If Qin Feifei truly wanted to eliminate the source of her misery, there had been countless chances on the road. She could have simply let the snake escape. Why wait until today? Why insist on killing the snake?
Thinking back, Qin Feifei was clearly someone who valued her own life and had no intention of dying with Zhou Daheng. It was obvious she'd been scheming to kill him while protecting herself and maintaining her harmless, "innocent lamb" image.
After all, in this age of big data, even if Qin Feifei killed Zhou Daheng and fled, where could she go?
Using the snake venom to frame someone was the perfect solution.
So whether Jing Shu appeared or not today, Qin Feifei was determined to kill Zhou Daheng. And judging from how she had constantly sneered and called her a "vixen" and "seductress," it wasn't hard to guess who she'd pin the blame on.
Since he was as good as dead either way, well… hmm? Hmm hmm?
"Stop your act. I've got a better idea."
As expected, you couldn't survive in the entertainment industry without some tricks. Qin Feifei, who was sobbing pitifully one moment, returned to her cold composure the next. Being seen through didn't embarrass her at all. Instead, she studied Jing Shu intently, trying to figure out her motives. What did this woman want? How could she cooperate? Could they come to an agreement?
The snake definitely couldn't be killed. Zhou Daheng had gone to great lengths to raise it for snake wine. After a careful check, Jing Shu realized it was a sharp-nosed pit viper, also known as a "five-step snake." Aside from its aphrodisiac properties, this species made the strongest medicinal wine. Especially turtle-snake wine—paired with the herbs Jing Shu grew in her Rubik's Cube Space, it would be perfect.
A cup a day to live to ninety-nine.
Perfect. Jing Shu already considered it hers. But now wasn't the time to take it. For the moment, the snake was Zhou Daheng's property, and being tied to it would make her look like the murderer. Jing Shu wasn't that stupid. She'd wait for the storm to pass, then strike.
She `demonstrated her own miracle next. Covering a bottle with a plastic bag, she turned her back to Qin Feifei, then pressed the snake's head inside her Cube Space to collect venom. The venom sprayed neatly into the bag, perfectly harvested—no need to kill the snake at all.
She handed the venom to Qin Feifei.
"It's your turn. You know drinking it directly won't work."
Jing Shu worried Qin Feifei might be foolish enough to just feed Zhou Daheng the venom. She reminded her: venom is rich in protein, and stomach acid would break most of it down. Poisoning him this way was risky.
"I know. It's best to inject it into an artery. I'll mix it into the aphrodisiac shots I've been giving him. He'll savor his last few hours of life," Qin Feifei said, revealing a syringe and a devilish smile. Jing Shu had to admit: Qin Feifei had simply added one more step to her plan, but the entire game had changed.
So… what was her true goal?…
Jing Shu returned to the greenhouse with two pieces of good news. First, Heng Jin reported that he'd finally entered Wu City Province, though the floodwaters had slowed their journey. Still, they were closer to Wu City than ever. Her RV was on its way.
Second, Yang Yang and Wang Dazhao had returned to China and would arrive in Wu City in less than a week. They said they'd thank Jing Shu properly when they returned—without that miracle medicine, their entire squad would have been wiped out.
In Cave No. 5, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. The power of the people was immense, and since they were working for themselves, everyone was highly motivated. In just half a day, the floor tiles were laid, and stone trenches were built in a square formation. Later, when the temperature dropped, they'd light fires in the trenches to warm the cave.
It wouldn't be blazing hot, but at least no one would freeze.
Seeing the Jing family hauling in dirt and bricks to build kilns inspired others. Even if they were only staying a few days, why not make life more comfortable?
Grandpa Jing and Jing An, skilled craftsmen, quickly built a brick kiln. To speed things up, they used fire to dry it. That night, the family would roast sweet potatoes, bake pancakes inside the kiln, and heat milk tea on top. Drinking hot tea in the cold cave would be bliss.
At five o'clock, the government began distributing food. Each community's visiting officers collected rations based on headcount, then handed them out in the caves. Tonight's meal was hot maggots and red nematodes mixed with rice porridge and vegetable roots.
It was a hearty dinner, especially for Wu You'ai's community, which got extra portions. With the Jing family not taking their share, everyone else had more to eat. People couldn't help but admit—having a villa family among them wasn't so bad after all.
As the temperature dropped, passersby noticed Cave No. 5's raised floors and started copying the idea. Unfortunately, the plaza's bricks were already taken by those who'd acted first. The latecomers pried up paving stones from the path instead.
Once the cold fully set in, the Cave No. 5 group lit all the firewood they'd gathered. Flames roared in neat trenches, white smoke curling upward, filling the cave with light and shadows. Heads gleamed in the firelight.
The tiled floor and fire trenches were perfectly arranged, with designated spots for everyone. Two clear passageways remained open, plus the villa family's private area.
So when Zhou Dasheng arrived with fifty men, planning to occupy the place, he froze. There was nowhere left to stand except the passages.
"If only that firewood wasn't in the way… but man, it's warm in here."
The cave was large, but the lines of fire blocked entry. Zhou Dasheng couldn't force his way in even if he wanted to.
"What are you looking at?" someone from Cave No. 5 barked. "You brought all these people here to do what? Steal our space?"
"What if I am?" Zhou Dasheng sneered, but this wasn't going the way he'd hoped.
It wasn't just Zhou Dasheng's plan that had gone awry. Zhou Dafu's had too. When he went to steal the snakes, they were gone.
"The two snakes Daheng's been doting on are missing? The key piece of my three-birds plan is gone?"
Zhou Dafu was stunned. He had to find that "key piece" before moving forward. From what he knew, the snakes often escaped. Maybe he'd start by searching their favorite haunts.