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

Chen Dafu's eyes lit up, "That place isn't far from our village, so it's convenient to come and go, but..."

He said somewhat insecurely, "All I've ever done in my life is farming; I've never even bothered with anything outside my own home."

"I would like to do more for my employer, but I'm afraid I don't have the ability."

Gu Xixi smiled, but said seriously, "Uncle Chen is underestimating himself."

“Now you know each of these hired brothers, you know their difficulties, and you also know each of their strengths. When they are working every day, if anyone does something wrong, you will carefully help them correct it. Therefore, you always do more work that is not originally yours.”

"Everyone has sincerely admired you over the past year, and they consult you first when they have something to discuss."

"And last time, I needed to make a batch of cloth bags. Thanks to you for helping me find those people, there wasn't a single problem from the division of labor to the payment of wages."

"Uncle Chen, do you still think you only know how to farm?"

Chen Dafu blushed and scratched his head, saying, "These are just ordinary ways of dealing with people. I'm embarrassed by your serious praise, sir."

He raised his head, cleared his throat solemnly, and said, "However, since the master thinks I am suitable to be the manager, then I will do it."

"You should definitely take the lead," Gu Xixi said with satisfaction. "We still need to find someone to replace you in the village. You can keep an eye on the candidates."

Chen Dafu grinned, regaining his usual straightforwardness, "Alright! If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

Time flies, autumn passes and winter arrives.

In Huachidu Village, a mule-drawn flatbed cart travels through the first snow.

Aunt Zhang had already looked back and forth outside her house several times. When she saw her own mule, she waved happily and ran over with small, quick steps.

"When I woke up this morning and saw it was snowing, I thought you were staying at the farm and not coming back!"

Gu Xixi pulled on the reins to slow down, "Slow down, the ground is slippery, be careful not to fall!"

But Aunt Zhang ignored her and ran up to her, following the car back while looking up at Gu Xixi with a smile, as if she were looking at a precious treasure.

"It must be cold on the way. Come inside and warm up on the kang! I got up early this morning to heat up the kang and stewed a pot of hot mutton soup. I was just waiting for you to come in so I could make you some noodles and give you a hot meal!"

Gu Xixi chuckled and muttered, "You said you thought I wasn't coming back, but you still prepared all the best things for me, didn't you?"

As they were talking, they parked the car at the gate, unloaded the mule, and led it into the yard.

The wooden shed where the mules lived was upgraded in the fall, with a baffle added around the outside to keep them from getting windy and warm.

Gu Xixi personally added the mixed bean feed and specially added warm water to the water trough.

She patted the mule on the back and said, "You've worked hard this year, hauling wheat and millet. Take advantage of the winter to eat and drink more and gain weight."

Laifu seemed to understand, snorted, and lowered his neck to eat the hay.

Gu Xixi came out and locked the door.

Aunt Zhang had already unloaded everything from the cart and said with a smile, "You came back from the farm, why did you go to town to buy so many things?"

Gu Xixi said, "With Madam Wu taking care of the estate, I don't need to go there these next few days."

"Thinking that it would be inconvenient to go out to buy things when it snows, I bought more meat and froze it in the yard so that it would last a long time."

"We don't have much oil, salt, snacks, or sugar left at home."

"And that basket of tangerines, they're from the south, it's a rare find."

The two talked as they carried their things into the house.

Pushing open the door to the main room, you'll find two layers of thick cotton curtains hanging there; lifting the curtains immediately brings a wave of warmth.

Gu Xixi blurted out, "Home is still the most comfortable place."

She untied her cloak and saw Xiaohua curled up comfortably in the corner of the warm kang (heated brick bed). She asked, "Where's Shitou?"

Aunt Zhang said, "Old Mrs. Zhou from the west end of the village is quite ill. Her family came to invite Old Jiang. I saw that it was snowing, so I asked Shi Tou to go with her and help her along the way."

Gu Xixi nodded and said, "That's right, Master is getting old, he can't fall down."

Aunt Zhang told Gu Xixi to rest on the kang (a heated brick bed), and went to the kitchen to cook noodles.

Before long, a steaming bowl of mutton soup with hand-pulled noodles was served on the kang table.

Smelling the aroma, the lazy cat woke up, stretched, and strolled to the table.

Aunt Zhang chuckled and gently tapped the cat's head. "When I stewed the meat, I shredded some of it and mixed it into your cat food. Don't be tempted now."

Xiao Hua looked up and meowed, seemingly a little unhappy, but still didn't lie down on the table. Instead, she lay down close to Gu Xixi.

Aunt Zhang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), picked up a half-finished shoe sole, and said with some regret, "Jinglan left our house seven or eight days ago, I wonder if she has made it home yet."

"If you haven't gotten home yet, I hope you've encountered snow on the way."

Gu Xixi took a sip of hot soup and her expression relaxed as she said, "Her carriage is fast. Even if she hasn't arrived yet, it will only take two or three days at most."

When He Jinglan left, He Jinghui personally sent someone to pick her up.

In late autumn, the Northwest Army arrived in the capital, where officials opened the city gates to welcome them.

Three days later, the new emperor ascended the throne, restoring order to the court and ending the chaotic situation where the young emperor was controlled by his maternal relatives.

Based on his military achievements, General Huo Jiang of the Northwest Army was rewarded with the title of General Dingyuan, which was to be passed down for three generations.

As the most meritorious civil official, He Jinghui was naturally promoted three ranks and became a third-rank official.

The rest of the people were rewarded according to their merits, which need not be detailed.

The fact that only one person was granted this honor shocked the world.

The new emperor actually appointed a man surnamed Mu as regent and granted him a residence.

This was not only the first regent of the Daye Dynasty, but also the first king of a different surname.

There are many different opinions about this among the people, and various plays and stories have even been created based on it.

Some say that the new emperor was not favored in his youth and was not even granted the title of prince. It was only thanks to the regent's discerning eye that he was able to support him all the way.

Some say that the new emperor was chosen by the late emperor long ago, a fact known only to the regent. Knowing his days were numbered, the late emperor conspired with his close advisors, the regent, to deliberately create the illusion that the sixth prince was out of favor in order to protect the new emperor.

Some say that the new emperor and the regent had known each other since childhood and were already close friends, but others were unaware of this.

Some say that the regent wields immense power and might be the next empress dowager...

These bizarre or legendary discussions were so popular in the streets and alleys that even the small village of Huachidu had heard of them.

Aunt Zhang stopped her needlework and asked, "I only found out that Jinglan was a true young lady from a prominent family when she left."

"Since her family members are officials, how high-ranking are they? Higher than a county magistrate?"

Gu Xixi paused slurping her noodles, leaned on her chopsticks and thought for a moment, "It's like the sesame seeds on a pastry compared to this pastry, they're this much bigger."

Aunt Zhang stared wide-eyed in surprise, "Such a high-ranking official, and in the capital city, does that mean he can meet the Regent?"

Gu Xixi choked on a mouthful of soup, "Pfft!"

She frantically pulled out a handkerchief to cover her mouth, coughed a few times, and her face turned bright red.