Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

Lu Hao woke up just as dawn was breaking.

The straw beneath him chafed his back, causing a sharp pain, and the rough old clothes on his body rubbed against the abrasions, sending waves of subtle pain through him.

He sat up blankly, and after a moment of stunned silence, he finally came to his senses—he was still in Yangqu Village, in Tang Susu's simple house, not in the county magistrate's mansion with its canopy bed covered in brocade cushions.

The room was still dimly lit, but outside the window it was already bustling with activity. The cacophony of chickens and ducks, the conversations of villagers, and the barking of dogs mingled together, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

Ah Gui wasn't around; he must have gotten up and gone to do something.

Lu Hao, supporting his aching body, slowly stood up and shuffled out of the house.

The soft morning light spilled into the courtyard, dispelling the morning chill.

In the center of the courtyard, Tang Susu was holding Yang Xiaobao down, holding a wooden basin in her hand, and scolding with a smile: "You brat, how long has it been since you washed your hair? Your hair is so oily you could fry vegetables with it. I'm going to wash it clean for you today no matter what."

Yang Xiaobao squirmed, looking utterly resistant, kicking his arms and legs: "No, no, washing my hair is a hassle, and it'll get my clothes wet!"

"You have to wash him, even if it's a hassle, otherwise lice will make their home in your hair." Tang Susu pressed his shoulders firmly, just the right amount of pressure, and then took a clean cloth and placed it around his neck.

Then he quietly took out a small packet of shampoo from his pocket, poured a little into his palm, rubbed it to make fine foam, and then gently massaged it into Yang Xiaobao's hair.

Yang Xiaobao's hair was very long, more than 30 centimeters long. It was usually tied up in a messy way, but now it was covered in foam and lay softly against his scalp.

Tang Susu moved very gently, her fingertips softly combing his hair, avoiding the knots. After washing it clean, she poured a few drops of hair-smoothing oil on it, rubbed it in carefully, and then rinsed it off little by little with water. Her movements were patient and meticulous.

Lu Hao stood at the doorway, quietly watching this scene, his whole body trembling as if something had struck his heart.

The morning light fell on Tang Susu's hair, casting a soft halo around it. She had a faint smile on her face, her eyes gentle, and the intimacy and patience she exuded were something Lu Hao had never experienced before.

He no longer remembered what his mother looked like. He grew up in the county magistrate's mansion, surrounded only by a strict father and sycophantic servants. No one had ever treated him so gently, no one had ever cooked for him, and no one had ever patiently washed his hair and combed his hair.

He watched as Yang Xiaobao, though unwilling, obediently allowed Tang Susu to manipulate him, with a hint of a smile occasionally creeping onto his lips. A strong sense of envy suddenly welled up in his heart.

He couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if Tang Susu could treat him like that, and if he could have such gentle companionship.

"Young Master, you're awake?" A-Gui's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Lu Hao's thoughts.

Lu Hao snapped back to his senses, quickly composed himself, and turned around to see A Gui carrying a basin of warm water and a piece of coarse cloth. A Gui walked over quickly, looking tired but still respectful: "I boiled some warm water this morning. Please wash up quickly."

Lu Hao nodded, took the cloth, and without saying a word, walked to the stone slab in the corner of the courtyard and washed up simply with warm water.

There was no fine soap, no warm water to wash his face, only coarse cloth and slightly cool water, but he wasn't as picky as he had been yesterday. He simply finished washing up quietly and suppressed the inexplicable emotion in his heart.

Just then, Tang Susu finished washing Yang Xiaobao's hair and was gently wiping his long hair with a cloth.

She looked up and was immediately stunned—in the courtyard, the three boys, Tang Lifu, Tang Liqiang, and Tang Chengyu, along with Lu Hao and A Gui, were all staring at her expectantly, as if they were all waiting for her to wash their hair too.

Tang Susu's heart skipped a beat, and she thought to herself: Oh no, I was so busy washing Xiaobao's hair that I forgot about these boys. If they all want me to wash their hair, I won't be able to go to the fields today.

She quickly put away the cloth in her hands, her face hardening into a serious expression, and swiftly changed the subject: "Yulan, is the food ready? Bring it out quickly! What are you all standing there for? After breakfast, hurry down to the fields and get some work done while it's still cool in the morning!"

Miao Yulan was sitting under the eaves picking vegetables when she heard the sound. She quickly replied, "Okay, okay, I'll bring it over right away!" With that, she got up and went into the kitchen.

Seeing this, everyone had no choice but to suppress their expectations and sit down under the eaves to wait for breakfast.

Lu Hao also found a stool in a corner and sat down. His gaze inadvertently fell on Tang Susu again, and there was still a trace of envy hidden in his eyes.

A moment later, Miao Yulan came out carrying the food.

Breakfast was simple: a golden cornbread bun and a bowl of steaming hot knife-cut noodles for each person. There was no meat or fancy side dishes, just a simple bowl of noodle soup, but it had a faint aroma of wheat.

No one was picky; they picked up the cornbread and ate it with the knife-cut noodles in big mouthfuls.

A-Gui seemed afraid of not having enough to eat. He squatted under the eaves and wolfed down his food, stuffing his mouth full and constantly shoveling noodles into his bowl. He had been starving all day yesterday and was really afraid that this was his only meal today. If he didn't eat enough, he wouldn't have the strength to work in the fields.

Lu Hao picked up the cornbread, took a bite, and found it to be rough and dry, not as refined as the pastries he usually ate, but it was still filling.

He chewed slowly, eating the knife-cut noodles bit by bit. He still felt a little uneasy, but he gradually got used to this simple and plain diet.

Before long, everyone had finished breakfast. Tang Lifu, Tang Liqiang, and Tang Chengyu looked at Tang Susu's hands with a hint of worry on their faces—Tang Susu had gotten several blisters on her hands from harvesting rice yesterday, and some of them had even broken and were bleeding.

"Auntie, your hands are all injured. Don't go to the fields today. Rest at home for a day. We can handle the work in the fields," Tang Lifu said first, his tone sincere.

"Yes, Auntie, you need to take good care of your hands and avoid getting them chafed, otherwise they'll get infected," Tang Liqiang and Tang Chengyu quickly chimed in, their faces full of concern.

Tang Susu looked at the three boys and felt a warmth in her heart, her eyes slightly moist.

She raised her hand, looked at the blisters on her palm, shook her head gently, and said with a smile, "It's nothing, just a small injury, it's fine. I'm not harvesting rice, I'm just responsible for bundling it. I'll work lightly and won't hurt my hands, don't worry."

She had made up her mind, and the three boys couldn't persuade her any further. They could only nod and secretly decide to do more work today so that Tang Susu would worry less.

Then, Tang Susu turned around and went into the house, took a rope and a carrying pole, and assigned tasks to Lu Hao and A Gui: "Lu Hao, A Gui, you two will spend the whole day threshing grain in the yard. Each of you is responsible for eight jin of grain, which is a total of sixteen jin. No slacking off. If you don't finish, you won't get lunch."

Upon hearing this, A-Gui's face instantly fell, and he looked like he was about to cry. With a bitter expression, he muttered under his breath, "Auntie, yesterday's five jin almost exhausted me, why do I have to double it today...?"

He swung the flail all day yesterday, and his arms were so sore he couldn't lift them. He even slept in pain last night. Today he has to lose eight pounds. Just thinking about it makes him feel hopeless.

But he didn't dare to resist, and could only look at Lu Hao with a wronged expression, hoping that Lu Hao could put in a good word for him.

Lu Hao frowned, feeling somewhat unwilling as well.

Threshing is tiring and tedious work. Yesterday, he only tried it briefly and his arms ached unbearably. Today, he has to thresh eight pounds, which is undoubtedly an ordeal.

But he also knew that he was currently living under someone else's roof and had no right to complain. He could only give A-Gui a cold glance and say in a deep voice, "Stop talking nonsense and do as I say."

Seeing this, A-Gui could only obediently shut his mouth and lower his head with a wronged expression.

After arranging everything, Tang Susu led her three sons, Tang Lifu, Tang Liqiang, and Tang Chengyu, carrying farm tools, and headed towards the fields.

A gentle morning breeze carries the fresh scent of earth, cool and comfortable, making it the perfect time for farming. Villagers are all carrying their tools and hurrying to the fields, their busy figures a common sight along the way.

Tang Susu walked along the ridge of the paddy field, looking at the endless rice fields in front of her, and sighed softly.

The harvest of six acres of land was being carried out by just a few people, and the progress was too slow. In addition, the weather had been hot recently, and if the harvest was not completed as soon as possible, the grain might mold and the yield would be reduced. This was their harvest for the whole year, and they could not afford to be careless.

But farm work is too tiring. She was busy every day until her back ached, and she could only harvest a small patch. She couldn't help but feel anxious.

Before long, the group arrived at the Yang family's field.

At this moment, Old Mrs. Yang was carrying a bamboo basket filled with water and a few cornbread buns, with Old Mr. Yang following beside her. The two of them walked over slowly, seemingly to deliver water and food to their family members who were working in the fields.

"Su Su, you've arrived so early." Old Mrs. Yang greeted them with a smile, her gaze falling on Tang Su Su with eyes full of approval. "To be honest, you've been getting more and more diligent lately. I've never seen you work this hard before. It seems you really want to live a good life."

Grandpa Yang nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, it's good to be diligent. Only through diligence can we have a good life. Six acres of land may seem like a lot, but if we work slowly, we can finish it eventually."

Tang Susu smiled and replied, "Grandpa and Grandma, I've come to a realization. I was too lazy before and neglected a lot of things. Now I'll work hard and strive for a good harvest this year."

Just then, Madam Shen also walked over, supporting her waist.

She was pregnant, her belly was already slightly protruding, but she had a proud look on her face and said with a smile, "Auntie, don't just praise Su Su, I'm also very hardworking. These days, I've been helping my husband with chores every day, and I haven't been lazy at all."

Old Mrs. Yang glanced at her, her mind clear as day—Shen used to be extremely lazy, and after becoming pregnant, she pretended to be sick every day, doing no work and relying entirely on her son to take care of her. Lately, she was only pretending to do some work because she saw that Tang Susu was diligent and was afraid of being gossiped about.

But she didn't expose him. She just smiled and said perfunctorily, "Just be diligent, just be diligent. You're pregnant, so don't overwork yourself. Do what you can."

Shen's smile deepened, and she repeatedly replied, "I understand, Auntie, I know what I'm doing."

The Yang family's rice paddies were divided into three sections, and Shen's husband was squatting in the field harvesting rice.

Shen walked over, picked up a sickle, and pretended to cut, but her movements were slow. She stopped to catch her breath after only a few cuts, and her eyes kept drifting to the side. She wasn't really paying attention at all.

Tang Susu saw this but didn't say much. She simply turned around, picked up a rope, walked to the already cut rice ears, and began to tie them up. Her movements were skilled and nimble, and she tried not to use too much force to avoid breaking the blisters on her palms.

Meanwhile, Tang Susu's courtyard gradually became bustling with activity.

Miao Yulan carried a bowl of water, walked to the grain pile, picked up a flail, and silently threshed the grain.

She remained quiet, keeping her head down and focusing on her work, deliberately avoiding Lu Hao's gaze. Clearly, she was still not used to being with this once arrogant and domineering county magistrate's son.

Before leaving, Tang Susu specifically instructed that the harvested grains should be dried properly. So, after Miao Yulan finished threshing a portion, she would get up and spread the grains evenly on the stone slabs in the yard, letting them dry in the morning sun without stopping for a moment.

Ah Gui, with a bitter expression on his face, weakly swung his flail, pounding the rice stalks with every swing. His arms ached terribly with each swing, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He kept looking at Lu Hao, his eyes full of grievance and pleading, but Lu Hao ignored him completely.

Lu Hao sat on a stool in the corner of the yard, holding a large leaf in his hand, slowly fanning himself. His face showed no signs of fatigue, but rather a relaxed expression.

He didn't rush to work, but quietly observed Miao Yulan and Agui's threshing methods—either using flails or stones to shake the grains off the rice ears, relying on external force. It was laborious and inefficient; after a short while, their arms would be too tired to lift.

As he watched, a thought suddenly popped into Lu Hao's mind: Since the grains are shaken off by external force, wouldn't it be faster and easier to crush them with wheels?

Once the wheel starts turning, its inertia will press down on the rice ears, which should shake off a lot of grains at once, much easier than hitting them one by one with a flail.

But then he thought about it again and frowned.

The oxcarts and horse-drawn carts in the village are too small, and the smooth surface of the wheels limits the area they can cover, so they are not very efficient. If there were a larger wheel with some raised surfaces, it would be much better for rolling.

As he fanned the leaves, he lowered his head and pondered ways to improve the threshing method. For a moment, he forgot about Ah Gui beside him and also forgot about his own threshing work.

Just as Lu Hao was deep in thought, his brows furrowed and muttering to himself, the sound of horses' hooves and wheels rolling suddenly came from outside the village, growing clearer and clearer as it approached.

Lu Hao snapped back to his senses, looked up, and gazed toward the village entrance. There he saw three magnificent carriages slowly approaching along the main road of the village.

The carriage was entirely black, with exquisite patterns carved on its body. The horses pulling it were tall and strong with glossy coats, and the driver was dressed neatly and looked respectful. It was clearly not an ordinary family's carriage, and it stood out conspicuously in the simple Yangqu Village.

As the carriage reached the village entrance, one of the drivers reined in the horse and stopped. He called out to a villager working by the roadside, "Excuse me, folks, how do I get to Tang Susu's house?"

The villager was stunned for a moment, looking at the impressive carriage in front of him with a face full of doubt and awe. He quickly pointed in the direction of Tang Susu's house and said respectfully, "Go straight ahead, turn two corners, and the innermost courtyard is Tang Susu's house."

"Thank you, fellow villager." The coachman cupped his hands in thanks, then turned his horse around and waved to the other two carriages. The three carriages continued to drive slowly, heading straight towards Tang Susu's house.

Lu Hao sat in the courtyard, watching the three carriages getting closer and closer. His brows furrowed even more, and a hint of doubt and vigilance flashed in his eyes.

These three carriages are very impressive and must be of great importance. Who would come looking for Tang Susu?

Or is it someone who came looking for me?

He subconsciously stood up, clenched his fists, and pondered silently, his eyes fixed on the three carriages, not daring to relax for a moment.

Ah Gui stopped what he was doing, staring in terror at the approaching carriage. He tugged at Lu Hao's sleeve and whispered, "Young Master, who...who is this? Could they be here to arrest us?"

Lu Hao didn't speak, but just gave him a cold glance, signaling him to be quiet. His gaze remained fixed on the three carriages, and his doubts grew deeper.