Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 1049: Chapter 960: Official of the First Rank 21

Certainly! Here’s the translation based on the provided text:

Although Murong Shuangshuang was careful and secretive when exchanging silver, she was still spotted by some observant individuals. Indeed, someone came to rob her on the road, but Murong Shuangshuang dealt with them swiftly and mercilessly.

These people are habitual offenders, scouting within the city and then extorting outside. Every time they strike, they leave no survivors, engaging in deadly business. Thus, Murong Shuangshuang felt no psychological burden for killing them.

This time, Murong Shuangshuang didn’t just transport silver home; she also bought many things to bring back home. Ten bolts of fine cloth for making clothes, a lot of refined rice grains, plenty of cakes and nuts, and coincidentally the sellers offered beef.

Originally, the court had rules that draft cattle couldn’t be slaughtered, but today, this law is rarely adhered to. This cow was just freshly slaughtered. After the government officials took several pounds as a bribe, permission to sell was granted.

Murong Shuangshuang passed by right when the sale began, and no one had bought any yet. Murong Shuangshuang immediately paid to round up her purchase. She bought the whole cow, except for the few pounds that were given to bribe the officials.

A whole cow was placed on the cart to be hauled back to the village. Though accustomed to eating meat, the villagers still gazed enviously at the beef Murong Shuangshuang brought back; beef, the villagers had never tasted it in their lives and didn’t know what it tasted like.

Despite the craving, no one schemed for the beef. Instead, Murong Shuangshuang brought the cow to the place where villagers received their daily meat porridge. Right there, she handed over the bones, along with the cow’s head, tail, and entrails, to the few tasked with meat preparation.

Murong Shuangshuang instructed them to boil a pot of beef bone stew to satisfy everyone’s craving, while she took the remaining beef home to prepare dried beef, which can be preserved for a long time and is especially fragrant when grilled.

This beef feast wasn’t just for the elderly of Yu Family Village. People from the newly joined villages could also partake. These days, the newcomers knew that Yu Family Village people ate meat every day.

Every day, as they smelled the meat aroma, these people were already craving heavily, but dared not wishfully expect to taste meat themselves. Though missing out on meat, they understood why Yu Family Village’s livelihood was better than theirs.

In fact, what Yu Family Village residents most enjoyed was boasting about their good days to outsiders, praising Murong Shuangshuang for being so capable and powerful, leading them to a prosperous life.

Now, even before Murong Shuangshuang met these newcomers, she had already established an extremely lofty image in their hearts. Without much effort from Murong Shuangshuang, these people had naturally become her loyal followers.

Previously, Murong Shuangshuang went to the county to gift the County Magistrate, uncertain whether the villages could truly merge into Yu Family Village, so Yu Family Village didn’t treat them as part of their own.

Now Murong Shuangshuang had returned and confirmed that these people could join the village. Naturally, they should receive the same benefits as the villagers, eating meat, nourishing themselves, and participating in training.

Murong Shuangshuang hoped more people would join Yu Family Village, as in future chaotic times, trusted confidants are invaluable. With the inclusion of outsiders, Yu Family Village’s population now exceeds five thousand.

Ancient times differ from modern days; where elderly and youth quantities are more equal, ancient times’ high mortality rates meant the number of able-bodied men far exceeded the number of the frail.

Currently, of the over five thousand residents of Yu Family Village, besides the women, children, and elderly, there were over three thousand able-bodied men. These strong men were the main fighting force of Yu Family Village; though still fewer, they’re not insignificant if cultivated as core confidants.

Several large pots were set up together, the beef bone stew was already simmering and bubbling, its rich aroma spreading all around. Villagers, informed they could partake, and the newly joined villagers couldn’t help circling around the pots. Especially the newcomers, eagerly swallowing, wondering how this meat could smell so delicious.

Once they began eating, the original Yu Family Village residents were alright, though they hadn’t tasted beef before, they’d eaten plenty of meat recently, enjoying the freshness rather than craving meat.

The newcomers from several villages within Yu Family Village were different. They initially couldn’t believe they were actually allowed to eat meat along with everyone else. Really eating meat! Originally, they thought not being part of Yu Family Village meant at most they’d get broth if allowed to join, who knew there’d be meat even in the soup.

Noodles cooked in the meat soup, in a moment, a bowl was consumed, warming the entire body. It was so delicious one almost swallowed their tongue, not because the cooks were extraordinarily skilled, but because it’s meat, it’s flavorful.

After the meal, all newcomers to Yu Family Village no longer harbored outside thoughts; the people genuinely accepted them and offered meat. If they weren’t sincere now, they’d be ungrateful. One meal gathered hearts previously scattered apart.

Despite the undesirable aspects of people at the time, like being easily manipulated, ignorant, stubborn, feudal, and favoring men over women, there were also admirable qualities, appreciation, loyalty, and being easily won over.

After the meal, it was time to discuss land cultivation following the villages’ merger. These villages weren’t far from Yu Family Village; otherwise, they wouldn’t have wanted to merge too. The fields were adjacent, and during daily work, nearby villagers would often work together, chat, and become well acquainted.

Murong Shuangshuang decided to cultivate untouched land between the villages and plant crops. In the first two years, the newly cultivated land had much grass, yield was poor, but taxes were equivalent to regular land, which made villagers fearful of cultivating new land.

With Murong Shuangshuang enjoying tax exemptions, it’s the perfect time to cultivate the land. By the time tax collection comes around, the land will be matured and equivalent to regular land. With connected fields, everyone living together, it’s convenient for management and training.

Building new houses isn’t difficult. Making a batch of earth bricks when time allows during training, and everyone working together could soon erect the houses.

Murong Shuangshuang considered that the busiest farming times were only during spring planting and autumn harvesting. Every veteran household in Yu Family Village owns a horse, and when the new villagers provide fodder, the families with carts could transport people for farming.

Most would live together during ordinary times. Come spring planting and autumn harvesting, training would pause for returning home to farm. Otherwise, they train in shifts; during winter, all train fully, striving to bolster self-defense before the world descends into total chaos.

This time in training, it was no longer merely physical training. Murong Shuangshuang planned to have everyone start martial arts practice with her.

Though martial arts required talent, it was relevant only for top masters. If ordinary people are willing to train hard, martial arts are arguably least demanding of talent, for with effort, one can strengthen oneself.