Jiang Qinyu never expected that the conversation would start with composting and then turn to opening a school in the village.

But she's not a professional teacher. She's good at teaching people to read, but it's best not to expect much from her.

Seeing that the discussion was getting more and more heated, Jiang Qinyu quickly said, "Listen to me, if you just want to learn to read, I can teach you, but if you want to learn anything else... then I really don't know how."

People in this era studied to pass the imperial examinations, but she didn't have that ability.

“Then let’s teach them to read first,” Village Chief Li said with a cheerful laugh. “But it’s still early, let’s get things done in the fields first.”

Grandpa Jiang also said, "Yes, tomorrow, girl, you take some people into the mountains to find something that can be used for composting. The rest of you should quickly turn over all the land in the village. We need to try to plant the autumn crops as soon as possible."

“Uncle, I’ll do this job. Yu’er still needs to focus on drawing water from the underground river; she can’t spare the time,” Old Man Lu suddenly said.

He understood everything Jiang Qinyu said, knew how to identify which dead branches and decaying leaves could be used as fertilizer, and having farmed for so many years, he naturally recognized which soils were fertile.

“Grandpa, my father is right. Composting is something that only experienced people like you can do. I’ve only read about it in books and have never actually done it myself,” Jiang Qinyu quickly stated.

Village Chief Li chimed in, "My niece is going to make that thing that can blast craters in the ground, so she really can't go back to the mountains. Uncle Jiang, I'll arrange for someone to take care of it. Don't worry, it definitely won't delay the fertilization in the fields."

"Alright, you guys decide. The crops are definitely the top priority," Grandpa Jiang emphasized.

Everyone agreed, and the matter was settled.

Wang Bo kept watching Jiang Qinyu in the crowd, watching her talk fluently to the villagers. Her words were simple and easy to understand, much better than the obscure and difficult words in the books.

He was growing to like this woman more and more.

What Wang Bo didn't know was that Granny Wang had been watching him the whole time, and his gaze had been fixed on Jiang Qinyu.

It really was that woman!

No, she had to resolve this matter quickly and couldn't let Xiaobo continue like this.

Jiang Qinyu noticed someone was watching her, and her gaze turned to meet Wang Pozi's unseeing eyes.

There was disdain, disgust, and fear in that gaze.

Jiang Qinyu raised an eyebrow, wondering why Granny Wang was looking at her like that.

After discussing the composting, and confirming that Jiang Qinyu would spend an hour each day teaching the villagers to read after winter began, Village Chief Li had someone deliver the gunpowder-making materials collected that day to Jiang Qinyu's home.

“My dear niece, why don’t you find a few people to help you?” Village Chief Li said earnestly.

Jiang Qinyu shook her head and looked at him seriously, saying, "Uncle Village Chief, it's not that I'm keeping this a secret and unwilling to teach people how to do it, but it's very dangerous. If you're not careful, something bad can happen. If there's an opportunity in the future, I can teach everyone in detail, but not now."

Gunpowder making should not be taught to others casually; this is for the protection of others, and also for the protection of Jiang Qinyu herself.

Especially given that the village is not yet fully united, it's best to keep this kind of thing under our own control.

"Well, since you've made this consideration, then pretend I didn't say anything. It's just that I'm sorry to trouble you." Village Chief Li waved his hand dismissively.

He hadn't thought that much about it; he was just worried that Jiang Qinyu would get tired.

After Jiang Qinyu and the others who delivered the items left, she closed the courtyard gate and planned to start dealing with these matters that evening.

Shufan and Pan'er brought over stools and sat down to watch Jiang Qinyu do her work, occasionally offering small assistance.

For safety's sake, Jiang Qinyu said to the two of them as she worked, "You must remember, you absolutely cannot touch these three things without your aunt by your side."

"Yes! We'll listen to Auntie," the two said in unison.

Jiang Qinyu smiled and continued working.

While they were working hard to ensure the villagers could irrigate their fields smoothly, Granny Wang made a grand entrance by bringing a bunch of things to Chen Shao's house, where Liu Ruyi was staying.

Aunt Qin frowned as she looked at the things Wang Pozi was carrying. "Old Wang, what are you up to now? Isn't that matter over? Miss Liu doesn't care anymore, she doesn't need you to apologize."

"Who said I'm here to apologize?" Granny Wang raised her chin, glanced into the Chen family's courtyard, and deliberately raised her voice, "I'm here to propose marriage!"

Jiang Qinyu heard the shout, not to mention the villagers who passed by the Chen family's house.

When everyone heard that Granny Wang had come to propose marriage, they immediately surrounded her.

"Old Wang, what's going on? You've taken a fancy to the Chen family's daughter?"

"Oh dear, don't embarrass yourself by coming here. The Chen family's daughter is almost ten years younger than your Wang Bo. You two are being really unfair."

"That's right, Aunt Qin definitely won't agree. You'd better go back quickly, or you'll get beaten up later."

"..."

The crowd chattered amongst themselves, joking around, but it made Granny Wang extremely embarrassed. She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the onlookers, and shouted, "Who said I'm here to propose marriage to the Chen family's daughter? I'm here on behalf of my son, Xiaobo, to propose marriage to Miss Liu!"

"What? So you were after Miss Liu?"

"Oh dear, is the Wang family so desperate for wealth that they've gone mad? Miss Liu is from the capital, how could she possibly be interested in someone from our village?"

"you do not say……"

The crowd started talking again, but Granny Wang angrily interrupted them, "What nonsense are you all spouting? Don't you know that my Xiao Bo saved Miss Liu's life? He repaid her with his body for saving her life, don't you know that?"

"Oh dear, Granny Wang, you're dreaming! You think you can save someone's life and expect them to marry your son? Don't you even know if your family is good enough for them!"

"Exactly, I think Miss Liu and your Wang Bo are completely mismatched. You'd better stop making a fuss, lest you ruin her reputation..."

Wang Pozi, feeling humiliated, shouted even louder into the Chen family courtyard, "Miss Liu, I've come today with great sincerity to propose marriage for my Xiao Bo. You're a sensible girl, you certainly wouldn't want anyone to ruin your reputation outside, would you?"

Aunt Qin originally thought that Granny Wang was there to annoy her and was just about to fight her when she realized that Granny Wang had come to propose marriage to Liu Ruyi, so she couldn't interfere.

In a side room of the Chen family home, Liu Ruyi sat at a simple table, biting her lip, her eyes slightly red.

At that moment, she deeply understood the meaning of the saying, "A tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs, and a dragon swimming in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp."

She admitted that Wang Bo had indeed saved her life, and that at one point she had even considered whether or not to follow Wang Bo.

However, after getting to know him better, she discovered that Wang Bo was not as polite and guileless as he appeared.

On the contrary, everything Wang Bo does must have a purpose.

But Wang Bo's background was too low; how could she possibly marry such a person?