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

Mu Nanzhao turned around, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his lips, "After all, I still have to trick her into introducing me to General Meng. This is just the beginning."

Gu Xixi leaned against the window frame, watching Mu Nanzhao's figure disappear into the shadows through the moonlight that filled the courtyard.

Gu Xixi closed the window, and the pearls of various sizes on the handkerchief shimmered under the lamplight.

She stared blankly at the pearls, not even thinking of picking one to pay off her debt.

It turns out that Mu Nanzhao has been busy with this matter these past two days.

But he had no money before, so how did he get these high-quality freshwater pearls?

The way he walks just now seems a little different from usual.

Gu Xixi frowned, quickly wrapped up the pearls and put them in the drawer, then got up, opened the door, and went out.

The lights were on in the west room.

Gu Xixi tiptoed to the window and heard the old doctor complaining, "What have you been doing? Your wound is bleeding again! The diluted salt water I make every day isn't enough for just you!"

The old doctor sighed as he listened to the rustling sound of bandages being untied.

"Luckily, it only cracked this little bit, otherwise you would have been in a coma for another few days due to the poison."

Gu Xixi was secretly alarmed; had her wound reopened?

How did he get those pearls? Did he rob them?

The old doctor asked the same question, "So, what is your reason?"

“You told me that even if you risked your life, there were things you had to do, and asked me to extend your life.”

“But you always seem so reckless, I’m not sure I can save you every time.”

Then came the sound of rushing water.

Mu Nanzhao said, "Why add salt to this water? No wonder it's different from the water we used before. It hurts so much."

The old doctor snorted twice, "What, you don't want to listen to me? Trying to change the subject?"

"It's good that you know what pain is."

"Salt is a good thing; it can cool the blood, detoxify, and prevent decay. Just bear with it, and it will be fine after washing."

Mu Nanzhao seemed to laugh. "Preservative? No wonder the cured ham doesn't rot even in the height of summer."

The old doctor skillfully cleaned the wound, saying, "Speaking of which, you should thank Xixi."

“I have actually tried many methods of cleaning wounds with salt, but none of them worked, and some were even harmful.”

"The girl told me that ordinary salt is too impurities and needs to be purified before it can be used."

"Moreover, there is a specific ratio for mixing salt powder with pure water, just like the catalyst in a medicine prescription. Too much is as bad as too little, and too little is useless. I never even thought of this principle before."

"Hey, why am I telling you all this? You're not a doctor."

Then came the sound of opening the medicine cabinet and rummaging through the medicine bottles.

After a while, Mu Nanzhao said, "She does have some incomprehensible abilities."

"She can live a good life without relying on anyone."

The old doctor chuckled, "Are you trying to say that even if you, her fiancé, were to die, it wouldn't matter to her?"

Mu Nanzhao's voice carried a self-deprecating laugh, "It's more than just insignificant."

Suddenly, he looked up and glanced out the window.

"She'll probably be very happy by then."

"Nonsense!" The old doctor shook his head. "That's going too far. My apprentice is kind-hearted."

"Whether you two end up together or not, she's not going to want you to die."

The conversation inside stopped. Gu Xixi stood against the wall for a moment, then silently returned to her own room.

The next morning, Mu Nanzhao had just stepped out of his room when he heard the braying of a donkey.

He followed the sound.

The flatbed cart was parked outside the gate, with a black donkey harnessed to the front of it.

Gu Xixi sat upright in front of the carriage, holding the reins with both hands, and turned her head to look at him.

"I got up early to borrow a donkey from Old Qian's house. I'll drive the cart later, so just sit tight."

After eating and drinking to your heart's content, head out.

When the donkey cart passed the village entrance, the driver changed from Gu Xixi to Mu Nanzhao.

Gu Xixi sat on the carriage floor, feeling embarrassed, and said, "I was supposed to drive the carriage."

"Otherwise, I'll be the one rushing back, you can rest for a while."

Mu Nanzhao kept his eyes on the road ahead, gently and skillfully holding the reins.

"Don't bother."

"I don't want to crash halfway through, or not reach my destination by nightfall."

Gu Xixi: "..."

She used to be a trusted driver among her colleagues at the research institute, capable of driving on mountain roads and hilly terrain.

Little did I know that driving a donkey cart and driving a car would be completely different experiences.

On the short stretch of road from her house to the village entrance, she experienced several crises, including nearly hitting a tree, deviating from the route, and having a donkey stop and refuse to move.

Finally, Mu Nanzhao probably couldn't bear it any longer, so he stopped the donkey cart and coldly told Gu Xixi to move aside.

Qingtian County.

After entering the city, the two first found a place to store the donkey cart and changed into decent clothes again.

Then walk towards East Street.

There is a notice board for the government office at the entrance of East Street.

The new notice had just been posted when a crowd of people gathered around to watch it.

As Gu Xixi passed by, she glanced at it curiously and discovered that it was a wanted poster for a robber.

The content roughly states that a wealthy businessman was robbed the night before last, and lost a considerable amount of gold and silver jewelry.

A separate portrait of a person dressed in black and wearing a mask is attached to the side.

Mu Nanzhao received a meaningful look from Xixi, and a layer of frost settled on his handsome face.

"They robbed a small business owner in a county town."

"You think I did this simple-minded, muscle-bound act?"

Gu Xixi shook her head decisively and denied it seriously, "How could that be?"

"It couldn't have been you."

At the Treasure Pavilion, Madam Meng had sent her staff to wait outside early on.

As soon as Mu Nanzhao and Gu Xixi arrived, they were ushered to a private room on the second floor.

After exchanging pleasantries and drinking tea, Gu Xixi took out her handkerchief pouch and opened it.

They are indeed freshwater beads, and come in white, pink, and purple.

What's rare is that it has very few flaws, a rounded shape, and excellent luster.

After carefully examining it, Madam Meng was very satisfied.

He immediately decided to buy all of these beads.

Intending to establish a long-term partnership, she formally invited Mu Nanzhao and Gu Xixi to a banquet at the Meng residence in seven days.

Madam Meng said, "My younger brother is too busy and doesn't come home often."

"When we're all together, let's have a proper celebration."

As she spoke, she ordered someone to bring Xiao Qing'er over.

After a while, a maid rushed in, "Madam, the young master is missing."

Madam Meng immediately stood up and said angrily, "Didn't I tell you to look carefully!"

"It's only been a few days, and it's lost again!"

Gu Xixi glanced at Mu Nanzhao, then stood up and said, "Sister Meng, don't scold them yet, finding Qing'er is the priority."

Madam Meng looked at Xixi gratefully, "You're right, I was really confused by anger."

She glared at the maid, "Where is Qing'er? Where did she go missing?"

The maidservant lowered her head and said, "We didn't dare take the young master out; he just played in the backyard."

"I saw the back gate was locked, so I went to pour water for the young master. In the blink of an eye, he was gone!"

Madam Meng was both angry and anxious. "There are so many people guarding the front hall, but we haven't seen Qing'er?"

The maid said with difficulty, "We asked in the front hall, and the young master did not go out from the front."