One hundred and thirty catties was an easy task for Hei Zi.
However, Qin Sang had him shoulder one more sack.
Once they were carried out, Qin Sang packed up some medicinal herb samples she had already collected and handed them to him:
"As long as these herbs are available, I will buy them all. The prices are higher than mugwort. This aconite is highly toxic; you must be extremely careful when digging it up. I won't be held responsible for any accidents."
"This bag requires the roots to be dug up, while this bag requires the vines and leaves."
"The purchase prices are written on this piece of paper."
"Additionally, you can mobilize the villagers in your village to dig herbs together, as well as those refugees. I don't care what price you buy them for, but the price I pay you will be the same as what I pay the people in this village."
Hei Zi was somewhat excited. Originally, he had truly intended to give today's mugwort for free, but these solid one hundred and thirty catties of grain proved that Auntie Qin really hadn't lied to them.
In the future, even if they didn't collect from others, the herbs dug by their own families would be enough to make a living.
"Alright, Aunt, I'll go and take care of it as soon as I get back."
Hei Zi agreed and was about to leave when Qin Sang hurriedly pulled him back:
"Wait a moment, Hei Zi."
Hei Zi stopped again, thought of something, and smiled:
"Aunt, look at how excited I am; I almost forgot I still need to go to the Village Chief to testify for you."
Qin Sang shook her head:
"It's not that." With You Di, Da Huas Father, and so many villagers who saw Hei Zi beating people up at the Village Chief's place, Qin Sang didn't think Hei Zi and the others needed to step forward.
Qin Sang pulled ten taels of silver from her sleeve:
"Hei Zi, take these ten taels of silver and go to the Town's carriage rental to buy an ox cart. In the future, when delivering herbs, you won't need a group of people to laboriously carry them over. Use a flatbed cart, and the others can save some time to dig herbs or handle the purchasing."
When Hei Zi saw the ten taels of silver, his eyes went wide.
Back when he was one of the Local Ruffians, he would only receive two or three copper coins. Auntie Qin gave ten taels of silver in one go; no wonder those two brothers were green with envy.
"Aunt, the carriage rentals can't even stay open now. Buying an ox won't cost this much money."
Qin Sang nodded:
"It indeed won't cost that much. You can probably buy a good ox for about five taels of silver. You also need to buy a flatbed cart. The remaining money will be your compensation for helping me raise the ox."
How could Hei Zi not understand? Auntie Qin was using a roundabout way to thank him for saving her daughter back then.
He would buy the ox cart and use it, yet she was also paying him to feed it; this was essentially a pure gift to him.
Hei Zi's eyes grew warm. When he had stepped in to stop them back then, he hadn't thought about a reward. Facing Auntie Qin's gratitude now, Hei Zi felt that his persistence all along seemed to be right.
"Aunt, it doesn't need this much. We should be the ones thanking you for having an ox cart to use; how can we take your money for the feed?"
Qin Sang smiled:
"Take it, take it. If you don't take it, I'll be angry. Also, carry this bag of grain back as well."
Qin Sang pointed to the untouched bag of rice nearby.
Hei Zi hurriedly backed away:
"Aunt, really, there's no need. You've already given so much silver. We'll come back to exchange for this rice once we've dug up some herbs."
Qin Sang smiled:
"Aren't you going to buy grain from the villagers? You have to give people the grain first for them to be willing to trade with you."
"This bag of rice is something I'm lending to you on credit first. You can pay it back with herbs when the time comes."
After hearing this, Hei Zi felt it made sense, so he had his men divide it up to carry back together.
Twenty or thirty catties per person was easy. Qin Sang also made them all fill a flask with herbal tea before letting them go.
Hei Zi walked a few steps, then turned back:
"Aunt, I don't know if I should say this."
Qin Sang laughed:
"If you want to say it, then say it."
Hei Zi scratched his head, glanced into the courtyard, and quickly looked away before saying:
"Well, it's just that the Butcher's Wife's life is too bitter. You... you'd better help her."
"Auntie Qin, this is your family matter; I'm being nosy."
"I'm leaving, Aunt."
Hei Zi finished speaking quickly and ran off in a hurry.
Qin Sang watched Hei Zi and the others leave, her expression turning somber as she turned and entered the courtyard.
Before she even entered the house, she could vaguely hear the sound of sobbing.
The comforting voices of Si Jin and Eldest Girl could also be heard.
Third Brothers Wife was standing in the main room. Seeing Qin Sang arrive, she withdrew her gaze from the bedroom and sat down somewhat flustered.
Tian Wenmo hadn't gone out just now and looked bewildered:
"Mother, did you hit Second Sister?"
Eldest Brothers Wife hurriedly explained:
"Little Brother-in-law, it wasn't Mother. Don't talk nonsense."
Tian Wenmo knew he had said the wrong thing and quickly lowered his head, pretending to work.
Qin Sang instructed:
"Da Hua, go fetch a basin of warm water. Wen Mo, you go outside and turn the mugwort to dry. Don't come in unless I tell you to."
Tian Wenmo gave an 'oh' and ran out. Eldest Brothers Wife also complied and turned to go to the kitchen.
Breakfast had just been made in the stove, so the hot water was brought over very quickly.
"When your Eldest Brother and Third Brother return, tell them to wait outside."
With that, Qin Sang closed the main door.
Qin Sang entered the room. Er Fu had climbed onto the upper bunk and was lying there, crying miserably.
Eldest Girl and Si Jin were below, pacing around anxiously.
"Er Fu, come down."
Qin Sang said loudly.
The crying stopped, and Tian Erfu slowly got up, stepped onto the ladder, and climbed down.
On her thin, small face, tears had washed away the dust, and the faint traces of old bruises could still be seen.
Qin Sang raised her hand to help wipe away her tears. Tian Erfu instinctively dodged, and by the time she realized her Mother wasn't going to hit her, her body was tense and somewhat stiff.
Qin Sang wasn't angry but sighed instead:
"Take off your clothes and let Mother see the injuries on your body."
Tian Erfu didn't move. When Qin Sang touched her clothing, Tian Erfu spoke up in pain to stop her:
"Mother, don't."
Qin Sang didn't force her, saying in a gentle tone:
"He beats you every day; Mother wants to see your injuries."
Only then did Tian Erfu slowly loosen her grip.
The clothes on her body were very old and worn; they were the same ones she had worn when Qin Sang took her to the Town back then.
Unfastening the tie at the waist, Qin Sang saw Er Fu's shoulders, arms, and back were covered in crisscrossing marks—some were handprints, some were whip marks, and there were even marks from being tied up on her wrists and neck. Qin Sang asked anxiously:
"What happened here?"
Tian Erfu sobbed as she cried:
"I couldn't take it and wanted to run, but he caught me. After that, every night, I had to sleep tied up with ropes."
"I... if I don't obey him, I get beaten. If I ignore him, I also get beaten. If I'm slow in doing things, I get beaten. If his daughter cries, I also get beaten..."
"Mother, it hurts so much when he hits me. Every time he beats me, I want to die..."
Qin Sang's eyes turned red with anger:
"It's Mother's fault. Er Fu, Mother is sorry for you."
Qin Sang said these words on behalf of the Original Body.
Tian Erfu's originally suppressed sobbing broke down into a loud wail upon hearing this apology.
"Mother..."
Beside them, Si Jin and Eldest Girl were both heartbroken:
"Sister..."
"Eldest Paternal Aunt, don't cry anymore. If Eldest Paternal Aunt cries, Eldest Girl wants to cry too, waah."
Eldest Brothers Wife turned away to wipe her tears. She used to think life was bitter, but compared to her Younger Sister-in-law, at least her husband was good to her.
Qin Sang leaned over, wrung out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped Er Fu's arms and body. Her movements were very light and very earnest.
Under Qin Sang's meticulous, earnest, and gentle movements, Er Fu gradually regained her composure. There was a light in her eyes as she looked at her Mother.
After Qin Sang finished wiping her down, she said:
"Da Hua, go get a set of your clothes..."
Before Qin Sang could finish, Third Brothers Wife, who was standing at the door, spoke up:
"Take mine. I made two extra sets for myself. I'll go get them."