Exposing the Charade of Deep Affection (PDF)

Chapter 427 The Things They Relied on for Survival Were Different Fortunately, aside from his limited mobility, he didn't have any major

issues.

I received Stanley's reply about half a month later. That day, just like before, I found the peddler with Marguerite, hoping he would continue to help me deliver messages. As soon as I saw the peddler, he said to me, "Ms. Conner, your family has responded to your message. They said they are relieved to know you are okay."

At first, I was taken aback and didn't react, but then I realized that Stanley probably guessed that I was the one contacting him.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel happy. So, I asked the peddler to continue helping me deliver messages. Fortunately, I was familiar with the peddler, and he agreed without asking too many questions. Everything had been going smoothly, it had been almost two months since Ezra brought me here. The temperature at the border had been getting higher and higher, and there had been more and more thunderstorms.

The Venom Rose flowers that filled the mountains and fields outside had withered, and the seeds were gradually ready for harvest.

On the way back from outside, Marguerite looked at the mountains full of Venom Roses and said, "The gentleman said that these flowers can be harvested next week. These flowers bloomed so well this year, the harvest must be particularly good, we can definitely make a lot of money again."

Looking at Marguerite's excited expression, I couldn't help but ask, "Marguerite, are you short of money?"

She looked at me strangely and asked in confusion, "Ms Conner, why would you ask such a question? In this world, would anyone ever

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complain about having too much money?"

I was taken aback for a moment, momentarily stumped by the question. I shook my head slightly, forcing a dry laugh as I said, "Of course not. But these things, once sold, will harm people. Would you be happy making money like this?"

She furrowed her brows slightly, looking at me strangely and said, "Ms. Conner, we make our living from these things. Yes, they are indeed harmful, but it's not us who directly harm people. If you really want to talk about harm, it's those who can't resist temptation who harm themselves. These things, as long as you don't touch them, won't cause any harm. If we hadn't been in contact with them for so many years, we would have died long ago. But here we are, still alive and well. So, the real harm comes from those people themselves. They are foolish and can't control their own desires. They harm themselves, and they deserve it."

I pursed my lips, unable to agree with her words for a moment. Knowing that arguing with her was pointless, I simply chose not to speak.

Seeing me silent, Marguerite pursed her lips slightly and said, "Ms. Conner, you shouldn't always look at issues from the perspective of a saint. According to your logic, your inland still produces cigarettes, which are also legalized. Those things also harm people. Although the harm of Venom Rose is greater, there are also many farmers in your country who grow and sell tobacco, and these are all legal. We grow and sell Venom Rose, which, to some extent, is no different from growing cigarettes. Both are for making money, one is legal and the

other is not."

She spoke convincingly, causing me to furrow my brows and look at her intently. I said, "These two things are not the same. Cigarettes are harmful to health, but they don't necessarily lead to death, cause people to lose everything, and shatter into pieces. But Venom Rose does.

Once someone gets involved with Venom Rose, not only is a person ruined, but a whole family is ruined. It affects not just one person's health, but a group of people. Its harm is beyond our estimation. You say that those who come into contact with Venom Rose deserve it because they can't resist the temptation. But what if someone is forced, or falsely accused and thus gets involved? Do these people also deserve it?"

Looking at her, I took a slight breath and said, "Marguerite, I know, in your eyes, this thing is just about making money, no different from farming. But anything, once overdone, is not enough. People need to eat when they are hungry, and they will starve to death if they don't eat. But if they eat too much, they will also die of overeating. Cigarettes are harmful to health, but for those who smoke, as long as it's in moderation, they won't die like Venom Rose, they won't decay. They are different."

Perhaps I had said too much. Marguerite was momentarily at a loss for words, pursing her lips as she looked at me. After a long pause, she finally said, "But, if we don't cultivate Venom Rose, what are we supposed to do? What will the people in the mountains eat? How will they live?"

I knew, ultimately, I couldn't force her to think the same way as me. She had her own way of survival, the things she relied on to live, which I couldn't shake.

I took a slight breath, feeling a bit weary, and said to her, "I want to take a walk by myself, you go back first."

Her mood was probably not good either, after all, I had disparaged the very thing she relied on for survival. She gave a slight nod and then she left.

Without Marguerite accompanying me, I wandered around by myself for a while, then went to see Michael

Over the past few days, Michael and I had become quite familiar with each other. The two men guarding the gate, for some unknown reason, had stopped stopping me. I was free to come and go as I pleased. Michael's injury was almost healed. Seeing me, he paused slightly and said, "Little lady, you've been quite diligent in coming here recently."

Seeing him able to stand up, I chuckled, "Came to see you, are you still complaining? Your injury seems to have healed, hasn't it?"

He nodded, stood up and tried to walk a few steps, then said, "It's better, but at this age, there's no way for this leg to return to its previous state. It seems I'll be limping for the rest of my life.”