It's Lin Wanqing and her lackey! They're definitely after her land!

The dew-collecting grass in the experimental field grew increasingly bizarre, with thick, sturdy stems, glossy green leaves, and large, dense dewdrops. Compared to the surrounding half-dead grass, it looked like a group of strong men standing among a group of consumptive ghosts. It was impossible not to attract attention!

"Junior Sister Bai? What's wrong?" Old Wang Qi, who was in the field nearby, straightened up and wiped his sweat. He noticed that Jiang Chan's expression was off, and looked in the direction she had been looking, only to see the treetops swaying.

"It's nothing, Senior Brother Wang." Jiang Chan suppressed her unease and tried to make her voice sound calm. "I was startled when I saw two stray dogs dart past."

"Oh, there are a lot of wild things in this back mountain, junior sister, you should stay away from the woods." Old Wang nodded honestly, then bent down to tend to his few precious plants.

Jiang Chan wasn't so relaxed. Lin Wanqing, that woman, was arrogant and couldn't stand anyone being better than her, especially someone she looked down upon as a "traumatic bone-dead waste." Being targeted by her meant trouble!

We need to be careful!

That night, under the cover of darkness, Jiang Chan quietly called her collaborators, Li Xiaohou, Aunt Zhao, and Wang Laoqi, to a sheltered earthen slope by the field. The pale moonlight shone on their tense faces.

"Things are a bit troublesome," Jiang Chan said in a low voice, getting straight to the point, "That inner sect member Lin Wanqing is probably targeting us..."

"What?!" Li Xiaohou almost jumped up, but was held down by Aunt Zhao next to him.

Wang Laoqi's face turned pale, and his lips trembled: "Then...what do we do? She's an inner disciple...we..."

Aunt Zhao pursed her lips tightly, her face also looking very pale, but she didn't seem as flustered as Old Wang.

"What's the panic!" Jiang Chan snapped, trying to calm everyone down. "She may be watching, but we should continue doing what we're supposed to do! But we need to be extra careful, Monkey King!"

"I'm here!" Li Xiaohou immediately straightened his back, his thin body tense.

"You have sharp eyes and quick legs. Be alert these next few days, and keep an eye on the back mountain and the bamboo grove where the inner disciples often go. Listen to what they're whispering about, and be careful not to get caught!"

"Yes, sir!" Li Xiaohou's eyes lit up, and he patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry, junior sister, leave it to me! I guarantee I'll find out everything!"

“Auntie!” Jiang Chan turned to Aunt Zhao.

Aunt Zhao nodded calmly: "Go ahead."

“Your compost pit is nearby and it’s our lifeline. You’ll have to work hard and stay alert at night and during the day. If any unfamiliar faces, especially people from the inner circle, get close, go and keep an eye on them, or make some noise. They won’t dare to come openly, but they’re afraid of resorting to underhanded tricks.”

"I understand," Aunt Zhao replied, her voice low but resolute. "I'll keep watch, and I guarantee they won't be able to disturb the soil."

“Senior Brother Wang,” Jiang Chan looked at Wang Laoqi, who was still trembling, “you should just pretend you don’t know anything. Go back to work and eat. If anyone asks about our fields, just pretend you don’t know anything, and say that I was lucky enough to find some good seeds. Don’t say a word more!”

"Okay...okay! I'll play dumb! I know how to play dumb!" Old Wang nodded repeatedly, as if he had found his pillar of support.

The intelligence network was truly activated for the first time.

The effects were immediately apparent after just a few days.

Li Xiaohou quickly sent back a message: "We've found out! Lin Wanqing's lackey has been loitering around the dining hall these past few days, trying to get close to some of the servants, asking what kind of 'potion' we're using because it smells so strong! He even subtly inquired whether Junior Sister Bai had found some treasure!"

"As expected, they came for the 'medicine'." Jiang Chan sneered. Her simple insect repellent was a mixture of wormwood juice and a little sulfur powder, and it had quite a strong smell.

The very next evening, Aunt Zhao rushed to find Jiang Chan, her face ashen. "Little Bai! Someone really did sneak over to the compost pit! It wasn't Lin Wanqing, it was a strange young man, acting suspiciously, trying to pull at the straw mat covering my compost pit! I deliberately coughed, and the boy turned and ran away in fright!"

Jiang Chan was furious! These people actually dared to make a move!

“Good! Auntie, you’re right! Let’s play along!” Jiang Chan’s eyes lit up, and an idea came to her.