Since arriving here, Xuan Shen has been attending Tian Tian's happy occasion and has since disappeared.

Li Lanzhen didn't ask him where he went, and Han Mingjiang didn't tell her where they went or what they were doing.

After the vermicelli processing plant started operation, Li Lanzhen went to observe it for three more days.

Seeing that the workers were able to operate the equipment skillfully, she contacted the quartermaster of the Southwest Border Defense Force.

She won't be coming anymore starting tomorrow. If you have any problems, just go directly to her.

Over the next few days, Li Lanzhen was going to the beach.

Find a small fishing village by the sea, wander around, take a look, and buy a batch of dried seafood.

They brought it back to Youzhou City and put it in a general store to sell.

During dinner, Li Lanzhen told Han Mingjiang and the others that she was going to go out and travel around for the next couple of days.

If they don't come back tonight, tell them not to worry.

Han Mingjiang and Xue Nizi both knew about Li Lanzhen's skills.

They didn't stop her, though of course they knew they couldn't stop her anyway.

Everyone in her family knows very well that Li Lanzhen is a woman of her own mind, and no one can stop her from doing what she wants to do.

I told her to be careful when she went out.

Han Yisong and Han Yibo both wanted to go with her, and even made up reasons for themselves, saying that they wanted to protect their grandmother.

But Li Lanzhen coaxed them into staying home to protect their mother and newborn baby sister.

And I promised to bring them some delicious food when they come back.

Using the same method, Li Lanzhen went to the seafood market.

After wandering around for a while and getting to know the different groups of people selling seafood, I finally decided to follow five people to their small fishing village.

Their village is called "Long-Legged Gulls," a beautiful name.

Among the five people, there was a short, thin, dark-skinned man in his fifties who was the village chief.

Today, he led these five villagers to the city to sell the seafood they had harvested.

Because the seafood was of good quality today, it all sold out, and they made a profit. They were very happy all the way.

Although Li Lanzhen couldn't understand many of their languages, their joy was infectious.

She quietly followed behind them. The five of them chatted and laughed happily all the way, and they did not forget Li Lanzhen.

Because Li Lanzhen told them that she needed to buy a lot of seafood, including dried goods.

Their village has plenty of dried seafood, but it's hard to sell, so Li Lanzhen's offer to buy a lot excited them.

Following behind the villagers of Long-Legged Gull Village, they would occasionally turn back to look at Li Lianzhen.

Li Lanzhen saw gratitude in their eyes.

Then they turned around and started talking even more excitedly.

Li Lanzhen guessed they were discussing how to sell these dried goods to her.

Five people were pushing a large flatbed cart, along with two baskets and carrying poles.

After walking for about an hour and turning two bends in the mountain, a hut made of branches and grass appeared in front of us.

I glanced at it and saw that there were probably more than a hundred thatched huts.

The dilapidated scene left Li Lanzhen speechless.

The desolation and ruin I saw while fleeing famine seemed so far away.

Li Lanzhen patted her forehead. She had lived in the Peach Blossom Spring for too long and had forgotten that there were still many people living below the poverty line in this land.

The same hunger and cold conditions might lead to the selling of children.

Thinking of this, she felt downcast. Without saying a word, she leaned on a stick the village chief had given her and followed them slowly.

Upon reaching the village entrance, a group of raggedly dressed people came up to greet them, staring expectantly at the village chief and his companions.

Seeing that there was no more seafood in the car and baskets, he became happy again.

"Village chief, have all the seafood been sold today?"

"How much silver did you get?"

"Village chief, why didn't you buy any grain?"

"Yes, and I also bought some salt, because we're completely out of salt at home."

...

Chattering away, they surrounded the village chief and his four companions.

Li Lanzhen stood at the back of the crowd, listening and watching.

Just then, they heard the village chief say, "The money we earn from selling seafood can't buy much grain."

"Didn't we buy a batch of wheat bran three days ago? Let's use it for the next two days, and then we'll go buy grain after we sell another batch of seafood."

Li Lanzhen saw the bright eyes of the people instantly dim.

She glanced around and saw that the small fishing village was still far from the sea, perched on a mountainside overlooking the ocean.

There was also cultivated land around their shack.

However, the land is barren, mostly sand and stones. Vegetables can be planted, but they don't grow very well.

It seems that the food they eat is obtained by trading seafood in the city.

After thinking for a moment, Li Lanzhen decided to trade some of the food in her space for some seafood.

This is more helpful to them than giving them money.

She was also thinking about whether she could give them a batch of sweet potatoes and potatoes so they could grow them on the mountain and have enough to eat.

She looked around, lost in thought.

Suddenly, she heard the village chief calling her, "Young lady, young lady, come and tell everyone what practical tips you need?"

Li Lanzhen smiled as she looked into the pairs of longing eyes.

"Village chief, I'll take any dried seafood you have here that's cleaned and of good quality."

I can trade you grain.”

"food?!"

"You have grain, trade it with us, we have some. We'll trade!"

"We have cleaned kelp, seaweed, and even fish and shrimp at home! I'll trade with you!"

“We have one at home too, and we keep our home very clean.”

Upon hearing Li Lanzhen's offer to exchange grain for their goods, the crowd became excited and eagerly shared what kinds of dried goods their families possessed.

They were afraid that Li Lanzhen wouldn't want their things, so they wouldn't be able to exchange them for grain.

People crowded around and almost knocked Li Lanzhen over.

Li Lanzhen's face darkened. "Alright, stop arguing. If you keep arguing, I'm leaving. There are many small fishing villages like this. I can go to other villages to exchange for dried goods."

Upon hearing Li Lanzhen's words, the village chief immediately shouted.

"Quiet down, everyone. Stand back a bit. Look, you've made our village's distinguished guest fall over."

Looking at the people who had retreated, Li Lanzhen said to the village chief.

"Alright, village chief, find a place and I'll explain to you in detail what I need."

But I must make it clear beforehand that all the dried seafood you exchange with me for grain must be clean, dried, and of good quality.

You can't give me rotten fish and shrimp. If you do, I won't exchange them for a single grain of rice.

I urge the village chief to manage his villagers properly, and not let the village go hungry because of the poor quality of the fish and shrimp that one person brings in.

Those standing around suddenly realized the seriousness of the problem.

They all glanced at the people around them, their eyes sharp.

It's as if it's saying, "Each of you, bring out the best things in your homes, or I won't be able to get enough food to eat."