The weight of the small cloth pouch in Li Qingyun's hands felt strangely satisfying.
Her first real earnings—not scraps from odd jobs or pity coins from kind merchants, but hard-earned money from her own skills and effort.
As she and Li Jun walked home, she counted the coins in her mind. After selling out her vegetables today, she had earned more than double what she used to in her past life.
Still, this was only the beginning.
She needed to use the money wisely.
Planning the Next Step
By the time they reached their small mud-brick house, her mother, Madam Zhao, was already outside, sweeping the yard.
When she saw them, she smiled warmly. "You're back early today."
Li Jun grinned. "Jiejie sold out everything super fast today! Even Uncle Wu wants to buy from us again!"
Madam Zhao's eyes widened in surprise. "That's wonderful! But... will the other vendors cause trouble for you?"
Qingyun knew her mother was worried. The marketplace could be cruel—especially for a young girl making a name for herself.
She reached out and gently squeezed her mother's hand. "Don't worry, Mother. I handled it today, and I will handle it again if needed."
Madam Zhao sighed but nodded. "You've grown stronger, Qingyun."
Stronger.
Yes.
She had been too weak in her past life—letting others take advantage of her, allowing greedy relatives to leech off their family, and watching helplessly as their farm fell into ruin.
Not this time.
This time, she would protect her family and secure their future.
Investing the Earnings
That night, after dinner, Qingyun carefully spread out the coins on the wooden table.
Li Jun sat beside her, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Jiejie, we're rich!"
Qingyun chuckled. "Not quite, but we're on our way."
She separated the coins into small piles.
A portion would go to household needs—better food, some new clothes for her younger siblings, and firewood for the coming cold months.
Some would be saved—she needed a backup in case of emergencies.
The rest would be reinvested into the farm.
Madam Zhao watched her daughter's careful planning with admiration. "Qingyun, you've thought this through well."
Qingyun nodded. "Mother, I want to buy better seeds and a few tools. If we improve our farm's output, we can sell even more."
Madam Zhao hesitated. "That sounds like a good plan, but will we have enough for food?"
Qingyun smiled. "We'll be fine, Mother. Trust me."
This was the first step toward prosperity.
A Late-Night Visit to the Farming Space
After everyone had gone to bed, Qingyun silently slipped out of her sleeping mat and entered the farming space.
The moment she stepped inside, the familiar fresh air and rich greenery greeted her.
The vegetables in this space grew three times faster than normal, ensuring she could harvest and sell more in less time.
She walked to the small spiritual spring at the center of the space, scooping some of the water into a clay cup.
This spring water was the key.
She had tested it—using even a few drops on normal soil improved crop growth outside the space.
Her plan was simple: Use her earnings to expand the family farm and secretly boost production with the spring water.
This way, their vegetables would always be fresher, more vibrant, and of higher quality than anyone else's.
She clenched her fists.
Aunt Liu and those other vendors wouldn't be able to compete.
Not now. Not ever.
A New Day, A New Goal
The next morning, Qingyun set off for the town again—this time, not to sell, but to buy supplies.
With Li Jun following closely behind, she walked straight to the best seed vendor in the marketplace.
"Old Zhang, do you have any high-quality seeds?"
The old merchant squinted at her. "Little girl, why are you looking for such expensive seeds?"
"I want the best." Qingyun met his gaze without hesitation.
Old Zhang chuckled. "You've got ambition. Fine, but quality comes with a price."
She handed over a few silver coins without hesitation.
As she walked away with her bag of premium seeds, Li Jun looked up at her with admiration.
"Jiejie, what's next?"
Qingyun smiled. "Next… we turn our farm into the best in the village."
She was just getting started.
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