Little Ger, Slow Life in Another World

Chapter 24.2

Village Assembly

Translated by Coke
Edited by Athanasia

When they arrived, the population inside was nearly complete. The open space in front of the ancestral hall was occupied by a row of chairs. Miao He recognized a few people right away. Aside from the village chief, who sat on the chief seat, a few well-respected elderly people sat beside him. These elderly people were members of several large families who contributed significantly to the population of Miaojia Village. Because of this, the village chief liked to use them as background props when he announced to demonstrate credibility that his words were not solely his, but the words of the majority in Miaojia.

Miao Jue was, of course, among the elderly. He sat next to the village chief, dressed in a dark blue scholar’s robe that contrasted with his arrogant demeanor. The chief kept leaning over and whispering to him, his face warm.

Miao He moved to the side after observing, but he took a quick step back.

Yang Dalang leaned in closer to his side, their heads a few centimeters apart, and inquired, “What’s the matter?” He continued to pay attention to Miao He’s movements.

The latter made a shaky motion with his head. Miao He noticed the ger who had walked with Miao Yuan on the street the previous time just behind Miao Jue.

Second Aunt Yang approached them and said, “You two are here, lah.” Right, Brother He, Aunty forgot to ask what kind of clothing you wanted to make out of the cloth you sent before.”

“Just do what you normally wear.  A set for me and Dalang, too.”  The ancient garb looked the same to Miao He, anyway. 

Second Aunt Yang motioned with her hand. “However, the fabric is of high quality. It’d be a shame to make something so casual of it. Why not have Auntie make you a changyi? You should dress more neatly on certain days throughout the year.”

Before Miao He remembered what a changyi was, Yang Dalang already responded with an agreeable hum.

Second Aunt Yang nodded with satisfaction and changed the subject. “Oh, your second brother has received additional orders for the reclining chair. They claimed Doctor Ji was the one who ordered them. Come see this auntie when you’re in town. I will have you give him a gift as thanks.”

Before Yang Dalang could respond, Miao He rushed to say, “Second Aunt Yang, don’t spend any more money on this.  Doctor Ji enjoys eating tomatoes from our garden. And I’ll be sending him more of them soon, so Second Aunt Yang should just say your good intentions. Furthermore, Aunt Yang has already promised to make clothes for me and Dalang, which is already a hard task.”

“How can that possibly be enough, ah? It’s too stingy to send only tomatoes, even though yours are delicious. What this Aunty is going to do is add more eggs and meat to it so that the hospital will definitely be able to eat it ah! ” Aunt Yang exclaimed as she waved her hand.

Miao He wished to persuade the individual once more, just in time for the village chief to rise and speak.

“Dear folks, I, the village chief, am very grateful to have you all here despite your busy schedule!  I invited you all here today not to waste your valuable time, but to share a good thing with everyone.”

A flurry of mixed emotions along with their hubbub erupted from the fellow villagers when they heard the word “good thing.”

“A good thing?!  Can you lower your taxes then? Wasn’t Yuanjia Village hit by a snowstorm last winter? Our village did as well, ah! ”

“Aunt Yun, Yuanjia Village is a long distance away, and you think so wonderfully. It’s as if you asked me to guess, the country officials have already changed, and I hope that the future tax collectors aren’t the two hoodlums! ”

“How can this possibly be a good thing? You get rid of one, and more bastards will appear. May the Heavens bless us! ”

The village chief hurriedly raised his hand to silence the babel as it grew louder by the second. “Don’t be agitated, fellow villagers! Please sit quietly and pay attention to what I’m saying!! ”

He continued after the commotion died down. “To put it bluntly, this good thing began with Teacher Miao’s family!  Everyone in our village has probably heard that Miao Yuan is a very talented child. He went to Miaoshui Town last year as soon as he passed the exam to seek guidance from a teacher. This child puts in a lot of effort and is always bowed over a book. As if his efforts had not been in vain, he discovered a priceless recipe for tofu flower in an ancient book! ”

Miao He could not help but be taken aback.

It turned out that tofu pudding in Dahe Restaurant came from Miao Yuan’s family?

But if the tofu pudding was mentioned in ancient texts… ‘Why does the wording sound familiar?’

“Anyone who has recently visited town knows that this tofu flower has become the signature dish of Dahe Restaurant, and it is quite expensive! The magnificent dish’s raw material is soybeans, and a large quantity is required every day! Teacher Miao has a good heart for thinking about how he can help the village. He had previously discovered a courtyard in the village where he planned to open a workshop specializing in tofu flowers! Additionally, they are not only looking for workers but also want to buy soybeans from all of you wonderful people! The cost is unquestionably higher than in Yun Town! ”

As soon as the words were finished, a great deal of excitement flared up! The villagers raised their hands as they asked at the same time.

“Recruiting? It is, indeed, a good thing! What are the terms of the payment, and how much is it? How many people do you intend to hire?!”

“Do you really buy soybeans? I still have a few bags around the house! Wait for a second; I’ll move it later. How much does a catty cost?”

“I’d like to know if the recruiters are concerned with handing out meals as well?  How many meals do you offer, and will breakfast be included? Can I then bring my family’s cow?”

Of course, there were various voices of dislike mixed in.

“I just guessed that Teacher Miao’s family seemed to have made a great deal recently. It turns out there’s another one, ah. They’re great at keeping people in the dark, tsk!”

“I know where the workshop is! Some time ago, some mysterious people came in and out of the place, never answering when asked. Who knew they were making so much money behind closed doors?”

“That should be correct. Consider Miao Liang; the clothes he wore were all nice. Perhaps he entered the workshop early to work!”

“Hey, want to buy some soybeans from us? Sounds good, no? Isn’t it because you want to live and earn on your own?”

The village chief pretended not to hear what was said. He respectfully turned to Miao Jue and said, “Teacher Miao, your family is the protagonist of this matter. I request that this revered elder say a few words to our fellow villagers.”

Miao Jue gave a dignified nod and stepped forward with hands clasped behind his back. Those people who could read and teach literacy in the village still possessed a certain status, after all. 

Once he neared the masses, the clamor quieted down. 

“I, Miao Jue, am equally blessed and had shared the same difficulty as all of you fellow villagers, and as a member of Miaojia Village, I want to share with you my blessing. Some people may say that my Miao family wants to monopolize this recipe and desire people to work for us. However, have you considered that once this recipe has been passed down, other villages may also grow soybeans and make tofu! Once that happens, what would be the benefit of our Miaojia Village?”

As he said this, Miao Jue deliberated a pause and scanned the crowd with a stern expression.

When his eyes swept across the heads of the seated people, some of the previous discordant voices did not dare even let out a squeak. 

Miao Jue proceeded. “For this reason alone, I, Miao Jue, am willing to take this responsibility of protecting this recipe and use it as the anchor of our Miaojia Village to make our village prosperous! This also requires the support and understanding of all you, folks. And I hope that everyone, like me, will do their best and contribute their parts to this village!”

Some villagers were swayed and soon applauded. “Good! Teacher Miao is right! Sure enough, people who read books differ from us peasants! It’s this reason!” 

“Let our village be rich! What he spoke of were indeed goos things! After that, I will grow less corn, and switch to main soybeans! Absolute responsive support!”

Seeing the lively situation below him, Miao Jue flashed a reserved smile, and his back straightened even more. “With the participation of all villagers, I believe our Miaojia Village will be better than other villages in the future!”

Another burst of enthusiastic cheers and applause waved once more. 

The village chief was also satisfied when he saw the warming of the villagers. He beamed a toothy smile and said, “Today there was still some wasteland by the edge of the village which could grow soybeans. So long as there’s a seed planted, not only this year, but Miao-xiansheng’s workshop can harvest bountifully every year! This is a long-term, profitable business! If this is not a good thing, then where can we find a good thing again?!”

Soon after, another burst of cheers and ardent discussion fired below. 

The meeting, led by the passionate will of the people, finally ended when they encircled Miao Jue and the village to ask for their whereabouts and details. 

Miao He, who has been listening to the entire drama by the side, could not help wondering if there was a possibility someone, like him, came here from the modern era as well?

The stalk of tofu puddings and the things that could make the village rich were all familiar routines. 

And if Miao He ran into them in the future, should he recognize them or not?

Seeing that Miao He had not spoken for a long time, Yang Dalang took his hand and asked, deep concern glimmered in his eyes.

Seeing that Miao He had not spoken for a long time, Yang Dalang took his hand and asked, deep concern glimmered in his eyes.

Miao He couldn’t say it, of course. He shook his head.

Second Aunt Yang stood beside them. When she turned her head toward them, she noticed Miao He’s wrist, and the mole on it had almost disappeared.

‘Ai yo, no wonder the other’s eyes always linger on the little one.’

Second Aunt Yang’s face was beaming with delight.

Brother He had asked Aunt Yang to make his clothes, so Aunt Yang had to work hard mulling over it to make it special.