Reborn and married in a swapped marriage, my aloof husband is too ruthless.

News of the plague spread like wildfire throughout the city.

The once bustling streets are now deserted, with every household keeping their doors closed and everyone feeling insecure.

The air was thick with fear and the scent of death, as if an invisible giant hand had gripped everyone's throats.

Su Jinxin's shop business was naturally hit hard.

The once bustling crowds have vanished, and the dazzling array of goods goes unnoticed.

The accountant, looking distressed, held the ledger and said to Su Jinxin with a mournful expression, "Madam, this...this business...I'm afraid it's going to fail..."

Su Jinxin frowned slightly, but did not show much worry.

She knew that panicking at this moment would be useless; only by controlling the epidemic as soon as possible could she stabilize public sentiment and revive the economy.

"Stay calm, don't panic," Su Jinxin said calmly, reassuring the accountant. "Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up!"

She made a quick decision to start with the medicinal herbs.

Medicinal herbs are key to controlling the epidemic.

She immediately sent someone to Sun's Pharmacy, the largest pharmacy in the city, to buy medicinal herbs.

However, when the waiter returned panting to report, Su Jinxin's face instantly darkened.

"That old bastard at Sun's Pharmacy actually raised prices tenfold!" the shop assistant reported indignantly. "This is simply profiteering during a national crisis!"

Su Jinxin sneered, "Heh, this old bastard, he really won't shed a tear until he sees the coffin." She had long expected that this Sun Pharmacy owner was a profit-driven swindler, and that he would definitely take the opportunity to make a fortune under these circumstances.

"Madam, what should we do now?" the waiter asked anxiously.

A cold glint flashed in Su Jinxin's eyes: "Since he's so ruthless, don't blame me for being ruthless too. Let's go, we'll go and meet him ourselves!"

Su Jinxin, accompanied by several guards, arrived at Sun's Pharmacy in a menacing manner.

The pharmacy's doors were tightly shut, and faint coughing could be heard coming from inside.

Su Jinxin pounded on the door a few times, and after a while, a shop assistant poked his head out and asked warily, "Who is it?"

"Open the door, the Su family has arrived!" Su Jinxin's tone was icy and left no room for argument.

The waiter recognized Su Jinxin and, not daring to delay, quickly opened the door.

Su Jinxin walked straight into the pharmacy and immediately saw Boss Sun sitting behind the counter.

Upon seeing Su Jinxin, Boss Sun immediately plastered on a fake smile: "Oh, Madam Su, it's an honor to have you grace our humble abode! May I ask what brings you here today, Madam Su?"

Su Jinxin didn't waste any words with him and went straight to the point: "I've come to buy medicine."

"Buy medicine? Great, great!" Mr. Sun's eyes darted around, a greedy glint in his eyes. "What medicine does Madam Su need? Just tell me, my pharmacy has everything!"

“I want…” Su Jinxin paused deliberately, observing Boss Sun’s expression, before slowly saying, “I want as many medicinal herbs as there are that can cure the plague.”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Sun was immediately overjoyed.

He rubbed his hands together and said in a fawning tone, "Madam Su has excellent taste; this place is just what I need..."

Suddenly, a violent cough interrupted him.

A waiter emerged, clutching his chest and pale-faced, groaning in pain, "Boss... I... I'm not feeling well..."

Boss Sun's expression changed, and he shoved the waiter aside, shouting sternly, "Get out! Don't get in the way!"

The man staggered back a few steps, then collapsed helplessly to the ground...

Su Jinxin watched this scene coldly, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes.

She spoke slowly, her tone as cold as ice: "Mr. Sun, are you sure you really have everything here?"

Mr. Sun's smile froze, his eyes flickered, and he stammered, "This...this...it was just an accident...Madam Su, the medicinal herbs you requested, I...I will definitely prepare them for you..."

Su Jinxin sneered: "Prepare everything? I see you're almost out of people, how can you possibly prepare everything? You're trying to profit from the dead!"

Mr. Sun's face turned pale and then red, as he stammered, "Mrs. Su, your words are too harsh... I... I'm a victim too..."

Su Jinxin was too lazy to waste any more words with him, and turned to the guards behind her, ordering, "Go, seal this place off!"

The guards immediately stepped forward, locked the pharmacy door tightly, and affixed a seal to the entrance.

Upon seeing this, Boss Sun panicked and knelt down before Su Jinxin with a thud, crying out, "Madam Su, please spare me! I know I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again..."

Su Jinxin looked down at him, her eyes icy: "Now you know you're wrong? Too late! A shrewd businessman like you deserves to be punished!"

Yan Chengan held Su Jinxin's hand tightly and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I will always be by your side." Su Jinxin looked up at him, her eyes full of dependence, and nodded slightly.

After dealing with the matter of Sun's Pharmacy, Su Jinxin did not let her guard down.

She knew that simply closing down one pharmacy wouldn't solve the fundamental problem.

With a shortage of medicinal herbs in the city and the spread of the epidemic, it is imperative to find new sources of medicinal herbs as soon as possible.

Based on her memories from her previous life, Su Jinxin knew that there might still be some herbs in a herb garden outside the city, so she immediately decided to send someone to check it out.

"Guard Zhang, take a few men and head to the Hundred Herbs Garden outside the city immediately to see if you can find any medicinal herbs," Su Jinxin instructed.

Guard Zhang accepted the order and was about to set off when suddenly his face turned pale, he swayed, and began to cough, clutching his chest.

"Guard Zhang, what's wrong?" Su Jinxin asked with concern.

Guard Zhang was pale, forcing a smile: "Madam, I...I'm fine..."

Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious…

Su Jinxin's expression changed drastically, and an ominous premonition rose in her heart... "Quick, go and fetch a doctor!"

Doctor Wang rushed over and, after examining the patient, shook his head with a grave expression: "Madam Su, Guard Zhang... has contracted the plague."

Su Jinxin's heart sank. Had the epidemic already spread to her vicinity?

She forced herself to remain calm, ordered her men to isolate Zhang, and instructed Doctor Wang to do his best to treat him.

Meanwhile, the people sent to the Herb Garden returned, bringing back several cartloads of herbs.

Although the quantity is limited, it is undoubtedly a timely help in the current predicament.

The people who had been gathered in front of the Su residence with worried faces suddenly had hope in their eyes when they saw the herbs, and they all looked at Su Jinxin with gratitude.

"Madam Su is truly a living Bodhisattva!" "Madam Su, you saved the lives of everyone in our city!" Praises poured in like a tidal wave.

Su Jinxin, however, could not be happy. Zhang Huwei's illness made her realize that the epidemic was more serious than she had imagined.

Just then, Magistrate Li arrived at the Su residence with a group of yamen runners.

Upon seeing the courtyard full of medicinal herbs, his face immediately darkened, and he shouted sternly, "Su Jinxin, how dare you! During the epidemic, you dare to collect herbs without permission! Do you know your crime?!"

Su Jinxin sneered: "Magistrate Li, the city is currently facing a severe shortage of medicinal herbs, and the people are in imminent danger. I did this to save lives! Is that a crime?"

Magistrate Li declared righteously, "During the epidemic, all medicinal herbs must be allocated by the government. Your unauthorized collection of herbs disrupts market order, making your crime even more serious! Guards, confiscate all these herbs!"

Su Jinxin's eyes turned cold: "Magistrate Li, are you just going to watch the people die of illness?"

Magistrate Li snorted coldly: "I have my own arrangements, you don't need to worry about it! Men, make your move!"

Just as the constables were about to step forward, Yan Cheng'an suddenly stood up, blocking Su Jinxin's way, and coldly looked at Magistrate Li: "Lord Li, let's see who dares to make a move!"

Magistrate Li's expression changed. Yan Cheng'an's status and position were extraordinary, and he dared not offend him easily.

He suppressed his anger and said, "Young Master Yan, this matter is of great importance. Please do not interfere!"

Yan Cheng'an's eyes sharpened: "Lord Li, you keep saying you're doing this for the people, but your actions are putting them to death! I want to see if you dare to touch these medicinal herbs today!"

The two were on the verge of exchanging blows, the atmosphere extremely tense... Su Jinxin looked at Yan Chengan's resolute back and felt a warm current welling up in her heart.

She gently took his hand and whispered, "My husband..."

Yan Chengan gripped Su Jinxin's hand tightly and gave her a reassuring look.

He turned to look at Magistrate Li, his tone as cold as ice in the dead of winter: "Lord Li, I advise you to think twice. You must not touch these medicinal herbs."

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Magistrate Li's forehead.

Yan Cheng'an is not someone he can easily provoke.

He was resentful that Su Jinxin had taken away his chance to "show his skills" during the epidemic.

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, a shrill voice came from the crowd: "Young Master Yan, Madam Su, are you trying to rebel?! Hoarding and speculating, disrupting the market, what is your crime?!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Sun Fugui, the owner of Sun Pharmacy, walking over with a big belly and winking, looking just like a fat toad.

"Lord Li, I witnessed with my own eyes that Madam Su was hoarding medicinal herbs and driving up prices. Her crimes are heinous and she must be severely punished!"

Su Jinxin sneered. This Sun Fugui was really like a leech, always there.

"Mr. Sun, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. When did I ever raise prices?"

Sun Fugui said smugly, "Madam Su, you have all these herbs in your yard, but you refuse to use them to help the people. Aren't you just waiting to sell them at a high price? Your wishful thinking is really something! Everyone here knows that you, Madam Su, are now richer than a country. You are clearly trying to take advantage of the national crisis and make a fortune from it!"

The surrounding people began to whisper among themselves, and their gazes toward Su Jinxin were filled with suspicion.

Su Jinxin cursed inwardly, thinking that Sun Fugui was a real old fox who had swayed the situation with just a few words.

Before she could explain, Yan Cheng'an interrupted, saying, "Boss Sun, it's a shame you're not a storyteller with your talent for twisting the truth. I'll make this clear today: these medicinal herbs won't be sold for a single penny! They'll all be given away to the people for free!"

As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

The people were instantly overjoyed, their gratitude overflowing.

"Young Master Yan is righteous!" "Madam Su is kind!" Praises once again resounded through the sky.

Sun Fugui was dumbfounded; this was not the script he had expected!

He originally intended to use this opportunity to suppress Su Jinxin and then take the opportunity to raise the price of his own medicines to make a hefty profit.

Unexpectedly, Yan Cheng'an pulled this stunt, directly cutting off his source of income.

He was sweating profusely and stammered, "This...this won't do...this..."

Magistrate Li was also stunned; Yan Cheng'an's actions had put him in a difficult position.

He glanced at Yan Cheng'an, then at the agitated crowd, and finally gritted his teeth, saying, "Since Young Master Yan is so generous, I naturally cannot stop him. However…" He paused deliberately, his eyes flickering, "This epidemic is spreading rapidly; with just these herbs, I'm afraid…"

Yan Cheng'an raised an eyebrow: "Does Lord Li have any brilliant ideas?"

Magistrate Li rubbed his hands together and revealed a meaningful smile: "In my humble opinion, perhaps..." He leaned close to Yan Cheng'an's ear and whispered a few words.

Upon hearing this, Yan Cheng'an's face instantly darkened, and his gaze shot towards Magistrate Li like a sharp blade: "Are you threatening me?"