“Feilan(Er Ya), are you tired? If you are, Mother will carry you back.”

“Mother, Feilan isn’t tired! Besides, if you carry me back, you’ll be even more tired.” Zhang Feilan responded obediently.

Usually, they would take the ox cart along the main road, but since they were walking this time, they naturally took a smaller path.

“Xiuxiu, Xiuxiu, there’s something here!”

They were only halfway through the journey when Jian Xiu’s mind suddenly started ringing with a familiar “dong dong dong” sound.

She knew this sound all too well.

Every time she heard it, it meant something good was about to happen.

So, Jian Xiu actually liked hearing it.

“Where is it?” she asked.

“At your three o’clock direction! It should be something valuable!”

“How do you know?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but ever since you used points, I seem to have gained a sense for these things.”

“Then tell me, is it something alive or not?” Jian Xiu asked curiously.

“Listen to yourself! What do you mean alive or not? Even if it’s alive, it’s not like it can eat you!”

“Maybe it won’t eat me, but it could still take my life, you know!”

“How could it? Relax, even if you got swallowed whole by a python, I, Keke, would still have a way to get you out!”

“Whoa, is that true?” Jian Xiu asked excitedly.

No wonder she was so excited—if Keke’s words were true, didn’t that mean she could achieve immortality…

Seeing Jian Xiu’s reaction, Keke immediately interrupted her train of thought:

“Don’t overthink it! What I mean is, if you’re in danger, I can use the magical medicine from the supermarket to save you. That doesn’t mean you can live forever.”

“Hehe, I was just joking.”

As she spoke, Jian Xiu was already walking toward her three o’clock direction.

Following Keke’s guidance, she reached a small dirt slope covered in dense weeds.

The vegetation here was thriving.

“Mother, where are you going?” Zhang Feixuan asked curiously as he watched Jian Xiu.

“You two wait here for me. I’ll check something real quick and be right back.”

“Do you need our help?”

“No, no, you just wait there!” Jian Xiu quickly responded.

What a joke! If they followed her, how was she supposed to collect the item discreetly?

“You’re almost there,” Keke reminded her again.

“Don’t tell me it’s that spot?” Jian Xiu pointed ahead.

Although it was just a small slope, right beside it was a little ditch—almost like a cliff.

And the spot she pointed to was right at the edge of that cliff.

She didn’t need to ask why she thought it was there—because it was the most overgrown and dangerous spot, and, of course, it was exactly at her three o’clock direction.

Sure enough, just as she had this thought, Keke confirmed it.

“Yes, that’s the place.”

“I feel like there must be venomous snakes there. Can you scan the area first so I can prepare myself mentally?”

“Didn’t I just say? Even if you were swallowed, I could still save you. What are you afraid of?”

Jian Xiu: “…”

How could she not be afraid?

And was it really too much to ask for a little mental preparation?

Seeing that Keke wasn’t in the mood to humor her, Jian Xiu took a deep breath and stepped toward the small ravine.

It was spring—the season when snakes emerged from hibernation.

Now, she regretted not bringing some realgar powder with her before heading out.

If she had, she wouldn’t have to worry about this at all.

She wasn’t afraid of much, but snakes were her worst nightmare.

Bracing herself, Jian Xiu pushed aside the thick grass.

To her relief, there were no venomous snakes in sight.

“Keke, which plant is it?” she asked, scanning the area.

“The one right next to your finger.”

Following Keke’s direction, Jian Xiu spotted the medicinal plant and was instantly shocked.

“This… this is dendrobium?”

“Yep!”

“This is a real treasure!” Jian Xiu exclaimed again.

“Just dig it up already! Why are you talking so much?” Keke huffed.

Jian Xiu: “…”

Wasn’t she allowed to express her excitement?

Still, she didn’t waste time. She pulled out the dagger she always carried and carefully started digging.

She hadn’t brought a hoe since she didn’t expect to stay out this long.

Thankfully, she always carried her dagger.

“Keke, you won’t believe this—even in the apocalypse, this would be an incredibly rare medicinal herb.”

“As long as you know its value. Do you think I’d send you to dig up something worthless?”

Jian Xiu: “…”

After collecting the dendrobium, Jian Xiu began looking around.

She knew that dendrobium usually grew in rock crevices.

If it could thrive in the grass here, then chances were, there were more growing on the little cliff.

If she could find more and take some home to cultivate, it would be another source of income.

With that thought, she stepped closer to the cliff and started scanning carefully.

Her effort paid off—she actually found a few more plants.

..

After hearing that Jian Xiu and her group had already left, Old Madam Liu gathered the eldest and second branches of the family and headed toward the village outskirts.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to bring the third branch, but she knew they would side with Zhang Zixuan.

“Mother, do you think he’ll fight back?”

On the way, Zhang Zihua couldn’t help but ask.

He knew Zhang Zixuan well—his younger brother had real skills.

If they weren’t careful, getting injured would be a minor issue, but spending money on medical treatment would be a disaster.

Ever since last time, their mother had been so stingy that she even hesitated to spend a single copper coin.

In the past, they could still eat until they were full every few days.

But now? They had gone so long without a decent meal that he had almost forgotten what food tasted like.

And the ones responsible for their suffering were none other than Zhang Zixuan and Jian Xiu.

If not for them, their second branch wouldn’t be struggling like this—barely scraping by with no hope in sight.

Hearing her son’s concerns, Old Madam Liu sneered.

“He wouldn’t dare! That wretched Jian Xiu isn’t around. Even if he had the guts of a lion, he wouldn’t dare to lay a finger on us!”

Zhang Zirong, the eldest son, nodded thoughtfully.

“Mother, let’s not be too hasty. The fourth brother has changed—he’s not as obedient as he used to be. We should be cautious.”

“Don’t worry. Without that wench around, do you really think I can’t handle one useless brat?”

Old Madam Liu’s eyes gleamed with a sinister light as she looked ahead.