Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 545

Chapter 545: 545

Seeing their guilty expressions, Nanzhi felt certain that they were hiding something from her.

She immediately looked stern.

"Did you sneak out of the city again?"

"Auntie, don’t be upset."

Lin Zihan pursed his lips and stepped forward.

"It rained this morning and the wildfires outside have ceased. We went to play on the city wall and noticed something unusual in the mud. So, I took my little brothers and sisters out."

"Did you sneak through the dog holes again?"

Nanzhi scrutinized their dirty clothes, speaking in a deep voice.

"We know we’re wrong. Don’t be mad, Auntie~"

Yuanbao, the youngest, spoke in a soft voice when he noticed that Nanzhi was mad.

Nanzhi felt a headache rising when seeing the mischievous kids.

She had ordered to block all the dog holes on the city wall when the Rat Plague broke out in town. How can they still find a way out?

After only a moment of thought, Nanzhi turned her gaze to Xiaomi who was standing aside.

Xiaomi felt a chill down his spine under her stare and shrank back.

Unfortunately, he was the tallest and most conspicuous, even when he hid behind others.

It wasn’t really his fault. After all, the rain had washed away the stench from the muddy land outside.

Moreover, many people from the city had gone to the Southern City. They snuck out simply because they wanted to see what was going on.

"Fine, there can’t be another next time, got it? Zhiyu, come here."

Seeing their nervous expressions, Nanzhi sighed and gestured for Zhiyu to come near.

Shen Zhiyu let out a sigh of relief, knowing he won’t be scolded, and kindly smiled as he approached.

The kids had dirty hands, with black mud stuck under their nails.

In their hands was a clump of black soil, where tiny tender sprouts stood, looking exceptionally cute.

"Are you sure you found this outside of the city?"

Shen Wenchen leaned closer to examine, his mind filled with thoughts.

The soil didn’t smell foul, instead, it had a fresh scent of earth after rain.

If it was really found outside of the city, does it mean they can start to grow crops again?

"Yes."

The kids all nodded in unison.

Nanzhi and Shen Wenchen glanced at each other. They didn’t care that they were still under "house arrest". Holding drooling Shengsheng, they dashed out of the courtyard.

Before leaving, Shen Wenchen even scooped up the soil in his son’s hand.

The two of them disappeared in a flash, like a gust of wind, leaving the little ones looking at each other in bewilderment.

"So, we won’t be scolded anymore, right?"

Lin Jian scratched his head, tentatively asking.

"I think we’ve actually done something good this time."

Xiaomi agreed, nodding his head.

Ming Qin was excited about the soil Nanzhi and Shen Wenchen brought back.

The potato tubers she bought from the system ten days ago have already sprouted. If they kept growing at this rate, she can harvest them in less than two months!

If she can plant widely, the food issue will be solved!

She was just worried about how to earn system coins.

In the recent days, she had nearly depleted the resources of Qing Fenghan, but she had only managed to save up over 3000 system coins.

If the land outside the city can be used, why would she still need to anxiously wait for the system’s purification solution?

Ming Qin got straight to work, taking the kids out of the city again.

At first, Yuanbao feared Ming Qin’s arrival, thinking he was going to be punished. However, he was surprised to discover that his mother was not angry. Instead, she happily carried him, preparing to venture out of the city again.

Right outside the city gate, tiny green sprouts emerged from a small plot of land near the city’s moat, clearly contrasting with the adjacent soil.

Ming Qin ordered people to dig up a lot of soil and bring it back to the city. She plans on conducting experiments first. If it goes well, they can start cultivating experimental fields outside the city.

The dream of vast arable fields is no longer a dream!

But another major problem followed.

The city’s food storage was almost depleted.

There was still no news from the Twelve.

Ming Qin informed Nanzhi and everybody about the system. In the end, they unanimously decided to take the things from the Mansion to the Trading Mall for trade.

Firstly, they would exchange for immediate consumable food and meat.

However, after making the trades, they realized that they could earn more system coins from women’s jewelry.

As for other things, it was much harder to accumulate.

When everyone’s jewelry was about to run out, they managed to exchange for only 6000 system coins in total. Just as they were feeling distressed, Shen Wenchen hesitated and pulled Nanzhi out of the room.

Seeing his hesitation, Nanzhi was perplexed.

"What’s the matter? If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you being like a little girl?"

"Nannan, do you still have the bracelet I gave you before?"

Shen Wenchen’s wheat-colored face had turned bright red.

"I’m here." Said Nanzhi, raising her left arm.

Her silver bracelet was quietly hanging on her wrist.

"Use this," said Shen Wenchen in a quiet, low voice.

"This bracelet won’t exchange for many system coins."

Nanzhi shook her head. It seemed that the trading mall not only preferred women’s jewelry, but had a particular fondness for gold.

Even the best silver would not fetch a worthy price.

"This... this is made of gold."

Shen Wenchen began to stutter, and Nanzhi nearly couldn’t hear him.

"What did you say?"

"It... it’s silver-plated gold that I had made..."

Nanzhi looked doubtful. The bracelet was not light - if it really was made of gold, where would he get so much gold from?

He had told her before that he had given her all of his property.

Facing Nanzhi’s questioning gaze, Shen Wenchen looked embarrassed.

"This is... this is a reward from the general during a mission. I didn’t intend to hide it from you. Otherwise... otherwise, I wouldn’t have given you this bracelet."

For some reason, he felt a little guilty.

Nanzhi gave him a glare and then entered the house to remove the bracelet.

Seeing that she was even ready to part with her silver bracelet, Shen Miaomiao tried to persuade her.

"Sister Nanzhi, you should keep this bracelet."

"Trade it, Ming!"

Nanzhi’s tone was firm. Seeing the situation, Ming Qin had no choice but to take the bracelet.

Looking at the webpage that was emptied within a second, Ming Qin fell silent.

Thirteen thousand system coins.

This was more than what they had collectively saved up over a long period!

"Exchange it all for food!"

Nanzhi declared decisively.

About half of the city’s population had migrated south this time.

The remaining population was around twenty thousand, including many elderly, young, sick, and disabled.

In addition to food, Ming Qin also exchanged for some herbs.

Looking at the again filled warehouse,

everyone felt relieved.

At least no one would starve to death.

With the problem of food and medicine solved, Shen Miaomiao became increasingly restless each day.

For such a long time, they had received no news from Shi’er.

The people Shen Wenchen sent out also returned without any leads.

This made her even more worried.

After several days of hesitation, she finally decided one clear morning.

A disguised Shen Miaomiao quietly drove a mule cart out of the city alone.

She was going to Huaiyang! Going to Xiejiang! Going to find her husband!

Dawn was breaking.

With no mountains to block the sun, the dazzling sunlight sprinkled across the earth. As Shen Miaomiao drove the mule cart, she instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes.

There was a refreshing scent from the farmland on both sides of the road – a smell she hadn’t smelled for half a year.

The mule cart slowly moved down the road, leaving behind a row of wheel tracks.

As the sun gradually rose, Shen Miaomiao was just able to open her eyes a little.

In the distance, there seemed to be something moving towards her.

Before she could see clearly, the mule under her had already stopped.

Against the light, Shen Miaomiao could only see a dark shadow coming towards her, accompanied by faint bleating sounds.

As the dark shadow got closer.

A large flock of sheep was bleating and coming towards her, followed by the person she had been thinking about day and night.

Shi’er was riding a horse and herding the sheep, with a mighty team behind him.

And by his side were two unexpected individuals.

Seeing her beloved, Shi’er’s dark and thin face broke into a smile. His white teeth were particularly striking against his dark skin.

"We’re back!"

The adolescence’s voice passed through the black earth, through the emerging sprouts striving to grow, and with the blinding sunlight, resounded throughout Yan City.