Qiao Xin spread dry grass all over the cart and layered thick furs on top before letting the children climb aboard.

Then, she covered their legs with wolf fur blankets.

Seeing that each child’s face was flushed red from the cold, resembling two bright hawthorn berries, Qiao Xin frowned slightly.

“If I tie their hair into two buns and put floral headscarves on them, won’t they look like the little old men and women gossiping at the village entrance?” she mused to herself.

As she walked, she continued thinking aloud, “Once we get to the city, Eldest and Second Daughter-in-law should take the children to buy some face cream and properly wipe their faces.”

Zhang Shi hesitated before saying, “Mother, there’s still a lot left in the last box you gave us!”

“Then why are you saving it? Are you so stingy that you won’t even let the children use it? Look at San Niang’s and San Lang’s hands—they’re all cracked and chapped!”

“But children are always playing with mud and water. Even if we put it on, they’ll just get dirty again. I didn’t want to waste it—it costs a tael of silver per box!” Zhang Shi reasoned.

Qiao Xin’s expression darkened. “Listen to yourself! Did you pay for it? Have I ever not bought more when you ran out? What’s more precious, the children or the cream? What on earth are you thinking all day long?”

She paused, suddenly recalling how San Niang had come to her early in the morning, looking pitiful as she complained that Zhang Shi had confiscated her pocket money.

Qiao Xin took the chance to remind her, “From now on, don’t take the children’s pocket money away. Let them manage it themselves.

Especially San Niang’s—no matter how tight things are at home, a girl should never be short on money. She’s growing up, and if she has no silver in her pocket, she won’t even have the confidence to speak when she’s out. What kind of way is that to raise a daughter?”

Zhang Shi’s eyelid twitched. “But Mother, San Niang is still so young. She doesn’t understand the value of money! I was just saving it for her to use when she’s older!”

Qiao Xin saw through her petty schemes but couldn’t be bothered to expose her. “And you think you know how to spend money wisely? Maybe I should stop giving you your monthly fifty coins and save it for you instead?”

Zhang Shi immediately stammered, unable to argue anymore.

Qiao Xin scoffed and ignored her. “You only feel the pain when the knife is at your own throat,” she muttered.

She then turned to her eldest daughter-in-law and said, “Later, I’ll buy some seeds and farm tools. I’ll also get some rough cloth—more than usual. I’ll make coveralls for everyone to wear over their winter coats so they won’t get dirty so easily.”

“Understood, Mother! Should we also buy some finer fabric for Husband and Third Brother? They must have spent all their money buying cattle.”

“Good idea. I’ll remember that.”

As the ox cart rolled onto the main road, they soon encountered groups of refugees.

Each one looked ragged, their steps unsteady, their faces gaunt and yellow with hunger.

They were dragging their families toward the city.

Seeing that Qiao Xin’s family, consisting only of elderly women and children, actually had two ox carts, a few men with ill intentions started to approach, hoping to rob them.

However, before they could get close, Qiao Xin raised her whip and lashed out, sending one of them flying several meters away.

Nanny Qin was so shocked that she nearly fell off the cart. “Such a slender woman… how does she have so much strength?!”

“Madam, were you born with divine strength?” Nanny Qin finally couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked.

Qiao Xin thought for a moment, then nodded and made something up. “I’ve always been strong since I was little.”

Nanny Qin looked at her with undisguised envy.

No one would have guessed that, despite her strict and proper demeanor, she had always dreamed of being a wandering hero.

If she had Qiao Xin’s strength, why would she bother following all these rules?

Qiao Xin’s display of power immediately intimidated those with malicious intentions.

For the rest of the journey, no one dared to approach them again.

Soon, they arrived at their destination.

Qiao Xin lifted the children down from the cart one by one and warned them not to wander off before going to knock on the door.

When Mo Jiaquan opened the door, he was surprised to see Qiao Xin standing outside, with the whole Qiao family lined up behind her—including his own father.

A grin spread across his face. “Old Madam! Father! What brings you here? Second Master was just about to head back this afternoon.”

“Where is he?” Qiao Xin asked, not seeing Qiao Yunqing inside.

“He went to the market to buy livestock. He plans to bring them back.”

Mo Jiaquan ushered them inside while directing some men to move the ox carts to the backyard.

Heng Wen had really put a lot of thought into choosing this place!

Qiao Xin surveyed the courtyard and was very satisfied with what she saw.

The residence had two courtyards, front and back, with plenty of space.

It was located in a wealthy district, close to the city gates, and the security was excellent.

The front entrance led directly to a bustling commercial street, just a few hundred meters away, while the back door opened onto the moat.

It was a peaceful oasis in the middle of the city—perfect for living in.

“Don’t trouble yourselves with unloading. We’ll be heading out soon,” Qiao Xin instructed Mo Jiaquan. “There are too many refugees outside, and it’s unsafe. Leave the children here for now and watch over them. I’ll come back for them later.”

As she spoke, she pulled out half a tael of silver and handed it to him. “Buy extra meat and vegetables for lunch. Tell your Second Master to cook a big meal—I’ll be back to eat!”

Without another word, she turned and left decisively.

The others were left standing in the wind, utterly baffled.

They had never seen an old madam so quick and direct—she didn’t even leave any room for discussion before disappearing!

Nanny Qin reevaluated her opinion of Qiao Xin.

Previously, she had thought the old madam was merely shrewd and smooth in dealing with people. But now she realized—Qiao Xin wasn’t just capable; she was more decisive and efficient than most men.

No, she was better than men!

Qiao Xin exited the residence and first went to the blacksmith’s shop.

After haggling, she placed an order for three plow heads, over thirty iron spikes, and several other special farming tools for three taels of silver.

The blacksmith examined the blueprints carefully and said, “Madam, to be honest, we’ve never made these before. It may take a little longer—about five days. Will that be acceptable?”

“That’s fine. As long as you can make them, I don’t mind waiting. Just have them delivered to this address when they’re ready.”

Leaving her contact information, Qiao Xin then headed to the grain store to check out the seed selection.

She already had some high-yield seeds exchanged from the system, but she couldn’t just produce them out of thin air.

She needed to buy ordinary seeds as a cover and later switch them out in secret.

For the entire morning, Qiao Xin moved between different shops, spending silver like water.

If she hadn’t plundered so many bandit dens and acquired unexpected wealth, her previous meager family funds would never have been enough to sustain this level of spending.