Facade of Love

Chapter 427 The Things One Needed to Survive Were Different

Fortunately, he did not have any other major issues apart from his limited mobility.

It was half a month later when I finally received Gregory's reply. On that day, I went looking for the peddler with Rebecca just like before, intending to ask him to continue delivering messages for me. As soon as I saw him, he said, "Ms. Scott, your family has sent you a message saying they're relieved that you're safe."

I was stunned and did not immediately process what he said, but soon I understood that Gregory had probably guessed that it was me contacting him.

Thinking about this, I could not help but feel relieved. I asked the peddler to continue delivering messages. Fortunately, I had become familiar with him, and he readily agreed without asking too many questions.

Everything was progressing smoothly. It had been almost two months since Lucas brought me here, and the temperature at the border was getting warmer, with more thunderstorms occurring.

The poppy flowers that once covered the mountains had withered, and the seeds were gradually becoming harvestable.

On our way back from outside, Rebecca looked at the hills filled with poppy flowers and said, "According to the boss, we can harvest these flowers next week. They have bloomed exceptionally well this year, so the harvest should be particularly profitable. We'll definitely make a lot of money."

Seeing Rebecca's excited expression, I could not help but ask, "Rebecca, do you need money that badly?"

She looked at me, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Ms. Scott, why do you ask that? In this world, is there anyone who dislikes having more money?"

I was momentarily taken aback and could not find an immediate response. I shook my head slightly and forced a dry smile, saying, "Of course not. It's just that selling these things would harm people. Are you happy making money this way?"

She furrowed her brow slightly, looking at me strangely, and said, "Ms. Scott, we make a living from this. It's true that they're harmful, but we're not directly causing harm. If you want to talk about who's causing harm, it's those people who can't resist temptation that are harming themselves. As long as you don't touch this stuff, it won't cause any harm. Otherwise, after dealing with them for so many years, all of us here would've died by now. But we're still alive and well. So, the real harm is caused by those people themselves. They're foolish and unable to control their desires, so they harm themselves. They deserve it."

I pursed my lips, unable to agree with her words, but I knew that arguing with her would be futile. So, I remained silent.

Seeing that I was silent, Rebecca pursed her lips slightly and said, "Ms. Scott, don't always view things from a saint-like perspective. Cigarettes are produced inland and those are legal. Those things are harmful too, though to a lesser extent than poppy, but you also have many farmers growing and selling tobacco. It's all legal. Planting poppy and selling it, to some extent, is no different from growing tobacco. Both of them are for making money. It's just that one is legal, and the other isn't."

She spoke confidently, and I could not help but furrow my brows, squinting at her. I said, "Those two things aren’t the same. Cigarettes are harmful to health, but they don't lead to death, causing families to be torn apart and left in ruins. Poppy does. Once someone gets addicted to poppy, they're ruined, and so is their family. Its impact extends beyond one person's health. It affects a whole group of people. The harm poppy causes is immeasurable. You say that those who come into contact with poppy deserve it because they can't resist temptation, but what about those who are forced into it and unfairly accused? Are they also deserving of their fate? Are they to blame for it?"

I took a deep breath as I looked at her and continued, "Rebecca, I understand that in your eyes, this is just a way to make money and that it's no different from farming crops. But anything in excess can be harmful. When people are hungry, they need to eat, or they will starve to death. However, if they overeat, it can also be harmful. Cigarettes are harmful to health, but people who smoke them in moderation won't end up like those addicted to poppy, who simply decay and die. These things are different."

Perhaps it was because I had said too much, but Rebecca did not know what to say for a moment. She pursed her lips as she looked at me, and after a while, she said, "But if we don't plant poppies, what will we do? What will the people in these mountains eat? How will they live?"

I knew that I could not force her to think the same way as I did. She had her own way of survival, and I could not sway her from it.

I took a deep breath, feeling weary, and looked at her. "I want to go for a walk by myself. You should go back first."

She was probably in a bad mood, considering how I had criticized the thing she relied on for survival. She nodded slightly and left. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Without Rebecca accompanying me, I wandered around for a while and then went to see Chandler.

Over the past few days, I had become quite familiar with Chandler. Even the two men guarding the entrance no longer stopped me. I had no clue what had happened, but I could now come and go freely.

Chandler's injury had improved significantly. When he saw me, he hesitated momentarily, then said, "Young lady, you've been quite diligent these days."

Seeing him able to stand up, I smiled and replied, "I came to check on you, and you're complaining? It seems like your injury has healed."

He nodded at me. Then, he stood up and took a few steps forward, saying, "It's better, but at my age, this leg probably won't recover to what it used to be. Looks like I'll be limping for the rest of my life."