scouted. My suggestion is to wait another month before leaving the mountains, preferably after the weather has completely cooled down."
The villagers could not help but be curious:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, why?"
"In another month, when the weather gets cold, there will be no way to plant the autumn grain."
"Yeah, the summer harvest has already failed. If we don't plant autumn grain, how will we survive until next year's spring plowing? Even after spring plowing, we have to wait until the summer harvest to have food. That's almost ten months in total."
Qin Sang also knew everyone's anxious mood. Although Tianjia Village was not starving yet, everyone was used to preparing for a rainy day; without grain in the fields, they felt uneasy.
"Not going out now is to prevent an epidemic. Although it hasn't spread yet, there is a trend of a plague occurring. Once the weather cools down, the transmission of the virus can be restrained. Even if it breaks out, it won't spread over a large area. That's why I suggest everyone stay in the camp for another month.
The general currently controlling Songbai Town is an acquaintance of mine and will buy my Medicinal Herbs. At that time, I will find a way to buy a batch of grain from him. I will definitely find a way for everyone to safely last until the summer harvest.
Additionally, we can grow vegetables and dig for Medicinal Herbs here. I feel that compared to relying on the output of the fields in Tianjia Village, we can find more food here."
Hearing that a plague might occur, the villagers' expressions changed slightly.
No one did not value their life. Compared to food, life was more important:
"Since you already have a plan, Da Zhuangs Mother, we will listen to you."
The Old Village Chief also nodded:
"Then let's keep staying in the camp. We've lived here for so long anyway."
Qin Sang added:
"Village Chief, I want the Patrol Team members to notify the refugees in other camps. Also, tell them some ways to prevent the epidemic. Everyone is hiding in the mountains, far apart, which can effectively stop the spread. We can't save everyone, but we can inform the villagers we know."
The Old Village Chief strongly agreed with Qin Sang's idea:
"This is only right. Seeing as we can live a stable life, how can we just watch them catch the plague?"
No other villagers objected, so Qin Sang began to instruct them on the epidemic prevention measures to be shared:
"...Take a batch of Medicinal Herbs with you when you go. I've allocated them. If anyone feels unwell, have them brew the medicine themselves. If it's serious, have them sent to the Cave where we treated illnesses before. Er Fu and I will go there for consultations."
The main transmission methods of the plague are blood, rats, and contaminated food. If it were airborne, Qin Sang could only say she was powerless to help:
"Time is tight. I'll prepare the Medicinal Herbs tonight. You all set out in groups of three tomorrow morning to spread the word."
Everyone nodded. Qin Sang asked again:
"Are there many rats in our camp?"
The Old Village Chief nodded:
"Maybe because our families have a lot of grain, we see rats from time to time, and they're not small."
Qin Sang's expression became much more serious:
"I don't know how many people have starved to death in these mountains. When rats get hungry, they eat anything. It's normal for them to be large and fleshy. Next, everyone must actively exterminate rats. Just as I said, fruit and grain eaten by rats must never be consumed."
The Old Village Chief knew the seriousness of the matter:
"I'll call everyone for a meeting to notify them shortly."
Qin Sang took another sip of water and said:
"Now, I have one last thing. Did everyone see the Charcoal Stones I brought back outside?"
The Old Village Chief had seen them long ago, but hadn't had time to ask what they were for:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, you specifically brought these Charcoal Stones back from Chen Family Village. Are they to be used as firewood?"
Qin Sang nodded:
"These Charcoal Stones are a path I intend to seek for the village. I have a way to use Charcoal Stones for heating and cooking, as well as for smelting iron and firing bricks. I wonder if the villagers are interested in doing this business."
Qin Sang did not plan to monopolize this business herself. Besides the villagers of Tianjia Village, she also planned to invite Lin Qi.
Although she would earn significantly less, the risk would be shared, and the possibility of her whole family being wiped out would be much smaller.
Everyone was a bit confused:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, are you saying these Charcoal Stones can be sold for money? You want to lead the whole village in doing business together?"
Qin Sang nodded:
"That's the idea. Everyone doesn't know much about Charcoal Stones yet. I'll process them in a couple of days and then we can talk about it. In the meantime, everyone can think it over."
Guihuas Father laughed:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, you're willing to lead everyone in business. What's there to think about? I see no problem."
"Right, Da Zhuangs Mother, we all trust you. Just tell us the procedure."
"Yeah, Da Zhuangs Mother, just say it. How do we do it?"
Qin Sang did not expect everyone to agree to follow her without even needing to consider it. This was much smoother than she had anticipated:
"Alright then. I'll process the Charcoal Stones first. Also, I want to invite someone else to join this business, so I need to ask his opinion first. Let's do this: in five days, I'll tell everyone how the business works."
No one objected., They all asked:
"Then Da Zhuangs Mother, do you need our help?"
"Right, if you need anything, just say the word."
"How are these Charcoal Stones handled?"
Seeing everyone's high enthusiasm, Qin Sang's thought of resting for a while vanished, and she stood up and went outside.
Da Zhuang and San Gui had already piled the Charcoal Stones in the open space. Qin Sang picked up a piece of Charcoal Stone and introduced it to everyone:
"These Charcoal Stones must be crushed first until they're like mud. It's manual labor."
Guihuas Father immediately stepped forward:
"I'll do it. I'm strong."
Qin Sang smiled and nodded. Several other men also stepped forward and began to break the Charcoal Stones.
Qin Sang said to Da Zhuang:
"Go get a basket of yellow soil."
It would take some time to prepare these. Qin Sang went back inside and took out paper and a brush to draw a tool for making Honeycomb Coals. Since she couldn't make ironware now, she could only make one out of wood first.
She gave the drawing to Carpenter Zhao. Carpenter Zhao looked at it:
"It's not difficult. But this round part... I have a way. I'll just hollow out a wooden post. That will definitely be round."
Qin Sang gave him a thumbs up:
"Then I'll trouble you, In-law, to do it as quickly as possible. We're waiting to use it here."
Carpenter Zhao agreed and went home with the drawing.
Qin Sang thought for a moment and simply drew the designs for a Ceramic Stove and a Sheet Iron Stove as well; they would be useful anyway.
Drawing took quite some time. When she finished, the coal mud and yellow soil outside were all ready. Qin Sang personally set her hand to mixing the mud. Once Carpenter Zhao delivered the mold, she began making Honeycomb Coals.