Chapter 20

After Huo Jinchen left, Lan Yun’er carried a backpack, preparing to go into the mountains to explore. As a ginseng spirit, she loved the deep forest areas because they were rich in natural spiritual energy. In such places, her cultivation would be twice as effective. She also hoped to find some treasures, like wild game or medicinal herbs. In many historical and farming novels, the female protagonists often got rich by selling wild game and herbs they gathered in the mountains. Lan Yun’er thought she could follow this method too.

Just as she was walking towards the courtyard gate, she ran into Huo Junda and Cao Yunxia coming back from the village. Huo Junda’s face looked terrible, like a storm was about to break, and Cao Yunxia was sobbing, constantly saying, “I’m not sick!”

Lan Yun’er secretly curled her lips. Today, Cao Yunxia and Huo Junda must have embarrassed themselves terribly, and they would probably stay low for a while. Ignoring the two of them, Lan Yun’er walked around them and continued on her way.

Cao Yunxia, feeling wronged and angry since Huo Junda had ignored her all the way back, entered the yard and found that Zhong Cuitao had not yet gone to wash clothes. Her face immediately darkened, and she snapped at Zhong Cuitao, “What time is it, and you’re still not washing the clothes? Do you want me to wash them myself?”

Zhong Cuitao had already placed the dirty clothes into her basket and had planned to go wash them by the river. However, when her husband, Huo Junli, needed to use the toilet, she had to delay. After taking care of him, she had planned to go wash the clothes, but now Cao Yunxia had returned.

Hearing Cao Yunxia’s scolding, Zhong Cuitao lowered her head and weakly said, “I’ll go wash them right away.”

“Go wash them properly!” Cao Yunxia shouted angrily, glaring at Zhong Cuitao.

Lan Yun’er paused for a moment and raised her brow. She thought to herself that, after today’s incident, Cao Yunxia should have calmed down a bit. But no, she was still as arrogant as ever. It seemed Cao Yunxia was beyond saving—her nature was already rotten, and she would likely remain this way until the day she died.

Just as Lan Yun’er was about to speak to Cao Yunxia, Yao Guizhi’s voice rang out from the main house. Yao Guizhi stepped out and glared at Cao Yunxia, saying, “Are your hands broken? Do you need Cuitao to wash your clothes? Wash them yourself, don’t keep relying on others!”

Usually, Yao Guizhi would turn a blind eye because she didn’t like her second daughter-in-law and thought she was a calamity for her second son. But after the recent events, she grew even more disapproving of her eldest daughter-in-law. So, when she heard Cao Yunxia bossing Zhong Cuitao around, she couldn’t help but rebuke her.

Cao Yunxia was stunned. She hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to ask her to wash the clothes herself. In the past, it was always Zhong Cuitao who washed them, and her mother-in-law didn’t say anything. Why was she so harsh today?

Staring at Yao Guizhi, Cao Yunxia said, “Mom, I have to take care of the child. I need to take care of Tianhe, he…”

“Then what, Cuitao doesn’t need to take care of the child?” Yao Guizhi interrupted. “Miao Miao is the same age as Tianhe. If you’re taking care of Tianhe, should she not take care of Miao Miao?”

Cao Yunxia had no response and had to close her mouth.

Lan Yun’er looked at Yao Guizhi with a hint of approval. Finally, her mother-in-law was standing up for the second daughter-in-law. But Zhong Cuitao, being so meek, still needed to find her own backbone. Otherwise, she’d always be bullied by Cao Yunxia.

Sighing, Lan Yun’er shook her head and quickly left the yard. She walked towards the foot of the Wolf Tooth Mountain. She had wanted to enter the mountain yesterday but hadn’t been able to, so today, she was determined to go in.

As she walked, she smiled and looked at the mountain path ahead, then started climbing. Not far away, Zhou Mingyue was carrying a basket and also planning to go into the mountain. But upon seeing Lan Yun’er’s figure, she paused and a cold, sinister expression appeared on her face.

She had been thinking about how to create an opportunity for her cousin and Lan Yun’er, but now, Lan Yun’er had practically brought the opportunity to her doorstep. This was too good to pass up, and she couldn’t let such a chance slip away. Smiling coldly, Zhou Mingyue watched Lan Yun’er’s retreating figure for a few moments, then turned and headed back to find her cousin.

Returning home, Zhou Mingyue entered the room where Wang Zhiqiang was reading a yellow novel. Frowning, she cursed him silently in her heart for being so aimless. This waste would never amount to anything! But she kept a smile on her face and said, “Cousin, go to Wolf Tooth Mountain. The opportunity for you and Lan Yun’er has come.”

Wang Zhiqiang immediately closed his book and looked at her excitedly. “What? You mean… Lan Yun’er went to Wolf Tooth Mountain?”

Zhou Mingyue nodded, “Yes, I just saw her. She’s gone into the mountain.”

Wang Zhiqiang’s face lit up with excitement. He threw the book on the table, stood up, and rushed outside. “Then I’m going to the mountain now. By the way, Mingyue, is Lan Yun’er alone?”

Zhou Mingyue shook her head, “Yes, she’s alone. If she had anyone with her, I wouldn’t have come back to tell you.”

Wang Zhiqiang’s excitement grew even more. “That’s good. I’ll definitely get her.”

Zhou Mingyue smiled; her face full of anticipation. “Cousin, you must succeed. Such an opportunity is rare, and you can’t miss it!”

Wang Zhiqiang grinned and rushed out of the house, humming a song in his excitement.

Meanwhile, Lan Yun’er was walking and picking mushrooms. There weren’t many in the winter, but with the help of some birds, she managed to gather quite a bit. Within an hour, she had gathered half a basket. Her face showed delight. If she could find some wild game as well, a wild game and mushroom soup would be a great meal.

“Auntie, there’s a man wearing glasses following you,” one of the birds chirped.

Lan Yun’er grinned and looked back. Seeing Wang Zhiqiang’s familiar face, she sneered and said, “Let him follow. I know what he’s up to. Today, he’ll be disappointed.”

When Wang Zhiqiang saw her ahead, he smiled and shouted, “Xiaoyun, Xiaoyun!”

Lan Yun’er ignored him, walking faster. Wang Zhiqiang became angry and raised his voice. “Xiaoyun, I’m calling you, why aren’t you responding?”

Lan Yun’er sneered inwardly. Why should she be polite to someone who had ill intentions?

Ignoring him, she quickened her pace, and Wang Zhiqiang, realizing she was getting further ahead, began to chase her. He was confident that, being a man, he would catch up easily. However, after chasing for more than ten minutes, he couldn’t close the distance at all.

After an hour or so, Lan Yun’er finally stopped. She set down her basket and began digging into the soil. Wang Zhiqiang, exhausted, leaned against a tree, panting heavily. Looking at Lan Yun’er, he was shocked—how could she still be so calm after walking so much, while he was nearly dead from exhaustion?

Then he saw Lan Yun’er scoop up some dirt and smell it deeply.

“Ah, it’s so fragrant. This is the smell I like,” she said.

Seeing her behavior, Wang Zhiqiang froze in shock. Was she… eating dirt?

Lan Yun’er didn’t seem to care. After savoring the soil’s scent, she popped a bit into her mouth. “Mmm, this is it,” she said happily.

Wang Zhiqiang stared at her, speechless. The woman was definitely crazy.

Lan Yun’er, feeling the abundant spiritual energy in the soil, smiled brightly. She knew this was the best place to cultivate. She placed the soil back in the ground and looked back at Wang Zhiqiang with a mischievous smile. “Zhiqiang, what are you standing there for? Come over here.”