The mention of land brought a wave of emotion to Ding Youtian, who recalled how he and his family were driven out and given not even half an acre of land, but only five acres of dry, sloping land where crops couldn't grow. Ding Youtian still vividly remembers that day.

Today, they own fifty acres of fertile land.

In the past, this was something he would never have dared to dream of. He was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Of course, the farmland should still be used for growing crops. My second brother and his wife have always taken good care of our family. Now that they've divided up the property, there are fifteen acres in total, and each family can only get three acres at best. How about we give two acres to my second brother? What do you think?"

Jian Ning had no objection. "Just consider it as repaying a favor, fine. But we can only tell others that he bought it from us, and we can't say it was a gift to him."

"Of course."

Jian Ning thought about it and said, "Give Lao Liu another three acres of land. He's about to get married, and three more acres of land will help him find a good marriage."

The sixth brother Ding Youxing was raised by the original body. If the original body were still alive, Jane Ning thought that the original body would probably do the same.

"Then let me thank you on behalf of Lao Liu." Ding Youtian had originally planned to do so, but he was too embarrassed to speak out. After all, it was Jian Ning who told him about the hybrid grain, and she was the biggest contributor behind it, having absolute control over it.

"There are 45 acres left. How about you use 40 acres to grow crops and the remaining 5 acres to grow precious medicinal herbs?"

Jian Ning smiled and said, "If we can't grow precious medicinal herbs, I'm afraid they will be given to others when they mature. It's better to grow lotus roots. Lotus roots have high nutritional and medicinal value. Raw lotus roots are cold in nature and can produce fluid and cool the blood. Hot lotus roots are warm in nature and can nourish the spleen and blood. They can also be used in cooking."

"That's it. Dig a five or six mu (approximately 16 acres) fish pond, grow lotus roots and raise fish. It's a win-win situation, and in the summer you can enjoy the lotus blossoms. Plus, lotus pods are even more effective than lotus roots. They can dissipate blood stasis, stop bleeding, treat skin sores, and even postpartum placenta retention. They can be made into pills and taken internally. It's simply amazing! It's like a treasure all over."

"Okay, I'll do as you say." Ding Youtian touched his nose and smiled, "After all this talk, I only remember one thing: the placenta is retained after delivery. Have you thought about when you plan to give birth?"

"No matter what you say, you can still get around to this. I really admire you! If you want to know when I will give birth, it depends on whether you can fight for it. If you can't make me the top scholar this year, you'll have to wait another three years!"

"I'm not the only one going through this, so I don't believe you'll ever want to. Don't blame me for not reminding you. If Ruoao breaks, you won't be able to use it in the future."

"I need you..." Jian Ning raised the spatula. Before she could finish her words, Huo Jincheng came over. Seeing this, he paused and said, "I think I came at the wrong time."

Ding Youtian said, "Since you know you've come at a bad time, why don't you just turn around and leave?"

"You've come at a bad time, but now you have to say something." If possible, Huo Jincheng really wanted to kick him twice. You know, if it weren't for his help, how could Ding Youtian marry the woman he had engaged to as a child?

You bastard, you don't know what's good for you.

He cursed in his heart.

"Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Jane Ning asked him.

"It's nothing serious. The dumplings you made last year were pretty good. When you make some more, don't forget to call me when you're ready to eat."

"That's easy. If you want to eat it, I'll make it tomorrow."

Ding Youtian sneered.

Huo Jincheng was dissatisfied, "What are you sneering about?"

"What's it to you if I laugh at something in my own house? I can laugh if I want to, and it's none of your business."

"You were clearly sneering at me, so why can't I ask?"

Jian Ning swung the spatula to stir the food in the wok while glancing at the two of them. "You two are like water and fire. You always quarrel when you meet. Why don't you just go to the yard and have a fight? But I have a promise." She glanced at Huo Jincheng. "If you want to hurt my husband, don't blame me for letting Guoguo bite you."

Huo Jincheng was caught off guard by Jian Ning's feeding of dog food. Looking at Ding Youtian winking at Jian Ning with a smug look on his face, he really regretted stepping into the room out of greed. He just came to the toilet and turned in by passing by.

He flicked his sleeves and walked out with a gloomy face. At the kitchen door, he almost bumped into Yue'e. Yue'e hurriedly bowed and said nothing, just looked up at him.

After the two passed each other, Huo Jincheng turned his head again, but Yue'e also looked back at him. Their eyes met. If it were another woman, she would probably panic, but Yue'e did not.

She nodded slightly at him, her eyes calm and without a trace of shyness, which made him feel vaguely familiar.

Yes, the same is true for Hua.

In the past, Hua always liked to look at him secretly. When he noticed Hua's eyes looking at him, Hua would always nod, never panicking and avoiding, and his eyes were always so calm.

After a while, Yue'e came to serve the dishes, and he looked at her a few more times without realizing it.

At the dinner table, Ding Youtian told Ma Fuquan about Jian Ning's plan to dig a pond to grow lotus roots and raise fish. Ma Fuquan said, "Great! Planting them in March will allow them to bloom in June or July and mature in September or October. If we plant them in March, we'll have to start digging the pond now. I'm just not sure if the government will allow us to use farmland for ponds."

In modern times, according to the Land Management Law, it is explicitly forbidden to use arable land to dig ponds for fish farming. Ma Fuquan looked at Huo Jincheng, who didn't know much about this. "It should be possible," he said. "Since the land has been given to an individual, it is private property. If you're worried, you can go to the town government office tomorrow to ask."

The next day, Jian Ning asked Mr. Ding San to go to the town government office to ask, and got a clear answer that personal property could be taken away as long as one was willing.

Ding Youtian spoke to the village head, who felt that using the fertile land for fish ponds was a waste. He suggested exchanging land with the villagers, harvesting grain, and having the villagers compensate the difference in price. Ding Youtian and Jian Ning agreed to the head's proposal, and they eventually exchanged six acres of contiguous land. The head then helped them gather the villagers and choose an auspicious day to begin digging the pond.

At the same time, the town government also began to build roads for Dingxian Village. The village road was widened enough for three carriages to run side by side.

When Old Ding learned that Ding Youtian and Jian Ning had exchanged six acres of good farmland with someone else to dig ponds, raise fish and grow lotus roots, he started cursing at home again.

Among the cursing, he and Old Mrs. Meng were the most enthusiastic. The second brother and his wife got the land given by Ding Youtian, so they naturally didn't say much. The eldest and third brother and their couple just symbolically agreed with a few words.

Now that the family had split up, they could eat whatever they wanted, and all the money they earned belonged to them. They could also control the crops they harvested from the fields. Life was truly wonderful. They didn't have the energy to curse anyone; instead, the three brothers helped dig the fish pond.

If for no other reason than to not dig in vain and to get paid every day.

After the fish pond was dug, the village head helped Jian Ning invite an experienced farmer from the neighboring village. After a few days of hard work, lotus seeds and fish fry were bought and put into the fish pond. Then spring plowing began, the weather gradually warmed up, and the first county examination for children also began.