By the end of the tenth month, the vegetable gardens had gradually been harvested, bringing the purchasing work to a halt.
However, the vegetables they had collected were more than enough. Any more would have been too much to handle, as they were extremely short on manpower.
Including Ji Huan, the dozen or so people had been working nonstop day and night for days. They had only just managed to finish processing the vegetables in the front courtyard, but the back courtyard was still piled high.
Ji Huan hired Aunt Wang, Sixth Sister-in-law Feng, and a few others to come help. These were all women who had spoken up for her during the family separation and generally had good reputations in the village.
Some others, thinking there were benefits to be had, came to her door on their own to offer help. Ji Huan asked Widow Xie about them and politely turned down anyone with a poor character or a reputation for being a sloppy worker.
