Chapter 224

Village Chief - line1

Only An Qinghe remained, clutching the horse reins, reluctant to leave, "Those tea cakes are the fruit of our joint effort; you must keep an eye on them often."

Qinger - line1

An Qinghe - line2

Gu Xixi - line3

Yunling County - line14

Pingbo fruit - line14

Nursery Merchant Firm - line16

Gu Xixi: "……An brother, if you don't leave soon, my schedule will also be delayed."

"Oh, right," An Qinghe, somewhat at a loss, lifted his head to glance at the sky, gave an awkward laugh, and said, "Well, well, I'm off. You… you be careful, go early and return early, don't delay on the road, be sure to take care of yourself…"

Dependents Village - line24

He Jinglan - line27

Gu Xixi looked at him, her gaze softening involuntarily, and she smiled, saying, "You've said everything you needed to say; if you can't think of anything else, don't force it."

"The pinpo fruit in Yunling County is estimated to have already borne fruit; the time to bag them is approaching. Without you personally overseeing it, I won't be at ease."

Gu Xixi's words indeed took effect, An Qinghe's spirits lifted, and he said, "Right, I almost forgot about this important matter."

After all, this involved Gu Xixi's cooperation contract with the Sapling Merchant House.

If the bagging's effectiveness truly matches what Gu Xixi said, not only will the outstanding debt for those saplings be cleared, but the Sapling Merchant House will also trust and rely on her even more from now on.

This thus lays the groundwork for possible long-term cooperation between the two parties.

An Qinghe delayed no further, nimbly mounted his horse, and solemnly said, "With me here, I will certainly guarantee that all the fruit trees are bagged exactly as you said, without the slightest deviation."

Gu Xixi watched An Qinghe ride away on his horse, then turned and walked toward her own mule cart.

The cart had been harnessed early in the morning.

Zhang Shen had already placed a large and a small bundle on the cart bed, and had also fed Lucky plenty of food and water.

Gu Xixi patted Lucky sympathetically, saying, "Just finished the summer harvest, and now I have to make you go on a long trip."

"When we reach Dependents Village, you can rest properly, and I'll make you something tasty every day."

Lucky seemed to understand, lifting its head and letting out a loud snort, pawing the ground with its forehooves, eager to set off.

Gu Xixi sat on the cart frame, glanced back at her home courtyard, and didn't intend to go inside to say goodbye.

Before breakfast, she saw He Jinglan still sound asleep, so she tiptoed out and hitched the mule cart outside the gate, also giving Zhang Shen a heads-up in advance.

So as not to have to go in and out again when departing, which would wake He Jinglan and force her to come along to the border.

In the dim morning light, Gu Xixi drove the mule cart toward the village entrance, thinking that she would definitely need to buy a horse later, as riding alone would be much faster than the current arrangement.

Just as she was thinking that, she heard a horse's whinny coming from ahead.

Horses are valuable, and no household in Flower Pool Ford keeps such a large livestock.

Gu Xixi thought she was overthinking and having auditory hallucinations; Lucky kept walking forward, going around the large locust tree that blocked the view, and Gu Xixi saw a familiar carriage.

The carriage's cabin was broad, almost completely blocking the narrow lane.

Gu Xixi's pupils constricted, and she hastily grabbed the reins, shouting, "He Jinglan!! Come out!!"

After a moment, a half-body silhouette protruded from the front of the carriage.

He Jinglan gave an embarrassed smile, "Xixi, come over quickly; I've prepared the carriage for us."

Gu Xixi glared at her angrily, "I was wondering why you agreed so readily yesterday; it turns out you had already prepared everything, sneaking through a side passage to block me here!"

He Jinglan collected her smile and spoke righteously, "Gu Xixi, I'm doing this for your safety."

"Just the other day we encountered bandits; what if we run into them again on the road?"

"You, a young lady, driving the cart exposed, are even more likely to attract bandits."

"So I have to accompany you to protect you."

That reasoning does have merit; He Jinglan has Shadow Guards accompanying her, and even the coachman is a trained martial artist.

He Jinglan glanced at the mule pulling the cart, furrowed her brows solemnly, and said, "And Lucky, it's even less safe than you."

"Bandits are ruthless; Lucky's sturdy build will surely be taken away, either to be worked to death as labor or slaughtered for meat—how pitiful."

Lucky was startled, uneasily shaking its head, its eyes watery.

He Jinglan said, "Xixi, look, Lucky is almost crying from fright."

Gu Xixi broke into a cold sweat, "Even if it's frightened to tears, that's still your fault!!"

After a standoff for a moment, Gu Xixi finally sighed helplessly.

"If you wanted to do something, you should have said so earlier; instead you put on this show and now I have to send Lucky and the cart back."

He Jinglan jumped down from the carriage, smiling narrowly, and waved her hand, "No need for all this trouble; I've already made arrangements."

She reached out and gave two pulls.

Only then did Gu Xixi notice that someone was hidden in front of the carriage.

"Shitou?"

"Why are you also coming to join the fun?"

Shitou hastily raised his hand to clarify, "Sister Xixi, I'm just here to help lead the mule cart back."

Gu Xixi turned her gaze to stare at He Jinglan.

He Jinglan put on an upright expression, "I certainly didn't coerce or entice him, Shitou, you agree, right?"

Shitou hurriedly nodded, grinning foolishly with clenched teeth, "Mm, mm, nothing at all!"

No coercion or enticement.

It was merely that the schoolteacher He Jinglan promised that, when she returns this time, she would return the confiscated slingshot to the student nicknamed Shitou.

Gu Xixi looked at the two and knew something was off, but now wasn't the time to investigate.

She handed the reins to Shitou, saying, "Walk slowly, don't pull hard on the reins; Lucky knows you and knows the way home; it will follow."

Shitou nodded, and Lucky obediently looked at him, showing no resistance.

Watching Shitou enter the village smoothly, Gu Xixi and He Jinglan then got into the carriage and set off.

The moon hung high as the carriage approached Dependents Village, discovering a checkpoint set up on the main road.

Fortunately, Gu Xixi had prepared in advance and produced the pass given by Huo Jiang.

The guard soldiers, upon seeing it, immediately moved the barrier, saying, "So it's Boss Gu, please come in quickly."

He Jinglan grew curious, lifted the carriage curtain, and asked, "How do you know it's Boss Gu?"

The soldier solemnly said, "Although the Grand General is at the front lines, he hasn't forgotten the major reclamation efforts back home, so he gave early instructions."

"The Grand General is certain that Boss Gu will come before and after the harvest; we have always been prepared, and upon seeing this pass we will receive you properly. Whatever Boss Gu requests, we will fulfill it."

Gu Xixi said, "Thank you for the trouble."

The people of Dependents Village should already be asleep by now.

Not wanting to disturb anyone, Gu Xixi had He Jinglan stop the carriage outside the village, and the two carried their bundles into the village.

The courtyard where they used to live was clean inside and out, showing that someone had been sweeping daily.

Even the kitchen held fresh vegetables and grain, and the water vat was filled with clear water.