Chapter 150

When Gu Xixi and He Jinglan whispered, several women tugging at their children stared anxiously, worried that this hard-won job might fall through again.

Gu Xixi nodded at He Jinglan, looked at the women and children, but hadn't yet spoken.

A young woman holding a child stepped forward first, saying, "Boss Gu, we brought our children not to take up slots or earn wages, but mainly because our few children are too young; left at home, there's really no one to look after them."

The women with children all nodded, pleadingly looking at Gu Xixi.

The few women without children chimed in, "We're all young daughters-in-law, our babies in our arms are firstborns; unlike us few, whose older sons and daughters at home can help look after the little ones."

"Yeah, normally we bring the kids along to gather firewood and dig wild vegetables; we've all gotten by like that, and we definitely won't delay work."

Gu Xixi looked at those pairs of earnest eyes and felt moved.

Diligent and willing to work, helping each other—no wonder they're the women of Dependents Village.

She showed a smile to everyone and said gently, "Ladies and aunts, don't panic,"

"Now I need your help; I'm deeply grateful that you've come."

"You all work hard without complaint, showing such solidarity—how could I think you brought your children just to earn an extra wage?"

The women looked at each other, their tense emotions instantly eased, and they all broke into genuine smiles.

"Boss Gu, Miss He, just tell us what kind of grass to dig and how much; leave the rest to us!"

Everyone looked at Gu Xixi together, their faces full of confident smiles, a stark contrast to their earlier nervousness.

In their area of expertise, there's nothing to fear they can't accomplish!

Gu Xixi's emotions also ignited: "All right! Let's get to work!"

A group of women walked toward the outside of the village.

As she walked, Gu Xixi said, "I'll dig a few first and give them to you as samples."

"We're paid by half a day, so at the start we don't need to rush; we must be accurate, not mixing in other weeds."

"As for how much, the more the better for now; I'll call a stop when I think we've got enough."

One woman said, "Boss Gu, don't worry; at most half an hour, we'll get the hang of it, and then speeding up won't be a problem."

Someone echoed, "After all, Boss Gu needs a lot, so we still need to be quick and nimble."

Another joked, "Boss Gu and Miss He are giving us a chance to earn money; we can't deliberately work slowly just for the wages and drag things out!"

The crowd laughed, "We never thought that—aren't you the one secretly thinking that?"

Gu Xixi had stayed in Dependents Village several times, always busy going out early and returning late, so she hadn't interacted much with the villagers.

At this moment, seeing the strong bond among the women, her heart warmed, filled with strength.

The squad leader found the sheep epilepsy grass outside the military camp.

But Gu Xixi didn't plan to take everyone there.

First, the Northwest Army has regulations prohibiting that.

Second, if enemy spies slipped in, their actions would easily attract attention.

Once a new species takes root, it will also spread around; Gu Xixi chose a patch of wild grass that constantly faces the wind toward the military camp for long-term planting.

She bent over and searched for a while, and indeed found something.

Each woman picked up a stalk of grass, examined it closely, then without further talk scattered and began digging.

Gu Xixi let out a long sigh.

He Jinglan glanced at her sideways and said, "What's wrong with you? You look like you've just unloaded a heavy burden."

Gu Xixi whispered, "I'm not worried; they asked me what this grass is for and whether it's edible."

"In this situation, how should I answer?"

He Jinglan understood and said, "I didn't expect them to not ask anything at all."

Gu Xixi nodded, "Did you say something beforehand?"

"Why would I need to say?" He Jinglan said meaningfully, "Have you forgotten that they're all military dependents?"

Gu Xixi stared blankly for a moment, then firmly admitted, "It's my fault for underestimating them."

Huo Jiangzhi's military is strict, and even the entire Northwest is firmly under his control.

What's more, it's a dependents village stationed near the military camp.

Gu Xixi rolled up her sleeves full of energy, saying, "Hurry up and dig—we can't lag behind."

While digging grass, He Jinglan's mouth wasn't idle; she told Gu Xixi many things she'd heard about the village.

These military dependents' husbands can return home for reunions from time to time.

Although they can't talk about classified matters, the women still hear plenty during pillow talk at night.

For example, they don't ask what they shouldn't, and they don't listen to what they shouldn't.

Especially when encountering strangers, you cannot say anything about what you're asked, and must report promptly afterwards.

Gu Xixi sighed, "I really was muddle-headed, treating them as ordinary married women."

Now that I think about it, those few older aunties in this village have seen battle more times than I have come to Xi Bei, many more times.

I was still worried about them, but in the end I realized it was I who didn't know my own limits.

He Jinglan chuckled lightly, "Not at all, not at all; I actually heard them praise you before."

"Oh?" Gu Xixi said curiously.

He Jinglan said, "Actually everyone envies you, envying your ability to come and go as you please, to carve out your own plans like those men."

"Even something as ordinary as planting grain, you have the ability to make even the grand general look up."

Gu Xixi fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice, "In this world, devoting oneself as a woman is not easy; there are times when one has no choice, so where is there true freedom to come and go as one pleases?"

He Jinglan observed her expression change, and asked concernedly, "You seem... to have encountered some difficulty?"

Gu Xixi sighed silently, then lifted her head, her face relaxed, "No."

"I'm just feeling a bit sentimental."

What could she say? To claim she's a transmigrator might well end badly because of Mu Nan Zhao.

Saying all she's done so far is merely struggling desperately to seize fate.

But who decides whether it will succeed? When will it be over?

I don't know.

I don't know, but I must keep going—there's no other choice.

To say she's unwilling, Gu Xixi the transmigrator has it no easier than anyone in the book.

Everyone sure wasn't boasting; by morning's end, the mad cow grass had already been stacked into small haystacks.

Gu Xixi randomly grabbed a handful of grass from a few directions to test it.

It was all pure mad cow grass, with not a single other grass mixed in.

Gu Xixi suggested everyone rest at noon and continue after an hour.

But the women said they weren't going back, and each pulled out the prepared dry rations and water skins.

Some also unfastened their bosoms to nurse the babies.

Now the weather has warmed; sitting in the sun on the ground is quite pleasant.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan exchanged glances.

They hadn't expected they'd need to prepare food!

An older woman saw their predicament, smiled, and called out, "I've made pancakes; let's eat together."