Chapter 33: Driving My Little Donkey Cart

Mu Nan Zhao looked back, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking cold smile. "After all, I still need to trick her into recommending me to General Meng; for now, it's just the beginning."

Gu Xixi leaned on the windowsill, watching Mu Nan Zhao's silhouette pass through the courtyard moonlight and disappear into the shadows.

Gu Xixi closed the window, and the pearls of various sizes on her scarf shimmered under the lamplight.

She stared blankly at the pearls, yet had no mind to pick one out to offset her debt.

It turned out Mu Nan Zhao had been busy with this matter these past two days.

But he had no money before; how could he obtain these high-quality freshwater pearls?

Just now, watching his gait, it seemed somewhat different from usual.

Gu Xixi frowned, quickly wrapped the pearls up and put them in the drawer, then got up and opened the door to go out.

The west room was lit.

Gu Xixi tiptoed to under the window when she heard the old doctor's complaint: "What are you up to? Your wound is bleeding again! The light salt water I make every day isn't even enough for one person!"

With the rustling sound of the bandage being undone, the old doctor sighed.

"Fortunately it only split a little; otherwise you'd be waiting for another poison outbreak and another few days of drowsiness."

Gu Xixi secretly startled, the wound split open?

How exactly did he get those pearls? Could it be that he went robbery?

The old doctor also raised the same question: "You say, what exactly are you up to?"

"Tell me, even if you risk your life, you have something you must do; let me help you prolong your life."

"But you constantly act recklessly, and I have no confidence I can save you each time."

Immediately followed was the splashing sound of water being flushed.

Mu Nan Zhao said, "Why add salt to this water? No wonder it's different from before; it hurts to death."

The old doctor hummed twice: "What, don't want to hear me, changing the subject?"

"It's good that you know it hurts."

"Salt is good; it cools the blood, detoxifies, and prevents corruption. Bear with it; wash it clean and it'll be fine."

Mu Nan Zhao seemed to laugh: "Prevent corruption? No wonder cured ham doesn't spoil in midsummer."

While skillfully cleaning the wound, the old doctor said, "Come to think of it, you should thank Xixi."

"I actually tried many salt-wound-cleaning methods long ago; none worked, some even harmful."

"As a result, that girl told me ordinary salt is too impure; it needs to be refined to be usable."

"Furthermore, the ratio of salt powder to pure water matters, like a medicine's guide—too much or too little is useless; I never even considered this principle."

"Hey, why am I telling you this? You're not a doctor."

Then came the sound of opening the medicine chest and rummaging for medicine bottles.

After a while, Mu Nan Zhao said, "She indeed has some abilities hard to comprehend."

"Without relying on anyone, she can also live very well."

The old doctor chuckled, "Are you trying to say that even if your prospective husband dies, it wouldn't matter to her?"

Mu Nan Zhao's voice carried a self-mocking laugh, "Not just that it's irrelevant."

Suddenly, he lifted his eyes and glanced at the window.

"By that time, she should feel quite happy, right?"

"Nonsense!" The old doctor shook his head, "That's going too far; my disciple is kind-hearted."

"Regardless of whether you two end up together, she could never wish for you to die."

The indoor conversation ceased; Gu Xixi stood against the wall for a moment, then silently returned to her own room.

The next morning, as Mu Nan Zhao just stepped out of his room, he heard a donkey's bray.

He followed the sound and looked.

The family's flatbed cart was parked outside the gate, with a black-haired donkey harnessed in front.

Gu Xixi sat upright at the front of the cart frame, both hands pulling the reins, turning her head to look at him.

"I went early to Lao Qian's house and borrowed a donkey; later I'll drive the cart, you just sit steady."

Having eaten and drunk our fill, we set out.

As the donkey cart passed the village entrance, the driver switched from Gu Xixi to Mu Nan Zhao.

Gu Xixi sat on the cart bed, embarrassed, saying, "We had agreed I would drive."

"Otherwise, on the way back I'll still drive; you can rest a bit."

Mu Nan Zhao looked ahead, handling the reins with ease.

"No need to trouble yourself."

"I don't want to overturn midway, or walk until dark and still not reach the destination."

Gu Xixi: "……"

She used to be the trusted veteran driver among the research institute colleagues, daring to drive on mountains and mountain roads.

Who knew driving a donkey cart and driving a car were completely different experiences.

From the gate outside to the village entrance, a short stretch, she successively experienced near-collisions with trees, deviating from the route, and the donkey standing still refusing to move—various crises.

Finally, Mu Nan Zhao probably couldn't take it anymore, halted the donkey cart, and with a cold face told Gu Xixi to move aside.

Qing Tian County.

After the two entered the city, they first found a place to park the donkey cart, then changed into decent clothes as before.

Then they walked toward East Main Street.

At the entrance of East Main Street stood a notice board of the government office.

A new notice had just been posted, and a crowd of common folk gathered around to watch.

Gu Xixi, as she passed by, glanced curiously twice and discovered it was a wanted poster for bandits.

The notice roughly said that a certain wealthy merchant had been robbed the night before, losing some gold, silver, and jewelry.

Beside it was also attached a black-clad, masked portrait.

Mu Nan Zhao received Gu Xixi's meaningful gaze, and a layer of chill spread across his handsome face.

"Waylaying and robbing a small shop in a county town."

"This kind of simple-minded, brawny act—do you think I did it?"

Gu Xixi decisively shook her head, solemnly denying, "How could that be."

"It's impossible that you did it."

At Zhenbaoge, Meng Dangni zi had already sent an attendant to wait outside.

Upon arrival, Mu Nan Zhao and Gu Xixi were ushered up to an elegant room on the second floor.

After exchanging pleasantries and drinking tea, Gu Xixi took out a handkerchief-wrapped bundle and opened it.

They were indeed freshwater pearls, white, pink, and purple.

What's rare is that they have few blemishes, are round and smooth, and have excellent luster.

After Meng Dangni zi examined them carefully, she was very pleased.

She immediately decided to buy all the pearls.

She intended long-term cooperation, and thus formally invited Mu Nan Zhao and Gu Xixi to a banquet at the Meng residence seven days later.

Meng Dangni zi said, "My younger brother is too busy to come home often."

"When the time comes, we'll have everyone gathered and have a good lively time."

She said this, then summoned someone to bring Xiao Qinger over.

After a while, a maidservant came running in, flustered, "Madam, the young master is missing!"

Meng Dangni zi sprang to her feet angrily, "Didn't I tell you to watch them carefully!"

"It's only been a few days, and you lose them again!"

Gu Xixi glanced at Mu Nan Zhao, stood up, and said, "Meng elder sister, don't blame them first—finding Xiao Qinger is urgent."

Meng Dangni zi gratefully glanced at Gu Xixi, "You're right—I'm really flustered with anger."

She glared at the maidservant, "How did Xiao Qinger disappear, and where was she lost?"

The maidservant lowered her head and said, "We didn't dare take the young master outside; we were just playing in the Houyuan."

"I saw the Houyuan gate locked, so I went to get the young master a drink; in the time it took to turn around, she was gone!"

Meng Dangni zi was both angry and anxious, "What about the Qianting? With so many people guarding, how did no one see Xiao Qinger?"

The maidservant replied with difficulty, "We asked in the Qianting; the young master didn't leave from the front."