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

The people inside the house heard the commotion in the courtyard.

Gu Xixi and Mu Nanzhao exchanged glances.

Mu Nanzhao immediately got up and got off the kang (a heated brick bed). Gu Xixi said to Shi Tou, "Let's go out and take a look."

"Stay with Grandpa and don't run around."

Even the most mischievous stone sensed the unusual atmosphere at this moment.

He moved closer to the old doctor and nodded quietly.

The snow illuminated the night slightly.

Four constables stood in a semi-circle in the snow, their hands on the swords at their waists.

Judging from this posture, it's clear that anyone coming out of the house will have no chance of escape.

Gu Xixi stepped out from under the eaves and faced the group directly. "May I ask where you all come from and what brings you here?"

A constable took out his token and waved it.

"We've come from the county government office because of a series of thefts, and we've come specifically to bring Chen Fang to the county government office for questioning!"

Theft? Gu Xixi was taken aback and asked, "Qingtian County Government?"

The constable who had spoken grunted in acknowledgment and put away the token.

Gu Xixi became suspicious at this moment. She had dealt with the Qingtian County government several times, and those yamen runners would occasionally come to the village, but she had never seen these four people in front of her before.

Especially noticeable is their serious demeanor, tall and robust build, as if they were well-trained, a stark contrast to the more down-to-earth people of Qingtian County, who vary in height and build.

Gu Xixi stepped forward a few more times, "Could you please let me see the token?"

The constable shouted coldly, "Halt!"

As he spoke, the sound of swords being drawn immediately rang out around him.

The other three constables drew their swords, glaring menacingly as a show of force.

Aunt Zhang turned pale with fright. "What's going on? Why are they suddenly coming to arrest people, and they're even carrying knives..."

The constable coldly looked at the two women, "If you, the family members of suspects, dare to obstruct our business, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

Mu Nanzhao emerged from the shadows under the eaves, his long hair whipped by the wind and snow, his beauty unparalleled.

"If you're looking for me, I'll go with you."

The constable frowned and sized him up. "You're the one who was exiled from another region to the Northwest... Chen Fang?"

"Exactly." Mu Nanzhao merely glanced at him, and the yamen runner felt inexplicably inferior in his presence.

The constable gritted his teeth and tried to straighten his back. "So it was you! Hiding behind a woman, you really are the most useless weak scholar!"

Mu Nanzhao smiled wryly, showing no anger whatsoever. "Aren't you in a hurry to finish your task? Let's go."

The constable felt deeply humiliated as he watched him walk past with his hands behind his back and an air of nonchalance.

"Damn it! Are you ignoring me?!"

He fiercely drew his sword at Mu Nanzhao's back, but was stopped by the other three.

Someone shook their head secretly and whispered, "The mission is more important."

As the group was leaving, Gu Xixi ignored Aunt Zhang's attempts to stop her and chased after them, calling out, "Wait!"

She glanced coldly at the constables, "Even if they are convicted and sent to the execution ground, time should be given for their families to bid them a reluctant farewell."

"You guys aren't in such a hurry, are you?"

This time there was no obstruction.

Gu Xixi waved her hand, signaling Mu Nanzhao to bend down.

She stood on tiptoe and leaned against his shoulder, her arms wrapped around him; they truly looked like a pair of lovers parting ways.

Gu Xixi whispered in Mu Nanzhao's ear, "Something's not right."

"The origins of these people, and the charges they brought against you, are all rather strange."

Mu Nanzhao's chin brushed against Gu Xixi's cheek, his gesture suggestive. "Did you see they all carry knives?"

"When they drew their swords just now, they were really showing murderous intent."

The man's crisp, clear breath mingled with the snow's chill, instantly invigorating anyone who smelled it.

Gu Xixi suddenly opened her eyes wide, and Mu Nanzhao gently pushed her away.

"I have to go with them tonight; the innocent will clear themselves."

"Don't be afraid, there are many people in the family, you can protect them all."

He was speaking not only to Gu Xixi, but also to the people around him.

Gu Xixi stared blankly as Mu Nanzhao disappeared into the snowy night, while Aunt Zhang reached out to help her up with concern.

"Xixi, what exactly happened? Should we talk to Lao Qian about it?"

We have to go...

There are many people in my family...

What did Mu Nanzhao mean by that?

Could it be that if she had exposed those four people or continued to resist, they would have wiped out her entire family?

Gu Xixi's palms were already covered in a layer of cold sweat.

She had seen Mu Nanzhao's skills; he could probably handle four opponents on his own.

Not to mention whether the other side has any accomplices hiding in the shadows, what will happen after Mu Nanzhao kills these people?

What happened to the body? How was the murder case solved?

She couldn't possibly take her entire family and follow Mu Nanzhao on the run, could she?

Moreover, neither Gu Xixi nor Mu Nanzhao ever targeted desperados.

Thinking of this, Gu Xixi turned around and walked back quickly, "Auntie, let's eat."

"Huh?" Aunt Zhang exclaimed incredulously, "You're eating again?"

When the food was served, Gu Xixi ate it in big mouthfuls, seemingly without any loss of appetite.

In contrast, even the old doctor Zhang and Little Stone seemed to have lost their appetite.

Unlike the adults, Shi Tou didn't have as many concerns. He asked directly, "Sister Xi Xi, Mr. Chen has been arrested. Are we still eating here?"

As Gu Xixi ate, she said, "Being hungry is the most useless thing. Only when you are full can you have the strength to do things."

As she spoke, she handed the empty bowl to Aunt Zhang, saying, "Auntie, could you please give me another bowl of rice?"

Gu Xixi usually eats very little for dinner, but tonight she ate two bowls of rice and a lot of dishes.

Moreover, she ate extremely quickly; before others had even eaten much, she had already put down her chopsticks.

"Auntie, give me a few of the steamed cornbreads you made this morning. You don't need to heat them up; just wrap them in a steamer cloth."

Aunt Zhang has no idea what Gu Xixi is trying to do, and is just busy following her instructions until she's dizzy.

Gu Xixi went back to her room and changed into her thickest cotton-padded coat, then put on a dark blue cloak.

She brewed herself a pot of strong honey water, poured it into her water bag, wrapped it in several layers of cloth, and tucked it into her bosom to keep it warm.

Then he put a bag of cornbread and a bag of sugar into a cloth bag and straightened his cloak.

Shi Tou was the first to react, "Sister Xi Xi, are you going out?"

Gu Xixi solemnly entrusted Shi Tou, "Well, after I leave, you'll be the youngest man in our family. Remember to take good care of Grandpa Doctor and Grandma Zhang."

"Don't forget to feed Xiaohua and Laifu."

A sense of mission welled up in Shi Tou's heart. He clenched his two little fists and nodded vigorously.

"Okay! Leave it all to me! I promise I won't hold Sister Xixi back!"

Gu Xixi then said to Aunt Zhang and the old doctor, "We have plenty of food and drink at home, and we don't need to go out much lately, so you can stay home and hibernate, eat and drink well, and don't worry too much."

The old doctor, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, "You want to find someone to save him?"

Gu Xixi smiled brightly, "There's no other way, this is the only option."

Disguised as a government official, he entered the village with a knife, intending to kill and silence witnesses.

The only thing Gu Xixi could think of that would make them take such a risk was Mu Nanzhao's true identity.