When Shen Qingge found Feng Shi, she was hiding behind a cart, craning her neck and sneakily peeking toward the shelter.
Earlier, she and Ying Huan had agreed that once it succeeded, Ying Huan would shout, and Feng Shi would rush in.
As long as she saw it with her own eyes, Liu Ji’an wouldn’t be able to deny it.
But after waiting so long, why was there still no movement inside?
Feng Shi wanted to move closer to listen.
At that moment, a hand tapped her shoulder. “What are you looking at?”
“None of your—” she replied instinctively, but quickly realized the voice sounded familiar.
When she turned around, she saw Shen Qingge staring straight at her.
Although Shen Qingge had a smile on her face, Feng Shi felt a chill run down her spine.
“Fifth Sister-in-law… why are you here? You startled me.”
“I’m looking for that brat Fourth Girl. Go ahead with your business—don’t mind me.”
As she spoke, Feng Shi tried to slip away.
Unfortunately, Shen Qingge didn’t give her the chance. She covered Feng Shi’s mouth and dragged her by the back of the collar to a secluded spot.
“Mmmph—!”
Feng Shi twisted her body desperately, trying to break free, but Shen Qingge’s strength was overwhelming.
Once they arrived, Shen Qingge threw her to the ground without mercy.
Feng Shi gasped in pain. “You—you dare treat me like this! I’ll tell Father and Mother—you just wait!”
Shen Qingge sneered. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell them about you and Ying Huan?”
Feng Shi panicked. The more guilty she felt, the louder she argued. “You’re lying! I didn’t do anything—don’t you dare frame me!”
Shen Qingge had no time for nonsense. She beat her up directly, then shoved a foul-smelling pill into her mouth.
“Ahh—ugh!” Feng Shi thought it was deadly poison and desperately tried to gag herself to spit it out.
But no matter what she did, the pill seemed stuck in her stomach.
“You vicious woman! What did you make me swallow?!”
“Of course it’s poison,” Shen Qingge said calmly. “But don’t worry—it won’t kill you. It’ll just stay in your stomach as a warning.”
She patted Feng Shi’s face. “If there’s a next time, I won’t mind letting you experience a slow, painful death.”
To Feng Shi, Shen Qingge now looked like the King of Hell.
She regretted letting her mind wander and offending her—but it was too late.
After dealing with Feng Shi, Shen Qingge returned to the shelter.
As soon as she arrived, Wen Shi hurried over to share fresh gossip.
“Did you hear? Just now, that Ying Huan got involved with Liu the Lame—the butcher from our village. When they were discovered, both of them were completely naked…”
Wen Shi was extremely excited, as if she would start cracking sunflower seeds if she had any.
“Who is Liu the Lame?” Shen Qingge asked with interest.
Wen Shi quickly explained, “He’s the village butcher. His father died early, and he only has his mother left.”
“Because of his mother, even though he’s almost forty, no one has ever married him.”
“But now a woman came to him willingly—he’s really lucky. Ying Huan may have bad character, but she’s quite pretty.”
“Too bad she ended up with his mother—she’ll definitely suffer in the future.”
Shen Qingge showed no surprise. She listened calmly, occasionally nodding.
She guessed this was Liu Ji’an’s doing.
Not bad—it was indeed a good way to eliminate future trouble.
…
That night, Father Liu and Mother Liu returned from the village chief’s place.
As soon as they saw Shen Qingge, they called her over.
Noticing their serious expressions, she asked, “Father, Mother, did the village chief call you over for something?”
Father Liu explained.
Many people had already run out of food and water, and even those who still had some wouldn’t last long.
After all, not everyone had someone like Shen Qingge as a “supply station.”
“The village chief wants to select about ten young people to go up the mountain tomorrow to look for water and food—and they want them to follow your lead.”
In the past, the village chief would never have let a woman lead.
But Shen Qingge wasn’t an ordinary woman—she had taken down dozens of strong men on her own.
With her leading, even if something unexpected happened, there would be someone capable of handling it.
However, Mother Liu didn’t want Shen Qingge to go. No matter how capable she was, she was still a young woman surrounded by men.
Even if she did good deeds, people might gossip.
“Shen Qingge, it’s up to you. If you don’t want to go, then don’t. No one can force you.”
Shen Qingge understood her concern. “Don’t worry. Liu Ji’an will go tomorrow too. He needs to move around more for his recovery.”
Hearing this, Father Liu and Mother Liu didn’t ask further.
At that moment, Wang Shi came in. “Father, Mother, dinner is ready.”
The whole family sat together, only to realize one person was missing.
“Where is Feng Shi?”
“Third Brother, go look for her.”
Liu Third Brother nodded and went to find her.
Soon, he returned, helping Feng Shi walk back.
She kept her head down, not daring to look at Shen Qingge.
Mother Liu didn’t even glance at Feng Shi. Instead, she said to Liu Ji’an, “Fifth, serve your wife some rice.”
“Add a couple more scoops.”
Liu Ji’an handed a full bowl to Shen Qingge. “Wife, eat.”
By now, Shen Qingge was tired of correcting him, so she simply ignored it.
“Thank you.”
“No need to be polite, wife. We’re husband and wife—this is my duty.”
“…”
Shen Qingge turned her head away and ignored him.
But Liu Ji’an clearly saw the faint blush on her ears.
So cute!
I want to touch it!!
No one else noticed them, because their attention was on the unfamiliar potatoes.
Following Shen Qingge’s instructions, Wang Shi made a large plate of shredded potatoes.
It looked appetizing, but no one dared to take the first bite.
Shen Qingge was about to try it first to test for poison.
“Wait,” Liu Ji’an stopped her. “Let me do it.”
Facing unfamiliar food, he was nervous too—but in front of his wife, he had to act like a hero.
Gritting his teeth, he picked up a large bite of shredded potatoes and ate it.
“Mmm!” Liu Ji’an nodded. “Elder Sister-in-law’s cooking is excellent—delicious.”
Hearing this, the family members were eager to try.
Just as one of them reached out with chopsticks, Mother Liu stopped them.
“Don’t rush—wait and see if your Fifth Uncle drops dead first.”