Wang Xiaoqiang had long noticed Xia Guifang's presence, perhaps because Guo Biao's litigation had lifted a weight off Xia Guifang's heart. With her spirits high, she seemed to radiate health, her complexion better than before, rosy yet radiant with a healthy beauty reminiscent of a blossoming peony.

Wang Xiaoqiang secretly admired her for a while when he suddenly noticed that people were clustering in groups, laughing and cursing, which gave the impression they were slacking off. Seeing this, Wang Xiaoqiang walked towards Xia Guifang and her group.

As Wang Xiaoqiang approached, the people teased Xia Guifang even more:

"Ah, Little Fang, your man is coming…"

"Little Fang, does Little Qiang let you work?"

"Look, Little Qiang is coming over to Little Fang!"

The last remark was made by Xia Sanwa, who, after speaking, looked around at everyone with a smug expression.

Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang actually approaching her, Xia Guifang's face turned red with shyness, her heart thumping wildly, and she felt awkward. Previously, she had been able to face Wang Xiaoqiang calmly, but ever since her father had spoken about marrying her off to Wang Xiaoqiang, she felt too shy to face him and noticed that he seemed to be deliberately avoiding her as well.

After Wang Xiaoqiang came over, he glanced at everyone and said, "It's getting late; everyone should get back to work. We're paying daily, and if anyone is caught slacking, there will be a deduction in pay. Little Fang, you stop working. Be the supervisor…"

Having said this, Wang Xiaoqiang coldly turned and left. The place was silent until he had walked some distance, then a wave of even more intense teasing erupted:

"Wow, Little Fang really became the landlady…"

"Little Qiang really knows how to be tender-hearted, not letting her work so soon!"

"Little Fang is really fortunate."

Xia Guifang blushed deeper this time, but instead of looking down, she scanned the crowd and coldly said, "Talk is talk, laughter is laughter, but the wages Little Qiang is paying everyone are not low. If you don't work hard, it really would be letting him down. Since Wang Xiaoqiang has asked me to be the supervisor, then I, Xia Guifang, am not afraid of offending anyone. Now, let's get to work."

After Xia Guifang's speech, everyone immediately stopped their joking and scattered to get back to work.

Xia Sanwa walked up to Xia Guifang and extended a thumbs-up, saying, "Impressive, very much like a landlady!"

Having said that, Xia Sanwa also went off to work.

It would be impossible to say that Wang Xiaoqiang had no ulterior motives; he had made Xia Guifang the supervisor partly for fairness but also as a way to lighten her workload. What he hadn't anticipated was that Xia Guifang truly had a knack for management. Just a few words and everyone obediently went back to their tasks.

Meanwhile, Xia Guifang didn't just supervise; she also joined in the seeding, working while overseeing everyone else.

The Jade Bamboo yam seeds needed to be planted over a foot deep, starting with digging a long, deep trench. This task was quite demanding, usually requiring teams of men and women, with the men digging and the women planting.

Wang Xiaoqiang, to take care of Liu Juyi, partnered with her in their labor, making sure she didn't have to do the strenuous tasks.

The day's work passed quickly, and during the workday, only one person was caught slacking—Widow Liu. After receiving a report from Xia Guifang, Wang Xiaoqiang publicly docked Widow Liu 20 yuan. Widow Liu was clearly unhappy but didn't protest, as she had indeed been slacking and had taken a long break, which was indeed unacceptable.

Considering that Xia Guifang both supervised and worked, she was given an extra 20 yuan as a hardship fee, but she refused it.

That night after dinner, taking advantage of the darkness, Wang Xiaoqiang secretly returned the 20 yuan deducted from Widow Liu's pay and delivered it to her. He also told her not to tell anyone about this.

Widow Liu understood what Wang Xiaoqiang meant, but she hadn't expected him to be so kind. Upon taking the money, even the usually thick-skinned Widow Liu turned red and lowered her head, saying, "Little Qiang, I'm sorry, I wasn't intentionally being lazy, I just haven't been feeling well…"

"Uh, if you're not feeling well, don't work tomorrow," Wang Xiaoqiang advised her before trying to walk away, but Widow Liu grabbed his arm.

As the saying goes, there's always drama at a widow's doorstep. Suddenly gripped by Widow Liu, Wang Xiaoqiang really wasn't used to it and awkwardly wriggled his hand. Finding her grip firm and unable to pull away immediately, Lady Liu said, "Little Qiang, I'm feeling better now, I can work tomorrow."

Wang Xiaoqiang was baffled by her quick recovery, thinking to himself that her illness had come on suddenly and the recovery seemed astonishing. However, he didn't show his skepticism and just responded, "If you really can't work, don't force yourself. I know you're struggling financially, so how about this—I'll pay you for an extra day…"

Widow Liu was moved by his words, but she sensed that Wang Xiaoqiang didn't quite believe her and felt compelled to explain further, "Little Qiang, actually, it's just that time of the month, today is the last day…"

Wang Xiaoqiang, still naive, didn't really understand and asked blankly, "It's that time of the month? What does that mean?"

With a giggle, Widow Liu flashed Wang Xiaoqiang a charming look with her peach blossom eyes, "It means, it means my period came?"

"Uh, you mean your aunt came to visit?" Wang Xiaoqiang still looked curious.

"Your aunt just came to visit!" Widow Liu burst into giggles, "Giggle… this is killing me!"

Dressed in a homemade low-cut pink sweatshirt, her boisterous laugh was quite a sight.

Wang Xiaoqiang quickly averted his eyes and suddenly realized his hand was still gripped in Widow Liu's plump hand, he hastily tried to pull away again.

But Widow Liu didn't let go, instead, she pulled Wang Xiaoqiang closer and asked, "Little Qiang, do you really not understand, or are you just pretending?"

"I understand, I was just joking," Wang Xiaoqiang laughed.

"Oh, you, you big rascal…" Widow Liu shot Wang Xiaoqiang a charming look: "Then let me work tomorrow?"

"Since your aunt has left, go ahead and work!" Wang Xiaoqiang said, pulling his hand away. He then hurriedly rushed out of Widow Liu's house.

As they say, drama tends to follow widows, Wang Xiaoqiang felt that Widow Liu's doorstep was a trap and that those without determination could hardly escape it.

His breathing was still rapid, just thinking about the close encounter he had earlier made Wang Xiaoqiang's scalp tingle.

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