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

"Shut up!" With Grandpa Gu's hoarse roar, Old Qian also delivered a solid kick to Gu Youqing's chest.

Old Qian said with a stern face, "What do you mean by 'using public office for private revenge'? Look closely, these two officers are public servants!"

"You brat, don't you think about your family before you speak!"

One of the constables said sarcastically, "We're really not taking you down because of any personal grudge."

"Someone has accused you of poisoning her water tank, which nearly killed her livestock."

"Thankfully, no one is hurt, but you can't escape the charge of poisoning."

Another constable ordered the Gu family to stand still in the courtyard while he went inside to search the house.

They came out empty-handed, having found no arsenic.

Gu Youqing became smug again, "See? Gu Xixi made a false accusation. Release me now and go beat her!"

Grandpa Gu and his family watched nervously.

However, Lao Qian's expression turned even uglier, and he walked to the side, making it clear that he was no longer going to get involved.

The two constables stared at Gu Youqing with stiff faces and expressionless expressions, as if they were looking at an idiot who didn't know what was going to happen to him.

The constable A said, "Whenever arsenic is purchased, it must be registered in a register issued by the yamen, which is updated every three years."

"After our investigation, your family is the only one in Huachidu Village with a record of buying arsenic."

"So the fact that your arsenic is missing actually proves that you are suspects."

Officer B shouted coldly, "Take him away!"

Gu Youqing was all bark and no bite; he was now drenched in sweat, his head in a tangle, and all he could do was shout, "Father, Father, save me!"

Grandpa Gu had never experienced anything like this in his life.

He was panicked and scared, his legs trembling so badly he could barely stand.

But he still forced a lie, "Officer, I bought arsenic to treat my illness. I've already run out of medicine. Maybe someone outside poisoned me!"

The constable looked at him coldly and said, "As a suspect, he has to be taken back for questioning. That way we'll know whether he poisoned the victim or not."

The two pushed and dragged Gu Youqing out, and the family's wailing and pleading were to no avail.

As Gu Youqing was leaving, he was so frightened that he wet his pants, crying out, "Father! Mother! Eldest brother, second brother, save me!!"

"I'm not going to the government office! I'm doing this for my family!"

However, when the constables take away suspects, who can stop them? Who dares to stop them?

After Gu Youqing was taken away, Grandpa Gu finally collapsed and fainted, causing his family to scramble to catch him.

Later, when the county court closed the case, Gu Xixi learned that Gu Youqing had just arrived at the court for his trial when the magistrate slammed his gavel. Before any questioning could begin, Gu Youqing knelt down and confessed everything.

Just as Gu Xixi had guessed, Grandpa Gu's family was worried that if Gu Xixi planted vegetables next year, their own vegetables wouldn't be as good as Gu Xixi's. They were also concerned that Gu Xixi would have to help others plant vegetables.

Lately, their family has been talking about how to resolve this issue during their leisure time.

Gu Youqing had long disliked Gu Xixi and secretly decided to give her a warning.

He thought that a woman would be frightened to see a mule poisoned, and it would be best to scare her into having some kind of mental illness so that she wouldn't be able to care about anything outside.

In the end, Gu Youqing was flogged thirty times and sentenced to two years of hard labor in an exile camp.

Gu Qingye and Widow Zhou were sentenced to caning and imprisonment for two months and one month, respectively.

After Widow Zhou's accident, many villagers went to find Old Qian.

They also dug up many of Widow Zhou's past mistakes.

He has a long history of improper conduct, engaging in illicit affairs, spreading rumors, and engaging in petty theft. This time, he even instigated others to poison others, causing unrest throughout the village.

This kind of person should not remain in Huachidu Village.

After discussing the matter with several respected elders in the village, Lao Qian held a village meeting under the big locust tree.

Because Widow Zhou was not originally from this village, and she had squandered all the land left by her deceased husband. The house she now lives in was given to her by the villagers because they saw her as a pitiful unemployed widow.

Ultimately, according to village rules, after Zhou the Widow completes her prison term, she will be expelled from Huachidu Village.

Gu Xixi sent three people to the yamen within two days.

This achievement is unprecedented in the village's history.

The Gu family, including Grandpa Gu and Old Man Gu, were so terrified that neither dared to think of revenge.

From then on, the folk customs of Huachidu Village became much more civilized.

On the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter), at Zhangjia Nursery.

A charcoal stove sits on the stone table, and a black earthenware pot with an open mouth is simmering with Fu tea.

Mu Nanzhao leaned against the stone table, gently stirring the tea leaves with a wooden spoon. Steam rose and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

He looked up into the distance; the leaves in the nursery had all fallen. The woman wore an amber-colored jacket with plum blossoms and white rabbit fur trim, and a matching pleated skirt with scattered silver flowers. Her movements were nimble, and her expression focused.

What was originally a pleasing scene turned out to be...

"Sister Xixi is so amazing!" Shi Tou followed closely behind Gu Xixi, his eyes sparkling with admiration, just like a clingy puppy.

Mu Nanzhao looked away unhappily. What an eyesore, that brat! He'll only get more eyesores in the future!

As Gu Xixi pruned a pear tree, she said, "Pruning is very necessary in winter to protect the branches from the cold and heavy snow."

"It will help the branches grow strong, and the flowers and fruits will be borne in the following year."

Stone nodded and carefully wrote it down.

Sister Xixi taught him a lot today, such as covering the younger peach trees with a thin layer of oilcloth to protect them from the cold.

For example, if fruit trees are in poor condition, some may be hiding insect eggs, while others may be suffering from diseases. How can we distinguish between them?

For example, watering fruit trees with "wintering water" around the time of the Beginning of Winter.

Shi Tou watched as Gu Xixi took out a large bag of powder and dissolved it into the well water according to the specified ratio.

Gu Xixi said that fruit trees do not need much fertilizer in winter, and only need to be watered once during the winter, which is enough for the fruit trees to slowly absorb nutrients throughout the winter.

Just like a person who rests and recuperates to build a good foundation, they will naturally grow strong and healthy when spring arrives.

Stone listened to this knowledge with great eagerness, wishing he had more brains so he could memorize it all at once.

"Sister Xixi, now I finally know how some of the fruit trees in my family died in the past."

"Some of the things you said, even my father didn't know."

A sly glint flashed in Gu Xixi's eyes. "Then wouldn't you like to learn more?"

Stone nodded happily, "Yes!"

"Sister Xixi, I didn't learn this in vain, I can work for you!"

He knew the rules: to learn skills from a master, one had to be an apprentice, live in the master's house, and be at the master's beck and call.

This time, Gu Xixi immediately agreed, "Okay."

"Pack your things later and come home with me to study hard."

The naive little stone didn't notice the deeper meaning behind Gu Xixi's words, "Study hard."

He happily agreed at first, but then seemed a little hesitant.

“That’s good, but Sister Xixi, aren’t you from the south doing business? Your home is too far away. If I’m away for too long, these trees will be left unattended, which won’t do.”

The tea was ready, and Mu Nanzhao invited the two of them to come over and rest and have some tea.

He ladled out a bowl of orange-red tea, picked out a spoonful of snow-white, ointment-like acacia honey from a small jar, mixed it into the hot tea, and handed it to Gu Xixi first.

"Are you planning to tell this kid the truth?"