In times of chaos and famine, I traded one pound of rice for two royal flushes.

Upon hearing the woman's analysis, Li Hu slapped his thigh hard.

"I'm so angry I'm blinded by rage! How could I not even understand this much? I remember Chu Wu was still with those same people, and he also said I was trying to get something for nothing. So that's how it is. Madam, what should I do now? I really don't want to associate with Er Mazi anymore!"

The woman rolled her eyes at Li Hu.

"I've wanted you to stop associating with Er Mazi for a long time. What kind of good person is Er Mazi? He's out there living a life of debauchery, while his daughter and wife at home are struggling to make ends meet."

Seeing Li Hu's honest smile, the woman continued to offer him suggestions.

"Tomorrow you can go and hang out with Qin Shaolang without worry. Our harvest this year is not bad. When the time comes, carry a bag of coarse rice and a few cans of lard over. You won't be empty-handed. Be nice to him and bring a hoe over to help tomorrow."

Li Hu nodded immediately.

"I understand. I'll go help out tomorrow. As long as I'm polite enough and don't try to get something for nothing, they shouldn't be too resistant to me. Then this matter will be settled!"

The woman nodded repeatedly, but after thinking for a moment, she changed her mind.

"Alright, I'll ask my eldest daughter to come with me tomorrow. I heard that Qin Shaolang's wife is very thin and can't handle much. We'll go help dig the earthen kiln first, and then I'll take my eldest daughter to help prepare lunch around noon."

Li Hu was overjoyed. His wife was no ordinary woman; she was said to have come from a wealthy family, and her keen eye had helped him countless times.

It can be said that decisions made by women usually have very good outcomes.

This time will certainly be no exception.

"Alright, I'll listen to you, Madam. You should also try this meat; you've worked so hard at home these past few days."

The woman picked up her chopsticks and took a small piece.

"You should eat some too, you have to do heavy work tomorrow... Wait, why doesn't this meat smell fishy?"

The woman hurriedly picked up her chopsticks, dipped them in the broth, tasted another large piece of meat, and said to Li Hu with a furrowed brow.

"This meal is quite special; it's like something a wealthy family would prepare."

Li Hu also tried a piece, and his eyes lit up.

"It's delicious! Madam, can you tell me how it's made?"

The woman considered it carefully for a while before speaking.

"I don't know. I've only ever eaten it before, but I don't know how it's made. You idiot, if I could really make it, would I let you eat something so awful?"

Li Hu chuckled憨厚ly, his laughter filled with joy. He kept piling meat into the woman's bowl, his hands naturally becoming increasingly restless.

As the two were talking sweetly, there was a sudden knock on the door.

The woman glared at Li Hu reproachfully before straightening her clothes.

"You're here. Who are you looking for?"

The door opened, and there stood Er Mazi's wife.

He glanced awkwardly into the room and took out two copper coins from his sleeve.

"Sister Lin, can I buy some food from you? I'm out of food. My daughter just recovered from her illness, and if she continues to starve, she might fall ill again. Please, have mercy and sell me some food."

The woman glanced back at Li Hu, then reached out to help her up.

"Zhang Mei, we do have some food, but this can't go on. If you ask me, you should just leave Er Mazi; he's a scoundrel. He's been drinking all day; if I'd given you a few copper coins, you wouldn't be starving."

The two women went inside as they were talking.

Li Hu and Er Mazi had a good relationship in their younger days, and the women from both families had known each other for a long time.

Li Hu's wife, Lin Hui, was half a year older than Er Mazi's wife, Zhang, and they addressed each other as sisters.

Zhang Qiao became increasingly frustrated as she spoke.

"Sister Lin, it's not that I don't want to, but looking like this, who would be willing to take me in? My child is also frail and sickly, and is past marriageable age, so no one would want him."

Lin Hui gently comforted her, but her eyes darted around.

"I have a good idea. Qin Shaolang is currently repairing a kiln. If you're willing to put aside your pride, go and help him. Qin Shaolang was educated in the classics and is quite shy. When he offers you food, don't go. Just focus on helping him. When he comes to ask, beg him to take your daughter in and give her a chance to live."

Zhang Qiao's face was immediately filled with bitterness.

"Er Mazi and he have a really bad falling out, I'm scared..."

Lin Hui suddenly straightened her face.

"Are you more important, or is your daughter's safety more important? She caught a cold last time from a bit of wind, and she's now bedridden. Winter is coming, and there will be plenty of strong and cold winds to come. If your daughter gets sick again, and Er Mazi refuses to pay for her treatment, don't cry then."

These words struck Zhang Qiao's heart directly, leaving her in a daze for a while.

After a long while, Zhang Qiao finally stood up in despair.

"Then I'll go back and discuss it with the girl."

Lin Hui suddenly smiled and told Li Hu to divide the meat on the table in half so that Zhang Qiao could take it back.

After Zhang Qiao left, Li Hu asked the question.

"What does Madam mean by this?"

Lin Hui sighed helplessly.

"Sister Zhang Qiao is also a woman with a tragic fate, and she has a weak and indecisive nature. Only if she knows that if her daughter follows Qin Shaolang, even if she is a maid or a concubine, she can still eat good food, she will naturally know how to choose."

Li Hu scratched his head, and his hands started to wander again.

"What you say is true, but how am I supposed to get back the meat that was taken from me? Perhaps, Madam..."

The room suddenly became completely shameless.

……

The next day, just as dawn broke, the thirty deserters assembled on time and continued their strenuous work of carving on the mountaintop.

They are working even harder today than they did yesterday.

Because they knew that there would be pork lard rice for lunch today, and they also knew that as long as the construction progressed smoothly, Qin Shaolang would not let them go hungry.

With the harsh winter approaching, whoever has the most food is the boss.

Qin Shaolang and Chu Wu selected ten people to form a hunting team and practiced their skills in front of their own house.

"Brother Qin, I heard you were repairing a kiln, so my wife and I brought some rice and oil over to help out along the way."

This was the first time Qin Shaolang had met Lin Hui. Although she was almost forty, she was very well-preserved.

Her demeanor also exuded the air of a well-bred young lady.

It seems that Li Hu's actions were inseparable from her instigation.

After all, someone who didn't even know to bring a gift yesterday suddenly became enlightened today and even offered to help. If no one guided him behind the scenes, then Li Hu's comprehension is too high. If he has this kind of comprehension, why would he need to work under Er Mazi?

"Alright, please make yourselves at home."

Lin Hui took a closer look at Qin Shaolang and couldn't help but feel a strange sensation in her heart.

This person was somewhat different from others. He didn't seem like a vagrant, nor did he seem like a wealthy person. Although he seemed very friendly, he exuded an indescribable aloofness that kept people at a distance.

After thinking for a moment, he took the initiative to come up to Qin Shaolang, gave a curtsy, and introduced himself.

"My name is Lin Hui, and I am Li Hu's wife."