Chapter 7

Team members each showed a look of disappointment on their faces, with several almost wanting to speak, watching Ye Heng sigh repeatedly.

Even Sun Hao felt a jolt in his heart.

"Old Ye, is what Miss Lin really wants those useless things? Our water and fine grain and such—what did you use to exchange with her?"

Sun Hao asked urgently, fearing that Ye Heng, for the sake of everyone in the shelter, had secretly made some trade that harmed himself.

Thinking about it now, this is just absurd—just those supplies, even if placed in the Evolution Special Zone, would be valuable beyond measure; how could they possibly be exchanged for worthless gold, silver, and jewels?

Ye Heng definitely has something big he's hiding from him.

Sun Hao stared intently at Ye Heng, but even so, Ye Heng could not possibly reveal the secret between him and Lin Meng.

"Those are Miss Lin's kindness, sent to us—believe me, Miss Lin indeed only wants gold, silver, and jewels, and she has promised that as long as we help her gather valuable things, she will provide us with material support."

"You also don't need to ask more; just follow instructions."

Ye Heng's attitude was firm, and the team members had no recourse.

But everyone knew in their hearts that this was very strange; they didn't believe such a good deal could fall to them in this world—who would trade precious food for scrap copper and iron? Gold, silver, and jewels are impossible to gather.

Rather than waste that time, it would be better to kill a few more mutant beasts, gather more crystal cores, and take them to the outskirts of the Evolution Special Zone to exchange for some supplies.

Ye Heng saw that everyone didn't believe him, and he couldn't well say that the spaces were connected, so he didn't know how to explain for a moment.

Just then, he suddenly felt a large amount of items pouring into the space.

Ye Heng quickly extended his mental power into the space, and when he saw clearly those several huge water buckets, he was startled to the point of almost jumping up.

Lin Meng sensed Ye Heng's appearance and also quickly entered the space.

Seeing the blurry figure, Ye Heng was overjoyed, just about to speak, but remembering that others were present, he could only communicate with Lin Meng via mental power.

"Miss Lin, are these supplies all for us?"

"Of course, please check them—I bought a total of eight large water buckets, filled with water from our own well, clean and hygienic, safe to drink directly."

"I also simply bought some food for you—steamed buns and baozi just out of the pot; the baozi besides pork and scallion filling also have some sweet red bean and sesame filling; plus I bought some freshly baked sweet potatoes and some oranges."

"I don't have much money; buying these things in town is still convenient, so let's make do for now—once I have money, I'll definitely provide you with better stuff."

Lin Meng naturally also wanted to buy more and better, but the problem is she just graduated not long ago and quit her job, her own finances are tight, she really lacks the ability, so she can only make do for now.

But for Ye Heng, this is not at all making do.

He looked at that warm, soft, steaming big baozi and couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

"Miss Lin, these are already the best things we've seen for us—rest assured, I will today give you the reward you want."

After Ye Heng severed the connection with the space, he stood up with an excited expression.

"Everyone rested up? Let's set off immediately, striving to collect as much gold, silver, and jewels as possible before dark!"

After Ye Heng finished speaking, not a single person followed him into action—even Sun Hao sat silently to the side, looking as if he wanted to speak but held back.

Ye Heng knew what they were thinking, so he decisively pulled out from the space a baozi larger than an adult's fist.

The baozi was still warm, soft and sticky in his hand; Ye Heng held it gently, not daring to damage or waste it.

"This is advance payment from our employer; as long as we find enough gold, silver, and jewels, there will be many more baozi like this!"

This time, Ye Heng's adrenaline-fueled excitement finally got a response.

The team members all rose excitedly, their eyes fixed on the baozi in Ye Heng's hand, each heartbeat quickening, extremely excited.

If the dangerous environment didn't forbid loud shouting, right now everyone would probably cheer out loud.

Having gotten enough sweetness, Ye Heng immediately put the baozi away, then looked at everyone with a stern face.

"Listen up, everyone—our employer has no obligation to help us; you've also seen that the food she provides us, even the upper-class citizens of the Evolution Special Zone might not necessarily get to eat, yet she only wants us to exchange gold, silver, and jewels."

"From now on, don't let me hear any more words doubting her, or else……"

Ye Heng's sharp gaze swept over each person; many who had just been muttering in their hearts lowered their heads in shame.

Sun Hao felt even more guilty and embarrassed, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Old Ye, it was just my mistaken thought—you must absolutely not tell her; I will surely revere her as a god from now on."

"……"

On Lin Meng's side, after confirming Ye Heng had received the supplies, she was about to go to the village ancestral hall to bring back her grandfather's spirit tablet, when unexpectedly several uncles came to the door.

At that time, over half the villagers blocked the entrance to Lin Meng's moderately sized courtyard, even the Village Head came.

Leading the group, Elder Uncle Lin Jianyang had a dark, sullen face; seeing Lin Meng appear, his chest visibly heaved violently.

"Yo, Elder Uncle, what a big temper—who provoked you?"

Lin Meng opened the courtyard gate, and as soon as she spoke, she made Elder Uncle Lin Jianyang snort angrily through his nostrils, his face turning even uglier.

Elder Aunt Wang stared viciously at Lin Meng, unwillingly throwing a booklet at her feet, speaking in a harsh tone:

"You're a young lady, not bad at your abilities, but I don't know what kind of bewitching soup you gave the Fifth Lord who lent you money—consider yourself capable!"

The several aunts who came along looked at Lin Meng with scrutiny and contempt, and the onlooking villagers also pointed and gossiped about her.

From those idle chatter, Lin Meng gathered roughly that the debt-collecting Fifth Lord had personally sought out Lin Jianyang, demanding he return the property deed, otherwise he'd make him look bad.

From the villagers' tone, that Fifth Lord is not to be provoked; although Lin Jianyang is the wealthiest village bully in Lin Jia Cun, in their eyes he's just a small fry.

No wonder Aunt Wang is so hostile toward me—it turns out the property deed she had clutched and warmed in her hands flew away.

Lin Meng picked up the property deed, confirmed it was correct, then simply leaned against the doorframe, leisurely watching their performance.

"Lin Meng, as an elder I must remind you: a debt of over three million is not something a little girl like you can afford; you should inquire about the Fifth Lord's background—you'll know that if you don't repay his money promptly, you'll regret it."

Lin Jianyang's words sounded like advice but were actually a threat, which naturally couldn't scare Lin Meng.

If it were before, she might have weighed the pros and cons a bit, but now……

"This is no trouble for Elder Uncle—Grandfather's debt I will surely repay in full, letting him rest in peace underground; as for you, don't even think about scheming on the old house—if Grandfather knew you were up to no good, he'd surely rise from his grave in anger to teach you a lesson!"

"You!" Lin Jianyang's face twitched with rage, the flesh on his cheeks shaking; finally he let out a heavy cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and stormed off angrily.

Lin Meng cracked a smile, while thinking inside, since Grandfather could give her a dream, he might really have the ability to crawl out of his grave.

By then I'll scare the piss out of this ungrateful brood!