Chapter 412: Trustworthy

Lin Shi paused in her movements, looking at Xie Kang, “Why?”

“I’m thinking that with so much land in our family now, one person can’t handle it all. Let’s go and buy a few people to help us with farming—planting vegetables and melons. We should bring in someone older, preferably a family, so they can help take care of the child, cook, and do the laundry. It would make things easier for you too,” Xie Kang had his own considerations.

Young girls wouldn’t work out, but women with children and husbands could.

“Okay,” Lin Shi finally felt reassured.

“Don’t overthink it, wife. You’re the only wife I have. I’ll stay with you and our son. All my assets are in your hands. If I ever betray you, you can kick me out with nothing.” Because Xie Kang believed he would never do such a thing, he didn’t mind letting Lin Shi handle the finances.

Lin Shi was amused by Xie Kang’s words, and her worries vanished completely.

In fact, Xie Kang had stood by her side even when she couldn’t bear children. Now, with time spent with Jiuning, she had learned a lot. She used to be reluctant to spend money on dressing up, but now she would use attractive clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics.

Jiuning was right—she had to spend money to keep her husband from seeking companionship elsewhere.

“I’ll go to Xiao He’s house to buy grain seeds and mention the matter of hiring people to her.”

“Okay, I’ll get the money for you.”

With money in hand, Xie Kang went to Wang Jinhe’s house. Seeing him approach, Wang Jinhe’s eyes lit up with a smile, “Uncle Kang is here.”

“Xiao He, my family have thirty mu of land. Can you calculate how much grain seed we need?” Xie Kang asked as he looked at Wang Jinhe.

“Okay.”

Wang Jinhe calculated quickly. Seven catties of grain seeds per mu, so thirty mu of land would need about two hundred and ten catties.

“Uncle Kang, two hundred and ten catties of grain seeds. Five taels of silver will do.”

“Alright.” After giving the money to Wang Jinhe, Xie Kang then talked to her about hiring people.

“Xiaohe, does your family need to hire people too? If so, can you help me buy a few people together?” Xie Kang asked Wang Jinhe.

“We do need to hire some people this year. Uncle Kang, why did you think of buying people?” Wang Jinhe asked curiously.

“Before the Lunar New Year, I bought some sandy land and paddy fields. Adding to the land I already have, it’s about fifty or sixty mu. I can’t handle it all by myself, and my wife is tired from taking care of the child. I thought about buying a few people to help with farming, and maybe buy a family. The women can help with my wife, taking care of the child and doing household chores to make things easier for her,” Xie Kang explained his idea to Wang Jinhe.

Wang Jinhe didn’t expect Xie Kang to say such things. Usually, people buy young and attractive individuals, but Xie Kang wanted to buy someone with a child and a husband. However, this arrangement suited them well, and life would be better.

“Why did you think of asking me to help you buy?” Couldn’t he do it himself?

“I trust your judgment. I wouldn’t know where to start if I did it myself,” Xie Kang admitted shyly.

“Alright, when Su Yu goes to buy people, I’ll ask him to help find some for your family too.”

Xie Kang happily nodded, “Great, thank you, Xiao He.”

While they were talking, the people at home had already weighed the grain seeds. After buying the land, Xie Kang also bought cattle. He had come here driving a cart pulled by oxen.

After the grain seeds were loaded onto the cart and they were about to leave, someone spoke up, “Xie Kang, wait a moment. After we buy the grain seeds, can you help us bring them back together?”

Xie Kang generously nodded, “Of course.”

He waited for a while and then headed home with the grain seeds, with everyone chatting and laughing along the way.

“It’s still Xie Kang with the courage. Last year, he followed Xiao He to plant so many vegetables and watermelons, earning quite a bit of money. They also planted a lot of rice. Last year, they harvested quite a bit of grain. It’s us who lack courage; we didn’t plant much last year. This year, we plan to plant more,” someone remarked.

“Since Xiao He said she’d help us make money, she won’t cheat us. Look at my family and the village chief’s family. If you have more land this year, plant more along with it. You can earn more money,” Xie Kang said while driving the cart.

His family now lived in a big house, had a lot of farmland, and a substantial amount of savings—all thanks to Xiao He. They could always trust Xiao He and Su Yu.

In these matters, they had never been deceived or taken advantage of.

“You’re right.”

The group returned, chatting and laughing, looking forward to life with a renewed sense of anticipation. The exhaustion and numbness from the past seemed to have disappeared.

Most people in the village came to Wang Jinhe’s place to buy grain seeds, and only a few families didn’t come. Wang Jinhe didn’t mind.

After most people had made their purchases, she paid no attention to those who hadn’t.

Even though she said she didn’t care, Wang Jinhe still waited for a few more days. When no one came to buy in the last few days, she instructed her people to distribute the remaining grain seeds. Some were given to the laborers, and the rest were kept at home for personal consumption.

“Did everyone in the village buy?” Su Yu, seeing Wang Jinhe distributing the remaining grain seeds, raised an eyebrow and asked.

“A few families didn’t buy. I waited for them for a few days, but since they didn’t come, I didn’t bother with them anymore. I’m too lazy to say anything more to them,” Wang Jinhe said impatiently.

She gave them time, and if they still didn’t come, it wasn’t her problem.

“That works too.”

“Let’s go buy some more people. Uncle Kang said if we’re buying, we should help them buy a few. Get a few who can help with farming preferably a whole family, with a woman who can cook and keep the house tidy.”

“Alright.” Xie Kang was a person they knew well. He treated his wife well, and he was bold in his actions. When no one believed in Wang Jinhe, he dared to put all his assets on the line to farm with her. Last year, he made quite a bit of money.

“He’s a good person. Even after becoming rich, he can still stay true to himself. That’s not easy.” Su Yu had encountered many ordinary people like Xie Kang who suddenly became wealthy. Some, once they had money, would forget the wives who had endured hardships with them, pursuing those young and attractive girls. They would forget who had been with them through thick and thin.

Su Yu had a great fondness for people like Xie Kang.

“You’re right. I heard from Mom that Aunt Kang often eats vegetables from our family. She looks much healthier, has learned some things from Mom, and is even willing to dress up. Although Aunt Kang isn’t particularly good-looking, she has that petite and charming charm. In this way, she’s not inferior to those young girls,” Wang Jinhe thought about the things she discussed with Gu Jiuning and some things Gu Jiuning told her. She couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you laughing?” Was this matter so amusing? Look at how she’s laughing.

But it’s good this way. If her husband earned money, she wouldn’t understand how to dress up and would still be stingy.