Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 537: Catching a Turtle in a Jar

Although Shanggu Town is somewhat remote, it is not a small town. There's a county magistrate stationed there, and there are plenty of merchants. People can still understand some official dialect.

Moreover, aren't Luo Song, Hua Yunao, and Qin Shu there? The teachers in the school all speak the official dialect, especially now that all the children in Hua Village attend school. The kids occasionally bring home a few official phrases, so you could say the people of Hua Village are quite familiar with the official language.

"Travelers? How could anyone pass by here when our place is so remote?"

Under Hua Chengtian's gaze, Hua Shi continued, and it was true. Hua Village was already quite remote, so it's indeed strange for someone to pass through here.

The person outside wasn't angry; after all, letting them in with just a sentence wouldn't make sense.

"Oh, we're medicine collectors. We misjudged the distance to the mountain, ran out of water, and after climbing several peaks, we're terribly thirsty. Brother, if you have water, could you spare some?" Liu Neng licked his parched lips, speaking amiably.

"There's a river two miles west of the village. We don't have water here."

"Then do you have food? We're out of food too. Can we exchange for some? Our home is far away, and we're afraid we can't make it back. We have herbs and silver coins to trade for anything."

If one plan doesn't work, they'll come up with another. In any case, once the gate is tricked open, the rest is up to them.

"Aren't you prepared before going up the mountain if you're medicine collectors? There's everything on the mountain, so how could you go hungry? No, no, we're just a poor village. We can't even feed ourselves, let alone have extra resources to trade away. Just leave." Hua Shi urged them.

Clearly, it was apparent the visitors meant no good. Only a fool would let them into the village.

Seeing everyone nod in approval of his clever response, Hua Shi's confidence increased.

Hua Jin looked at the gate with a serious expression, thinking differently from Hua Shi. Seeing these people as ancient Yan people, their purpose couldn't be simple.

No rush, they can wait a bit. Hua Jin gauged that these people wouldn't be scared away so easily.

"We'll give silver," Liu Neng continued.

"Even gold wouldn't work, hurry along," Hua Shi replied, quite rudely.

"Hey! Why are you like this? We're speaking nicely, just wanting to trade for some food and water; is it that serious?"

"Well... haha, your tone is quite bold. Now's not the time anyone would have abundant food to give away. Hurry along."

"Then let's trade with herbs." Seeing the silver coin path blocked, Liu Neng quickly changed to herbs.

"No, no, just hurry along."

"Ah..." Liu Neng's temper couldn't be held anymore, about to burst when a voice from behind made him shut his mouth.

"Apologies, perhaps my friend didn't explain clearly. We won't go inside. Brother, we don't need much, just a few coarse bread cakes. We understand food is precious now. However, luck was good on the mountain, and we picked a few ginseng plants. Brother, if you're not offended, we'll trade a plant for the bread. You can verify it."

With that, the person took out a cloth-wrapped item from inside his coat, revealing a ginseng plant upon opening it. The soil on it was fresh, indicating it was recently harvested.

This move was clever. Ginseng is quite valuable at any time, and few can resist its temptation.

Hua Jin also took a few more glances at this ginseng. Its quality was far better than what she bought at the pharmacy, and it looked quite big. These people's luck was indeed good to have genuinely dug up a ginseng; Hua Jin herself hadn't come across one on the mountain. Even her father, at best, encountered decades-old ones, never century-old ginseng.

However, in the space where she scattered ginseng seeds, they've already grown. Although a bit tempted, she wasn't overly greedy.

She truly didn't lack them, though incomparable to the aged ones, the ones produced by the space were undoubtedly of excellent quality.

Just as Hua Shi was about to refuse again, someone caught his arm, only then realizing Hua Jin stealthily appeared beside him. Turning his head, he was dazzled by her striking face, his cheeks flushed as he subconsciously glanced at Luo Song but saw no peculiar expression, feeling relieved.

"Agree with him," Hua Jin shaped the words silently with her lips to him.

Hua Jin believed that arriving at Hua Village might be an accident, but entering Lingyun could never be coincidence; undoubtedly, they harbored ulterior motives, having schemed for entry several times without success, hence they truly had ill intentions.

If so, they must confront them. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Once the gate opens, the outsiders will inevitably rush in. At that point, close the gate and capture them all.

Hua Shi looked toward Hua Chengtian, seeing his nod, and immediately said, "Ginseng, you... is it real?"

"Truth or falsehood, is apparent at a glance."

"Alright, then show me!"

At his words, the outsider's mouth slowly curved into a smile, yet his gaze turned sharper without humor.

Then came a slight sound from inside the door, not the full opening of the main gate as they expected, but just a peephole-sized opening made from within. The outsider hesitated a bit but wasn't too surprised, for he truly held a ginseng and knew inside people wouldn't resist its allure, even raising it slightly for clearer viewing.

"It truly is ginseng," Hua Shi's eyes brightened, wiping imaginary drool from his mouth corner.

Unfortunately, those outside couldn't see, but those inside could, shaking their heads unable to hold it in.

The performance was too exaggerated!

"You... truly willing to trade for bread?" Hua Shi looked at the outsider like he was seeing a fool.

"Certainly unwilling, silver coins would be better."

"But that's not possible; food is too precious now to use money to buy." Hua Shi displayed greed to the fullest.

"Brother is right. If not for losing our food when encountering danger on the mountain, and our home being too far away, we wouldn't be so shameless to disturb."

"Also pitiful, well... or not, would you be trying to trick me into opening the door?" As Qi Chong thought the insider might agree, this sudden question sparked a flash of displeasure in his eyes.

"Of course not..." Saying so, Qi Chong intentionally backed away a bit, exposing himself and two others, stooping low to appear harmless.

"Alright then, even if so, we're not afraid, as we have numbers." Hua Shi mumbled softly, starting to take action.

Everyone outside showed joy; after much effort, finally, the door would open, even the Black Leader's patience had nearly worn thin, gesturing silently to the scattered black-clad men, preparing.

Preparation, obviously, to rush inside once the door opens, to swiftly take control within.

As for the mumbling inside, Qi Chong completely ignored it, thinking, what difference would numbers make, compared to their elite team?

While Hua Shi engaged with the outsiders, Hua Jin coordinated with her father and others, ensuring everyone stepped back, prepared to use their thunderfire pellets without damaging the wall.

Hua Chengtian knew the thunderfire pellet's power, passed his command: everyone watched his moves, and without orders, no one acted rashly.

Meanwhile, Hua Jin timely retreated into the guardroom. Once Hua Shi opened the gate, locking the outsiders who rushed in, capturing them in a trap.