Chapter 183

Mu Nan Zhao gave a self‑mocking smile and muttered, "Surveillance? Knowing full well what you hate most, what reason would I have to do that?"

Mu Nan Zhao indeed made arrangements in Huachi Du Cun.

Master Liu's arrival had one purpose: to bring people to protect Gu Xixi, even the whole village.

These had been made clear and frank already that night when Master Liu met Gu Xixi.

Second, for the children of the village school.

Saying it out loud, even Mu Nan Zhao himself didn't believe it.

In the past few short months, he not only gradually grew accustomed to the position of Mr. Chen, but even acquired a genuine sense of responsibility as a teacher.

Perhaps it was because of the children's eager eyes, perhaps because of their tender cries of "Teacher," or maybe because the days in the schoolhouse were simple and pure, free of scheming…

While on the frontier, Mu Nan Zhao felt regret for the first time over a choice he himself had made.

He shouldn't have, in a moment of bewildering impulse, agreed to become some teacher! As a result, even when leaving he felt torn apart.

Thus Mu Nan Zhao called forth "Master Liu."

Master Liu's learning and talent were in no way inferior to Mu Nan Zhao's.

More importantly, Master Liu was gentle and patient, making him more suited than Mu Nan Zhao to teach at the village school.

And the reason Mu Nan Zhao didn't defend himself just now was simply because Gu Xixi wasn't far off the mark.

Mu Nan Zhao originally had no intention of returning to Huachi Du Cun.

Outside, too many people and too many matters awaited him.

But at the end of Master Liu's reply concerning official business, out of personal friendship he added a casual remark.

He said that that evening, at the Gu boss's house, he saw a blue‑eyed foreigner whose behavior was absurd and groundless.

Master Liu nevertheless retained a scholar's integrity, writing only what he had seen and not adding gossip‑like embellishments.

After all, when Mu Nan Zhao assigned him the task, he had specifically instructed that there was no need to monitor or record every move of the Gu family, nor to disturb anyone's daily life.

Mu Nan Zhao burned the fresh paper with a blackened face and muttered, "Nosy."

He of course knew who was being described in the letter.

An Qinghe— from the first time he saw An Qinghe, that boy's feelings for Gu Xixi were plain as day.

Thereafter, the full‑scale war with Beili erupted.

As a hidden strategist beside General Ho, Mu Nan Zhao threw himself wholeheartedly into the conflict and won several battles.

He seemed to have completely forgotten Gu Xixi, forgotten everything about Huachi Du Cun.

Until the final battle ended, the victorious troops returned to camp and were about to tally and celebrate, yet Mu Nan Zhao left a note for General Ho, then rode off in the night on a swift horse.

……

Zhang Shen hummed a song as she returned with a vegetable basket, accompanied by an old doctor carrying a medicine box.

The old doctor had just finished seeing patients, and the two met on the road in front of the house.

Mu Nan Zhao hadn't had time to retreat indoors before Zhang Shen called him to a stop.

"Little Chen! Why are you standing there alone? Where's Xixi?"

"She went out together with An Qinghe." Mu Nan Zhao, for the first time, spoke faster than he thought; when he said the word "together," his tone unintentionally grew heavier.

But he instantly realized it was wrong—how could saying that sound like jealousy?

To avoid making things worse, Mu Nan Zhao kept a wooden face and stayed silent.

Zhang Shen froze, then instinctively glanced at the old doctor.

The old doctor's eyes couldn't see, which made his perception sharper than ordinary people's.

"That little An boy is diligent; like me, he's a lodger in our home, so it's natural he'd want to pitch in more."

"Before Xixi came back this time, little An had been helping people all over the village and had gotten familiar with everyone."

Zhang Shen hurriedly agreed, "Exactly, exactly, exactly—surely little An just wanted to help Xixi, not to tag along."

Mu Nan Zhao said wistfully, "He certainly knows how to win people's hearts."

Zhang Shen froze again.

The courtyard was quiet in an oddly eerie way.

Or the old doctor smiled and said, "Your body has always been under my care; it's been a while since I last saw you, so let me take your pulse and see how your recovery is going."

Mu Nan Zhao didn't object, "Then please trouble you, Elder Jiang."

The old doctor walked toward the rear courtyard, saying, "What trouble? Before, you used to come to my house every day for medicine and acupuncture; now you go out once and come back acting all distant."

Mu Nan Zhao followed the old doctor, took the medicine box off his shoulder, and carried it himself.

"Elder Jiang, you're joking; you saved my life—how could I possibly grow distant from you?"

The old doctor chuckled and nodded.

Zhang Shen watched the two head toward the rear courtyard and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

She turned and glanced toward the outer gate, muttering to herself, "This child, no matter how close he is to little An, after all there's a distinction between male and female—I see little Chen seems to be somewhat concerned about this."

"What ever shall we do?"

Zhang Shen moved a small stool and sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun while picking vegetables.

She figured the village school should be letting out soon, facing the gate, working while occasionally looking up and gazing outward.

Some things are hard for an elder to say outright, but fortunately Miss He is present in the household.

It would be much easier for the two young ladies to share private, intimate talk.

He Jinglan and little Shitou returned together, chatting and laughing; it seemed they'd had a good day at the village school.

Zhang Shen quickly rose, first sent Shitou off to wash his hands, then pulled He Jinglan aside.

She said all that in this manner.

He Jinglan's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam as she said, "You say Xixi and An Qinghe, right in front of Chen Fang, went out hand in hand?"

Zhang Shen sighed, "There's no hand-holding; by the time I came back, Xixi had already gone out!"

He Jinglan said, "Anyway, that's pretty much what it means."

Zhang Shen earnestly corrected, "Men and women should not be intimate; this kind of thing can't be approximate."

He Jinglan hummed, her gaze unfocused, the corners of her mouth holding a smile, her thoughts drifting who knows where.

Zhang Shen continued to plead, "I can see Xiao Chen seems a bit bothered; you're close with Xixi, so you should privately tell her to keep a proper distance from Xiao An in the future."

"Especially in front of Xiao Chen."

"It's to avoid suspicion; doing this is good for everyone."

He Jinglan's smile faded, she solemnly promised Zhang Shen, "Alright, I'll take care of this; you don't need to worry."

Zhang Shen sat back down on the bench, then remembered something, looked up and said, "You still don't know Xiao Chen."

"Later, at lunch, let Xixi introduce you two; you can also see what kind of future husband Xixi has."

"Sure." He Jinglan said solemnly, "I'm like a sister to Xixi; for such a lifelong matter, I ought to help her judge."

She turned away, finally unable to suppress a mischievous laugh, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.

After noon passed, Gu Xixi and An Qinghe finally returned home.

After washing their hands, they entered the house smelling the food; the whole family was there.

An Qinghe's excitement hadn't faded; as soon as he came in, he started talking about Gu Xixi's tea plants.

"They've already sprouted tea leaves—several different kinds; Xixi says they still need to be screened, it's amazing!"

He held up a small cloth bundle, proudly saying, "This tea, which I've tried with Xixi, is the most fragrant and sweetly lingering."

Gu Xixi, however, remained silent, just staring at the kang as if seeing a ghost.