A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

There were already quite a few people who had signed up, but after that auntie spoke, almost all of their hands went up.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all the Bodhi fruit trees had been claimed.

Because there were so many people, each person was assigned to adopt between seven and ten trees, depending on their individual labor capacity.

A table had already been set up in the courtyard, with the Four Treasures of the Study on it, as well as a contract that He Jinglan had written overnight.

He Jinglan called the women to line up in a long queue and distributed the contracts to each of them.

Some of these people are literate, while others are illiterate, so that they can see each other's contracts and discuss things together.

After reading it, if you make a final decision, simply put your fingerprint on the red inkpad on the table.

Gu Xixi was amazed by how efficient it was.

Last night, she sorted out many questions that people might have, and came up with solutions.

But to my surprise, none of them were of any use today.

He Jinglan, with a smug look on her face, walked over to Gu Xixi and said, "I told you it would be quick, right?"

She opened her palm and winked, "It definitely didn't take longer than a meal."

Gu Xixi resignedly took out a piece of silver and slapped it into He Jinglan's hand.

This was the bet they made last night.

He Jinglan held the silver coin up to the light, a blissful smile on her face.

"It feels really good to earn my own money!"

"You know, I also participated in digging grass last time. Should I ask General Huo for the wages for those two and a half days?"

Gu Xixi couldn't help but rub her forehead.

If the noble ladies in the capital who had associated with He Jinglan knew that she had only won a mere tael of silver in a gamble, and yet she displayed such a greedy nature, wouldn't they be utterly astonished?

Gu Xihao kindly reminded her, "Miss He is currently an illegal overstayer."

Are you sure you want to take your wages and go back to the capital immediately?

He Jinglan shook her head vigorously, clutching her small coin tightly. "No! I won't, even if it kills me!"

She had never done anything serious like her brother in her life, and this was just the beginning. She didn't want to be sent back to the capital!

While the women were looking at the contract, some of them asked a few questions.

Gu Xixi simply became a hands-off manager, leaving all the questions and answers to He Jinglan.

Once everyone had no more doubts, they pressed their fingerprints one after another. Then, the aunt who had previously proposed that "Boss Gu gave us the money" collected all the fingerprints, counted them to make sure the amount was correct, and then handed them over to He Jinglan.

He Jinglan carefully looked through the documents, checking each one. Gu Xixi leaned closer to her and whispered, "..."

"Is the aunt who helped collect the contract surnamed Lin?"

He Jinglan nodded as she looked at the contract, "Yes, everyone calls her Aunt Lin."

Gu Xixi asked with interest, "Tell me more, what else do you know about Aunt Lin?"

He Jinglan continued, "She's the one who's lived in the village the longest, for six years already."

"She has a lot of experience living here, and she always takes care of newcomers. Therefore, she is highly trusted by everyone, and they ask her to step in when there are any difficult issues in the village."

Gu Xixi looked at Aunt Lin, who was talking to someone not far away, and her eyes gleamed with a determined light.

"I see, she's good material for a production team women's director."

He Jinglan looked up in confusion upon hearing the unfamiliar words; "Production team? Women's director?"

Gu Xixi said, "A flock of sheep has a leader, and the Northwest Army has General Huo."

"Shouldn't our family village also have a leader who can bring everyone together?"

He Jinglan was overjoyed, "That makes sense!"

After inspecting each contract, He Jinglan stacked them up and handed them to Gu Xixi with both hands.

Gu Xixi took it. "Is everything alright?"

He Jinglan was a little unsure, "I think I've got no problem with it, but... you should still take another look."

Gu Xixi didn't give it another glance, only saying, "As long as you say it's okay, then let's just leave it at that."

She turned to the crowd and said loudly, "The distribution of land will depend on news from the army, which will take at least two or three days."

"Would you all like to go and see our Bodhi tree first?"

"Yes!!!" The women's voices soared to the heavens, no less powerful than those of soldiers in battle formation.

Upon reaching the hill where the Bodhi tree is planted, one can see the tents of the Northern Army in the distance.

Everyone immediately understood why there were two additional conditions at the end of the prologue.

Firstly, if war breaks out that year and the Bimbisara fruit trees cannot be managed temporarily, the contract's effective date will be postponed by one year.

Secondly, if the Bodhi tree is destroyed due to force majeure, Party B shall not have to pay any price, and all losses shall be borne by Party A.

Seeing Lin Da Niang's worried expression, Gu Xixi went up to her and asked, "The war is about to start, everyone must be very worried, right?"

Aunt Lin smiled and said, "Of course, all the women in the village have husbands in the army."

"Every time there is a war, we wait at home, constantly on edge."

Gu Xixi and Aunt Lin gazed into the distance together, saying, "It will be alright. Even the hardest times will eventually pass."

After a moment, Aunt Lin asked, "If... in the future, our fruit trees also cannot be saved, and Boss Gu bears the risk alone, the loss must be considerable, right?"

Military dependents are very particular about saying auspicious things and cannot say things like "battle is not going well", "defeat", or "died in battle".

Therefore, Aunt Lin only used the word "future" to replace it.

Gu Xixi smiled noncommittally, "Even without your involvement, my fruit trees are already planted here. If it all comes to nothing, then I can only say that I chose the wrong place and the project failed."

Aunt Lin turned her head to look at Gu Xixi, her eyes smiling, "We didn't know each other well before, but now I like you more and more."

Gu Xixi then seized the opportunity without hesitation, saying, "Since you like me, could you do me a favor, Auntie?"

Aunt Lin composed herself and said, "Go ahead."

Gu Xixi said, "I have an agreement with the general that I will come and take care of the oat fields and alfalfa fields that have been cleared in the army from time to time. I will guide them on what needs to be done at each stage of growth and how to deal with pests and diseases in case they are in trouble."

"So after our village gets its land, I can help out too."

Aunt Lin was overjoyed to hear this. "What a coincidence! I've heard that Boss Gu is very capable at growing grain, and I'd like to ask you for help, but I've been too embarrassed to ask."

"And just as I was dozing off, you handed me the pillow!"

Fu Xixi laughed and said, "Since we're on the same page, I won't beat around the bush."

“I heard that some military dependents come from the city and don’t know how to farm. We can set up a women’s production team in the village to facilitate mutual help and learning. You can be the team leader.”

"In the future, I will teach you and the other representatives the techniques for growing oats, so that everyone can ask you for advice anytime, anywhere."

“When I’m not here, you can gather everyone’s questions and pass them on to me. This is much more efficient than me doing it one-on-one.”