u paused for a moment, "Sister-in-law, you mean this magistrate, is he trying to raise the price out of thin air"Fang Jinshu had never met the county magistrate before, so she didn't know what he was...Fang Jinxiu gave Zong Bai a knowing look. Although she didn't know what her sister-in-law was going to do, Zong Bai chose to trust her.

"Okay, I'll get some water."

He turned and went to the kitchen, and in a short while came back with a bowl of clean hot water and another bowl of biscuits that he hadn't finished eating that night. He offered both to the man.

The man was completely stunned, not daring to reach out and take it.

"You, all of you."

Fang Jinxiu saw that he dared not accept it, so she proactively stuffed the food and water into the man's hands.

"We're not bad people either, everyone faces difficulties in life. Big brother, why do you have to do things this way, secretly"

"I see you have healthy limbs and a robust constitution. Our household just happens to be short-handed."

"If Big Brother really has nowhere to go, you can stay and help us out with some work and earn a little food."

"We can't offer you a high salary, but we can at least provide you with three meals a day."

Fāng Jǐnxiù's kind smile made the men feel incredibly ashamed.

Seeing the clean, hot water in his hands and the fragrant steamed buns, the man's defenses crumbled instantly.

"I, I didn't mean to destroy the seeds in your fields."

"Someone threatened me into doing this."

Fang Jinshi raised an eyebrow, as she expected.

Zong Bai couldn't wait to ask, "Who threatened you."

Just as he was about to speak, he seemed to think of something and hesitated, drawing back suddenly.

Zong Bai was a little anxious and almost wanted to grab his collar and question him.

Fang Jinxiu promptly stopped her nephew.

"Don't be afraid, just by looking at your clothes, I can tell you're a farmer too."

"As for what these seeds in our field mean to the villagers, I believe you understand."

"Are you just going to stand there and watch everyone in Noma starve through the winter"

"When winter is over, how many people in this village will die from the cold Have you thought about how your actions today will cost so many lives"

With every word Fang Jinxiu uttered, the man's body would shrink a little.

Seeing that the effect was almost there, she feigned helplessness and let out a sigh as she stood up.

"Alright, if you won't speak I can't force you with a knife. But it's these old people, women and children in the village I feel sorry for."

A strong man might be able to endure the winter, but they could not.

"You go."

The man looked up in surprise, “You... you're letting me go”

Fang Jinshi smiled. "If I let you go, what can I do I don't know who I offended. I've been doing everything for the good of the village, but I've attracted so much misfortune out of the blue."

"My life and the lives of everyone in the village are miserable, aren't they"

"Never mind, never mind. My life and death have nothing to do with you, just like the old, weak, women and children in my village."

"You're not helping anyway, you're just going to watch us die."

Fang Jinxiu's words became more and more outlandish, but the man's psychological defenses grew weaker and weaker. Although outlandish, they were surprisingly effective.

She could tell that this man stealing seeds wasn't truly evil. If he were a truly vicious criminal, he would have fought back desperately when they caught him.

He would either explode in anger or say something, but he definitely wouldn't remain silent like this, with a hint of guilt in his eyes.

Therefore, Fang Jinshu chose to win him over. With someone so stubborn and honest, forcing him was useless. It would be a waste of effort and might even have the opposite effect.

Just as she opened the door to let him in, the man suddenly burst into tears.

"I, I know what I'm doing is wrong. Times are so hard right now, any kind of seed for food is precious."

"I don't want to steal seeds, but if I don't, Li Gou will sell my sister."

"It's all Li Goubi's fault, woo woo woo, I'm sorry."

The honest man knelt on the ground, sobbing. Fang Jinshu felt awkward and rubbed her nose. Did she say something too much just now

Even without this batch of seeds, she and the elderly, weak, and womenfolk of Noma village wouldn't starve.

"Zongbai, quickly help this elder brother up."

"First, take this person to Uncle Li's place and settle them in for the night."

At night, the temperature in the mountains is extremely low. Sending someone out at this time would be like signing their death warrant.

While Zong Bai marveled at his sister-in-law's wisdom, he also felt helpless. His sister-in-law was still soft-hearted. Treating a seed thief so kindly was beyond comprehension.

As soon as Zong Bai had just left with his people, Fang Jinshi's smile faded from her face.

"Li Gou"

It's been a long time since I've heard this person's name. She thought the lesson she gave before would be enough to keep this person in check, but it seems they only stayed quiet for less than two months before stirring up trouble again.

However, there is something fishy about this.

If we were to say that Li Gou did this because of past grievances, and instructed others to steal the seeds, then it should have happened when she first started cultivating the land.till want to let others pay for these parasites, Auntie Mu and Brother Zong are not fools.Once she takes over the assets of the second house, she won't want to support this whole family of scoundrels...