Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 377: Doubts of the Second-in-command

Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Doubts of the Second-in-command

Yuanbao entered the stronghold, and Dashan Wang was about to close the door, but was stopped by the little girl.

"These are my mother, my godfather, and, and that old man, you can’t leave them outside."

The little one explained, pulling Nanzhi through the gate.

Dashan Wang was a bit taken aback by the girl’s statement.

Had that little girl brought people home after leaving for just a few days?

"Did you see your dad and the others? They went out to look for you."

Dashan Wang looked at Yuanbao from left to right, confirming that she was fine before asking with a frown.

Hopefully, they didn’t miss each other.

"We ran into them, we came back first, they’re behind us!" Yuanbao said with a straight face, and without lingering at the door, she led the group towards the second-in-command’s house.

She needed to seek help from her second uncle to treat Yueyue’s illness!

Nanzhi gave Dashan Wang an awkward smile and followed Yuanbao on her way.

As for the old man, he didn’t bother to greet anyone and went about his own way.

Only Shen Wenchen, looking at the vast Qing Fenghan, was suspicious in his heart.

Could such a large stronghold truly survive by farming, just as described in the books?

On the way up the mountain, he had taken a careful look around. Qing Fenghan stronghold had an excellent location for easy attack and defense.

Taking a look at the surrounding houses, Shen Wenchen thought even more.

This stronghold seemed to have a considerable population. If they harbored thoughts of rebellion, it would be a great hidden danger...

Although Dashan Wang had not received much education, he had lived for forty years. Seeing the burly man scrutinizing the stronghold, he couldn’t help but feel alert.

This man did not look like a farmer at all. Could he be from somewhere else?

But judging by the serious expression on his face, something didn’t seem right.

As Dashan Wang pondered, Shen Wenchen was already out of sight.

Yuanbao led Nanzhi straight to the courtyard of the second-in-command’s house.

"Second Uncle! Second Uncle! Second Uncle!"

The little girl had the closest relationship with the second-in-command.

Firstly, because the second-in-command would always bring her something to eat; secondly, because he could always tell many interesting stories.

Now, she had been calling for quite a while but hadn’t seen her second uncle come out, which was strange.

Her brows were knit tight like twisted hemp as she prepared to knock on the door.

After her little hands had turned red from slapping the door and the second-in-command still hadn’t come out to open it, the little one’s face turned pale.

Her second uncle, who was usually so idle and seldom went out, couldn’t possibly have...gone, could he?

What about Yueyue?

As soon as she thought of Yueyue still lying in bed, the child rushed over to the small yard next door without thinking about Nanzhi and the others.

Watching the little girl disappearing like a lit firecracker, Nanzhi quickly followed.

The small courtyard where Yueyue lived was nestled against the mountain, and was much quieter than the outside.

Yuanbao huffed and puffed, then carefully pushed open the door.

The door opened and let in a sliver of sunlight, allowing a clearer view of the interior.

The little girl ran to the bedside as soon as she entered.

As soon as Nanzhi walked into the room, she smelled a faint scent of medicine with a hint of bitterness.

The young girl in the bed had her hair scattered, her little pale face was devoid of any color, and her lips were chapped and peeling. She looked so sick, as if she could stop breathing at any time.

Seeing the slight rise and fall of her chest, Yuanbao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yueyue will be okay, she’ll be okay." The little girl murmured, took out the wilted bouquet from the vase, and put the wild flowers she had just picked from the roadside into it.

Nanzhi didn’t interrupt; she just stood quietly on the side and watched.

She watched Yuanbao, a five-year-old, mimicking an adult.

The second-in-command was waken up by a splash of stale tea.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the little girl’s face looming in front of him.

Looking at the bewildered second uncle, Yuanbao waved her hand in front of him before opening her mouth to speak, "Second Uncle, Second Uncle! I’ve bought the ginseng!"

Hearing the two words ’ginseng’, the second-in-command shook his head and struggled to sit up.

"Why are you all black?" The second-in-command felt a throbbing headache, and when he touched his head, he got a handful of wet tea leaves.

He caught a sniff of something stale, and the second-in-command was visibly stupefied. After a long time, he wiped his face in disbelief.

"You little devil, you splashed me with stale tea!"

Seeing his feigned anger, Yuanbao pouted and muttered, "It’s only because you overslept, Second Uncle! I called you many times! And you still wouldn’t wake up!"

The child was not afraid that her second uncle would spank her, she just stuck out her tongue at him.

"You naughty girl."

The second-in-command wiped the tea stains off his face and got off the bed.

"Did you just say you brought back some ginseng?"

After cleaning his face, the second-in-command looked at Yuanbao suspiciously.

"Yes." The little girl tilted her head back and took the small bag off her body.

Inside the cloth bag was a wooden box, in which lay a hundred-year-old ginseng root.

The moment he saw the ginseng, the second-in-command felt his heart sink and immediately asked Yuanbao,

"Did you buy this ginseng?"

Little Yuanbao nodded, and then shook her head.

"My money was not enough. My mother made up the difference."

Hearing this, the second-in-command sighed in relief, but still couldn’t help but ask apprehensively,

"How much could you have saved from your New Year’s gift money? How much would your mother have to..."

Before he could finish his sentence, when looking at Yuanbao’s innocent expression, the uneasy feeling in his heart grew stronger.

Subconsciously, he began to search for his secret stash of money.

After checking three places, he found that not even a single copper plate had been left behind.

"Yuanbao! Did you take my hidden money???"

The second-in-command asked through gritted teeth, his eyes were practically shooting fire.

That money was what he had obtained through...ahem, hardship, after several years of saving!

All gone!

Little Yuanbao sensed something was wrong and scurried towards the side hall.

The second-in-command stretched out his hand to catch her, but when he reached the side hall, he locked eyes with Shen Wenchen.

Shen Wenchen’s eyes were slightly narrowed, he smiled when he looked at the second-in-command, greeting him.

The second-in-command’s expression stiffened for a moment, seeing Yuanbao rush into the arms of a beautiful woman made him gnash his teeth.

He wished he could grab the little girl and give her a good spanking.

"Second Uncle, my mother and godfather are here." Yuanbao found her backup, and sticking her tongue out at him, she hid in Nanzhi’s arms.

The second-in-command, feeling his messy appearance was not suitable for receiving guests, quickly returned to his room where he washed his face before coming back to the hall again.

"May I ask your name?"

"Shen Xiaolang, you can just call me Brother Shen."

Shen Wenchen rose to his feet and saluted, and then pointed to Nanzhi beside him.

"This is my fiancé."

The second-in-command understood his meaning and simply nodded.

He didn’t ask too much about Yuanbao ’adopting’ another mother.

He simply couldn’t control this clever little girl.

"We are from the same village as Yueyue, how is her condition now?"

Shen Wenchen asked with concern.

"Yueyue’s tuberculosis has become increasingly severe. I just casually mentioned the hundred-year-old ginseng, I didn’t think Yuanbao would actually trouble you two."

Speaking of which, the second-in-command still had some doubts. Given that Qing Fenghan stronghold was so isolated, where did Yuanbao meet her godparents, and where did she buy the ginseng?