Chapter 223

So large, so full the wheat ears — never seen before — and they keep arriving in a steady stream.

No wonder other Gu family members are jealous.

But everyone increasingly realizes that tripping Gu Daye secretly or stealing fertilizer like Gu Erye does will ultimately not work.

Perhaps the so‑called secret formula really only works in Gu Xixi's hands.

When returning home in the evening, Gu Xixi saw Gu Erye flash a glance from the far end of the road, clearly avoiding her.

Gu Xixi didn't care at all.

Since they can't coexist peacefully, making the other side fear her a bit isn't bad.

The wheat was dried for three days, then threshed and stored.

All the hired workers of Gu Xixi's household gathered together to weigh the wheat.

Average yield per mu: one thousand jin!!

That figure left not only the watching villagers but even the workers who had been involved the whole time stunned.

The local winter wheat harvest usually yields five to six hundred jin per mu.

In Gu Xixi's first year taking over, the wheat yield was double the usual amount.

How could it not shock people?

Under everyone's gaze, Gu Xixi acted quite ordinarily.

She truly wasn't pretending to be mature or feigning indifference; the output was simply too ordinary for her.

There was nothing breakthrough‑worthy to celebrate.

Finally, Gu Xixi broke down the yield per mu and, according to the agreed ratio, gave each worker their corresponding share.

She didn't do it herself; she let the workers weigh and pack it on their own.

Chen Dafu specially borrowed a cart from his relatives.

His face was flushed with joy: "Following the master is far more worthwhile than farming my own one‑mu three‑fen plot!"

A young worker laughed, "But you can't leave your own fields empty, can you?"

Chen Dafu laughed, "My father is still able to work; I just let them plant whatever crops they like."

Another worker said, "Since I came here to work, my relatives and my wife's natal kin have been nagging me, saying I'm good‑for‑nothing, that I don't tend my own land properly and run off to work for others."

"Guess what? Now our master's reputation has spread; just the day before yesterday someone even begged me to let his son come work with me here."

Chen Dafu snorted, "Some people talk big without feeling the pain; their little plot can at most keep them fed in a good year, and in a bad year the whole family can only drink thin gruel, just enough not to starve."

While loading the wheat, they chatted animatedly.

Gu Xixi thought, once this batch of grain is in hand, after the outside situation settles completely, the subsequent payment from the Northwest Army will arrive.

It's also time to buy a few more mu of land and expand her business.

Thinking of the Northwest Army, that evening Gu Xixi told her family of her decision to set out.

Zhang Shen exclaimed, "Everyone says the outside isn't peaceful, yet you still want to run to the border."

Gu Xixi said, "The Northern Li people have been badly wounded; that place is actually quite safe now."

Looking back now.

At the time, when fighting the Northern Li, the Northwest Army went all out on the offensive precisely to cut off the Northern Li's vitality, leaving them unable to wage war for years.

When the internal contradictions of the Great Undertaking Dynasty are properly dealt with, there's no need to fear the Northern Li stabbing them in the back.

To ease Zhang Shen's worries, Gu Xixi said lightly, "Oats and alfalfa are harvested a few days later here; since I've promised them, I need to see the results myself at the critical moment."

"And I can't just leave the fruit trees on my hill untended."

Zhang Shen also knew that once Gu Xixi sets her mind on something, no one can stop her.

She hesitated for a long time, then sighed, "Go ahead; tonight I'll pack your bag."

Only Zhang Shen and Gu Xixi truly belong to Huachi Du Village in Gu Xixi's household.

Before this, Zhang Shen had never gone on patrol.

Originally, the two women depended on each other; having one person take on the patrol duty was already enough.

But now Gu Xixi is going far away, so leaving this shift empty wouldn't do.

So Zhang Shen volunteered, "You don't need to worry about your shift; I'll take over."

Gu Xixi thought, then nodded, "All right, I'll tell Uncle Qian tomorrow that I'll be back in at most seven or eight days; during this time let him look after things a bit, and try to arrange Auntie for the morning or evening shifts."

Zhang Shen, being older, isn't suited for staying up late, and in summer only these two periods aren't too hot.

Shitou stood up and said, "Sister Xixi, go ahead with your affairs; Grandma Zhang's patrol will have me accompanying her!"

He turned his head to the three‑color cat lying on the kang, scooped it up, and said, "And there's Little Flower!"

Gu Xixi smiled, "Good; then the household will rely on you, this manly fellow."

An Qinghe said, "Otherwise, I could delay a few days and take over Xixi's patrol, waiting for your return."

"No." Gu Xixi flatly rejected his suggestion.

"The road to Yunling County is already open; you decided to head back yesterday, so don't keep delaying."

An Qinghe grinned, "Those tea cakes in the backyard pharmacy haven't even sprouted golden flowers yet."

Gu Xixi rolled her eyes, "I told you, fermentation takes time — as short as two or three months, as long as half a year or a year; you can't just put down roots at my place."

"Don't think I don't know; the sapling merchants have sent several letters urging you."

"If you keep delaying, you'll lose your standing when you go back; then what will you have to trade with me?"

"Do you still want to get rich?"

An Qinghe pressed his lips, lowered his head obediently, and said nothing.

At that moment, Meng Dangni zi laughed, "We've all ended up together after returning to our own homes. These past two days I've thought the county seat is stable, so I and Qinger should head back as well."

Meng Dangni zi is a woman of mature thinking and strong opinions.

She made the decision, and Gu Xixi only supported.

Alright, tomorrow I'll find a village cart to send you home.

Meng Dangni zi replied softly.

She again took Zhang Shen's hands, expressing her gratitude, and invited Zhang Shen to stay awhile at the Meng residence when free.

From the moment Gu Xixi announced her itinerary, He Jinglan had been staring at her.

Finally, after everyone had spoken, He Jinglan saw her chance and began, "Xixi, I..."

"Are you also going home?" Gu Xixi said with a smile.

He Jinglan glared at her angrily, "You know I don't want to go back, and I can't for now. You're just deliberately silencing me!"

In the capital, amid the chaos of court and countryside, undercurrents still surged.

He Jinghui had already sent word through the Shadow Guards a few days earlier, letting He Jinglan stay at ease in the village.

Once everything settled, they would fetch her back.

Gu Xixi sighed in resignation, "All right, all right, I won't tease you anymore,"

"But, you're not even thinking of going to the border with me."

I had thought He Jinglan would continue to coax and plead for a while.

But she suddenly calmed down, "Oh, I understand."

Gu Xixi felt doubtful.

When did this person become so easy to talk to?

At dawn the next day, Zhang Shen prepared a hearty breakfast.

Gu Xixi personally saw An Qinghe and Meng Dangni zi off.