This was how Tao Lengshuang understood the true purpose of the Tao family’s visit.
The various branches of the Tao family were not united. In the past, they were kept in check by Old Master Tao and his wife. Now that Old Master Tao and his wife could no longer maintain order, the branches wanted to use them to gain benefits, so they temporarily lived together.
Now that there was a matter of contributing money and effort to help His Majesty build the royal villa, the Tao family members who had no money and were unwilling to go turned their attention to her, fantasizing about exploiting her usefulness as they had in the past.
“I say, don’t you think you’re taking yourselves too seriously?”
She swiftly took out several packets of powder and played with them.
Old Master Tao and the others retreated one after another, threatening her with a show of strength.
“Your powders won’t work on us. We’re all wrapped up tightly.”
“That’s right, that’s right. The powders can’t touch us, so they’re useless against us.”
Tao Lengshuang looked at the Tao family members as if they were fools, smiling mockingly. “I really suspect that thing on your necks is just for decoration.”
“Who told you that powders only work when they make contact?”
The Tao family members didn’t believe her words at all, thinking she was bluffing. They were about to rush forward and hit her.
Tao Lengshuang raised her hand and threw several packets of powder, saying coldly, “A gift for you.”
The Tao family members’ footsteps paused, and then they rushed forward even faster.
This made the young man a little anxious. “Uncle, go and help her quickly. How can a mere woman like her be a match for so many people?”
Mo Lingxi’s gaze turned cold, and he was about to rush over to help Tao Lengshuang.
However, he personally witnessed the Tao family members lying on the ground, crying and laughing, occasionally wailing as if they had gone mad. He immediately retreated several steps with lingering fear.
Just looking at the Tao family members’ state, he knew how potent the powders personally prepared by Tao Lengshuang were.
It was better to offend anyone but a woman who possessed medical and poisonous skills and had a sharp mind.
“Uncle, you haven’t offended her before, have you?”
The young man swallowed hard and said with a trembling voice, “Uncle, you must not offend her. Otherwise… look at the fate of that family. It’s truly tragic.”
Mo Lingxi fell silent. Could he say that he had angered Tao Lengshuang many times?
Fortunately, she had never used these powders on him.
“Uncle, let’s not provoke such a formidable doctor,” the young man said, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. “Although you were forced to marry her.”
“Considering her powders… no, her medical and poisonous skills, you should just endure it. Endure for a moment, and peace will prevail.”
Mo Lingxi glanced at him coldly, not wanting to explain much to his nephew. He was indeed forced to marry Tao Lengshuang.
Completely unaware that she was being discussed by the uncle and nephew, Tao Lengshuang watched the Tao family members writhe in pain on the ground. “If you come again, I won’t mind making you lie in bed for the rest of your lives.”
“Tao Lengshuang, I am your father! You can’t do this to me.”
Old Master Tao roared with both hatred and fear. “Can you bear to see your father, at my age, being forced to build the royal villa?”
Tao Lengshuang was very much able to bear it. She even wished that all members of the Tao family would go to build the royal villa, preferably never to return, so they wouldn’t come to bother her.
“You don’t need to lecture me with kinship. I don’t care about these things at all. Furthermore, if you come once, I’ll deal with you once. Let’s see how many times you can come.”
Old Master Tao roared with a contorted face, forcing Tao Lengshuang to help him.
He was already an old man. How could he possibly go to build the royal villa, nor could he contribute a single coin.
Tao Lengshuang impatiently picked at her ear, preparing to go home. Her peripheral vision caught sight of someone approaching with gifts.
It was Village Chief Luo!
She narrowed her eyes and put on a polite smile. “Isn’t this Village Chief Luo? What brings you to my home?”
Village Chief Luo seemed not to see the Tao family members wailing on the ground. He smiled and said to Tao Lengshuang, “I’ve come to ask you to take a look at my illness.”
“I haven’t been feeling well for the past couple of days, and I’m reluctant to go to town for treatment. I heard from the villagers that your medical skills are good and your consultation fees are cheap, so I came to ask you to take a look.”
Tao Lengshuang’s eyes darkened slightly, but her smile remained unchanged as she invited Village Chief Luo to sit in the main hall to chat.
When the two entered the main hall, Mo Lingxi had already led his nephew to Xiao Feng’s room.
Village Chief Luo placed the gifts on the table and extended his right hand, asking Tao Lengshuang to examine him. “Perhaps it’s the change in climate.”
“I’ve only just arrived in Shilipo Village, and I might not be accustomed to it, which has caused me to feel unwell.”
Tao Lengshuang felt his pulse while smiling. “That’s possible.”
“People are like this. Once they’re used to staying in one place, if they go to another, there’s always some discomfort.”
Village Chief Luo said that it was indeed the case and then asked about his condition.
Tao Lengshuang said he was fine, it was just caused by the change in climate, and he would be fine after drinking two doses of medicine.
Village Chief Luo thanked her. “With the word from the Mo family, I feel at ease. Otherwise, my heart would be unsettled.”
“Alright, I won’t disturb you any longer. If your family needs anything in the future, just come and find me.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Village Chief.” Tao Lengshuang saw Village Chief Luo out, closed the door without even glancing at the Tao family members, and returned to the main hall to look at the gifts.
They were some chicken and duck eggs and medicinal herbs. They weren’t particularly valuable, but they were a token of appreciation.
It could be seen that Village Chief Luo was not a simple person.
Seeing Mo Lingxi and Xiao Feng seeing the young man out from the corner of her eye, she nodded slightly. “Once I have prepared the necessary items, I will thoroughly cure you.”
The young man’s gaze towards her was different. He smiled warmly and said he was grateful for her trouble, giving Mo Lingxi a look of unknown meaning before walking out.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw the Tao family members still wailing on the ground, but he didn’t look at them any further.
However, his outstanding and handsome appearance was noticed by the Tao family members. Several branches of the family had the same thought: how wonderful it would be if such an outstanding person were their son-in-law.
Once this thought arose, it could no longer be contained.
Tao Fangfang was the first to jump up.
She suppressed the pain of wanting to cry and laugh, and with a distorted expression, she blocked the young man and promoted her nieces. “My nieces are not only beautiful but also skilled in farm work.”
Back then, why didn’t she have a daughter?
If she had a daughter, what business would these branches have?
The young man had seen too many similar situations. With a cold glint in his eyes, he glanced at her. “Scram!”
His imposing manner scared Tao Fangfang into retreating a few steps, but she was unwilling to give up. “Oh, don’t be shy.”
“If you think one is not enough, you can take all my nieces. The betrothal gifts will be a bit more.”
Old Master Tao repeatedly said that the betrothal gifts should be more.
“My granddaughters are known as great beauties in the surrounding villages. So many suitors come to propose. The betrothal gifts should be higher.”
“Without sufficient betrothal gifts, I will not marry my daughters to you.”