Chapter 244

Gu Xixi stopped the pestle, turned her gaze to He Jinglan.

Just as He Jinglan thought she would flatly deny it, Gu Xixi calmly said, "I will naturally worry about his safety."

He Jinglan was overjoyed, "Xixi……"

Then Gu Xixi said, "Now the advantage lies with the Northwest Army; if they suffer defeat due to malaria, causing the entire Northwest to fall, I would have no choice but to flee with my family……"

Possibly imagining the worst scene, she closed her eyes, shook her head, and sighed.

She couldn't go on, really couldn't go on.

He Jinglan involuntarily looked up at the ceiling, then after a moment of reverie said, "Hmm, if they lose because of malaria and ultimately fall to the Imperial Court, you might have to flee, and then it would be my turn……"

She suddenly slapped the table and stood up, "Extermination of the whole clan!!"

He Jinglan realized the gravity of the issue, pacing back and forth with a solemn expression, muttering to herself.

"Exactly, you're right to consider it; better safe than sorry. Since we could prevent it in advance, why not do it?"

"We should help them repel and kill mosquitoes! Nip this risk in the bud! It must be nipped!"

Gu Xixi opened her eyes, "Right?"

"Even if I've prepared to flee, I never actually wanted to go into exile."

"As an ordinary Northwest commoner, I naturally hope the Northwest Army advances like a bamboo splitter, wins every battle, soon captures the capital, and ends this war."

He Jinglan nodded, after a while she realized she seemed to have been led off track, furrowed her brow, and turned her head to look at Gu Xixi.

"Xixi, what I just said wasn't the big picture, you know that, right? So I deliberately brought this up with you!"

Gu Xixi blinked innocently, "Huh?"

He Jinglan sat down again, facing her, stared at her, and said, "I'm talking about one person, only that person, setting aside the big picture, have you ever worried about him?"

"Ah..." Gu Xixi tried to turn away, but He Jinglan pressed her hands on her shoulders and forced her back.

"Look into my eyes and tell the truth!"

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan locked eyes for a moment, and she helplessly said, "Yes."

"Last night after hearing Zhao Meipo's past, I indeed felt something."

"But only to the extent of thinking life is short and worldly affairs unpredictable, I don't want him to die so easily."

She wore a teasing expression, "Your feelings when you miss General Meng must be quite different, right?"

He Jinglan's face flushed, but she did not deny it.

She released Gu Xixi, turned and lay her forehead on the table, "I've been thinking a lot."

"It's been a long time since I've seen him; I don't know if he's been injured lately, I don't know what he's thinking."

"Afraid he'll risk everything for military merit, and afraid he'll forget the promises he made..."

"It's me who left him, and when I left I didn't even clearly promise to be with him; now I can't let go, and it's still me—how contradictory, how funny."

"If you want to laugh at me for being unambitious, go ahead, no need to hold it in."

Gu Xixi chuckled sighingly, not mocking, "What am I laughing at you for?"

"Can't the experience of Zhao Meipo's siblings make you see clearly?"

She paused, then said, "I can't judge how others choose me, but if I'm certain about a man whose heart is mutually pledged with mine, I will surely speak all my heartfelt words."

"To never be able to be frank with each other until death—wouldn't that be terribly wrong?"

He Jinglan straightened up, stared blankly at Gu Xixi, and after her thoughts twisted and turned a thousand times, she suddenly became enlightened.

"Xixi, I don't want to regret it someday."

"On the battlefield swords have no eyes; at least I hope he returns safely!"

Gu Xixi continued pounding the medicine, without lifting her eyelids, she said, "That time you went to the camp to deliver the wound medicine and say farewell, didn't you say you'd still be old friends afterwards?"

"Even if you haven't decided to marry him, it doesn't mean you'll never have any contact until you die of old age."

He Jinglan felt as if enlightened, instantly energized, "Then I'll write him a letter!"

Gu Xixi casually agreed, "Write!"

He Jinglan: "You can put it in this batch of medicine and send it over together."

Gu Xixi: "No problem."

He Jinglan, while happy, didn't forget the task, picked up the pestle again and continued grinding the medicine.

A dried trichosanthes fruit fell to the ground, and the little flower lying under the table suddenly woke up.

It let out a meow and darted out, its two front paws playing with this natural "little ball."

Gu Xixi had bent down to pick it up, but seeing the little flower happily playing, she smiled and left it alone.

While preparing the medicine, they were still lacking sachets.

Because she only considered efficacy, Gu Xixi didn't want to spend extra money on those fancy pouches.

She had Zhang Shen fetch the coarse cloth stored at home, pick the dark, inconspicuous pieces, cut them and sew them into bags of various sizes—large ones to hang on the curtain, small ones to wear personally.

With so much sewing work, needing two days to rush, Zhang Shen alone definitely couldn't finish it.

Just then Chen Dafu arrived in the afternoon, representing everyone to ask the landlord how to farm this season.

Gu Xixi already had a clear plan, so she finished it in just a few sentences.

They only needed to wait for the hired workers to finish preparing the fields in these two days, then make specific assignments and begin sowing.

Then Gu Xixi smiled and asked, "I still have a temporary job here; I want to find someone who can do sewing quickly and is careful and responsible."

After all this, Chen Dafu had already formed a rule in his mind:

"Working for Lord Gu brings profit!"

Chen Dafu immediately laughed, "That's easy—my wife and my mother are both skilled at needlework. Plus my little daughter, who's twelve this year, can simply sew a handkerchief and such."

Gu Xixi took out the coarse cloth and set it aside, along with a large and small cutting pattern.

"It's not complicated needlework—just sew some simple cloth bags; they don't need fine, beautiful stitches, as long as they're sturdy and wear-resistant, so the medicine powder won't leak or spill."

I'll supply the fabric, thread, and needles; the labor fee is one cash coin for every six small bags, and one cash coin for every four large bags.

Chen Dafu readily agreed, "If it's just that simple, not to mention my wife can do it; when I have free time in the evening, I'll also make a few."

Gu Xixi chuckled, "Uncle Chen, you're really good at everything."

Chen Dafu scratched his head sheepishly, "It's not... after following the boss and getting a taste of the sweet, I realized making money is truly addictive."

I never realized I'd be so money-hungry before.

Gu Xixi smiled, "A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it rightly; liking money isn't a sin."

I heard Uncle Chen's family is preparing to renovate the house in autumn; let me offer my congratulations early.

Chen Dafu gave a simple smile, "I've already ordered a kiln of blue bricks, intending to build two brick rooms."

So that my old mother can also live in a bright brick-tiled house in her lifetime.

Gu Xixi had Zhang Shen bundle all the coarse cloth and give it to Chen Dafu.

I'm pressed for time; I need them all finished within two days. Could you find a few more people?

Chen Dafu, as the leader of the hired workers, is indeed full of ideas.

That makes it easier; besides me, I'll also ask the other brothers you hired, and if their wives are willing to do it, it's more trustworthy among our own.

The rest, we'll pick trusted relatives from each family, and then have my wife and several brothers' wives each oversee them. The finished bags will first be inspected by hand.

Finally, we'll gather them and go over them again by hand, ensuring no one slacks off or takes advantage.