"Sister-in-law, what are you thinking about?"
Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the distracted Yu Xiuxiu and couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, nothing..." Yu Xiuxiu, startled, couldn't help but blame herself internally for having such a bold thought, her cheeks flushed as she reluctantly said to Zhang Xiaoshan.
"I was just thinking about how after all these years with Little Ru, it's a shame it just ended like that."
By then, Zhang Xiaoshan had completely given up on Wu Xiaoru, and said without hesitation.
"There's nothing to pity, perhaps it's also a kind of relief for me, just right, I can take this as an opportunity to start my new life."
Watching Zhang Xiaoshan's carefree demeanor, Yu Xiuxiu showed a knowing smile.
"You being able to think like that reassures me, oh, my eyes seem to be getting hot again, and my vision is a bit blurred..." Yu Xiuxiu said, her expression growing tense.
Zhang Xiaoshan checked her eyes and said.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, your eyes won't have any major issues for now. I'll go to the hill behind and gather some herbs, eating them for a while should do the trick."
"The hill behind? No, it's too dangerous, don't go..."
The unexplored primeval forest was filled with venomous snakes, in everyone's eyes, it was a deadly place; previously, a few villagers had died on that hill, and now it had become forbidden ground. When Yu Xiuxiu heard that Zhang Xiaoshan was going to enter the forest, she became anxious.
Zhang Xiaoshan reassured Yu Xiuxiu with a grin.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, you saw my moves earlier, there won't be any danger. Plus, I won't go deep, just around the periphery to pick some herbs and I will be right back."
Zhang Xiaoshan, without further ado, picked up a sickle, shouldered a basket, and left.
"Then, then I'll wait for you to come home!" Yu Xiuxiu called out as she ran after him.
...
Along the way, Zhang Xiaoshan pondered.
How to get those fifty thousand yuan back from Wu Xiaoru's mother.
That old woman was no good person.
Also, the sister-in-law's illness.
Although he had temporarily restored some sight to his sister-in-law's eyes, the vision was still blurry. According to the Heavenly Eye, he still needed to prepare "Clearing Spirit Powder" to completely cure his sister-in-law's eyes.
And to prepare "Clearing Spirit Powder," he needed a number of precious herbs, including Lingzhi, ginseng, and Polygonum multiflorum, all of which had to be over a hundred years old, which was no small difficulty.
After much deliberation, Zhang Xiaoshan felt that he could only first prepare some ordinary nourishing and tranquilizing drugs to stabilize his sister-in-law's condition temporarily, then slowly figure out a way to accumulate the ingredients needed for "Clearing Spirit Powder."
Before long, Zhang Xiaoshan successfully entered the hill behind.
The mountains behind White Dragon Village were numerous and continuous, with no end in sight. Zhang Xiaoshan walked along a small stream, surrounded by lush forests.
But, it didn't give off a beautiful feeling but rather one that was sinister and suffocating.
The hills were too damp.
Crevices in the rock walls revealed snake heads, and colorful venomous snakes could be seen casually lying on large trees everywhere.
This was only the periphery of the hill. The deeper inside, the damper it got and the greater the number of poisonous snakes, growing larger in size as well.
According to the village elders' tales, deep in the hill lay Ten Thousand Snake Valley, where tens of thousands of venomous snakes lived and a king snake as thick as a water bucket resided. Of course, this was only a legend, as no one had ever ventured that far.
The damp air was well-suited for the growth of medicinal herbs, and since the area was seldom visited by humans, many types of medicinal herbs thrived here.
Especially with Zhang Xiaoshan's "Heavenly Eye," wherever his gaze fell upon these herbs, his mind automatically displayed information about their names, ages, and uses.
What surprised Zhang Xiaoshan even more was the vast variety of medicinal herbs in the hill; it far exceeded his expectations, which was also due to the numerous venomous snakes that had deterred human activity.
In one afternoon, Zhang Xiaoshan had managed to stuff the basket on his back full.
Looking at these herbs, Zhang Xiaoshan was overjoyed.
Wild medicinal herbs were rare nowadays; after all, he was a medical student and knew something about it. According to his estimation, the herbs he collected today could be sold for tens of thousands of yuan.
He felt as though he had found a path to riches.
"You Wu family people who look down on others, there will come a day when you'll regret it."
By then, the sun was beginning to set, and the damp and darkening primeval forest grew even more dim. Venomous snakes hidden in rocky crevices started to stir, and wild animals began looking for food.
Even though Zhang Xiaoshan had some skills now, he dared not move around in the mountains at night.
"The herbs I collected today are good enough for my sister-in-law to use for a month. I should get out of the mountain now and come back another day."
Zhang Xiaoshan muttered to himself and then began to head back.
By the time he descended the mountain, the sun had already completely set, and the earth was shrouded in darkness.
Just as Zhang Xiaoshan was planning to walk along the village path home, he suddenly spotted a figure not far away, bending over and running toward the back mountain as if sneaking like a thief.
Although it was already night, Zhang Xiaoshan could clearly see through the Heavenly Eye that it was a young woman wearing a green shirt and jeans.
The woman had a nice figure, slightly plump in a comfortable way.
"Isn't that Tao Qian, the new bride Wu Biao bought just a couple of months ago?"
Wu Biao was also a member of the Wu family, technically Wu Yong's cousin. Wu Biao was among those who came to make trouble at Zhang Xiaoshan's house today, and he was known as a troublemaker in the village.
Zhang Xiaoshan's eyes showed confusion.
Yes, bought!
White Dragon Village was remote and isolated, transportation was cut off, and a trip to the county seat involved half a day's travel with climbing and traversing waters.
Therefore, it was very difficult for the village men to find wives, and the best solution was to buy one...
It's worth mentioning that these women were almost all young and beautiful, fashionable and stunning.
Moreover, these women brought into the village had no friends, could barely communicate in the local language, were unable to use communication tools, and were completely isolated from the outside world, completely at the mercy of others, and most of them served as tools for releasing frustration, bearing children, and doing housework.
This was also why Wu Xiaoru's mother dared to suddenly add two hundred thousand to the bride price.
"What is she doing running to the back mountain in the middle of the night?"
Zhang Xiaoshan quietly squatted in a nearby low bush.
The terrain at the entrance to the back mountain was relatively high, overlooking the entire village. When Tao Qian reached the entrance, the sinister and primeval forest frightened her, and she looked around. Under the faint moonlight, she could vaguely discern the geographical layout of White Dragon Village.
Behind her lay the sunless primeval forest, and in front was the hundred-yard-wide White Dragon River.
It could be said there was no way to heaven above, and no door to the earth below.
"It seems I can't escape after all."
Tao Qian sighed in disappointment.
After becoming close with Susu, Zhang Xiaoshan had undergone a transformation and became keenly aware. As the two weren't far apart, Zhang Xiaoshan could easily hear Tao Qian's voice.
"So he was trying to escape?"
Zhang Xiaoshan suddenly realized; with a beast like Wu Biao, who would want to stay with him?
Just then, Tao Qian suddenly loosened her belt and squatted down.
"Shush, shush, shush..."
Zhang Xiaoshan's gaze was unconsciously drawn to it.
"Gurgle…"
Looking at the dark little bush, Zhang Xiaoshan's heart quivered.
Since bonding with Susu's soul, Zhang Xiaoshan felt like he had grown suddenly, and that feeling became ever stronger.
Tao Qian was indeed an attractive woman.
Moreover, Zhang Xiaoshan now needed Qi.
After his joyful encounter with Luo Meili, it had been quite beneficial, and this appeared to be a god-sent opportunity.
Zhang Xiaoshan felt as if he was running a fever, burning intensely.
"What should I do?"
As Tao Qian was about to stand up, the cooked duck was about to fly away.
His mind also recalled the words Wu Xiaoru had said to him today.
"No, I need strength, I need to become stronger..."
"I'm going for it!"
Zhang Xiaoshan burst out from the low bush.
"A ghost…"
Just as she stood up, Tao Qian, who had not yet managed to pull up her trousers, screamed, and the next instant, Zhang Xiaoshan pounced and pinned her to the ground.