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

As noon approached, the cooks set up their pots and started preparing food on site, while the others continued working.

He Jinglan led the two women over, carrying food and water jugs.

She spotted Mu Nanzhao first, and ran over with a smile, "Ah Zhao! I've brought lunch, including some scallion pancakes that I made myself!"

Mu Nanzhao glanced at him slightly, "When did you learn to cook?"

The tone was confident rather than questioning.

He Jinglan smiled, "The eggs I used were beaten by my own hands, does that count?"

She looked around, "Where's Xixi?"

Mu Nanzhao did not answer, but just looked in a certain direction.

He Jinglan followed the gaze.

Soldiers were busy everywhere, and it took her a long time to spot Gu Xixi talking to someone.

They were too far away to see Gu Xixi's expression clearly, but they could tell what she was going through.

He Jinglan said admiringly, "Xi is very serious, and everyone is willing to listen to her. When my brother talks business with people, he can't compare to her demeanor."

Mu Nanzhao said calmly, "She has always had her own future."

Gu Xixi had just finished explaining the key points of burying fertilizer to a general.

One of the soldiers ran up excitedly and reported, "Boss Gu, there's something on the ground over there that looks like a flower."

On the first day of work, Boss Gu asked everyone to keep an eye out for any plants that looked like flowers.

But at this time of year, the northwestern wilderness is mostly barren land and withered grass; there are hardly any flowers to be seen.

Who would have thought that they would encounter this today, which opened the eyes of these soldiers who have long been rooted in the Northwest.

When Gu Xixi ran to see, the crowd of onlookers automatically parted to make way for her.

The soldiers were still discussing, "What is this? It's yellowish-green, could it be cabbage?"

"I just had stewed cabbage this morning, and the leaves do look a bit like cabbage."

The cook looked down on his comrades who couldn't recognize cabbage, saying, "Does cabbage look like this?! Does cabbage have such a black heart, like a flower? You call it cabbage?!"

"If this were cabbage, it would have frozen and rotted in the snow long ago!"

However, even the cook couldn't explain what this thing was.

Before the winter freezes over, their cooks have searched everywhere for edible things, but they have never seen this before.

It grows close to the ground, topped with frost, like a large, blooming flower.

Everyone turned to look at Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi sighed softly, "This is a snow lotus."

Someone exclaimed, "Snow lotus, the legendary Tian Shan snow lotus?"

The soldiers were astonished. It was rumored that the Tian Shan snow lotus was an extremely rare medicinal material, and some folk tales mentioned that it had the miraculous effect of bringing the dead back to life and healing flesh and bones.

Everyone asked in unison, "Are you sure you're not mistaken? Tian Shan snow lotus can grow on our flat land?"

"Yes, we often pass through here, but we haven't seen it in previous years."

Gu Xixi nodded, "That's right. Snow lotuses don't necessarily grow in the Tianshan Mountains. This place is extremely cold and at a high altitude, and we're standing on a sandy beach, so the conditions are basically suitable."

“It usually takes five years for a snow lotus to bloom, so it’s normal that you haven’t seen it.”

Gu Xixi was very disappointed. She had already encountered the snow lotus, but the firefly flower was still nowhere to be seen.

Today is over, and she will be going home tomorrow morning.

Unable to find the Firefly Bone Flower, I cast a wide net among medicine merchants and traders from the Western Regions, but I don't know if I'll find anything.

After the Northwest Army members took turns examining the rare plant, the snow lotus was unanimously given to Gu Xixi.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one else was around, Meng Chengping said, "Although the snow lotus is precious, it's not very useful to our army. You can keep it without worry."

He lowered his voice slightly, "The General knows that Brother Mu is ill. You should take Xue Lian back; perhaps it will be of some use?"

Gu Xixi nodded, "Okay, then I won't refuse to fake it, thank you."

The two walked to the area where the pots were set up for cooking.

Then I saw He Jinglan and Mu Nanzhao standing together.

He Jinglan smiled and said, "I brought you food, just waiting for you to come back and eat!"

She finally looked at Meng Chengping and said, "General Meng, please come with us."

Meng Chengping blushed and said, "Thank you, Miss He, but it would be impolite of me to refuse."

The group found a sheltered spot to sit down.

The food basket contained a stack of egg and scallion pancakes and two small plates of side dishes.

The water jug ​​contains hot brown sugar, ginger, and jujube tea.

Gu Xixi showed everyone the snow lotus she had just picked.

He Jinglan clicked her tongue in amazement, "We do have this at home, but it's something new; this is the first time I've ever seen it."

Gu Xixi had a sudden thought, "Have you ever heard of the Firefly Bone Flower?"

In ancient times, wealthy families would store many medicinal herbs, including many rare and precious ones.

Perhaps with the He family's resources, they can find the Firefly Bone Flower.

However, He Jinglan frowned and thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I've never heard of it or seen it before. Is it a rare and precious flower?"

Gu Xixi suppressed her disappointment and replied with a faint smile, "Yes, I've only heard about it."

She took a bite of the biscuit, but when she looked up, she found Mu Nanzhao staring at her.

Gu Xixi almost choked, "...Is something wrong?"

Mu Nanzhao asked, "You really want this Firefly Bone Flower?"

Afraid of being discovered, Gu Xixi buried her head in her pancake and mumbled, "I saw it in the pharmacopoeia. I heard that it can be found in the cold and harsh northwest, so I couldn't help but be curious."

Fortunately, Mu Nanzhao just hummed in response and didn't say anything more.

Gu Xixi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and at the same time cheered herself up again.

How easy is it to find something that even the old doctor has never seen before?

Anyway, today isn't over yet, and there's still some time to go, so we can't give up hope so soon!

Yes, eat more and get enough energy!

Gu Xixi looked at He Jinglan again and saw that she was indeed taking good care of Mu Nanzhao.

"Ah Zhao, this pickled cabbage isn't too salty, you should try it!"

"Ah Zhao, don't just eat dry food, have some ginger and jujube tea!"

The girl's eyes were full of joy, open and undisguised.

Mu Nanzhao's gaze passed over the bowl offered to his lips and fell on Gu Xixi, who was diligently eating.

He gently pushed the teacup aside and asked, "What dish is that over there?"

Gu Xixi looked up in confusion, her cheeks puffed out, unable to speak, "Hmm?"

Meng Chengping kindly answered for her, "This is a large pot of stew that was just delivered by the cooks."

"It's just radishes, cabbage, and dried pork bones all huddled together."

"You and Miss He definitely won't be used to this kind of coarse food, so we'll leave it here."

Mu Nanzhao raised his eyebrows and said, "Gu Xixi, I want to eat too."

Helpless, Gu Xixi had no choice but to pick up the vegetable bowl.

Meng Chengping laughed and said, "Brother Mu, please don't be offended if you don't like it."

Gu Xixi placed the dish in front of Mu Nanzhao, looked up and saw He Jinglan with a look of utter disbelief, and casually asked with a smile, "Jinglan, what's wrong?"

He Jinglan stared at Mu Nanzhao and shook her head. "It's nothing."

She stood up and grabbed Gu Xixi, "Xixi, I need to use the restroom, will you come with me?"

Gu Xixi was dragged away by He Jinglan before she had even finished eating, and could only watch helplessly as the hot food gradually disappeared into the distance.

After walking a distance, He Jinglan entered the bushes but did not intend to use the restroom.

She said mysteriously, "From childhood to adulthood, I have never seen Mu Nanzhao act coquettishly with anyone!"

Gu Xixi didn't understand why she said this out of the blue. "Huh?"