"Of course, everyone can eat, and not just for one meal. From now on, everyone will have enough to eat."
Gu Qingcheng showed generosity to the new villagers of Phoenix Village.
She had the villagers who had finished eating line up to have their rice rations registered one by one.
Their names, original household registration details, and other information needed to be recorded for management.
Luo Juan and Wang Daya selected a few diligent and clean-looking women to continue cooking and stir-frying.
For these refugees, nothing was more reassuring than the aroma of food.
"After dinner today, everyone pack up and head to our Phoenix Village. You will be the masters there from now on."
In Gu Qingcheng's eyes, these two hundred or so people were the lucky ones before the great disaster, possessing immense good fortune.
Dai Fa, looking at the two hundred or so people he had recruited, said to Gu Qingcheng:
"Young Master Gu, these people consume a large amount of food just by eating every day. Should we buy more grain to take up the mountain?"
Once they reached the mountain, there would be nothing there. They couldn't possibly have them gnaw on grass roots and bark, could they? They would surely run away in a few days.
"Uncle Dai, I was just about to discuss this with you. I'll leave this matter to you. Please procure ten catties of grain for each person. Also, purchase some oil, salt, and flour."
Gu Qingcheng said.
"But how will we get so much grain up the mountain?" Dai Fa asked, troubled.
"Distribute the grain to each person. Everyone will carry their own ten catties of grain. Once we reach the mountain, we won't have communal cooking. They can cook for themselves. Ten catties of grain should last for twenty days."
"Alright."
Dai Fa actually felt that ten catties of rice for twenty days was too much.
Currently, one person only needed three liang of rice, or even one liang, per day. This was because everyone was cooking porridge with only a few grains of rice and large amounts of wild vegetables to fill their stomachs. How many could afford to eat pure grain?
Young Master Gu's calculation was clearly based on the rate of consuming pure grain.
However, since Young Master Gu had his own plans, Dai Fa didn't say much more. If Gu Qingcheng felt they were eating too much later, he would likely adjust the grain distribution.
Currently, one shi of rice was about one tael of silver. One shi was equivalent to 118 catties. With over two hundred villagers, purchasing about twenty-five shi of grain would be sufficient, costing about twenty-five taels of silver.
Of course, the communal store also needed to stock some grain for emergencies.
Gu Qingcheng gave Dai Fa one hundred taels of silver to purchase grain. The remaining silver was for buying salt, oil, and grain, as well as farming tools like hoes and sickles.
Dai Fa was surprised by Gu Qingcheng's generosity, especially for him to prepare more salt.
Salt was generally considered a necessity, but because it was expensive, the poor could choose whether to eat it or not.
Without salt, one felt listless; with salt, one felt energetic.
However, most poor people would choose not to buy salt because not eating salt wouldn't kill them immediately. What else could they do if they had no money?
Gu Qingcheng also instructed Dai Fa to buy some cured meat to take up the mountain. Although she had a large supply of such goods in her storage cabinet, if they didn't purchase it, she wouldn't be able to explain where the cured meat came from once they were on the mountain.
Dai Fa felt a pang of regret at the thought of spending so much silver, but knowing that it was necessary to win people's hearts, he understood the need to feed everyone well. He took the money and, with seven or eight newly recruited men, went to the city to make purchases.
They were not far from the city, and within an hour, Dai Fa returned. The shop owner, because they were buying so much, even helped them transport the grain and oil using a small cart.
Gu Qingcheng gathered the villagers who had eaten their fill and were waiting to depart.
"We are going to Phoenix Village soon. Before we leave, there are a few things I need to say to everyone.
We now have a total of two hundred and ten people. I will divide you into groups of about twenty, forming five small teams. Each team will have a team leader. From now on, the team leader will report all matters to me daily, and the tasks I assign will be communicated to everyone through the team leader."
The crowd did not object.
So, Gu Qingcheng divided them into five small teams. One of these teams comprised all the women, while the other four teams were exclusively for men.
After the teams were formed, Gu Qingcheng selected one person from each team who appeared to be astute and capable to be the team leader.
Next, everyone stood together according to their respective teams to listen to Gu Qingcheng's address.
"The teams have been formed. You must remember which team you belong to. From now on, your team leader will convey my instructions and assign you tasks. You must obey them. Of course, if they make mistakes, you can report them promptly, and I will make adjustments and replacements at any time.
Village Chief Dai has already purchased the grain from the city. Ten catties per person, enough for twenty days. It will be distributed to you. You must protect your grain well, as it cannot be replenished if lost.
For now, team leaders can receive one extra catty of rice compared to everyone else."
As soon as Gu Qingcheng finished speaking, the crowd erupted.
They had never expected that the first benefit of joining Phoenix Village would be delivered so soon.
Young Master Gu was actually giving them ten catties of rice each?
Without doing anything, they were being given ten catties of rice out of thin air?
In this day and age, nothing was more precious than grain. One catty of rice was comparable to gold, and Young Master Gu was giving out ten catties at once?
Such a generous gesture stunned everyone, and they dared not believe their ears. Some thought they had misheard and quickly fiddled with their ears, then asked the person next to them:
"Are they giving out ten catties of rice per person? Did I hear that wrong?"
"You didn't mishear. It's ten catties per person. But even though I didn't mishear, it feels like a dream!"
Of course, they had not misheard, nor were they dreaming. After speaking, Gu Qingcheng began distributing the ten-catty portions of rice to each person, instructing them to keep it safe.
As for whether they would cook individually, as a family unit, or in groups, that was up to them to decide.
In any case, this was a twenty-day supply. They would only receive more rice after twenty days. How much rice they used for cooking was up to them, and Gu Qingcheng would not interfere.
If they wanted to eat more, they would go hungry when the rice ran out. If they were thrifty with each meal, they could save a lot of rice and occasionally have a rice meal to satisfy their cravings.
Furthermore, to the villagers' surprise, each person also received a small jar of oil, one catty of cured meat, and one liang of salt.
These people had originally possessed nothing, and besides gnawing on grass roots, they were close to eating clay to fill their stomachs. Seeing the meat, grain, and salt they received, they felt as if they had transformed from beggars to rich men. They were stunned by the supplies in their hands, their hands trembling with excitement.
Of course, Dai Fa was also momentarily bewildered.
He had never expected Gu Qingcheng to address him as Village Chief Dai.
Then, what about Gu Qingcheng herself?
Was she not in charge of Phoenix Village?
Seeing Gu Qingcheng so busy, Dai Fa decided to refrain from asking for now.
Gu Qingcheng said:
"Fellow villagers, we have not yet reached Phoenix Village. Once we get the houses sorted out there, we will also distribute clothing and quilts. As long as you work hard, I will not let you suffer!"
The villagers erupted in cheers, their acclamations echoing endlessly.