In a year of natural disasters, the young woman had billions of resources to build a paradise.

Upon hearing this, the Jiang family members' expressions turned even uglier, and they had no choice but to start from the beginning.

“Your maternal grandparents came looking for us in the middle of the night, and that’s when we found out that you and your uncle were missing. We were discussing it when the house suddenly collapsed.”

As Li Shi spoke, a sudden thought flashed through her mind. "Third son, you said our house collapsed, could it be that damned girl's doing too? Could she... could she have such power?"

Jiang Jiman hated Jiang Mianmian to the core. He took a deep breath and nodded. "I guess this was all part of her plan!"

One thing leads to another: first they move things, then the houses collapse. Even if the earth dragon doesn't come down the mountain, they'll still be forced to enter the city, then they'll stay in the Lingxiao Tower, eat there, and then get poisoned!

He looked at the four large boxes again, and countless guesses arose in his mind.

Should we break it open or not? Will it be switched...?

"Our house was a brick and tile house, and it collapsed?"

Jiang Ranran couldn't believe it, but the Jiang family members were right in front of her, all looking disheveled, so she had no choice but to believe it.

If Jiang Mianmian really did this, then it's truly terrifying!

Her face turned deathly pale. "And then?"

"Then we all came to the city. Your grandmother and I came once, but Manager Wu wouldn't let us see you!"

Li complained, "You work in this building, how come you don't know how to get along with Manager Wu? We had to send two baskets of vegetables just to get a chance to see you."

"Two baskets of vegetables? Where did they come from? Why didn't you keep them for yourself?"

We're about to have to flee the famine, and vegetables are such a precious commodity. Why can't we think of another way?

Jiang Ranran was both anxious and angry, and blurted out what was on her mind, "Can you please stop being so stupid?"

"You...you actually said your mother is stupid?" Li's face was full of shock, and then tears fell down her cheeks. "You wouldn't happen to be possessed by a ghost like that brat, would you?"

"Alright! Let's get down to business!"

Jiang Chuan interrupted them impatiently, "We came here so you could tell Manager Wu that we're preparing to retreat eastward with the Ruyi Restaurant group."

"What? No!"

Jiang Ranran felt like the sky was falling. She had finally waited for the Jiang family to come, just to stay away from Wu Yong!

"Ranran, what's wrong with you today?"

Jiang Chuan felt that this daughter was very different from her usual gentle and considerate self.

His eyes swept over her and he noticed her injured foot. After thinking for a moment, he said softly, "Is your foot still bothering you? You still haven't told us how you got hurt, and how you ended up with that brat Jiang Mianmian and got home?"

Jiang Ranran didn't dare to say anything, so she just gave a few perfunctory replies and changed the subject.

He simply said, "Let's retreat eastward with the villagers. Ruyi Tower won't take so many of us for no reason." He was practically implying that they thought they were a burden.

Jiang Chuan looked at her with surprise, seemingly unaware of her presence. "Didn't you say you were a favorite cook at Ruyi Restaurant? Why won't they allow you to bring a few family members?"

Jiang Ranran couldn't explain that what she said before was just vanity. With her cooking skills, she could only manage to fool people normally, but now that the advantages of the Eight Treasures Powder were gone, and there was no new recipe, and she had become a cripple, why should anyone take them along?

"Alright, let's decide which team we retreat east with later. Ranran, get everyone something to eat first."

Jiang Jiman noticed her reluctance and changed the subject.

Jiang Ranran dared not refuse again and limped to the kitchen.

She had only taken a few steps when Wu Yong followed her from around the corner with an umbrella. "Ranran, don't walk so fast, be careful not to slip."

Jiang Ranran walked faster, her nose suddenly stung, and tears streamed down her face.

How can such a useless person compare to Brother Ye? I wonder if Brother Ye has any designs on her?

No, she absolutely couldn't just follow a good-for-nothing like this for nothing. She had to find a way to find Brother Ye! He must miss her too!

At the door of the servants' quarters, Jiang Jiman watched the two gradually disappear into the distance, and an idea formed in his mind.

After parting ways with the Jiang family, the Li family took three baskets of vegetables to the gambling den.

Old Mrs. Li kept smiling obsequiously, "Don't underestimate this dish just because it's not a fancy one. It's a rare find these days, and you can't even buy it if you want to."

"This little thing isn't worth twenty taels, but I can let you retreat eastward with our team. You can do some hard labor and work along the way, and I'll barely pay you a wage. This will also allow me to keep Li Mu here for the time being."

The guard picked up a radish, rinsed it with rainwater, and started crunching away at it.

After gnawing on half a radish, seeing the old lady still staring blankly at him, he said impatiently, "Have you thought it through?"

"I've thought it through, I'll do it your way!"

Grandma Li nodded and bowed, inwardly marveling.

I don't know how Jiang Mianmian managed to do that. How come the same food was fine for her family and the other prisoners, but not for the Jiang family? And Jiang Laosan's illness is different from others! Could it be that she didn't poison him, but that the Jiang family broke some taboo?

In any case, I should stay away from the Jiang family from now on. That family is an omen of bad luck!

As for that girl Jiang Mianmian, she's not someone to mess with!

I have to say, she's gotten smarter.

Jiang Mianmian used three layers of poison. Jiang Jiman was poisoned once when he was following her; later, when they were at the Jiang family home, they were all poisoned again; and the poison on the food was the third time.

The effects of the medicine vary with each layer. Food poisoning is harmless if not layered.

At this moment, Jiang Mianmian was unaware of the Jiang family's tragic state. She had already placed her index finger on the trigger. "Huh?"

The man with thick eyebrows was calculating in his mind.

No matter how fast or accurate her hidden arrows are, how could they possibly be a match for more than ten of them?

However, this would inevitably result in losses on their side, and they might even be killed instantly, just like Lao Ba.

We're about to retreat eastward. The more people we have on our side, the less others will dare to mess with us. It would be too much of a waste to suffer losses here just for a moment of anger.

At worst, I can always take the risk myself in the future. If it can avenge Lao Ba, I'm willing to give my life!

Just as he was about to speak, a large group of soldiers suddenly emerged from the city!

Leading the group was a fair-skinned young scholar. "Oh, it's so lively here? Han Sheng, weren't you here to distribute rations? Why haven't you started yet?"

The tense atmosphere eased.

Ye Hansheng excitedly ran and jumped, "Brother Shi! What brings you here!"

Jiang Mianmian's hand trembled, and she almost fired the shot. She quickly and discreetly put the gun back into the warehouse.

Turning his head, he saw Shi Yi leading dozens of soldiers, who surrounded the group of men in a grand procession.

No, how could he be here? Shouldn't they have dismissed these soldiers and retreated eastward long ago?

So dedicated, you still have to go back to the city to report on your work?