Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 445: Prevent Problems Before They Happen

Chapter 445: Chapter 445: Prevent Problems Before They Happen

They had experienced a natural disaster once before, had enjoyed three years of peace, and now they were to face another one?

The profound worry displayed on Mother Lin’s face was noticed by Father Lin, who could only sigh in his heart.

The world was indeed strange, calamities coming one after another, and they bore the brunt every time.

"Go and have a rest. I’ll handle these meats," Father Lin said, his tone filled with concern, seeing his wife’s frost-bitten and swollen hands.

The two had known each other since childhood. Although the earlier days were challenging, forcing his wife to work hard, now that they lived more comfortably, he didn’t want his wife to suffer anymore.

Opening a food shop was obviously labor-intensive, so she deserved to get more rest after finally stopping the business.

"You’re clumsy, just help hang the meat on the side," Mother Lin shook her head, disparaging her husband verbally, but she didn’t want him to slog either.

The meat in the basin was long strips weighing around ten jins each. Turning them over to spread the marinade, especially in such cooling weather was more tedious for her old husband who was in poor health, so it was better for her to do it.

"I’ve been watching for so long, I should know how to do it by now. You better wash your hands and get a hand warmer. Otherwise, frostbite will start hurting you later," Father Lin’s face showed a tint of annoyance. He perfectly well knew his wife was worried about him, but no matter how poor his health was, it was still better than hers.

Mother Lin’s face showed a hint of sweetness, yet she had no intention of halting her actions.

The earlier days were not easy, and her hands were often covered in frostbite in the winter. Though it had improved over the past two years, as soon as the weather got cold, itchy sensations would recur.

Now, as her hands turned the cold pieces of meat in the basin, the dormant frostbite started acting up and itching.

"You stubborn old woman," Father Lin was quite vexed but, his back being bent already, he couldn’t pick her up. So he just sulked, pulled Mother Lin’s basin toward himself and squatted on the ground.

Watching her old man childishly roll up his sleeves, Mother Lin found it somewhat funny, and her heart was filled with warmth.

The few girls standing aside were giggling quietly, the Lin brothers were also full of smiles watching the scene.

Their parents’ love was truly precious.

The Lin brothers were efficient, having learned the process of meat marinating after listening to what Ling Long and others explained and observing it once, they quickly mastered it. In no time, they had finished marinating two large basins of meat strips.

In the courtyard, rows of bamboos were erected, each laden with heavy strips of meat. It was quite a sight.

Sun Cui was heavily pregnant and the weather outside was icy, so she was asked to stay at home.

Also at home were Chen Qiulan and four children.

The weather this year was bizarrely cold, so they needed to prepare plenty of winter clothes and jackets.

Although ready-made clothes could now be bought everywhere, the ones home-made were always more durable.

Considering Sun Cui’s huge belly and the fear of overexertion affecting her eyesight, they only let her thread the needle, while Chen Qiulan meticulously sewed the clothes.

"Sister-in-law, do you think we can make it this time?" Sun Cui asked while threading the needle, full of unheard worries.

The famine three years ago was still vivid in her memory. Sometimes, she would dream about the terrible scenes of dead bodies scattered all over the place.

The scenes were too horrific, and she didn’t want to, nor wish to, experience it a second time.

If she was the only one suffering, it would be bearable, but now, she was carrying a baby.

Pregnant women tend to overthink, and whenever she dwelled on the past incidents, her face would turn pale.

"Don’t worry too much, it will be fine," Chen Qiulan noticed her sister-in-law’s worries and comforted her with patience.

"We survived even in poverty back then, so now that we have everything prepared in advance, there won’t be any problems."

As if to reassure her, Chen Qiulan shook the jacket in her hand, saying, "See, this is specially made for you. I’ve stuffed almost two taels of cotton in it."

Seeing the large jacket, Sun Cui blushed.

She was not fat, but ever since she got pregnant, she had swelled like a steamed bun soaked in water, becoming quite chubby.

If she wore the jacket on her body, wouldn’t she look like a ball?

"The jacket is made slightly larger to fit you for another two months."

Chen Qiulan nodded and laughed, then resumed her sewing.

"But big sister, I still feel restless and a bit scared."

After some hesitation, Sun Cui finally spoke her mind.

To be fair, this was their fourth year in Yan City. Even when they had just moved here, the weather had never been this cold.

Given the particular warning from her little sister, no matter how she thought about it, something felt wrong.

This disaster might be even worse than the previous drought and flood.

The fear was, there could be a plague.

After the drought, there was an earthquake, and then a flood within a month.

During the migration, dead bodies were seen everywhere. They narrowly escaped because they were faster. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have escaped death from the plague.

It was rumored that a group of refugees flooded into Xin City, and they were rumored to be infected with the plague. Eventually, these people were torched inside a city by the city lord, leaving no one alive.

Consequently, many people died in the villages outside the city as well.

The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became, her heart suddenly pounding a little too fast.

"What if...what if there is another plague?"

Contracting a plague was synonymous with death.

"Believe in Nanzhi and Wenchen," Chen Qiulan gently patted the back of her hand, soothingly said.

Pregnant women were most prone to overthinking, although she herself was unsure, but at least she could help her sister-in-law stop worrying.

In the city lord’s residence, Nanzhi and Shen Wenchen were somewhat overwhelmed.

The rumors were spreading uncontrollably in the last couple of days. The price of grains in the city was rising steadily.

But the common people had some surplus grains now, so they didn’t need to worry too much about that.

But in addition to food, they also needed to stay warm and cook.

For both purposes, they needed firewood and coal.

If this natural disaster could be overcome within one or two months, then it wouldn’t be a big problem. However, if it persisted, even cooking would become a major issue.

Then there was the issue of the plague.

The plague three years ago was not small. But, at that time, Yan City was in a state of chaos, so very few refugees came, thereby preventing its spread in the city,

But it was uncertain this time.

After all, there was a rat plague outside the city.

"Nannan, you must be exhausted," Shen Wenchen looked at Nanzhi with a pair of black circles under her eyes, feeling guilty.

If only he could do more, Nanzhi wouldn’t have to work so hard.

"Not at all," Nanzhi shook her head, one hand gently rubbing her bulging belly.

"If I were smarter, I could think of more ways. But I...I don’t know how to do anything"

She didn’t know any medical skills, nor did she have much business talent. Otherwise, she could have helped more and saved more people.

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