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After strolling around the village, Chu Qingzhi took a liking to a spot next to the Chu Qingning Medicine Shop.

The terrain here was flat, facing a T-junction ahead, offering a wide view and convenient access. Behind it, several large clusters of lush bamboo added to the scenic beauty. To the left was the medicine shop, and to the right stood two decades-old locust trees, creating an excellent environment.

With the location decided, it was time to construct the buildings.

Chu Qingzhi went to find An Shanwu at the location of the grocery store (mini supermarket) to discuss the construction of the Seal Office.

The foundation of the grocery store was already laid, and bricklaying could start soon. An Shanwu and his workers toiled till dusk daily, working tirelessly. After hearing Chu Qingzhi’s request, An Shanwu expressed his difficulty, “Qingzhi, I really can’t spare any hands right now, not until the grocery store is finished.”

The construction of the grocery store, workshops, the houses for Xiao Chen, Wan Haonan, and other villagers meant that no workers were available.

It would take another two months to complete the grocery store, but the Seal Office couldn’t wait that long. Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment, “Go ahead with your work; I’ll figure out another way.”

An Shanwu nodded apologetically and went to expedite the work.

As Chu Qingzhi walked towards the medicine shop, pondering her options, she spotted a bamboo hut by the road used for storing firewood. It gave her an idea. She went home to fetch a machete and headed to the bamboo grove, planning to use bamboo to construct several huts for the Seal Office.

The bamboo huts, once completed, would be just as good as brick houses.

In the bamboo grove, Chu Qingzhi chose the thickest and straightest bamboos to cut, then stripped them of branches and piled them aside.

Chu Qingning noticed her cutting bamboo and quickly came over, “Fifth sister, what are you doing with the bamboo?”

Chu Qingzhi, with a swift chop, severed a bamboo stalk, “I’m building bamboo huts for Seal Office affairs. There aren’t enough workers for building houses right now, so I’m planning to erect some bamboo huts as a temporary solution until we can build proper brick houses later.”

Chu Qingning offered, “Then I’ll go home and get a knife to help you cut.”

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Aren’t you tending to patients at the medicine shop?”

Chu Qingning replied, “The patients have been seen to.”

“Alright then,” said Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingning hurried home, fetched a machete, and went to another area to choose and cut good bamboo.

Several villagers, seeing the sisters cutting bamboo, ran over to help.

With so many people assisting, Chu Qingzhi stopped cutting and went back to fetch the blueprints and Chu Rong’s measuring tools. She used lime to map out the Seal Office’s floor plan.

The load-bearing parts of the bamboo huts needed wood, so trees had to be cut down.

Cutting trees was easy for Chu Qingzhi, who covertly used her spiritual power. She could fell a tree as thick as a thigh in two strikes and carry it back easily.

The village men, witnessing Chu Qingzhi effortlessly carrying large logs, couldn’t help but stop and watch, admiring her strength and vowing never to underestimate women again.

At this time, Li Zhangjie arrived in the village with his parents and siblings. Proudly, Li Zhangjie said, “Dad, Mom, this is the village I live in. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Li’s father looked around and couldn’t help but sigh, “This village is so much more beautiful and prosperous than ours, many times over.”

Li’s mother felt constrained, “Zhangjie, you had the foresight. We would never have thought to come to your sister Qingzhi.”

Li Zhangjie scratched his head, “Initially, I just wanted to repay kindness.”

Li’s father advised, “No matter what, you must act with a conscience and avoid wrongdoing, understand?”

Li Zhangjie assured, “Don’t worry, Dad, I won’t.”

“Let me show you around the village, Dad, Mom. We’ll be living here from now on, so get familiar with the surroundings.”

Li’s father nodded happily, “Good, I like this place.”

The Li family of five wandered through the village. Li Zhangjie introduced them to the villagers, eventually reaching the site where Chu Qingzhi was building the Seal Office.

Remembering Chu Qingzhi’s appearance, Li’s parents, with a child in tow each, approached her and knelt down, “Thank you, Miss, for taking in Zhangjie. We will never forget your great kindness…”

Chu Qingzhi noticed them approaching and thought they needed something from her, but they knelt down instead.

She helped them up, “You’re Zhangjie’s family?”

Li Zhangjie didn’t expect his parents to kneel to Chu Qingzhi and hurried over, “Sister Qingzhi, these are my parents, and my younger sister and brother.”

As they were at a construction site, Chu Qingzhi led them to a safer area, “When did you arrive?”

Li’s father eagerly replied, “Yesterday afternoon. Zhangjie met us at the station gate. We even saw the Head Manager; he’s very distinguished.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “My brother would be happy to hear you say that.”

She then told Li Zhangjie, “Take your parents to see the rest of the village. I need to oversee the bamboo hut construction here.”

Li Zhangjie was about to agree when his father interrupted, “Miss Chu, I also work in construction. If you don’t mind, I’d like to help build.”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “Of course, I don’t mind, but you must be tired from your journey. You should rest more.”

“No need, we villagers are used to working. It feels odd to stop,” said Li’s father, rolling up his sleeves to work, unstoppable.

Li’s mother also insisted on working, “Don’t worry about us, Miss. My husband and I love to work. Let us help.”

Joining the workforce, she too started to help.

Chu Qingzhi, feeling helpless, suggested, “Zhangjie, why don’t you take your sister and brother to play?”

Li Ziyun stepped forward, eagerly looking at Chu Qingzhi, “Sister Qingzhi, I can work too. Please assign me some tasks.”

Li Zhangan, very sensibly, added, “Me too.”

Chu Qingzhi, facing these two eager kids, felt helpless, “You don’t need to do anything. Just sit on a stone and rest.”

Li Ziyun insisted, “Sister Qingzhi, I’m very capable. Let me work.”

Seeing their determination, Chu Qingzhi led them to the courtyard outside the medicine shop, telling Sun Xiaolan, “Xiaolan, these two will assist you. Show them what to do.”

Sun Xiaolan, excited to speak with Chu Qingzhi, replied eagerly, “Yes, Sister Qingzhi.”

Chu Qingzhi then instructed the children, “She’s Sun Xiaolan. You’ll be helping her with the work.”

LiZiyun, delighted, responded, “Yes, Sister Qingzhi.”

After giving instructions, Chu Qingzhi left to expedite the construction of the bamboo house.

Li Zhangjie eventually joined in the work as well.

What was supposed to be a leisurely visit to the village turned into an all- hands-on-deck effort.

In Sun Village.

Inside the main house, Sun Shisheng anxiously spoke, “Dad, if we don’t sell the pigs soon, we’ll waste all the grain at home.”