Chapter 248

Gu Xixi likewise lay flat, completely sleepless, eyes staring upward.

Are you sure... Mr. He?

He Jinglan hesitated a moment, then said, "Never mind—it's not a day off yet; the children still have their morning lessons on schedule. How could I find an excuse to skip teaching?"

Gu Xixi smiled faintly, "Who was it that dumped the class on Master Liu and insisted on going to the border with me?"

He Jinglan said, "That was the past; things are different now."

"I've become resolute now; as a woman, I must have a career of my own."

Gu Xixi understood, "Because of Madame Zhao?"

He Jinglan sighed noncommittally.

After meeting Madame Zhao, she was indeed moved.

She said, "Madame Zhao has held fast to her original heart for years, never forgetting that person in her heart. If it were someone else, perhaps they would indulging in the past all their life would trap them in pain they cannot escape."

"On the contrary, she early on found her life's career; being a top matchmaker is no easy feat, right?"

Gu Xixi nodded on the pillow, "Whatever profession you want to excel in, you have to put in a lot."

He Jinglan continued, "The money she earns not only supports herself; look at her clothes and household furnishings—they are much more affluent than ordinary rural folk."

Gu Xixi said, "No matter who, having enough silver money clenched in one's hand is the most reassuring and gives the most confidence."

"If one doesn't marry or have children in this lifetime, one definitely needs to save a substantial nest egg for old age—the more, the better."

He Jinglan felt something off hearing that, turned to look at Gu Xixi.

"How come I hear you talking like that—it sounds less like you're talking about others and more like you're talking about yourself?"

Gu Xixi laughed, "Oh, not at all—if I get the chance, I still want to find a man I like."

At the same time, she silently thought in her heart: "If I can't find someone I like, then of course I'll just stay single and enjoy it!"

He Jinglan said, "After seeing you and Madame Zhao, I've made a firm decision!"

Gu Xixi was a bit curious, "What?"

He Jinglan chuckled triumphantly, "Once everything settles down, I'm going to get my dowry back from my brother—no, I mean, I'll strive to get it back—and go into business with you! I can't let An Qinghe snatch all the money-making opportunities."

"Of course, I've promised that if the chance arises, I'll serve as your bookkeeper and help you write—I can do that too."

Gu Xixi yawned, "Fine, if the chance comes, definitely."

He Jinglan grew even more excited, simply sprang up and listed, "You want to plant trees, make tea, and what other agricultural techniques—though I don't know those, I know food, drink, and fun!"

"I already have a few shopfronts; I can just take them back for my own use."

"You make the tea, and I'll open a tea shop in the capital, handling everything from tea leaf sales to tea drinking—a one-stop service."

"That sweet soup shop we talked about before—I must open it; those noble ladies in the capital have never tasted such good sweet soup. I'm confident I can break even within a month!"

"By then, you'll provide the recipe, I'll put up the money for the shopfront, and we'll split the profits four-six—how does that sound?"

"In two years, when your pomegranate bears fruit, we could also make a fruit drink—sure to be a big hit!"

……

Gu Xixi was a bit sleepy, but He Jinglan's commotion fully woke her.

"You've grown up in the capital's noble ladies' circle; these people love novel, delicate foods and are willing to spend money."

"That sounds indeed promising."

"Not just one shop; later we could open chain stores."

"'Chain?' He Jinglan frowned, then realized, 'You mean opening branch stores, right?'"

She laughed again, "You said you didn't want to hear the word 'lock' lately, yet you just said it yourself."

Gu Xixi calmly said, "I've already figured out how to solve that."

He Jinglan wondered, "You can pick locks?"

Gu Xixi closed her eyes and said, "You'll find out tomorrow—go to sleep."

The next noon, He Jinglan and Shitou returned from the village school and saw the long-sealed west house door open.

Shitou ran over in surprise, "Door! Sister Xixi, where's the door?"

Gu Xixi pointed; the two looked over and saw two door panels leaning against the west courtyard wall, with a gleaming copper lock conspicuously connecting them in the middle.

"The bathhouse is nearly finished today; I asked the two craftsmen to help me take that door down while they're at it."

"Uncle Qian happens to have an old door he doesn't need; he'll send it over shortly, and we can just install it and be done."

She smiled at Shitou, "You're growing up day by day; you can't keep living with Zhang Shen."

"This house still has a table, convenient for your studies; move in tonight."

Shitou cheered happily, "Great, I finally have my own room!"

At this moment he seemed to have completely forgotten that he'd said he'd help Mr. Chen guard the house.

He Jinglan examined the door and lock, feeling her thinking was still too narrow.

"So what should we do with this thing—just discard it?"

Gu Xixi said, "That copper lock is worth quite a bit; it'd be a shame to just throw it away—I've decided to give it away."

He Jinglan asked, "Give it to whom?"

Gu Xixi said, "Naturally, to Master Liu."

"The door and lock will be returned intact to Zhao; the loss of my two door panels naturally ought to be reimbursed by the person behind him."

Several days later, at the junction of Xi Bei and southeast, the continuous mountain range rose high into the clouds.

Inside the military tent, Mu Nan Zhao suddenly sneezed.

Meng Chengping glanced sideways, "They say that inexplicable summer sneezes mean someone is thinking of you."

Mu Nan Zhao said with a cold face, "It's just folk talk among women and children; General Meng, you actually believe it."

Meng Chengping had grown accustomed to Mu Nan Zhao's way of speaking.

He smiled and said, "The batch of medicine Boss Gu sent should be arriving soon, right?"

"The great general hasn't personally requested it, yet she's still quite attentive, voluntarily helping us make mosquito-repelling medicine."

"I think Boss Gu might be worried about your frail frame; you've only just recovered from a serious illness, and she fears you might catch the epidemic again and not be able to endure it."

Mu Nan Zhao gave a cold laugh, "If you're so bored, go help out at the provisions camp."

After the army's campaign and days of marching, it's rare to have today to set up camp and rest; we're also waiting for the medicine Gu Xixi is sending.

Meng Chengping, naturally at leisure, said, "I'm being sincere—I envy your good fortune; if it were me, I'd be miserable."

"My Jing Lan may have already forgotten me."

Mu Nan Zhao was already too lazy to roll his eyes; while reading, he only responded in silence.

At that moment, a soldier ran in to deliver the message, saying the escorted medicine had arrived.

"The great general said he couldn't leave for now; please, Mr. Mu and General Meng, personally sign for it."

In the open space at the front of the camp, a cart full of goods was parked.

The person delivering the goods first took out two envelopes.

"This envelope is from Boss Gu for the person in charge of receiving, and this one is for General Meng."

Meng Chengping laughed heartily, "How come there's one for me too?"

As he opened the envelope, he didn't forget to tease Mu Nan Zhao: "I said Boss Gu was thinking of you—look, it's here! Receiving the goods here must be you. I just don't know what he said to me..."

He glanced at the paper, his smile froze instantly, revealing an expression of disbelief.