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

There was no firewood on the ground, the water tank was empty, and there was no firewood, rice, oil, or salt anywhere.

Gu Xixi quickly gave up the idea of ​​cooking for herself.

Little Flower gently tugged at her, signaling her to continue following.

Gu Xixi followed Xiao Hua around the earthen stove with a puzzled look, and was shocked to find five mice lying neatly on the ground.

The rats were all plump, their throats had been bitten through, and their bodies were basically intact and clean.

Little Flower sat down with her feet together, raised her head and meowed.

Gu Xixi actually understood, "You're going to treat me to a meal?"

Little Flower called out again, looking even more proud.

Gu Xixi was very touched, but could only refuse with difficulty, "I'm sorry, I might not be used to this kind of food. Thank you for your kindness."

If we're stuck here for too long and there's no food, then maybe we'll have no choice but to...

Gu Xixi's gaze returned to the dead rat.

Perhaps it was because she was hungry that such a terrible thought popped into her mind!

As she looked around, Gu Xixi's gaze gradually shifted and was drawn to a weed growing under the wooden pillar.

She quickly ran past the rats swarming on the ground, squatted down, and bent over to examine them closely.

No doubt about it, it belongs to the same family as millet, or rather, it's a wild millet grass that she's never seen before!

If we could bring it back and crossbreed it with the locally grown millet varieties…

Overjoyed by her new discovery, Gu Xixi briefly forgot that she was in Stone Village and her life was hanging by a thread.

"Miss Gu! Miss Gu~~!"

The voice was far away, and Gu Xixi didn't hear it at first, until her full name was called out:

"Gu Xixi! Gu Xixi!!!"

Gu Xixi suddenly came to her senses and stood up. Wasn't that Zhao Niangzi's voice?

She casually picked up a few chipped bowls, jars, and broken bottles, and arranged them around the millet grass as a protective barrier.

Then he walked out and answered Zhao Niangzi, "I'm here. Is something wrong downstairs?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Niangzi had already come up and appeared in front of Gu Xixi.

“Your man is looking for you; he’s just outside the village entrance.”

Gu Xixi was dumbfounded, "My man?"

Why did he come? Did he say anything?

Although this was not true, Mu Nanzhao was the first person that came to her mind.

Zhao Niangzi, carrying a straw basket, said, "Old Zhao went to the village entrance and heard your husband tell the constable guarding the checkpoint that his wife's name is Gu Xixi, and she's not from Shitou Village, but she was trapped inside last night."

He was really worried and just wanted to see his wife through the fence and say a few words. If she needed anything, he could go home and get it to bring in.

Zhao Niangzi glanced at Gu Xixi sideways and said with a teasing smile, "It's because your husband is so handsome that you can spot him from afar without even going to the village entrance."

"What's most admirable is that he's not only handsome, but also so considerate."

Gu Xixi's lips twitched. Mu Nanzhao really knew how to act. Wife?!

Just imagining that scene gave her goosebumps.

Unable to explain the truth, Gu Xixi could only respond with dry laughter and "uh-huh" or "ah".

Just as Zhao Niangzi was about to reach the door, Gu Xixi remembered to stop her, saying, "You'd better not go in."

"My uncle has to have direct contact with the patients."

"To be on the safe side, let's keep a distance when we talk."

Zhao Niangzi cooperated.

She placed the basket on the windowsill. "Okay, I'll go downstairs now."

"Go see him as soon as you've eaten. He's worried about you, so don't keep him waiting."

As Zhao Niangzi walked away, Gu Xixi felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders.

The old doctor had already woken up. Gu Xixi opened the food basket and saw the food, feeling a mix of emotions.

The stewed chicken that we didn't eat last night, along with the broth, was brought back to a boil and steaming hot.

A plate of bright green pickled vegetables, and a few cornbread buns made from a mixture of sorghum and wheat flour.

This is probably the best food that Stone Village can offer right now.

The old doctor sighed, picked up his chopsticks, and said, "Eat."

As Zhao Niangzi just mentioned, it has been confirmed that the Qingtian County government is responsible for sealing off the village.

The fact that local troops haven't been deployed yet is probably the only good news so far.

The old doctor was going to negotiate with the officials, and Gu Xixi also had to go see Mu Nanzhao, so the two of them happened to go together.

A fence with spikes was erected at the entrance of the village.

Five constables sat or stood outside, while others chatted quietly from time to time.

The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but in reality, each of them had a knife hanging from their waist.

Mu Nanzhao smiled, cupped his hands to a constable beside him, and pointed to Gu Xixi, saying, "This is my wife."

The constable glanced at Gu Xixi, shook his head, and walked away with a sigh. "It's quite pitiful that the young couple hasn't even had a chance to get married yet. Say what you want to say, but don't linger too long. This is not a place to stay for long!"

The constables actually made room for them to speak, and Gu Xixi looked at Mu Nanzhao suspiciously.

"What exactly did you tell others?"

The smile had vanished from Mu Nanzhao's face. "It's not important."

"Gu Xixi, are you aware of your current situation?"

"Now that the rat infestation is destroying fields and eating grain, it is no longer the most important thing for the imperial court."

He stared into Gu Xixi's eyes, his voice low and deep, "What's making them nervous is the plague!"

Gu Xixi glanced at the constable who was talking to the old doctor.

"Yes, I heard about the village lockdown last night, so I knew about it."

Mu Nanzhao retorted angrily, "What do you know? You still don't know!"

"Nowadays, if there is even the slightest mistake, or if someone makes a decision in a moment of impulse, it will be easy to make a mistake."

“You could be buried with this village at any time.”

Gu Xixi lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Just as Mu Nanzhao was wondering if he had spoken too harshly and scared her into tears.

Gu Xixi suddenly raised her eyelids and looked directly at him, "But I'm already here."

There is no medicine for regret in this world.

“I had already considered the worst possible consequences when I decided to come here with my master, and I will take responsibility for myself.”

Mu Nanzhao stared in disbelief, then sneered in anger, "Gu Xixi, you've always been very opinionated. I shouldn't have bothered coming here!"

Gu Xixi said solemnly, "There is only one plague patient in the village for the time being. Master has been treating him with medicine and acupuncture, and it is showing initial results. His whole family has been quarantined, and the village has been disinfected several times."

"Master said to use the medicine for one more day, at the latest by tomorrow morning, and then we will know whether it is effective against this epidemic."

Mu Nanzhao turned around, "You want me to stall for time?"

Gu Xixi said, "I know you have a way."

Mu Nanzhao said, "Even if you don't tell me, I still plan to go find this person."

He glanced at her coldly, "Gu Xixi, if you dare to die here and cause me to be sent back to the exile camp, you won't die peacefully."

Gu Xixi watched him leave, saying, "If no one falls ill in the next two days, we'll be much safer here, so don't worry too much!"

She deliberately spoke loudly so that the guards could hear her.

Furthermore, after the old doctor introduced himself as being able to cure the plague, the yamen runners finally exchanged a few words in hushed tones.

One of them said to the old doctor, "I will deliver your words to the magistrate today."