Chapter 126

Chapter 126

Xiao Jingmo had divided everyone into groups in advance according to the valley’s population register.

The first group of forty people went onto the platform in turn to draw lots.

The first person was an elderly man who appeared to be in his early fifties, though he was actually only forty.

The man stepped forward and bowed to both Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Che. Only then did he approach the bamboo tube and draw out a slip with a trembling hand.

Unable to read, he handed the bamboo slip to Xiao Jinghao, who stood nearby announcing the lots.

“Number seventy.”

As soon as Xiao Jinghao spoke, everyone turned to look at Xiao Jingmo.

They watched him carry a charcoal pencil over to the survey map and draw a circle around plot number seventy.

Then he lowered his head, found the old man’s name in his register, and recorded the number beside it.

Only then did the old man step forward and ask, “Second Young Master, what kind of land did I receive?”

Xiao Jingmo smiled. “Congratulations, Old Sir. Your plot has fertile soil, lies close to the water, and faces the sun. It is first-rate land.”

Overjoyed, the old man bowed to Xiao Jingmo again. He then straightened, turned toward the small shrine on the western slope, and knelt from afar, knocking his head against the ground three times.

Xiao Jingmo helped the old man to his feet.

“Old Sir, this plot belongs to your family from now on. Be sure to tend it well.”

The old man nodded repeatedly.

“Rest assured, Second Young Master. I’ll value this land more than my own life. I’ll grow as many crops as I can and pay more taxes to the valley.”

After the old man started them off with such a lucky draw, those behind him grew even more excited.

It took the entire morning to draw all the lots. Inevitably, some rejoiced while others worried.

“My family’s fields are so far from the water. How are we supposed to irrigate them?”

“My family’s land lies in shadow for half the day. Without enough sunlight, our crops certainly won’t grow as well as other people’s.”

Naturally, the families who drew poor plots had complaints, but all their grievances vanished after Xiao Che spoke.

“Everyone, I trust you have all received your land. Some plots are good and some are poor, but there is no need to worry too much.

“We will arrange for people to dig irrigation channels and do our best to make watering convenient for everyone. In addition, we will implement a rotation system for the land.”

Xiao Che’s words caused an immediate uproar. Everyone looked at one another, wondering what this rotation system entailed.

Xiao Che did not keep them waiting and continued explaining. “All our land is collectively owned, so no family should suffer a lifetime of disadvantage. We have decided that the land will rotate every ten years. After ten years, everyone will draw lots again to select new plots. That will be fairer to all.”

Most people supported this method.

Since Xiao Che had promised to dig irrigation channels, the problem of water was essentially solved. Soil improved through careful cultivation, so at worst they could prepare more fertilizer and gradually enrich poor land. Sunlight, however, was one problem they truly had no way to solve.

Fortunately, the shaded plots did not go without sunlight all day. They still received half a day’s sun. It would have an effect, but one they could accept.

Next, everyone was led away to identify their own plots.

Only then did they discover that the once-empty fields were now covered with clumps of dirt in all sizes.

Many people did not recognize them, but they were also the new staple food Xiao Che intended to introduce.

“These clumps you see before you will be our staple food in the future.

“They are called potatoes. Their yield is at least one thousand jin per mu, and they can be eaten as either a vegetable or a staple.”

As soon as Xiao Che announced the yield, the crowd erupted.

The soil of the Northern Frontier was considered fertile, yet wheat produced no more than four hundred jin per mu. Could these clumps of dirt truly yield one thousand jin?

Were they dreaming?

Some people had already curiously picked up potatoes and weighed them in their hands.

“This thing is rather heavy.”

“How do you eat it? I’ve never seen one before.”

Xiao Che bent down and picked up a large potato, drew a dagger from his waist, and gently pared away a thin layer of skin.

The pale yellow flesh beneath was revealed.

“Do you see? Its skin is very thin, especially on potatoes freshly dug from the soil. You need only peel away this outermost layer gently with your fingers, and everything inside can be eaten.”

Many people followed Xiao Che’s instructions. Sure enough, a large piece of the outer skin peeled away easily, revealing a smooth inner layer covered in extremely tiny bumps.

“You mean… everything inside can be eaten? That’s far easier to prepare than the wheat we grow. Wheat has to be threshed and ground, but potatoes only need to be dug from the earth.”

“But how do we eat them?”

Someone took a curious bite. A flavor he had never tasted spread through his mouth, accompanied by a small amount of juice.

“You cannot eat them raw. They must be cooked first.”

Xiao Che hurriedly stopped those who were gnawing at them indiscriminately.

Startled, everyone quickly spat out the potato in their mouths.

It had been too dark the previous night for Xiao Che to see exactly how many potatoes Jin Bao had planted. Now, in broad daylight, he saw them packed densely through the grass, stretching beyond sight.
Before the land could be allocated, all these potatoes had to be transported back to the storehouse.

With so many people gathered that day, Xiao Che gave the order, and the Shadow Guards arrived with reindeer-drawn carts carrying baskets.

Everyone worked together, hauling potatoes for an entire day and night before they finally stored them all away.

Xiao Jingmo weighed and recorded them nearby. Every bit of grain entering or leaving the storehouse had to pass through his hands.

The final calculation came to more than sixty thousand jin of potatoes.

Sixty thousand jin of food would feed the valley’s soldiers for more than two months.

Together with the dried fish they had stored earlier and the grain seized from outside, there was no great need to worry.

Once the potatoes had been transported away, Xiao Jingmo continued allocating the fields.

Following the markings on the survey map, he personally led people in measuring the land once more. Each plot received a sign bearing the corresponding number, and a ring of red earth was scattered around it to mark its boundaries.

Everyone took the signed lot they had drawn to Xiao Jingmo to collect their land deed.

With that, they formally possessed land of their own.

After two busy days, the land allocation finally came to an end. The next task was forging farming tools for everyone.

Without suitable tools, how long would it take to reclaim so much land?

The Awakening of Insects had already passed. Digging it up bit by bit each day by hand was clearly impractical.

Xiao Che had brought back more than two thousand soldiers of the Black Pine Army, but space in the valley was limited, so he had sent them all to mine. That allowed the villagers and valley residents to devote themselves entirely to spring planting.

However, Xie Chengyan had not yet returned with craftsmen skilled at smelting iron. Even once they arrived, they could not immediately forge enough hoes, shovels, and other tools for more than a thousand people to use at once.

If only they had cattle and plows. Yet at present, acquiring either was nothing more than a fantasy.

At least one major matter had been settled that day: the land had finally been allocated.

After the crowd dispersed, there was no more excitement for Jin Bao to watch. Everyone returned to their posts to earn points.

Xiao Che, Xiao Jingmo, Old Han, and Xu Huaijin went to the council chamber.

With nothing else to do, Jin Bao followed them to join the excitement.

She held her little wooden ball. Uncle Wang had made it for her. His name was Wang Dayan, a carpenter and one of the exiles.

He had once caused trouble after drinking, quarreled with the master of the household he worked for, and injured him. His master reported him to the authorities, and he was exiled to the Northern Frontier.

Despite that, Wang Dayan was a very honest and simple man.

Jin Bao loved pestering him to make toys for her.

She had Wang Dayan reproduce every toy she had seen on television in her previous life and in the orphanage. Some came out almost exactly right. Others were beyond his understanding and fell short of her expectations. Jin Bao, however, never spoiled anyone’s enthusiasm and loved them all regardless.

Now Jin Bao’s toys lay everywhere in Pei Wanqing’s room, often leaving nowhere to step.

Jin Bao carried her little wooden ball into the council chamber.

The table in the council chamber had been made by Carpenter Wang and was a low table.

The floor was laid with wooden planks, with animal-hide rugs spread across them.

Everyone removed their shoes upon entering and sat on the animal hides around the low table to discuss matters.

Jin Bao loved playing on the rugs most of all.

She flung her little shoes off carelessly, then pattered over to Xiao Jingmo.

At first, she sat with an impressively serious air and listened to the adults discuss their affairs.

But she could not sit still for long. Soon she grew restless, stuck her little bottom in the air, and sprawled on the rug rolling her ball.

At other times, she lay on her back on the rug holding the wooden ball, raised both feet high, and balanced it on her toes.

By the time she tired herself out and wanted a drink of water, she happened to hear Old Han say, “If only we had draft cattle. Once the blacksmith arrives, we should have him forge several plows first. That way, the spring planting won’t be delayed.”

Jin Bao tilted her head and took a sip of water.

“Baby knows where there are moo-moos. Lots of them.”

Jin Bao licked her damp pink lips and spoke with sparkling eyes.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Old Han reacted first.

“Valley Master, the cattle the Young Miss mentioned must be wild cattle. There should be a herd somewhere in Black Pine Forest. We would have difficulty tracking them, but the Young Miss should be able to find them.”

Xiao Che and Xiao Jingmo knew Jin Bao held a map of the entire Black Pine Forest in her mind, so it was no surprise that she knew of cattle. Wild cattle, however, were difficult to tame – far more difficult than horses.

But they had no other choice. Draft cattle were strictly controlled in the Northern Frontier and none were available for sale.

Every head of cattle was registered. Even with silver, they could not obtain draft cattle without the right connections. Moreover, they needed more than one or two – they needed over a dozen.

Xiao Che prepared to take ten Shadow Guards and bring the wild cattle back.

“That will be all for today’s discussion. I’ll take Jin Bao to find the cattle and do my best to bring the herd back.”
As Xiao Che spoke, he rose at once, bent down, and picked up Jin Bao.

“Daughter, show Daddy the way. We’ll set out now.”

Jin Bao nodded, then added, “Daddy, bring food. It’s far.”

“Father, prepare everything else first. I’ll find Mother and ask her to prepare provisions.”

Xiao Jingmo looked at Jin Bao and asked, “Little Sister, roughly how many days will the round trip take?”

Jin Bao thought for a moment and held up five fingers.

“Five days, maybe.”

Xiao Jingmo nodded.

Father and son split up to make preparations.

Xiao Che took Jin Bao to find Ye Qi and the others.

They also needed to prepare sleds and Snow Mastiffs for the journey.

Old Han busied himself as well, preparing useful tools for Xiao Che.

Taming wild cattle would be extremely difficult, but suitable tools could reduce many needless casualties.

Xiao Jingmo found Pei Wanqing and told her that Xiao Che and Jin Bao were leaving the valley on another long journey.

Pei Wanqing had grown accustomed to the father and daughter leaving the valley every so often.

She said nothing and silently prepared food and clothing for them.

Half an hour later, Xiao Che assembled ten Shadow Guards, set out on sleds, and took Jin Bao deeper into Black Pine Forest.

In early spring, the snow in Black Pine Forest had yet to melt.

Whenever the cold wind swept past, the icicles hanging from the pines chimed against one another.

The snow beneath them alternated between soft and hard. If a Snow Mastiff accidentally plunged into a hidden snow pit, the entire sled and everyone aboard would overturn with it.

Xiao Che kept the Snow Mastiffs at a slower pace. After nearly a full day’s travel, they were already more than a hundred li from Black Pine Valley.

The next morning, as dawn spilled into Black Pine Forest, Xiao Che set out again with Jin Bao.

“Daddy, go that way.”

Jin Bao pointed her small hand toward the front left.

Xiao Che followed her finger with his gaze, but saw only densely packed pine trees and endless white snow covering the ground.

Without another word, Xiao Che followed Jin Bao’s directions and continued northwest.

After another half day, Jin Bao suddenly pointed at tracks in the snow. Her little face flushed red, she tipped up her head to look at Xiao Che.

“Daddy, look! Footprints. Big and round.”

Xiao Che hurriedly looked where she pointed. Sure enough, he saw a jumble of tracks that appeared to have been left by large animals. However, the marks were no longer fresh and had likely been there for some time.

Fortunately, no snow had fallen in Black Pine Forest for the past few days, so the tracks had not been covered.

“Follow the tracks.”

Xiao Che glanced back at the Shadow Guards behind him.

Ye Qi nodded, drew up the reins again, and followed Xiao Che as they raced along the tracks.

The sky gradually darkened.

The forest grew colder, and Jin Bao’s breath formed a layer of frost on her long eyelashes.

Xiao Che checked the time. They could pursue the herd no longer; traveling through the forest at night was too dangerous.

He asked Jin Bao to locate a small cave along their route.

They would spend the night there.

Ye Qi tethered all the Snow Mastiffs to pine trees not far from the cave entrance.

Ye Ba lit a bonfire inside the cave.

The other Shadow Guards busied themselves with their respective tasks.

Some brought clay pots to boil water, some began warming their dry provisions, and others spread animal-hide bedding on the ground.

Xiao Che held Jin Bao and wrapped her snugly in a fur coat until only her flushed little face showed.

After dinner, Jin Bao fell asleep.

But just after midnight, she suddenly opened her eyes and stirred in Xiao Che’s arms.

The instant she moved, Xiao Che opened his eyes.

“Daughter, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Jin Bao shook her head. “Daddy, a tiger is coming.”

Xiao Che immediately sat up holding Jin Bao. The other Shadow Guards sprang to their feet as well, each gripping a weapon and standing on high alert.

“Daughter, where is the tiger?”

Xiao Che looked toward the cave entrance. The Snow Mastiffs were already growing agitated. Had they not been tethered by their reins, they would likely have fled by now.

Jin Bao raised a hand and pointed southwest of the cave entrance.

“Over there. It’s coming toward us.”

Jin Bao was not afraid. After all, she had once thrown a tiger away with her bare hands.

This tiger was nothing to fear either. But not everyone possessed her immense strength, and she worried Uncle Ye Qi and the others might be hurt.

“Daddy, should Baby go chase the tiger away?”

Xiao Che gently pinched Jin Bao’s little cheek.

“No. Unless we eliminate this tiger, the herd of wild cattle will keep migrating. Animals have their own territories. Judging from the herd’s tracks, they may be fleeing from this very tiger.”

Only half understanding, Jin Bao nodded her little head.

“Roar-”

The tiger abruptly let out a tremendous roar. The Snow Mastiffs became even more agitated and struggled ceaselessly against their tethers.

The forest was so quiet that only the wind stirring the icicles could be heard.