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

After the bumper millet harvest, everyone in Huachidu Village kept an eye on Gu Xixi's movements.

Her family had 22 mu of land, but they only planted 10 mu of winter wheat.

The remaining land is still empty. What does she want to do with it?

The only grain planted locally in autumn is winter wheat. Could it be that Gu Xixi is planning to plant vegetables in the spring?

The families whose homes had been burned down had briefly tasted success selling water spinach. After discussing it privately, they approached Sister-in-law Qin, who was close to Gu Xixi, hoping that Gu Xixi could also help them with their vegetable farming.

But Sister-in-law Qin was very tight-lipped, knowing nothing when asked, and would just laugh and say "we'll see," never agreeing to anything.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Gu's family was extremely anxious.

They were originally the only vegetable farmers in the village. What would happen if everyone else started growing vegetables next year?

Gu Xixi's twelve acres of land remained empty, and with the final deadline for autumn sowing approaching, there was still no sign of it being planted.

On the day of Frost's Descent, Chen Dafu and eight other hired workers were about to finish their last task for the season: digging yams.

Twenty-odd rows of yams didn't seem like much; I initially thought they'd be like common sweet potatoes, with a few yams growing from one vine. But as I carefully dug down, one vine at a time, wow, the yams could grow so long!

Everyone was amazed and rushed over to see the yam digging.

Several elderly people had some knowledge.

Some people say, "When I was a child, there was a famine, and my mother went up the mountain to dig up these, but the largest ones were no more than a hand span long and as thick as a woman's finger. I've never seen one this thick and long before."

"After roasting, peeling and eating it reveals a soft and glutinous texture, somewhat like a sweet potato, but not as sweet, yet with a unique aroma. Later I learned that it is also a medicinal herb."

Others say, "Yams are nourishing and sold in pharmacies. The longer they are, the better, as long as they are not broken and are whole."

A young man behind them exclaimed, "Isn't that like ginseng?"

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "How can they be the same? Yam is much cheaper than ginseng."

Although she said that, everyone only remembered the phrase "the higher the price."

While Gu Xixi was chatting, someone jokingly asked, "Xixi, why is it that when you get the same thing, it grows bigger and more numerous? Why don't you tell everyone your secret?"

Everyone laughed and echoed, praising Gu Xixi to the skies, as if they had completely forgotten their previous contempt.

Even Grandpa Gu and Second Grandpa Gu, hiding behind the crowd, strained their ears.

However, after waiting and waiting, all they heard was Gu Xixi saying, "This is not something that can be explained in a few words. Please allow me to go back and think about it."

"It's rare that both the summer and autumn harvests went well this year, and we've also driven away the rat infestation. Everyone can have a good rest this winter, and we can deal with the field matters after the new year."

Some people believed Gu Xixi's words and beamed with joy.

Some people were skeptical.

A few people felt that Gu Xixi was just making excuses, and that she definitely didn't want to tell everyone the secret recipe.

Gu Xixi was fully aware of all this, but she didn't care what others thought; she only cared about the results.

She originally had no feelings for this village.

But the time she was trapped, it was the villagers who searched the mountain and rescued her.

When the rat infestation struck, the whole village worked together to get through the most difficult time.

Now, Gu Xixi has completely escaped the crisis of not having enough to eat.

She had long wanted to take the overall agricultural output of Huachidu Village to a higher level.

The next morning, Mu Nanzhao set off in a donkey cart, which was full of millet and yams.

Gu Xixi and Mu Nanzhao sat side by side in front. "Today we'll sell three hundred catties of millet first. We'll only keep a little bit of yam for ourselves, and sell the rest while they're still fresh."

Looking up at the clear blue sky, she let out a long sigh of relief. "From now on, I won't have to be so stingy with money anymore. Let's buy a livestock later, then we won't have to borrow Old Qian's donkey anymore."

Mu Nanzhao glanced at her but didn't reply, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

As they approached the village entrance, a woman's shouts rang out from ahead, "Your father and I have raised you for so many years, and now you've run away. Haven't we raised you for nothing?"

The voice was so familiar that Gu Xixi looked up.

Gu Qingye was seen being bound with a hemp rope, and Gu Laosan and Liu Shi were pulling her forward.

Gu Qingye cried and struggled, "That man has leprosy! You only care about my brother, don't you care about my life or death?!"

Liu scolded, "With your brother in this state, how are your father and I supposed to support us in our old age? How is your brother going to get married?"

"How can you be so heartless, girl? Are you determined to kill off our family line?"

Old Gu said with a stern face, "We've already accepted the bride price, so give up any other thoughts and just wait to get married next month!"

Heartbroken and furious, Gu Qingye sobbed, "I won't marry him! I'd rather die than marry him!"

The donkey cart encountered the family of three near the big locust tree.

Gu Laosan and Liu Shi both turned their gazes away with cold faces, pretending not to know them.

Gu Qingye raised her head and stared intently at Gu Xixi.

Her eyes were twisted with jealousy and hatred, yet a deep infatuation arose when her gaze swept over Mu Nanzhao.

However, Mu Nanzhao didn't even glance at her, and drove the donkey cart straight past.

As they left the village, Gu Xixi said, "She probably feels that I'm the one who ruined her marriage."

Mu Nanzhao glanced sideways, "So you still want to save her?"

Gu Xixi said, "I didn't save her. A few days ago, I went to that man's house with my master. His sister is only eleven years old. She is so young, kind and gentle. She married that madman Gu Tiezhu, and her mother-in-law is Liu Shi."

At this point, Gu Xixi couldn't help but sigh, "If I really marry into this family, I'll probably be tortured to death in no time."

What did she do wrong this time?

After finishing her own autumn harvest, Gu Xixi finally had time to deal with Gu Qingye's arranged marriage.

The family that got engaged lived in Stone Village.

Gu Xixi had met this girl before and couldn't help but feel sorry for her, so she asked Village Chief Zhao to act as a go-between this time.

The old doctor treated leprosy patients on the condition that if the treatment was effective, the family would voluntarily break off the engagement with the Gu family and would never again use their daughter for marriage exchange.

The old doctor said the patient was still in the initial stage and had a great chance of being cured.

His parents were overjoyed and immediately agreed to Gu Xixi's conditions, signing and pressing their fingerprints.

That day, when Gu Xixi and the old doctor left his house, the little girl chased after them alone, knelt down without saying a word, and banged her head three times.

When Gu Xixi went to help her up, she only saw that her face was covered in tears.

……

Mu Nanzhao paused, then asked, "This girl is one thing, but what about your cousin? Aren't you afraid of becoming a snake feeder?"

"The farmer and the snake?" Gu Xixi laughed.

“I have never taken her into my arms, let alone simply kept a sharp blade hanging over her at all times.”

"If a snake makes any sudden movements, cut off its seven-inch mark."

She looked at Mu Nanzhao, feeling helpless, even though keeping the snake might be useful.

When the only option is to kill, then killing must be done.