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

Gu Xixi took the scroll of paper, unfolded it, and scanned it.

He Jinglan leaned closer to look and read out the key sentences: "It is agreed that before the spring planting, Gu Xixi can take these plots of land as she pleases."

"...The following remuneration...will be paid in two installments, one for the summer harvest and one for the autumn harvest, in proportion to the total amount paid."

She patted Gu Xixi's shoulder with great admiration, "Xixi really doesn't work for free, she actually managed to get benefits from the General! I, her sister, am completely impressed!"

Gu Xixi smiled with narrowed eyes, "Look at what you're saying, as if the General is so stingy."

He Jinglan pursed her lips, and for the sake of the He family's reputation, she refrained from saying anything that would damage the general's prestige.

However, those in the know, including Meng Chengping, are aware of this.

Isn't the General known for being stingy?

The Northwest Army was poorly fed; it was a miracle if the entire army could even get enough to eat.

Gu Xixi put away the scroll with satisfaction and solemnly said to Meng Chengping, "Please tell the General that I will live up to your trust. The granary will be properly arranged, and at the latest by this summer, the General will not need to use his personal funds to pay for military supplies."

"In another year or two, the Northwest Army will no longer have to depend on others for food."

Meng Chengping said happily, "I will definitely deliver the message!"

"I've had enough of people begging and pleading everywhere just to have a bite to eat!"

He Jinglan curled her lip and said, "Damn it, so young and already so vulgar."

Meng Chengping wasn't angry; his smile held a hint of nervousness as he asked, "Brother Mu is going back. What about you? If you're going with them, I'll find someone to escort you."

“Your brother wrote a letter to the General, instructing us to ensure Miss He’s safety.”

He Jinglan muttered unhappily, "Why does my brother interfere in everything? I'm already out here, but I still can't escape."

She rolled her eyes at Meng Chengping and said, "They're going home together, what would I do there?"

"Besides, I've had a rare opportunity to travel to the Northwest, and I haven't had enough fun yet!"

Meng Chengping immediately became happy, his smile as bright as the sun breaking through the dark clouds.

"If you haven't had enough fun, then stay a few more days. I'm not too busy lately, so I can take you horseback riding!"

"After spring arrives, the wildflowers on the northwestern wilderness come in many colors, they're very beautiful, and there are also wild rabbits and Pallas's rabbits, things you can't see in the capital!"

Upon hearing this, He Jinglan was indeed pleased, "Alright, then I'll stay a little longer."

She then took Gu Xixi's hand and said affectionately, "You'll probably come over often around spring, right? Let's meet up and play together."

Gu Xixi, however, was worried for He Jinglan, "You've been wandering around the Northwest alone for so long, will your family agree to it?"

He Jinglan smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's alright."

"Firstly, thanks to someone's scheme, if nothing unexpected happens, my brother will become the head of the He family in a few days."

“Not only my father, but the entire He family has to listen to him.”

She glanced at Mu Nanzhao and said meaningfully:

"Secondly, it's also for someone's sake. Since the He family has staked their entire clan's fortune on this, my uncles and elders will feel at ease if I stay here. They can't bear to take me back."

Meng Chengping was completely confused, blinking his big eyes as he looked at this person and that person.

Gu Xixi, however, only half-listened and half-guessed, but she understood the general idea.

The "someone" that He Jinglan was referring to was undoubtedly Mu Nanzhao.

In the book's plot, Mu Nanzhao will support the new emperor's ascension to the throne, restore order, and become the first regent of a different surname in the Great Cause.

Judging from the current situation, the Ho family, under the leadership of Ho King-fai, has also chosen a new emperor.

Among these, alliances formed by marriage or blood ties are the simplest and most reliable.

and so……

Gu Xixi's gaze swept over He Jinglan and Mu Nanzhao in turn.

Mu Nanzhao suddenly said coldly, "Don't worry, I've already told your brother that we won't have a marriage alliance."

He Jinglan made a face at him, "Don't worry, I already wrote to my brother the day before yesterday, telling him that I don't want to marry you!"

He Jinglan proudly put her hands on her hips.

At this moment, she seemed to radiate boundless light.

It's all clear now! It's her who doesn't want Mu Nanzhao, not the other way around!

For the first time ever, Mu Nanzhao showed a warm smile, "Then let's meet again when spring arrives."

He Jinglan waved to the departing mule cart, "Oh! Just mind your own business and don't die!"

"Xixi! Come quicker next time! I'm getting really bored facing that blockhead surnamed Meng all the time!"

Meng Chengping's silly grin hadn't stopped since then.

He understood: Miss He didn't want to marry Mu Nanzhao!

Only after Gu Xixi's mule cart had disappeared from sight did Meng Chengping grin and ask, "Weren't you almost engaged to Brother Mu? You came here for him, so why did you suddenly change your mind?"

He Jinglan remained gazing into the distance, murmuring, "Because, how could I, the dignified Miss He, possibly want a man who has someone else in his heart?"

From childhood, she thought that Mu Nanzhao's coldness towards all women was simply due to his naturally cold nature.

Until she saw Mu Nanzhao's appearance in front of Gu Xixi...

Meng Chengping followed He Jinglan's example and looked in the direction Gu Xixi and the others had left.

"You mean... Brother Mu and Boss Gu have something going on?"

He frowned in confusion. "How come I didn't see that?"

"You blockhead!" He Jinglan glared at him fiercely, then turned and left.

Huachidu Village.

Gu Xixi and Mu Nanzhao arrived home just as night fell.

The old doctor left his half-eaten dinner, picked up the firefly flower, and turned to leave without saying a word.

Aunt Zhang brought in two freshly ladled bowls of porridge, turning back in puzzlement. "What's this old man doing if he's not eating?"

Gu Xixi said with a smile, "I picked a novel herb."

"You know Master's temperament; he loves tinkering with these things. Let him be. I'll bring him some more late-night snacks later."

Aunt Zhang nodded, placing the bowl of porridge on the kang table while sizing up Mu Nanzhao.

"Xiao Chen, why does your face look pale? You also seem to have lost some weight?"

"No! You need to eat more!"

As she spoke, she broke open a hot steamed bun, filled it with braised meat, and stuffed it into Mu Nanzhao's hand.

Mu Nanzhao smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie. She didn't give me anything to eat on the way, and I was starving. I was craving the food you cook at home."

Aunt Zhang was almost speechless with surprise. She nudged Xixi beside her and said, "Little Chen is really joking with me, isn't he?"

Gu Xixi couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Mu Nanzhao was usually stern and rarely smiled at home, so it was a miracle that he showered Aunt Zhang with so many compliments.

Gu Xixi said, "Yes, he was just joking with you. I clearly gave him some dry food on the way."

"Don't listen to him as if I'm abusing him."

Aunt Zhang was overjoyed and said, "They just gave us dry rations, and they still say it's not abuse?"

"No wonder our dear son-in-law has lost weight again. I'll cook you something delicious tomorrow to help him recover!"

Gu Xixi picked up her chopsticks and said subtly, "Why call me son-in-law? We haven't reached that stage yet."

Aunt Zhang, however, thought it was just a young girl being shy.

Seeing that Mu Nanzhao did not object, her smile deepened.

"Okay, okay, we won't call you that now, but we'll call you that properly later!"