In the evening, everyone saw Qin Sang use a mold to press out cylindrical coal briquettes and were incredibly curious.
"Da Zhuangs Mother, why do you have to leave holes in them?"
Qin Sang explained with a smile:
"This is to ensure there's enough air for combustion. Alright, it's getting dark, everyone should go home for dinner. The ones made here need to dry for two days before they can be used."
Only then did the crowd disperse.
Qin Sang washed her hands. After spending the afternoon making dozens of coal briquettes, she felt more exhausted than a day of traveling.
Fortunately, the table full of delicious food instantly restored her strength.
"Is... is this wild vegetables?" Qin Sang took a bite. Having eaten nothing but pickles and dried vegetables for so long, seeing a plate of green vegetables on the table again gave her a huge appetite.
Eldest Brothers Wife smiled and said:
"After the rain, many wild vegetables grew on the mountain. These were all dug up on the mountain during the day."
Da Zhuang sat on the long bench holding Eldest Girl and continued:
"Mother, I've dug several furrows outside these past few days. It's just that the family has no seeds. There were a few potatoes and sweet potatoes left before, and Da Hua said they sprouted, so I planted them."
Qin Sang picked up a piece of century egg for Eldest Girl:
"When I deliver the Medicinal Herbs again, I'll ask General Lin if there are any seeds for sale."
Tian Sangui took Qin Sang's bowl and ladled a spoonful of soup for her:
"Mother, try this; it's fish I caught in the deep pool."
Qin Sang was very surprised. Since coming here, she had rarely eaten fish and actually missed it quite a bit:
"It's been dry for so long, how are there fish so soon?"
Third Brothers Wife said:
"Not only are there fish, but they aren't small either. Every day, many children in the village are catching fish in the river. The Old Village Chief said this waterfall might connect to other water veins. Now that it's rained and the water veins are open, fish hidden elsewhere have swum over."
Qin Sang took a taste. Eldest Brothers Wife's cooking skills had now inherited some of her essence. Knowing she was a picky eater, she would use plenty of oil and seasoning when cooking, so it no longer tasted as bland as plain water. Qin Sang smacked her lips:
"Not bad, very fresh. One of these days I'll see if I can buy some fishing line and nets. With fish to eat, everyone can get some extra nutrition.
San Gui, serve a bowl for your wife too. This fish soup is very nutritious; pregnant women can eat more fish, and fish meat won't make you fat."
"You got it!"
Qin Sang picked out a piece of meat from the fish belly for Eldest Girl, removed all the large bones, and then placed it in Eldest Girl's bowl:
"Be careful of the bones."
"Thank you, Grandma. Grandma should eat too."
Eldest Girl took a big bite, her eyes curving with satisfaction.
Si Jin spoke up proudly:
"Mother, you probably don't know yet, but two days ago, Wen Mo and I organized a unified exam. Guess what the results were?"
Qin Sang asked curiously while eating:
"Did the girls do better?"
Tian Wenmo's eyes widened:
"Mother, how did you guess?"
Qin Sang laughed:
"Your Third Sister-in-law just said many kids in the village are catching fish in the river. If they're all out catching fish, do they still have the energy to study?"
After hearing this analysis, Tian Wenmo couldn't help but feel a bit discouraged. He couldn't seem to out-study his fourth sister, and even the students he taught couldn't beat hers. This dealt another blow to the self-confidence he had always been proud of.
Qin Sang comforted him:
"Boys have a stronger playful nature, but that doesn't mean girls are smarter. Everyone has their own strengths. For example, the boys can catch fish; can the girls?"
"What we need to do is play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses, rather than neglecting those strengths because of the weaknesses. Especially since you are now teaching as teachers, you must discover your students' strengths and help them correct those flaws, instead of constantly criticizing or looking down on them. Do you understand?"
Hearing Qin Sang's reasoning, both of them became thoughtful. Si Jin felt that she had indeed become too proud; why was she competing with Wen Mo?
Wen Mo also felt he had been overthinking things. A temporary win or loss meant nothing; the fact that they had improved compared to before was what mattered most.
Both answered in unison:
"We understand, Mother."
Qin Sang looked at Er Fu: "How has the collection of Medicinal Herbs been going lately?"
Er Fu swallowed a piece of sausage before answering:
"We've collected a lot, but since it's raining now, the herbs are heavier than before. Mother, the villagers are asking if the price should be adjusted so our family doesn't lose out."
Qin Sang waved her hand:
"There's no need. Just collect them as before. However, now that there's water, just require them to wash them clean."
Er Fu nodded:
"Mhm, but we don't even need to mention that. The villagers and those refugees deliver clean Medicinal Herbs every time, and some even do a simple sorting, which saves us a lot of trouble."
Early the next morning, the messengers from Tianjia Village set out. Qin Sang had already sorted the medicine bags last night and also prepared some fever-reducing medicine.
The Honeycomb Coal was left for the girls at home to look after. This time, Qin Sang had Da Zhuang follow along and borrowed several oxen from the village to deliver the herbs to Lin Qi.
Da Huang was also brought along; the fellow had fallen in love with chasing rats. He was highly alert, and sometimes when a rat was still hiding in its hole, it would be so scared by him that it would bolt out.
Da Zhuang and Hu Zi used those rats to practice their archery accuracy. Needless to say, their hit rate was getting higher and higher.
With Mules and Horses to transport the goods, their speed was much faster, and they reached Songbai Town by noon the next day.
The Town was showing signs of life again, and some shops had opened. In the middle of the main street, two long lines had formed. At the very end of the lines, a rain shelter had been set up where two large pots were steaming with the fragrance of rice porridge. Two soldiers were each holding a large ladle to distribute it, while another squad of soldiers maintained order.
Nearby, there was also a physician treating the commoners' illnesses.
Beside the line, a soldier carrying a gong would strike it from time to time and shout:
"Drink boiled water, catch rats, practice hygiene, isolate early, treat early, good for you, good for me, good for everyone!"
These were all propaganda slogans Qin Sang had instructed Lin Qi to use. Hearing these very modern slogans, Qin Sang almost couldn't keep a straight face.
As Qin Sang passed the line, she heard the commoners discussing that there would be a trial for those rioters at the vegetable market tomorrow.
Qin Sang frowned slightly. Not the Southern Army? Not soldiers? But rioters?
The group went to Steward Huangs Residence but couldn't find anyone. Upon asking, they learned that after Lin Qi regained power, he immediately moved out of the Steward's residence and set up camp on the open ground outside the Town.
So the group changed direction, and after the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they arrived outside the military camp.
The one guarding the camp gate happened to be a soldier Qin Sang had treated. Seeing it was Qin Sang and the others, he said with a smile:
"Sister-in-law, please wait a moment. I will go notify the General."
Qin Sang nodded. Before long, Lin Qi arrived, dressed in a green robe with dark patterns, walking with a vigorous and powerful stride.
Heizi called out enthusiastically:
"Big Brother Lin."
"Zheng Yuan."
"Sister-in-law, I've kept you waiting. Sister-in-law, this way please."
Lin Qi did not take Qin Sang and the others into the military camp but instead went to a tent outside the camp gate. Inside were two stools and a small side table in the middle, with a teapot and several cups set out.
"Sister-in-law, please have a seat. My apologies, outsiders cannot enter the military camp as they please, I hope Sister-in-law understands."
Qin Sang waved her hand:
"It's fine. Zheng Yuan, have someone count these herbs. I also have something else I want to talk to you about."
"Alright, I've already sent someone to call for them; they'll be here soon. What does Sister-in-law wish to ask?"
Qin Sang pursed her lips and asked:
"Before we talk business, I want to ask you something. On my way here just now, I heard the commoners saying there's a trial for those rioters tomorrow. Are they actually rioters, or are they soldiers?"