At Old Luo’s place, Madam Chen viewed the seasonal gifts sent by Old Wang’s second branch with great satisfaction. Indeed, even after marrying into the Wang family, her daughter had not forgotten her maternal home. Seeing the abundance of the gifts, Madam Chen was filled with an ineffable joy.

As for Wang Youfu, he personally delivered the seasonal gifts to the main residence. The Old Master and Old Madam were uncharacteristically subdued; instead of scrutinizing how much the second branch had sent, they kindly invited Wang Youfu to sit and talk.

The Old Master spoke first: “Second son, look how slowly the first and third branches harvested their wheat. If you hadn't gone over to help, they probably wouldn't have finished even now. It seems they still rely on you. My thought is, why don’t the three branches work together again on the fields below? That way, the other two can finish faster.”

Wang Youfu felt a strange mixture of emotions upon hearing this. The Old Master’s intention was clearly that their branch had the ox cart and had hired extra hands. If they worked the fields alongside the first and third branches, they could support the other two. But while it sounded like supporting them, it was likely the first branch they were truly considering, as Wang Youfu knew the third branch wouldn't make such a request.

A person's feelings can be peculiar sometimes. For instance, if one has the option to help or not help, and no one mentions it, they might still choose to help. But the moment someone says you must help, should help, that person suddenly becomes far less willing.

This was precisely Wang Youfu’s state of mind. What he couldn't fathom was that if this suggestion had come from him, it would be different—that would be him willingly offering assistance. But why should the main residence feel entitled to benefit from him so readily? The Old Master should consider: if Wang Youfu didn't have the ox cart or the hired help, would the first branch be willing to assist him? They wouldn't just stand by when there was nothing to gain from him, only to cling on when there was an advantage, would they? Such a thing simply didn't exist.

Wang Youfu pondered for a moment, then replied, “Father, this is also what I wanted to say. Those hired hands originally agreed only to help me with the wheat harvest. Now they have their own family matters to attend to and cannot come. I was thinking it would be convenient to work the fields together with Elder Brother and Third Brother, and they could assist me. My own fields have increased significantly compared to before, and it’s too late to hire new people now; I can only rely on my brothers for support.”

Wang Youliang, who had been silent, expecting the Old Master and Old Madam to settle the matter smoothly, immediately objected when he heard Second Brother speak. “Hey, Second Brother, how can you be so deceitful to your Elder and Third Brothers? So, when there’s no good deal for us, you remember us when it’s time to work? Where is such a good deal?”

Wang Youfu feigned great surprise. “Elder Brother, what do you mean ‘no good deal for you’? When you were harvesting wheat, I went to help. Besides, having the three of us work the fields together was Father’s suggestion. Do you intend to defy Father’s wishes?”

Wang Youliang snorted. “You dare mention the wheat harvest? How much did you actually help us with that harvest? Why didn’t you come earlier? Oh, now that you see we’re almost finished, you pretend to offer help. And now you demand we support you in planting so much land? No way. I disagree, and I disagree with what Father proposed too.”

Wang Youfu sounded deeply pained. “Elder Brother, how can you speak without conscience? What do you mean I only helped when you were almost done? When I arrived, you hadn’t finished even half!”

Wang Youliang felt a pang of guilt. The first branch had indeed intended to take advantage of Wang Youfu’s resources, so they deliberately dragged out their work, making the Third Brother anxious enough to start foaming at the mouth. However, Wang Youliang didn't care and continued to work slowly, fully expecting the second branch to finish their own work and then come to their aid. Although this was the truth, Wang Youliang certainly wouldn't admit it.

“Hmph, even if that were true, I didn't force you to help. You offered, so don't pin it on me,” Wang Youliang asserted.

The Old Master, hearing Wang Youliang become increasingly unreasonable, flared up. “Shut up!”

Wang Youliang was startled. “Father…”

The Old Master pointed at Wang Youliang in anger. “You truly are—you’re infuriating me! Second son kindly offers support, and not only are you ungrateful, but you act like this—are you even human?”

“Father, did I say something wrong? What intentions do you think Second Brother has? He has so much land of his own, yet instead of hiring people for himself, he schemes for me and Third Brother to plant it for him. He is truly despicable.” Wang Youliang argued stubbornly.

“Is it only acceptable for you to take advantage of others, and unacceptable for others to take a little advantage of you? Tell me, how much benefit have you taken from the second and third branches over the years? Now, when all you’re asked to do is offer a little help, you show this attitude. Aren't you afraid of chilling your brothers’ hearts? With behavior like this, which relative will want to associate with your family in the future?” the Old Master thundered.

Wang Youliang knew confronting the Old Master now would yield no benefit, so he simply lowered his head and remained silent, waiting for the Old Master’s anger to subside.

The Old Master looked at this version of Wang Youliang, feeling deep sorrow. Once the pain subsided, he turned to Wang Youfu. “Second son, Father shouldn’t have brought this up; it was Father’s mistake. Since Elder Brother behaves so deplorably, Father won’t ask for your help with the first branch’s affairs anymore. However, this time, the people you hired have commitments and can’t help you. Hurry and see if you can find anyone else who is free while you have this time!”

Wang Youfu glanced at Wang Youliang, then nodded to the Old Master. “Mm, I’ll go back and ask those few if they can spare the time to help me!”

The Old Master nodded in response.

Seeing the matter concluded, Wang Youfu headed home. The story about his hired help being unavailable was, naturally, a fabrication on the spot. However, he had also mentioned going back to inquire if they could rearrange their schedules, so even if those few people continued to help him later, the main residence wouldn't grow suspicious.

After the Dragon Boat Festival, the household busied themselves with planting. At Wang Youfu’s house, besides the paddy fields being used for rice, the dry fields were sown with grains like peanuts and millet. With several hired hands assisting, the work was finished quickly. Once his own fields were done, Wang Youfu went to help Wang Youtian’s family, but he did not go to Wang Youliang’s. Yet, even without helping the first branch, the main residence found it difficult to say anything more, given Wang Youliang's utterly poor conduct on the day of the festival.

Following the busy farming season came the time for the farmers to pay taxes. Heaven had smiled upon them; this year’s harvest was as good as last year’s, meaning a significant surplus remained after taxes were paid, bringing much laughter back to the farming households.

One day, Aunt Gui came to Wang Youfu’s house. She said her brother's sow had just given birth to several piglets, and she wanted to ask if Yang Shi was interested. Normally, young piglets were easy to sell, especially in recent years when farming families enjoyed good harvests and had some spare money. However, at this particular time, those who typically bought piglets had already acquired and raised them for quite some time. Buying them now would be a bit late. This was why Aunt Gui’s brother hadn't managed to sell them all yet.

Yang Shi felt a little embarrassed. “Let me tell you honestly, I was initially planning to buy two or three piglets to raise. The sty at home is already built. But then I became pregnant, and the doctor said the fetus was a bit unstable, so I don't have the energy to raise pigs. Therefore, our family isn't planning on getting any piglets this year. I’m truly sorry.”

Aunt Gui looked regretful but understood. “Oh, that’s no trouble at all. I forgot you are pregnant. It’s fine, I’ll go ask a few more households shortly.”

Luo Qing, sitting nearby, interjected, “Mother, you are pregnant and shouldn't raise pigs, but I’m here. If we buy them, I can be responsible for raising them, can’t I?”

Yang Shi slapped her forehead. “Oh my, my mind—how could I forget I have this capable person right here? I’m really getting useless.”

Luo Qing giggled. “It’s not that Mother couldn’t remember, it’s that Mother cares too much about me. But don’t worry, Mother, I can certainly manage raising pigs.”

Luo Qing’s words delighted both Yang Shi and Aunt Gui. Yang Shi felt her daughter-in-law was considerate, and Aunt Gui was grateful for Luo Qing’s suggestion, finally finding someone willing to buy the piglets.

After a brief discussion and confirmation that Luo Qing could handle the responsibility, Yang Shi decided to buy two piglets, which made Aunt Gui overjoyed. After a few pleasantries, she hurried off to inform her brother.

Luo Qing’s suggestion to raise the pigs wasn't solely to please Yang Shi. Life in her husband's home was considerably more comfortable than it had been at her parents’ house. Raising two piglets wouldn't be a heavy burden, and if they were raised well, butchering them for the New Year would yield plenty of meat, eliminating the need to buy it elsewhere. Luo Qing thought this way because frugality was a virtue held by many farming families; they tried to save every single copper cash.

Yang Shi disliked procrastination. That very day, she told Wang Youfu, who had just returned, about the plan to buy piglets, emphasizing how her daughter-in-law had proactively taken on the task, noting that pig-rearing was not light work. This significantly improved Wang Youfu's impression of Luo Qing. What the couple didn't realize was that since marrying into their family, Luo Qing’s life was infinitely easier than at her maternal home. With Wu Shi’s help, she hardly had to do much housework, and even adding pig-raising now wasn't strenuous for Luo Qing.

The next day, Wang Youfu personally drove the ox cart, taking Aunt Gui with him to her brother’s place. They purchased two robust piglets for nineteen hundred cash.