Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 1988 - 1996: Fated to Meet Across a Thousand Miles (Part 6)

Recently, the clan leader assigned each family the task of raising chickens and ducks. Once they’re grown, they are collected and distributed among the clan members, saving a significant amount of silver from purchases. However, no matter how it’s done, absolute fairness is impossible. The chickens and ducks raised by the clan and those bought vary in size and fatness. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

A few years ago, many clan members struggled with hunger, but ever since planting the seeds given by the Empress Dowager, they not only have enough to eat but also eat well. Families have saved up silver, and even the elderly without children need not worry about being unsupported; all expenses are covered by the clan.

People always have some vested interests. The clan leader hopes clan members can be of one heart and not fuss over small profits and personal gains. The clan will do its best in matters, but perfection is unattainable. Missing something amounts to just one meal. Men are easygoing, but it’s the small-minded women that might stir trouble.

Clan members aren’t without thoughts. On a pig, there is a lot of meat. If you love pork belly, you may not always find it, perhaps ending up with lean meat lacking oils. This is often just determined by chance.

"Clan leader, you don’t need to worry about this. Our life has improved now; these three gourds and two dates aren’t worth fussing over. Making a commotion over trivial matters would disgrace the Empress Dowager. We, after all, are her own family; how could we stoop so low?"

The stingiest among the clan, Baozi’s mother, publicly expressed her stance. She used to always exploit others, never missing even a radish or garlic. At its root, the family was poor and often hungry, always trying to save more and accumulate silver money.

But as the years passed, her reputation soured, and no silver money was amassed. In the cold December days, she refrained from using the charcoal basin for warmth, opting for wood; consequently, she developed ailments like sporadic back pain, spending all saved copper coins on soup medicine, which couldn’t cure her.

When the clan leader held a meeting, Baozi’s mother was most affected, standing before the clan, admitting her small-mindedness. She realized that silver isn’t saved but earned, especially with the Empress Dowager’s backing. Why should clan members worry about having good days ahead?

After Fat Aunt’s stance, a few people known for bickering publicly reconciled, replacing liquor with tea, animosity dissolved, and feelings harmonized. Previously facing each other like enemies, they began nodding and smiling upon meeting.

Seeing this, I was deeply moved. I feel that holding a clan meeting not only distributes money and rice to clan members but also instills a spirit—a unity. Plainly put, it’s about brainwashing. Mu family’s interests are paramount; we are family, one ancestor, must work together. As long as the clan thrives, no family will want for food or clothing, and good days will be guaranteed!

The next day, I asked Niqiu to buy incense, candles, and paper horses in the town. After bathing and dressing at Third Uncle’s house, I went to pay respects at the Mu family ancestors’ shrine, also leaving behind three hundred taels of silver to ask them to look after Mu Chongfu and Mu Chongwen.

Although the two had treated us badly in the past, as a child I wished to kill them, but yesterday’s clan meeting deeply affected me. Regardless, everyone belongs to the Mu family; you can’t write the Mu name without two Mu characters. The past has passed, they’ve been punished, so let’s not fuss over it...

In the afternoon, I left Mu Family Village and headed to the south side. While studying at the Royal Academy, I befriended the son of the Princess Zhao Qing, Dong Qi. Five years ago, Princess Zhao Qing moved with her Son-in-law to their old home in Tongzhou, and Dong Qi followed them there.