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

Elder Gu looked at Jiang Mingyuan, "You'll be heading to the capital at the end of the year, won't you?"

Next spring, Jiang Mingyuan will participate in the imperial examination in the capital.

Elder Gu continued, "That's perfect. Xixi will be busy with her own things for the next six months, so you can focus on your exams."

"There's plenty of time ahead. I refuse to believe that you'll ultimately be no match for that kid surnamed Chen."

Mu Nanzhao, who was thousands of miles away, suddenly sneezed several times.

The central command tent is where they are discussing tactics for tomorrow.

Huo Jiang looked at Mu Nanzhao and frowned, saying, "So you really can't take it anymore? You should go back and rest for a while."

Mu Nanzhao had just returned last night, but instead of resting in his own tent, he immediately took Huo Jiang's military orders and secretly went out to contact old acquaintances in the city.

He only returned this morning and came straight here for a meeting. He hasn't slept for almost a day and a night.

Mu Nanzhao said, "Thank you for your concern, General. I'm fine."

The military has a strict hierarchy, so he would naturally give Huo Jiang some face in front of everyone.

Mu Nanzhao continued, "The strategy devised by the General, involving both internal and external forces, was successfully executed last night, and I was fortunate enough to live up to his mission."

Now that the enemy has reached Fengcheng, tomorrow will be the first day of attack.

Fengcheng boasts a centuries-old city wall, towering, thick, and sturdy, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Historically, it has been the eastern gateway and a strategically vital location fought over by military strategists.

Once Fengcheng is captured, the army can advance unimpeded, and it will only be a matter of time before they reach the capital.

Therefore, there are heavy imperial troops within Fengcheng.

If the Northwest Army launches a strong attack, it will inevitably pay a heavy price and take a long time.

Given the current tense situation in the capital, it's uncertain how long He Jinghui's hard-won advantage will last.

If the Empress Dowager's faction recovers, both the capital and the Northwest Army will face more uncertainties.

Upon hearing that Mu Nanzhao had succeeded, all the generals showed joy on their faces.

Mu Nanzhao, however, was not so optimistic. "But this inside-outside cooperation mainly depends on us."

Huo Jiang said solemnly, "Go ahead."

……

In Huachidu Village, in the morning, Gu Xixi went down the mountain to loosen the soil around the tea trees. As she was walking back with her hoe, she saw someone pacing back and forth outside her house in the distance.

He took a few steps, stopped, peeked through the crack in the door, and then continued pacing back and forth.

Isn't this Second Master Gu?

I haven't seen him in a long time; it seems he didn't go to the local temple last time either.

Gu Xixi walked over with a normal expression.

When Master Gu heard the noise, he turned around and saw that it was her, and he was startled.

Gu Xixi was stunned. Before she could speak, she saw Second Master Gu turn around and run away with his head down and back hunched.

Gu Xixi shook her head and pushed open the door to enter the courtyard.

Aunt Zhang was picking vegetables in the shade under the eaves. "You're back? I'll get you some mung bean soup."

Gu Xixi put down the hoe. "No rush. Didn't Second Master Gu speak to you just now?"

Aunt Zhang frowned and looked outside. "Him? You mean he's outside?"

Gu Xixi recounted what she had seen outside the door.

Aunt Zhang already disliked these people, and upon hearing this, she said unhappily, "I had no idea he was spying outside the door. He's acting so suspiciously; I wonder what he's up to!"

Although Gu Xixi had her own guesses, she said, "Never mind, let him be."

“That’s right!” Aunt Zhang nodded. “Who has the time to make us guess what he’s thinking?”

At noon, some villagers were eating in front of their houses when they saw a convoy of four donkey carts entering Huachidu Village.

The young man leading the way on horseback had brown curly hair and deep blue eyes.

"Anqinghe?!"

"Xiao An is back!!"

The villagers of Anqing ran happily all the way, shouting so loudly that the whole village knew:

"Anqinghe is here! Our pesticides and fertilizers are here! Everyone come out quickly!!"

The four large carts were parked directly in the threshing ground in front of the local temple.

As soon as the donkey cart came to a stop, the villagers rushed over.

Everyone looked around expectantly, and some even asked about the price; the scene was chaotic.

An Qinghe wasn't in a hurry to discuss business; he simply smiled and dealt with each question, first instructing the driver to unload the goods.

He only announced the price after he saw Gu Xixi arrive.

This time, they delivered a mixed fertilizer and two pesticides, both of which were formulated by Gu Xixi specifically for millet.

Each bag of fertilizer weighs 100 jin (50 kg), while the powdered medicine, which requires a smaller amount and needs to be diluted with water, weighs 30 jin (15 kg) per bag and is sold individually.

Anqing made a public offer.

This is definitely not a small amount for the villagers, but it is still lower than the price they had privately expected.

Therefore, no one raised any objections at the scene.

Old Qian organized everyone to line up, treating those who paid and those who bought on credit equally.

Those who buy on credit only need to hold a contract as proof and register the quantity before they can collect the money directly.

As for how much is needed, everyone had reported to He Jinglan in advance how many acres of millet they had planted, and then Gu Xixi calculated it.

The transaction proceeded smoothly. An Qinghe walked to Gu Xixi's side and said with a smile, "Your share will be sent home later."

Gu Xixi noticed that he seemed to have lost some weight and said, "You went to Sichuan to take care of the new orchard and also had to set up this workshop. Time was tight, and you really worked hard."

An Qinghe grinned broadly, "Xixi cares about me so much, it's worth it even if I work myself to death."

He Jinglan glanced at her sideways, "Don't talk like you're not doing this to make money for yourself."

An Qinghe wasn't angry when he was exposed. He said, "Both factors are present. You can have your cake and eat it too."

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan both laughed.

During the days of waiting for Anqing and the arrival of the villagers, the villagers were not idle.

Everyone studied diligently, and the village chief's family even organized four study sessions a day.

At least for now, everyone has mastered the "secret recipe" from the first phase.

We're just waiting for the fertilizer and pesticides to arrive before we can actually start using them.

Gu Xixi glanced casually at the people in line and noticed that Gu Laosan was also there. He stood silently in the purchase line, and when he seemed to sense Gu Xixi's gaze, he hurriedly lowered his head and avoided eye contact.

Gu Xixi indifferently looked away. She wouldn't take the initiative to help Gu Laosan's family, but no one would stop Gu Laosan from buying things on his own or from going to other people to learn how to use them.

He Jinglan whispered, "It seems that neither your great-grandfather nor your second great-grandfather came."

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "Not necessarily."

He Jinglan asked doubtfully, "Do you think they would still have the audacity to take advantage of you?"

Gu Xixi smiled but remained silent.

Not to mention that Master Gu had long coveted the so-called secret recipe and had used every means possible, including both soft and hard tactics.

Take Grandpa Gu for example. Although his family are vegetable farmers, they also grow grain.

The most fatal thing is that his unique position in the family has long been shaken by Gu Xixi.

Now, Sister-in-law Zhou has her own orchard and vegetable garden, and her husband, Zhou Haode, has been frequently going to the city to sell vegetables lately.

The couple, one selling pickled vegetables and the other selling fresh vegetables, have made a fortune that is truly enviable.

Several families in the village have already privately sounded out Gu Xixi, expressing their desire to learn how to grow vegetables as well.

Gu Xixi didn't believe that Grandpa Gu's family was completely unaware of these things.