Fleeing from famine? Not a chance; the divine healer's wife made her fortune.

New guests arrive in the village, their hearts delighted.

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached, clearly reaching everyone's ears. Accompanied by the rising dust, the figures of several fine horses appeared at the village entrance.

The leader, dressed in official robes, had an arrogant expression. He was followed by several attendants. The group came in with a menacing air, breaking the tranquility of the village.

Su Yunlan looked at the newcomer and felt a chill run down her spine. Although she had never seen him before, she could tell from his clothes and demeanor that he was not a friendly person.

She quickly looked around. The villagers all had a hint of panic and unease on their faces, and Village Chief Wang was even paler and his hands were trembling.

She sighed inwardly, realizing that the village chief ultimately lacked decisiveness.

"Who goes there?" Xiao Yuhan stepped forward, blocking Su Yunlan's path. His voice was deep, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's as he stared intently at the newcomer.

The official reined in his horse and shouted, "I am Lord Li, the magistrate of Lin'an County. Who are you? How dare you dig a canal and draw water here without authorization? Do you know that this is a serious crime against the law?" His tone was full of disdain and arrogance, as if he did not take this small village seriously at all.

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Wang's legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground.

He hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and scraping, and said, "Please calm down, sir. I am the village chief of this village. We are just trying to survive! This...this irrigation canal is only for irrigating the fields, and we have no other intentions!" His voice trembled slightly, and he seemed to lack confidence.

"Hmph!" Magistrate Li snorted coldly, ignoring Village Chief Wang's explanation. He surveyed the makeshift irrigation ditch with disdain in his eyes: "Unauthorized digging of the ditch, and you dare to argue! Men, tear this ditch down for me!"

"Wait!" Su Yunlan's voice was clear and firm. She stepped out from behind Xiao Yuhan and looked directly at Magistrate Li. "Sir, please hear me out." Although her tone was calm, it carried an undeniable power that instantly silenced the somewhat noisy scene.

County Magistrate Li raised an eyebrow at Su Yunlan, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes. He sized up the young woman and sneered, "Who are you? Who gives you the right to speak here?"

Su Yunlan said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I am the fourth daughter-in-law of the Xiao family, and I proposed this water conservancy project." Although her tone was calm, every word was firm and powerful.

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Li's face darkened further, and his tone became even more stern: "You audacious shrew, how dare you spout nonsense here! I think you're tired of living! If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll really think you're in charge of this world! Guards, arrest them!"

The attendants behind Magistrate Li immediately stepped forward, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.

Su Yunlan sensed the villagers' tension and unease. She slowly exhaled, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Sir, water conservancy projects are of great importance and not child's play. Don't you want to hear our reasons for building the canal?"

Her eyes were deep and her tone was calm, but to Magistrate Li, it carried a hint of something he had never heard before.

He felt a strange sensation in his heart, and then he sneered, "Reason? I'd like to see what kind of nonsense you can come up with?"

Facing the disdainful gaze of Magistrate Li, Su Yunlan calmly replied, "Sir, our efforts to divert water through this canal are not without reason. This place has a unique terrain and scarce water resources. Without irrigation, the people will suffer from crop failure and struggle to make a living. The water we are diverting is a tributary of a mountain stream. The volume is not large, and thanks to our careful design, it will not affect water use in other areas, nor will it violate any laws."

Her voice was clear and firm, like a mountain stream, slowly flowing into everyone's ears.

Her eyes were bright, radiating a convincing power. Unlike her composure when facing the officials earlier, she was even more dazzling now.

At first, Magistrate Li dismissed it as mere sophistry from a village woman, but upon hearing Su Yunlan's clear and logical explanation, he began to waver.

He carefully examined the simple yet clearly meticulously designed irrigation ditch. The earthy smell mingled with the sweetness of the clear water, along with the heat emanating from the scorching sun, filling his nostrils and forcing him to begin to think seriously.

The villagers held their breath, watching Su Yunlan with nervous anticipation and hope.

Village Chief Wang also quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tense mood easing slightly.

Su Yunlan continued, "If you don't believe me, sir, you can go and see for yourself. This irrigation canal not only brings in clear spring water, but also revitalizes the village and gives the people hope. We are just trying to make ends meet, and we hope you will understand." Her tone was sincere and her words were firm.

County Magistrate Li remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the irrigation ditch and the villagers. Finally, he slowly nodded, his attitude noticeably softening.

"Since that's the case, I'll listen to what you have to say." He waved his hand, signaling his men not to rush forward and arrest anyone.

Seeing the change in Li County Magistrate's attitude, the villagers smiled with delight, and their eyes were filled with admiration and gratitude as they looked at Su Yunlan.

Sun clenched his fists excitedly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation for the future.

Grandpa Ma nodded slowly, a hint of approval appearing on his previously tense face.

Xiao Yuhan looked at Su Yunlan, who was speaking eloquently, with gentle eyes and a slight smile on his lips. He gently put his arm around her shoulder, giving her silent support.

Su Yunlan felt his strength and leaned slightly against him, a warm atmosphere spreading between them.

This scene also allowed the villagers present to see the deep affection between them.

County Magistrate Li noticed the interaction between the two and couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart; this woman was quite interesting.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Su Yunlan again, his gaze filled with a hint of inquiry.

"How...do you know these things?"

Su Yunlan did not answer his question directly, but smiled slightly and said calmly, "Sir, water conservancy is a matter of vital importance to people's livelihood and should be taken seriously. It is getting late today, why don't you rest in the village for the night and take a closer look tomorrow?"

County Magistrate Li stared at the meaningful smile on Su Yunlan's face, a feeling he couldn't quite put into words welling up inside him. He gave her a meaningful look, nodded, and did not reject her suggestion.

"Alright."

At Su Yunlan's suggestion, County Magistrate Li decided to rest in the village for the night.

He personally rode to the canal and carefully inspected the progress of the project.

Although the irrigation canal is not yet completed, it is already taking shape, with clear stream water flowing quietly, irrigating the surrounding parched land.

Along the irrigation canal, villagers bustled about, their faces brimming with hope and energy.

The sounds of horses' hooves and villagers working mingled together as County Magistrate Li walked around the irrigation canal, observing carefully.

He found that the design of the canal was indeed ingenious, not only making full use of the terrain, but also cleverly bypassing some areas prone to landslides.

County Magistrate Li secretly admired the woman before him. She was not only intelligent and resourceful, but also possessed extraordinary insight and ability.

"Madam Su, your water conservancy project is indeed well done." County Magistrate Li nodded, his tone more approving. "I am willing to provide some material support to help you speed up the progress."

Su Yunlan bowed slightly, then turned to the villagers and announced loudly, "Fellow villagers, Lord Li is willing to support us, and this irrigation canal project will be completed much faster!"

The villagers cheered with joy upon hearing the news.

Applause and cheers surged forth like a tide, filling the entire village with an atmosphere of joy.

Sun the young man shouted excitedly, Grandpa Ma also showed an approving smile, and Village Chief Wang thanked him repeatedly, almost kneeling down to County Magistrate Li.

Just then, Liu the craftsman stood aside, his face ashen, his heart filled with jealousy and resentment.

He thought he was the only craftsman in the village and should receive more attention, but he never expected that Su Yunlan would not only steal everyone's attention but also gain the approval of the county magistrate.

He snorted angrily, turned and left the crowd, deliberately throwing a tantrum over the project.

Su Yunlan keenly noticed Liu the craftsman's unusual behavior. She quickly walked up to him and said sternly, "Craftsman Liu, are you deliberately delaying the project? This irrigation canal is a matter of life and death for the entire village. Don't you understand that?"

The craftsman, Liu, blushed deeply at Su Yunlan's words and lowered his head, not daring to look her in the eye.

Upon seeing this, the villagers gathered around and began to criticize Liu the craftsman's behavior.

Grandpa Ma coughed loudly, signaling to craftsman Liu to correct the mistake immediately.

The craftsman, Liu, dared not argue any further. His face flushed, he said in a low voice, "Madam Su, I... I know I was wrong, and I will never do it again."

Su Yunlan nodded, her tone stern yet gentle: "I hope you can work hard in the future and contribute to the village."

The villagers breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Liu the craftsman being reprimanded, and Sun the young man clenched his fists, his eyes shining with even greater determination.

Looking at the excited faces of the villagers, Su Yunlan felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

As night fell, the villagers gathered together to celebrate this hard-won support.

County Magistrate Li also sat by the fire, his gaze occasionally falling on Su Yunlan.

She stood in the center of the crowd, smiling and talking with the villagers; her figure shone brightly in the firelight.

"Madam Su, you are truly a remarkable woman," said Magistrate Li softly, a hint of approving smile on his lips.

Su Yunlan smiled slightly, her gaze firm: "For the future of the villagers, I am willing to give everything." As dawn broke, golden sunlight shone on the busy construction site, illuminating the villagers' sweat-drenched figures.

Under Su Yunlan's meticulous planning and command, the excavation of the irrigation canal progressed rapidly.

She cleverly divided the villagers into several groups to work in shifts, which ensured the progress of the project while avoiding overwork.

She would occasionally walk to the construction site to carefully check the quality of the project and patiently guide the villagers on some techniques.

"Young Sun, the soil here is loose; we need to reinforce it," Su Yunlan reminded him, pointing to a newly dug ditch.

"Mrs. Su, don't worry, I remember everything!" Sun Shaonian swung the hoe vigorously, his face beaming with excitement.

Looking at the villagers full of energy, Su Yunlan felt gratified.

She seemed to see clear streams flowing in the irrigation canals, nourishing the parched land and the villagers' hopes for a better life.

"Miss Xiao, go over there and take a look. Old Master Ma is getting on in years; don't let him get too tired," Su Yunlan said, turning to Miss Xiao.

"Okay, sister-in-law!" Miss Xiao replied, skipping and hopping towards Old Master Ma.

Time flies by in the midst of our busy lives, and before we know it, the sun has risen high overhead.

The excavation of the irrigation canal has also reached an important milestone – the first section of the main canal is about to be completed.

"It's done! It's done!" With a cheer, the last piece of soil was dug out, and the first section of the main canal was officially connected.

The villagers erupted in cheers and applause, their faces beaming with joy.

They all gathered around, vying to thank Su Yunlan.

"Mrs. Su, thanks to you, we finally have water!"

"Mrs. Su, you are truly our great benefactor!"

Looking at the cheering villagers, Su Yunlan also showed a gratified smile.

She knew this was just the beginning, and the road ahead was long, but they had already taken a solid first step.

Just then, the sky suddenly darkened. The once clear sky was now filled with dark clouds, the heavy clouds pressing down on people and making it hard to breathe.

A gust of wind howled past, stirring up dust that blotted out the sky.

"It's going to rain!" someone shouted, and the once bustling construction site instantly fell silent.

Su Yunlan looked up at the sky, a sudden sense of unease rising in her heart.

She reached up and touched her cheek, feeling a cool raindrop.

"Quick, everyone pack your things!" Su Yunlan shouted. "Put away all the tools and get to a safe place to take shelter from the rain!"

The villagers also realized the urgency of the situation and took action.

However, at that moment, a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder...

"Xiao Yuhan!"

"Su Yunlan suddenly shouted.