Chapter 258: I Am Not a Sickly Seedling

Mu Nan Zhao fell silent for a moment, "What you say makes sense."

"It concerns the lives and fortunes of too many people; it's indeed not right to delay military affairs for my sake alone."

Gu Xixi nodded, showing an expectant smile. Mm-hmm! Exactly! The sooner you figure it out, the sooner you can go back!

Mu Nan Zhao lifted his eyes and even curled a smile, "So rest assured, I've reserved enough time; I will certainly return to the army as scheduled."

Gu Xixi's breath hitched, "You!"

Mu Nan Zhao, still not satisfied, deliberately twisted the meaning, "Thanks for your concern, Boss Gu; I know what I'm doing."

Gu Xixi flared up, "Forget it, do as you please."

She let out another harsh scoff, glancing at him, "You said you'd follow me for these two days?"

"But you deserted mid-campaign; do you dare let people know you're not in the army but instead showing up in this faraway Huachi Du Cun?"

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes turned slightly cold, yet the corner of his mouth still held a smile, "Threatening me?"

Gu Xixi said, "So you don't dare, then?"

She paused, then explained, "If you could show your face, there'd be no need for Shitou to pose openly while you lurk in the dark throwing pebbles."

Mu Nan Zhao raised his brows slightly; this time he didn't evade the question, answering frankly, "That's right—I've been concealing my movements all along, precisely because I don't want people to know."

"If someone with ill intent notices I'm here, it would be detrimental to the front's stability and the village's safety."

Gu Xixi exclaimed indignantly, "You clearly know all these disadvantages, yet you..."

Mu Nan Zhao gazed calmly, "Because I'm confident the chance of a leak is minuscule. Even if things go wrong, I have a backup to ensure safety."

Gu Xixi suddenly recalled what He Jinglan had said—Mu Nan Zhao always strives for meticulousness in his actions, he is very patient, like a spider carefully weaving a large web.

Once he truly finishes it, and deliberately lets prey rush in, that prey will find it hard to escape.

Gu Xixi realized that continuing to argue wouldn't change anything, so she relented, "Fine, I'm going to eat. It's just two days—do as you like."

"As for your claim that you'll follow me, I hope you can walk the talk."

"He can't go out without being seen; how could he follow me then?"

Gu Xixi left a mocking smile and walked away lightly.

That night, Mu Nan Zhao returned to the west room; the furnishings were unchanged, only the bed...

He absentmindedly picked up a few cat hairs between his fingers, his handsome face tightening, "Shitou, what is this?"

Shitou walked over holding the pillow Zhang Shen had just given him, "Cat hair—maybe it's summer; Xiao Hua has been shedding a lot lately."

The little fellow, knowing the master likes cleanliness, set down the pillow and bent over to pat the bed vigorously.

The oil lamp lit up, and the fine cat hairs floated in the air, dancing with the breeze.

Mu Nan Zhao felt a sudden dizzy spell and hastily lifted his sleeve to cover his mouth and nose.

"You let Xiao Hua sleep on my bed?"

It was precisely because he touched Xiao Hua in Shitou Village that he discovered his condition.

Only contact with a cat triggers it—his eyes turn red, his skin breaks out in hives, and it burns and itches unbearably.

Shitou matter-of-factly said, "This is already my bed; Xixi-jie said you're just staying temporarily this time, so bear with it and share the bed with me for now."

He hadn't finished speaking when Mu Nan Zhao started sneezing.

He sneezed repeatedly and fled...

Shitou took Xiao Hua to play in Gu Xixi's room.

Hearing his description of Mu Nan Zhao's allergic reaction, Gu Xixi and He Jinglan pounded the bed with laughter.

He Jinglan wiped tears from laughing, "He's never kept small animals before; he probably doesn't even know he has this defect himself."

Gu Xixi, having laughed enough, said, "But we should still keep it secret, lest on the battlefield someone throws a handful of cat hair at him and knocks him down."

The two burst into another round of laughter.

In the west room, Mu Nan Zhao sat at the table, faintly hearing the laughter from the courtyard.

Just now I saw Shitou dash off with Xiao Hua, his happy little steps clearly announcing to the whole family where they were going.

Mu Nan Zhao expressionlessly ground his back teeth.

It seems that since he left the village school, Master Liu's daily assignments are still too few.

Zhang Shen, while spreading the fresh bedding, worriedly said, "Xiao Mu, your constitution is too weak—you're constantly sick, and I've never heard of an allergy to cat fur before."

"Tomorrow I'll have Old Man Jiang prescribe a tonic to strengthen your body; if you don't take good care of yourself while you're young, in two years you may not be able to sustain yourself."

Mu Nan Zhao heard "weak constitution" and initially brushed it off with a smile.

But upon hearing the end, he almost coughed up his lungs.

Before leaving, Zhang Shen glanced at him, shook her head, and sighed, "Ah, how can we go on like this?"

Mu Nan Zhao covered his chest, coughing desperately, and lifted his gaze to watch Zhang Shen go out.

He had long since become capable!

He is not a weakling!

The next morning, Gu Xixi didn't go out; she stayed home preparing the speech she would give at the Land Temple that afternoon.

Mu Nan Zhao also stayed put, behaving as before, helping to chop wood and carry water.

He Jinglan pushed the door open and entered, "Xixi, I've already had people notify the local Gu Clan elders as you requested; they promised to pass it along, and anyone who can come this afternoon will surely do so."

Gu Xixi nodded, "Thank you."

"It's hot again today; I've made honeysuckle and honey date soup—have a bowl before heading to the village school."

This morning's first two periods are Master Liu's, so He Jinglan can go a bit later.

He Jinglan went out and saw Mu Nan Zhao in the midst of chopping firewood.

Last night, after the explanation was made clear, the whole family knew they were childhood friends, and Gu Xixi took responsibility for the concealment onto herself.

The two no longer needed to pretend they weren't acquainted.

He Jinglan walked over, looked at the firewood on the ground, and said, "How hard, are you hot? Are you thirsty?"

"Do you know Xixi boiled honeysuckle honey date soup? You don't know?"

He Jinglan smugly put her hands on her hips and sneered, "Xixi worries I'll get heatstroke, she let me drink a bowl of sweet soup before going to the village school."

"When have you ever had this treatment?"

Pa cha, another piece of wood split.

Mu Nan Zhao didn't lift his head, his cold face continued splitting wood, "Oh."

He Jinglan made a funny face, imitating his tone, "Oh."

She walked away like a butterfly, cheerfully saying, "I understand you, you're just jealous."

"But considering our long acquaintance, I'll help you ladle a bowl, just put it on the small table, remember to drink it later."

Pa cha! Pa cha! Pa cha pa cha! The sound of splitting wood became denser and louder.

Afternoon, Huachi Du Cun Tudimiao.

When Gu Xixi and others entered, the Tudimiao's large courtyard already had a crowd gathered.

Gu Clan relatives also arrived, following Gu Xixi's suggestion each household picks one person as representative to come, so as not to have too many people, causing chaos, unable to stand or hear.

Lao Qian was already waiting at the front.

Gu Xixi walked over, subconsciously first looked into the crowd.

Then she herself felt amused.

What nonsense am I thinking, here under everyone's eyes, how could Mu Nan Zhao possibly come here?

Just now when I went out I didn't see him, he must be sleeping inside.