Chapter 268: Return to Peace

During this time, various local government offices arrested many bandits who took the opportunity to cause trouble.

The ringleaders were all publicly executed, while the rest were to be flogged or caned in the main street, aiming to kill one to warn a hundred.

This indeed worked; lately there have been no reports of any nearby village being raided, not even news of petty theft.

Huachi Du Cun village then disbanded the villagers' patrol team, restoring the previous peaceful days.

Gu Xixi's family was also peaceful.

First, since Mu Nan Zhao left, no assassins have appeared.

He Jinglan's dark guards searched the surroundings thoroughly and also inspected the official road near the village entrance, finding nothing unusual.

Probably because they launched an all-out attack last time, the enemy currently has no one available in the short term.

Second, everyone in the village knew Chen Fang would surely return; the news spread, and both villagers and outsiders alike abandoned the idea of proposing marriage.

After all, Mr. Chen is talented and handsome, and there's already an earlier engagement; sensible people know that proposing again would be a wasted trip.

In the afternoon, Zhang Shen went to find the women of the same village to chat and do needlework.

Shitou took Little Flower to go play with Puppy.

Only Gu Xixi and He Jinglan, the two sisters, were in the main hall.

Tree shadows swayed lightly on the window paper, and the sound of cicadas could be heard.

He Jinglan leaned against the window and read a book.

The newly released storybook, she had her dark guards buy it from the city.

Unfortunately, this new story isn't interesting; it's just the usual talented scholar and beauty, unfaithful man, lost soul, and other old clichés.

He Jinglan couldn't help but yawn, saying, "I feel like it's been a long time since I've been this tranquil."

"It's mainly because the mind is calm; a calm person (another yawn)… gets sleepy."

Gu Xixi was busy with the newly separated seeds, soaking each in different sprouting-promoting liquids.

She kept an eye on the seedling tray on the table while smiling, "Really? Usually at this time, the house is also quite quiet."

He Jinglan said, "That's different; those worries in front of us are gone, and my heart feels relaxed."

Gu Xixi smiled pursing her lips, "That's also true."

He Jinglan asked, "How's things over at An Qinghe's side? He should be arriving soon."

Gu Xixi hummed in acknowledgment, "He hasn't sent word through his assistant anymore, which shows the progress is smooth."

"It should just be a matter of these next one or two days."

The millet planted by every household has sprouted, and the first batch of fertilizer and pesticide should now be applied.

He Jinglan, bored, crawled over to look at what Gu Xixi had laid out on the table.

"Tomorrow is your Gu Clan's clan meeting, right?"

"I want to go along and see how imposing you'll be as the person in charge."

Gu Xixi chuckled, "Miss He, you've lived in the capital; not to mention officials of rank, you've seen plenty of imperial consorts. I'm just a minor clan steward—what authority is there to behold?"

He Jinglan coquettishly said, "I don't care; I just want to go! The Village Chief and Qian Shen are both invited, so you only need to bring me along—no one will say anything."

Gu Xixi thought, "Taking you along wouldn't be a problem, but…"

She looked at He Jinglan and reminded, "Tomorrow isn't the village school's day off; if you come with me to the clan meeting, is that okay?"

He Jinglan stared blankly, rolled on the kang, and lamented dejectedly, "I forgot I still have an unavoidable duty!"

Master Liu still hasn't come back!!

Master Liu went with Mu Nan Zhao and has not returned to this day.

All the lessons at the village school have fallen onto He Jinglan's shoulders.

Although He Jinglan likes teaching and enjoys interacting with the children,

but her workload has suddenly increased by half, letting this young lady taste for the first time the hardship of the laboring class.

Gu Xixi, upon hearing Master Liu's name, couldn't help but space out.

Thinking about whether Mu Nan Zhao will arrive on schedule and whether he's safe,

He Jinglan, having vented enough, sat up with a spring.

She noticed that the seeds on the table seemed to be the three kinds Mu Nan Zhao had given, and she couldn't help but wonder:

"You didn't say these are all good things to eat in summer, did you?"

"We're already in midsummer; planting now would be too late, wouldn't it?"

Having lived here a long time, through constant exposure, He Jinglan also knows what the farming season entails.

Gu Xixi's hands kept working as she said, "Ordinary outdoor planting is indeed too late; even if we barely manage to bear fruit before the cold, it won't taste good."

"So I plan to build an experimental greenhouse inside the manor."

Another unfamiliar term appeared; He Jinglan read it once, "Experimental greenhouse?"

Gu Xixi pondered briefly, then rephrased, "It's just a warm greenhouse."

He Jinglan suddenly understood, "I know about that."

Imperial life is refined and luxurious; in winter, especially during the festive period, they also admire flowers and eat fresh vegetables and fruits.

Besides cellar storage and tribute brought by swift horses from the south, another way to obtain them is through warm greenhouses.

To build the shed, cover it with three layers of white plain gauze and one layer of transparent oiled paper for warmth.

The outermost oiled paper must also be evenly brushed with a layer of animal fat to achieve both light transmission and waterproofing.

Then introduce natural hot spring water, so the interior stays warm in autumn and winter.

Since constructing a warm greenhouse requires adaptation to local conditions, is costly, and also needs dedicated caretakers.

Such enjoyment can only supply the imperial household and a small number of nobles.

He Jinglan wondered aloud, "Are there hot springs near the manor?"

Gu Xixi said, "As far as I can see, there isn't any, so you see I only took out this bit of seed."

"First we'll set up a small shed, just to try it out."

"The shed is small; when it gets cold, we'll put a few charcoal stoves in, keeping a low fire to burn slowly."

"At most one and a half months, and these fruits will be ready to eat."

He Jinglan clicked her tongue, "Using charcoal to warm melons and fruits—you really are willing to spend a fortune."

Gu Xixi laughed, "Now you finally know how expensive daily necessities are."

The next morning, Lao Qian drove his own donkey cart to pick up Gu Xixi.

Madame Qian sat on the cart bed, smiling as she reached out to pull Gu Xixi up.

"I heard your Gu Clan has a flowing-water banquet, with a chef specially hired from the city."

"I haven't made breakfast today, and your uncle even complains that I'm starving him."

Lao Qian chimed in from the front, "I still don't know your little petty thoughts?"

"You're just thinking about going over there to eat more."

Madame Qian disagreed, "What's the big deal? They invited us, so if I want to eat, I'll do it openly."

"You'd say that's right, Xixi?"

Gu Xixi gave a light laugh, "What the aunt says is correct."

"Last time, because of me, those Gu Clan people came to the village and gave your uncle a lot of trouble."

"This is just their good intentions."

The banquet site is not far to the south; it's called Sweetwater Village.

Northwesterners regard water sources as treasures, and this village got its name from a single sweetwater well.

Many members of the local Gu Clan live in this village.

Although the Gu Clan has never produced any prominent figures, to this day they still don't even have an ancestral hall.

But the local Gu relatives still strive to unite as one.

If something really happens, it's good for us to have each other to rely on.

Every year's clan gathering after the summer harvest is an important meeting to strengthen bonds.

Today's banquet borrowed Sweetwater Village's grain-drying ground; from afar one could see many tables and benches set up.

Many people were bustling back and forth.

Before Lao Qian's donkey cart had even come to a stop, people enthusiastically gathered around.

Among them was a handsome young man dressed as a scholar, his demeanor clearly different from the crowd; Gu Xixi couldn't help but glance at him twice as she got off the cart.