A midnight visit—take what’s mine and return it.

“Not today, okay? Next time, alright? I promise I’ll bring A-Chuan along,” Meng Yun coaxed gently.

“All right then. A-Chuan will be good. Can I get a reward?” Jin Yanchuan looked up expectantly.

“Of course. Whatever A-Chuan wants, I’ll buy it for you when we go to the market tomorrow,” Meng Yun replied.

“I don’t want that. I just want to cuddle with my wife,” Jin Yanchuan said coquettishly, wrapping his arms around Meng Yun’s arm and swaying.

Meng Yun’s cheeks flushed deeply. At over twenty years old in her past life, she really felt like a flirt in front of her little husband in this ancient time.

“Okay! It’s a deal.” Meng Yun kissed Jin Yanchuan on the cheek. “Now go to sleep, alright?”

“Mm-hmm.” Jin Yanchuan quickly lay down and pulled the quilt over himself, mumbling, “A-Chuan is asleep.”

Meng Yun shook her head with a smile and left the room.

Outside the door, both the main house and the west wing were already asleep. Meng Yun reached the main gate but didn’t open it; instead, she vaulted over and slipped out of the courtyard. Under cover of night, she headed swiftly toward the Meng family village.

Near the end of the late night hour, she finally arrived at Meng Yougen’s home, the courtyard enveloped in darkness.

Meng Yun took out several psychedelic herbs she had found on the mountain earlier that day, lit them with a fire striker, and tossed one into each room.

Then she waited quietly in the courtyard for a quarter of an hour before entering the bedroom of Mrs. Bao and Meng Laogen. Upon looking inside, she was shocked to see the two elderly figures, both quite advanced in age, entwined together without a stitch of clothing. Mrs. Bao’s somewhat withered legs rested atop Meng Laogen’s body.

It was almost unbearable to look at.

Meng Yun first searched under Mrs. Bao’s pillow and indeed found a small pouch. Inside were just two taels of broken silver and some copper coins, along with a key. No doubt the bulk of their valuables must be inside a cabinet.

Scanning the room, there was only one locked cabinet. Meng Yun approached, opened it, and rummaged through its contents until she uncovered a small wooden box beneath a pile of ragged cloth. The box wasn’t locked. She opened it to find more broken silver and silver notes. Unfolding the notes, there were three, each worth ten taels. Beneath the notes lay a silver hairpin.

“How beautiful!” Even with her past life’s experience of countless treasures, Meng Yun was captivated by the delicate craftsmanship of this silver hairpin. She carefully put it away, planning to study it later.

After searching the room with no further luck, she turned to the main house. There, she gathered over five taels of silver. In the second house, she found more than four taels. Meng Yun chuckled to herself—this family certainly hoarded money despite always complaining about being broke. Now, their dreams would come true.

At the third house, Meng Yun could not overlook anything. Entering Meng Yougen’s room, she was immediately repulsed by the sight of two pigs, one yellow-striped and one black-striped, tangled together. Absolutely appalling. It was true what they said—people of the same family often shared the same base nature, both young and old.

Meng Yun found over five taels of silver there as well. Finally, she went to Jiang Yuqing’s room, located her acupuncture points, applied a thin blanket to cover her, and carried her out of the Meng household, heading straight to the neighboring village’s butcher Leng Tu’s house.

She leapt into the courtyard. As the eldest in the family, Leng Tu naturally lived in the main house. Meng Yun expected some difficulty, but the door suddenly opened, and Leng Tu appeared, bare-chested and wearing loose shorts, swaying as if off to relieve himself.

Meng Yun seized the opportunity to place Jiang Yuqing on Leng Tu’s bed, gave her a drink laced with an aphrodisiac, then left.

When Leng Tu returned and saw the alluring figure on his bed, he instantly became energized. Upon recognizing her, cold sweat broke out on his forehead—he hadn’t expected the girl to actually come to him.

As Leng Tu hesitated whether to take advantage, Jiang Yuqing grew restless and clung to him.

With such a tender maiden delivered so conveniently, why refuse? Soon, the main house resounded with primal calls of passion.

Meanwhile, Meng Yun was already on her way back. Hearing the sound of merit points accumulating in her spatial pocket, she knew Jiang Yuqing was thoroughly incapacitated.

Gazing at the sky, it was already the early morning hour. Meng Yun took out a drop of Dew of Heaven, swallowed it, and immediately felt her spiritual energy surge. She swiftly entered the old Zhou family manor and soon located Zhou Shiren’s room. She had asked Jin Yanan after dinner, so finding it was easy.

Seeing Zhou Shiren, Meng Yun froze, a plan forming in her mind. Zhou Shiren was a notorious gambler and womanizer; she decided to let him indulge his vices. If he refused, she would arrange for someone to entice him.

Returning home, dawn was breaking. Seeing her little husband sleeping soundly and breathing steadily, Meng Yun felt at ease. She quickly removed her clothes and slipped into bed, still able to catch a few more moments of rest.

Today was market day. Zhou Yaru had risen early to prepare coarse rice porridge and pickled vegetables. Jin Shan was also up, harvesting the thriving greens from the yard. He cut them carefully, tied bunches with grass rope, and neatly stacked them in baskets.

Soon, several children were awake. Qiao'er helped the Zhou family cook, while Jin Yanan and his brother assisted their father with harvesting.

“Father, our vegetables are growing so well,” Jin Yanan couldn’t help but praise.

“We’ll surely get a good price today,” Jin Zhezhe added.

“But it’s market day. People from ten villages around come to sell their goods. The weather’s still so hot; I worry the vegetables might wilt and look bad,” Jin Shan lamented, eyeing the lush greens.

Meng Yun heard the voices in the yard and opened her eyes, meeting the clear, reflective gaze of Jin Yanchuan.

“Wife, you’re awake. Did I wake you?” Jin Yanchuan’s face showed concern.

“No, it’s already daylight. Father and mother are up, so we can’t sleep in. Isn’t today the market? Let’s get up,” Meng Yun said, still a bit drowsy but knowing she couldn’t linger with her in-laws already active.

“Wife, when did you come back last night?” Jin Yanchuan asked.

“I just went out briefly and came right back. This is our little secret, okay? Don’t tell anyone,” she whispered.

“I know, I know!” Jin Yanchuan nodded eagerly like a little chick pecking at grain.

“So good,” Meng Yun rewarded him with a kiss.

Such an obedient husband, following her every word—how wonderful.

“Mother, can I help with anything?” Meng Yun headed to the kitchen.

“Yun’er, you’re up! Why didn’t you sleep longer? The porridge and buns will be ready soon,” Zhou Yaru busied herself.

“A-Chuan is eager to go to the market,” Meng Yun refused to admit she hadn’t rested well.

“That child!” Zhou Yaru smiled tenderly.

Breakfast was soon ready. Jin Shan had harvested more than half the greens and packed them into baskets.

“That’s a lot!” Zhou Yaru remarked.

“If Father wasn’t worried they’d wilt and lose value, he’d have cut them all,” Jin Yanan hobbled over.

“Worried about wilting?” Meng Yun’s mind sparked with an idea. That was simple.

“Father, to keep the greens fresh, you can soak dry grass in water, then layer the vegetables separated by the wet grass. Sell one layer at a time and replace it with another. The moisture from the grass will keep the vegetables hydrated,” Meng Yun suggested. She had first thought of using old cotton blankets but realized their household conditions made that impractical; dry grass was a more feasible solution.