Cai Lihua stood in the courtyard, brandishing a cleaver.
A few timid villagers instinctively recoiled.
"What's wrong? Scared? Go ahead and kill someone like that, then tell me. As I see it, even monsters are good ones if they only kill wicked people like yourselves."
Cai Lihua's words were more vicious than anyone else's.
As the saying goes, an upright person fears no wrongdoing. If there are no ghosts, it's people with guilty consciences.
The uncle's guilty face changed drastically, "You... what are you saying, woman? What? Are all you outsiders and refugees this brazen? Do you believe I can get you arrested just by reporting you to the authorities?"
Having finally found a place to settle, Ah Jiu didn't want her family arrested. She suddenly looked up and said,
"Village Chief, didn't you arrange to check with the officials tomorrow to see if they'll open the granaries? If they don't, I'll figure out something about the seeds."
The Village Chief's eyes lit up, "Really? Can you, girl, come up with a way for all of us to plant crops?"
Ah Jiu lowered her head, biting her lip, and said with difficulty, "Yes, I'll try my best."
"You believe what a mere girl says? From what I see, they're just stalling so we can't report them. They might just flee in the middle of the night."
The uncle glared hatefully at Cai Lihua as he spoke.
Cai Lihua, naturally unable to tolerate such provocation, stepped forward with her cleaver, but was stopped by Meng Shaode.
"Uncle, speak with a clear conscience. If I can't do it, I won't promise. At least I'm better than your venomous words that smear others."
Ah Jiu suppressed her anger, her neck turning red.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing. I'll see about this tomorrow after I've assessed the situation. Everyone, be patient, be patient."
The Village Chief kept trying to pacify them.
"Village Chief, I've made it clear. If the officials are willing to open the granaries, you can't make things difficult for me anymore."
Ah Jiu had to add this. She meant that if the granaries didn't open and everyone still wanted to farm together, then she would find a way.
"Yes, yes, girl, your grandfather believes you." He waved at everyone, "Go back and wait for news. Disperse, disperse."
It took a while for the crowd to gradually clear from the courtyard.
"What kind of people! They're jealous of others doing well. Ptooey! Sooner or later, you wicked people will be eaten by monsters."
Cai Lihua resentfully closed the door, slamming the crossbar into place.
"Lihua, calm down. Listen to what our daughter has to say."
Meng Shaode couldn't bear to see his wife angry, and her health worried him.
Listen to what their daughter had to say? At this moment, Ah Jiu sat in the courtyard, silent.
She was making plans. If the authorities didn't open the granaries, they wouldn't give up. Ah Jiu had to prepare for two eventualities.
Tonight, she would use the spiritual spring water to nurture a small patch of wheat.
Once there was a small harvest, she would save it and then, to fulfill her promise, share some with the villagers. If that wasn't enough, she would plant the fruits and vegetables seeds they had collected.
Then, she could ask Xiao Yanyan to exchange them for more grain. This was another backup plan.
"It's all your fault. You didn't choose to farm in that secluded field in the mountains. You had to do it in the open by the village road. Now look what's happened, it's attracted jealousy, and look how troubled our daughter is."
Cai Lihua glared at Meng Shaode.
"Lihua, that place was easier to plow. Besides, Ah Jiu already asked the Village Chief. That piece of land belonged to the Niu family. I couldn't just plow someone else's land."
Meng Shaode felt wronged by the scolding.
"If all else fails, we won't farm. We'll just run away overnight, alright?"
Cai Lihua looked at her daughter's worried face, her heart aching.
"We can't, Mother," Ah Jiu finally looked up. "Grandpa Niu helped us. Without him, our family would have scattered long ago. Farming and harvesting are also to prepare a way out for Grandpa Niu in the future. We can't accept his kindness for nothing."
As soon as she said this, the couple looked at each other, their anger deflated.
"There are still some bean seeds in the clinic. I don't know if they can help," said Tongzi, who had been silent until now.