Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

After seeing Zhao Yunxia off, the whole family fell silent.

After a long while, Ji Yongling finally spoke: "Grandpa, I'd like to give each child in the village a dose of deworming medicine. What do you think?"

Ji Yongling knew that in this era, there were bound to be many people infected with pork tapeworm, and the children in the village were all at potential risk of infection. Now that she was here and had the medicine, she should do something.

Grandpa Ji took a puff of his pipe, remained silent for a moment, and said, "This is a good thing, but there are many children in the village. How much of your medicine powder do you have left? If you're going to distribute it, you have to make sure every child has some. It would be too embarrassing if you had some but others didn't."

Ji Yongling wanted to say that the medicines in the reserve warehouse and medical warehouse were intended to supply a province with hundreds of millions of people, so there was no need to worry about the quantity.

However, considering that even the largest supply of medicine will eventually run out, she decided to be conservative, saying, "Grandma Liu gave us quite a lot, enough for the children in the village. But I'm worried that all the villagers' relatives will come asking for more, and then there won't be enough left. Who will get it then, and who won't?"

Ji Manchuan hadn't actually expected that these medicines came from the so-called Tiancang. He also thought they were left behind by Granny Liu, so he said, "Logically speaking, these were given to you by Granny Liu. You can divide them however you want, and no one can say anything. But I'm afraid that someone will feel it's unfair and cause trouble, which would turn a good thing into a bad thing."

“Your father is right. When the time comes, if anyone is unreasonable, your fourth uncle will smash them to death with a hammer!” Ji Manqing nodded vigorously and said to Ji Yongling.

Ji Yongling was both amused and exasperated: "Fourth Uncle, it's not that bad."

Ji Manchuan glanced at Ji Manqing, crossed his arms, and said disdainfully, "Who can you kill with that hammer? If something happens, won't I be the one to step in and beat someone up for you?"

Ji Manqing snorted and said, "That was when they were kids and they outnumbered the enemy. Now look at this Niujiazhuang, anyone who dares to fight me, I'll either smash them to death with one hammer or stomp them to death with two feet!"

Grandpa Ji cleared his throat and said, "Let's get down to business!"

"Then we'll give them to the kids in the village for free. Adults or people from other villages can buy them with money." Ji Yongling thought that since ancient times, most people have been more concerned about inequality than scarcity. There are many stories of gratitude for a small favor and resentment for a large one.

Then let's make it public.

“Alright, it’s settled then, but the price can’t be too high. Although our family is poor, we’re doing this for the children in the village, to do some good deeds and accumulate some virtue. We’re not doing this for money. Besides, we’re all farmers, and we’re all broke.” Old Master Ji made the decision.

Ji Yongling was unfamiliar with prices and didn't know how much to set, so she looked at Ji Manchuan.

Ji Manchuan thought for a moment and said, "Two coins a serving, that's all. We're all from the same village, just a small token."

Once the matter was settled, Ji Manchuan and Ji Manqing, along with Ji Yongning and Ji Yongzhou, went to each household to inform them that everyone should bring their bowls and children to collect their medicine under the big locust tree at the village entrance the next day.

Upon hearing this, everyone was overjoyed and readily agreed. After all, every child is precious, and everyone wants their child to be healthy and strong.

The next day, before dawn, Ji Yongling climbed off the kang (a heated brick bed) to begin preparations. She wrapped the insecticide powder she had taken from the storage warehouse in leaves, tied it with dry grass used for making straw rope, and put it into a clean cage.

When Ji Yongling arrived at the big locust tree at the village entrance, quite a few people had already gathered, mostly adults with their children. The adults were chatting together, while the children were running around, chasing and playing, creating a lively scene.

This morning, Yang's hair was neatly combed, without a single stray hair. She followed Ji Yongling to the tree and immediately called out, "Line up, everyone. Each child will receive one dose of medicine. Do not drink too much. Get your medicine from Ling'er and get your water from your Uncle Manchuan over there."

In preparation for distributing the medicine this morning, Yang and Hu Xirong got up before the rooster crowed to boil water. At this moment, Ji Manchuan, carrying a bucket of cooled boiled water, pushed through the crowd and stood next to Ji Yongling.

People in the crowd exclaimed in admiration: "The Ji family is so kind! They even brought hot water with them when they gave medicine to the child." "The Ji family is comparable to the virtuous monks in the temple."

Ji Yongling unpacked the leaf medicine packets one by one, poured the powder into bowls, handed them to the children in line, and then had the children dissolve the powder in water and drink it.

"Remember, you can only drink it once, no more." Ji Yongling stared at the children drinking the medicine and gave them instructions one by one.

"Yes, you can't drink too much!" Madam Yang shouted aggressively at the crowd. "All medicines have some degree of toxicity; drinking too much will cause problems!"

"Oh, oh, we know. Your Ji family is truly a great benefactor in our village. Everyone will remember your kindness." People who saw their children drink the medicine thanked Ji Yongling and Yang Shi gratefully.

Ji Yongling smiled and shook her head, indicating that there was no need to thank her. In fact, watching the children drink the deworming medicine one by one filled Ji Yongling with a sense of satisfaction.

Like an eagle searching for its prey, Yang stared at each child who came to drink the medicine, using her experienced eyes to verify whether they were children from Niujiatun.

Soon, all the children in the village had received their medicine, and Ji Yongling and Ji Manchuan packed their things to go home.

Just as Ji Yongling was about to leave, she suddenly heard a commotion. She looked up and saw an old woman leading a child of about seven or eight years old, walking aggressively toward her while muttering something.

"You little girl, how could you just give medicine to a child like that? Don't your family members care? What if this medicine causes harm? Can you take responsibility?" The old woman pointed at Ji Yongling and questioned her loudly with a face full of anger.

Ji Yongling looked at the woman in front of him with suspicion, thinking to himself, "Who is this? She doesn't seem to be from the village?"

Although Ji Yongling was somewhat puzzled, she still explained, "Grandma, this is deworming medicine. Taking it once won't harm the baby's health."

"Deworming medicine? How do you know the baby has worms? So many babies have worms?" The old woman was even angrier. As she spoke, her cheekbones bulged, as if Ji Yongling had done something heinous.

"That's right. As you've all heard these past few days, some children in the village have stomach aches and can't eat because they have worms in their stomachs."

In this household, the toilet and pigsty are connected, making it easy for pork tapeworm disease to spread. I give this deworming medicine to the children in the village; it treats the disease if there are worms, and prevents it if there aren't.

"Eating it only once will be fine." Ji Yongling tried to keep her tone calm. She knew that in this era, many people were always afraid and resistant to the unknown.

Of course, because of the successive outbreaks of pork tapeworm disease in Niujiazhuang, the villagers are quite receptive to the deworming medicine. They were all looking forward to it when they heard that the medicine would be distributed for free last night.

"Pork tapeworm disease? Even the doctors in the county might not have heard of it. What do you know, little girl? Are you trying to play tricks on me?"

Yang and Ji Manchuan were outraged upon hearing this, especially Ji Manchuan, who scolded, "You old woman, how dare you talk like that? You don't even bother to find out what happened before you dare to talk about my girl like that!"

"Which village are you from, old woman? What are you spouting nonsense about in our Niujiatun?" a thin-faced man said from the side.

"She's Hu Jipozi's sister-in-law, from the neighboring Huyangzhuang village. She's here to visit relatives today," the insider replied.

Hu Ji's mother came out from the crowd, tugged at the old woman's arm, and gestured for her to go back.

The old woman shook off Hu Ji's hand and stubbornly tried to continue arguing.

"You old hag, you're probably making a scene because you're from another village and your child didn't get the deworming medicine, right?" one of the old women in the crowd shouted.

"I reckon so."

“That’s right. The children in our village get medicine for free. Look at the child next to her, he probably didn’t get any.”

"That's right, Madam Yang was watching Ling'er closely. How could she not recognize any of the village children?"

Immediately, various discussions arose under the tree.

The old woman was instantly exposed, and she became furious and embarrassed, saying, "Since you believe in this medicine so much, let this girl prove what it means to have this disease!"

Ji Yongling indeed had no way of proving who had contracted pork tapeworm disease.

In this era, without advanced medical equipment and technology, diagnosis relied on the doctor's experience and knowledge.

But she was only nine years old and had never formally studied medicine with a doctor, so most people wouldn't believe her.

"Grandma, I know you might not believe what I'm saying, but I really don't have a way to immediately prove that any of these children have pork tapeworm disease."

But I swear to God, I truly want to keep the children in the village away from this disease.

I'll say it again: if you have this disease, taking my medicine can cure it; if you don't have it, taking this medicine can also prevent it!

"If any of the children in the village experience any discomfort after taking this medicine, they can come to me anytime. I, Ji Yongling, keep my word!" Ji Yongling stared at the woman in front of him, speaking earnestly to her and to everyone around him.

“Ling’er, we all believe you, and the villagers all believe you. Don’t listen to this old woman’s nonsense,” a sturdy young man shouted.

Others chimed in, "Old Ji's granddaughter is clever and quick-witted. She often helps the villagers. Didn't she save Niu Lao Er's piglet the other day?"

"One should be kind. The Ji family is giving the child medicine for free to prevent illness. Where else can you find such a great deal?"

"If anyone spouts nonsense again, then Ling'er, don't give him any other medicine in the future!"

Seeing the crowd angrily surrounding her, the old woman was a little scared, but she still couldn't help but say, "That sounds nice, wanting to keep the children away from this disease! Then why do children in other villages have to pay money to drink this medicine powder? Isn't it all about making money!"

"This is a rule set by our Ji family: good things will always go to our own villagers first."

This medicine for my Ling'er didn't just fall from the sky. If you, a person from another village, want it, just pay for it.

How much does it cost to see a doctor in the county? My Ling'er's unique medicine powder only costs two coins a serving, it's practically free.

"If people from other villages want it, they'll have to pay. No money, no medicine!" Yang shouted passionately, spitting all over the old woman's face.

Ji Manchuan tugged at Yang Shi and said, "Let's go, Mother. Don't waste your breath arguing with this ignorant woman. Heaven is watching what people do!"

In fact, Ji Yongling had also thought about whether to give a dose of medicine to any children from other villages who appeared today.

But rules are rules. Once they are set, the people who set them must abide by them. If the rules are broken at will, how can the public be convinced?

The same principle applies to the management of a family and even a country. If this rule is broken today, then a second and a third rule will be broken in the future. If this continues, no one will follow the rules, and everything will descend into chaos.

Changing policies frequently is a major taboo in management.

Ji Yongling was determined; she wanted to do something for her family, her village, and even her era. However, she was not a saint; she couldn't have an overflowing capacity for love. Her abilities were limited, her resources were limited, and her love was also limited.

Ji Yongling walked past the old woman without glancing at her and headed home.

As Ji Yongling's family left, the crowd gradually dispersed. However, someone spat at the old woman before leaving, which made her so angry that she almost pounced on her and tore her apart.