Lu Xiao’s words were severe, and Hu Lili was no three-year-old child—she understood exactly what he meant.

Burning medicinal herbs couldn’t compare to the crime of attempted murder.

If it were discovered that she had harbored murderous intentions, she’d be facing a firing squad.

Hu Lili’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground. “No, no, I didn’t!”

All she had wanted was to destroy Su Tang’s herbs, to stop her from winning people over.

How could she ever dare to commit murder?

“Hu Lili, come with us.”

The inspectors stepped forward and pulled her up. Hu Lili was so terrified she couldn’t utter another word, letting herself be dragged away in a daze.

The whispers and pointing from the crowd left her with no strength left to explain.

After Hu Lili was taken away, Su Tang reassured everyone that she would find replacement herbs as soon as possible.

Before, when they hadn’t used those herbs, no one had complained. But now that they’d experienced their benefits, suddenly losing them was unacceptable.

Fortunately, Su Tang’s words carried weight now. After a few grumbles, the crowd dispersed.

Su Tang sat in the yard, staring at the pile of ashes that had once been her precious herbs, and sighed helplessly.

“Lu Xiao, this is all because of your romantic entanglements.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Lu Xiao clamped a hand over it.

“If anyone hears you say that, it could cause trouble.”

Su Tang tilted her head up, blinking her innocent, wide eyes. In their clear depths, only Lu Xiao’s face was reflected as he leaned over her. He saw a tiny version of himself mirrored in her gaze.

“You know Hu Lili’s background. She’ll probably get off lightly—you should prepare yourself for that.”

Lu Xiao’s words were tactful, but Su Tang understood his meaning.

Given the current circumstances, this was only a case of property damage. Su Tang’s personal safety hadn’t been threatened.

So Lu Xiao believed Hu Lili would most likely just have to pay compensation and make a self-criticism at a public meeting.

The chances of her going to prison were slim.

Su Tang nodded in understanding. Noticing Lu Xiao’s expression, she leaned closer and teased, “Do you really think I’m that petty?”

Lu Xiao had always believed his stern face was intimidating.

Somehow, when it came to Su Tang, it had no effect at all.

He’d thought capitalist young ladies were all delicate and fragile, unable to handle hardship.

But Su Tang was nothing like what he’d imagined.

Bright, bold, with occasional flashes of temper that somehow never annoyed him.

“No, you’ve misunderstood.”

Lu Xiao’s face flushed, and he quickly straightened up, stepping aside.

Su Tang laughed even harder at his reaction.

Teasing a straightforward man was just too easy.

Hu Jianjun came looking for Su Tang on the evening of the third day after Hu Lili was taken away.

At the time, Su Tang was in the yard sorting freshly gathered dandelions and plantain leaves—common wild plants in the northwestern mountains that she now treated as treasures.

Auntie Wang had mentioned that the shady slopes of the back hills were covered with creeping sage, which had fever-reducing and detoxifying effects no worse than mint.

Su Tang planned to go at dawn the next day to try her luck.

As for the irreplaceable traditional herbs, Su Tang had asked Lu Xiao to help her contact someone who could purchase them from the provincial capital.

Lu Xiao said she was practically giving these things away for free and was worried she’d lose money.

But Su Tang pointed to the items in their home, explaining that she had exchanged her herbal packets for many useful things—some of which weren’t even available at the service station.

More importantly, Su Tang had managed to build decent relationships with the locals.

Though some still didn’t fully warm up to her, at least they no longer outright rejected her.

For Su Tang, that was already a victory.

As long as their attitudes softened, her life in the residential compound would become much more comfortable.

“Comrade Su! Comrade Su!”

Hu Jianjun’s voice carried from outside the courtyard gate, deliberately urgent.

When he pushed the door open, he was holding a grease-stained enamel mug—clearly straight from the canteen.

Su Tang straightened up, her gaze sweeping over Hu Jianjun’s stiff smile.

He stood hunched over, looking like a frostbitten eggplant.

“Ah, Comrade Hu. What brings you here?”

She wiped the plant stains from her hands and studied him.

No one visited without a reason, and given his sudden appearance, there was only one explanation—he was here for Hu Lili.

Hu Jianjun cleared his throat and set the mug down on the stone table.

“Comrade Su, about my sister… please, be merciful—”

Before she could react, he suddenly dropped to his knees.

“She’s young and foolish! Just think of it like being bitten by a mad dog—don’t hold it against her!”

Su Tang took half a step back, avoiding his outstretched hands.

“Hu Jianjun, what are you doing? Speak properly.”

“Comrade Su, I’ll kowtow to you! Please, I beg you, show her mercy!”

He slammed his forehead against the ground, blood soon beading on his skin.

“If she goes to prison, how can I face my parents? Before they died, all they wanted was for her to marry well…”

As the neighbors gathered to watch, their expressions turned scornful again—directed at Su Tang.

So much for the young mistress behaving herself.

Someone burned her things, and now she’s forcing the brother to kneel and beg for forgiveness?

How heartless.

“Hu Jianjun, I wasn’t the one who took Hu Lili away. You’re pleading to the wrong person.”

“She destroyed my belongings out of jealousy.”

Su Tang’s tone wasn’t condescending, but prejudice was a mountain in people’s hearts.

Even though she was the victim, they’d still blame her.

“The value of those herbs can be verified by Doctor Zhang. What she burned wasn’t just plants—it was my hard work.”

If he wanted to play the victim, fine. Medical students knew how to put on a performance too.

Su Tang covered her face with her hands, shoulders trembling as if holding back tears.

“I came to the northwest just to live peacefully with Lu Xiao. I never provoked Hu Lili.”

“She’s been the one bullying me all along.”

She didn’t wail loudly—just muffled sobs behind her hands, her distress palpable.

Zhang Cui couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped forward, pulling Su Tang into a comforting grip.

“The masses have sharp eyes. If anyone here can’t tell right from wrong, they might as well donate their eyes to someone who needs them.”

The crowd flinched at her words.

Auntie Wang strode forward, scanning the onlookers before speaking.

“Xiao Su is a good girl. Those herbs she shared? You couldn’t buy them anywhere else.”

“She never cared about profit, trading them for everyday things. Haven’t you all benefited from her kindness?”

Then she turned to Hu Jianjun, still kneeling, her gaze icy.

“Being weak doesn’t make you right.”

No one was fooled. Hu Jianjun was banking on the fact that opinions of Su Tang were still divided, hoping public pressure would sway her.

He thought city folks were thin-skinned—maybe she’d relent and ease Hu Lili’s punishment.

“Sister Zhang, Auntie Wang, thank you for speaking up for me.”

“Since that’s the case, I won’t interfere in the decision. I trust the inspectors will deliver a fair resolution.”