At this moment, someone nearby heard the name of Magistrate Shen and sighed.

"It's such a pity. Since Magistrate Shen came to our Changdong County, he has always been dedicated to his duties. He was so busy that he didn't even get married. How could such a good person suddenly be gone?"

One of them whispered, "Haven't you heard? A few days before Magistrate Shen passed away, I heard he had a fight with the president of our county's chamber of commerce. Apparently it was about grain prices, and the two parted on bad terms."

Within two days, Magistrate Shen fell ill, his condition worsening to the point of being bedridden, and he eventually died.

Hearing this, someone nearby whispered, "According to what you're saying, Magistrate Shen didn't die of illness, but was murdered by the Chamber of Commerce president?"

"Shh, don't speak such blunt truths."

"Are you out of your mind? You should know it in your heart, but how dare you say such things in public at a time like this!"

Those around who heard this spoke up one after another. After they finished speaking, they looked around to make sure that no one from the Chamber of Commerce was there before they quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"The appointment of the new magistrate has not yet been made, and the entire Changdong County is under the jurisdiction of the Chamber of Commerce. If we want to survive, we can only keep a low profile."

"Yes, this year has been plagued by natural disasters, and the harvest is likely to be less than one-tenth of what it used to be. The Chamber of Commerce also controls the price of grain."

Now that Magistrate Shen is gone, and there's no one left to challenge them, grain prices will likely skyrocket.

Those around sighed heavily again after hearing this.

"When will this end?"

"Now we can only hope that the imperial court can send a new magistrate soon."

"But the mountains are high and the roads are long. By the time the new magistrate arrives, our Changdong County will probably be filled with starving corpses."

Lu Yuanyong said helplessly, "If everyone here is so worried, then the lives of ordinary people who are already struggling must be even more difficult. Are we just going to wait here to die?"

"What else can we do? We all have families to support; we can't just become outlaws, can we?"

"Yes, now I have elderly parents and young children to support. If I don't resist, I might be able to live a few more days with the money I saved up before."

But if they resist, the chamber of commerce president will likely find a pretext to make them the target.

Just as everyone's mood was becoming increasingly depressed, a buzzing sound of flapping wings came from afar.

What was that sound?

Has the wind picked up?

"That doesn't sound right. Wait, look over there, isn't something flying over there?"

The tea drinkers who were sitting in the teahouse looked in surprise at the gray sky, where a large dark cloud was flying in.

"Locusts! Locusts!"

"It's over. Once the locusts arrive, we won't even be able to save the remaining 10% of the crops."

"Heaven is going to destroy my Changdong!"

The scholars in the teahouse were only concerned with lamenting and wailing, while the others hurried to the window and lowered it to prevent locusts from entering the house.

At this moment, Xu Jinhuan was talking to the system Xiao Wang in the corner.

"Xiao Wang, why didn't you warn us about this locust plague?"

"System Xiao Wang replied."

[Host, this locust plague is a byproduct of the drought and not within the scope of major disaster predictions. Furthermore, it occurs randomly, so the system cannot predict it.]

Xu Jinhuan nodded knowingly after hearing this. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Xiao Wang, doesn't the system have any disposable protective shields?"

After thinking for a moment, System Xiao Wang replied.

[Host, there really is one, and it's currently on sale. The price is very cheap, only 10 points, and you can also use 10 points to upgrade the power grid. It's perfect for the current situation!]

Xu Jinhuan rested her chin on her hand. Her big eyes lit up when she heard about the electric grid. The protagonist's halo really does have some effect. Now she's getting whatever she wants.

"Xiao Wang, exchange for the power grid protection shield!"

System Xiao Wang replied cheerfully.

[Okay, host, exchanging...]

Soon, a transparent sphere appeared in Xu Jinhuan's hand, while the locusts were already approaching the city gate.

"Xiao Wang, get the loudspeaker ready!"

Upon hearing this, System Xiao Wang was immediately invigorated.

[Host, I'm ready and can begin at any time.]

Xu Jinhuan nodded silently. Just as the locusts were about to rush into the city, she used a disposable electric grid shield.

"Xiao Wang, remember to control the power of the protective shield. Make sure it's fully cooked but not burnt," Xu Jinhuan thought to himself with a smile.

System Xiao Wang obediently agreed and adjusted the appropriate power level the instant the protective cover opened.

Then, a translucent net with a pale blue hue appeared in front of the locusts. When they flew to the net, the pale blue lightning cooked them.

The sizzling sound of barbecue reached the ears of everyone in the city.

What is that sound again?

"I don't know, maybe locusts just flew past our window?"

"But why does it smell like meat? It smells so good, I haven't eaten meat in so long."

Nowadays, most people in the city are hiding indoors, so they haven't seen this grand occasion.

The people who were outside with nowhere to hide thought they would have to fight off the locusts with their own bodies, but they were surprised to see this amazing scene.

"What is that thing that's protecting us?"

"It must be a divine intervention! It must be a divine intervention!"

"Mother, look! The locusts can't get in!"

The loud cheers of these people quickly drew those hiding inside the house out, including those in the teahouse.

Before long, the entire Changdong County was watching this miracle.

"Brother Ding, which deity do you think helped us? It's not easy for him to descend to the mortal realm, could he help us get rid of that harmful chamber of commerce president as well?"

“Yuan Yong, it’s already a great blessing that the gods have helped us escape this calamity. If we ask for anything else, we might anger the gods,” Ding Renyi said gently.

Lu Yuanyong nodded after hearing this, and then respectfully bowed to the protective shield in the sky, hoping that his words had not displeased the gods.

Just then, a voice filled with majesty and divinity rang in everyone's ears.

“My name is Jin Huan Shan Shen (a kind and benevolent deity). I happened to come across this place and encountered a locust plague, so I offered my help. I intended to leave immediately, but I heard the prayers of the people. It turns out that Changdong County not only suffers from natural disasters, but also from man-made calamities.”

This benevolent deity was born to sweep away all injustices in the world, and naturally cannot stand idly by. Is the president of the Changdong County Chamber of Commerce present?

The authoritative voice made the people of Changdong County kneel down involuntarily. After Lu Yuanyong and Ding Renyi knelt down, their eyes were filled with surprise and joy.

Are there really gods willing to help them?

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Chamber of Commerce President Mei Xinfei was sitting in a rocking chair, enjoying the breeze from his maid while eating the fruits she fed him.

He was startled when he suddenly heard that divine voice, and swallowed the grapes he had just put in his mouth without even chewing them.

"Cough cough cough."