Qin Sang mentioned not only the locust plague but also the rising food prices.
"I feel that since the crops are already like this, there won't be much difference between harvesting now and harvesting in half a month. Instead of waiting, it's better to harvest them first. At least if the locusts fly over, they won't cause even greater losses.
Additionally, regarding the issue of buying grain, prices will definitely continue to rise. Even if it rains, there's no hope for this year's summer harvest. There are still several months until the autumn harvest. If we want to buy food, we must do it as soon as possible; grain prices certainly won't drop in the next two months.
Finally, there's the issue of safety. Although I only saw refugees fleeing famine in the town, there are surely many more. Their numbers will only increase. With no water to drink and no food to eat, no one knows what they might do. Once they enter the village to snatch water and grain, we will definitely suffer if we aren't prepared. I think we need to take precautions early."
Qin Sang spoke very solemnly, and the Old Village Chief listened very attentively.
"Tian Qinshi, what you said makes a lot of sense. Thank you for bringing back this news. I will gather the villagers to discuss it as soon as possible."
After speaking, Qin Sang returned home and happened to run into Tian Sangui and Tian Wenmo returning with mugwort leaves. Tian Wenmo was carrying a small bundle on his back. Having never done farm work before, his hair and face were a mess, making him look quite disheveled.
Following behind the two were Mrs. Tian Li and her two sons. All three carried large bundles of mugwort on their backs and walked straight into Qin Sang's courtyard. Mrs. Tian Li directed her two sons to set the mugwort down. Once it was down, she saw Qin Sang and shouted in a loud voice.
"Sister, you're back."
Qin Sang was a bit puzzled. "Sister-in-law, what is this..."
Mrs. Tian Li patted the grass debris off her clothes.
"Sigh, didn't you say yesterday that this mugwort of yours could be sold for money? You saved my husband yesterday, and I really didn't know how to thank you, so I brought the two boys from my family to help you harvest mugwort."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Qin Sang quickly stopped her.
"Sister-in-law, regarding Brother You Gen's situation yesterday, I just stepped in blindly. If he was saved, it's because it wasn't his time to die; if I couldn't save him, I had no other way. I was just treating a dead horse as if it were alive. It's enough that you don't blame me for being so bold. Besides, you already gave me a thank-you gift yesterday, and I accepted it. How can I let you and my two nephews work for my family again?"
Mrs. Tian Li had a brisk personality.
"Those few eggs aren't worth much, but you saved my husband's life.
To tell you the truth, you didn't just save his life; you saved mine, and the lives of my father-in-law and Mother-in-law. You are the great benefactor of our whole family.
Without you, these two children would have become fatherless, and I would have become a widow.
Forget just putting in a little effort; even if you had us work for your family every day from now on, we would do so willingly."
After Mrs. Tian Li finished speaking, the two children also knelt down.
"Yes, Aunt, you saved our father. We're just pulling some grass; we're used to this kind of work, it's not tiring at all."
With that, they kowtowed to Qin Sang, then stood up and ran off in a flash. Qin Sang hurriedly grabbed Mrs. Tian Li, who was also about to leave.
"Sister-in-law, to tell you the truth, I was actually worried about finding no one to help me harvest mugwort. It's perfect that you and my nephews can help, but I can't let you work for nothing.
How about this: for all the mugwort you harvested today, I'll give you two catties of rice. Starting tomorrow, for the mugwort you and my nephews harvest for me, it will be calculated at one catty of rice for every fifty catties of mugwort."
After saying this, Qin Sang told Si Jin to go into the house to get the grain.
"Si Jin, did you hear that? Go weigh two catties of rice for your Aunt."
"I heard you, I'm going now."
Mrs. Tian Li declined and didn't want it.
"How can that be? For this little bit of work, how can I take your family's food?"
Qin Sang held onto her firmly.
"It must be done. If you don't take it, I'll have Da Zhuang throw all this mugwort into your courtyard. It just so happens your husband can use it now."
Seeing her persistence and unable to refuse, Mrs. Tian Li had the rice stuffed into her arms by Qin Sang, yet she still felt uneasy.
"Sister, fifty catties of mugwort for one catty of grain? Are you serious? Can this mugwort really sell for that much? I can hardly believe it."
Qin Sang laughed.
"Would I ever make a losing deal? Don't worry, sister-in-law. Tomorrow, you and my two nephews can bring as much as you cut, and I'll take it all."
Mrs. Tian Li left with the grain, still half-doubting. Tian Sangui walked over, looking dissatisfied.
"Mother, why are you offering such a high price? Fifty catties of mugwort for one catty of rice? I collected so much, and you only gave me two copper coins."
Third Sons Wife also chimed in.
"Exactly. Our own family is earning less than outsiders. Mother, is this how business is done?"
Qin Sang's eyes swept over them.
"Yes, I only rewarded you with two copper coins. Do you think it's too little? Isn't the rice you eat and the rabbits you eat bought with money? Aren't your new clothes and new shoes bought with money?
You want to be treated the same as outsiders? What? Do you want to split the family?
Fine, as long as you're willing, I have no objections."
Third Brother and his Wife immediately backed down. Previously, they talked about splitting the family because they were worried that after the eldest brother's family moved out, they would have to do all the household chores themselves. Not only that, but they would also have to use everything to subsidize Little Five's studies.
The situation was different now. If they split the family, they would at most get some fields and vegetable plots. How much money could they make from farming themselves to death?
Moreover, Mother was no longer biased and treated everyone equally. Even Little Five was working. If they didn't split the family, they could still slack off a bit. If they did, it would be a question of whether they could even eat their fill.
Tian Sangui immediately said with a grin.
"Mother, that's not what I meant. I just feel like such a good thing shouldn't benefit outsiders. There's plenty of mugwort on the mountain; can't we earn it ourselves?"
Qin Sang knew it was necessary to explain this clearly; otherwise, their dissatisfied speculations would be detrimental to the family's unity.
"Today in town, I heard some news. A locust plague has occurred in other counties, and refugees have already fled to our town. You must have heard of locust plagues; wherever they go, not a speck of green is left. If we don't bring the mugwort back as soon as possible, will there be any left when the locusts arrive?"
"Also, the mosquito coils sold well in town today, and the shopkeeper wants us to make more. You all will definitely have to stay home to make the mosquito coils, so the task of gathering mugwort from the mountain can only be given to others. Your cousin's family isn't outsiders; there's nothing wrong with giving it to them so they can earn some money too."
Third Sons Wife's eyes lit up. "Really? How much did the mosquito coils sell for? Mother bought so much rice today; did they sell for several taels of silver?"
Tian Sijin said proudly, "One bamboo tube of mosquito coils sells for five hundred copper coins. We sold a total of five taels of silver today."
The several people at home who hadn't gone to town couldn't contain their joy upon hearing this answer.
"Grandma's idea is amazing, to be able to earn so much money."
"Then we'll make mosquito coils every day, and we can eat dry rice every day."
"Calculating it this way, fifty catties of mugwort for one catty of rice isn't a loss. Let outsiders do the unimportant things while we make mosquito coils behind closed doors, so we don't have to worry about others learning how."
Only Tian Wenmo watched the whole family rejoicing while still feeling puzzled in his heart. Why was the family making so much money, yet Mother wouldn't buy him paper and brushes or let him go to the private school?"