I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Just then, two little children ran out from the crowd.

Xu Qing bent down and picked them up, letting them choose some snacks from the table.

The children timidly reached out; one grabbed a piece of osmanthus cake, another took a piece of candy, and then ran off contentedly.

Seeing this, the third uncle snorted coldly: "Some people are not even as good as a child."

Xu Qing stood up, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. Her voice was calm, but it exuded confidence.

"Third Uncle is right, helping each other is our duty. I know that everyone helped the Xu family in the past. But it's better to rely on yourself than on others. Third Uncle's words make sense. I need to help those who truly need help, not those who are blocking the door asking for favors."

His words made those people feel embarrassed, and they lowered their heads.

However, some people are still eager to try.

Xu Qing paused, then changed the subject.

"However, everyone who comes to help build the new house will be paid double, and will be provided with two meals a day, including meat and vegetables. After the work is finished, they will also receive half a bolt of cloth. These conditions are much better than those on the market, aren't they?"

The moment the words were spoken, the atmosphere among the crowd changed instantly.

The middle-aged man who opened his mouth first wanted to speak, but then swallowed the rest of his words back.

The people nearby looked at each other and smiled. Some of them were already planning what kind of work they would do.

"Oh my, Xu Qing really has a conscience. I've had high hopes for this kid since he was little."

"Why don't you mention what you did when he was drinking and gambling before...?"

"Pah, even eating sunflower seeds can't shut you up."

"These conditions are much better than working as a laborer at the docks."

"Count me in, count me in!"

All the dissatisfaction from before vanished in the blink of an eye.

Third Uncle stroked his beard, glanced at Xu Qing, and muttered something under his breath.

"You're a remarkable kid; you're destined for great things."

Xu Qing chuckled: "It's all thanks to Third Uncle's excellent guidance."

Third Uncle waved his hand: "Haha, don't be modest, how could I possibly teach that?"

He then waved to the crowd.

"Alright, everyone, let's go. If you know what you can do, sign up with me and I'll make all the arrangements."

Just as the crowd was about to disperse, a figure squeezed in from the alley entrance.

It was my second aunt, Madam Hu.

Her face was ashen, and she stood at the door with her hands on her hips, her voice louder than all the others combined.

"Xu Qing, your family is doing well now, so why are you still clinging to the clan land? That clan land should have been given up in the first place."

Xu Qing and her mother had not yet spoken.

Third Uncle stepped forward first, tapping the ground with his cane.

"I already said it last time, the clan land is reserved for those who take the imperial examinations. Who in your family is taking the examinations? Your son Xu Danian has disappeared somewhere, what are you yelling about?"

When Xu Danian was mentioned, the second aunt was clearly taken aback and then changed the subject.

"Why are you bringing up Da Nian when I'm talking about clan land? Besides, even though Da Nian went out, wasn't he just trying to make a living? Clan land should be kept for my grandson's education."

Third Uncle snorted coldly, "That's a matter for the future. The rules for clan lands are based on the imperial examination system. It's their own ability to make money by planting Xu Qing. Whether they plant it or not is their decision. It's not your place to make that decision."

Xu Qing took over the conversation, her tone calm but unyielding.

"Second Aunt, now that I'm better off, I can give up the clan land. But don't worry, that land won't end up in your hands."

Upon hearing this, my second aunt plopped down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and began to howl, cursing and swearing, pouring out buckets of profanities.

Third Uncle shook his head in anger.

"What are you all standing there for? Two of you, drag her back. This is outrageous!"

He had just finished speaking, but hadn't moved yet.

A voice suddenly came from outside the crowd.

"Mom, stop making a scene."

When everyone turned around, they saw Xu Danian standing outside the crowd.

He had lost a lot of weight, his face was pale and haggard, clearly indicating that he hadn't been sleeping well.

His clothes were also wrinkled and crumpled, as if he had crawled out from somewhere.

When the second aunt saw her son, she suddenly jumped up from the ground and rushed over, shouting.

"Da Nian, you're back... It's good that you're back, quickly help your mother fight for the clan's land."

Xu Danian grabbed his mother's arm.

The force was so great that she couldn't break free even after several attempts.

He looked at his mother, his tone colder than ever before.

"Mother, come back with me. Don't embarrass yourself here. If you keep causing trouble, don't expect to see me again."

The second aunt was stunned. She wanted to say a few more harsh words, but the resolute look on Xu Danian's face made her swallow her words back.

Xu Danian pulled her and pushed her out of the courtyard.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Only Xu Qing, Xiao Mingyuan, Xu's mother, and Xu Danian remained in the courtyard.

Without saying a word, Xu Danian immediately knelt down.

"Auntie, I was a scoundrel before, and my mother was a scoundrel too."

Xu's mother's lips moved, but she finally spoke.

"Oh, you should go tell Qing'er. I'm going out to discuss something with Third Uncle."

After finishing her sentence, Xu's mother turned and left.

There were only three people left in the courtyard at that time.

Xiao Mingyuan snorted coldly.

"Have you heard about Sun Decai's situation? You dare to come back?"

Xu Danian's expression changed, and his voice became even lower.

"Yes, yes, I wouldn't have dared to go back if he hadn't gotten into trouble. But when I heard he was poisoned and was half-dead, I became even more afraid. If Sun Decai hadn't gotten into trouble, I'm afraid I would have ended up like him."

Xu Qing stood in front of him, looking down at him for a while before speaking.

"You've done a lot of bad things in the past, and I can't forgive you for this kind of repentance in a short time. As for what you can do to make me forgive you..."

Xu Qing paused for a moment: "Then it depends on your future performance, and also on Yao Yao's opinion."

Xu Danian kowtowed three times on the ground.

"I understand, I understand. I'm going back now. If my mother comes to cause trouble again, I will disown her."

Xu Danian stood up and staggered away.

Xiao Mingyuan watched him walk away, let out a long sigh, and turned to sit on the stone bench in the courtyard.

"Brother Qing, do you think this kid is genuinely scared, or is he trying to change his ways?"

Xu Qing touched his handsome nose and shook his head.

"You can know a person's face but not their heart; you can draw a dragon or a tiger but not their bones, so I can't say for sure. Anyway, there's still the matter of the grain depot, and we still need him. We'll talk about it when the time comes."

Xiao Mingyuan nodded. "That's true. If Sun Decai can speak up again this time, and with the grain depot issue, if the Chen family doesn't fall, I'll change my surname."

Xiao Mingyuan had just hummed a couple of lines of a tune with a smug look on his face.

A panting servant boy ran in through the courtyard gate.

He rushed in, ran to Xiao Mingyuan, and after catching his breath, began to speak incoherently:

"Young...Young Master, something terrible has happened!"

Xiao Mingyuan's smug smile vanished instantly.

He jumped to his feet. "What happened? Explain yourself!"