Chapter 36: The Husband and Wife Put on a Show

The boss was stuffing buns and said, "You two came by earlier, right?"

"My buns are clean and delicious; if you come later, they might be gone."

Gu Xixi put down the money for the buns and asked the boss for Shitou's address.

She made up an excuse: "That kid forgot something earlier; I need to bring it to him."

Someone else bought buns; the boss, busy with business, didn't think much and said:

"Just keep going east; when you see the city wall, ask anyone about the Zhang family that grows fruit trees and you'll know."

Qing Tian County isn't large; walking east from East Main Street, you'll see the city gate after about a meal's time.

Gu Xixi asked for directions; the donkey cart entered the alley, turned two corners, and the view opened up.

Wooden planks were pieced together into a long fence; through its gaps, rows of trees could be seen inside.

One glance told her she'd found the right place.

The donkey cart crept forward and stopped right outside the wooden gate.

Gu Xixi jumped down with the buns, about to knock, but found the gate half-open.

From inside came Shitou's angry shout: "I said I'm not selling, not selling!"

"The trees left by my grandfather and father—you're not allowed to touch them!"

Voices of men and women hid their own calculations: "If you don't sell the trees, what will you eat or drink?"

"Yeah, the money from selling the trees—your aunt doesn't want it; it's all saved for your future livelihood."

"What can a little kid like you do to look after such a big nursery? Better to sell now while there are buyers than wait for the trees to die."

Mu Nan Zhao watched Gu Xixi with leisurely interest.

Shitou repeatedly insisted he would not sell the seedlings.

In other words, even if someone intervened today, this trouble would likely bring no benefit and would only offend the Zhang family's relatives for no reason.

Mu Nan Zhao now wondered whether Gu Xixi would enter this gate today or stay outside.

"Don't move! Let go!" Shitou's voice seemed to move back and forth, hoarse from shouting, mixed with sobs.

"Don't dig up the trees! I can protect them!"

Gu Xixi stood there silently, then suddenly lifted her foot.

With a bang, the gate was kicked open; the few noisy people inside the nursery all stopped in surprise and turned to look.

All that could be seen was a petite, young-faced girl bursting through the door.

She approached them with a stern face and fierce aura, striding forward, saying, "The owner said no!"

"Anyone who dares to move again, I'll immediately have someone call the authorities!"

Shitou's face was smeared with tears and snot; upon seeing Gu Xixi, he sniffled hard and said, "How did you come here?"

Gu Xixi stood beside him and said, "I happened to be passing by, so I lent a hand."

Shitou looked up at her, trying to squeeze out a smile; his mouth twitched, but he burst into tears instead.

He cried while accusing them.

The Zhang family's uncles and aunts had long been planning to sell all the fruit trees and seedlings.

Shitou had always refused, trying every means to cause trouble and oppose them.

Recently, it was clear that autumn was approaching; missing this chance to sell the seedlings would mean waiting until next spring.

These people couldn't wait any longer; today they actually brought buyers straight to dig up the trees.

Gu Xixi understood the situation, turned to those people, and said, "This is Shitou's home; everything in the nursery belongs to him."

"You not only trespassed on a private residence, but you also wanted to rob?"

Several relatives looked at Gu Xixi as merely a little girl, not taking her seriously at all.

"Who are you? This is our family's affair; what right do you have to speak?"

"Exactly! Shitou is my cousin's son; he's an orphan, so naturally we elders should decide everything for him. You—get lost!"

Gu Xixi's gaze instantly turned dark.

"\"Husband! \" she called out sweetly toward the outside of the gate. \"Hus~band! \""

Mu Nan Zhao felt his scalp go numb upon hearing that.

"Is this woman calling him?"

Then he heard Gu Xixi impatiently whine, "Husband, why aren't you coming in yet?"

"Your wife is being bullied by them, and you're not even hurrying to manage it!"

The Zhang relatives craned their necks to look, wondering if there were reinforcements outside.

The maternal uncle snorted loudly, "Huh, you don't dare come in, do you? A shrinking turtle, all of you respectable people—I advise you to mind your own business and scram!"

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes turned cold, his thin lips curling into a sneer, "A shrinking turtle, huh……"

Amidst everyone's gaze, a remarkably handsome man with a terrifyingly pale complexion strode quickly inside.

He picked up a hoe from the ground, gripped the wooden handle with one hand, and gave it a light squeeze.

All that was heard was a crisp snap.

He released his grip; the hoe clanged to the ground, already broken in two.

Shitou's eyes widened in shock as he opened his mouth.

Gu Xixi glanced smugly at the relatives and said, "Do you know who should get lost now?"

"Who among ordinary folk has ever seen such a scene?"

In the blink of an eye, the troublemakers had all left, leaving nothing behind.

Gu Xixi bowed gracefully to Mu Nan Zhao and said, "Thank you; this was a makeshift solution—I hope you'll understand."

She had long discovered that when faced with unreasonable people, a simple and brutal method works best.

Shitou's mouth, opened wide in surprise, hadn't had time to close.

He lifted his head, looked left and right, "What's a makeshift plan?"

Mu Nan Zhao looked at Gu Xixi's eyes, the corner of his mouth smiling faintly, "As husband, I obey my wife's orders; no thanks needed."

No way around it; in front of Shitou, their relationship is that of husband and wife.

Just go through the whole act.

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes glimmered, as if truly full of deep affection, "It's all my fault for coming late; those people have upset my wife—should I go and…?"

Gu Xixi jumped, "No need, no need, just let them know fear is enough."

Little Shitou innocently and excitedly asked, "Should we beat them all up?"

"I just saw your move just now, it's awesome!"

"Those few combined definitely can't beat you alone!"

His eyes sparkled with admiration for Mu Nan Zhao.

Mu Nan Zhao said calmly, "I never hit people."

Little Shitou believed him, "Oh!"

Gu Xixi silently thought, Indeed he doesn't hit people; he only kills and breaks hearts, making life worse than death.

Mu Nan Zhao seemed to sense Gu Xixi's thoughts, suddenly looking over.

Gu Xixi quickly changed the topic, "Little Shitou, you haven't eaten yet, right? We bought buns, let's eat together!"

Each had a paper-wrapped bun, so we wouldn't get our hands dirty.

Shitou knew hospitality well, specially boiling water to brew tea.

Orange‑red hot tea was poured into porcelain bowls, three bowls of tea, with a plate of pickled garlic chives in the middle.

Shitou said with a smile, "The tea was left by my father."

"The pickled garlic chives are my own making; the flavor might not match store‑bought."

Gu Xixi had already picked up a pickled garlic chive and eaten it.

"Mmm! Sweet and sour, crisp and tender, melting in the mouth."

She smiled at Mu Nan Zhao, "Try it too; paired with mutton buns, it's refreshing and cuts the greasiness."

Mu Nan Zhao tried as suggested, nodded, "The taste is good."

"How old are you to have such skill?"

"No way." Shitou took a big bite of the bun, speaking unclearly:

"I must stay alive to guard the trees my parents left behind."

"One has to eat to live; I didn't know how before, so I learned."