"This won’t work. If people find out we’re getting money without working, what if they suspect us?"

Mu Dazhong wasn’t stupid. The more bad things you do, the more you have to act as if nothing happened.

Otherwise, how could you make a fortune quietly?

"So, are you saying we should keep working?" Mrs. Lin asked, puzzled.

"Absolutely. From today onwards, we’ll complete our tasks first, and after that, we’ll find ways to make money. Anyway, we won’t worry about not having enough to eat."

The ways to make money Mu Dazhong mentioned were actually similar to what he did this afternoon.

Anyway, sneaking around was the way to go.

...

...

In the afternoon, after having enough rest, Mu Shuangshuang and a few others went out to continue harvesting rice.

Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t there in the morning, so Yu Si Niang was left with a bit more than an acre to harvest.

It’s estimated that after about half an incense stick’s time, the two should be able to finish.

Holding a sickle, Mu Shuangshuang paused while cutting the rice.

"Yuan Feng, have you checked over here?" Mu Shuangshuang pointed at the bundle of rice next to her and asked Lu Yuanfeng.

"No, I haven’t checked that area yet!"

Lu Yuanfeng was different from others when carrying loads; he carried two lines together and hadn’t touched Shuangshuang’s part at all.

"That’s strange. This was placed here by me this morning; the rice straw leaves shouldn’t be this fresh!"

Mu Shuangshuang said as she walked over to look at another place.

She found out that the other places weren’t like this.

The rice from their family had been stolen.

Eggs stolen at noon, and now rice; Mu Shuangshuang was feeling really distressed.

Mu Shuangshuang looked at the nearby villagers in the fields; they seemed unaffected, as if they hadn’t lost any rice. Could the thief have only stolen from her family?

The more Mu Shuangshuang thought about it, the angrier she became.

She called Lu Yuanfeng over and explained the situation to him.

Lu Yuanfeng was also quite shocked.

Er Gui Village hadn’t had rice thieves for many years.

Though thieves did exist, Lu Yuanfeng’s neighbor, Aunt Zhang, had once stolen Lu Yuanfeng’s five-flavor pork in front of many people.

"Shuangshuang, should we catch this person?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.

"Catch, of course! I bet this person packed my family’s rice as if it were their own gathered rice and took it away in a sack.

She likely strikes when there are fewer people around, like noon and evening. Yuan Feng, quickly check if the rice you stacked on the field ridge is missing."

Lu Yuanfeng rushed to check, shook his head after inspecting.

"No problem, no one’s touched that rice."

With that, Mu Shuangshuang was even more certain that the person wanted to gather bit by bit.

"Yuan Feng, these days, we’ll wait for this thief to show up and make them famous in Er Gui Village!"

Mu Shuangshuang squinted her eyes, a momentary gleam swirling in her gaze.

"Then we’ll keep a watch here both at noon and at night." Lu Yuanfeng suggested.

The two made a plan, just waiting for the thief to appear.

...

... 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The most satisfied person in the afternoon was Mr. Mu.

The usually lazy second house suddenly seemed enlightened, working not only quickly but also losing the habit of faking excuses for laziness; they didn’t even visit the toilet the entire afternoon.

Mr. Mu even thought the second house wasn’t his lazy son anymore.

However, on second thought, for a man to act responsible, it would only take a matter of time to stand tall and firm.

Based on this, Mr. Mu made a big move, bringing out a rooster as a reward. The person who worked the most could enjoy that rooster alone.

As soon as he announced this, the whole Old Mu Family erupted.

"Dad, are you serious?" Mu Dazhong was already in a good mood after stealing quite a bit of rice at noon; hearing there was chicken to eat, he felt elated.

"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"

Mr. Mu straightened his back, and under the expectant gazes of his sons, he truly felt like the head of the household.

"True, dad always keeps his word, then our second house will definitely give it a try!" Mu Dazhong chuckled and patted his chest to make a promise.

Mu Danian was so mad, his mouth twisted.

This competition was inherently unfair; the second house had their family helping them, and anyone lifting a finger had more than him.

He was all alone; what could he compete with?

What Mu Danian thought of, Mr. Mu naturally considered as well.

He added, "Today, we’re not comparing house against house, but person against person. As long as you work well, dad will give you a reward.

Da Lang isn’t around these days. If he were, we’d include him."

Meaning, as long as you personally excelled, you’d get a reward from Mr. Mu.

This undoubtedly motivated the Old Mu Family folks.

Everyone worked harder and faster.

The second house and Mu Danian were lazy, but that didn’t mean they weren’t fast.

They swung their sickles here and there, surprisingly surpassing the honest guy Mu Dajiang.

At dusk, Mr. Mu announced work was done.

The person who worked the most was naturally Mu Dazhong; he ate first, and the rest according to individual contributions.

In a single afternoon, they harvested two acres of land, something the few of the Old Mu Family hadn’t achieved since birth.

Mr. Mu was so happy he was practically ecstatic.

Mrs. Lin nudged Mu Dazhong’s arm, prompting him to speak quickly.

"Dad, Gou Dan’s mother and I would like to do a bit more; you and the others go back first."

Having started early and ended late this afternoon, Mr. Mu was just short of elevating the second house to the skies and decided that, regardless of the situation, he must take the second house with him.

Mr. Mu led a whole group away in grand procession.

Mu Dazhong and Mrs. Lin slowed their pace.

"Daddy Gou Dan, when should we make our move?" Mrs. Lin eyed the golden rice on the field ridge, all she saw were money signs.

"Don’t rush, let’s wait and see!"

When up to mischief, Mu Dazhong appeared to have a commanding presence.

The two faked sincerity, moving slowly as they worked a bit more in the field ridge, gradually, darkness descended.

Villagers no longer lingered in the fields and headed home.

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng carted the stacked rice from the field ridge back to the village threshing ground with the ox cart, taking more than ten trips.

The threshing ground was no worry for thieves because by then, someone would watch over it, or they would light several torches to thresh the rice all night long with a stone roller.

It was the last load, and by now darkness had completely set in, the field ridge was devoid of people.

But Mu Shuangshuang felt the person was still there.

"Yuan Feng, this trip, you drive the ox cart alone, I’ll stay here and see who exactly it is!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

"Shuangshuang, how about I stay with you? We don’t know who’s stealing, what if this person has some skills?" Lu Yuanfeng expressed his worry.

"Yuan Feng, with your ox cart here, they wouldn’t dare show up; you go feed the ox and get the cart set up before coming back. If those people are really skilled, I won’t come out, alright?"

Lu Yuanfeng wanted to say something more, but Mu Shuangshuang raised her hand, speaking with sincerity, "I swear, I’ll wait for you before making a move!"