Qin Sang had also thought about it for a long time last night. Since it involved the interests of the entire village, any lack of consideration would lead to dissatisfaction.
"In this operation, everyone risked their lives. Those with merit should be rewarded, but there is a specific way to go about it.
We cannot only look at this pile of treasures and grain before us and forget why we did this, or what we will rely on to survive in the future.
My suggestion is that a portion of the silver and grain can be given as rewards to the villagers who participated in this operation, but it shouldn't be too much—it should only serve as encouragement.
One hundred copper coins and twenty catties of Millet per person is enough.
This will also foster unity among everyone and prevent greed from festering."
Qin Sang walked to the center, paused, and said in a clear voice:
"The remaining money cannot be simply divided per person and tucked into individual pockets.
It should become the capital for our Tianjia Village to survive in this world, and even to live a better life in the future.
My suggestion is that the remaining silver be kept in the village's accounts to be used for future village construction: building a Private School, repairing water conservancy, digging wells, and buying farm tools.
Those who provide labor will get wages, and those who provide land will get land rent.
Building a Private School to educate the children will allow them to read, write, and learn etiquette; repairing water conservancy will make it easier for everyone to store water for farming and irrigation; digging deeper wells will guard against drought; and purchased farm tools can be centrally managed during the busy season. Using limited funds to benefit the entire village will bless future generations.
Of course, the management of the funds must have one person managing the accounts and another managing the money, with the village chief supervising. Any deposit or withdrawal of funds must have the signatures of these three parties before it can be verified, withdrawn, and registered.
The accounts must be fair and transparent, with a reconciliation once a year to avoid corruption."
"Those paintings, calligraphy, and ornaments can be used to reward those with merit in the future, or when the world is peaceful, they can be sold in shops, with the proceeds going into the public account."
"The quilts and cotton clothes can be sold by the village chief. Whichever family needs them can buy them from him, and the proceeds will also go into the public account."
"The four heads of livestock will be raised by the villagers in rotation. When the busy farming season arrives, the whole village will have oxen to plow the fields and horses to carry grain."
Hearing Qin Sang's detailed arrangements, although the crowd didn't fully understand, they inexplicably felt it was very impressive.
They didn't understand accounts or supervision, but they understood blessing future generations.
As long as the money wasn't being used for outsiders, they had no reason to disagree.
"Da Zhuangs Mother is right. We were thinking about it the wrong way, only staring at what's in front of us. If we divide it per person, the village will still be the same village, and the days ahead will be just as difficult.
But if we use these things for the whole village, that is the long-term plan."
"Right! If the money is divided among everyone, it might be spent in a few years. But if it stays in the village, the whole village benefits, and everyone gets a share. Most importantly, for our descendants, if one happens to pass the imperial exam and becomes a scholar, perhaps we'll all rise in status and never have to toil in the fields again."
The crowd nodded repeatedly. Someone remembered there was one more thing not yet divided and asked aloud:
"What about that grain?"
Qin Sang's gaze turned deep as she said:
"Compared to us, the other refugees hiding in the mountains are having a much harder time. They likely have no food to live on, and many are starving to death.
It would be better to use this grain for the purpose of saving people."
"Of course, we can't give it away for free; there's no such thing as a free lunch. I will provide the silver to buy this grain, and the money will go into the public account. I will then use this grain to exchange for Medicinal Herbs with other villagers. What do you all think?"
The villagers calculated in their minds, but for a long while, they couldn't wrap their heads around it. It was the old village chief who summarized it:
"It means everyone provides the grain and gets silver, while Da Zhuangs Mother provides the grain and gets Medicinal Herbs.
Da Zhuangs Mother can use the herbs to get silver, and we can use the herbs to get grain, while also helping those relatives and friends. This means everyone gets a benefit.
In addition, the silver benefits the entire Tianjia Village and will also grace everyone."
After the village chief's simple summary, everyone finally understood, but some families were still reluctant to part with the rations:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, but if this grain benefits outsiders, what will happen if our own villagers run out of rations?"
Tian Yougen immediately explained:
"Da Zhuangs Mother didn't say she wouldn't take herbs from our own village. If you're out of food, just exchange them with Da Zhuangs Mother."
Qin Sang nodded with a slight smile:
"I certainly won't do anything that harms others without benefiting myself. Furthermore, I promise everyone that for our own village, I will uniformly exchange for white flour or rice. For people from other villages, we will use this seized grain for exchanges."
Everyone's eyes lit up. rice and white flour were much better than this Millet and wheat mixed with sand and stones.
Given the choice, how could they possibly pass up white flour and rice for this blood-stained Millet and wheat? Immediately, everyone agreed.
The three most important matters had been settled; next was discussing some details.
For example, who would be arranged to keep the accounts and manage the money.
There weren't many people in the village who could read and write. Previously, Tian Wenmo was the one recording work hours. Recording work and keeping accounts definitely had to be separate, so someone else had to be arranged.
"While Da Zhuangs Mother was away these past few days, Wen Mo has been teaching the children to write in the clearing whenever he has time. Why not let Wen Mo train another person for bookkeeping? Or let Wen Mo teach the village kids; anyway, they're idle since they don't have to work the fields right now."
"I think that works. We won't let Wen Mo work for nothing; we'll record his work and pay him when the time comes. Da Zhuangs Mother, what do you think?"
Everyone looked at Qin Sang. Qin Sang had no objections:
"Sure. For the time being, Wen Mo can record this sum of silver. Just remember to keep the work records and the accounts separate. I have paper and pens here and can provide a notebook for the village."
The old village chief nodded with satisfaction:
"Then many thanks to Da Zhuangs Mother. Now let's discuss who will keep the silver. After all, with such a large amount, if it's lost or short, the person would have to pay out of their own pocket to make it up."
As soon as the old village chief finished speaking, a villager immediately raised their hand:
"I propose that Da Zhuangs Mother keeps it."
"Yes, I agree too. Her family is the wealthiest in the whole village. If it's lost, only her family can make it up."
"Da Zhuangs Mother has the best ideas. I think it's best if she keeps it."
Seeing that everyone trusted her so much, Qin Sang could only accept the task with a bitter smile:
"Fine. However, regarding me managing the money, please do not spread it around, lest we be targeted by thieves. If that happens, it will harm the interests of the entire village."
Everyone nodded one after another.
Fortunately, she had the Mall warehouse to store it. Otherwise, without guards or a safe, hiding so much money would be seeking a path to death.
Having finished these discussions, the men from each family who had participated in the action to kill the Rebel Soldiers were called over to receive their grain and silver rewards. Wen Mo was called to keep the records.
Qin Sang's family had three people and received three hundred copper coins and sixty catties of Millet.
A Shui and A Jing only took fifty copper coins; the other one hundred and fifty were all exchanged for Millet and wheat at a rate of ten coins per catty, totaling fifty-five catties of grain.
Heizi and his group had many people, a full ten of them. Three sons from Carpenter Zhao's family went. Additionally, although Da Hua's father didn't go to the Town to kill the Rebel Soldiers, he had come back to deliver news and reassure everyone, so he should also be rewarded and was given twenty catties of Millet...
Once all the grain and silver were distributed, the old village chief gathered a group of elders again to recount the silver. Under everyone's witness, Wen Mo registered the amount, and only then did Qin Sang have Da Zhuang and San Gui carry the two large chests into her room.
Finally, Qin Sang had one more thing to tell all the villagers:
"I hope that no one in the village will ever mention this matter again. First, because the village now has this large sum of money, and second, because we used the name of bandits for this operation. It is also to avoid everyone being targeted for revenge by other Rebel Soldiers. So, do not discuss this matter anymore, especially the children and women at home; they absolutely must not mention it to outsiders.
If this matter gets out, I'm afraid the whole village will be in mortal danger. Do you all understand?"
Since it concerned their own lives, everyone nodded in unison.
By the time they finished all this, it was almost noon. A Shui brought A Jing, carrying two large bundles, to thank Qin Sang. Qin Sang said:
"Wait a moment..."