Liang Shuyan nodded: "Yes, that's right. I read about it in a book by chance before. At first, I didn't believe it myself. Later, I heard that there had been cultivation and experiments of ratooning rice in some parts of the south, and it was very successful. So, I thought, why don't we give it a try? It's better than just plowing up the wheat stubble."

The county magistrate frowned: "The south has achieved such results, but because of the different seasons, we are using wheat, while the south is experimenting with rice. What if it fails? Won't it incur the resentment of the people?"

Li Zheng stood to the side like an outsider, quietly watching the two people not far away, as if his thoughts had already flown far away.

The county magistrate was 1.6 meters tall, wearing a light blue official robe and a pair of tall boots. Liang Shuyan was noticeably taller than the county magistrate, wearing a light yellow long dress, a bamboo hairpin in her hair, and a pair of old cloth shoes.

Since losing her mother, Zhao Heng had rarely seen her father with any woman in such a beautiful and moving scene. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, thinking that in a few days, her grandmother would ask a matchmaker to introduce another woman to her father.

Around noon, Jin Dashan returned and appeared behind Zhao Heng without anyone noticing, putting an arm around Zhao Heng's shoulder.

"Zhao Heng, you really have a lot of shame. How could you argue with Niu Niu? She's just a child, how could she make you so angry?"

"You dare to laugh at me? I'll beat you up!"

Jin Dashan put his arm around Zhao Heng's neck and chuckled, "Alright, don't forget I'm your brother Dashan."

"Seriously, don't tell anyone about this embarrassing thing. That brat Niu Niu really knows how to talk!"

"Alright, it's nothing to be ashamed of. If it were me, I definitely couldn't beat Niu Niu either. Our Niu Niu is someone no one can mess with, so it's best not to provoke her!"

Big Black wagged its tail and walked over, baring its teeth at Zhao Heng. Zhao Heng hesitated for a moment, then reached out to touch Big Black, but Big Black revealed a fierce expression.

"Hey, Brother Dashan, what's wrong with Dahei? He's usually pretty nice to me, so why is he acting so fierce today? It looks like he's going to eat me up. Did he get married to Niu Niu?"

As if it really understood, Dahei pounced on Zhao Heng, barking!

"Alright, you win. I can't afford to mess with you!"

Jin Dashan grabbed Zhao Heng and said, "Come here, I have a question for you. Do you really want my mother to be your stepmother?"

Zhao Heng waved his hand: "Alright, I don't want that dog Niu Niu tearing me apart!"

Not far away, Jin Dashan's eyes fell on the county magistrate and Liang Shuyan, and he wondered, "What's going on? Is the county magistrate really talking to my mother about that matter?"

"Did you spar with your father?" Jin Dashan's eyes turned to Zhao Heng.

Zhao Heng glanced at his father and Aunt Jin not far away, and then said, "Don't say that. Even if I had the guts of the world, I wouldn't dare to tell my father about this. Didn't you hear Li Zheng say that the county magistrate and my mother were discussing the wheat seedlings?"

Jin Dashan glanced at Li Zheng: "Li Zheng is standing to the side, but instead of discussing village matters with the magistrate, he wants my mother to discuss the wheat seedlings with the magistrate. Does that mean my mother is Li Zheng?"

Zhao Heng scoffed, "What are you talking about? In our village, don't we always discuss everything with Auntie? Besides, it was Auntie who suggested leaving the wheat seedlings, so naturally, we need to discuss this with her. What are you thinking?"

Jin Dashan's mind was in a mess. He ordered himself to stop his wild thoughts and then said, "Alright, I don't want to say anything more. Zhao Heng, I'm telling you seriously, you're not allowed to have any feelings for my mother. My mother will not marry your father!"

Zhao Heng grew bolder and said, "But what if it's my father who wants to pursue my aunt? Then, you can't blame me for that."

Jin Dashan, his face grim, grabbed Zhao Heng by the collar: "I'm warning you, you brat, you better not have such thoughts, or don't blame me for turning ruthless!"

"Brother Dashan, can't we just not talk about this?"

Jin Dashan said coldly, "Of course. You'd better give your father a heads-up, otherwise, you brat, get out of our house. In our house, my mother treats you like her own son. She gives you whatever we eat and wear. She even treats you better than the rest of us. You ungrateful wretch, you don't know what's good for you and you want to take my mother for yourself?"

"No, that's not it, Brother Dashan, I didn't, I didn't have that thought, please don't be angry!"

Jin Dashan was seething with anger. He ignored Zhao Heng and turned to head towards the construction site.

The county magistrate entrusted the task of distributing wheat seedlings to each household to the judge, saying that he had important business to attend to, and then hurriedly returned to the government office.

At this moment, Zhao Heng wanted to go back with his father. He stepped forward and grabbed the county magistrate, saying, "Father, I want to go back with you. I haven't seen Grandma for the past few days, and I want to go back and see her!"

"No need, I have important things to do tonight. You stay here and your aunt will take good care of you, and I'll feel more at ease."

The county magistrate entrusted Zhao Heng to Liang Shuyan once again, but Liang Shuyan held Zhao Heng's hand and said, "Zhao Heng, what's wrong? Are you still angry with Niu Niu? Come back with your aunt, and I promise no one will dare to bully you!"

Zhao Heng knew very well that he had offended the Jin family's children, and even Da Shan had become suspicious of him. How could he possibly stay in the Jin family any longer?

"Don't be afraid. With your aunt here, who would dare to bully you?" With that, Zhao Heng was led by Liang Shuyan into the Jin family's courtyard.

This time, Jin Dashan saw it, and Niu Niu saw it too. Their eyes were like knives as they stared at Zhao Heng, wishing they could kick this malicious Zhao Heng out of the house.

Liang Shuyan stood in the middle of the courtyard, coughed softly twice, and looked at Niu Niu: "Niu Niu, come here!"

Niu Niu was the family's darling, so naturally she wasn't afraid. She walked over confidently and said in a deep voice, "Mom, what's wrong?"

"You're not allowed to talk about Zhao Heng anymore, understand?"

Niu Niu's lips twitched, and she looked at Zhao Heng with cold eyes, saying, "Hmph, don't think that just because you called my mother here, I'm afraid of you. Don't even think about kidnapping my mother. Your father is the county magistrate, but we're not afraid. If you dare to lay a hand on my mother, we'll... we'll go and complain to the governor. Who can control your father?"

Liang Shuyan finally understood. She pulled Niu Niu aside and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Who told you to complain to the governor at such a young age?"