Er Gou, life in the countryside is so carefree!

The story of Wang Laowu howling like a banshee under Chen Ergou's command spread like wildfire throughout Xiushui Village in just two days.

The villagers were completely in an uproar.

"Incredible! That kid Chen Ergou has truly inherited his ancestors' skills! He can even cure an illness that the county had given up on!"

"That's right! Old Wang was screaming so pitifully that night, but when someone saw him the next day, he looked much better and could even walk around on his own!"

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

In a short time, Chen Ergou's status in the village rose dramatically.

In the past, everyone saw him as a penniless nobody with no parents, who idled away his time.

Looking back now, their eyes were filled with awe and obsequiousness.

When Chen Ergou went out, he met the villagers, and they all greeted him with smiles.

"Ergou, have you eaten yet?"

"Hey Er Gou, why don't you come in for a bit?"

Even Granny Zhang, who was usually the most snobbish woman at the village entrance, surprisingly gave him two hot boiled eggs.

Chen Ergou was polite on the surface, but he knew exactly what was going on in his mind.

He knew his opportunity had arrived.

That evening, after dinner, Chen Ergou pulled Zhang Qiaofen aside to settle accounts on the kang (heated brick bed).

He spread the money he earned from selling vegetables and the 5,000 yuan in medical fees that Wang Laowu hadn't yet received on the kang (a heated brick bed).

All in all, it adds up to a considerable sum.

"Sister-in-law, I'm thinking we can't just keep guarding that small plot of land anymore," Chen Ergou said, his eyes shining.

Zhang Qiaofen counted the money, feeling reassured, and asked with a smile, "So, what do you want to do with it?"

Chen Ergou slapped his thigh: "Expand the land! Plant more vegetables! That wasteland at the west end of our village, connecting to the hillside, is at least ten acres! Let's rent it!"

"Ten mu?" Zhang Qiaofen was startled, almost dropping the money in her hand. "Ergou, don't mess around like that! That land is very poor; even grass doesn't like to grow. What can you possibly grow there? Besides, renting the land, buying seeds, hiring people to do the work—all of that costs money! What if you lose money?"

She was used to living a frugal life, and the thought of investing so much made her nervous.

Chen Ergou chuckled and leaned over to put his arm around her waist: "Sister-in-law, don't worry! Have you forgotten the treasure passed down from our ancestors?"

He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "With the 'Dragon King's Secret,' I can grow gold nuggets for you, not just in wasteland, but even in the cracks of rocks! You'll be the local landlady!"

Zhang Qiaofen was amused by his words and lightly punched him: "Nonsense! Who wants to be a housewife!"

However, seeing Chen Ergou's confident demeanor and recalling the miracle in the vegetable garden, most of her worries disappeared.

"Well...we still need to be careful." Zhang Qiaofen was still a little worried.

"Don't worry, I have a plan," Chen Ergou said. "We'll have to let Wang Laowu handle this."

The next day, Chen Ergou called Wang Laowu over.

Wang Laowu now obeys Chen Ergou's every word, even more respectfully than he would his own father.

"Brother Er Gou, what can I do for you?" Old Wang asked, bowing and scraping.

Chen Ergou, with his legs crossed, said, "Fifth Uncle, you have influence in the village. Help me talk to the villagers and rent those ten acres of wasteland at the west end of the village. As for the price, let's negotiate a lower one."

"Leave it to me!" Old Wang patted his chest and assured him, "Nobody wants that lousy land. I'll put in a good word and get you the lowest price!"

Sure enough, with Wang Laowu, the former village bully, stepping in, the village quickly rented the land to Chen Ergou at a price so cheap it was practically free.

With the land secured, Chen Ergou hired three honest and hardworking idle men from the village, promising to provide them with meals and wages every day.

As soon as the news spread, the villagers started talking about it again.

Some were envious, some were jealous, and some were waiting to see the joke.

"Chen Ergou is about to strike it rich!"

"I doubt it. What can you possibly grow on that barren land?"

"Young man, taking too big a step can easily lead to trouble!"

Chen Ergou didn't care what others said. He led the people he had hired and began clearing the land with great enthusiasm.

Just as he was so busy he barely had time to breathe, Wang Cuihua came to his door, swaying her hips.

"Ergou, I heard you've leased a lot of land and are going to be a big boss?" Wang Cuihua said with a smile, glancing at Zhang Qiaofen, who was helping to record the work.

When Zhang Qiaofen saw Wang Cuihua, the smile on her face faded a little, and she lowered her head to continue writing and drawing.

Chen Ergou was secretly pleased, knowing that there was going to be a good show.

He wiped his sweat and said, "Sister Cuihua, you're really well-informed."

Wang Cuihua walked up to him and fanned him with a handkerchief: "Your business is so big, you need someone knowledgeable to manage the accounts. I used to help out at my parents' house, I know how to do accounts, you see..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qiaofen looked up at Wang Cuihua with a hint of wariness in her eyes.

Chen Ergou looked at Wang Cuihua, then at Zhang Qiaofen, and had an idea in mind.

He laughed heartily and said loudly, "Hey! Sister Cuihua, you've come at the perfect time! I was just worried about who would manage the money!"

He walked over to Zhang Qiaofen, took her hand, and then said to Wang Cuihua, "Sister-in-law, you're meticulous and can manage the work records and daily expenses. Cuihua, you have more experience, so you can be our 'financial director' and manage the overall accounts! With you two working together, I'll be completely at ease!"

"Chief Financial Officer?" Wang Cuihua hadn't heard of the term before, but it sounded like an official position. Her face lit up with a smile. "Sure! I'll definitely manage things perfectly for you!"

Zhang Qiaofen felt a little uncomfortable after hearing this, but Chen Ergou held her hand in public and acknowledged her status, so she couldn't make a scene and could only give a soft "hmm".

Wang Cuihua glanced at Zhang Qiaofen smugly, her eyes conveying the message perfectly clear: See, Er Gou still values ​​me more.

The two women's eyes met, and sparks seemed to crackle in the air.

Chen Ergou pretended not to see it, secretly laughing to himself: This is nothing, you'll have plenty to fight over later.

That night, Chen Ergou first went to his own home and coaxed Zhang Qiaofen to sleep gently.

Listening to Zhang Qiaofen's even breathing, Chen Ergou quietly got up and tiptoed out the door.

Under the moonlight, he found his way to Wang Cuihua's house as if he were a raccoon.

Wang Cuihua was indeed still awake, and was doing accounts on the kang (a heated brick bed) with the lamp lit. It was unclear whether she was actually doing accounts or waiting for him.

Seeing Chen Ergou slip in, Wang Cuihua put down her account book and looked at him with a half-smile: "Oh, busy man, you still know to come? Don't you need to keep your 'virtuous' sister-in-law company?"

Chen Ergou grinned and leaned in to hug her tightly: "Look at what you're saying, I'm just here to 'reconcile the accounts' with the director!"

Wang Cuihua pretended to push him twice, and then half-heartedly fell onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

The two rolled around in a ball.

As passion intensified, Wang Cuihua pinched Chen Ergou's waist, panting, and asked, "My little rascal... tell me honestly... between me and your sister-in-law... who's more exciting?"

In the heat of the moment, Chen Ergou blurted out, "In bed, of course, it's Sister Cuihua who's the best! Off the bed, though, it's my sister-in-law who's virtuous and good at managing the household!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Cuihua was immediately consumed by jealousy. Feeling both ashamed and angry, she opened her mouth and bit Chen Ergou hard on the shoulder!

"Ouch! Are you a dog?" Chen Ergou winced in pain.

"You're talking nonsense! You're just being hypocritical!" Wang Cuihua retorted, her words muffled.

Chen Ergou had to use all his skills to finally appease this jealous man...