Chapter 104: Redeeming
He even took two steps away from Shu Tian.
Everyone around them immediately snickered.
They were waiting for Ni Mengxue to confess her love for Shu Tian.
Instead, Ni Mengxue looked directly at Shu Tian.
"The ability replication potion. Describe it to me. What is its logic?"
Shu Tian adjusted his spectacles.
He was a very scrawny young man with deep black hair, dark circles beneath his eyes, and pale, haggard skin. He looked as though he hadn’t slept properly in years.
Even women from ordinary or poor backgrounds rarely took a liking to him, which was why he had remained single for so long.
Shu Tian lowered his gaze and looked at Ni Mengxue with slight hostility.
"I’m not interested in telling you."
He can like dogs but never Ni Mengxue!
The surrounding people immediately burst into laughter. Ni Mengxue merely raised an eyebrow before chuckling.
"All right. I understand."
She turned around and walked away, shaking her head. "What a waste of potential."
Although she already knew that the researchers at the Burning Star base would never agree to join her, she couldn’t help feeling a little regretful.
Shu Tian was undoubtedly talented. The ability replication potion was only a matter of time for someone like him.
It wasn’t like Ni Mengxue couldn’t create it herself. However, she would have to do deep research and cut off all contact with the outside world.
She wasn’t a researcher.
She had dabbled in scientific research for more than a century in her previous life, but that was the extent of her expertise.
She had accumulated knowledge across numerous fields, but she had never been the kind of researcher who could dedicate every waking hour to a single project.
’If only I had been reincarnated in this world before... so many things could have been changed.’
Once she returned home, she saw Meng Xiaoni sitting on the sofa.
He was rubbing one hand with the other while constantly moving his head slightly, as though calculating something in his mind.
Ni Mengxue frowned. "Xiaoni?"
He looked up.
"Are you worried about something?"
After a brief pause, Meng Xiaoni asked, "How much more time would you need to produce the rice?"
Ni Mengxue didn’t answer. Instead, she calmly waved her hand.
Several large bags of rice appeared in front of them. "There are 100,000 kilograms of rice here."
Meng Xiaoni immediately stood up and checked the bags.
After confirming that the rice was genuine and of pure quality, he turned toward her.
"Can you help me teleport it to the prison? I need to submit it today. Otherwise, my family members will be trouble."
Ni Mengxue frowned. "All right."
She waved her hand, and the rice disappeared back into her space.
The two of them then headed toward the prison.
Throughout the journey, Meng Xiaoni remained unusually silent.
Ni Mengxue narrowed her eyes.
’Is this a coincidence, or is there some kind of plot involved?’
Sure enough, the moment they arrived, she saw Meng Xiaoni’s family members being escorted onto the public execution platform.
Mo Beichan stood above them.
When he saw Meng Xiaoni, a smile appeared on his face.
"Mr. Meng, as we discussed before, you need to pay a ransom of 20,000 kilograms of rice per person. Since you failed to provide it within the agreed period, we have no choice but to execute the entire Meng family for their crimes."
The citizens gathered below began whispering among themselves.
Some looked at Meng Xiaoni with strange expressions.
Meng Xiaoni remained unfazed.
"You can’t kill them now. You gave me time to redeem them."
Mo Beichan smiled.
"Earlier, we never specified exactly how long you would have to redeem your family. But four years have already passed, Mr. Meng. We truly can’t wait any longer."
"Isn’t that unethical? Why is Mr Mo suddenly executing people?"
"Indeed, it seems so strange."
"Eh? Mr Mo won’t do anything wrong!"
He paused before turning toward the crowd.
"Actually, there is another important announcement I would like to make."
The crowd gradually fell silent.
"A mutated animal tide is about to arrive. At the same time, our current rice production cannot meet the base’s needs. Because of this, we have decided to collect all outstanding debts and eliminate those who have no intention of paying."
He glanced toward the Meng family.
"And unfortunately, Mr. Meng’s family is among those who have yet to redeem their lives."
Silence fell over the crowd. Then whispers began spreading.
"It’s the right decision."
"Even if they remain alive, they’ll still be traitors."
"If they die, at least there will be fewer mouths to feed."
One by one, people began nodding in agreement. Meng Xiaoni finally spoke. "I’m here to pay."
The crowd quieted. "I have enough rice."
Mo Beichan’s expression changed for the briefest moment before he quickly concealed it.
"Of course, there has been a small change on our end."
Meng Xiaoni frowned slightly.
"Earlier, we agreed on 20,000 kilograms of pure rice per person. However, four years have passed. Therefore, we’ve added a small amount of interest."
He smiled. "An additional five kilograms per person."
His voice remained calm as he announced the final amount. "Your new total is 125,000 kilograms of pure rice."
A wave of whispers spread through the crowd. Mo Beichan remained completely unfazed.
He had expected Meng Xiaoni to panic and beg him for a private discussion.
Once they were alone, he would demand that Meng Xiaoni stop pursuing the matter of the stolen research credit.
Then he could finally breathe.
As long as Meng Xiaoni remained silent, Mo Beichan would have enough time to eliminate the remaining witnesses.
But Ni Mengxue understood his intentions without even needing to look at him.
A faint smirk appeared on her lips.
’So that’s your plan.’
It was childish but effective.
Meng Xiaoni indeed panicked a bit and subconsciously turned toward Ni Mengxue.
At this moment, he realised how the world was to him. Other than Ni Mengxue... no one would lend him anything.