Chapter 107: Get up and sleep again

She won't be deserted by everyone.

The door curtain was lifted, and the man's voice swept in with the cold wind, like a sharp icicle.

"Who, who is it?" Gu Erye turned to look, and Mu Nan Zhao had already hurried inside.

He wore that black cloak, with unmelted snowflakes still on his shoulders.

Gu Xixi's cold expression instantly vanished, and she smiled, saying, "How did you come?"

He had something come up today and went out, not expecting to be back so soon.

Mu Nan Zhao treated Gu Erye as if he were air, not giving him a glance, saying, "If I didn't come, I'd be afraid you'd suffer a loss."

Gu Xixi couldn't help but chuckle, her mood much improved, "It's cold outside, huh? Come over and warm up."

Mu Nan Zhao took off his cloak, hung it on the rack beside the kang, sat sideways beside Gu Xixi, and handed her a silver hairpin shaped like a plum blossom branch.

"You told me to go to town and buy some household items; I thought this hairpin suited you, so I bought it along."

Gu Xixi took it and examined it, seeing the tiny Zhenbaoge stamp beneath the plum blossom on the hairpin, and instantly knew where he had gone today.

"I like it; help me put it on."

Mu Nan Zhao actually picked up the hairpin.

First he positioned it against Gu Xixi's head, struggled to put it on, then examined it closely. "Don't move, let me look."

The two acted as if no one else were there, and Gu Erye, left to the side, felt a deep insult.

He snapped, "You outsider, don't try to sow discord!"

"We grandfather and granddaughter are talking here; what harm could Xixi come to?"

Gu Xixi had been smiling, but hearing this her eyes turned cold, and she turned her head to Gu Erye and said:

"He's an outsider; what are those uninvited people anyway?"

Gu Erye was furious to the point of wanting to die, stammering, "I... you!"

But the lessons of Gu Daye and Gu Lao San were right there, and Gu Erye was finally not a reckless fool.

He thought of himself not hesitating to lower his status to visit a junior generation.

If he were to break ties like this, he wouldn't even get the benefits he wanted.

The fates of those who had previously gone against Gu Xixi were plain to see.

So he still had to coax this girl, doing his best to mend relations.

Gu Erye forced himself to suppress his anger, patiently advising, "Xixi, I'm doing this for your own good."

"Your father only has you as his daughter; once you're married, you can't possibly have no natal family, right?"

"A woman can't have no natal family to back her up."

"I'm not like your great-grandfather and the others; from now on I'll always be on your side."

Gu Xixi chuckled, "But I don't like causing trouble for others."

She deliberately emphasized the word "others."

Mu Nan Zhao lounged lazily, but his gaze at Gu Erye showed no hesitation in its sharpness.

"Didn't I tell you? She never has to worry about being deserted by everyone."

"This is her own home; the family she cares about are all here. What does it have to do with outsiders?"

Mu Nan Zhao directly issued the order to leave, "Please go back."

Gu Erye had just stepped over the threshold when Zhang Shen slammed the door shut behind him with a bang.

Gu Daye turned his head to look at the tightly closed gate.

He spat in resentment, but dared not make a sound.

Compared to hatred, his heart felt more unwillingness.

On New Year's Day, Gu Erye had been certain that Gu Xixi would come to pay him a New Year's visit.

But he waited at home for several days, and Gu Xixi never came to the door.

Then Gu Erye realized that Gu Xixi had lumped him together with Gu Daye, and she utterly refused to go out.

Moreover, he heard that many people in the village had gone to pay Gu Xixi's family a New Year's visit.

The once-disliked stinky girl had become a hot commodity; seeing that everyone was after the same good thing, how could Gu Erye not be anxious?

There was no way; since Gu Xixi wouldn't give him a ladder, he could only find one himself.

He had thought that if they met today, he could use the ladder to come down and reconcile with Gu Xixi.

Too bad it actually failed!

But……

Gu Erye secretly made a ruthless decision; anyway, the villagers all had the same idea, so even if he had to shamelessly tag along, he'd manage to get in!

Who let the benefits here be so huge, so tempting! Even if we have to fight shamelessly, it's worth it!

This time Mu Nan Zhao left the village and indeed went to the Meng family.

The plum-blossom hollow hairpin was custom-made by Gu Xixi herself; Meng Dangni zi heard her description and hurried to make it.

However, this time Mu Nan Zhao also brought back a letter.

A letter sent from the capital.

The letter's writer was He Jinglan.

For secrecy, the letter was first placed in an official document and then relayed to the Northwest Army's camp.

Then Meng Chengping received it, and in his spare time sent it back to the Meng residence in Qing Tian County.

Zhang Shen brought over a pot of good tea.

Gu Xixi sipped tea while reading the letter, occasionally smiling as she pursed her lips.

He Jinglan said she knew Gu Xixi liked to hear stories, but last time she left in a hurry and couldn't tell more about the capital's Lantern Festival festivities.

Then this time she wrote six sheets of letter paper in a row.

The first two sheets talked about what tasty and fun things there were on Lantern Festival Street, and what styles of lanterns were popular last year.

Gu Xixi has always loved these scenery and local customs.

After transmigrating, she hadn't gone far on a trip for a long time; He Jinglan's writing is also good, and reading it makes one feel as if they are there in person.

When Gu Xixi was reading the letter, Mu Nan Zhao leaned against the side.

Occasionally he sipped tea, occasionally he lifted his eyes to look at her.

Upon flipping to the third sheet of letter paper, Gu Xixi's eyes suddenly widened.

She quickly read on, then glanced at Mu Nan Zhao with a complex expression as if trying to hold back laughter.

Mu Nan Zhao said sharply, 'What are you scheming about me in your heart?'

Saying that, he reached out to grab the letter paper.

Gu Xixi dodged aside, her expression already becoming very serious, 'No.'

Seeing that Mu Nan Zhao didn't believe.

Gu Xixi generously handed over the letter paper, 'A young lady pours a few words of her feelings in the letter; are you sure you want to read it?'

Having said that, it made Mu Nan Zhao feel awkward to take it.

He had no choice but to turn his back and pretend to sleep.

Gu Xixi continued reading the letter; at first, holding back her laughter was somewhat painful.

But when she saw the last two sheets, the smile completely disappeared from her face...

The light snow paused for a moment in the evening, then at night deep it started again as heavy goose-feather snow.

Gu Xixi, before bed, watched the drifting snowflakes and suddenly felt inspired.

She sneaked into the kitchen and took out the jar of sorghum liquor that Chen Dafu had given.

Then she lit a small brazier and heated a full pot of liquor.

Beside the small brazier she placed a split wheat-flour mantou; while drinking, she let it slowly bake to golden brown, crisp outside and soft inside, barely enough to serve as a side dish with alcohol.

After arranging these, Gu Xixi went to knock on the door of the west room.

'Hey! Are you asleep?'

Afraid of waking others in the house, Gu Xixi could only lower her voice, 'The snow is falling heavily; get up to drink and admire the snow!'

'Oh, you can't drink; I'll drink, you'll admire the snow, and there's also tasty late-night snack.'

Finally there was a faint movement inside the room.

Mu Nan Zhao opened the door, his eyes sharp; it seemed he hadn't yet fallen asleep.

'With your drinking capacity, you're still drinking?'

Gu Xixi smiled, 'Just a little to warm up; would you do me the honor?'

Mu Nan Zhao followed Gu Xixi out.

Seeing the baked mantou on the brazier, he hesitated, 'Is this the tasty late-night snack you mentioned?'

Gu Xixi smiled without guilt, 'Yes.'

'Because you're too handsome, the Young Master Mu doesn't dare go out on Lantern Festival night... Please have a seat.'