After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 166 Helping in times of need
"Just because we agreed on 20% back then!" Niu Cuihua got angry and shook off Niu Youfu's hand, ignoring him.

Niu Youfu felt aggrieved, but he was also a coward who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Knowing that he was in the wrong, he really didn't dare to go back.

The village chief chased the villagers away before speaking kindly to Wei Laoqi: "I didn't expect my wife to be so impatient. She didn't even discuss it with me before acting recklessly with her older brother. I apologize to you on their behalf."

If you want to take the land back, then take it back. We've made things clear today, and Niu Youfu won't touch your land again.

"But Sister Jinhua, about the grain matter! Niu Youfu's family already had little land, and in the past two years, his son remarried and had a grandson, so they are very poor. I'm afraid they don't have any surplus grain to repay the debt. However, he really did plow the land carefully after the autumn harvest and even helped you fertilize the fields. Could that be used to offset the debt?"

The village chief knew that this request was a bit excessive, and he didn't speak with much confidence.

Wei Laoqi snorted coldly, not intending to respond to this.

Wei Yi and Wei Gang remained silent and did not respond.

The village chief glanced at Su Tai and Xu Shi, whom he had never seen before, and felt quite embarrassed.

Seeing that things had gone well enough, Liu Jinhua slowly said, "Village chief, I know that our sudden return has indeed put people in a difficult position, so my old man didn't even mention the grain issue. But Niu Youfu is so tactless and self-righteous, I can't stand it! Since you're here today, I'll make things clear. If he dares to covet my land or cause trouble for my family again, I will definitely go to the county government to file a complaint."

This kind of thing can be resolved even if it drags on for years; after all, it's all clearly written in the county government's accounts. Niu Youfu can't shirk his responsibility!

The village chief turned pale, hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead, and apologized repeatedly like a grandson until Liu Jinhua calmed down and let him go. Only then did he feel like he had been granted a pardon and quickly left.

As soon as the village chief left, Wei Yi and Wei Gang both looked at Liu Jinhua with admiration.

"Mom, you're really something! You managed to intimidate the village chief with just a few words. Judging from this, they definitely won't dare to use any more tricks in the future." Wei Yi was overjoyed.

Liu Jinhua chuckled and shook her head, "Your old mother doesn't have that kind of ability. If you want to thank someone, thank Shen Yi's wife."

Wei Yi and the others looked at Su Tai, who was holding the child, with surprise, seemingly not expecting that the seemingly delicate Su Tai had such great abilities.

Liu Jinhua said with a laugh, "The second son's wife ran back to me and told me about the situation here. I was so anxious at the time, but Xiaotai asked a few more questions and immediately found the key issue."

She taught me twice, but I still couldn't learn it. So, she and her second aunt accompanied me on the trip. I practiced it more than ten times on the way before I could get it right.

Speaking of this, Liu Jinhua was amazed. She had thought Xu Shi was exaggerating when she heard her praise Su Tai, but she didn't know Su Tai was really capable until she experienced it herself. She wondered how Su Tai's brain was so clever.
After understanding the whole story, Wei Laoqi hurriedly stepped forward and solemnly thanked Su Tai, "Shen Yi has helped me a lot, and now you have done my family a great favor. I really don't know how to thank you two. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to our door. Our family will be at your service."

Su Tai covered her mouth and chuckled, moving away slightly. "Uncle Wei, you don't need to be so polite with me. I'm just talking. You must have a lot to do, so please go ahead and get busy."

Old Wei nodded and immediately told his two sons to borrow farm tools to turn the soil.

Liu Jinhua returned home, led by her second son's wife.

The group looked very serious when they saw the dilapidated mud-brick house.

Xu, with her quick temper, was the first to shout, "This house is already a dangerous building; it could collapse at any moment. No one can live in it!"

Hearing this, Chen, who was guarding the house, wholeheartedly agreed, "That's what I was thinking too. I was originally planning to set up a room for my father-in-law and husband to stay in for a few days, but now..."

Su Tai looked around the house and said, "Let's rebuild it. We need to hire more people to do the work, at least to get the house up and running." "Yes, yes, that makes sense," Xu Shi agreed, adding, "If you don't have enough money, I can lend you some. You can pay me back when you have more money."

These words surprised both Su Tai and Liu Jinhua.

Before Liu Jinhua could figure it out, Wei Laoqi returned dejectedly. "We asked around the village, and everyone is busy with spring plowing. There are no spare farm tools at all. We'll probably have to buy new ones."

As he spoke, he took out the ten taels of silver that Shen Yi had given him in advance.

They did have farming tools before, since they could cultivate the land even deep in the mountains, but those tools were mostly broken. They had too much luggage this time, so they didn't bring them with them, and now they're in big trouble.

If they had known it would turn out like this, they would have bitten it out with their teeth.

Looking at the mess at the Wei family's house, Su Tai sighed inwardly and said, "We have some extra farm tools at home. Let's use them for now, and we can talk about the rest later."

The Wei family owes Shen Yi and his wife so many favors that they've become completely indebted and have given up on their business.

Since I'll have to ask for help anyway, I might as well ask all my family members for help and work hard to pay them back later.

After making up his mind, Wei Laoqi took his two sons and went back with Su Tai and the others.

When the father and his two sons saw the hoe and rake that Su Tai had given them, they were all taken aback.

"Father, these hoes and rakes are so exquisitely made! I wonder whose craftsmanship it is?" Wei Gang exclaimed in amazement.

Just as Wei Laoqi was about to nod, he caught a glimpse of Su Tai winking at him out of the corner of his eye, and immediately changed his mind, saying without batting an eye, "Who else could it be?"

"Huh?" Wei Gang didn't react at first, but when he saw his father's smug look, he jumped up in surprise. "Dad! You can't brag like that! If you had this skill, our family wouldn't be so poor!"

“That’s right, Dad, stop patting yourself on the back, it’s not appropriate!” Wei Yi chimed in.

Wei Laoqi had only intended to cover for Shen Yi and his wife, but after hearing what his two sons said, he became competitive. "Hmph! Believe it or not, I'll play a few more rounds later and show you that brat will make me angry!"

Su Tai covered her face and chuckled, then testified on behalf of Wei Laoqi at the opportune moment, "It really was Uncle Wei who made them for us, but we requested that the hoes and rakes be specially made, and we also added other things, which was quite troublesome. Uncle Wei usually doesn't take on this kind of work easily."

"Huh? It really is my father?" The Wei brothers looked at each other in disbelief, but they were determined not to doubt Su Tai.

My feelings were incredibly complicated.

Wei Laoqi was relieved and asked Su Tai for three hoes, three rakes, three sickles, and a wood-chopping knife.

He secretly asked, "Shen Yi's wife, could you keep track of how much silver this is for me? I'll pay you back slowly when I earn more money."

"Uncle, take your time, there's no rush."

These items total about ten taels of silver. She'll need Wei Laoqi's help later, and she'd be happy to give them away for free.