In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 457 Day of Revelry

Before joining Chenjia Village, Fang Yong was just a farmer's son. Although he had been fortunate enough to visit the capital and see the vastness of the world, it could not change his fate as a farmer's son.

After returning to his hometown from the capital, he became like his father, burying himself in his few acres of barren land every day, hoping that the land would grow more grain to fill his stomach.

Of course, this does not mean that Fang Yong looks down on his father or farmers. Rather, Fang Yong is well aware that he cannot change his fate by farming alone; all he can guarantee is that he will not starve.

Even... if a natural disaster were to strike, he might not even be able to fill his stomach.

It was precisely because of this that Fang Yong resolutely chose to sign up after learning that Chenjia Village was recruiting soldiers, and successfully joined the Chenjia Army, becoming a glorious soldier of the Chenjia Army.

After acquiring the identity of a soldier in Chen Family Army, Fang Yong's life underwent a dramatic change. Meat, which he might not be able to eat even once a year, and steamed buns, which he could never see on the table before, he could now eat his fill at every meal...

It can be said that Fang Yong's identity as a soldier in the Chen family army completely freed him from hunger, so Fang Yong is very satisfied with his current life and very grateful to Chen Dao and Chen Family Village.

If it weren't for Chenjia Village, I'd probably still be working in the fields on an empty stomach.

As he gazed at the envious eyes of the crowd, Fang Yong thought to himself, without Chenjia Village, there would be no Fang Yong, the martial artist he is today, nor the Fang Yong who is so admired and respected by others.

At this moment, Fang Yong's gratitude towards Chenjia Village and Chen Dao was almost boundless. If he could, he hoped that Chenjia Village could exist forever, and that Mr. Chen could be healthy and live a long life.

This is Fang Yong's truest thought.

On the high platform, after distributing the last soldier's pay, Chen Cheng turned to Chen Dao and said, "Brother Dao, the Chen family army has a total of 335 men, and all their pay has been distributed."

Upon hearing this, Chen Dao nodded, turned to face the crowd below the stage, and smiled, "I know you're all eager to go home after receiving your military pay, so I won't waste any more words. Now, everyone, disperse!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the neat ranks immediately dispersed, and the soldiers put their arms around each other's shoulders as they walked out, discussing their plans for using the military pay.

"Old Wang, how do you plan to spend this tael of silver?"

"I plan to take them all home and give them to my mother."

"Me too!"

"Does anyone here plan to exchange their military merits for military achievements?"

“I don’t plan to exchange it for now. This one or two taels of military pay is enough for my family to buy food. I plan to save the military pay and exchange it for a Bloodfeather Chicken when I have enough.”

"That's what I thought."

"..."

On the drill ground, the soldiers dispersed, arms around each other's shoulders and faces beaming with joy.

Fang Yong and his three roommates also walked outside.

"Squad Leader."

Wu Gang put his arm around Fang Yong's shoulder and asked with a smile, "How do you plan to spend this money?"

"I'm planning to buy some things to take back home!"

Fang Yong replied, "My parents and younger brother haven't eaten meat in a long time either. I plan to buy a duck and take it home, then give the rest of the money to my mother."

That's what I'm planning to do too.

Guo Tai also laughed and said, "My sister is too thin. I plan to buy a chicken to help her get some nutrition."

"Then let's go together."

As they spoke, the four of them arrived outside the Chenjia Village general store.

Because it was payday in Chenjia Village, many villagers had gathered outside Chenjiajun's general store to buy grain, chickens, and ducks. The entire area outside the general store was crowded with people, and even the shops next to the general store were packed with people.

Fortunately, both the villagers and the migrant workers in Chenjia Village are of very good quality and queue up very consciously. Therefore, although there are many people, it does not appear chaotic, but rather orderly.

Fang Yong and his three companions also consciously lined up at the back of the queue, patiently waiting for the queue to move forward.

"There are so many people!"

Looking at the long queue ahead, Guo Tai couldn't help but sigh.

"Can't there be more?"

Wu Gang laughed and said, "The fifteenth of every month is the day when Chenjia Village pays its workers. When the villagers have money, they come to buy things. You could say that today is the liveliest day in the entire Chenjia Village."

"These businessmen must be overjoyed!"

Just then, Fang Yong saw a shop owner walking out and couldn't help but say, "With so many people coming to buy things, these shop owners must be making a lot of money every day."

In fact, the fifteenth day is not only a happy day for the villagers of Chenjia Village, but also a day of celebration for the village's merchants, because on this day, their business is booming, with a constant stream of customers coming to buy things, and their daily revenue is three to five times that of usual.

"Definitely."

Guo Tai said, "However, the merchants in Chenjia Village generally sell high-quality goods at low prices, so it's only right that they make money."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yong and his group, as well as the other villagers who were queuing up, all nodded in agreement.

Thanks to Chenjia Village's control over merchants, hoarding and price gouging are ineffective in this area. If any unscrupulous merchant dares to use such methods to cheat the people, Chenjia Village's iron fist will immediately arrive, and Chen Dao will also revoke their land and shop usage rights and drive them out of Chenjia Village.

With such severe punishment, merchants would naturally sell their goods honestly and dare not cheat or shirk their duties.

Fortunately, Chenjia Village has excellent public security and no thugs extorting money from merchants. This reduces the merchants' operating costs, so even if they sell their goods at a lower price, they can still make a profit, sometimes even more than they would make selling in the county town. Therefore, merchants are very willing to set up shops in Chenjia Village.

This is not only because the villagers of Chenjia Village have the ability to spend money, but also because they do not need to worry about threats from various gangs and thugs here. They can make money steadily by simply doing business in an honest manner.

"It's finally our turn! Let's go in!"

Fifteen minutes later, Fang Yong and his three companions finally entered the Chenjia Village General Store.

Inside the cramped shop, Ding Xiaohua was busy behind the counter, while Zhao Xiaomei, Zhao Xiaoyun, and Li Li were equally busy.

"Sister Hua."

Ding Xiaohua was a well-known figure in the village, so Fang Yong recognized her.

Fang Yong walked to the counter and said with a smile, "I want to buy a duck and 10 jin of flour."

Upon hearing the voice, Ding Xiaohua looked up at Fang Yong and his group of four and smiled, "You're from the Chen family army, aren't you?"