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

Gu Xixi became a little more awake and sat up to look at He Jinglan, who was still fast asleep beside her.

"Okay, I'll go out and talk to him."

"Let Jinglan continue sleeping, don't wake her."

It was the hottest time of day, and the area under the eaves of the main room was the coolest.

Sitting directly opposite the open door, with a breeze blowing in from time to time, is actually quite comfortable.

Master Liu held a bowl of cooled tea and drank it.

Stone sat properly to the side, answering Liu Fuzi's questions in a roundabout way.

It's clear that he's long wanted to unleash his true nature, but he has no choice but to keep talking to Master Liu.

Gu Xixi beckoned Qing'er over, "Shitou, take Qing'er to play, but don't go too far, it'll be time to eat soon."

Stone felt as if he had been granted a pardon and happily ran off with Qing'er's little hand in his arms.

The stool became empty, but Gu Xixi didn't sit down. "I was too sleepy this morning, so I had to ask Shitou to pass on the message. I wonder if he conveyed it clearly?"

Master Liu had some difficulty looking up at people, so he had to stand up and say, "I understand in three sentences and three matters."

"I have finished Mr. He's class."

"Please leave those medicines under the west wall tonight. Someone will collect them before dawn."

Then he pulled out a stack of silver notes, "Each note is worth one hundred taels; they might be more convenient to use."

The money was earned through her own labor, and Gu Xixi accepted it without hesitation, saying, "I will pass it on to my master."

Master Liu smiled. Gu Xixi was never very enthusiastic when she saw him, and he was used to it.

Who can blame him when his backer is Mu Nanzhao?

Mr. Liu continued, "As for Miss He's wish to have the He family come in for protection, the higher-ups have already agreed."

He Jinghui may seem carefree and irreverent, but he is meticulous in his work and is no less so than Mu Nanzhao.

The person he could place next to his only younger sister must have a clean and clear background, with absolutely no possibility of betrayal.

Gu Xixi nodded, "Besides what you want, there is a separate blue bundle containing several boxes of labor-inducing and life-saving pills, along with instructions on their use. Could you please deliver them to the family village for Aunt Lin?"

Master Liu paused for a moment, then suddenly straightened his posture and bowed solemnly to Gu Xixi.

"Mr. Gu is very generous."

Gu Xixi awkwardly looked away. "Stop saying all that useless stuff. Get the medicine here as soon as possible. That's more important than anything else."

Master Liu cupped his hands again and said solemnly, "I will arrange the carriages and men immediately, and we must set off tonight."

After the medicine was taken out, things were calm for two more days.

Since the old bachelor was detained, there has been no further tracking or spying.

As for the fate of old bachelors.

Old Qian did all of this, and it was delivered to the Qingtian County government office the next day.

Because the matter was confidential, the specific handling of the situation afterward remains unknown.

However, Gu Xixi didn't care.

But with the old bachelor gone, new rumors about Gu Xixi began to circulate in the village.

"Gu Xixi is indeed not someone to be trifled with."

"She sent another one to jail."

"Look, anyone who dares to go against Gu Xixi will suffer the consequences."

"Next up are probably Uncle Gu and Second Uncle Gu, they're going to be in trouble."

……

These were all gathered by the junior informant, Stone.

Gu Xixi simply smiled and ignored it.

As long as Uncle Gu and Second Uncle Gu stop causing trouble, she won't have the time to kick them while they're down.

When the sun is not strong in the morning and there is a gentle breeze, it is the best time to go out.

Looking at the wheat ears that had turned yellow, Gu Xixi felt both at ease and uneasy.

He Jinglan and she gazed at the rolling golden waves of wheat. "Is it almost time to harvest the wheat?"

Gu Xixi: "Hmm, I hope it won't rain then."

He Jinglan: "An Qinghe went to those orchards and watched them irrigate their fields. Judging from his appearance, it seemed like he wasn't planning to leave, just like me."

Gu Xixi: "Are you going to stay here with me forever and not leave?"

He Jinglan laughed, "If no one chases me away or urges me, then I definitely don't want to leave."

She turned and nudged Gu Xixi playfully, saying, "I'm sticking with you."

Gu Xixi chuckled, "If it could always be like this, that would be nice."

He Jinglan knew Gu Xixi's worries, but she herself was also worried.

My elder brother, the He family, Mu Nanzhao, Meng Chengping... everyone is someone I care about.

But she still smiled and deliberately changed the subject, "You've talked to An Qinghe, haven't you? What did he say to you? Why aren't you urging him to leave anymore?"

Recalling the scene in the tea garden that day, Gu Xixi couldn't help but sigh.

She hesitated for a moment, then told He Jinglan the truth, and said:

"Now he can stay or leave as he pleases, I don't care anymore."

To avoid provoking Anqing and causing him to say something even more embarrassing.

He Jinglan laughed with a mixture of surprise and gossip, "The Hu people are indeed different from us."

“The more dangerous the situation, the less I can leave your side!” He Jinglan imitated An Qinghe in a serious manner.

Then he clutched his heart and laughed, “How firm and heartfelt those words were! Even as an outsider, they warmed my heart.”

"Go away!" Gu Xixi shoved her angrily. "If you continue this topic, I'll push you off the cliff!"

He Jinglan laughed and dodged, "I'm very strong, you can't push me!"

The two laughed and joked, temporarily forgetting their troubles.

At noon, the sun was blazing overhead.

He Jinglan fanned herself, "No, Xixi, is your plum honey tea ready to drink?"

Gu Xixi put down the medicine bottle and looked up to meet several pairs of incredibly eager eyes, the heat of which made her feel even hotter.

"It's been hanging in the well for half a day, it should be cold enough, drink it."

"You guys go first, you still need to finish this."

The group cheered and rushed outside.

An Qinghe: "I'll pull the bucket!"

Stone: "I'll go get the bowl!"

He Jinglan: "I'll get the spoon!"

On the table were the hollow hairpin and the mechanical ring that Madam Meng had made for Gu Xixi.

Watching Gu Xixi carefully fill the medicine powder into the container, close it, and then wipe it clean.

Madam Meng said, "You've made all the preparations."

Gu Xixi smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "It's better to be prepared, but hopefully we won't need to use it in the end."

Besides what's in front of her, her ever-present cloth bag is already filled with sleeping pills, anesthetics, and poisons.

Madam Meng fell silent.

At this moment, He Jinglan and the others brought over plum-scented honey tea, breaking the somber mood.

Because it had just been taken from the deep well, the outer wall of the small bowl used to hold the soup was covered with fine water droplets.

The soup is dark red, with a sweet and sour taste and the aroma and flavor of tea. A sip of the iced soup is refreshing.

Everyone in the family, from the oldest to the youngest, loves to drink it.

He Jinglan exclaimed how satisfying it was.

An Qinghe said, "This must be put in our sweet soup shop!"

He Jinglan echoed as she drank, "It's so delicious! To be honest, no beverage shop in the capital can compare. You should consider opening a shop; I guarantee you'll make money."

The tea base for the fruit tea is made from tea trees cultivated by Gu Xixi herself.

Summer tea is cheap, has large leaves, and a strong flavor; drinking it directly would be too bitter.

It is suitable for making fruit tea, or after fermentation and maturation, it can be made into brick tea.

For example, the famous Fu tea from this region.

As Gu Xixi was pondering, Lao Qian barged into the courtyard from outside.

"My dear niece, something terrible has happened in Qingtian County!"