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

As for why Gu Xixi looked down on Chen Fang, there are many different opinions.

The most outrageous and malicious thing is that the man is all show and no substance, a mere empty shell.

Gu Qingye mustered her courage, looked up at him, and said earnestly, "Brother Chen, I don't listen to or believe any of the bad things they say about you."

"I saw it with my own eyes, and you are a real man."

Gu Qingye was telling the truth.

In her mind, Mu Nanzhao was so handsome, tall, and exceptionally brave.

Especially when faced with the gazes of the women in the village, his aloof indifference seemed natural and unpretentious, as if it were innate.

Gu Qingye was surrounded by boys in the village from a young age.

Occasionally, someone might act as if they don't care about her at all, but she can always see through it immediately; it's just a way to get her attention.

She also has a short-tempered and incompetent father, and a stupid and lewd brother.

Mu Nanzhao was unlike any other man she had ever met.

At first sight, she was immediately struck by his appearance.

When she watched him kill the cow, her heart trembled involuntarily for a moment.

Later, in her part of her memory, Mu Nanzhao appeared like a handsome military god, descending upon her in a moment of crisis, saving her and taking away her heart.

Gu Qingye gazed at Mu Nanzhao with eyes full of adoration.

Mu Nanzhao stared elsewhere, frowning and remaining silent.

Rumors are more ferocious than tigers; he didn't need to ask to know how offensive the rumors would be.

Although he never cared what ants thought.

But they let a bunch of ants run rampant, treating him as gossip fodder in the small village.

Ultimately, it wasn't very pleasant.

Speaking of which... it's been so long, why hasn't Gu Xixi come back from the kitchen yet?!

Gu Qingye observed Mu Nanzhao's expression and assumed that he was also dissatisfied with Gu Xixi at this moment, so she smiled and said:

"Sister Xixi loves handsome men the most, how could she possibly look down on Brother Chen?"

"But the way she behaved in front of outsiders inevitably made people think that Brother Chen was the one who was wrong."

"She never explains herself, and to be honest, I feel sorry for you."

Mu Nanzhao suddenly stood up, startling Gu Qingye.

She was about to ask what was wrong, but the man didn't even glance at her and strode out.

Mu Nanzhao abruptly lifted the kitchen curtain, "Gu Xixi!"

Aunt Zhang was sitting on a small stool, drinking soup. "Little Chen?"

She stood up, went to the cupboard to get a bowl to serve soup, and said, "Xixi ate here and then went out."

"The chive pancakes I made today and the bean soup I made are ready-made meals that I can eat anytime."

"I noticed you weren't hungry just now, so I didn't rush to serve you."

Mu Nanzhao asked coolly, "She said I'm not hungry?"

"Yes." Aunt Zhang turned around and handed him the soup bowl. "The pies are covered in the basket. Take as many as you want."

"You need to eat more so you can be strong and healthy."

Mu Nanzhao was already furious.

But he still drank soup and ate large pieces of bread under Aunt Zhang's loving gaze.

Gu Qingye waited in the main room but no one came, so she went to the outside of the kitchen.

"Brother Chen? Sister Xixi? Are you inside?"

Recently, because of Gu Laosan and his wife and Gu Tiezhu, Aunt Zhang's impression of Gu Qingye has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

She muttered under her breath, somewhat annoyed, "She's at someone else's house during mealtime, and she's been sitting there ever since. Her parents really don't know how to raise their child!"

As she spoke, she lifted the curtain and went out, managing to force a smile.

"Your sister Xixi went out, Chen Fang is having dinner."

"Why don't you come in and have a bite?"

Gu Qingye isn't that clueless.

She peered into the room but didn't see Mu Nanzhao, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"I'm not eating anymore. If I leave any food at home, my mom will yell at me."

Gu Qingye went home.

Aunt Zhang turned and went inside, muttering to herself, "I wonder what she came here for today."

Mu Nanzhao took a big bite of the sesame seed cake with a blank expression. "You'll have to ask Gu Xixi about that."

Aunt Zhang wondered, what does this have to do with Xixi?

In the evening, Gu Xixi returned home, followed by a tail.

Old Qian was all smiles, practically begging to be helped by Gu Xixi as she walked.

"My dear niece, the fire was resolved so well thanks to you."

Gu Xixi said, "Uncle Qian, don't worry, I've already spoken to those uncles and aunts."

"The straw ash has decomposed well enough to get through this season without delaying the planting of winter wheat. After the spring rains, the fertility will only be stronger than before."

Old Qian nodded repeatedly, "I know, I know."

"Everyone is praising you and saying they don't know how to thank you enough!"

Mu Nanzhao only learned what Gu Xixi had been busy with lately from Lao Qian's grateful ramblings.

In addition to visiting her own fields every day, she also took the opportunity to improve other people's fields that had been burned.

Thick layers of charred ash piled up on the ground, and the surface of the fields was also burned dry and charred black.

The potion she concocts can enhance the integration of ash and soil, accelerate decomposition, and regulate the overall pH level.

Simply pour the diluted medicine onto the ashes, turn them over, and mix them with the soil.

In the initial selection of crops suitable for planting with wood ash, in addition to pumpkins and chives, which are common in every household in the area, Gu Xixi also forced Lao Qian to find a way to get some free water spinach seedlings from elsewhere.

Half a month has passed, and the pumpkins and chives I planted are sprouting up rapidly. The water spinach is ready to eat in no time. It's growing so well that we can't finish eating it all. Today, two families went to the city to sell water spinach and made a little money.

The land was not left idle due to the fire; instead, the family earned extra income.

Those victims, who were initially skeptical of Gu Xixi's methods, are now overjoyed.

They were busy growing vegetables to make money and were too lazy to deal with Lao San's family's disputes anymore. In the afternoon, they went to the village chief one after another to file a complaint.

Gu Xixi nodded, indicating that she knew everything.

Seeing that Old Qian was still lingering and wouldn't leave, they had no choice but to ask, "Uncle Qian, is there anything else?"

Old Qian's smile was half guilty and half ingratiating. "Everyone else has left."

"Only Grandpa Gu's family is left."

"You said that the two families have never reconciled, and the Gu family has many young men who are hot-blooded. If this feud goes on for too long, what if something big happens one day?"

Gu Xixi frowned. "I only promised you that I would resolve the land issue, but I didn't promise you anything else."

Old Qian gave an awkward smile and quickly said, "Don't worry, I'll have someone deliver the flatbed cart I promised you to your home in a bit."

"But about what you think about Uncle Gu's matter..."

Gu Xixi calmly replied, "That's beyond my control."

The houses that were burned down were mostly those that had just finished harvesting wheat.

Only Grandpa Gu's family, who grows vegetables full-time, suffered some losses.

Old Gu refused to pay compensation, and even brought up what Old Master Gu had taken from his house in the past.

So, just now, Grandpa Gu went to Old Qian's place again to demand an explanation.

They threatened to smash up Gu Laosan's house if the problem wasn't resolved.