Exile after Divorce? Empty the Scumbag Husband First!-Chapter 324 - 316: Ever Since Mrs. Wang Took Over the Orchard, Their Relationship Grew Closer
Others joyfully gave him good things to eat.
His mother, Mrs. Wang, fearing he’d break decorum, hurriedly scolded him from the side: "Stand still for me! You must not be so rude! How did your mother teach you? Whatever you want, you must ask Miss Ruan first."
Lin hurriedly returned the candies, cupped his hands politely, and spoke to Ruan Mian: "Miss Ruan is beautiful and kind-hearted, surely she will satisfy a little child’s craving for sweets. The more candies, the better! Right?"
Ruan Mian was amused by the boy, couldn’t help but touch his chubby cheek, and decisively handed an entire plate of candies to him.
Not only that, but Rui, too, displayed great camaraderie, knowing his fondness for sweets, he gave his share to him as well.
This made Lin so happy that he promptly shouted: "Rui is my best brother! So righteous!"
Mrs. Wang was also helpless. Seeing Ruan Mian smiling brightly, she could only say: "I hope Miss Ruan won’t laugh, Lin becomes more unruly as he grows."
"Sister Wang, you worry too much. Lin still has the innocence of a child, and is obedient and gentle, and who in the village does not like him. This is all because you taught him well."
Ever since the orchard was handed over to Mrs. Wang to manage, the relationship between the two had become much closer.
Mrs. Wang, two years older, thought there was no need to be so distant, and suggested that Ruan Mian and she address each other as sisters.
After all, the two families had suffered together, and the past grudges had long disappeared in their interactions.
Both sides cherished the hard-won life, especially Mrs. Wang, who knew well her current good days, were due in great part to Ruan Mian.
Looking around, who would have thought that this bustling Jinsha Village was once a desolate land with no one setting foot?
Initially, they were forced to retreat into Longchang Mountain due to Wuheng’s rebellion and subsequent snow disaster.
It was Ruan Mian who taught them to build houses, construct water channels, plant crops, and eventually do business.
Every plant and tree here held extraordinary significance for her.
However, the sudden appearance of Feng disrupted her plans, forcing the departure of that woman.
That woman was Wen Qiang, following orders to come here.
She intended to find another suitable opportunity to enter, but guests were gradually dispersing at this moment, so she had to restrain herself for now.
Nevertheless, she did not leave Jinsha Village immediately, instead she went to a secluded courtyard.
Inside the house, only a faint oil lamp was lit, as she pushed the door open, she saw an old woman with a limp leg lying on the bed, unable to move, her face gloomy and full of despair.
Upon sensing the disturbance, the old woman suddenly looked back!
Seeing Wen Qiang’s strange face, her expression slightly changed in shock, and she hurriedly questioned: "Who are you?!"
Wen Qiang took out a bottle of medicinal powder from her sleeve and placed it on the worn-out stool beside the bed.
She stood by the bed without expression, staring at the old woman and said: "It doesn’t matter who I am, but if you don’t treat that wound, it might fester and kill you."
"Your son Yan Yi died an unjust death, and now the Yan Family is all but extinct, leaving only an old, half-dead widow like you. Are you so desperate now you want to end it all?"
"But how can you be willing?"
Her cold sneer, every word like a dagger fiercely stabbing into the old woman’s heart.
This old woman turned out to be the one crippled by her daughter-in-law on that day, the old woman of the Yan Family.
Her son and daughter-in-law both died that day, and the murderer Ruan Qingsong now lived peacefully in the village.
That day, the Ruan Family even had a lively and grand wedding!!
While her own situation was lonely and desolate, even though she knew nothing of this woman, every word she spoke struck at the very core of the old woman’s heart.
She dreamed of personally avenging her son and making the Ruan Family pay with their lives.
But given her current state, how could she possibly seek justice for her son!!
She looked at the bottle of medicine handed over by the woman, her hands trembling as she picked it up.
Just as she touched the bottle, Wen Qiang suddenly withdrew her hand!
The old woman’s expression changed slightly, meeting her gaze with unease in her heart: "You..."
"With your strength alone, it would be difficult to seek justice for your son, but I can."
"Auntie, you are at the brink of death, nothing in this world worth lingering for, but if you die just like that, it’d be a shame for your son. If you can do this for him..."
"What do you want?"
Before Wen Qiang could finish, the old woman interrupted: "And what do you want me to do?"
Wen Qiang smiled faintly, seeing the old woman’s sensibility, she relaxed her grip, allowing her to take the bottle of medicine.
Then she slowly said: "What I want you to do is not difficult."
In recent days, as the weather warmed, the ice on the Linfen River had completely melted.
Only the mountain tops still had snow accumulated.
With Lord Lin currently overseeing, all the townspeople began to get busy.
He first allocated a suitable land outside the city, dividing it equally among each household based on area.
Then, on the public account, bought many seeds from Ruan Mian to distribute among every household. Of course, Ruan Mian offered the seeds at the cheapest price.
They were mostly seeds cultivated from within the space, more resilient than ordinary crops when planted.
This season was just right for mass planting of spring wheat, and the seedlings cultivated in the space grew splendidly, their growth cycles shortened compared to the non-hybridized varieties.
Seeing such remarkable results, people were immensely grateful to Ruan Mian.
Especially Lin Yuantang, who besides handling official duties, personally inspected the plantation sites daily.
In his leisure time, he would even work alongside the people in the fields.
Approachable, without any bureaucratic airs, and even for ordinary criminals, he could make specific assignments based on the crimes they committed.
Unlike the former governor who sought only to exploit and plunder, he mainly assigned the exiles to places where they were needed.
For instance, reclaiming wasteland, digging water channels, constructing urban areas, etc.
These laborers needed to be utilized efficiently in critical areas.
Though the work was tough, Lin Yuantang never mistreated them. Daily rations, accommodation, and even work efficiency were allocated reasonably, which was a gesture of great mercy to them.
In this way, within a month, Wuheng was completely transformed.
However, during this hectic farming season, everyone was too busy to pay attention to minor matters.
That day, Ruan Mian was just about to leave to visit the Mulberry Garden, but the steward from the school hurriedly came running: "Miss Ruan! Please hurry to the school, Lady Zhang’s child has been missing all day, and is causing a commotion there, no one can console her."
Ruan Mian frowned slightly, puzzled: "Her child hasn’t returned all day?"
When she reached the school, she found many people gathered, and Lady Zhang was sitting on the ground crying bitterly.
"Did anyone see my child? I’ve searched the entire village and found no trace, after he went to school yesterday, he hasn’t been seen again, my husband and I searched all night! Now my husband has gone deep into the mountains, still no sign of him!"
