Ning Shu glanced at Fang Yong who nodded almost imperceptibly, agreeing to sell for 200 taels.

  Ning Shu approved as well, 200 taels was also a huge amount of money. As far as the Chen family was concerned, they would never be able to earn this much money in their whole lives.

  Ning Shu asked for silver taels instead of banknotes. Before long, the country would descend into chaos and banknotes would become mere scrap paper.

  Ning Shu took the heavy silver and left the medicine store. Fearing that someone would follow her, Ning Shu entered a clothing shop to buy new clothes, washed the makeup off her face, and even changed her hairstyle before leaving the store.

  Ning Shu felt like a criminal. The money was obviously hers but she was acting like a thief.

  When you lived at the bottom rung of society, the world you lived in was chaotic and people held malicious intentions. Even people who had just a little bit of power could trample on commoners like them. It would be too easy to accidentally anger those people and bring a life-threatening disaster on themselves.

  Ning Shu would rather take cautious measures than risk the chance of that happening.

  She secretly gave Fang Yong 80 taels then parted ways with him.

  After returning home, Ning Shu let out a sigh in relief. She kept a few silver taels for herself and gave the rest to Father Chen.

  “Father, we have money now. Let’s buy some food,” Ning Shu said to Father Chen. “I heard in town that some places have already become chaotic. I heard that all crops have withered and that even the ground has cracked because of the drought.”


  “This is a year of severe drought. I’m afraid it won’t rain so easily and food will become very expensive if a rebellion breaks out,” Ning Shu said.

  “Okay, then go buy some grain.” With money in hand, many things can be resolved easily. Father Chen agreed to buy food.

  “We shouldn’t buy too much at a time. Let’s buy it a little bit at a time,” Ning Shu said.

  Father Chen took a long draw on his pipe, nodded, then said, “I know. We shouldn’t expose our wealth.”


  Father Chen then said to Chen Li, “You too. Don’t go blabbing about this anywhere.”


  Chen Li shook his head quickly. “Father, I would never. I won’t say anything.”


  Because she had dug out the ginseng then went to town to sell it, Ning Shu was exhausted beyond belief. She told Lady Li, “Mother, I’m going to take a nap.”


  “Go, have a good rest,” Lady Li said.

  Ning Shu collapsed on the bed to rest. She had only just dozed off when she was shaken awake by someone. She opened her eyes and saw Lady Li. Ning Shu sat up and asked, “Mother, what’s wrong?”


  Lady Li’s complexion looked bad. She said, “Fang Yong and Bai Yiqiao are here.”


  Ning Shu raised an eyebrow. “What are they here for?”


  Ning Shu had a guess. There was no doubt that it was about the money they made from selling the ginseng.

  Ning Shu put on her shoes and went to the central room where she saw Fang Yong and Bai Yiqiao.

  Bai Yiqiao’s complexion was fair and rosy and she wore a neat skirt. Her whole figure radiated beauty and grace, which made the tanned and rough-looking Chen family seem even more uncouth and miserable by comparison.

  To be honest, Bai Yiqiao and Fang Yong were a very good match. Fang Yong was heroic and powerful, while Bai Yiqiao was charming and lovely. The two of them didn’t look like people who made a living off of working the land.

  To put it simply, the temperaments of the male and female lead were extraordinary. One could tell they weren’t ignorant peasants at a glance.

  Ning Shu crossed the threshold, entering the room, and asked Fang Yong, “What’s the matter? Did I give you the wrong amount of money?”


  Bai Yiqiao said, “The money distribution for this ginseng is unreasonable. It should be a fifty-fifty split.”


  Ning Shu smiled. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be able to get even one copper right now. Don’t be greedy.”


  “At the time, I had already found the ginseng, but Fang Yong stepped on it,” Ning Shu said. “Don’t make a fuss. If you keep this up, everyone will know what happened and none of us will benefit from that.”


  “If you still want to cause trouble, then I’ll have no choice but to make everyone’s lives difficult,” Ning Shu said coldly.

  Bai Yiqiao looked dissatisfied. Every time she saw Chen Ermei she felt an indescribable loathing and dread. She was afraid that fate would push Fang Yong and Chen Ermei together to be husband and wife like they were in her previous life.