Village Chief Luo did not want to deal with them further. He signaled Shen Ershen and the other two to go back and inform Tao Lengshuang, saying he would handle the villagers.
Shen Ershen and the other two hurried back to the Mo family and explained the situation to Tao Lengshuang in detail.
Everyone, except Tao Lengshuang, was furious.
"This is outrageous! The Mo family is already struggling, and they expect us to help the villagers?"
"It seems like blood needs to be shed. Clearly, the villagers, desperate to survive, will rush to snatch things."
Tao Lengshuang calmly stated, "Then let blood be shed."
"Tonight, anyone who dares to come will either lose a limb or their life."
Shen Ershen and the other women were a bit scared. Uncle Shen Er and Uncle Wang San were fine, but the children didn't quite understand.
Tao Lengshuang said she would handle it and that someone would help her resolve the matter.
It was most reliable for the secret guards to handle it.
Shen Ershen and the others were reluctant, insisting they must help.
"We can't kill, but we're good at fighting."
"Yes, yes, beat them until they can't stand. Break one person's leg, and see if these villagers dare to come again."
Tao Lengshuang understood Shen Ershen's intentions and thought for a moment before making arrangements.
Tonight, she, Uncle Shen Er, Uncle Wang San, and Shen Ershen would stand guard. The others would watch the children and be ready in case of emergencies.
Furthermore, if any villagers came tonight, they were not to be polite; they were to beat them severely.
Shen Ershen and the others agreed.
As soon as Tao Lengshuang and the others finished discussing, they heard loud banging on the door, as if someone was trying to smash it down.
"Tao Lengshuang, come out! You must give us an explanation today, or this is not over."
Tao Lengshuang asked Madam Liu and a few others to help look after Xiao Feng, and then cautioned Xiao Feng. She picked up a sickle and walked out menacingly.
Husband and wife Shen Er and husband and wife Wang San followed, carrying sticks.
As soon as the door opened, a large handful of medicinal powder was thrown at the villagers trying to rush in, followed by a flurry of chopping with the sickle.
"How dare you come to my house to steal! If no blood is shed today, no one leaves," Tao Lengshuang said fiercely.
Villagers who couldn't dodge in time were struck by Tao Lengshuang's sickle.
Blood instantly sprayed out, splattering everywhere, dyeing the surroundings red.
This terrified many villagers.
"Run! Someone's killing!"
"Tao Lengshuang is killing people, run, run quickly!"
Shen Ershen and Madam Wang San guarded the entrance. Uncle Shen Er and Uncle Wang San charged forward with their sticks, beating anyone they saw.
The villagers truly hadn't expected this. They shouted from a distance.
"Tao Lengshuang, if you don't give us rice and flour, get out of the village!"
"You've always stolen chickens and dogs, and done all sorts of bad things in the village. We've forgiven you, and now it's time for you to repay."
Tao Lengshuang shook the blood off her sickle and sneered, "This is the first time I've seen people openly stealing."
"It seems I've been too easygoing, making you think you can bully me as you please."
Saying this, she sprinkled another large handful of medicinal powder at the villagers.
The villagers ran very fast, but some still inhaled the powder. Like those who had inhaled it before, they lay on the ground writhing in pain.
"It hurts so much, my whole body aches. Tao Lengshuang, you have such a vicious heart."
"Give me the antidote, give me the antidote, Tao Lengshuang, give me the antidote!"
Tao Lengshuang ignored them. Seeing that most of the villagers had fled, she returned to the main hall with Shen Ershen and the others.
"I'm afraid there will be more people tonight. Are the village's days really that difficult?"
Shen Ershen replied, "It's likely that many people want to take advantage of the chaos to steal some rice and flour so their families won't starve."
Tao Lengshuang understood, "We can't be so polite tonight. We need to be even more ruthless."
Shen Ershen and the others acknowledged this, saying they would be more ruthless tonight, so these villagers wouldn't dare to come and steal for a while.
However, Tao Lengshuang and the others didn't have to wait until nightfall. The secret guards had already resolved the matter.
When Tao Lengshuang heard that the secret guards had broken the legs of the villagers who had caused trouble that day and severely injured them, she was truly grateful.
"Thank you so much this time. If it weren't for you, there would likely have been quite a bit of trouble."
In times of food shortage, stealing was like a signal that would inspire more and more people to steal from others.
If not for the help of the secret guards, with their small group, they might have truly run into trouble.
...
Perhaps because most of the villagers were injured or had broken legs and were recuperating at home, no one dared to do anything to Tao Lengshuang's house for a while.
However, many people from outside the village came, all seeking refuge with relatives.
Shen Ershen and Madam Wang San returned, shivering by the fire.
"Today, more than a dozen families came, saying they had no other choice and came to seek refuge with relatives. The relatives refused to take them in, saying they couldn't even manage their own households, leading to a great commotion."
"More and more people have come to our village seeking refuge with relatives in the past few days. If this continues, something major will happen sooner or later."
Tao Lengshuang's brows were tightly furrowed. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard Xiao Feng's exclamation.
"Mother, Father is back!"
Tao Lengshuang asked Shen Ershen and the others to wait, then went out to greet Mo Lingxi. "You're back..."
Upon seeing Mo Lingxi's pale face and furrowed brow, the veins on her forehead throbbed.
He was injured again and had returned for her to treat him.
This was truly a demanding person.
"Xiao Feng, ask Mother Zhu to help me fetch some hot water. I'll bring it over in a moment." She gave Mo Lingxi a look, urging him to go to her room quickly.
Mo Lingxi walked slowly, only patting Xiao Feng's head.
Xiao Feng obediently went to ask Mother Zhu for help, and was followed by Zhu Zi and the children from the Wang San family.
The children usually played together, watched by one or two adults, and never left the house.
Tao Lengshuang said a word to Shen Ershen and the others, then returned to her room and said in a low voice, "Take off your clothes, let me see your injuries."
She seemed to take them from a box, but in reality, she took out needles and potentially useful medicinal herbs from her spatial medicine garden.
Turning around, she saw two deep wounds on Mo Lingxi's back that went to the bone, and gasped.
Seeing another wound on his front, she couldn't help but give him a thumbs up. This man was truly resilient, not crying out in pain at all.
Mo Lingxi took out a silver pouch and handed it to her, his voice a little weak, "Consultation fee."
As soon as the consultation fee appeared, Tao Lengshuang's smile became radiant, and her gaze towards him changed. "I like people who are as sensible as you."
Weighing the silver pouch, she estimated it to be about ten taels. This man was also wealthy.
The word "like" made Mo Lingxi's brow twitch a few times, and he pursed his lips without speaking.
Tao Lengshuang didn't mind. As she applied medicine to him, she recounted recent events. "I'm worried that people from outside the village will cause major trouble."