“Then let’s make a few more. After next year’s hemp harvest, we can use them all to make mattresses, instead of making burlap sacks.” Moshi loved the mattress so much that he sat on it again and again.

DouDou and GuoGuo got into bed and started jumping around on it.

"You two aren't allowed to jump like that, you'll break it." Su Xiaonuan still felt it wasn't durable enough.

"Xiao Nuan, it's okay, I did a good job, I won't break it."

"You don't understand, no matter how strong the bamboo strips are, they are not as durable as a spring."

Xiao Moran was about to say that he would buy some springs for her when he went to the provincial capital, but before he could say it, he heard voices coming from the yard and quickly ran out.

Xiao Nuan and Mo Xi each carried a child and ran out, worried that the Lan family would come looking for trouble again.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the village chief had arrived with the town mayor and police officers.

"Xiao Nuan, the town mayor and the police have come to deliver gifts to your family." The village chief nodded and bowed, pointing to the middle-aged man beside him.

A large crowd of onlookers quickly gathered outside the courtyard gate to watch the spectacle.

When Zhang Yulan returned, she witnessed this scene. Her heart pounded with fear, thinking something had happened to her family again. She quickly raised her hand to cover her chest.

"Sister-in-law, your Xiaonuan is really capable. Even the town mayor came personally to give her a bonus."

Zhang Yulan finally felt relieved and carried the vegetables into the courtyard.

The town mayor personally handed the envelope containing the reward money to Su Xiaonuan. "Comrade Su Xiaonuan, you have really brought honor to our town this time. The leaders above have praised our town for solving the case so quickly. On behalf of all the people of the town, I am bringing you this reward money."

"You're too kind," Su Xiaonuan said. "I didn't do anything special, I feel unworthy of such praise."

"I don't deserve this at all," the mayor said, shoving the envelope into her hand. "Take it! It's not much money, but it's an encouragement for you. You might need my help in the future."

The mayor did have ulterior motives. After hearing about Su Xiaonuan's performance at the crime scene, he wanted her to help a neighboring town solve a long-standing cold case.

The police station chief presented her with a banner that read "Expert in Solving Cases."

"Comrade Su, thank you so much this time. Following your ideas, we first checked people with vehicles, which narrowed down the search area. Then, based on the button you found, we followed the clues and found the murderer. We also found the crime scene you mentioned. Your village was indeed just the dumping site. You are truly a prophet. Xu Honglin is indeed quite familiar with your village, which is why he was able to successfully avoid the barking dogs. Otherwise, we wouldn't have solved the case so quickly."

Su Xiaonuan accepted the 100 yuan bonus and the banner without hesitation, and invited everyone to take their seats.

"Mo Ran, you stay and keep the guests company. I'll go make something to eat."

Moxi makes herbal tea; she's quite good at it now.

Su Xiaonuan made cornmeal soufflés and fried chive pancakes.

Zhang Yulan was chatting with the villagers outside the door, holding her two grandsons' hands. She was all smiles.

Xiao Moran, a veteran, received an immediate promise from the town mayor that he would find a way to arrange a formal job for him in the town.

"Thank you for your concern, Mayor. Please don't trouble yourself with the job. Let's give this opportunity to those who need it more!"

Everyone thought Xiao Moran would be grateful to the mayor and get a formal job, which was everyone's dream.

The village chief was sweating bullets for him, thinking Mo Ran was too foolish.

"This is a good thing that others can't even dream of, why are you refusing?" The village chief couldn't understand it either. If it were anyone else, they would have knelt down and kowtowed to the town mayor long ago.

“I know it’s a good thing, but I don’t want to work in this town for the rest of my life.” Xiao Moran said what was on his mind. “Xiao Nuan has married me, and her family in the provincial capital has cut ties with her. I’m going to go to the provincial capital to find a way out, and in the future, I’ll take Xiao Nuan back to her family in style to reunite with them.”

"Well done." The mayor gave him a thumbs up. "I support you. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."

"Thank you, Mayor!"

...

Before long, the tea and snacks were served.

The town leaders drank herbal tea and ate snacks, and they all gave Su Xiaonuan a thumbs up.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill and left, the village chief returned and ate all the snacks that the leaders hadn't finished.

"Mmm, delicious," the village chief mumbled.

"Village chief, eat slowly, be careful not to choke!" Zhang Yulan handed him a glass of water, thinking to herself, being a village chief is not easy. He usually acts all high and mighty in the village, but in front of the leaders, he's like a servant.

"Village chief, there's still some here. Take some back for your family later." Su Xiaonuan brought out another plate of snacks from inside.

"Xiao Nuan, you've really impressed everyone," the village chief said while eating. "Our village has benefited from your success. The town mayor said that our village's affairs will be given priority in the future."

“Okay. We’ll need his help a lot in the future.” Su Xiaonuan nodded. “To develop the village’s economy, we’ll definitely be dealing with the town leaders frequently. If we want to succeed, we can’t do without their support.”

"You are truly a lucky star for our village!"

Xiao Moran took a cigarette from the cigarette box on the table and handed it to the village chief, even lighting it for him himself.

The intention to curry favor was obvious.

As the village chief puffed on his cigarette, he clasped his hands in a fist salute. “Village chief, I’m going to the provincial capital tomorrow and probably won’t be back for three to five months. I’d like to ask the village chief to take care of my family matters.”

"You've got it backwards, kid. I should be asking Xiaonuan to take good care of the villagers. With her leading everyone to prosperity, our village will have hope."

“No matter how capable Xiaonuan is, she is still a woman. I entrust my family’s safety to the village chief.”

"What are you fussing about?" Su Xiaonuan retorted, giving him a sidelong glance. "Do you think I'm the type to be bullied?"

"Not now, but it used to be."

“Things from the past are long gone,” Su Xiaonuan said. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the safety of the family. The village chief is so busy, he doesn’t have time to keep an eye on us.”

"You two stop arguing. Don't worry, I won't allow those unreasonable people to cause trouble." The village chief's eyes were fixed on the pastries on the plate.

Su Xiaonuan immediately fetched a clean lotus leaf and wrapped all the pastries on the plate inside. "Village Chief, you can take these with you."

"Then I won't be polite!" The village chief happily took the snacks and left.

After walking a few steps, he turned back and glanced at the cigarette on the stone table.

"Village chief, here, take this cigarette, I don't smoke." After observing the situation, Xiao Moran gave the village chief the cigarette that was not yet finished.

To entertain everyone, Xiao Moran borrowed two packs of cigarettes from someone else, since he doesn't usually smoke.

One pack was empty, and there were still about ten cigarettes left in another pack.

"Look at the village chief's behavior." Mo Xi said with a disdainful sneer after watching the village chief leave. "He eats and takes, how can he be so shameless?"

“That’s because the village chief thinks highly of our family. Before, even if we wanted to curry favor with the village chief, he wouldn’t accept our gifts,” Zhang Yulan said with deep feeling. “Xiao Nuan is so good. She really makes our family proud.”

...