Chapter 200

Chapter 200

Grandma Lu’s Scolding

She told Old Hu that it was the only opportunity. Though she trusted him, she politely declined his help because of his age and not wanting to overburden him. In the end, the village head couldn’t stand to see her struggle and called the Lu family over to assist, keeping Lu Yuan from collapsing under the strain.

“If you don’t trust others, can’t you at least trust your own family?” Grandma Lu scolded her granddaughter, her heart aching to see her so exhausted.

Lu Yuan’s hands trembled from fatigue as she replied dejectedly, “I didn’t want to trouble you all, and besides, it’s my fault for not being careful enough, allowing the crops to be ruined.”

“What nonsense! Those shameless people dared to harm the villagers for their own gain. Who knows what other evil they might commit? This is pure wickedness—it has nothing to do with you!” Grandma Lu comforted her granddaughter while angrily cursing, wishing she could drag the culprit out and give them a beating.

Lu Fang and Lu Zheng exchanged glances before stepping in to calm her, worried that her anger might harm her health.

“Mom, we’ll track down the culprit eventually. For now, let’s focus on handling things so we don’t delay Nan Nan’s important matters!”

At these words, Grandma Lu immediately fell silent.

She quickly assigned tasks to the family members and then shooed them off to work.

Seeing the Lu family still working tirelessly in the withered fields, the villagers could only sigh. No one dared say anything, knowing that anyone who took advantage of the situation would be roundly condemned.

Whatever the grudge—even if it led to violence—destroying crops through underhanded means was unforgivable.

Crops were the most precious thing, and whoever had destroyed them was undoubtedly evil.

The villagers felt uneasy at the thought of such a person living among them, fearing they might be targeted without warning.

When Lin Nannan returned, the Lu family was still hard at work. Seeing the villagers gathered around while the Lu family labored, she understood their distrust—they feared the culprit might be hiding among them.

There was no solution unless the poisoner was found.

Taking a deep breath, she moved to join the work when Lu Ding called out to her.

“Nan Nan, where’s A Hang and the others?” he asked.

Lin Nannan had stopped him from asking earlier, but given the severity of the situation, his concern was understandable.

After a moment’s thought, worried that villagers might enter the mountains for firewood, she pulled the village head aside and briefly explained the previous and current incidents. She suggested, “I don’t know what’s in the mountains, but if those people aren’t done yet and return, the villagers could be in danger. Find an excuse to keep them from going into the hills.”

“Good grief!” Lu Ding gasped, shocked by the earlier incident. He began to panic.

“What could be in those mountains? Why would they go there?”

Lin Nannan shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“We’ll need to investigate further to find out. But this time, all the suspects were captured, so we might learn something. The most pressing concern is that winter’s coming. If villagers go into the mountains for firewood, they might encounter danger—and it won’t just be injuries. Those people would surely silence any witnesses.” She wasn’t exaggerating; the danger was real.

Knowing Lin Nannan wasn’t one to make baseless claims, Lu Ding nodded solemnly in understanding.

He would make sure the entire village knew. But if anyone ignored the warning and got hurt, they’d have only themselves to blame.