The guarding soldier’s gaze constantly swept between the various instruments and Lu Shaotang’s body, checking each one’s condition: “Normal… normal…” until he was met by a pair of sharp, dark eyes!

Guard: “!!!”

He quickly and silently woke up Chen Yanming, who was resting nearby, and signaled him to look at the person on the bed.

Although Lu Shaotang’s body couldn’t move, his eyes had regained their freedom, and they met Chen Yanming’s directly.

Chen Yanming’s face was full of excitement and thrill, and he teasingly whispered, “Hey, you’ve got a hard life, don’t you?”

Lu Shaotang exchanged a look of mutual understanding.

Chen Yanming wanted to call the attending physician for a check-up but was stopped by Lu Shaotang’s gaze.

Chen Yanming: “Lu, are you sure… you’re alright?”

It was terrifying to find him bleeding so badly, and he was unconscious. In just a few days… he was out of danger?

Lu Shaotang’s gaze was firm, showing no sign of weakness, as if the pain in his body couldn’t reach his brain.

Chen Yanming tentatively pressed on his abdominal wound, where there was a knife wound.

Lu Shaotang’s brows furrowed instantly, and he glared at him, “Damn it!”

Chen Yanming pressed his fist to his lips, coughed lightly, and whispered, “Brother Lu, let me explain the current situation, and we can discuss the next steps.”

The nearby guard quietly reminded, “Instructor, Lu is still injured.”

Chen Yanming: “It’s fine, he’s as tough as a mule. As long as he’s awake, there’s no problem. He’s the kind of person who completed the mission even after eating poisonous mushrooms.”

Lu Shaotang: “… Get lost.”

In the end, amid Chen Yanming’s quiet mumbling and Lu Shaotang’s single-word retorts, they decided on a plan to use Lu Shaotang as bait to lure out the enemy agents hiding in the hospital.

…

Meanwhile, Lin Shu was at home, plotting against Zhao Meifeng.

Lin Shu had a mental ledger of all the items Zhao Meifeng had taken from the original owner, and she intended to reclaim every single one of them.

Although Lin Shu had changed and was no longer as timid, Zhao Meifeng thought she was just trying to become stronger and fight for family assets due to the loss of her husband.

She didn’t realize that Lin Shu had become determined and was planning her revenge.

Zhao Meifeng, feeling quite pleased with herself, thought she had Lin Shu under her control and that Lin Shu would obey her every command.

She happily went home and brought over cotton batting for making new cotton jackets and shoes, as well as fabric, lining, and a large piece of old cloth for making shoe soles and insoles.

She handed everything over to Lin Shu.

“Sister Lin, I…”

“Let me tell you, no matter how things were in the past, now that you’re without a husband, and your in-laws are getting old and will need to rely on their sons for support, they will definitely favor the eldest and second families.

You need to make plans for yourself and your children in advance,” Zhao Meifeng said, putting on a sisterly demeanor.

Lin Shu lowered her head slightly and remained silent, letting Zhao Meifeng continue her act.

When the other party is completely off guard, you don’t even need to fish for information; they will reveal everything themselves.

Sure enough, Zhao Meifeng continued, “Your two sisters-in-law, the eldest is fake in her apparent simplicity and cunningly scheming, while the second is pretending to be kind but is actually malicious.

They’re definitely eyeing your husband’s compensation money.

Once they have it sorted out, they won’t be inclined to support you and the children.

Just wait and see, they’ll probably start planning to divide the family.”

Lin Shu kept her head down, her shoulders occasionally twitching to show her reaction.

Zhao Meifeng added, “Don’t be fooled by the size of this courtyard; it might not be enough for you.

But don’t worry, your sister-in-law won’t abandon you.

Before you remarry, I’ll protect you. As long as I’m here, you’ll have a place to stay. After all, we do have a big courtyard, don’t we?”

She stared at Lin Shu’s neatly arranged hair, waiting for Lin Shu to ask where she could find a suitable second husband.

That would give her a chance to boast about her connections.

Zhao Meifeng and her husband had grand plans: they would profit from Lu Shaotang’s funeral, claim his compensation, get a dowry from Lin Shu’s remarriage, and the new husband would help them find jobs.

Lin Shu smiled slightly and sighed, “Sister-in-law, I don’t have a single penny, and my clothes are all ragged. Where am I supposed to…”

---

Zhao Meifeng, listening with sympathy, advised, “Don’t rush. Whenever you can, ask your mother-in-law for the compensation money. If she doesn’t give it to you, cry about it.

Why should she keep it for her other sons? It’s your husband’s life money! It rightfully belongs to you and the children!”

Lin Shu thought: The original owner was already indecisive, and with Zhao Meifeng’s instigation, how could she not act?

The original owner had been sulking because of Zhao Meifeng’s influence, believing that her mother-in-law intended to give the compensation to other children instead of herself.

She wanted it but felt too embarrassed to ask.

Lin Shu quietly said, “Sister-in-law, since you’re so capable, why don’t you talk to my mother-in-law about it?”

Prodding and instigating—anyone can do that.

You dare to bring up money with Fang Dihua, go ahead!

Zhao Meifeng, however, backed down.

She said, “Let’s not rush. First, let’s handle the funeral arrangements for the third brother. I’ll tell you, your big brother and I are truly worried about you.

Your big brother will handle the funeral, and I’ll help with cooking and hosting.

We’ll be able to give you a share of the money collected from the guests. If your in-laws handle it themselves, they might not leave you a single cent.”

Lin Shu thought, “Just wait, I’ll make sure you get a chance to be taught a lesson.”

She immediately began to prepare…

Lin Shu touched her forehead, groaning, “Sister-in-law, I’ve been feeling dizzy every day. Do you think there’s something wrong with me?”

Zhao Meifeng grew anxious, “Your mother-in-law just took herself to the hospital; can’t she take you too?”

Lin Shu squeezed out a tear, “I… I don’t have money. Sister-in-law, I know you’re a good person, truly kind. Could you give me five yuan?”

Lu Shaocai didn’t need to work in the fields.

He got full work points each day and the brigade provided him with a three to five yuan subsidy each month.

The couple also frequently wrote letters crying poverty to the capital, and now and then they’d receive ten or twenty yuan in return.

They had money!

Yet they still schemed against Lu Shaotang!

Zhao Meifeng, thinking about the money she could soon extract from Lu Shaotang and Lin Shu, didn’t want to part with even a small sum but reluctantly took out a yuan and handed it to Lin Shu, “Good sister, go to the hospital quickly. Don’t let it become a serious issue.”

Lin Shu looked at her pocket and refused to take it, thinking that a single yuan was insufficient for her troubles.

Zhao Meifeng gritted her teeth and added another yuan, “Sister-in-law isn’t wealthy either. Just return it slowly.”

Lin Shu thought two yuan was decent enough for her role in this charade, and she played along, “Sister-in-law, you’re such a good person. I can’t accept this, I can’t repay you.”

Want me to repay? Not a chance!

Zhao Meifeng’s heart twisted, but she forced a smile, “Oh, why are we being so formal? I’ve always thought of you as my own sister. When you find a good man in the future, don’t forget your sister-in-law.”

Lin Shu smiled faintly, thinking: How could I forget?

I remember everything you did to bully the original owner.

She felt touched by the fabric Zhao Meifeng had given her; she now had winter clothes and shoes. Not bad.

Her eyes reddened as she continued to cry, looking particularly pitiful.

Zhao Meifeng, now genuinely worried, said, “Oh dear, what’s wrong now?”

Lin Shu sobbed, speaking in a trembling voice, “Sister-in-law, you’re the only one who’s been kind to me. You don’t know, when I went to the county today, I didn’t even have a decent outfit. People laughed at me… sniff… I don’t want to go out anymore…”

Zhao Meifeng: “…”

How could you not go out? How will you find a powerful and wealthy man then?

“Your mother-in-law has so much money. She could buy a few yards of fabric from the black market for you.”

Lin Shu appeared hesitant, “Well… maybe… forget it.”

—— You’re not dying fast enough!

Zhao Meifeng, now genuinely anxious, said, “Sister, don’t be like that. You’re young and beautiful. Honestly, I haven’t seen anyone as pretty as you even in the capital. Finding a wealthy, powerful official should be easy!”

Lin Shu silently picked at the frayed edges of her clothing.

Zhao Meifeng gritted her teeth and decided to lend the fabric. “Alright, I’ll lend you eight feet of cloth. Make yourself a jacket…”

Lin Shu didn’t speak but showed Zhao Meifeng her trousers.

Zhao Meifeng thought to herself, “I’m going all in!” She said through clenched teeth, “Sister, I’ll lend you fifteen feet. Make a whole outfit. When you have something good, you can repay me double.”

She was eager to arrange a good match for Lin Shu immediately.