Chapter 251

Gu Xixi calmly lifted her eyes to look at everyone, smiling as she said, "Anyone who wants to learn can."

Lao Langzhong said, "When one succeeds, one should help the world; Xixi, since you have this idea, it's a good thing."

Zhang Shen also hoped the villagers would live well, but she didn't want to give an advantage to certain hateful people.

She thought for a moment and said, "What about those two surnamed Gu old geezers?"

"How did they trip you up over this? They even stirred up trouble, almost hurting you!"

"Anyone else can, but those two families absolutely cannot!"

Gu Xixi saw Zhang Shen frowning, not pleased, and teasingly said, "Besides the Gu Daye and Gu Erye families, have you forgotten to mention my third uncle's household?"

Zhang Shen startled, frowned, hesitated a moment, then reluctantly said, "Just forget about Gu Lao San."

"The daughter married far away and has never come back to see them; her son turned out like that, and karmic retribution has been enough."

"We don't need to be nice to him; you teach farming, and if they're willing to listen, let them go."

"Xixi, what do you think?"

Gu Xixi nodded with a smile, "I knew Auntie was the number one kind-hearted person."

Zhang Shen insisted on her principle: "I'm not kind-hearted to just anyone; I only see that Gu Lao San and his wife have become honest now—last time those two old men caused trouble, his family didn't get involved, so from now on we'll just keep our distance from them."

"But Gu Daye and Gu Erye keep jumping up and down, all because they're after your secret grain‑farming method."

"If they succeed, will there still be justice in the world?"

Gu Xixi is not the type to repay kindness with resentment; she naturally already had plans in mind.

She took a sip of porridge and said, "The Earth God's Temple is a place shared by all villagers; I have no right to stop anyone."

"Anyone who wants to listen tomorrow can, but…"

She paused, the corner of her mouth curling into a sly smile, "I can teach everyone how to grow millet; what I can say verbally is nothing more than sowing, applying medicine, fertilizing, watering, weeding, and so on."

"Timing, method, dosage—these can be taught, but there are also things that cannot be taught."

Shitou raised his hand, "I know!"

"Those are the various medicines and fertilizers used for crops."

"Isn't that fool Gu Erye just the one who suffered this big loss?"

Gu Xixi smiled, eyes narrowing in praise, "Truly smart, no wonder you're from a family of nursery growers."

Shitou puffed out his chest proudly, then coaxed, "Sister Xixi, you promised me—next year we must definitely use my family's fruit trees!"

Gu Xixi rubbed his head, "No problem."

Before spring arrived, Shitou had solemnly brought this up.

But at the time it exceeded Gu Xixi's budget, and with pressing time, etc., it couldn't be done.

Gu Xixi then told Shitou, "Definitely next year."

Shitou's nursery also couldn't be left unattended, so Gu Xixi had Meng Dangni zi make an introduction, finding an old man who used to tend fruit trees for wealthy households to look after it.

They agreed that the fruit produced in the orchard this year would be, and Gu Xixi would give five strings of cash as payment.

Meng Dangni zi also took care of this properly: she not only had someone register the nursery's fruit trees, but also let Shitou confirm it himself.

She irregularly sent stewards from Zhenbaoge to make surprise inspections of the nursery.

Little Shitou studied and played happily in Huachi Du Cun, unaware of how these adults, in private, were exerting effort to preserve his modest family property.

Turning back to the present, He Jinglan raised another concern: "Didn't Xixi say before that Gu Erye doesn't understand the method, and if he stole some fertilizer it would only backfire?"

"But now you're about to make the method public—wouldn't that still be granting his wish?"

Gu Xixi glanced at Shitou and said, "Shitou, you speak."

"Hehe..." Shitou gave a mischievous grin, "What use could the little amount he stole possibly have?"

"Furthermore, just hearing the method isn't enough to achieve the same effect. To fully follow Sister Xixi's method, there are several kinds of fertilizer, medicinal powder, and medicinal liquid involved, and the quantities are large."

"Growing anything is complicated; add it all up and it's nowhere near easy!"

He Jinglan frowned in thought, then suddenly understood.

"You want them all to come to you to buy things?"

"And as long as they want to grow more grain than others, they'll have to keep buying from you!"

Gu Xixi waved her hand, "Don't make me sound like a black-hearted profiteer."

"Besides the simplest farmyard manure and wood ash, even if I told them how to make the others, nobody could actually produce them."

He Jinglan clicked her tongue sourly, "Although I know what you're saying is all true."

"But there's always a feeling of being shown off by you."

Gu Xixi gave a bitter smile; she wasn't a chemical engineering specialist and really had no interest in this line of business.

So earlier, when An Qinghe was here, she had once mentioned it in passing.

A couple of days ago, An Qinghe wrote, saying he had already found a suitable place, bought all the tools and materials according to Xixi's list, and is now looking for a reliable artisan.

The location is not far from Huachi Du Cun.

All we need is for Xixi to have some free time to go over and give a few days of guidance, and the workshop can be up and running quickly.

He Jinglan gasped in shock, "You've given the money‑making business to An Qinghe again! That's unfair!"

Gu Xixi said somewhat amusedly, "What do you mean 'again'? This is actually the first one."

He Jinglan objected, "No, it's not the first; I know—when he last returned from Yunling County, he immediately wrote you a letter praising the benefits of the Pingguo fruit bags."

"People from their nursery business all say that although we haven't seen the final results yet, judging from now, pest damage and fruit disease have been greatly reduced, and even when a small hailstorm hit in summer, the fruit wasn't harmed."

"They also said that, according to your advice, the newly selected orchard in Shu region is looking quite good in growth."

"Isn't all this thanks to you helping An Qinghe? Aren't these benefits enough?"

Zhang Shen couldn't help but laugh, "You make it sound like you're unwilling, but everything I hear is praise for our Xixi—it's like you're showing off how capable she is."

She said to Lao Langzhong, "If Miss He hadn't spoken up today, we two wouldn't have known."

He Jinglan was exposed, her face flushed, "I wasn't just praising her—I got angry; she brought An Qinghe to play, not me!"

Gu Xixi chuckled, then said to the two elders, "An's side has only just begun; we're still awaiting results, and the process isn't a big deal—I didn't mention it specially."

She then coaxed He Jinglan, "This pesticide and fertilizer workshop is inevitably dirty—no place for Miss He, who excels at eating, drinking, and having fun."

"In the future, when we're making profits hand over fist, we'll mainly have to rely on you."

He Jinglan sat up straight, exchanged a smile with Gu Xixi, and said, "I think so too."

Because of the rain, the guest Gu Xixi was expecting arrived late.

After noon had passed, only then could someone be heard knocking on the door amid the rain.

"Excuse me, is there a female boss named Gu here?"

Hearing that the visitor was not a village acquaintance, Shitou and Little Flower darted to the side of the large kang, hands (paws) clutching the window screen to look out.

As Gu Xixi put on her shoes and got off the kang, He Jinglan already recognized that voice.

"The grain store's manager Liao?"