Before dawn, Qi Xian pretended to go for a morning exercise, carrying a sword to the riverside water mill, secretly squatting in wait.

He didn’t wait long before he saw a familiar figure, wearing a veil, carrying a hoe on the shoulder, staggering down from the mountain, headed straight for the fields.

When passing by the water mill, the figure glanced at him, only slightly tilting his head and walked away without even greeting.

Qi Xian suspiciously followed, tailing all the way to Qin Yao’s field, then unsurely called out, "Junior brother?"

The person wearing the veil did not stop his steps, answered with a muffled ’hmm.’

Unsure if he was overthinking, Qi Xian felt this voice was especially hoarse.

Wait a minute!

Would Liu Ji actually carry a hoe and willingly go to work in the fields?

Qi Xian quickened his pace, catching up with the person ahead, but unfortunately, the ridge was narrow. Several attempts to get a look at the person’s face didn’t succeed, almost tumbling into the field.

Luckily, the person ahead reacted swiftly, reaching out a hand to grab him.

"Watch your steps, little senior brother," Liu Ji set him down and stopped at his own field, rolling up his sleeves, spat twice, and grasped the hoe to enter the field.

Qi Xian stood idly on the ridge, watching him diligently and earnestly break up and loosen the dry ground bit by bit, vigorously closing his eyes hard, wondering if it was a hallucination?

But upon reopening his eyes, the person hoeing continued working steadfastly.

"Junior brother, are you alright?" Qi Xian asked with tightly furrowed brows, testing with inquiry.

The person hoeing didn’t turn his head, responded warmly, "I’m fine, thank you, senior brother, for your concern, waiting at the road early in the morning."

Qi Xian, "Why are you wearing a veil?"

Facing upwards, the sun hasn’t come out yet, and it’s already autumn; the sun at this time doesn’t really burn.

Could it be he’s hiding a bruised face from being beaten by Mrs. Qin, hence wearing a veil to cover?

Just as Qi Xian was speculating various possibilities, he saw the person in the field stand straight, slowly turn around, and in front of him, remove the veil.

Unexpectedly, there weren’t any bruises or injuries.

But as expected, there was indeed some unsightly change on the face.

The pair of the most dazzling and charming Taohua eyes were now swollen and reddish like walnuts, Qi Xian was caught off guard, startled with a jump.

"Junior brother, your eyes..."

"Yes, my eyes," Liu Ji gave a bitter smile, raised his hand gently touched his eyes, but even the slightest touch made him wince with pain, "This is all from my tears of regret."

Recalling last night, his swollen eyes narrowed to a small slit faintly had shimmering tears.

But wife said recognizing mistakes can be improved greatly, timely redemption becomes a good man!

Liu Ji blinked his eyes, forcing out the bit of tears, donned the veil again, and continued cultivating.

Ten acres of land, it’s just him alone, if not working tirelessly, and the wheat seeds aren’t sown in time, then the seeds buried in the ground would turn into him.

Seeing his unskilled junior brother transform into a whirlwind farmer, Qi Xian stood dumbfounded on the ridge, unable to come to senses.

Until the first ray of sunlight cast on his face, warmth on the body, finally waking him up abruptly.

He concernedly asked once more, "Junior brother, did madam not do anything to you?"

Liu Ji looked back with a grateful smile, "Wife hitting me is loving me, I have no regrets."

Qi Xian was deeply shocked inwardly, junior brother, you are actually this kind of junior brother!

However, how could such a shocking matter be known only by him? He will go back and tell the teacher!

Thus, at noon under the bright sunshine.

Liu Ji alone used all his primal force hoeing rapidly in the field.

On the ridge, a circle of people was watching him.

Among these people, besides those brought earlier by Qi Xian, Gongliang Liao, and the guards, there were also half of Liu Family Village villagers.

After all, never have they seen Mr. Scholar doing farm work, especially being Liu San from the village, known for his unruliness, made it even more special.

Through a twist of fate, Liu Ji’s reputation of not forgetting his roots was quietly spreading in the village, anyone hearing Liu Ji’s name couldn’t help but show a look of admiration.

Only those knowing the truth, Gongliang Liao’s disciples, hearing such high praises of Liu Ji in the village, thought the world too absurd!

For five days, through Liu Ji’s day and night toil, ten acres of land were finally hoed completely.

Another three days spent sowing all the wheat seeds, finally brief relief from his living torment.

"Wife, I’m done!" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

In the evening, at the dinner table, as Qin Yao and the children were picking up chopsticks ready to eat, Liu Ji with sweat stains, disheveled hair, and untidy clothes joyfully rushed in to announce.

A pair of Taohua eyes, now free of swelling, looked longingly at the sumptuous dishes, couldn’t help but swallow a gulp.

With no way to eat at the table for eight days, every meal being only porridge with green vegetables, his survival relied on sneaking bites of meat daily at Lotus Courtyard.

As for the old house, he didn’t dare go, the shrew had warned beforehand, anyone daring to let him eat at home would not expect to continue working at the stationery factory.

The only place daring to take him in, Lotus Courtyard, didn’t let him stay long, only dared to let him stealthily eat meat slices at the entrance.

Because of this, Qi Xian hadn’t dared to visit Qin Yao’s house seeking Da Lang these days, fearing encountering Qin Yao, being judged by her sharp gaze.

In short, beyond Liu Ji living worse than death for these eight days, even the rest of the family stepped lightly, avoiding loud movements.

Now, hearing father finally finished fieldwork, everyone at the table quietly sighed relief, then collectively turned to Qin Yao, awaiting her final verdict.

Under such scrutiny, Qin Yao calmly set down newly picked up chopsticks, turned to ask:

"All ten acres of wheat done according to Ah Wang’s last year’s standards?"

Liu Ji nodded vigorously, eyes filled with sincerity, "Not a cent less."

Qin Yao gave Ah Wang a look, Ah Wang rose from the table, returned after a while, and reported, "Madam, indeed all completed."

Qin Yao raised her eyebrows slightly, seems Liu Ji’s potential is boundless.

Except that pig head never gets it right, occasionally needing a knock to wake up.

"Wife, can I eat at the table?" Liu Ji stared at the chicken, duck, and fish, cautiously asking.

Qin Yao paused momentarily, in Liu Ji’s eyes as the hopeful sheen gradually faded, only then nodded lightly, "Clean yourself up first, don’t dirty my table and chairs."

The surprise came so suddenly, Liu Ji couldn’t control his smile, flashing a mouthful of shiny white teeth, "Alrighty!"

Immediately tossed away his farm tools, washed hands, face, used handwater to brush his messy hair, sat orderly at the table.

Mrs. Li brought out new dishes and chopsticks, Liu Ji picked up chopsticks ready to eat, hearing Da Lang cough loudly, then realized, the head of the family hasn’t eaten yet.

Hastily with an awkward smile, he set down his chopsticks, making a sycophantic hand gesture to Qin Yao, inviting her to eat.