The two looked at the gold in their hands, cried, "Oh!" and tossed it back into Yun Manman's arms like a hot potato.
Old Father Yun glanced around warily, and the three put their heads together again and whispered for a good while.
"Manman, you must hide this well and never tell anyone. From now on, you make your living by hunting, risking your life to support our family."
Yun Manman nodded obediently, a trace of amusement flashing through her eyes. "Yes, Father, Mother. I'll remember."
Only after settling everything did the three straighten up. Old Father Yun's back was much straighter now. Looking at the children behind him, he no longer felt there were too many, and affection filled his face.
"Zewu, Zeren, go bring out all our straw mats and spread them out for the children. Let's all eat together. The meat Manman brought won't taste good once it gets cold."
Seeing that things here were settled, Yun Manman needed to head to the village chief's house as soon as possible to finalize the arrangements and try to get the house built soon.
At this time of year, the northwest would not get much rain, but that might change in a few months. By then, never mind somewhere for the little ones to sleep-they would not even have shelter from the rain.
"Father, go ahead and eat. I'll visit the village chief and get things settled sooner."
"All right, take it slow!"
Yun Manman picked a roast duck from among the food and headed to the village chief's house. Every household was having dinner, so she did not encounter any villagers along the way.
The village chief's front gate was made of wood painted red, with an iron hook fastened to it for knocking.
Knock, knock, knock...
"Who is it? Coming, coming!"
With a clatter, the gate was pulled open from inside. Seeing the girl at the entrance, with her clear, luminous skin and stunning beauty, the village chief's wife froze for a moment before recognizing her as the girl from the Yun Family. A smile immediately spread across her face.
"Lass Yun, what brings you here? Come in."
A faint smile remained on Yun Manman's face. "Hello, Auntie Chen. I came to discuss something with the village chief."
The village chief also looked puzzled when he saw Yun Manman. "Lass Yun, what brings you here? Have some flatbread with us."
The village chief's two sons hurriedly lowered their heads and shoveled the wild vegetable flatbreads from their bowls into their mouths when Yun Manman entered. Wasn't this girl from the Yun Family far too beautiful?
Yun Manman stepped forward, opened the oil-paper parcel, and set it on the table, smiling at Auntie Chen and the others. "Village Chief, Auntie Chen, I bought this in the county town. It's still warm. Hurry and eat it while it's hot."
Auntie Chen was startled by the food on the table and kept swallowing. "Oh my, Lass Yun, take it back. This is precious stuff. We can't eat it."
The village chief also set down his bowl and chopsticks, his expression somewhat grave. "Take it back, Lass Yun. We can't accept this."
Yun Manman stepped back, her manner composed and assured. "Village Chief, Auntie Chen, please don't refuse. I came because I have something to discuss with the village chief."
Auntie Chen glanced at her husband. She had only ever smelled roast duck from far away on the street, never imagining that such a precious thing could appear on her own table.
Judging by Yun Manman's expression, the village chief reckoned she must have had a good haul on this trip into the mountains. He sat down and picked up his bowl. "Wife, get Lass Yun a bowl and chopsticks. Since this is her kind gesture, let's eat."
"No need. I've already eaten. I'll just wait here."
The village chief's family did not want to keep Yun Manman waiting too long, so they quickly divided up the roast duck, ate it all, and cleared the table.
The village chief took out his tobacco pipe and rubbed its patterned surface as he looked at Yun Manman. "Lass Yun, tell me. What do you need your Uncle Chen for?"
"Village Chief, I want to buy all the land near my home to build houses."
The village chief nodded. If they had money, buying land to build a house was the right thing to do. The house the Yun Family currently lived in really was unfit.
"All right. That plot of yours isn't very big. I'll go to town tomorrow and get it sorted out for you."
"Village Chief, I mean I want to buy all the land near my home. All of it!"
"All..."
The village chief looked at Yun Manman in surprise. "Girl, what do you need so much land for? It's a waste of silver and won't be much use. Buying some farmland would be more practical."
"Village Chief, I also want to buy all the available fertile farmland and uncultivated land in the village. Those are the things I came to see you about."
"You..."
The village chief sprang to his feet in shock, his eyes full of disbelief as he looked at Yun Manman. Had this girl found gold on her trip into the mountains? This was far too lavish an undertaking.
Watching the village chief lose his composure, Yun Manman felt she might have misunderstood him before. She had thought he was a village chief who had seen the world, but it turned out he was simply an honest man.
"Village Chief, please ask around tomorrow and see whether any villagers are willing to work at my home. Thirty copper coins a day, meals not included. Help me choose some hardworking people with clean hands, and find me a master house builder as well."
As she spoke, Yun Manman took out five taels of silver and handed them over. Her violet eyes were clear and pure, yet people did not dare look directly into them. "Sorry to trouble you with all this, Village Chief. I want to start work as soon as possible. These five taels are payment for your efforts."
Nearly a quarter of an hour after Yun Manman had left, the village chief was still staring blankly at the silver in his hand. His wife prepared a cup of water, set it down, and sighed softly.
"That girl from the Yun Family really is capable. One trip into the mountains, and she's made a fortune."
The village chief gathered his thoughts and handed the silver to his wife, taking a hard draw on his pipe. "That silver was all earned by risking her life. She's a kindhearted girl, too. From now on, let's help whenever we can."
The next day,
The village chief took Old Father Yun to town to buy land and find a master house builder, while Yun Manman took the little ones and built several simple thatched huts outside their courtyard.
In the center of the village, a group of women were chatting.
Old Woman Wang's eyes were full of gloating. "Did you see? The Yun Family adopted a whole lot of half-grown children all at once. Isn't Old Father Yun a fool?"
Old Woman Shen curled her lips in disdain. "Who knows? Anyway, now that he's cut ties with the old Yun Family, Old Father Yun will probably starve to death. Hahaha..."
The village chief's wife happened to be taking her two sons to see whether Lass Yun's household needed any help when she heard the women's snide remarks.
"You don't know, do you? Lass Yun is capable. She bought all the land around her courtyard. I heard she's going to build a very big house."
Seeing Old Woman Yun's somewhat shocked expression, she turned toward the women who had just been bad-mouthing them and continued in an exaggerated tone.
"And another thing-the Yun Family are now our village's landowners. All the remaining fertile farmland and uncultivated land in the village has been bought by Lass Yun. I heard she'll also be looking for good people from the village to help build the houses, at thirty copper coins a day!"
Having seen the envy and jealousy in the women's eyes just as she had hoped, the village chief's wife gave a little huff and headed toward the Yun Family's home with her two sons.
The women who usually loved wagging their tongues looked at one another, unable to say anything for a long while. So their own families were the poorest after all?
Old Woman Yun swept her venomous gaze over everyone and stood, her back slightly hunched.
She limped swiftly home, her mouth never stopping as she muttered all along the way.