Chapter 10: Your Man Ran Away

Gu Lao San! What's wrong with you?

It's certainly because that dead girl made him angry—quickly press his philtrum!

Gu Lao San's wife, quickly bring water!

Gu Lao San probably fainted from shock and anger, and the main hall inside and out was already in chaos like a pot of porridge.

Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao didn't even turn their heads.

Only after leaving the courtyard did they feel as if burned by fire, and they hastily shook off each other's hands.

Because their movements were so unsynchronized, they both froze, then turned their heads to look at each other.

Mu Nan Zhao suddenly grabbed Gu Xixi's hand again, ignoring her resistance, and squeezed it hard in his palm.

Gu Xixi was greatly startled, 'What are you doing!'

She desperately tried to pull her hand back, while whispering, 'Just now you cooperated with me, so you know I was acting; everything I said earlier was true, rest assured, I have no...'

'How do you feel?' Mu Nan Zhao's seemingly puzzling question left Gu Xixi stunned.

She paused her struggle, stared at their tightly clasped hands, frowned in thought for a moment, lifted her head, and answered truthfully.

'No feeling.'

Mu Nan Zhao stared directly into Gu Xixi's eyes.

He had seen too many women's gazes—bright, shy, even fawning.

But in Gu Xixi's eyes he saw none of that complicated emotion at all.

Mu Nan Zhao suddenly let go, 'Blockhead.'

Was his voice too low? Gu Xixi didn't hear clearly, 'What?'

'I say...' Mu Nan Zhao walked forward with his hands behind his back, 'Self-aware, not bad.'

Gu Xixi glared at Mu Nan Zhao's back, grinding her teeth.

Does she need a narcissist to remind her?

Fate and men—she knows which is more important; how could she possibly still fall for Mu Nan Zhao?

Farming to get rich and expand the agricultural territory! That is Gu Xixi's current life goal.

Gu Xixi returned to her family's field; an hour had already drawn to a close.

Zhang Shen whispered, 'I've been watching here all along; no one's slacking off, on the contrary everyone's willing to work hard.'

The onlooking villagers weren't idle either, some saying this was good, others praising that as excellent.

Moreover, a group of men were betting on which few would be selected and which few eliminated.

Gu Xixi, however, wasn't in a hurry to speak.

Only after the incense used for timing burned out did she personally go down to the field and inspect each plot.

'You, you... and you.'

'You stay; the rest go to Zhang Shen, each receiving two jin of millet before heading home.'

A short, sturdy man stood up, unconvinced, 'On what basis?'

'I've finished weeding my plot, yet of the people you chose, several haven't even half-finished!'

Gu Xixi calmly said, 'Weeding weeds is the same, but they turned out the grass roots, while you?'

'You just rush, making it look like you finished a plot, but it's actually unusable.'

She turned and walked toward plot three, 'Let's take a look at this one.'

'Not only did it eliminate weeds, the soil's looseness and depth are just right for planting millet.'

'Uncle Dafu, you considered what I want to plant, right?'

Chen Dafu had originally been standing behind the other hired workers.

Upon suddenly hearing his name called, he startled, quite at a loss.

'Yes, at this time of year, only millet can be planted...'

Gu Xixi nodded satisfactorily, looking at those who were not selected, 'I didn't tell anyone what to do; I just wanted to see who, when doing farm work, is willing to think one step further.'

Zhang Shen, seeing the time was right, publicly read out the contract aloud, which included wages and duration.

'Signing the contract is a safeguard for both sides; besides that, there are additional rules you need to be informed of and agree to.'

'As for fertilizing and watering, the landlord has made arrangements.'

'Just follow the instructions; you can also discuss with the landlord.'

'If you act on your own without the landlord's consent, the landlord has the right to settle your wages early and send you away.'

The hired workers had no objections; each one pressed his fingerprint.

After all, it's an unprecedentedly high wage; they still feared the landlord might go back on his word in the end!

As for farming, one must listen to the landlord; though they don't fully understand, it's basically whatever the landlord says, we just follow along.

Each hired worker contracted several mu of land; thinking that his generous wage came from the soil beneath his feet, they were full of vigor and immediately declared they would start work.

Gu Xixi naturally agreed; working with her partner has always been the more you work, the more you gain.

Seeing the big lock hanging on the gate, Zhang Shen then remembered someone was missing: 'Where is Chen Fang?'

Gu Xixi was pondering a formula and casually replied, 'He's already come back.'

Zhang Shen puzzled, 'The door is still locked, and besides, he doesn't have a key.'

Gu Xixi raised her head, '...'

Zhang Shen opened the door in a few quick motions, then rushed to search the entire house inside and out.

'He's not in the house, and there's no one in the rear courtyard!'

Zhang Shen rushed over, grabbing Gu Xixi's shoulders with both hands, 'He couldn't have run away, could he?!'

Gu Xixi thought, 'Not very likely.'

Although she'd be happy to send this big Buddha away early.

But rationally speaking, given Mu Nan Zhao's situation, it's not easy to find a place for him to hide.

In a short time, he couldn't possibly leave her willingly.

And he is likely to go do something secretive on this trip.

Gu Xixi completely didn't want to look into the details, laughing as she said, "He's probably just out for a walk; he'll definitely come back."

Zhang Shen was half-believing, half-doubting, "Really?"

"After all, he was bought from the Government Office; what if..."

"There won't be any 'what if.'" Gu Xixi said firmly, "We should just do what we need to do."

"He's too big a person to get lost."

After seeing off Zhang Shen, Gu Xixi locked herself in the room to continue the experiment.

Improving the seeds requires time and repeated verification, and current conditions cannot compare to the former laboratory.

She seized every moment, fearing time was insufficient, and had no time to consider Mu Nan Zhao's whereabouts.

Until Zhang Shen came to knock on the door, "Gu Xixi, it's late; want to eat?"

Gu Xixi answered, then looked up and found the sky outside the skylight already pitch black.

Zhang Shen had prepared dinner half an hour earlier, but didn't want to disturb Gu Xixi, so she delayed until now.

The small dining table was set in the middle of the courtyard, illuminated by an oil lamp.

The dinner was simple, consisting of just one soup and one rice.

The grayish greens commonly seen in the fields in early summer were chopped, mixed with wheat noodles, a little salt added for flavor, then steamed in a pot.

The wheat rice, which has both staple and dish qualities, offers the wild vegetables' fresh, sweet aftertaste and the wheat noodles' fragrant, soft chew.

Drizzle two spoonfuls of fragrant wild garlic oil, then add a few drops of aged vinegar according to personal taste, making one's appetite stir.

Gu Xixi ate half a bowl, then lifted the millet and bean soup.

"Mmm! Delicious! Cool and refreshing to drink."

Zhang Shen ate with a worried frown, glancing at Gu Xixi several times, finally couldn't help but ask tentatively:

"It's this late; should I still leave the door open for Xiao Chen tonight?"

The villagers of Huachi Du Cun work from sunrise and rest at sunset.

When it gets dark, few people go out; usually they bolt the doors from inside early.

Gu Xixi was about to speak when suddenly she heard knocking outside.

"Is Xiao Chen back?" Zhang Shen happily ran to open the door.

A dark head poked in from outside; seeing that big-toothed grin, it was obviously not Mu Nan Zhao.

Is little sister Xixi at home?