Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 67 - 66: Plowing the Field

Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Plowing the Field
Mrs. Liu quickly said she had some and asked her youngest daughter to go to her second brother’s study to fetch paper and pen.
Liu Gong’s second brother, Liu Li, just got married during the first month of the new year. He was the one Mrs. Zhang mentioned, who was sent to study in the county by his parents but dropped out after half a month because they couldn’t bear the expense of transportation.
However, Mrs. Zhang didn’t mention what happened afterward: Liu Li moved to his aunt’s house in the county and attended the academy there.
Originally, he was supposed to take the county examination this spring. If he passed, he would qualify for the prefectural exam, and passing that would make him a scholar.
However, a bandit incident delayed him for an entire year.
Fortunately, the girl’s family did not cancel the engagement because of his leg, and the two families proceeded with the wedding as planned.
Liu Li watched as Qin Yao picked up paper and pen to draw plans, thinking she was quite extraordinary. Although her grip on the pen was unusual, her lines were straight and precise without any guiding tool, clearly showing she was used to drafting.
The villagers all knew Qin Yao had come from elsewhere as a refugee, but no one knew about her family background before fleeing.
Liu Li now guessed that her family must have been wealthy.
Otherwise, how could a girl be skilled in both writing and drawing? It could be attributed to family support, but mastering skills and martial arts required more than what regular households could offer.
Qin Yao naturally knew that Liu Li was looking at her with curiosity, but with no evidence left of her past, she could say whatever she wanted, and no one could dispute her.
So she was very candid, answering all questions, indifferent to whether others believed her.
This time, she claimed an uncle in her family had a fondness for carpentry, and she had learned a bit.
In reality, she had taken on many odd jobs in her past life at the base, including training at a medical equipment factory.
Once the plans were drawn, one was for crutches, which was more suitable since Liu Li and his third brother only had one leg each.
The other was for a wooden wheelchair, quite simple in design. Large wooden wheels were too extravagant and impractical for short-term use, so adding four small wheels to the chair sufficed.
The middle seat board could be removed for easier access to the toilet, and handles were added to the wheelchair, allowing Liu Gong’s wife to push it—a very thoughtful and thorough design.
After handing over the plans to Mrs. Liu, Qin Yao turned to leave.
Mrs. Liu didn’t even have the chance to express her gratitude and was amazed by Qin Yao’s generosity. She gifted such intricate plans without any hint of holding back.
Yet, they didn’t understand some strange symbols marked on the plans.
But Miss Qin said Liu the carpenter would know, so they decided to show the plans to him.
"Oh, these are Arabic numerals, used in the Western Regions like our one, two, three. Both the Prefecture and the Capital have adopted these numbers," Liu the carpenter explained.
Mrs. Liu nodded, finally understanding.
"Miss Qin knows so much," Liu Yue praised admiringly.
Liu the carpenter nodded in agreement, "Of course, Miss Qin has been to the Prefecture."
To be precise, it was Yao Niang who had been to the Prefecture.
Qin Yao herself was somewhat surprised to see Arabic numerals being used in the original memories.
She wondered if they truly came from outside or if there had been other travelers here before.
Moreover, in Sheng Country, women did not menstruate but had a hidden cycle, neither troubled by periods nor affecting fertility—a boon for female travelers!
Overall, Qin Yao was quite pleased with this world, except for the farming aspect.
"Lady, let’s take these ten acres, they’re connected and close to the river, making irrigation easy,"
Liu Ji stood on the field ridge, pointing to the contiguous ten acres in front, feeling complex emotions.
Qin Yao nodded, as the land here was all good. Later in the afternoon, she’d go to Liu Dafu’s house with Liu Gong to finalize the land lease.
Other families had already begun plowing. Lacking livestock, people worked in pairs: one pulling in front, one steering behind for faster progress.
Lone individuals also managed, though they plowed slowly.
The plows varied by material, affecting speed.
The Liu Family’s old house had two plows: one metal, one stone. Luckily, they borrowed an ox from the village chief; otherwise, the hundred-acre land would wear them out.
With the scattered lands making it hard to plow thoroughly, only water-rich fields got a second go-over.
Qin Yao and Liu Ji specifically went to the Liu Family’s old house to observe how to plow with oxen, and under Qin Yao’s pressure, Liu Ji rolled up his pant legs, got into the field, and practiced, gaining some experience. By the next day, both went down to the field to start.
Each took responsibility for an acre: Liu Ji used an ox-pulled iron plow borrowed from Liu Dafu’s house, while Qin Yao manually pushed another iron plow borrowed from the same place.
Both figured it would be easy; after all, she was strong, and he had an ox. They estimated two acres per person each day.
However, they only realized how difficult it was after starting.
Fields near water are advantageous because they require no channeled irrigation, just guarding the water source against neighbors diverting it into their land.
The villagers often fought over water, regardless of kinship. Restrict my water? I’ll fight you for it!
Hence, the land Qin Yao rented was always filled with water, requiring draining while plowing—every step sunk them deeper into the mud, exhausting them just to lift their feet.
Yet humans are incredibly adaptable creatures.
After two days, Qin Yao and Liu Ji surprisingly adjusted to the labor, initially exhausted, but gradually not as tired, despite long hours spent at the fields.
Of course, mental fatigue also contributed to physical exhaustion.
Reaching a stage of emotional numbness, their spirits improved significantly.
Da Lang and Second Lang took over household chores and cooking, delivering meals to their parents in the field at noon to ensure no farming time was wasted.
The fields were fully plowed in three and a half days.
Without oxen or metal plows, others were faster; the couple’s antics in the fields amused the villagers.
Luckily, neither spouse cared about others’ opinions. Liu Ji remained unperturbed even if mocked directly, always ready with a cheeky grin.
Over these days, their hard work didn’t go unnoticed by Old Liu and Mrs. Zhang, who were secretly moved. The fortune-teller’s prophecy wasn’t false: Only a fierce wife could keep him in check.
Look at him now, handling both household chores and farming—he’d changed so much, it was almost unbelievable.
Yet he remained as shameless as ever.
"Dad, could you give me seeds for ten acres of rice?" Liu Ji leaned against the old house’s doorway, confidently extending his hand to Old Liu for seeds.
Qin Yao had given him money to buy the seeds, but if he actually paid, he wouldn’t be Liu Laosan.
Unexpectedly, Old Liu said nothing, went inside, and handed them over, having anticipated the seeds wouldn’t be available in Qin Yao’s household and prepared accordingly.
Liu Fei glared sourly from the courtyard, "Shameless! Split from the family and still asking for things."
Liu Ji never got mad, cheerfully replying, "A son’s taking from his dad, that’s only natural."
Liu Fei had never encountered such shamelessness and stormed off with his plow in a huff.
Knowing he’d channel anger into productivity, Liu Ji waved with a laugh, "Work hard, plow deep! Come harvest time, your brother will still need grain!"
It was said you shouldn’t push people too far, but Liu Fei spun around abruptly, "Liu Ji, just you wait; I’m telling your wife!"
Thinking he could hide his private stash from Qin Yao, that shrew?
Liu Ji’s face fell, and he sprinted after him, "Hold on, little brother! Let your brother explain..."