When Jiang Zhi asked what her intentions were, Qin looked innocent and bewildered, and still tried to explain: "When did I stop them from being intimate? I also want a grandson. It was Lianhua who started having these wild ideas. I just needed to go to the outhouse."

Jiang Zhi was furious. She grabbed Qin Shi by the neck and yelled, "Pretend! You're still pretending! You dare to say you didn't eavesdrop? From now on, even if you're about to pee or poop at night, you'd better hold it in!"

Qin cried out in pain as her hands were pinched: "Genqing, Lianhua, just wait and see, your mother will be bullied."

Xu Genqing and Lianhua rushed over to mediate the fight.

The two needed Village Chief Jiang's help. They naturally wouldn't have interfered before, but they couldn't just stand by and watch their mother call without doing anything, otherwise Qin would tear them apart later.

The two had barely arrived when Jiang Zhi yelled at them, "Get out and cook the rice!"

So the two retreated back behind the stove and hid.

Qin was yelled at by Jiang Zhi and immediately had spit in her face. Seeing that her son and daughter-in-law were also driven away when they came to help, she knew that Jiang Zhi was serious. She immediately lowered her voice and said, "I didn't mean to listen. Blame the curtain for not being soundproof."

Besides, these are my son and daughter-in-law; we're all family, what's there to be embarrassed about?

Jiang Zhi was also amazed by Qin's shamelessness.

She had seen a lot of complaints online before.

Some people don't know how to avoid suspicion at home. The elderly and children don't close the door when they go to the toilet, and they are naked at home in the middle of summer, saying things like "We're family, don't mind."

There are also mothers-in-law who insist on sleeping with their sons and daughters-in-law, saying they can help cover them with blankets in the middle of the night.

I initially thought it was just a joke meant to grab attention, but when I actually met a real person, I got even angrier: "Do you not even care about your own poop and pee, and you like people to see it?!"

Since you're not afraid of being seen, when the laborers come tomorrow, I'll strip you naked and drag you out for everyone to see."

Jiang Zhi also became determined. How could Lianhua and Xu Genqing have encountered such a bizarre mother? If they don't get her to her senses, how will they live their lives in the future?

Over time, the village's atmosphere will likely be corrupted.

Regardless of whether Qin's mentality stemmed from a widow vying for favor with her daughter-in-law, or from a lack of understanding of shame and the importance of avoiding suspicion, it's clear that Qin's actions were driven by a different mindset.

I'll use every trick in the book, I refuse to believe I can't cure this freak.

Village Chief Jiang, you keep your word!

Qin immediately deflated. The trauma of being beaten by Granny Jiang after having her pants pulled down was still fresh in her mind. If she were to have her clothes pulled down and be seen by others, she truly couldn't live.

"From now on... I won't care! I won't even poop or pee!" Qin said defiantly.

Jiang Zhi had no intention of making her happy: "Yes, don't pee, it's best to hold it in until you die, so as not to corrupt the child!"

Qin was at her wit's end and muttered, "The two of us have to separate from now on. It's not good for us to sleep together. I still have to keep an eye on Lotus."

This time, Jiang Zhi couldn't hold back any longer. She raised her hand and slapped Qin Shi to the ground, then pressed her down and twisted her arm: "You fucking did this on purpose."

You were young once too, you were a daughter-in-law, and now you're a mother-in-law.

People are all made of flesh and blood. If you were doing well back then, you should know whether Lotus was doing well or not.

Qin was in excruciating pain from being pinched, and cried out, "I had Genqing after only one night with his father back then. That deadbeat said that we could only have a child if we slept separately."

"It's because there aren't enough rooms that Lianhua and Genqing have been sleeping together every day and that's why they haven't had children. My decision to separate them in the future is for Lianhua's own good. Where did I go wrong?"

What kind of nonsense is this? What do you mean you can only have children if you separate, and you can't have children if you sleep together?

Why not learn from bees and ants, who can produce an endless supply of eggs after just one mating?

Could it be that Xu Genqing's father deceived Qin Shi in this way back then?

After she was tricked into marrying into the Xu family at the age of fifteen, she was left alone in an empty room even after giving birth to a child.

Jiang Zhi was both angry and amused, and somewhat incredulous that Qin Shi was so foolish and ignorant, truly destined to remain a widow her whole life.

However, this was not the time for sympathy. Jiang Zhi had no way to educate Qin Shi about childbirth right now, so she could only speak up about what was important at hand. Thus, she admonished, "If you want your grandson to be born smoothly, you are not allowed to interfere with how Lianhua and the other two live in the future."

"Don't be stingy with Lotus's food, and don't make her do heavy work that will only torment her. If I find out you're deliberately making things difficult for her, I'll skin you alive."

Her words were actually useless. Once the door was closed, how others lived was their own business, and she, as the village chief, couldn't possibly concern herself with every household's affairs.

But with her saying this, Qin still had some reservations about Lotus.

Sure enough, Qin was holding her breath: "I can't hit her, I can't scold her, I can't let her go hungry, I can't let her get tired, I'll treat her like an ancestor, okay?"

Seeing that she had given in, Jiang Zhi asked again, "You'd better keep your word. If you dare to lie to me, I'll deal with you anytime I hear you talking about Lotus Flower outside!"

Qin was on the verge of tears: "I'm not saying anything more, just gag me!"

Jiang Zhi knew that Qin Shi wouldn't dare to say anything more, so she didn't argue with her. She went straight to Lianhua, who was busy at the stove, and said, "From now on, do what you're supposed to do, eat when you're supposed to eat, and take care of yourself. Don't work too hard!" The last sentence was directed at Xu Genqing.

Jiang Zhi left only after the two nodded vigorously in agreement.

She didn't mention asking a doctor to take her pulse or anything like that.

In the countryside, childbirth is not considered an illness, and people don't have the money to easily find a doctor.

Last time when Tao'er's mother gave birth, she asked Li Laoshi to find a doctor, but none of them came.

We finally managed to find one, and half a day has already passed. If she really has a difficult childbirth, she'll probably be dead by now.

The doctor came to see the person, felt their pulse, said they were fine, told them to eat more eggs and drink more soup, and left a prescription to regulate their qi and blood, instructing them to take it after their confinement period.

Tian Gui spent a hundred coins to buy peace of mind, while the doctor ran thirty miles only to find nothing!

Jiang Zhi felt that there was only so much help others could offer, and the young couple still needed to be self-reliant and strong in order to live a good life.

No matter how ignorant Qin is, she wants a grandson, so naturally she will treat Lianhua well.

Jiang Zhi mediated this family dispute and took the opportunity to visit the Tian family next door.

Tao'er's mother had been in poor health, but fortunately she took good care of herself and now looks much better and can work every day.

She ate chicken after giving birth, not wanting to eat it all by herself, so the whole family improved their meals.

Tao'er's mother was a diligent person, and she kept the shack clean.

At this moment, Tian Gui was talking to his family about repairing the house. Tao'er's mother and Tian Tao were counting on their fingers how many rooms they wanted, while Xiao Quan and Xiao Xi listened with great interest.

The family was chatting happily when they saw Jiang Zhi arrive. They quickly invited her to stay for dinner and asked her about the house site.

Jiang Zhi also had specific matters to arrange for Tian Gui, so she sat down at Tian's house.

The next day, county officials began work by marking lines on the official road with white lime. Their task was to widen the road and clear the ditches and slopes on both sides.

Laborers arrived in droves, bringing their bedding and setting up makeshift shelters on the spot, gradually making the roadside bustling with activity.

Xu Genyou, Tian Gui, and Er Rui also led the villagers to drive down thick wooden sticks at the intersection of the village road leading to the post station and erect a wooden fence about half a person's height.

Xujia Village is a mountain village, and each family is located in a different place. There are also many paths that can be walked on freely, so it is not realistic to build a wall to enclose the entire village.

The fence is merely symbolic, serving as a warning to outsiders not to trespass on the village's territory.

Xu Changming, carrying a fire basket, stood to the side gesturing and said, "Drive another stake into this spot, then cut down some bamboo and build a shed here. I'll keep watch here and see who dares to run away!"