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

He Jinglan nodded and looked Gu Xixi up and down, her expression meaningful.

Gu Xixi's lips twitched as if her teeth ached.

After a moment, she said uncertainly, "You don't mean... he was being affectionate when he asked for food earlier?"

No one acts like they're treating someone like a servant when they're being affectionate!

He Jinglan nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

"Although my brother always says he's shameless, he always acts like a strong person and rarely shows weakness in front of others."

"Acting spoiled is even more impossible. He wouldn't do that to his elders, only to you..."

He Jinglan stopped talking.

She looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and muttered softly, "Anyway, I don't need him."

Gu Xixi didn't hear He Jinglan's mutterings clearly. "What did you say?"

“I said…” He Jinglan turned to look at Xixi, a smile spreading across her face, “I’m very smart!”

"Since you're good at farming, tell me, isn't it true that forced relationships are never sweet?"

Gu Xixi nodded and said, "Theoretically, that's how it is. There's a saying, 'When the melon is ripe, it falls from the vine.'"

While she was still pondering how to explain this problem in detail, He Jinglan had already put her arm around her shoulder.

"Come on, let's go back."

Gu Xixi: "Aren't you going to the restroom?"

He Jinglan smiled and said, "No, it's too cold out there. We'll go back to the village later."

As the sun sets, the aroma of mutton pies fills the courtyard.

As He Jinglan washed her hands, she glanced at the side and asked, "Isn't General Meng going back to the military camp?"

Meng Chengping grinned, "Such delicious mutton pies, of course I have to stay and freeload!"

He Jinglan shook her head and sighed, "General Meng really doesn't consider himself an outsider."

Meng Chengping pretended not to understand the sarcasm.

"Miss He, don't worry, we're all close friends, I won't stand on ceremony."

The mutton we ate tonight was bought with money from He Jinglan.

She bought a lot of food on her way here, so the food in the courtyard is definitely the best in the area.

After discovering this fact, Meng Chengping used the excuse of entertaining Gu Xixi and Mu Nanzhao to eat here for the past two days without feeling guilty.

While He Jinglan and Meng Chengping were arguing, Mu Nanzhao glanced at the room where Gu Xixi lived.

The lights were off, and there was no sound at all.

A woman who was cooking came out to empty the dirty water. Mu Nanzhao asked, "Has Boss Gu been inside ever since he came back?"

The woman smiled. "Sir, are you asking about Miss Xixi?"

"She came back and rested for a while, asked me a few questions, and then hurriedly went out again."

Mu Nanzhao was taken aback, and He Jinglan and Meng Chengping also stopped talking and turned to look at him.

Seeing that everyone was paying attention to this matter, the woman took the initiative to say, "We were just talking about how the riverbank outside the village will not thaw for another month. When Xixi heard this, she asked which way to the riverbank."

"I reckon that's where she went."

"I'll go take a look," Mu Nanzhao said, and started walking out.

Meng Chengping said urgently, "Hey, do you know the way? I'll go with you!"

"No need." Mu Nanzhao left only these two words.

He Jinglan grabbed Meng Chengping, "Didn't you hear me? I told you not to come along."

Meng Chengping was still worried, "But it's getting dark, and I'm afraid there's no one outside the village, so it's not safe."

He Jinglan rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"It's better when it's dark and there are no people around, why would we need a big candle to light our way!"

Meng Chengping scratched his head in confusion, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

"You mean them...the two of them?!"

He Jinglan said, "At least you have some brains."

Meng Chengping stared at He Jinglan in disbelief. "Then what are you going to do?"

He Jinglan said irritably, "What do you mean, what am I supposed to do?"

Meng Chengping, oblivious to the danger, foolishly continued to bring the topic to the surface, "You traveled a thousand miles to pursue my brother Mu, and now you're just giving him up so easily?"

He Jinglan stomped hard on Meng Chengping's instep, her cherry lips curving into a smile as beautiful as a flower.

"I'm going to enjoy my travels in the Northwest."

"Who are you saying traveled thousands of miles to chase after whom?"

Meng Chengping winced in pain, but dared not try to save his foot. "No, no one."

"I didn't say anything!"

He Jinglan vented her anger and then let Meng Chengping go, satisfied.

She glanced at the sky and said, "However, the security issues you mentioned are indeed not to be underestimated."

"Let's slowly follow them and meet them."

"Okay, sure," Meng Chengping replied obediently.

He Jinglan glanced sideways, "Take your weapons and protect me."

For some reason, Meng Chengping now felt a sweet warmth in his heart whenever he saw He Jinglan glaring at him.

"Yes!" He obediently picked up his spear and followed with a silly grin.

This small village exists because it is located next to the Northwest Army camp.

The village has only about thirty houses.

Walking north from the courtyard where Gu Xixi and the others live, you can leave the village in less than the time it takes to eat a meal.

There is a strip of rocky beach extending to the north.

In spring, the snowmelt from the mountains melts and flows downstream to form rivers.

At this moment, there is no flowing water on the riverbank, revealing high and low stones embedded in the frozen ice and snow.

Gu Xixi heard from the old doctor that the Firefly Bone Flower grows in a place similar to the Snow Lotus.

The only difference is that the Firefly Flower prefers moist conditions and is more likely to grow in river valleys and frozen shallow areas.

So when Gu Xixi heard that there was such a place nearby, she rushed over even though it was getting dark.

Gu Xixi walked upstream along the riverbank.

Everywhere you look is desolate, with no sign of life in sight.

She just kept walking and walking.

As darkness fell and visibility diminished, Gu Xixi stopped and looked back, only to realize that she had unknowingly walked too far and could no longer see the village she had come from.

In the Northwest during winter, there are too many dangers after dark.

Moreover, without lighting, you can't see anything even if you want to look for something.

Gu Xixi had no choice but to give up at this point.

She sighed, turned around, and prepared to walk back.

Suddenly, a long wolf howl came from the darkness of the east.

Then one note followed another in rapid succession, like a chorus, omnipresent.

Gu Xixi suddenly stopped. There were wolves, and more than one.

She looked around to the east following the sound, her heart pounding wildly.

One pair, two pairs, three pairs...

The eerie green lights, like will-o'-the-wisps, were neither too close nor too far away.

The light spot did not approach rapidly, probably because it was observing and testing.

Gu Xixi stared at her aunt, her mind racing, drawing on her past experience from fieldwork.

What can you do if you encounter a wild beast?

You definitely can't outrun them.

Humans cannot match wolves in terms of physical strength, speed, or night vision.

Acting rashly may attract the attention of the wolf pack.

Then light a fire and use the flames to scare away wild animals; that's the best way.

but……

When Gu Xixi came out, she intended to go back before dark, so she didn't bring a tinderbox.

Her heart sank, but she didn't intend to just wait to die.

Just as she bent down to reach for her small cloth bag, a large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist!