Lu Jiaojiao immediately feigned a wronged expression, sniffing, "I just went over there to pick wild fruit, but I didn't find any, so I came back... Why are you all being so mean?"

The officer himself was stunned; he should have been questioning her, but why was he suddenly defending her?

But the words had already been spoken, so all he could do was wave her in, though his heart was filled with doubt.

Shen Qingtang watched the whole thing, her eyes growing colder. Lu Jiaojiao had been gone for so long, and when she came back, her clothes were still covered in weeds from the valley.

It was definitely not as simple as just picking wild fruit. Especially the smug look that flashed in her eyes when she walked in.

This further confirmed Shen Qingtang's guess.

As soon as Lu Jiaojiao reached the corner, she met Shen Qingtang's gaze, and she instantly suppressed her grievances.

His eyes were filled with undisguised malice as he stared intently at Shen Qingtang, as if to say, "You just wait, you'll get what's coming to you tonight."

Shen Qingtang didn't argue with her, but simply withdrew her gaze. She wanted to see what tricks Lu Jiaojiao and the Northern Desert people would dare to play tonight.

This is a good opportunity to completely eliminate these troubles.

After the wind stopped, the group didn't rush on their way. Shen Qingtang suggested searching for supplies nearby, and the others dispersed, but she was the only one with sharp eyes.

Before long, they found many "gifts from nature": fresh stream shrimp hidden in the mountain streams and plump pine nuts under the pine trees.

Several clumps of tender wild chives were growing in the cracks of the rocks.

They even found several edible wild mushrooms in the shady area.

"Qingtang's eyesight is amazing!" Mother Shen couldn't stop smiling as she looked at the stream shrimp and wild chives that Shen Qingtang had brought back.

Shen Qingtang didn't say much. He set up a pot at the entrance of the cave, blanched the river shrimp, and then stir-fried them with pine nuts and wild chives. The fresh and fragrant aroma wafted far and wide.

They chopped up the wild mushrooms, mixed them with flour, and baked them into golden and crispy mushroom pancakes.

Even Grandpa Shen couldn't help but come over and nod as he stared at the spatula.

Once the food was served, the Shen family sat together, with Old Master Shen munching on a mushroom pancake.

After praising it three times with "good," Pei Nian'an held the small bowl, ate the stir-fried river shrimp in small bites, and said softly, "Auntie's cooking is the best," her eyes shining like stars.

Lu Jiaojiao, who was not far away, watched this scene.

She was so angry that her nails almost dug into her palms. She was also hungry, but could only gnaw on dry, hard multigrain pancakes. Smelling the aroma coming from Shen Qingtang's side, she trembled with jealousy.

Seeing this, Lu's mother simply moved closer to Shen Qingtang and put on a wronged look: "Qingtang, even if you divorce Jin'er, you are still the only daughter-in-law of my Lu family. Jiaojiao has called you 'mother' for so many years. When you make something delicious, can you share some with her?"

Madam Pei chimed in, "Yes, Qingtang, it's so pitiful for the child to be hungry. Just give Jiaojiao something to eat for my sake."

The rest of the Pei family gathered around, and Pei Mingxuan rubbed his hands together tentatively: "Shen Qingtang, I heard you have a lot of good things? Could you share some medicinal herbs with me? I've been feeling weak lately."

Pei Yuru chimed in, "I want some fabric to make new clothes. You have so much stock, it wouldn't hurt to share some with me, would it?"

They had assumed Pei Wuwang would side with his relative, but to their surprise, Pei Wuwang stood directly in front of Shen Qingtang, his face as cold as ice: "Whether she gives up her things or not is entirely up to her; it has nothing to do with you."

He turned to look at Shen Qingtang, his eyes softening instantly. "If you don't want to give it, then you don't have to. No one can force you."

"They're nothing."

These words caused the faces of everyone in the Pei family to freeze instantly.