CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: DO YOU STILL REMEMBER YOUR GRANDFATHER?

"Is it really that profitable to plant medicinal herbs?"

Third Uncle has read books and is far more knowledgeable than the people of the Liu family, but regarding the matter of herbs, he’s completely clueless.

After all, scholars mostly engage in rhetoric and are often not very practical...

To make him understand how large the profit margins are in herbs, he truly doesn’t know!

If it were the usual times, he would certainly gloss over it to save face and talk about something else, but money was mentioned... Why do people study? Isn’t it for exams to become an official in the future?

And why become an official? For money!

With money, one can make even the devil work for you, a principle even children know, so Third Uncle naturally understands, and at this moment, he sets aside his pride to humbly seek advice.

"Whether it’s profitable or not, how would I know? I’m just asking if you can afford to go to the medicine shop?"

This... can’t afford it! If anyone has someone sick and needs medicine for a while, wouldn’t the whole family be dragged to death?

He still remembers that his father died when he was ten years old, reportedly because of tuberculosis, and after taking medicine for a while, the family couldn’t bear the cost, so he went straight to the back hill, found a tree, and hanged himself. The tree was bent at the waist and has now become the crooked-neck tree...

Third Uncle instinctively looks at Old Li; the Li family used to live comfortably, but ever since Old Li got injured while hunting in the mountains and came back, the Li family’s situation took a steep decline, and when it reached the third son, he couldn’t even afford to marry a wife. If it weren’t for the affair with Long Yue, he would still be single today.

After comparing this, Third Uncle is shocked to find that planting medicinal herbs really can make money. Without saying more, if every family here in Qingshui Village plants an acre of medicinal herbs, would his father have chosen to end his own life because he couldn’t afford medicine?

No, certainly not!

Father!

At this moment, Third Uncle can’t help but feel sorrow, as his father, in order not to burden their mother and child, and to leave a prosperous legacy for him to marry and have children, insisted on ending his young life prematurely. They say fatherly love is like a mountain, but this is more than a mountain; this is the whole sky!

His father’s premature death has always been a sore spot for Third Uncle; now brought up by a few words from Long Yue, he can’t help but shed tears.

"Third Uncle!"

The six Liu brothers, however, are flustered. Why has Third Uncle suddenly started crying? Is it because he doesn’t want to lose money? But there’s no need to cry over this, right?

Isn’t this making people look down on us?

Third Uncle is feeling somewhat melancholic at this moment, he waves his hand to signal Liu Dazhu and the others not to speak, he blinks, squeezes out the tears, and then looks seriously at Long Yue.

"How confident are you in this medicine field?"

"About seventy to eighty percent!"

Actually, it’s a ten out of ten guarantee, as long as no one causes trouble, but she doesn’t want to sound too confident. There are many uncertainties in this world, even her own rebirth happened, so let alone other matters.

Long Yue holds a bit of reverence for the world, which is a good thing.

Third Uncle nods, "Seventy to eighty percent, that’s enough, more than enough!"

Liu Dazhu doesn’t know what’s going on with his Third Uncle, but seeing his serious demeanor, he doesn’t dare to interrupt, only standing quietly to the side, though his heart is filled with complaints.

We came to demand people, Third Uncle, not to chat with them!

As he’s muttering, he sees Third Uncle suddenly get up, bow to Long Yue, and say, "In that case, our Liu family is willing to offer this ten taels of silver as compensation, but we hope the Li family will keep a share for the Liu family in the future!"

What is this share? Others don’t understand, but Long Yue knows; he’s talking about future expansion of the medicine field and hopes to involve the Liu family.

The Liu family has ten acres of land, the six brothers take up four acres, Third Uncle has two acres, plus Mr. Liu and Second Uncle have four acres, it looks like the Liu family has plenty of land, but in reality, after planting crops and paying taxes, what’s left is only enough for them to make ends meet.

Third Uncle has vision; he believes if Long Yue says there’s seventy to eighty percent confidence, then the matter of the medicine field is stable, just waiting for some herbs to mature next year to see results. If there’s a good profit, he’ll have his family open up two acres to plant herbs.

Of course, medicinal herbs can’t just be planted casually; firstly, someone needs to recognize them, otherwise if you misidentify and sell a bunch of weeds to the medicine shop, won’t they beat you to death? Secondly, you need seeds, and having all the land in the world without seeds is useless, and then you need to know how to care for them...

Farming is an expertise, and old farmers who have grown crops will treat it with great seriousness.

So, his willingness to promptly offer ten taels of silver is to establish a good relationship with the Li family and ensure he can have first dibs in the future.

Long Yue didn’t expect that this Third Uncle would be so discerning, slightly surprised yet very satisfied, she smiles and says, "Rest assured, Third Uncle, our family has only two acres of land, which is too little; in the future, cooperation will definitely first come to your family!"

Third Uncle nods, "Good, then I’ll have someone send the silver soon."

"Hey, Third Uncle, why would you be so muddled..."

Liu Dazhu hears they’re really going to give silver, jumps up in distress, even speaks offensively, and as a result, Third Uncle gives him a slap, pointing at his nose and scolding, "You scoundrel, didn’t look after your wife properly, the Liu family’s face has been completely thrown away by you!"

Recently, the Liu family’s shameful incidents have been somewhat numerous, not knowing exactly what he’s talking about, but Liu Dazhu automatically thinks about the bright green hat atop his head...

He immediately shrivels, weakly responding, "Yes, Third Uncle’s criticism is justified..."

"Hurry up and get the silver!"

With this, the Liu family members leave in grandeur.

Walking to the edge of a field ridge, Liu Xiaoliu can’t help but ask Third Uncle, "Third Uncle, why are we compromising with them? The Li family doesn’t have more people than our family... Ah, don’t!"

Seeing Third Uncle about to swing his slap, Liu Xiaoliu quickly jumps back to dodge.

"You cheeky brat, didn’t you notice, that Li San Niang is quite a formidable character? She captured Dazhu in one fell swoop; it’s clear she’s trained in martial arts! Of course, that’s not the point, the point is about those medicine fields!"

Saying this, his gaze gradually deepens as he looks into the distance, "Dazhu, do you remember your grandfather?"

"I remember..."

"Back then, if our family’s fields were planted full of medicinal herbs, would your grandfather have chosen to walk that irreversible path?"

"I..."

Liu Dazhu opens his mouth but finds his throat seems blocked by something, unable to speak, and the anger within him is thoroughly quenched by a bucket of cold water.

"Grandfather..."

Liu Erzhu remembers his grandfather too, and hearing this, can’t help but squat at the edge of the field, holding his head, and crying.

"Grandfather... My grandfather was very good to us; I remember he passed away when I was five, grandfather... It was all because we didn’t have money to treat his illness, buy medicines, that he passed away... If our family had medicinal herbs, grandfather could have lived another twenty years..."

"Indeed, us common folks, can’t afford to get sick, if sick it’s to lose everything..."

At this moment, all the Liu family members fall silent...