My best friend is living a famine-stricken life; you're going crazy, I'm farming.

As dawn broke, golden sunlight bathed the earth.

For farmers, at this time of year, those who went up the mountain to gather firewood would all be heading home.

Yang Fenglan got up and first checked the things that were drying in the sun before slowly washing up.

Shen Yu leaned against the door of the west room. "Are you going to water the Zhou family's fields today?"

"We're going to the Zhou family, but not to water the fields," Yang Fenglan grinned, her eyes full of mischief. "We're going to collect a debt."

"Collecting debts?" Shen Yu raised an eyebrow, clearly intending to cause trouble.

She was looking forward to it.

She had just finished washing up when Wang rushed in, asking, "Yang, why are you still at home?"

She got up very early today and kept watch on the only way to the river. When she didn't see Yang Fenglan, she hurriedly came to ask.

I was afraid that she wouldn't try to fool me like she did a few days ago and wouldn't go water the fields again.

"I just got up, and I'm already here," Yang Fenglan said, as she went to the kitchen to get the carrying pole and buckets.

As soon as Wang entered the courtyard, she peeked into the kitchen, but Yang Fenglan stopped her and turned to lock the door.

"Oh, you even locked the door?" Madam Wang raised an eyebrow and squinted. "Xiaoyu is still at home, and you've already locked the door. Are you reluctant to let your daughter-in-law eat?"

"Mother, you're overthinking it. Wasn't Xiaoyu going out to water the fields with me?" Yang Fenglan frowned slightly. "Are you trying to sow discord between us, Mother and daughter-in-law?"

"Uh." Madam Wang had forgotten about this and laughed repeatedly, "How could that be? How could that be? Don't delay any longer. Take advantage of the cool morning air and pour a few more buckets of water."

Wang was embarrassed by Yang Fenglan's words and left because she couldn't stay any longer.

Yang Fenglan, fearing that Shen Yu might misunderstand, handed her the key, saying, "Xiao Yu, don't listen to her nonsense. I didn't lock the door to keep you out. My room key and kitchen key are here. Make whatever you want to eat. I'm going to fetch water now."

Shen Yu looked puzzled when she saw her carrying buckets of water to leave. Just a moment ago she said she wouldn't water the fields, but after Wang Shi said a few words, she was carrying buckets in the blink of an eye.

She couldn't understand it at all.

……

On her way to the river, Yang Fenglan encountered many people.

She kept shouting, "Uncle, are you watering the fields? I'm watering the fields too, for my mother-in-law's family. She called me, so I couldn't refuse."

Then, what she received was a chorus of envious comments: "Look at other people's daughters-in-law!"

Only a rough, deep voice caught Yang Fenglan's attention.

"Watering other people's fields? The Zhou family has so many able-bodied men; do they need you to worry about other people's affairs?"

Yang Fenglan turned her head and saw a tall man with deep-set eyes and handsome features looking at her.

This man was familiar to the original owner.

He was the best hunter in Qingshui Village, and also Zhou Jingyi's mentor, Xiao Yuanshan.

He was the one who led Zhou Jingyi into the mountains; he had once saved Zhou Jingyi from the jaws of a tiger.

The original owner was grateful to him, but also afraid of him.

Firstly, he always had a serious face; secondly, he was a widow who had lost two wives and had two children.

Because of his frequent trips with Zhou Jingyi into the mountains, the original owner and the hunter in front of him were the subject of rumors and slander by the villagers.

So much so that she would stay far away from him whenever she saw him.

Seeing Yang Fenglan standing there in a daze without speaking, Xiao Yuanshan said again, "Is your son's leg better? Instead of taking care of your son, why are you being so kind?"

Yang Fenglan looked embarrassed, then grinned and said, "It's just that my mother-in-law spoke up, so I couldn't refuse."

"Tch~" Xiao Yuanshan chuckled and rolled his eyes as he walked away.

Yang Fenglan vaguely heard the phrase: "A piece of rotten mud that can't be plastered on a wall."

Yang Fenglan: "..."