Chapter 24: She abandoned her man and ran away

As for why Gu Xixi looks down on Chen Fang, that's also the subject of much gossip.

The most outrageous and malicious rumor is that he's good-looking but useless, a silver-plated spearhead.

Gu Qingye plucked up courage, raised her head to look at him, and said earnestly, "Chen Brother, I don't listen to or believe any of the bad things they say about you."

"I've seen with my own eyes that you are a true man."

Everything Gu Qingye said was sincere.

In her mind, Mu Nan Zhao is that handsome, tall, and extraordinarily heroic.

Especially when facing the gaze of those village girls, his aloof, contemptuous demeanor seems innate, completely natural, without any pretense.

Gu Qingye has been surrounded by village boys since she was young.

Occasionally someone will put on an act of indifference toward her, but she can see through it at a glance—it's just a ploy to attract her attention.

Her family also has a hot-tempered, useless father and a foolish, vulgar brother.

Mu Nan Zhao is different from any man she has ever seen.

At first sight, her eyes lit up, drawn to his appearance.

As she watched him kill that ox, her heart involuntarily shuddered for a moment.

Later, in that part of her memory, Mu Nan Zhao was like a handsome heavenly general of war, descending upon her in times of peril, saving her and carrying away her heart.

Gu Qingye gazed at Mu Nan Zhao with eyes full of admiration.

Mu Nan Zhao, however, stared elsewhere, frowning silently.

Rumors are fiercer than tigers; he could guess how nasty the outside gossip was without even asking.

Although he never cared what ants thought.

But letting a swarm of ants run wild, treating him as petty village gossip.

In the end, it's not particularly pleasant.

Speaking of which... how long has it been? Why hasn't Gu Xixi returned from the kitchen?!

Gu Qingye observed Mu Nan Zhao's expression, thinking he too was dissatisfied with Gu Xixi at the moment, and said with a smile:

"Sister Xixi loves handsome men the most—how could she possibly look down on Chen Brother?"

"But her behavior in front of outsiders inevitably makes people think Chen Brother is at fault."

"She never explains either; frankly, I feel indignant on your behalf."

Mu Nan Zhao suddenly stood up, startling Gu Qingye.

She was about to ask what was wrong, but that man didn't even glance at her before striding out.

Mu Nan Zhao flung open the kitchen curtain, shouting, "Gu Xixi!"

Aunt Zhang sat on a small stool, sipping soup, "Little Chen?"

She stood up, went to the cupboard to fetch a bowl for soup, and said, "Gu Xixi had just eaten here and then left."

"Today's leek-filled pancakes and the cooled bean soup are ready-to-eat meals available anytime."

"I heard you weren't hungry just now, so I didn't rush to bring you food."

Mu Nan Zhao said coolly, "She said I'm not hungry?"

"Yes." Aunt Zhang turned and shoved the soup bowl at him, "The pancakes are covered in the basket—take as much as you like."

"You need to eat more to strengthen your body."

At this point, Mu Nan Zhao was already full of anger.

Yet he still gulped down soup and devoured large pieces of pancake under Aunt Zhang's affectionate gaze.

Gu Qingye waited in the main hall for someone, but finding no one, she went outside the kitchen.

"Chen Brother? Sister Xixi? Are you in there?"

Recently, because of Gu Lao San and his wife and Gu Tiezhu, Aunt Zhang's impression of Gu Qingye has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

She muttered unhappily, "Running off to eat at others' houses, sitting there with a heavy butt and still not leaving—her parents really don't know how to raise a child!"

Saying that, she lifted the curtain and went out, still managing to squeeze out a smile.

"Your sister Xixi has gone out; Chen Fang is eating."

"Or why don't you come in and have a couple bites?"

Gu Qingye wasn't so oblivious as to reach that point.

She peered inside the door, but didn't see Mu Nan Zhao, and couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.

"I won't eat; if there's leftover food at home, my mother will scold someone."

Gu Qingye went home.

Aunt Zhang turned and went inside, muttering to herself, "I don't even know why she came today."

Mu Nan Zhao bit into a large piece of pancake with a blank expression, "You'll have to ask Gu Xixi about that."

Aunt Zhang wondered, what does this have to do with Xixi?

In the evening, Gu Xixi returned home, with a tail following behind her.

Lao Qian waddled over, grinning eagerly, almost ready to personally support Gu Xixi as she walked.

"My dear niece, the fire incident was settled properly—thanks to you."

Gu Xixi said, "Uncle Qian, rest assured, I've already spoken with those several uncles, aunts, and madams."

"The straw ash has fully decomposed, no problem; transitioning this season won't delay planting winter wheat, and after the spring rains, the fertility will only be stronger than before."

Lao Qian nodded repeatedly, "I know this, I know."

"Everyone's praising you, saying they don't know how to thank you enough!"

From Lao Qian's grateful mutterings, Mu Nan Zhao finally learned what Gu Xixi has been busy with lately.

Every day, besides tending her own fields, she also casually improved the fields of others that had been burned.

Burned ash and charred remains lay thickly on the ground, and the topsoil of the fields was also scorched dry and hard, turning black.

Her prepared potion helps the ash blend with the soil, speeds up decomposition, and at the same time regulates the overall pH.

Just pour the diluted potion over the ash, then turn and mix it with the soil.

Initially they chose crops suitable for planting in wood ash; besides the pumpkins and leeks that every local household had, Gu Xixi also forced Lao Qian to think of a way, and they brought back some free water spinach seedlings from elsewhere.

Half a month later, the planted pumpkins and leeks sprouted up rapidly; the water spinach grew so fast it was ready to eat in no time, growing so abundantly they couldn't eat it all, and today two households took it to town to sell, earning a little money.

The land was not left idle because of the fire; instead, the household gained extra income.

Those several afflicted households, who were initially doubtful about Gu Xixi's method, are now overjoyed.

They were busy planting vegetables to make money, and couldn't be bothered to keep wrangling with Gu Lao San's family; in the afternoon they went one after another to the Village Chief to lodge complaints.

Gu Xixi nodded, indicating she knew all about it.

Seeing Lao Qian still lingering and unwilling to leave, she had to ask, 'Uncle Qian, is there anything else?'

Lao Qian's smile was half guilty, half appeasing, as he said, 'Everyone else has already withdrawn.'

'Only Gu Daye's family remains.'

'You say those two families have never reconciled, and Gu Daye's family also has many young, hot-blooded members; if this grudge drags on, what will we do if one day it blows up into a major incident?'

Gu Xixi frowned, 'I only promised you to resolve the land issue; I never promised anything else.'

Lao Qian gave an embarrassed laugh and quickly said, 'Don't worry, I'll have someone deliver the flatbed truck I promised you shortly.'

'But as for Gu Daye's matter, what do you think…?'

Gu Xixi calmly said, 'I can't handle that.'

Back then, the few households that were burned had just finished harvesting their wheat.

Only Gu Daye's family, which specialized in vegetable farming, suffered some losses.

Gu Lao San stubbornly refused to compensate, even calculating what Gu Daye's family had previously taken from his.

So, just a moment ago, Gu Daye ran over to Lao Qian again to demand an explanation.

He threatened that if it wasn't resolved, he would smash Gu Lao San's home.