Chapter 37: Winning People's Hearts

Actually, most of the people present still trusted Ding Zhangshan a lot, because when they were destitute and desperate, he took them in and has led them up to today.

"Since Uncle Ding said so, then we will believe you!"

"Exactly! Whatever Uncle Ding says to do, we will do!"

"Miss Shen, I was sorry just now…"

……

The wind shifted, and the refugees' gazes at her became much less guarded and distrustful.

Shen Qingquan was surprised; she hadn't expected them to trust her so quickly.

In fact, the reason she acted today was also to facilitate the upcoming mission. If people's hearts were scattered, it would certainly be detrimental to her plan.

"Everyone, first follow what Miss Shen just said; if there are any questions, ask me at any time, or Ding Tai."

Ding Zhangshan finally reminded everyone, then said to Ding Tai's mother, "Younger Sister, I'll go with Miss Shen first."

"You go ahead; I'll keep an eye on things here."

Ding Tai's mother patted her chest, and Shen Qingquan went up to Old Huang and Huang Yuanchang, "You two start preparing the decoction, I'll go back for a moment."

"Miss, be careful."

She nodded at the two, then turned and left with Ding Zhangshan and the others.

Suddenly, she seemed to sense something; she halted, lifted her head and looked into the distance.

Then, she met a pair of deep eyes.

She was startled, apparently not expecting to meet him here.

The White Young Master from next door.

He had appeared there at an unknown time, and had been watching for an unknown duration.

He wore a long great cloak, standing in the cold wind, his stature as smooth as jade, like a single refined brushstroke of a painting.

"Miss Shen?"

"It's fine, let's go."

She nodded toward the opposite side and hurried away.

Bai Yi watched her receding figure and withdrew his gaze.

"Return."

He gathered his great cloak and paced away.

……

Shen Qingquan used her consciousness to exchange the needed supplies in the system.

White vinegar 1 L × 20 bottles, 2 Gold Coins each, total 40 Gold Coins.

Alcohol 200 ml × 30 bottles, 1 Gold Coin each, total 30 Gold Coins.

Disinfectant 1 L × 10 bottles, 3 Gold Coins each, total 30 Gold Coins.

She thought for a moment, then opened the medicine section and bought Lotus Clear Plague Capsules and a certain region's Blue Anti‑Inflammatory Tablets.

Because the pills were too pricey, she bought only 10 boxes of each, which directly exhausted all the Gold Coins she had left.

Her heart ached, and she looked at her account balance with some gloom. If she ever went back to before liberation, when could she freely buy, buy, buy!

Forget it, you can't sacrifice the child to catch the wolf. To complete the mission, this expense is necessary. Moreover, to fulfill the plan in her heart, this step is indispensable.

She checked the warehouse again; the most abundant stock was Wheat, about 400 jin. Sweet Potato 80 jin, Millet 60 jin. In Denggu Alley, there were roughly four hundred refugees; this amount of food, if rationed, would last them about four to five days.

With the system, she felt very confident.

Shen Qingquan wanted power, and first she needed people in her hands. These refugees were her target.

Among the refugees, more than half were robust men, and villagers from Ding Village made up the majority. She had observed that the people of this village were very united, plain‑spoken, and grateful. Need not mention more; just from Ding Zhangshan and Ding Tai one can see it.

Since the two were promoted as the ones in charge, it showed that the villagers trusted them, so these villagers would not be lacking. Crucially, from her observation, Ding Zhangshan seemed to have been educated, spoke with reason and evidence, thought clearly, and was suitable for managing affairs.

As for Ding Tai, though a bit reckless, his skills were not lacking, and he was loyal and righteous. Such a person, once he deems someone or something worthy, will be absolutely loyal to the end.

She admired such people.

Therefore, she also felt the urge to recruit them.

Moreover, the task issued by the system was precisely to help them solve the plague disaster.

This hit the mark for her.

Shen Qingquan was not a naïvely kind-hearted person; on the contrary, to achieve her goals, she could get her hands stained with blood and use any means.

In this chaotic era, without an iron fist and scheming, one cannot obtain what one wants; that would be nothing but a fool's dream. So after rebirth, she discarded those pure and naive qualities.

She intends to ascend the pinnacle of power step by step, so that in this world nothing can ever restrain her again!

……

Shen Qingquan suddenly heard footsteps behind her, turned, and saw that the White Young Master had been following behind for an unknown time, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

Her gaze paused, and without saying anything she turned her head.

She vaguely felt a gaze fall on her, making her feel… like a sting on her back.

Her peripheral glance swept over his leg, long and straight.

He was truly tall; previously, seated in the carriage, she hadn't noticed. Now face to face, he gave her a sense of pressure.

In her previous life, Xiao Hanyuan had been frail and sickly since childhood, with an old leg ailment, so he mostly sat in a wheelchair. This person, however, clearly had no problem with his legs.

She once again found her absurd thought both laughable and ridiculous.

"Miss Shen, who are they...?"

Ding Zhangshan looked at the two, Shen Qingquan hesitated, and just as she didn't know how to introduce these two, the man beside her spoke up.

"I have not formally introduced myself; I am surnamed Bai, with the single given name Yi," he said, introducing himself, though his gaze remained on her.

"So you are the White Young Master, pleased to meet you, pleased to meet you."

Ding Zhangshan gave a friendly smile, "Are you two friends of Miss Shen?"

Bai Yi smiled half‑heartedly, neither confirming nor denying.

Ding Zhangshan asked a few questions, most of which Min Feng answered.

Ding Zhangshan still had impressions of the locals; these two had unfamiliar faces, and their aura made it clear they were no ordinary folk. Their clothing, speech, and demeanor… also didn't seem like those of Xiangcheng.

The same applied to Miss Shen.

Unwittingly, Min Feng began chatting with them; despite his usually reticent appearance, he turned out quite talkative. Ding Zhangshan, too, was a versatile person—seeming simple and sincere, yet actually very shrewd.

Before long, the two had become familiar, even addressing each other as brothers.

"Miss Shen wants to save them?"

A low, hoarse voice from beside came from Bai Yi, and Shen Qingquan only then realized that, somehow, the two had gotten so close.

She left the distance without a change of expression, offering no reply.

A light laugh sounded nearby, "Miss Shen, are you… afraid of me?"

A sudden thump under her foot, and in an instant, it felt as if she had returned to her previous life.

"Qingqing, you're very afraid of me?"

The images of two worlds, as if traversing time and space, converged at this moment.

She turned her head involuntarily, gazing at him deeply, "What I intend to do has nothing to do with Young Master Bai. Since you are injured and need convalescence, don't stay out in this cold wind, lest your condition worsens."

Having said that, she walked away on her own.

He watched her silhouette, squinting slightly.

Is it his illusion? She seems to have some inexplicable… guard against him? This book was first released on 17K Novel Network; see the official content right away!