On the way back, the seven or eight people in the three ox-drawn carts fell silent.
A Jiu and the village elder sat in the same cart. A Jiu stared blankly at the swinging ox tails the entire journey.
"If there's truly no other way, we'll have to find a way to get some seeds first."
The government, she couldn't count on them.
"Sigh... Ninth child, are you sure you can manage it?" The village elder was at a loss for words.
"Yes, but it will take some time." In truth, A Jiu's greatest worry now wasn't the harvest, but the way Brother Yun Hao spoke, she didn't know how long they could stay settled here.
Nan Ming Wang was so calculating, he wouldn't be like Qi Ming Wang, would he? Otherwise, it would be the common people who suffered endlessly.
"That's good, that's good." The village elder blinked and looked into the distance. "Back in the day, every inch of land here was covered in greenery, it was so beautiful. Sometimes Nan Ming Wang himself would come here incognito to hunt. It's a shame, now it's all barren."
A Jiu said nothing. As the ox cart, pulling the flatbed cart, creaked and groaned back to the village, the setting sun cast its glow once more.
A large group of villagers were waiting at the entrance to the village.
"The village elder is back, quickly ask him how it went."
The two ox carts behind them stopped, and eight or nine villagers jumped down, their heads bowed.
Their appearance clearly indicated that their mission had failed.
"Elder Grandfather, I'm going back first. If there's a way to get seeds, I'll notify you then."
A Jiu lowered her head, knowing that the village elder was immediately surrounded by a crowd as soon as he got off the cart and had no chance to attend to her.
The matter of the government distributing grain had fallen through. She had to hurry home to see if her fruit had been exchanged for grain.
Upon entering the house.
"Ninth Sister, you're finally back."
The first person to greet her was Tuoba Yan. A Jiu knew immediately that this was good news.
Her unhappy mood from the trip vanished instantly.
"Little Yan Yan, did you help me exchange for grain?"
"Of course. Zhao Kun ran to the city gate to find me. It just so happened I was on patrol. Knowing it was for Ninth Sister's sake, I naturally rushed to handle it."
Tuoba Yan had finally found an opportunity where Ninth Sister needed his help, so as soon as he received the news, he took leave to attend to it.
"Where is it?" A Jiu was overjoyed.
"Here." Tuoba Yan happily led her into the east room and pulled out a large sack from under the bed.
It looked to be at least three to four hundred catties. "So much?"
It was almost unbelievable. The last time it was only a hundred catties or so.
"Of course." Tuoba Yan patted his chest and said, "Half was left for the higher-ups. As for the other half, our colleagues all wanted to try the fruit they were too unfortunate to taste. So, one pomegranate for eight catties of wheat, one watermelon for fifty catties of wheat. Everyone brought their own from home to contribute. I really didn't expect this method to be more cost-effective than exchanging for government grain."
As Tuoba Yan proudly explained, A Jiu's eyes brightened.
"This... aren't you pricing it too high?" A Jiu still felt that grain was more valuable these days.
"Not at all, not at all." Tuoba Yan crossed his arms, his face beaming with pride. "There are still those who didn't get any, and they also want to exchange some to build connections."
"Really?" A Jiu's smile was beaming. She was happy from the bottom of her heart.
"Really, A Jiu. The fruits you grow are rare treasures. You have no idea how many people are envious!"
Tuoba Yan performed with great animation.
A Jiu suddenly thought of something. "Eh, where are my parents and aunt?" A Jiu found the courtyard unusually quiet.
"Oh, they've gone to the fields. I heard someone was digging up the seeds in your field yesterday, so Uncle and Aunt have gone to watch."
Tuoba Yan had seen them on the village road when he arrived.
"Right, Ninth Sister, I've returned the ox to you. If I hadn't been firm, those beasts would have been clamoring for meat all day."
"No way." A Jiu stood in the courtyard and looked towards the cowshed. Thankfully, Grandpa Niu's oxen were unharmed.
"Ninth Sister, is there anything else you need my help with? Quickly, tell me." Tuoba Yan pressed on.
"Not for now."
As soon as A Jiu finished speaking, there was a knock on the door.
Before A Jiu could open it, she heard a hubbub of voices outside. The village elder's voice carried in, "When you enter the courtyard later, all of you speak less. Don't scare the girl."