She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

Fortunately, after two days of diligent study, the villagers have mastered the methods of identifying and harvesting some common medicinal herbs, so Shen Man and Lan Xiang no longer need to go up the mountain.

These past two days, leaving early and returning late, have exhausted both mother and daughter, especially Shen Man. No matter how hard she can endure, she is still just a three-year-old child, and the physical fatigue is really unbearable.

Therefore, on the third day, they planned to rest at home for a day and then go to cultivate the newly purchased wasteland after they had recovered.

After breakfast, Shen Man went out. She planned to take a walk by the river and collect some wild duck eggs to improve her meals.

The eggs that Sun's wife brought over were too precious to eat, so she returned them to her yesterday, asking her to help hatch them into chicks.

Once the chicks hatch, she'll bring them home to raise. That way, they'll have an endless supply of chickens and eggs.

After giving Shen Man a few instructions, Lanxiang went back to her room alone and began sewing winter clothes for both Shen Man and herself.

Just as she was concentrating on her needlework, a man's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard: "Are you sure she lives here?"

"Yes, this is it!"

Lanxiang, curious, put down her work, opened the door, and went out.

Upon seeing the person who had come to the courtyard, her face turned deathly pale.

Lanxiang knew all three of them: her father-in-law Zhao Shuiwang, her husband's elder brother Zhao Yuanqing who died young, and the hunter Zhao San.

Upon seeing these people, Lanxiang immediately recalled the hardships she had endured in the Zhao family, and a sense of fear arose inexplicably in her heart.

Shen Man wasn't home at the time. Her house was at the entrance of the village, some distance away from the houses of other villagers, making it almost impossible for her to ask for help from others.

Lanxiang instinctively took a step back, wanting to go back into the house, but Zhao Yuanqing quickly stepped forward and grabbed her arm. His hand gripped her tightly like an iron clamp, making it impossible for her to break free.

"Lanxiang, it really is you! Why did you run away when you saw us? We have something to tell you." Zhao Yuanqing said viciously, his eyes flashing with greed and malice.

Back when she lived in the Zhao family, Zhao Yuanqing and his wife often bullied her, so Lanxiang was genuinely afraid of him.

"What do you want? Let me go!"

Lanxiang struggled frantically, trying to break free from Zhao Yuanqing's grasp. But her strength was far inferior to his, and she was unable to escape.

Zhao Yuanqing sneered, pulled hard, dragged Lanxiang into the yard, and slammed her heavily to the ground, causing Lanxiang to almost burst into tears from the pain.

"You shameless woman, don't push your luck!"

Zhao Yuanqing cursed viciously, "My mother is sick. I heard you've made a lot of money selling herbs lately, so hand over the money right now to pay for my mother's treatment!"

Lanxiang stared in horror at the three people in front of her, her heart filled with despair.

She knew these people had ill intentions and wouldn't give up until they achieved their goal. But that money was her only means of survival; if she lost it, how would she and her daughter survive?

"I have no money……"

Before Lanxiang could finish speaking, Zhao Yuanqing interrupted her. "Enough nonsense! Father, Third Brother, I'll watch her. You go inside and search."

As soon as he finished speaking, the other two rushed into the house.

"Stop right there! Don't come into my house!" Lanxiang shouted hoarsely, but Zhao Shuiwang and Zhao San ignored her and went straight into the house.

"Your family? Hahaha, don't forget that you are the daughter-in-law that my Zhao family paid money to marry. You've been away from home for so many years, and you don't serve your parents-in-law. Where is the slightest bit of a daughter-in-law? Lanxiang, you were born a member of my Zhao family, and you will die a ghost of my Zhao family. You want to get rid of us and live a happy life on your own? No way!" Zhao Yuanqing immediately scolded Lanxiang upon hearing her words.

"You were the ones who beat and scolded me, and kicked me out of the Zhao family. Now you're saying I'm the Zhao family's daughter-in-law. No matter what you say, you're always right. I'd rather die than give you this money!" Lanxiang shouted angrily. "This is money I earned with my own hard work. Why should I give it to you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanqing became enraged and raised his hand to slap Lanxiang.

Just then, a small figure rushed over and shielded Lanxiang with his own body.

"Don't you dare bully my mother!" Shen Man's eyes widened in anger as she stared intently at Zhao Yuanqing.

Zhao Yuanqing was intimidated by Shen Man's imposing aura and stood frozen in place, unsure of how to respond.

"Man'er, get away from me!" Lanxiang was extremely anxious, worried that her daughter would be hurt, and hurriedly pulled her behind her. "Mother is fine, don't worry."

Shen Man didn't speak, but her gaze remained fixed on Zhao Yuanqing.

"Hmph, you shameless slut who didn't keep her husband's ways, you actually had a child with someone else! What about my dead brother? Today I will definitely take you and your daughter back to Dahe Village and drown you in a pig cage together!" Zhao Yuanqing said viciously, while reaching out to try to grab Shen Man.

However, just as his hand was about to touch Shen Man, he suddenly felt a sharp pain. It turned out that a bright green snake was wrapped around Shen Man's hand and was biting his wrist.

Zhao Yuanqing was terrified and tried desperately to break free, but the snake only bit harder.

"Ouch, that hurts so much!" Zhao Yuanqing cried out, quickly pulling his hand back. The spot where he had been bitten by the snake swelled up rapidly. "You, you damned brat, how dare you release a snake to hurt someone! I'll beat you to death!"

Enraged, Zhao Yuanqing raised his fist and slammed it at Shen Man.

Shen Man, however, remained unfazed, coldly staring at Zhao Yuanqing, and said loudly, "This is a seven-step snake, and its venom is extremely potent. The more agitated you are after being bitten, the faster you will die. At your rate, you'll collapse and die in less than fifteen minutes. Enjoy your last moments! Xiao Qing, there are two more bad guys inside. Come with me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanqing turned deathly pale and froze, stammering, "You...you have a way to save me?"

"Save you? Why would I save a villain like you?"

Shen Man ignored his pleas for mercy and led Xiao Qing into the house.

As Zhao Yuanqing watched Shen Man's indifferent departing figure, his fear intensified. He knew that his life was now completely in her hands.

"Young lady, please spare my life, I will never dare to do it again... I will do anything as long as you save me..." Zhao Yuanqing pleaded repeatedly.

Shen Man turned around and looked at him coldly, "So you're scared now? Where did your arrogance go?"

"It was my fault. I shouldn't have listened to your slander and caused you trouble... I'm willing to compensate you, please be lenient..." Zhao Yuanqing said, slapping himself in the face.

Shen Man thought for a moment and said, "I can save you, but you have to agree to one condition."