Tao Fangfang, wary of Mo Lingxi beside her, dared not do anything to Tao Lengshuang. She said sternly, "No matter what, Father and Mother raised you. You owe them this kindness."
Tao Lengshuang leaned against the doorframe, her plump body occupying more than half of the opening. "You've finally gotten to the point."
"Tell me, what are your conditions?"
Tao Fangfang glanced at Old Master Tao, then looked up and said, "Return the house, and give us fifty taels of silver and a hundred jin of rice and flour. Then Father and Mother will issue a document severing ties, and you will no longer be part of our Tao family."
Since the house was taken, life at home had become increasingly difficult.
Now that taxes had increased, if they didn't get some money and supplies from Tao Lengshuang, they didn't know how they would get through the winter.
Tao Lengshuang laughed in anger and gave them a thumbs-up. "You truly have the nerve to ask."
"Fifty taels of silver and a hundred jin of rice and flour. Do you think your family is nobility? Asking for such a large sum, do you think I'll be the one to foot the bill?"
Tao Fangfang raised her head and threatened in a harsh tone, "If you don't give it to us, we'll report you to the yamen for filial impiety. Then your whole family will be in trouble."
Tao Lengshuang made a gesture of invitation. "Go quickly, go quickly."
"Before it gets dark, hurry to the county yamen in town and report me. Our family will be waiting at home."
Seeing that she wasn't afraid, Tao Fangfang changed her tune. "Lengshuang, no matter what, Father and Mother raised you for over ten years and even found you such a good husband. You should repay your parents, shouldn't you?"
Tao Lengshuang counted on her fingers. "Your family often eats meat. That's thanks to me."
"Your family can act like tyrants in the village, and I've contributed a lot to that. Your family treated our family like slaves for years, took all the valuables in the house, and it's still not enough?
What, you think I'm still as foolish as before, easily tricked by your words, and will obediently give everything for your family?"
Tao Fangfang knew very well that the current Tao Lengshuang was no longer the Tao Lengshuang of the past and would no longer allow them to manipulate her.
"Lengshuang, if you push things too far, it will affect Xiao Feng's future."
She smiled sinisterly. "If Xiao Feng has a chance to take the imperial examinations, and his reputation is bad, with a mother who is unfilial, do you think he'll still have a chance to become an official?"
Tao Lengshuang was not afraid. She chuckled, "You've finally used your brains for once."
"Unfortunately, these tricks can't threaten me.
If things really come to a head, do you think you'll go to jail or be beheaded? Besides, if my son truly has a chance to become an official, with your personalities, you'll only try to curry favor, not ruin my son's future."
Seeing that she was unyielding, Tao Fangfang clenched her fists in anger and lunged to hit her.
But she was enveloped by a tall, dangerous figure, scaring her into a hasty retreat behind Old Master Tao.
"Father, I really can't do anything. Tao Lengshuang is completely uncooperative."
She didn't dare to look at Mo Lingxi, her face pale as she shrank her plump body, her mind already calculating how to get money and supplies from Tao Lengshuang.
Old Master Tao lowered his head and smoked his pipe, feigning authority. "Tao Lengshuang, considering I raised you for many years, ten taels of silver and a hundred jin of rice and flour will buy out our kinship. Otherwise, I'll come to your house and cause trouble every day."
Tao Lengshuang was extremely annoyed by Old Master Tao's family. Upon hearing this, her plump face turned cold. "You want to come to my house and cause trouble every day, is that it?"
With a swish, she took out several packets of powder and glared fiercely at Old Master Tao and his daughter. "It seems the poison from last time wasn't enough. I need to add more potency."
When Old Master Tao and Tao Fangfang saw that Tao Lengshuang had indeed taken out the powder, their faces changed drastically. One ran faster than the other, afraid that Tao Lengshuang would poison them again.
Tao Lengshuang snorted coldly and put away the medicine packets. "If you come again next time, see how I deal with these people."
Mo Lingxi glanced at her, wondering where this woman kept her poisons that she could produce them at any moment.
"Mo Lingxi."
Tao Lengshuang changed to a smiling face, her voice gentle. "I want to discuss something with you."
Mo Lingxi shivered involuntarily, disgusted. "No discussion!"
Tao Lengshuang closed the main door and tugged at his sleeve. "It's a big matter, a very important matter."
Mo Lingxi instantly moved far away from her and forcefully patted the sleeve she had touched, not hiding his disgust. "I will never touch you again."
Touching her back then was out of necessity and planning.
Hearing this, Tao Lengshuang really wanted to retort to Mo Lingxi, but considering the spatial medicine garden, she had to endure it.
"I'm not here to discuss that with you, but to discuss winter supplies."
She forced a fake smile and said sternly, "As you know, winter is approaching, and there aren't many supplies in town. I was thinking, could you hunt more in the mountains and store as many supplies as possible to get through the winter?"
Mo Lingxi grasped the key point, his brow furrowed slightly. "Why wouldn't there be many supplies in town?"
Tao Lengshuang recounted what she had seen and heard in town, and explained that the increased taxes had caused unrest among the people, making everyone want to hoard more supplies.
After listening, Mo Lingxi's eyes deepened, lost in thought.
Tao Lengshuang then mentioned asking him to hunt in the mountains.
Mo Lingxi grunted and returned to his room.
Tao Lengshuang couldn't tell if he had agreed or not. She went to the kitchen to continue processing the chickens, ducks, and pigs, thinking of making some preserved eggs and pickles later, at least to have some vegetables for the winter.
Vegetables...
Pickled cabbage.
Her eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed. During this season, vegetables were the scarcest. Even cabbage was rarely seen, and it was very expensive, not cost-effective.
She had to think if there were other ways to hoard more supplies.
She subconsciously glanced at the spatial medicine garden.
Seeing that the area of the spatial medicine garden had not expanded, and only the medicinal herbs swayed in the wind, she sighed. If only these herbs could all be turned into supplies, how wonderful that would be.
She also wished she could turn all these herbs into silver, or exchange them for supplies.
But it was too conspicuous. If she wasn't careful, it would bring her trouble. Moreover, she needed to keep some of the medicinal herbs.
Frowning, she sighed again. What could she do?
Just as Tao Lengshuang was worrying about supplies, she heard a knock on the door.
This time, it was Luo Yang, dressed refreshingly and elegantly, carrying a basket of eggs.
"Sister-in-law."
Luo Yang smiled gently, as if there were no past grievances between her and Tao Lengshuang. "I've come to apologize. My family had no choice back then, which is why we did those things."
As she spoke, she handed the basket to Tao Lengshuang, her eyes scanning around for Mo Lingxi's whereabouts.
Upon seeing her attire, Tao Lengshuang knew she was here for Mo Lingxi. She curved her lips. "Mo Lingxi, your lover is looking for you. Look how nicely she's dressed."
Her voice wasn't quiet, and it immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding neighbors who came to watch the spectacle.