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

In the evening, Gu Xixi went to find Master Liu.

Master Liu was naturally familiar with malaria, but this was the first time he had heard that repelling mosquitoes could prevent and treat malaria.

He agreed without hesitation, "Just give me the gentian root that Boss Gu needs, and I will definitely gather it by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"As for the subsequent delivery, I will do my best to get it delivered as soon as possible."

Gu Xixi cupped her hands and said, "Thank you."

She put down a fifty-tael silver note and bought more medicinal herbs than she was entitled to.

"Mr. Liu, take this to buy medicinal herbs. If it's not enough, you can come back and ask me for reimbursement."

Master Liu hurriedly declined, saying, "Boss Gu foresaw this risk for the Northwest Army, finding prescriptions and solutions, and even contributing money and effort. How can you possibly spend money on such a small amount of gentian?"

Gu Xixi said, "The money's already spent, so a little more won't make a difference."

Master Liu wanted to politely decline, "Mr. Gu, please don't put me in a difficult position. I'm not paying out of my own pocket. Actually, Lord Mu asked me to do this, so I set aside a little treasury in advance..."

He noticed that Gu Xixi's eyes were gradually becoming displeased, so he wisely swallowed the rest of his words and accepted the silver note.

"Then I'll keep it for now, and return any unused portion to you when I return it."

Liu Fuzi broke out in a cold sweat, almost forgetting that he should try not to mention that person in front of Boss Gu.

Gu Xixi returned to the main topic with a pleasant expression.

"Remember this: one is a prepared herbal medicine that can be boiled in water and sprinkled or burned to kill and repel mosquitoes."

"The second type is a sewn-on medicine pouch."

"These are further divided into two categories: large and small."

"The large medicine pouch is made using my master's recipe and can be hung in military tents, by the bedside, etc."

"The downside is that the smell is too strong, making it unsuitable for soldiers to wear."

Master Liu listened attentively and nodded, saying, "Indeed, if the smell of medicine on your body is too strong during reconnaissance, infiltration, or ambush operations, it is easy for the enemy to detect it."

Gu Xixi said, "So I discussed with my master and we changed the formula, using several kinds of herbs instead."

"These herbs are not medicinal materials, but because they contain mosquito-repellent components, most of them are slightly toxic."

"Be sure to wear and store it with care to avoid accidental ingestion."

She paused for a moment, then added, "Of course, I will also include instructions on how to use the product and any precautions in the package."

Master Liu understood and solemnly said, "Don't worry, Boss Gu. When I send you the secret letter, I will definitely repeat what you said. I will also instruct the people escorting the goods to explain things to each other in person after the goods are delivered, to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

As dusk fell, Master Liu personally escorted Gu Xixi to the road.

Before parting, he clasped his hands, bowed deeply, and solemnly performed a grand salute.

Gu Xixi bowed slightly in return, everything was understood without words.

Master Liu knew very well that Gu Xixi's preparations were by no means unfounded worries.

Although he was not skilled in medicine, he was well-versed in history.

The climate in Northwest China is relatively dry and cold, and there are few historical records of large-scale malaria outbreaks.

But now the army has left the northwest and is about to head southeast.

Soldiers who had adapted to the climate of the Northwest were likely to suffer from acclimatization problems when they arrived in a warmer and more humid region.

Not to mention that it is the height of summer, and mosquitoes are rampant in the mountainous and watery areas, which is very different from the Northwest.

Rather than gambling on whether the Northwest Army will contract malaria, it's better to take precautions early.

The following morning, Gu Xixi met the rumored matchmaker, Zhao.

Contrary to her stereotypical image of a matchmaker.

Matchmaker Zhao was dressed in a simple and unadorned manner. Her jet-black hair was styled into a simple bun, and she wore a moon-white short jacket and a dark lake-blue pleated skirt with water ripples around her waist.

Although the years have left some marks on her face, they have not diminished her fair and beautiful appearance.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan were both somewhat surprised.

Is this Matchmaker Zhao?

Isn't he a bit too young?

Zhao, the matchmaker, was washing clothes in the yard when she saw guests arrive. She put down the washboard and stood up.

"Sister Zhang is here!"

She warmly greeted Aunt Zhang and exchanged pleasantries.

Gu Xixi observed from the side and thought to herself, "No wonder she was able to reach the top of the industry."

At first glance, Zhao the matchmaker's smile possessed a unique charm that warmed one's heart. Yet, it was a warmth that was just right, without any aggression.

The ability to make people feel close to her upon first meeting is surely a kind of talent.

At this moment, Matchmaker Zhao looked at Aunt Zhang's side and exclaimed with admiration, "Oh my!"

"Both of you are very beautiful. Let me guess."

"Hmm... the one in the bamboo green dress is Boss Gu, and the one in the red dress is Miss He, who is staying here, right?"

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan exchanged a glance and nodded with smiles.

"Correct."

He Jinglan joked, "You're much younger than we imagined. I think we shouldn't call you 'Auntie,' but 'Lady Zhao.'"

Matchmaker Zhao smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons. "Hello, Madam Zhao! I like this title."

She smiled at Aunt Zhang and said, "Being called that by a young girl makes me feel at least ten years younger!"

Aunt Zhang said, "Sister Zhao, you're not old at all!"

The women chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere.

Matchmaker Zhao said, "This morning before dawn, I went to the fields and applied the medicine that Boss Gu gave me."

It was cool outside in the morning, and Gu Xixi didn't want to delay, so she suggested going to the field to check on the buckwheat first.

The matchmaker's house was not far from the fields.

Gu Xixi looked at it and found it to be exactly the same as her previous judgment.

She told the matchmaker, "The medicine I prescribed needs to be used every three days."

"Observe the newly sprouted plants at the bottom and the tips of the leaves at the top. If they don't continue to turn yellow, then it's safe."

"If you haven't gotten better in five days, come to my house again."

Given the limited resources available today, the medicine she makes is barely half the effect of industrial pesticides from later generations.

Therefore, it is necessary to apply the medicine multiple times and observe the changes in seedling condition frequently.

Matchmaker Zhao carefully wrote it down.

Gu Xixi added, "However, this seedling disease causes great damage to buckwheat, and the harvest will definitely be affected."

Matchmaker Zhao, however, did not care.

"It doesn't matter how much the harvest is, as long as there is something, that's enough."

Gu Xixi sighed inwardly.

Judging from Zhao the matchmaker's attire and the state of her home today, one can tell that she has made some money as a matchmaker over the years.

As a single woman, she doesn't need to eat much food and can live a very comfortable life without having to farm.

But she worked tirelessly to cultivate those two acres of land.

Is it to help the deceased continue to guard this home?

Is it for the bowl of buckwheat noodles offered at the grave every year?

Back home, Matchmaker Zhao brought out a small stool and a pot of drinks that she had prepared for the guests that morning, containing wild chrysanthemum hearts that she had picked herself last autumn, along with a little rock sugar.

It's been dried until now, and it's just the right amount to eat. The chrysanthemum fragrance is refreshing and cool, and the slight sweetness is just right.

She was a little embarrassed, "I know that Mr. Gu owns a lot of land and it's a large family business."

"I only planted half an acre of buckwheat, and you still have to make the trip yourself, it's really..."

Gu Xixi said, "Madam Zhao, you don't need to be so polite."

"Whether it's half an acre or dozens of acres, it's all the same to me."

"If we watch the rice seedlings die without doing anything, wasting our hard work and seeds without feeling any remorse, are we still the farmers?"