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

The old doctor readily agreed, "Okay, I've got it."

"As long as the girl is willing to let me treat that boy, I'll be your uncle, or even your nephew!"

"Pah!" Aunt Zhang spat, "You're so old, yet you speak so improperly!"

She got up to clear the dishes and winked at Xixi to follow.

The two were washing dishes by the kitchen. Aunt Zhang said, "In my whole life, I've only ever seen people eagerly holding money, begging doctors to save their lives."

"What kind of doctor would eagerly seek out patients?"

"I think he's a fraud; he probably can't cure diseases at all."

Gu Xixi couldn't explain much to Aunt Zhang, so she coaxed her, "He gave Chen Fang some medicine."

"I watched with a cold eye, and Chen Fang's complexion improved a lot, so it might have worked."

"Anyway, he doesn't charge for medicine or consultation fees, and he just eats the same meals as us every day."

When Aunt Zhang heard that it was free, she relented and said, "Alright then, let him treat me for a few days and we'll see."

She asked with concern, "Where is Xiao Chen injured? Is it serious?"

Gu Xixi brushed it off without changing her expression, "It's just that my ankle is dislocated, otherwise... it's the same old problem."

Aunt Zhang nodded solemnly, "Sigh, he's had it tough too."

"He was born with a weak constitution; many babies simply can't survive. He must have suffered a lot growing up."

At night, the old doctor didn't pick and choose where to sleep; he asked Gu Xixi to help carry the patient to bed.

He slept on a makeshift bed next to his own bed.

Gu Xixi placed a small paper packet next to the old doctor.

"When you get back, try adding this to the purest water; it might be even more effective at rinsing the wound."

After Gu Xixi left, the old doctor picked up the paper package and sniffed it.

He suddenly looked up, staring straight in the direction Gu Xixi had left...

Two days have passed, and although Mu Nanzhao has not yet woken up, he has been able to be fed some warm water and rice porridge.

During this time, the old doctor asked Aunt Zhang for a small millstone, a small stove, and two bowls.

The rest of the time, except for meals, he almost never went out.

The strong smell of medicine lingered around the west room all day long.

Aunt Zhang tried several times to go in and find out what was going on, but the old doctor blocked her at the door, swearing that he was only dispensing medicine and would never burn down the house.

Under the east wall of the courtyard, there was a pile of pots and jars, each with a numbered wooden stick stuck in it.

The first thing Gu Xixi does every morning is to check these treasures.

Who needs watering, who needs to be redirected in sunlight, who is in poor condition and needs an adjustment to the cultivation plan...

The day was just like any other.

Gu Xixi had just moved a pot of wild tea seedlings to a spot with indirect sunlight and was bending over to observe it.

Suddenly, a loud clanging sound was heard, like the resounding clang of a bronze bell.

She froze for a moment, then immediately ran towards the door, shouting, "Aunt Zhang! Aunt Zhang! Put out the stove fire first, and watch over the old doctor and Chen Fang. I'm going to see what happened!"

A bronze bell hangs at the entrance of Huachidu Village.

It is said that it was donated to the village by an ancestor who passed the imperial examination.

Because of its proximity to the border, this area was frequently harassed by bandits and foreign cavalry in the past.

The bronze bell became a life-saving alarm for the entire village.

Whoever discovers danger will ring the bronze bell, and when the whole village hears it, they will quickly flee to the back of the mountain for their lives.

The bronze bell hangs under the locust tree, and after countless years, two small holes have been eroded into it.

According to the village elders, this bell hasn't rung for at least ten years.

If you hear the bell toll again, it must be a matter of life and death.

Gu Xixi ran across the dirt road in front of the door and encountered groups of villagers carrying buckets and basins.

"on fire!"

"Hurry everyone! The fire won't go out with water, it's spreading this way!"

"What a disaster! What am I going to do if my buckwheat crop is lost?!"

Looking into the distance, black smoke billowed from the direction of the fields, and flames could be faintly seen.

Gu Xixi was horrified, although judging from the direction, her field had not yet been burned.

But given the fire's intensity, if the wind shifts, her millet and yams...

Without wasting time, she turned and ran home, briefly explaining the situation to Aunt Zhang.

Aunt Zhang was so anxious that she was about to grab a bucket to put out the fire, but Gu Xixi stopped her.

“The more chaotic the village is, the more we fear that outsiders might take advantage of the situation and deliberately cause trouble.”

"I'm going to meet up with Chen Dafu and the others. We'll definitely protect our family's land."

"After I leave, you should lock the gate and guard our house for me."

In particular, Mu Nanzhao's serious injuries must not be seen by anyone.

Aunt Zhang nodded repeatedly, panting, "Okay, okay!"

She took a wood-chopping knife and held it to her chest with both hands. "I will definitely protect the home, Xixi. Please be careful."

When Gu Xixi arrived, Chen Dafu was leading his workers to draw water from the irrigation ditch repeatedly and pour it onto the narrow road marking the boundary of his own fields.

But such a long line, when water is poured on it, is instantly absorbed into the soil, and it's completely useless.

The workers finally saw their savior, "The boss is here!"

Chen Dafu said worriedly, "Boss, dozens of acres have already been burned over there. We can't afford not to take some precautions."

"The fire looks far away now, but if the wind changes direction, it could reach here in the blink of an eye."

Gu Xixi nodded, "You foresaw this and took precautions in advance, which is already very good."

"Now listen to me."

Chen Dafu stayed behind with three hired workers to dig up all the yams on the westernmost edge of the field and clear away the weeds.

Then dig a horizontal trench along the ridge.

Although everyone felt sorry for the yams, they all did as instructed without saying a word.

First, save lives; second, it would be good enough if most of the crops could be saved.

Since the employer is capable, they trust the employer.

After making the arrangements, Gu Xixi hurriedly left with the other four employees without saying what she was going to do.

Flames soared into the sky on the west side of the village.

The villagers frantically poured water, but it was all in vain against the spreading fire.

"That damned bastard is burning a fire in the field! Is he trying to kill our whole village?!"

Grandpa Gu's vegetable garden has been affected by the smoke and fire.

The cabbage leaves on the west side of the roof have begun to curl and turn black.

Grandpa Gu stood on the edge of the field, trembling all over. "Quick! Quickly pour water on the vegetables, pour lots of water!"

His eldest son, carrying a bucket of water, was troubled. "Dad, should we put out the fire first, or water the vegetables first?"

Grandpa Gu stomped his foot and roared, "Of course it's for watering the vegetables!"

"The city is waiting for this batch of cabbages! If our vegetables spoil, everything will be ruined!"

"Of course, put out the fire first!" The woman's voice echoed through the noisy scene.

"If this fire continues to burn, not only will all the fields in the village be destroyed, but we will also lose our houses and our lives!"

Everyone was startled and turned to look at the source of the sound.

Gu Xixi stood in front of a dilapidated cart piled high with fine sand.

The four hired workers each took a basin and a bucket, filled them with fine sand, and scattered it far away into the edge where the fire was weakest.

Gu Xixi got into the car and said loudly, "It's too late to water them little by little now."

"Anyone with a car, livestock, or strong hands can come with me to the mountainside to dig this fine sandy soil."

"Those who are not strong, stay here and learn what they do, like sprinkling sand."