Chapter 84
The original protagonist was jealous of the female lead Shen Qingli for taking everything from her. To frame the female lead, she secretly colluded with the rebel army and leaked enemy secrets, leading to the annihilation of several elite Imperial forces, and the rebel army’s iron cavalry breaking through several cities.
Those rebel soldiers burnt, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of evil!
Countless bodies of beastman civilians piled up like mountains, with rivers of blood flowing.
Rumor has it that the river of blood flowed for three days and still did not cease.
Shen Tang did not witness that scene firsthand; just thinking about it filled her with deep sorrow.
The Empire entirely despised the original protagonist, wishing she were dead to atone for the innocent civilians who died tragically.
Shen Tang thought having an ugly face and a body as fat as a pig was a disastrous beginning, only to realize that the true disaster was just beginning.
She had to keep her life intact at all times.
For fear that a beastman might rush out with a knife to assassinate her.
Shen Tang wanted to hold onto her life, she had to change everyone’s impression of the original protagonist.
Over time, people reveal their true selves, and she vowed to try her best!
Xiao Jin noticed Shen Tang seemed distracted all the way, assuming she was affected by those insults. He pressed his thin lips together, unsure of what to say, considering her previous immoral deeds had indeed drawn hatred.
Even he had wanted to kill her at the time.
However, she was now much more tolerable.
Xiao Jin’s golden eyes slightly dimmed, he touched his lips and cast aside that peculiar emotion in his mind.
Shen Tang had been hungry all day, her stomach grumbled.
Most of the food in the space had been consumed, so she took Xiao Jin to the market in the city to stock up on goods.
The kinds of vegetables and grains sold at the market were very scarce.
It seemed like the situation in other parts of the Empire was probably similar.
Shen Tang recalled the seeds of vegetables and grains she received as system rewards; with an obsession for farming, she wondered if the crops would sell well.
[Host rest assured, as long as you can grow the crops, the sales will definitely be outstanding!] The system boasted, [The seeds produced by this system have high yields, short growth cycles, high nutritional value, and can even reduce the pollution value in beastmen’s bodies when consumed as food p>
Shen Tang’s pupils shook—really? Could the system be exaggerating?
In recent years, polluted areas had been expanding rapidly, affecting beastmen’s bodies to varying degrees, with higher pollution values leading to more severe mental agitation.
If these grains indeed possess the capabilities as the system claims, beastmen would surely fight to buy them!
Shen Tang was eager, but it wasn’t the right time yet; she needed to find a stable living place first.
The immediate priority was to eat.
Shen Tang busied herself in the kitchen for half a day, and strands of the fragrance of cooked food wafted out through the window, carried further by the wind.
Even beastmen several miles away could smell it.
They all followed the scent and came over, wearing curious expressions.
The notorious Shen Tang lived in that house.
How could such a fragrant aroma be coming from her yard?
Everyone was curious, but no one dared to go over and investigate, fearing trouble.
The hungry little beast cubs, however, weren’t thinking much.
When they smelled this tempting meat aroma, their mouths started watering, and they sneakily formed a group to run over to the yard gate, poking their heads to look inside.
When Shen Tang came out to pour some water, she noticed a few poking cubs outside the yard. They were skinny, with skin and bones, their fur dirty and shabby.
These were the beastmen whose parents had died, or were abandoned due to illness, without anyone adopting them, left to scavenge for food in garbage bins.
Either starving to death or dying from disease, few could survive to adulthood.
This reminder made Shen Tang think of those poor stray cats and dogs.
She turned back halfway, returned to the kitchen to fill several bowls with meat broth and freshly made garlic-flavored ribs, intending to feed these pitiful cubs.
Upon seeing the door open, the little beast cubs all tensed and instinctively wagged their tails in a friendly manner.
But when they saw it was Shen Tang who came out, their wagging tails abruptly stiffened, and they fled in terror as if they had seen a ghost!
“Hey, don’t run, I brought some food for you!” Shen Tang called out but couldn’t stop them.
Awkwardly touching her nose, she wondered if she was really that scary.
Xiao Jin walked over, glanced outside the door, then at the meat broth and ribs in her hands, and raised an eyebrow in surprise, “What? You want to feed them p>
“Too bad they ran as soon as they saw me.” Shen Tang looked frustrated.
“Heh, those cubs are quite smart, they’re afraid you might poison them p>
“Why would I Shen Tang was about to retort but closed her mouth awkwardly.
According to the original protagonist’s characterization, she really might have done something as stupid as poisoning.
She pushed the meat broth and ribs into Xiao Jin’s arms and signaled with her mouth, “They might not trust me, but surely they’ll trust you. Go feed them this food, and don’t eat it on the way p>
Xiao Jin curled his lips in a mischievous smile, “You really want to give this food to those cubs? Maybe among them, there are some who have cursed you p>
Shen Tang shrugged nonchalantly, “Let them curse, it’s not like I lost any flesh, and besides, the things I did before indeed made people and dogs detest me. I should do more good deeds, perform kind acts, and let others slowly change their opinion of me p>
Sunlight fell on Shen Tang, her clear eyes squinted with a crescent shape, her rosy lips carrying a smile.
For a moment, Xiao Jin could not look away.
It was just that the garlic-shaped nose on her face was stubby and flat, unsightly, ruining that slight beauty.
Xiao Jin’s eyes flashed with disdain.
Shen Tang noticed the dog-like man staring straight at her nose with an expression that seemed ready to cut it off, so she retreated cautiously, “What are you thinking of doing p>
Xiao Jin withdrew his gaze and lazily spoke, “Nothing, just surprised you’d show such kindness, it’s simply p>
He suddenly leaned in closer, his long hand pinching her face with a meaningful mischievous smile, “You simply don’t seem like yourself anymore, Shen Tang p>
“Your changes in recent days are too drastic, sometimes I suspect if you’ve replaced the core inside this body p>
Facing the man’s sharp and dominating golden eyes, Shen Tang’s heart skipped a beat.
She restrained her panic and coldly brushed away his hand, “I told you, I want to reform and start anew; considering all the foolish and evil things I’ve done, I got the deserved punishment, so I decided to turn over a new leaf, atone for my past self, whether you believe it or not p>
Xiao Jin’s deep eyes fell on her, he let out a cold snort without saying much, and left the yard carrying two large bags of food.
[Beep! Congratulations host, Xiao Jin’s affinity has increased by 30 points p>
Shen Tang was shocked. How was her giving food to those cubs related to him?
Could it be her kindness moved the leopard?
Shen Tang rubbed her chin, unexpectedly finding that this dog-like man, who seemed unruly and untamed, actually liked gentle and kind small white flower types!
[Host, you’re overthinking.] The system chuckled gossipingly, [It’s just that these stray cubs reminded Xiao Jin of his childhood experiences; he came from the slums, scavenged for food from trash bins as a child, often enduring cold stares from nobles. His impression of noble females is one of arrogance and hypocrisy, and you’re the only female in his perception who’s willing to lend a helping hand to stray beast cubs p>
Speaking with the tone of teaching a promising student, [Host, this move directly attacks his psychological defenses, a masterstroke indeed, fitting for the host I’ve chosen p>
Shen Tang’s lips twitched, she hadn’t planned it that way at all.