CHAPTER 157: SINISTER INTENTIONS

She knew all about the little things that happened behind the scenes. The tribe, though united on the surface, was divided into several factions. Ruan Chanchan knew that if she handed the refined salt to the processing team, it was bound to be smuggled instead of being used to make the dried jerky. Ruan Chanchan had an unlimited supply of salt, but she would rather throw it down the drain than let the elders of the tribe, who were against her, take advantage of her.

When Chief Xie heard Ruan Chanchan’s response, she pursed her lips. Even though Ruan Chanchan didn’t say anything outright, she knew what she meant. However, when she thought about how separating the processing team from the making of dried jerky might cause trouble, Chief Xie couldn’t help but frown.

Seeing this, Ruan Chanchan immediately spoke up, "Chief, I know that this might offend a few people, but you also know that as the leader of the tribe, there will be times when you have to make decisions that will benefit the tribe." She knew that Chief Xie was worried about the reactions of the elders of the tribe, but if they continued to worry about the elders, would they ever be able to do anything?

"You are right," Chief Xie sighed heavily after a short while. She raised her hands and rubbed them over her face with a tired expression. She knew what Ruan Chanchan said was indeed the truth. If she let the processing team take care of making the dried jerky, then she was worried that more than half of the salt would be stolen. Sighing, she nodded and said to Ruan Chanchan, "I will look for some honest workers in the tribe and ask them to learn how to make dried jerky."

Chief Xie also understood Ruan Chanchan’s worries, as she had the same worries and understood that Ruan Chanchan was only looking out for the tribe. If they didn’t work honestly, who knows, maybe the beast goddess would get angry with Ruan Chanchan and revoke the blessings that she had given to her.

Ruan Chanchan heaved a sigh of relief. She discussed a few more things with Chief Xie before taking her leave.

Once Ruan Chanchan left, Chief Xie took a look at the dried jerky that Ruan Chanchan had taught her to make, and suddenly, a flash of determination flashed in her eyes. Ruan Chanchan was correct, and so was her husband. It was not wrong to be kind, but she couldn’t allow the elders to hollow out the tribe.

**

"You saw Ruan Chanchan coming out of Chief’s cave?" Elder Lin’s eyes widened when she heard the report of her aide. She knew that the chief’s family was getting close to Ruan Chanchan, but she never thought that they would get chummy so soon.

The woman nodded. "Indeed. I saw her coming out of the cave just now. It seems like the two of them were discussing something serious." The woman reached out and picked up the bird leg that Elder Lin had given to her for the information and took a bite from it. Relishing the taste of the bloodied meat, the woman closed her eyes in pleasure.

Elder Lin, on the other hand, was filled with worry.

"See? I told you," said Lang with a sneer on her face. "If this went on, then Ruan Chanchan would certainly end up causing a stir in the tribe, Aunt. Why did the chief call her and not you? Why not some other elder? What kind of discussion did they even have in the cave? And why? The chief could have asked you to come and discuss with her, but she didn’t. Ruan Chanchan hadn’t even started interfering, and yet the chief is already sidelining you."

Lang was still upset with the chief. That woman ruined all her plans. If she hadn’t intervened, then Ruan Zeqiu would have been in her grasp. That bitch!

Who asked her to cause trouble? Who asked her to ruin all her plans?

Since she caused her plans to crumble down, she too would make sure that Chief Xie wouldn’t have a peaceful life either.

The demons in Elder Lin’s heart started to stir. She had to admit that what Lang said was indeed correct.

Why did the chief only call Ruan Chanchan and not them? Why did she not hold the discussion in front of them? Just what were they hiding!?

"Lang is correct," said Elder Huang. Her beady eyes were flickering left and right as she thought of the countless possibilities; she silently wondered what exactly went on between Ruan Chanchan and the chief of the tribe and why the two of them didn’t call the elders. This was something that had never happened before, and this sudden change didn’t sit well with many of the elders who were used to being in the front. "Today, the chief didn’t even bother to call us; the next thing we know, she might start making decisions related to the tribe without telling us. When the tribe encountered difficulties, it was we who took care of everything. We were the ones who fought with the last chief. We understand certain things better than the chief herself. How could Ruan Chanchan, that brat who is still wet behind her ears, compare to us?"

"Exactly!" Elder Ye scoffed, agreeing with what Elder Huang had said. She turned to look at Elder Lin and said to her, "You really need to talk with the chief, or else she will be fooled by that brat."

"There is no point in talking with the chief," said Elder Lin with a curl of her lips. "That woman seems to have been bewitched by Ruan Chanchan. No matter what we say, she will not listen to a word. It will be better for us to take the matter into our own hands."

A flash of murderous intent flashed in her eyes as Elder Lin finished speaking, her lips curling in a sinister sneer.