Chapter 233: It's truly pitiful that the man ran away

Zhang Shen, Shitou, and Lao Langzhong saw the two return early, and were naturally very happy.

In early summer night, a mountain breeze would sometimes blow outside, making it much cooler than inside the house.

Zhang Shen then set the dining table in the middle of the courtyard.

On the table were two plates of pickles, one made from purslane and the other from wolfberry shoots.

The former was sour, sweet, and crisp; the latter was mashed and mixed with various spices, fragrant and spicy yet still fresh.

He Jinglan tasted it and couldn't stop praising, "Auntie's skills keep getting better; these little dishes are practically tastier than meat!"

Zhang Shen laughed, "I didn't make them; the young lady from the Zhou family sent them this afternoon."

"Her business is booming now; I heard that when people go to the city and pass her pickle stall, there are always crowds lining up to buy."

"Lately, we often hear people in the village calling her the 'pickle beauty'."

Gu Xixi also laughed, "When business is good, one naturally has the motivation to study how to make it even better."

"These two kinds of pickles are fine; they're made from wild vegetables from our back mountain, which saves costs and, moreover, mountain wild vegetables are a rarity for city folk."

She said this while glancing at He Jinglan teasingly, "Just look at this person's reaction and you'll know."

He Jinglan lifted his head, "Alright, I'm just a city dweller lacking experience; you all are used to mountain vegetables, but I treat them as treasures."

Everyone laughed.

When the meal was almost finished, Zhang Shen glanced at the west room and sighed, "Little Chen won't really not come back, will he?"

"He won't come back." Gu Xixi said while drinking her mung bean cool porridge, without raising her head:

"Starting tomorrow, if anyone asks, Auntie doesn't need to hide it anymore; just say he ran away."

The other four were all startled.

He Jinglan choked and started coughing.

Zhang Shen, incredulous, asked again, "Straight up? He ran away?"

Gu Xixi sat up straight, looking at everyone, "Mm, that's what I'll say."

"Anyway, it's already a fact; rather than let others guess and rumors spread, it's better to be frank and have peace of mind."

Upon hearing this, several people could no longer help but believe it.

Shitou felt somewhat dejected, "Mr. Chen just left like that? He said he would properly teach us to study. How could he go back on his word?"

Although Zhang Shen was also a bit sad, she steadied herself, smiled, and comforted Shitou, "Silly child, Mr. Chen isn't the one who brought Master Liu to teach you? You still need to study hard."

Lao Langzhong, meanwhile, had a solemn expression and remained silent.

Although Mu Nan Zhao had not revealed his true identity to Lao Langzhong before leaving,

but from the moment Lao Langzhong agreed to prepare that batch of medicine for Mu Nan Zhao, he had already suspected something.

This person's identity is not simple, and the things he has to do are even less simple.

When Zhang Shen and Shitou took the bowls and plates to the kitchen to wash, Gu Xixi proactively asked Lao Langzhong:

"Master, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Lao Langzhong said solemnly, "That brat ran off without a greeting; he really let you down."

"You not wanting him, cutting ties with him in front of the villagers, is entirely appropriate; I, as your master, support you."

Gu Xixi laughed, "Then what else do you have to worry about?"

Lao Langzhong pondered, "But after all, he is still an exile convict; if news of his fleeing the marriage reaches the government office, he will surely be wanted, and if caught again he will face a heavier sentence."

"In this lifetime, he will have no chance to regain his freedom."

"These consequences… Xixi, you really need to think them through."

Lao Langzhong's thoughts are very considerate.

Xiao Chen is not a bad person, and moreover has no grave wrongdoing that is hard to pardon.

We've lived together for so long, and we've shared hardships; perhaps there's no need to drive him to a dead end.

He Jinglan finally stopped coughing, patting his chest and said, "Old Jiang is indeed kind-hearted."

"However, that person is doing quite well now; you shouldn't worry about him."

Gu Xixi said, "So the master was worried about this."

She pondered for a moment, then said, "I can only guarantee you that if news of his fleeing the marriage spreads, the present Qing Tian County Office will definitely not go after him."

"As for the future… even if he ends up imprisoned again, it won't be because he fled the marriage here."

Lao Langzhong was initially a bit puzzled, he furrowed his brows and thought for a while, as if realizing something, and slightly nodded his head.

"The matter between you and him will ultimately be decided by you naturally."

"In Lao Langzhong's view, his disciple has a sound character; in this regard he need not worry."

"Since the disciple has said this, just follow her wishes and do as she pleases."

Early the next morning, the whole family sprang into action, loading the threshed wheat onto the cart.

In total, twenty large bags, each fifty catties.

Zhang Shen said, "Otherwise I'll go along too, to lend a hand when moving things."

Gu Xixi replied, "No need; the grain store's helpers will assist with unloading. If you come along, not only will you tire yourself, but Lai Fu will also have to carry an extra person's load."

Zhang Shen felt sorry for the livestock's hardship, glanced at Lai Fu, and then let the matter rest.

"Then I'll stay home waiting; you all go quickly and return quickly."

Gu Xixi had said yesterday she would go in and out together with He Jinglan, so He Jinglan naturally took a seat on the cart bed in advance.

The time they entered the county town gate was about the same as usual.

Gu Xixi directly drove the cart to the Liao family grain store where she had previously sold millet.

Shopkeeper Liao had a deep impression of Gu Xixi; seeing her enter, he quickly rose from behind the counter.

"Oh dear, Boss Gu has come; it's still early for collecting millet—why have you come now?"

Gu Xixi glanced around the main hall and found that grain prices showed no noticeable fluctuation compared to before the war.

She simply said, "The newly harvested wheat of this season is dry enough; shall we take it?"

Shopkeeper Liao's eyes flashed, "Want!"

Gu Xixi said, "The goods are outside; let's inspect them first."

Shopkeeper Liao personally opened a small opening in the sack, reached in and grabbed a handful of wheat grains.

He spread the grains on his palm, examined them in the daylight, then brought them close to his nose and smelled them.

Finally he rubbed the grains between his palms a few times, and a hidden joy flickered in his eyes.

"This wheat, no matter how good, surely can't be priced as high as millet."

"Gu Xixi, look..."

Gu Xixi said, "Nowadays the purchase price for wheat is..."

Shopkeeper Liao blinked, "Is it really that simple?"

He truly saw that this wheat was absolutely top-grade: the grains were large and plump, low moisture, proper density, and when ground into flour it would surely yield a high flour rate.

Such a shrewd person as Gu Xixi actually didn't seize the chance to raise the price?

Seeing Shopkeeper Liao still dazed, He Jinglan deliberately teased, "If you don't want to buy, we'll go elsewhere."

Shopkeeper Liao instantly snapped to, "No, no, I'll take it—however much you have, I'll take all!"

He licked his face smiling, "I wonder if Gu Xixi still has any stock left?"

Gu Xixi said, "Let's sell these first; we'll talk about the rest later."

"However, I don't want copper cash; I want silver."

Wheat differs from millet in that its yield is greater.

Thus Gu Xixi does not hope to profit by raising the price per jin of wheat; winning by quantity alone is enough for her to earn.

Leaving Liao's Shop, she felt light and at ease.

The market streets remained bustling, except for the added presence of city guards on patrol.

He Jinglan said, "Market prices are stable, and there's no sign of people panic‑buying grain; surely someone is secretly keeping prices down."