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

Tang Susu gave the village head a wink, signaling him to tell him about the plan they had discussed the day before: to apply to the county magistrate for funds to support the village patrol team.

Keli was like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on, so frightened that his lips trembled and he stammered for a long time, unable to squeeze out a single word.

He never dared to imagine in his life that he would ask such a high-ranking official for money.

My heart was pounding, and I had no courage at all. I could only hang my head and stare intently at my fingers.

Tang Susu instantly understood.

In this feudal society, ordinary people were like ants facing giants in front of officials, and even breathing loudly required careful consideration.

The villagers of Yangqu Village usually love to join in the fun, but today, with the county magistrate's arrival, everyone is like mice seeing a cat. They either hide in the rice paddies, too afraid to show their faces, or simply close their doors and hide.

This deep-seated fear made her fully realize the chasm of feudal hierarchy.

Since the village head couldn't be relied upon, Tang Susu could only take the initiative to speak: "Reporting to Your Excellency, my eldest son, Yang Gousheng, has been active in the vicinity of Gou Tuo Mountain for many years and is familiar with the terrain here. Finding this water source will not be a problem."

But he was completely unfamiliar with the mountains around the other villages. If he were to search for water, it would take at least a whole day, and possibly several days, which would definitely disrupt the work at home.

Guided by Tang Susu, the village head finally mustered up a bit of courage and quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, sir, I can have Tang find people in the village to help with the work."

"It would be good to find someone to do the work, but where would the wages come from?" Tang Susu sighed softly, her tone filled with helplessness. "The village head knows that our family is dirt poor and can't even come up with half a copper coin."

We can't expect everyone to work for free, can we?

The magistrate raised his hand and waved it, his tone carrying a hint of official authority: "If your son can truly help other villages find water sources, he will have made a great contribution, and I, the magistrate, will certainly reward him handsomely."

Tang Susu silently complained to herself, "Verbal praise is useless. It can't feed you or pay you."

She remained expressionless and continued, "My lord, you may not know this, but finding a water source is not a one-person job; it requires the assistance of many people."

Nowadays, everyone in the village is busy with work in the fields. The harvest is just around the corner, and no one wants to sacrifice their own harvest to help other villages.

After all, no one would willingly do a losing proposition like sacrificing their own rice harvest to help someone else.

"Outrageous!" Registrar Yan roared again, "How dare the villagers neglect the tasks assigned by the County Magistrate?"

"Your Excellency, please calm down. What I am saying is the truth." Tang Susu did not back down and looked up at the county magistrate. "Back when I was still in a large family before the family was divided, I saw through one thing: when there was no benefit to be gained, everyone would dawdle and shirk their responsibilities; when there was benefit to be gained, no one needed to urge them, and they could get things done overnight."

"Sir, don't you agree with this statement?"

The village head was so frightened that he could barely stand. He wished he could disappear into the ground, fearing that Tang Susu's words would anger the county magistrate.

But the county magistrate was stunned. It was the first time he had ever met an ordinary citizen who dared to reason with him so clearly and logically.

He instantly began to calculate in his mind: forcing the villagers to find water would only result in them doing it perfunctorily; but if they were willing to devote themselves wholeheartedly, the result would be completely different.

Finding a water source in Dongtai Town during this severe drought is a golden opportunity for him to gain political achievements and secure a promotion. He must not let the issue of compensation affect his efficiency.

Clerk Yan was adept at reading people's expressions and immediately saw through the magistrate's thoughts. He stepped forward and suggested, "Sir, how about this: those from Yangqu Village who are willing to assist in finding water sources and digging canals will be paid one hundred copper coins per day."

The village head was so shocked that his eyes widened, and he almost thought he had misheard.

A hundred copper coins a day—this is like a windfall!

He secretly calculated that he could deduct fifty coins from them and put them into the village's public account, which would be just enough to support the village patrol team.

Offering two copper coins for each of the four incense sticks burned during a village visit is enough to attract many people to participate.

Before the village head could finish celebrating, Tang Susu waved her hand in feigned fear: "Sir, this is unacceptable."

You shouldn't ask for money when you do things for adults.

"Besides, we haven't even found a water source yet, and it feels like a hot potato for us to take the money like this."

The county magistrate's lips twitched slightly, thinking she thought a hundred copper coins were too little.

He was both curious about Tang Susu's thoughts and valued Yang Gousheng's ability to find water, so he asked, "What are your thoughts? Feel free to speak your mind."

Seeing that the time was ripe, Tang Susu slowly proposed a plan: "I think it would be better to pay according to the number of water sources found."

If a water source is found, the adults will give a reward; if not, the adults won't have to spend a penny.

Moreover, more than thirty villages need to find water within three days, which will likely require working through the night.

Clerk Yan was somewhat surprised by Tang Susu's line of thinking. He turned to the county magistrate and gave him a wink, indicating that the plan was feasible.

The magistrate nodded and immediately approved: "Do as you say! A reward of three taels of silver will be given for each water source found!"

The village head was once again so shocked that he was speechless.

Three taels of silver!

This is equivalent to his family's entire income from farming for two years, plus their income from working as the village head.

If he could help find a dozen or so water sources for more than thirty villages, the reward would be nearly a hundred taels of silver. He looked at Tang Susu with eyes full of admiration.

Tang Susu, however, already had a plan in mind.

In this era, many underground water sources have not been extracted.

The chances of finding water in those deep valleys where two mountain peaks face each other are extremely high, and there are no shortage of mountains in this area, so there is no worry about not finding water.

"You're quite insightful, unlike ordinary village women," the magistrate couldn't help but praise. "No wonder your son is so successful."

Tang Susu quickly lowered her head modestly, her tone tinged with sadness: "You flatter me, sir."

These were all taught by my late husband. When he was alive, he always taught the children life skills and principles of being a good person. It's a pity he left us so early.

When the magistrate learned that she was a widow, he could better understand her emphasis on the reward silver, and even secretly wondered if three taels of silver made him seem too stingy.

Just then, the sound of oxcart wheels rolling came from outside the courtyard gate.

The oxcart carrying Yang Gousheng and Tang Liqiang slowly came to a stop at the entrance.

The two men got off the oxcart, walking unsteadily with blank stares ahead, completely unaware of the county magistrate and Registrar Yan standing at the door.

As Yang Gousheng entered, he tripped over the threshold and almost fell.

Tang Susu quickly stepped forward to support him, then turned to the magistrate and explained, "Sir, these two children just returned from delivering goods; they're probably exhausted."

I'll have them change their clothes first, then they'll come out to pay their respects to you.

She felt uneasy, worried that something might have happened to the two of them on the way, and regretted not going with them herself the first time she had let them deliver the goods alone.

Tang Susu followed him into the house, and seeing that the door was tightly closed, she knocked on it: "Gousheng, Liqiang, are you alright?"

The door creaked open a crack, and Yang Gousheng pulled Tang Susu inside, his eyes wide. He pulled a cloth bag from his pocket and excitedly whispered, "Mom! Look!"

Tang Susu looked down and saw a glittering silver ingot lying in the cloth bag.

The two men delivered the goods smoothly and collected a total of 1,900 coins.

They worried that having so many copper coins hanging on their waists would be too conspicuous and attract robbery, so they discussed going to a silver shop and exchanging one thousand copper coins for one tael of silver.

This was the first time in their lives they had ever seen or touched silver—the thirty taels of mourning silver given to Yang Fujun after his death in battle had all been given directly to the Tang family by the original owner, and they had never seen it before.

"I put one tael of silver in my pocket, and let Liqiang take the remaining nine hundred copper coins," Yang Gousheng said in a low voice. "We didn't dare to move the whole way on the oxcart, and we were so nervous that we were covered in sweat."

Looking at the two of them, Tang Susu found it both funny and a little heartbreaking.

She secretly resolved to give them more opportunities to explore and see more of the world in the future, so that they would not make such ridiculous mistakes again.