Shen Qing didn’t know if people would curse her, but even if Zhou Chuncao scolded her day and night, she still wouldn’t lend to her!

Besides, her three donkeys and one ox were going to be put to great use.

Yes, she had never planned to keep the livestock idle. Even when helping others, she had her own intentions.

That was to wait until the latter half of the busy farming season before offering help.

After all, livestock had far greater transport capacity and endurance than humans.

If she lent them out to Elder Jiang and Fifth Jiang’s families right from the start, the animals would take on most of the farm work.

The families would be able to manage, and they wouldn’t be exhausted enough to make a firm decision to buy their own.

Only when they were so busy that they couldn’t keep up, so exhausted that they were on the verge of collapse, would the addition of donkeys and oxen truly show the difference.

That way, the whole family would realize the necessity of purchasing their own.

And sure enough, that’s exactly what happened with the Jiang families.

Originally, Zhao Mingyue saw the benefits of livestock and wanted to buy one, but she faced unanimous opposition.

Everyone thought that such a large expense wasn’t worth it.

Farming was only busy for ten days or so—if they just endured and pushed through, they could save a substantial amount of silver.

Zhao Mingyue wasn’t angry or argumentative.

She simply waited patiently.

After all, it wasn’t just her suffering—it was everyone.

Let them all endure together.

But after just one day of farming, no one could take it anymore!

In the past, those who woke early to make tofu could rest during the day. But now, there wasn’t even time to breathe, let alone rest or sleep!

Make tofu, sell tofu, go to the fields, harvest wheat, transport it back, dry it, thresh it…

Without proper sleep, their bodies felt weak, their heads were foggy, and they took forever to respond when spoken to.

After three days of pushing through, they were on the verge of tears.

They desperately wanted to buy a donkey and an ox immediately!

On the fourth day, Shen Qing took the initiative to lend them her donkey and ox.

They were so grateful they nearly cried.

With two donkeys, exchanging soybeans with other villages became effortless. The donkeys also hauled wheat and turned the millstone with ease.

The family’s initial reluctance to buy even one was instantly replaced by the decision to buy two!

And not just after the harvest—they planned to buy them no matter what.

After all, once the wheat was harvested, they still had to grind it, travel between villages, and plow the fields afterward.

The same happened with Fifth Jiang’s family.

Though they didn’t have to deliver goods like Third Jiang’s family, malting barley and making malt syrup required several laborers. The remaining family members had even more work to do, making them utterly exhausted.

Watching Second Jiang’s family with their ox and donkey, they were filled with envy and regret.

If only they had foreseen this!

If they had bought a donkey earlier, they wouldn’t be suffering so much now.

When Shen Qing lent them a donkey, it was like a blessing after a long drought!

Once they experienced the benefits of livestock, they became determined to buy one.

Shen Qing also lent an ox to the Zhao and Hong families to use alternately for a few days.

Those two families didn’t earn much, so even if they wanted to buy one, they couldn’t afford it. She never expected them to buy livestock; she lent them help purely so they could catch more fish and shrimp.

In return, they exchanged their aquatic products for wheat with her. With their efforts and her own, their output nearly doubled.

Farming was most vulnerable to weather. A single heavy rainstorm could ruin an entire season’s worth of work. Even a light rain at the wrong time could cause sprouted wheat, wasting months of effort.

That’s why they couldn’t afford any delays.

By mid-to-late May, most of the wheat in Qili Village had not only been harvested but also dried and stored.

While the rest of the village was busy plowing and sowing, only Shen Qing and Second Jiang’s family were resting—not physically tired, but mentally occupied.

They took turns persuading her.

“Mother, it’s fine to exchange our wheat, but shouldn’t we plant corn? Our entire year’s food depends on it!” Jiang Xiangdong pleaded.

They were making money from brush-making, but as farmers, how could they abandon their fields? Letting good farmland go to waste was unthinkable!

Shen Qing remembered the feeling of hunger from when she first arrived.

She had suffered through hard times, so she understood the value of land and food.

If it were any other time, she would insist on planting. But didn’t they already know that a flood was coming soon?

Planting now would not only be wasted effort but also a waste of seeds.

Jiang Xiangxi hesitated before finally saying, “Mother, if you’re worried about it affecting the brush-making, my brother and I can plow at night. It won’t interfere with our work during the day.”

Jiang Xiangdong nodded without hesitation.

In the past, the two of them did most of the fieldwork anyway. The third brother was lazy, the fourth brother was cunning, and the youngest was the most spoiled.

Besides, with a donkey and an ox, plowing was far easier than before.

How could it not work? Of course, it was possible.

Shen Qing took a deep breath, unsure how to respond.

Just then, someone rushed in, yelling:

“Mother, bad news! Constable Sun is here again, and he brought a lot of officers!”

Jiang Yu was the first to react. Her petite figure was about to dash outside.

Shen Qing exchanged a glance with Huo Bing, who immediately grabbed Jiang Yu’s arm.

Jiang Yu struggled but was firmly held back. She looked up at Huo Bing, pleading, “Let me go! I just want to see. It’ll be fine.”

They had been left alone for so long that she thought the Liu family had finally given up. She thought Constable Sun wouldn’t side with them anymore.

But it turned out she was wrong.

They still hadn’t let her go.

Huo Bing ignored her and looked at Shen Qing, awaiting her orders.

Shen Qing calmly said, “You don’t need to go. I’ll handle it. If you want to watch, just follow behind me.”

Previously, Zhao Mingyue had found out that Constable Sun’s family had been in constant fights, causing a huge commotion among the neighbors. Things had quieted down for a while.

Yet now, of all times, he came back—right after the grain had been stored. Clearly, it meant only one thing: his family had reached an agreement, and today, he was here for benefits.

“Sister-in-law, let me go in front. I can handle this!” Jiang Yu insisted.

Shen Qing was even firmer. “I have more money than you. Don’t you know that the wealthier someone is, the stronger their confidence?”

Alcohol gives courage to the timid, while money gives courage to the poor.

At the end of last month, she had spent a lot. But after shipping two batches of goods, some of the money had already returned. The biggest profit came from selling a huge batch of soap, doubling her savings!

She had plenty of money on hand, but instead of spending it, she was planning to earn even more.

And now, someone was offering her an opportunity on a silver platter.

As the courtyard gate opened, everything related to brush-making was swiftly cleaned up.

Outside, Constable Sun stood with a fierce expression. Behind him were several officers—and the Liu family!

“Jiang family! Give me back my daughter-in-law!

Honorable officers, please seek justice for me!”

“That’s right! Do you know how much we’ve suffered this past month? Especially my mother—she has to do everything herself, all because of Jiang Yu!”

Shen Qing sneered. “If your mother is struggling, then it’s her children’s responsibility to make it up to her. Filial duty must be fulfilled by one’s own family, after all.”