Chapter 153: When They Part, Each Takes Root

Two and a half days' wages were enough to give the entire Dependents Village a New Year's atmosphere.

The women, beaming with joy, discussed how to handle this sum of money.

Some wanted to save it.

Some wanted to buy cloth to make a casual summer outfit for their husbands.

Some said they would first go to the city to buy some tasty treats, so the whole family could be happy.

Some hoped to save up quickly to send their children to study in the city…

These were all very ordinary plans, but after hearing them, He Jinglan fell into thought.

Handing this batch of antiepileptic grass over to Meng Chengping would settle the matter.

On the way back to the cottage, He Jinglan asked Gu Xixi, "I've never seen them so happy; I wish they could always be like this."

Gu Xixi said, "Working for the great general isn't an opportunity that comes often."

"I know, so…" He Jinglan hesitated, then looked at Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi said without surprise, "So you want to ask if there's a way to help them."

He Jinglan, whose thoughts had been guessed, nodded happily, "Mm!"

She eagerly said, "Xixi, if you have a way, I want to join in too—I can work now!"

Gu Xixi took He Jinglan's small hand, looking at the fresh tender skin on her fingertips and the red marks on the back of her hand from the grass stalks, and couldn't help but shake her head and sigh.

"What a fine pair of jade hands, soft and smooth from childhood—I love holding them."

"It would be such a pity if they were ruined by rough work."

He Jinglan turned her palm over indifferently, "What's the big deal? Your hands have thin calluses too, Xixi."

"No," Gu Xixi said. "I'm a farmer; my hands are rough, which is the mark of a farming family."

He Jinglan pouted unhappily, "Are you looking down on me for growing up in the inner courtyard, ignorant of labor and grain?"

Gu Xixi laughed, "If I thought that way, I wouldn't have bothered with you at the start—what kind of friend would I be?!"

He Jinglan anxiously asked, "Then what do you mean? Before I leave, you really want to help them somehow."

"After all, once we return to the capital, who knows when we'll be back in the Northwest."

By the end of her words, her gaze dimmed, as if she had thought of something else unhappy.

Gu Xixi said, "As the saying goes, each craft has its specialty—there's no shame in being a lady of a high household. You don't have to force yourself; just accompany me in doing things you're not good at and don't truly enjoy."

During these two days of cutting grass, Gu Xixi had already noticed that He Jinglan was struggling with the work.

He Jinglan had been trying hard to adapt from start to finish, wanting to keep up with everyone's work rhythm, and this experience was clearly not pleasant.

Having her inner thoughts laid bare by Gu Xixi, He Jinglan lowered her head and remained silent for a moment.

"But Xixi… I seem to be good only at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

She sighed, "This time out I've realized that the things I've learned aren't for eating, drinking, or using. Put nicely, they're for refined enjoyment; actually, their purpose is just to compare and show off at family banquets and in the women's quarters, ultimately raising one's marriage prospects."

Gu Xixi laughed at her words, "Mastering just one of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting is already impressive, yet you're accomplished in all four and still dare to belittle yourself?"

He Jinglan still worried, "Then you say, can it make money? Can it fill the stomach?"

Gu Xixi replied, "Yes, it can."

It was an unexpected answer.

He Jinglan widened her eyes, thinking Gu Xixi was teasing her.

But Gu Xixi was serious, asking, "You not only can read and write, you've read many books; I've heard that in this world there are female academies where the teachers are women and the students are all women."

"In the previous dynasty there was a world-famous female chess master, whom the Empress Dowager ennobled as a Doctor of Chess."

"Nearby is Meng Chengping's elder sister, Meng Dangni zi, who is exceptionally shrewd and capable—she not only manages the entire Meng family but also runs a jewelry shop."

"There are also music teachers, painting teachers, and so on."

"The positions available to us women out there are indeed few, and achieving anything is as hard as climbing to heaven, but we cannot block the path in our hearts from the start."

He Jinglan stood there stunned, as if… she had just heard something momentous!

Gu Xixi continued smiling, "For example, in a year or two, when my Pinpo fruit bears fruit, I'll still want to hire you to write for me—I've seen your handwriting, it's excellent, unlike mine."

"But by then I'm afraid you might disdain the low wages."

When He Jinglan heard the words 'wages,' her eyes lit up immediately.

She was no longer lost in shock; she ran two steps forward and asked, "How much can the wages be?"

"Oh wait, why does the fruit need writing? Won't a year or two be too long?"

Gu Xixi had already been charmed by this girl, "Waiting a year or two, I can't change that much, but for your sake I'll hurry."

"The use of writing is great—it can let the price of the Pinpo fruit double twice before the holiday season; the specifics will be clear when you see them yourself."

"As for the wages, it's hard to say now; it depends on how I priced the fruit back then."

He Jinglan said, "All right, I've noted it down—you can't hire someone else to write!"

Gu Xixi blinked, "It's a promise!"

In fact, she hadn't found anyone more suited than He Jinglan for the job—good handwriting is one thing, her brush strokes are round and smooth, giving a cheerful feeling, perfect for writing all sorts of auspicious characters.

Cut out and stuck on the Pinpo fruit, the high‑priced New Year's blessing fruit could then be prepared for birth.

As for the Dependents Village, Gu Xixi returned to the original topic.

"I have a way to help the villagers make some changes."

"But you should know, to make a move in the Dependents Village, neither you nor I can decide."

He Jinglan looked embarrassed and said hesitantly, "Do we have to report to General Huo again?"

Gu Xixi raised an eyebrow, "Otherwise what?"

He Jinglan thought for a moment, then said, "Then you go—when you see General Huo, by all means don't mention me; make sure he doesn't recall that I exist."

She hastily added, "I'm not planning to stay here and not leave; I just want to delay a bit, so I can be of some small help."

Gu Xixi felt helpless; if her plan were approved, she would indeed need a clerk and an accountant.

But...

Warfare is deception; as the commander of an army, Huo Jiang certainly isn't a fool with a terrible memory.

How could one possibly get away with just brushing it off casually?

"... All right." Gu Xixi replied heavily, "I'll do my best."

"As long as the Grand General doesn't bring it up, I definitely won't either; if the Grand General does bring it up, I can only say… I'll do my best to speak a few kind words for you."

That afternoon, Gu Xixi went to the army camp.

She noticed that the atmosphere inside the camp seemed busier and tenser than on her previous visit.

In front of the central command tent, Gu Xixi waited a moment and saw Meng Chengping emerge with several people.

As he hurried past, he merely glanced at Xixi, without greeting her or showing any expression.

Gu Xixi thought, General Meng on duty was indeed a completely different person from his usual self.

At that moment, Huo Jiang's voice rang out, "What are you thinking about? If you have something important to say, hurry up and come in!"