A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

In the northwest, on the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring), the mornings are still cold.

As dawn broke, the mule cart quietly drove out of the house, but the seating arrangement on the cart was reversed compared to usual.

Gu Xixi was driving the carriage ahead, and Mu Nanzhao was sitting on the carriage floor.

Mu Nanzhao said with a sour face, "Does it have to be like this?"

He wore two layers of cotton clothing, one thin and one thick, and a black velvet squirrel fur cloak on top, making him look like a ball.

What's even more ridiculous is that he had a small floral cotton quilt covering his legs!

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "It's cold. It's even colder to sit still in the car with the wind blowing. People's legs and feet are most susceptible to cold. If you don't cover yourself up, you'll freeze before you even get there."

Mu Nanzhao gazed at the sky in silence.

What could he do? If he didn't agree to this arrangement today, Gu Xixi wouldn't let him leave the house.

Gu Xixi, in a cheerful mood, gently tugged on the reins and turned a corner.

She didn't need to look back to imagine how dark Mu Nanzhao's face must be.

"Once I make some money this year, I'll be able to afford a fully-equipped carriage."

"By then, we won't have to endure the scorching sun in summer or the cold winds in winter."

Thinking about the future, Mu Nanzhao's eyes dimmed slightly.

He took a silent breath, his tone as usual, "Gu Xixi, besides farming and making money, don't you have any other hobbies?"

Gu Xixi said, "Food is the most important thing for people, and even a hero can be brought down by a penny. Aren't these two hobbies big enough? If I can realize them in this lifetime, I will be very content."

Mu Nanzhao found it quite reasonable and couldn't refute it.

From the moment he met her, she had always pursued what she wanted with unwavering determination and clarity, never hesitating because of the fleeting glamour and distractions along the way.

Mu Nanzhao suddenly felt a sense of anticipation. What exactly was the farming empire that Gu Xixi wanted to ultimately achieve?

pity……

Before Mu Nanzhao could continue thinking, the mule cart suddenly came to a stop.

As the light gradually brightened ahead, it spread out along the large locust tree at the village entrance.

Tiny figures appeared in the light.

Gu Xixi looked closely and exclaimed, "What are you all doing here?!"

They were all children from the village school, including Gouwa and Shitou.

Gu Xixi inwardly cursed her bad luck. She had been so confident that she wouldn't run into anyone she knew on the way out before dawn, which was why she had convinced Mu Nanzhao to cover himself with the blanket.

This is embarrassing.

Gu Xixi didn't dare to look at Mu Nanzhao's expression. With a straight face, she picked up the stone and said, "When I left home, weren't you still asleep?"

Before Stone could answer, Gouwa interjected, "I taught him that! If he's not going to school today, you adults are all in such a rush that you don't have time to deal with the kid. Just wrap him in a pillow under the covers and pretend he's still asleep, and he usually won't be noticed."

Gouwa put his arm around Shitou's shoulder and grinned smugly.

"Alright." Gu Xixi nodded. "You're going to use tricks, right? When I get back, I'll talk to your parents and tell them that these tricks won't work on you anymore!"

The little ones looked at each other, neither of them offended.

What's so scary about that? Which child hasn't outwitted their parents? When the old tricks are gone, new ones will come along.

Stone spoke on behalf of everyone, "We all knew that the gentleman was going away for a few days, so we discussed it in advance and planned to see him off this morning to give him a surprise!"

The little ones nodded in unison, their smiling faces brighter than the morning light.

The news that Mu Nanzhao had asked for leave to go out for four days spread quickly throughout the village.

The students were in high spirits and full of energy after the four-day suspension of classes, so they discussed doing something funny.

This is today's "surprise".

On the cart floor, Mu Nanzhao did not take the opportunity to remove the small cotton quilt from his legs. Instead, he calmly looked at the group of little brats.

"I can get up before dawn."

"It seems you've all taken the story of 'rising at the crowing of the rooster' to heart.'"

Gouwa was the first to sense something was wrong and shouted, "We've already done our part, let's not delay Mr. Chen and Aunt Xixi's schedule, let's go back quickly!"

But it was too late.

"Stop." Mu Nanzhao's voice was not loud.

The little ones seemed to be frozen in place, too afraid to move.

Mu Nanzhao said in a cool tone, "The early bird catches the worm, and it's rare to see you all so diligent."

"We'll add two more paragraphs to the texts you've been memorizing over these four days. We haven't had many new characters to write to begin with, so let's write each character fifty more times."

The sound of gasps for air rose and fell.

Gu Xixi gave the children a sympathetic look, then wisely tugged on the reins, and the mule cart sped away from the village.

Once they were on the main road, Gu Xixi turned around and said, "They were kind enough to give you a ride, aren't you being too harsh on them?"

Mu Nanzhao said calmly, "Only when they are preoccupied with their own problems will they not notice what they shouldn't be looking at."

Gu Xixi couldn't help but shake her head and sigh.

These poor kids!

How could they have imagined that they would suffer such an undeserved disaster because of a small blanket?

Villages near the Northwest Military Camp.

Meng Chengping had already ordered people to prepare a courtyard.

He waited personally at the village entrance, waving to the mule cart from afar when he saw it.

"Boss Gu! Brother Mu! Lai Fu!!"

Even the mule, Lai Fu, wasn't overlooked.

Gu Xixi smiled and waved to greet Meng Chengping.

When the car stopped, Meng Chengping immediately noticed the small floral quilt inside.

"Why did you bring a blanket? And such a small one at that?"

"Didn't I say that as long as you come, there will be someone to take care of you whenever you come? You don't need to prepare these things."

Gu Xixi coughed lightly and said, "Aunt Zhang probably took it for me."

"I sleep better when I have my own things next to me."

Meng Chengping, unsuspecting, replied, "Oh, is that so?"

"Come on, let me take you to settle in first. That courtyard is where Brother Mu stayed while he was recuperating last time."

"I think you're used to living here, so let's not move."

Gu Xixi said, "Thank you, I remember that place was quite comfortable."

As they approached their destination, Meng Chengping suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "I was so happy to see you all that I forgot everything else."

"A guest arrived a day earlier than you and is waiting at home right now!"

Gu Xixi followed up with the question, "Who?"

Meng Chengping glanced at Mu Nanzhao and gave him a meaningful smile.

"Miss He."

Gu Xixi was taken aback and couldn't help but look at Mu Nanzhao.

Mu Nanzhao raised his eyes, "Why are you all looking at me? Don't you all know each other?"

Gu Xixi said, "I hadn't heard that Jinglan was coming, so it was a bit of a surprise."

“Yes, yes.” Meng Chengping nodded happily in agreement.

"Who would have thought that the dignified Miss He would condescend to come to this godforsaken place? What do you think she's after?"

"Or... who is she after?"

Mu Nanzhao shot a sharp glare at him, "General Meng cares so much about Miss He, but unfortunately, I am powerless to help her given my current status."

"However, I can inform the General and have him act as matchmaker. I believe you still have a chance."

Meng Chengping's face immediately turned purple. "Y-you-you, I-I didn't! You! Don't talk nonsense!"