They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 220 The Threshing Machine That's All the Rage During the Autumn Harvest
The Liang family and Zhu'er's aunt wanted to buy it, but unfortunately, there were only a limited number of craftsmen, so they had to wait in line. By the time it was their turn to buy it, the autumn harvest would have already passed, and even if they bought it then, they could only use it the following year.

Such a time-saving and labor-saving product was naturally rented by both families.

Xu Zhichun had already informed them that Liang Lizheng's family was first in line, Zhu'er's aunt's family was second, Chunfen's family was third, and Yang Mingshu's family was fourth. As for the other families, it was first come, first served.

In a flash, most of the households in the village lined up. Only a few families, who didn't have many paddy fields and had plenty of manpower, arrived late to the queue and figured that by the time it was their turn to harvest, their own harvest would be finished, so they gave up.

Although there were quite a few households in line, the threshing machine was efficient and could finish the job in a few days. Even those at the back of the line weren't in a hurry.

Xu Zhichun's family had six mu of paddy fields, which were harvested in half a day using a threshing machine. She was too weak to do it herself, so she hired villagers to carry the heavy loads of rice home.

Actually, the yield was very low in this era. This year is considered a very good year. The rice that was picked back and not yet dried only yielded 330 to 340 catties per mu, and barely 2,000 catties per six mu.

Two thousand catties, in modern high-yield hybrid rice, is equivalent to less than two mu (approximately 0.16 acres) of yield.

Xu Zhichun could definitely find hybrid rice seeds in the warehouse space, but this was too important for her to handle easily. She would wait until the time was right and make proper arrangements before doing so.

Two large rectangular drying mats were laid out in the yard, and the harvested rice from the six acres of paddy fields was poured on them, forming a thick layer.

The weather has been great these past few days, sunny and clear. I turned the rice grains over every two quarters of an hour, and a lot of the moisture evaporated by the end of the day.

After drying for two more days, use a windmill to blow away any remaining bits of straw and shriveled grains, and then it's ready to be stored in the granary.

This autumn harvest seemed unusually easy.

Uncle Liang and Uncle Liang's families were too embarrassed to ask Xu Zhichun for help. While the two families were still hesitating about whether to go to his door to discuss renting the threshing machine and windmill, the villagers had already lined up in a long queue.

In the end, both families thought, "Why not go? Why make things difficult for ourselves by doing hard labor?"
They were close relatives. While other families would pay three coins for each mu of harvest, they didn't need to pay a single coin.

If Xu Zhichun is willing to make money like this, does she even care about her reputation?

Zhang and Bai had even planned to bring the threshing machine to their respective maternal homes so that their families, uncles, and relatives could all use it.

Wouldn't the bride's family be grateful for this? Wouldn't they have to praise them? It would be such a boost to their reputation!
When Zhang and Bai visited, they found that Xu Zhichun had no reason to rent to other families in the village but not to them.

Even with one's own uncles or aunts, it's not easy to ask for a few coins.

However, they have no chance of cutting in line.

"Auntie, Second Auntie, please line up. After everyone else has used it, it will be your turn."

"What do you mean?" Zhang, who was already extremely jealous of her, immediately wanted to find fault: "Do you think other families are the same as us? Do we have to wait in line too? Xu, do you even consider us family?"

Madam Bai smiled helplessly: "Yes, niece-in-law, there is a difference between close and distant relatives. Don't be confused. Even if we use it first, who can say anything? If anyone has any objections, then they are intentionally trying to sow discord among family members. Such people are very wicked. You should not associate with such people."

"That's right! The autumn harvest waits for no one. How can you neglect your own needs and put others first? We'll come to carry the threshing machine first thing tomorrow morning. You'd better save it for us."

Xu Zhichun sneered: "We're all from the same village. I treat all the villagers like family, and they treat me the same way. I can't treat you all like strangers. If you didn't want to queue, why didn't you come earlier? Everyone's autumn harvest is important, it's not just you. Besides, business is business. I've taken their money, and I can't change the date I agreed on."

"If Auntie and Second Auntie are not satisfied, then don't rent it out."

"Mr. Xu! Do you really think that way? That's outrageous!"

“I’m not joking with you. I have my principles when it comes to doing things. I’m really sorry.” Zhang gritted her teeth: “You still have the nerve to blame us? Who would be stupid enough not to use such a good thing? You should have asked us in the first place.”

Xu Zhichun sneered, staring straight at Zhang Shi: "Aunt, what gives you the right to demand that I treat you like this? Is it because of the care you've always given me?"

Zhang choked, guiltily turning her head away, her arrogance fading as she gritted her teeth and muttered, "You really hold a grudge, so petty."

It's been so long, and she hasn't lost anything because of it, so why should she be so petty?
Zhang and Bai went back home furious.

Bai cursed viciously in her heart; if she weren't so timid, she would have killed Xu Zhichun.

This wretched woman staying in the Liang family is clearly just causing trouble for them.

Zhang felt extremely wronged and complained throughout the village that Xu Zhichun was unkind and cold-hearted.

Unexpectedly, her dissatisfaction with Xu Zhichun was based on her desire to seize other people's interests. Who could agree with or support her?
"Exactly! You guys don't take the initiative, do you expect Zhichun to fawn over you? That's not fair."

"I don't think Zhichun did anything wrong. Why didn't you say so sooner? It's already this late."

"That's right, everyone paid to queue up, and my family certainly won't allow anyone to cut in line."

"I disagree! At this time of year, who wouldn't be busy with the autumn harvest? We can't afford to delay."

"Exactly."

"Oh, don't get upset. Your family doesn't have much land anyway. A few people working together can finish the harvest in two or three days."

"Yes, yes, yes, we still had a good autumn harvest in previous years even without this threshing machine, didn't we?"

"Haha, I must say, this threshing machine is really powerful to use. It doesn't take much effort, and the grains fall off in no time. It's very fast."

"Hey, just watching him from the sidelines is so delightful!"

"Yes!"

"."

Everyone chimed in with their own comments, and in the end, it all boiled down to all sorts of fancy praise for the 108 different ways the threshing machine could be made. Who would empathize with Zhang or speak up for her anymore?

Zhang was furious.

No one spoke up for her.

Neither family was willing to "lose out," so they decided to wait in line until everyone in the village who needed it had used it before they could use it themselves.

Neither of their families had much paddy field, and they used it all up in just one day.

The threshing machine is truly a marvel; you'll know once you use it!
After Zhang and Bai used the money for their own family, Xu Zhichun told them one by one that someone in the neighboring village had already made a reservation, so their family would have to wait their turn. Furthermore, their family couldn't use the money for free; they would have to pay.

It makes no sense to take the things belonging to a widowed niece-in-law and use them to subsidize one's own family.

(End of this chapter)