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

In these chaotic times, no one knows when things will settle down, or how long the current stability in the Northwest will last.

The wealthy families in the city quietly began stockpiling grain.

Although various prefectural and county governments intervened to maintain prices, grain prices have not risen significantly for the time being.

But those in the know understand that if the Northwest Army and the imperial court officially go to war, it would be fine as long as things are stable within the Northwest. However, if the Northwest Army suffers repeated defeats and the flames of war spread into the interior...

By then, even the most powerful deities wouldn't be able to control the skyrocketing grain prices in the Northwest.

Recently, wheat has been harvested in the vicinity of Huachidu Village.

I heard that a village in the east, where the wheat harvest started two days earlier, was robbed. Most of the wheat that the village had just harvested was stolen before it could be dried and threshed.

The wheat harvested locally in summer is the most important source of food for farmers.

This is especially true for families with little land, limited food supplies, and a large number of members.

The family's main food supply depends on this season. The harvested wheat is stored in the granary to survive the long winter and the lean season of the following year.

The fact that most of the loot was stolen by bandits means that some people may starve to death this winter.

The villagers cried and wailed, but it was too late.

After all, even if the case is brought to the government, the yamen still has troops guarding the city. They can send troops to pursue and suppress the enemy, but it will still take time.

If the bandits eat, sell, or hide the grain in some remote mountain area, recovering it will be extremely difficult.

This incident has alerted other villages.

Those who initially dismissed the practices of Huachidu Village have now adopted them and are taking turns patrolling the village.

Before dawn today, Gu Xixi went out on patrol.

She took a bite of the soft pancake with pickled vegetables and stir-fried cured meat that Aunt Zhang had given her, and looked at herself with a helpless expression.

"I'm just on a routine patrol, I'm not even leaving the village, what are you following me for?"

As far as Gu Xixi could see, a row of people stood: He Jinglan, An Qinghe, Shitou, and Qing'er.

Two adults and two children, each holding the same type of rolled pancake, were eating with relish while staring intently at Gu Xixi.

He Jinglan swallowed and said, "It's not even dawn yet, and they're all worried about your safety, so they insist on following you."

An Qinghe said seriously, "Didn't the village chief say that something has happened in another village? I have to patrol with you."

Gu Xixi was speechless. "Didn't you say you were going to stay home these next few days and keep a close eye on those tea bricks?"

An Qinghe said earnestly, "I just got up early this morning to check. Anyway, I'll just stay with you until dawn and then go home. It won't delay our important tea-making business."

The day before yesterday, the tea leaves had completed twelve processes, being shaped by hand in Anqing and pressed into different shapes such as tea bricks and tea cakes, and then bundled, sealed, and perforated.

During this time, Gu Xixi personally used the leftover wood from building the stable at home to nail a frame, which she placed in the pharmacy in the backyard, waiting for the tea leaves to undergo final fermentation and drying.

This final process requires close monitoring of the indoor temperature, airflow, and humidity.

Gu Xixi only had theoretical experience in this area. She summarized the conditions suitable for the formation of Golden Flower, but Anqing still needed to carry out the specific operations.

For example, if the temperature is too low, close the doors and windows to increase the temperature appropriately. If the humidity is too high, open the doors and windows for ventilation and light a small heater to dry the air, and so on.

This job isn't too strenuous, but it requires constant attention and care. Whether or not it can be successfully made into Golden Flower Fu Tea depends on this one step.

An Qinghe didn't find it troublesome at all; in fact, he was very happy to be busy every day, just like an old father who was looking forward to the birth of his child.

Seeing that she couldn't persuade An Qinghe, Gu Xixi turned to He Jinglan and said, "They may not know how safe I am in this village, but don't you know?"

"And as a teacher, how can you run around with two children like that? When you get to school, how will you have the energy to teach?"

He Jinglan chewed on her crepe, indicating that it was none of her business, and then blatantly raised her chin at Shi Tou, letting him speak.

Shi Tou looked up. "Sister Xi Xi forgot, the village school is giving us a five-day holiday for the wheat harvest."

Qing'er's cheeks were bulging as she chewed diligently, blinking at everyone as she did so.

During the stalemate, Shi Tou kindly reminded her, "Sister Xi Xi, if you don't leave, your shift change will be late."

So when Gu Xixi arrived at the changing of the guard post in the east of the village, she was followed by a string of tails.

The two people from the previous shift couldn't help but chuckle as they looked at Gu Xixi and her group.

"Xixi is here early! It's so lively so early in the morning."

Gu Xixi awkwardly responded, looked around, and seeing that her partner, Sister-in-law Qin, hadn't arrived yet, she said, "I have a lot of people here, so you two can go back and rest first."

The two of them had stayed up late into the night and were really looking forward to this sound.

"Alright, then we won't stand on ceremony. You've worked hard."

"Thank you so much! Everyone else has already started harvesting wheat. I'll go back and get some sleep, because I still have to go to the fields and work with my family!"

When Sister-in-law Qin arrived, the group began their patrol. This area had the most farmland, and they soon saw people who were up early working.

Gu Xixi glanced at the group of followers, "You saw that? With so many people outside, are you worried about my safety?"

The wheat harvest is different from other times of farm work; it requires racing against time.

Seize the best time when the wheat ears are ripe, and seize the good weather.

Farmers fear rain most at this time of year. Once it rains, not only are the fields full of mud and difficult to walk on, but the wheat ears are also prone to sprouting and getting moldy after being rained on.

And everyone gets up to work before dawn, which is even cooler than during the day.

However, An Qinghe still insisted on following, saying, "Anyway, we've already gotten up so early and eaten. There's nothing to do when we get back, and I can't sleep anyway, so I might as well walk with you for a while, just like a stroll."

He Jinglan nodded. "Indeed, men always have a reason when they really want to do something, and they always have a reason when they don't want to do something."

She looked at Gu Xixi meaningfully and smiled, "Xixi, don't you think so?"

Gu Xixi glared at He Jinglan secretly.

He Jinglan leisurely turned her gaze away, "Occasionally taking a walk in the early morning makes me feel refreshed."

Needless to say, Shi Tou and Qing Er ran and jumped around, catching insects and picking wildflowers, having countless fun activities.

Gu Xixi's wheat field was also in this area. Seeing Chen Dafu and other hired workers working hard to harvest in their respective contracted fields, Gu Xixi did not make a sound to disturb them. As she continued patrolling forward, she said, "Jinglan, tell Aunt Zhang to cook a big pot of mung bean soup, add more rock sugar, and don't use well water to chill it. Just let it cool down and then send it over."

Although it was agreed beforehand that it would be a contract system, with no meals provided and only profits distributed proportionally after the harvest.

However, Gu Xixi had shared weal and woe with these workers many times, and they had developed a deep bond with them. The physical labor in the sweltering heat was doubly arduous, so they still needed to replenish their energy and prevent heatstroke.

He Jinglan understood and replied, "Okay, I'll help pick the beans when I get back. Once it's done, I'll bring a stone with me."

As dawn broke in the east, the sound of roosters crowing came from afar.

Gu Xixi immediately put on a stern face and told her family members to go back home quickly.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a bronze bell rang, not very clearly and not very loudly.