Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 270. Conditions

"Hold on," Hua Chengtian gestured with his hand as he noticed Wei Dapeng still wanting to speak, and walked over to the village elders.

Although he was the village chief of Hua Village, it wasn’t a one-man rule; some matters still needed discussion with everyone.

Though he agreed, the specifics needed to be discussed with the elders.

The elders had no objections about the matter benefiting the village; not only didn’t they object, but they were quite supportive, and soon reached an agreement.

Doctor Sun and Wei Dapeng could move into the inner valley, but the housing problem would need to be resolved by themselves—renting, buying, or finding a place to build.

Although most of the open space in the inner valley was already occupied, there were still some spots near the mountain.

That area, near the valley edge where it meets the mountain, had high protective barriers. Thus, to ensure safety, wooden huts were chosen somewhat farther from the mountain. However, there was still considerable space behind the inner valley; even if they didn’t choose the edges or corners, they could still find room. Yet, wanting it too large was impossible because everything needed to be planned with foresight, leaving some leeway.

Hua Chengtian then relayed the negotiated result to Wei Dapeng and Doctor Sun.

This was certainly the best news, and both were very excited. The fact that Hua Village members accepted their entry into the inner valley was already an unexpected joy, let alone daring to hope for anything else; they were busy with gratitude.

"We’ll buy," Wei Dapeng hurriedly said, "Can we use silver? We don’t have much grain."

But he said the last part with some hesitation because he heard that for a house, not only silver coins but also grain was needed.

Your family opens a liquor shop, and frequently he leads a team to build houses for others; truly not living in poverty, he has quite a bit of silver besides the scattered silver taken by robbers during resistance, and also brought hidden extras.

Wei Dapeng’s words mirrored what Doctor Sun wanted to ask, so he nodded hurriedly and mentioned buying.

Having run the clinic for years, it’s impossible not to have savings; his wife had sewn some into their clothes, but not much that was edible.

Thinking of the mother of his children, Doctor Sun couldn’t help but feel sorrowful, blaming himself; if only she had persisted.

"Yes," Hua Chengtian nodded, not intending for them to buy with grain, since if they had grain, they wouldn’t be struggling so.

Ultimately, they sold two wooden cabins for fifteen taels to each family.

Not low, but not high either, considering the wood alone for the cabins was a lot of work, costing more than mud brick but less than standard brick and stone houses.

Both agreed without issue, as the price was lower than they had expected.

Eager to finalize the cabin, they rushed back to their respective caves.

As for the Zeng family members, seeing Hua Chengtian approach, they hastily avoided him.

The third family’s wife was fierce, and her brother even more so; they were a force to be reckoned with. Today, they only dared to confront the third wife because her brother and father were absent.

Watching everything unfold, they envied how the Sun and Wei families could enter the inner valley, but sadly lacked capabilities; besides farming skills, which all farmers possessed.

Playing sly wasn’t an option unless they wanted to be expelled.

Compared to the Zeng family, the Liu brothers were much smarter; upon arriving, they sought Liu Xiang’s family, embracing their parents with tears, their emaciated state proving their pitiable condition.

Though seemingly wanting refuge, they learned enough from hardship to read expressions; the cold stares from the elderly couple showed they wouldn’t agree, so they settled for borrowing grain.

Borrowing grain guaranteed shelter, regardless of where they stayed.

This approach was wiser—not asking but borrowing.

Faced with such humbling siblings, despite Hua Fang and his wife trying hard, they couldn’t stiffen their hearts.

Perhaps because he was the youngest and more pampered by his parents, while his two elder brothers married earlier, focusing on their own families, possibly swayed by their wives, they guarded against him.

Childhood was better with the two brothers, but who knew relations would sour as they grew older?

No matter what, the eldest cared well for their parents, and even the second brother didn’t fail yearly in providing them grain and financial support. Liu Xiang couldn’t bear to allow them to suffer, considering their parents’ well-being.

The couple discussed and each lent ten pounds of coarse grain, thirty pounds of sweet potatoes, and twenty pounds of potatoes, sufficient to get them through the immediate crisis.

Too much might nurture their ambition; this amount was just right. Noticing their serious frailty, no unreasonable demands, each family also received a smoked rabbit, winter-pickled wild boar, and half a pound of coarse salt.

Liu Xiang worried they might consume it immediately, advising them to wait until after recuperation before eating meat.

Perhaps it had been ages since they heard such caring words; Liu the elder and Liu the second were reminded of how they doted on their younger brother when he was little, eyes suddenly turning red.

They visited with intent to take advantage, yet their clever younger brother realized this, but still lent them grain and gave them meat. Even the brother’s wife, who usually disliked them, gave some clothes for their children and themselves, items urgently needed now.

Adversity reveals true feelings; the Liu brothers self-reflected, and with their younger brother’s couple’s help, found caves to live in and shared meals at the younger brother’s home.

Life was visibly better than the Zeng family’s.

News of Hua Village selling grain and seeds spread rapidly among the dozen households, akin to a heavenly cake falling, excitement overwhelming.

With seeds, there’s hope; they now had something to strive for.

Following Wei Dapeng, Doctor Sun spread news of conditions for entering the inner valley, sparking excitement anew.

"Dear husband... did you hear?" A scrawny woman, previously a genteel-looking one judging by her big eyes and cheekbones, eagerly asked her husband.

The man nodded, standing despite his emaciated state with a trace of elegance.

"Should we try?" The woman looked at him expectantly.

"Let’s go," the man resolutely said, aware he held the title of Scholar and taught at the town’s academy, qualifying him as having special skills perhaps.

If they entered Hua Village’s inner valley, other opportunities might arise.

In thirty years, he hadn’t done anything besides reading and teaching; his wife never farmed, and the disaster’s end was uncertain, causing them worry.

Nearby another family discussed matters; they previously ran a pig-killing shop in town, living moderately well, uncertain if pig-killing counted as a special skill.

Compared to others, their living situation was somewhat better, at least appearing less frail, with a hint of fierceness, suggesting a force not to be trifled with.

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦