The villagers who couldn't borrow a cow could only watch enviously as Lu Dahai's family loaded their trucks and transported timber.

While no one was paying attention to her, Lu Qiqi secretly stored the wood that Lu Dahai and the others had cut down into her spatial storage.

Mrs. Qian carried a basket containing a water bag and flatbread, intending to deliver lunch to her family.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, they saw that Lu Dahai and his family actually had six oxen hauling timber.

She thought to herself that if she could borrow these cows, it would save a lot of time, and her family could move into the house sooner instead of having all her aunts crammed into one tent.

While Liu Tong and Li Changlong were moving timber up the mountain, Qian walked up to Lu Dahai with a smile and said, "Dahai, are you moving timber?"

Lu Dahai had heard Li talk about Qian's behavior before. Although he didn't like it, she was a woman after all, and he didn't want to gossip like a woman. He said lightly, "Yes, sister-in-law."

Qian asked again, "Where did your family get so many cows?"

Lu Dahai felt that Qian Shi was standing a bit too close, so he consciously took a step back and said, "I paid for it. Sister-in-law, you're here to bring food to my brother, right? I heard him say earlier that he was starving, and he's probably thinking about it now."

How could Qian not hear Lu Dahai shooing people away? She pretended not to hear and continued to laugh, "Dahai, could you lend us your ox for a while? Your older brother is not in good health, and Nianzi is a lazybones. He has never done any heavy work since he was a child. Now your older brother does most of the work. With this ox, we can save a lot of effort and our family can go to the pharmacy less often to get medicine for your older brother's treatment."

Lu Dahai knew that Brother Li's health was not good and that his son was a good-for-nothing, but it was also because of his mother, Qian Shi, who spoiled him. If he lent the money out because of this, others would also find various excuses to borrow it in the future. This matter should be nipped in the bud as Seventh Sister said.

Lu Dahai pretended not to understand and said, "I can lend it to you."

Madam Qian was overjoyed and said, "Great! I knew you were good. I feel sorry for your elder brother."

Lu Dahai added, "One cow costs one coin to rent for one day."

Upon hearing this, Madam Qian's lips immediately fell, and her face turned ugly. She said, "Dahai, we're all from the same village. What's with all this talk about money? If your family has any difficulties, wouldn't your older brother help you? Don't be so greedy. In the future, everyone in and around the village will need the help of the villagers. Don't you consider Lijia Village your own village? Are you still thinking about your Lujia Village?"

Lu Dahai was a visitor, not from Lijia Village, so he didn't speak as boldly as the villagers. He was quite annoyed that Aunt Qian pointed her finger at him and accused him of being a double agent.

But he couldn't bring himself to argue with the woman, lest he become a laughingstock. He was so angry that his face turned red, and he couldn't utter a single word.

As Lu Qiqi descended the mountain, she saw Lu Dahai's face flushed with anger at Qian Shi. She deliberately spoke loudly, "My third uncle is right. A cow can be rented for a large sum of money per day. We bought this cow with our own money, and no one else can borrow it without paying a single penny!"

When had Madam Qian ever been treated like this, especially by Lu Qiqi, an unmarried young girl? She said, "You can't say that, Lu family girl. Our family has helped you before. When you asked for those wild vegetables on the way to escape, I took them out without saying a word. You can't forget that and then abandon us after we've crossed the river!"

As noon approached, more and more women came to deliver meals, and the men who worked on the mountain also came down one after another. Upon hearing Qian's words, everyone turned their attention to Lu Qiqi.

Lu Qiqi chuckled and asked, "Is Aunt Qian referring to those two ounces of purslane?"

When Lu Qiqi pointed out the true value of the wild vegetables, Qian was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly calmed down and said, "Two, what's wrong with two ounces?! Without those two ounces of wild vegetables, you couldn't have saved the villagers of Yi'an Village. You said you would buy them with money, but I haven't seen a single penny yet. What's wrong with asking to borrow your cow? You still have the nerve to charge money to rent it out."

When the women delivering the food heard Lu Qiqi mention the Qian family, they only took out two ounces of purslane and looked at each other in bewilderment.

You should know that there are more than 200 people in Lijia Village, which can be counted as more than 30 households. This family has 8 people, and they are shameless to ask for such a small favor as lending a cow by only contributing 2 taels.

Besides, if it weren't for Lu Qiqi, they would still be trapped outside Yi'an Village, and they would never have had the chance to settle down here.

Lu Qiqi hadn't expected Qian Shi to be so shameless. Luckily, she had noticed Qian Shi peeking furtively into their tent and had prepared in advance. She took out a piece of paper and said, "Everyone, look carefully. This is the pledge the village chief wrote to me today. I asked you to buy the purslane, and I won't go back on my word! It's three copper coins a pound. The village chief has already calculated the price for you. Go to the village chief and collect your money yourselves. If anyone tries to force me to comply with this matter again or tries to take advantage of my kindness, don't blame me for turning against you!"

Qian was shocked that Lu Qiqi had actually gone to the village chief to settle the bill. She felt a sudden pain in her face, as if she had been slapped in the face without her noticing.

Aunt Fang, carrying a basket, came to deliver lunch to her husband and children. Upon hearing Lu Qiqi's words, she raised her voice and said, "Well said! Some people think they're the boss just because they've given something. Everyone has to do things for them. If it weren't for Lu Qiqi, I wonder who would have made it to Luzhou Prefecture alive. They would have been killed or sold by bandits!"

Upon hearing Aunt Fang's words, the villagers stopped watching and began to speak up for Lu Qiqi.

"Yes, if it weren't for the Lu family girl, would we have made it to Luzhou Prefecture? We would have been killed by bandits in Yuanqu long ago."

"Sister Qian, just shut up. People paid money to buy the cow. You can rent it if you want. If you're not willing to spend the money, you don't need to say things like that!"

"Every family has wild vegetables, but she's just being nosy and using this as a pretext. If it weren't for the Lu family girl's medical skills, who would dare say they wouldn't catch the plague and could leave the village unscathed!"

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