After seeing Zhao Laoshi and the commune cadres off, Lin Wanqiu held the notice in her hand, looking at it repeatedly, her excitement still lingering. Shen Tingzhou brought her a glass of warm water from the kitchen, handed it to her, and said with a smile, "Don't just get too excited, drink some water, be careful not to get tired. Now we need to think carefully about what we need to prepare for the selection."

Lin Wanqiu took the water glass, took a sip, and felt the warmth slide down her throat into her heart. She looked up at Shen Tingzhou, her eyes full of smiles: "I want to organize the techniques for growing off-season vegetables and write them down. Also, I need to carefully check the income records of the tofu shop for the past few months so that the judges can see that we have really helped everyone make money. Oh, and we should also bring some fresh vegetables and tofu so they can taste our skills."

“I’ll help you organize the accounts, and then I’ll go up the mountain to cut some bamboo and weave a pretty basket to hold vegetables and tofu,” Shen Tingzhou immediately chimed in. “I’ll also keep an eye on Nian’an’s studies, so you can focus on preparing your experience presentation. If you need any help, just let me know.”

Nian'an also came over, raised her little hand and said, "Mom, I can help too! I can fold paper for you and wipe the table for you!"

Looking at the two people before her who wholeheartedly supported her, Lin Wanqiu felt a warm current welling up in her heart like a spring. She reached out and hugged Shen Tingzhou's waist, resting her head on his chest, her voice slightly choked: "Thank you, Tingzhou. If it weren't for you, I might..."

"Silly girl, why are you thanking me?" Shen Tingzhou gently stroked her hair, his voice so tender it could melt water. "You're so capable, you can live a good life even without me. All I can do is stay by your side, make sure you don't suffer any more grievances, and let you do what you want to do with peace of mind."

Just as the family was immersed in joy and discussing the preparations for the selection, a series of light footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard wall, followed by hushed voices. Shen Tingzhou had sharp ears and immediately recognized one of the voices as Zhao Jianjun—the son of the brigade secretary who had tried to force Lin Wanqiu to marry him and had made things difficult for her after being rejected.

"...How could my father recommend Lin Wanqiu for the selection? She's a widow who used to have a huge falling out with the Shen family. What makes her a 'wealth-creating expert'?" Zhao Jianjun's voice was full of dissatisfaction, tinged with jealousy. "Brother Zhang, you're familiar with the leaders of the commune. Could you help me find a way to disqualify her?"

Another voice sounded somewhat obsequious: "Jianjun, this is not a good matter. The nomination list has been finalized, and the commune leaders have all signed it. However... I heard that this selection process will investigate the candidates' family circumstances. If there are any 'problems' in her family, she might be disqualified."

"Family situation?" Zhao Jianjun paused, then a sinister glint appeared in his voice. "Wasn't Shen Tingzhou 'sacrificed'? How come he's suddenly back? There's definitely something wrong here! I'll check his background. If he's a deserter, or something else, then Lin Wanqiu's eligibility will be automatically revoked, won't it?"

Shen Tingzhou's face instantly darkened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He gently patted Lin Wanqiu's shoulder, signaling her not to worry, then quietly walked to the base of the courtyard wall and continued listening to the sounds outside.

Lin Wanqiu's heart also tightened—Zhao Jianjun had always harbored resentment towards her, and he certainly wouldn't let this opportunity slip by easily. Shen Tingzhou's identity was special; although he had faked his death during a mission, it hadn't been made public. If Zhao Jianjun seized on this and made a big fuss about it, not only would his eligibility for the selection be revoked, but it might also bring trouble to Shen Tingzhou.

"...Also, I heard that the soybeans used in her tofu shop are of dubious origin, maybe they were obtained through speculation." Zhao Jianjun's voice came in again, "I'll go talk to a few more villagers and tell them to report her to the commune, saying that her tofu shop is stealing everyone's business. That way, the commune leaders will definitely reconsider!"

"Jianjun, this is a good idea! As long as someone reports it, the commune will have to investigate. Even if they don't find anything wrong in the end, it will still delay her time to participate in the selection. She won't have time to prepare and definitely won't be selected!"

The footsteps outside faded into the distance before Shen Tingzhou returned from the foot of the courtyard wall, his face still grim. Lin Wanqiu quickly went to meet him and asked in a low voice, "What did they say? Are they targeting us?"

Shen Tingzhou nodded and recounted what he had just heard to Lin Wanqiu. Finally, he gripped her hand tightly and said firmly, "Wanqiu, don't worry. Zhao Jianjun is trying to cause trouble, but I won't let him succeed. Although my identity cannot be revealed for the time being, I have old leaders in the commune who know me. If they really investigate, I can explain it clearly. As for the soybeans in the tofu shop, we bought them through legitimate channels, and we have the ledgers to prove it. He can't spread rumors."

Although Nian'an didn't fully understand, he knew that Zhao Jianjun was there to cause trouble. He clenched his little fists and said loudly, "Dad, Mom, we're not afraid of him! Zhao Jianjun is a bad person, we'll reason with him!"

Seeing her son's earnest expression, Lin Wanqiu's worries lessened somewhat. She nodded, her eyes regaining their fighting spirit: "Tingzhou is right. We don't cause trouble, but we're not afraid of it either. This selection was recommended by the commune, which is recognition of our efforts. We can't let Zhao Jianjun ruin it. Now we need to prepare even better. We not only need to participate in the county selection, but we also need to get a good ranking so he can see that he won't have it so easy to block our way!"

Seeing the light in Lin Wanqiu's eyes, Shen Tingzhou felt even more confident. He reached out and pulled her and Nian'an into his arms, his voice gentle yet firm: "Yes, we'll prepare together. No matter what tricks Zhao Jianjun plays, we can handle them. This time, we're not only going to the selection, but we're going to go in style, so everyone knows that you, Lin Wanqiu, deserve the title of 'Wealth Creation Expert'!"

The afternoon sun filtered through the locust tree branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The wild chrysanthemums in the yard still swayed in the wind, but now, the gentle autumn light carried a tense atmosphere. Lin Wanqiu knew that Zhao Jianjun's刁难 (diāonán, making things difficult) was just the beginning; more trouble would surely await them in the coming days. But she wasn't afraid—with Shen Tingzhou by her side, Nian An's support, and her own spatial abilities and skills, no matter how many obstacles lay ahead, she could overcome them step by step and firmly grasp her own honor and happiness.

She picked up the notice on the table again, her fingertips tracing the three characters "Lin Wanqiu," her eyes filled with determination. This "Wealth Creation Expert" selection was not only an affirmation of her past achievements but also a new starting point for the future. She would carry the expectations of her family and the trust of her neighbors to prove herself in the county, to strive for more opportunities, and to make life better and better for the Hongqi Production Brigade. Zhao Jianjun's obstruction was merely a small pebble on her path to success, easily kicked away.