Chapter 37: From the moment I was born, I've seen it all

Mu Nan Zhao raised his eyes to look at Shitou, seemingly hiding complex emotions.

"What you couldn't do before, just learn."

Abandoning the Dao to use power is a principle even a child understands.

And though he has been in Huachi Du Cun for so long, he has never truly given up the Mu family's nobility, the esteem of a powerful minister.

Moreover, let alone blending into the village, blending into Gu Xixi's home.

Mu Nan Zhao drank the tea, and as he let out a long breath, his brow relaxed.

The estrangement had long been set up; no wonder Gu Xixi would say she fears someone like him.

Gu Xixi did not notice the change in Mu Nan Zhao's expression.

In chatting with Shitou, she learned that Shitou's formal name was Zhang Minglei, his nickname Shitou.

The Zhang Family Nursery now has only peach and pear trees.

Besides over two hundred saplings, the most precious are twenty mother trees.

So-called mother trees are the high-quality parent stock used to propagate saplings.

Basically, they have been passed down from the generation of Shitou's grandfather.

Shitou, biting into a bun, said, "Aside from that, those mother trees are aged; my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father poured how much effort into finding the seed, selecting and cultivating— even the shortest took fifty years."

Gu Xixi, already in this line of work, knows well how long it takes from discovering a tree species to selecting, cultivating, and improving it— and how many methods must be tried, with untold hardship.

Gu Xixi sighed, "Indeed, it's not easy."

"That's why you risk your life to protect these trees, refusing to let anyone take them."

Shitou nodded, "Money, selling money— whenever they see me they just talk about these."

"I wouldn't sell the trees to people who don't know the first thing about them!"

The boy angrily swore, "They're just worthless; in the end they'll only waste my family's trees for nothing!"

After filling his stomach, Shitou immediately picked up a wooden bucket and went to the well, saying he would water the trees.

He is tall for his age, yet lifting a full bucket of water is still strenuous.

He could only rest the bucket's bottom edge on the ground, gripping the handle with both hands, and inch it toward the tree.

Seeing this, Gu Xixi stepped forward to help.

Shitou, straining, flushed red, the veins on his neck bulging.

Yet he stubbornly waved his hand, "Miss Gu, just sit and drink your tea—I can do it!"

"I usually do these chores myself; I'm already used to it."

This was the first time Shitou called Gu Xixi "sister".

Xixi laughed; this kid's mouth is still sweet.

She looked around, thinking that without labor-saving tools, relying on one person with one bucket to water so many trees would be tough even for an adult, let alone a child.

Gu Xixi still brought a bucket of water, "I know you're the most capable."

"It's just that I'm here today; two people working together will surely be faster."

While Shitou and Gu Xixi worked, Mu Nan Zhao sat there sipping tea and gazing at the sky, leisurely unconcerned.

Gu Xixi never thought much of it, after all Mu Nan Zhao's status meant he had never done such rough work in his life.

Shitou, however, several times glanced sideways at Mu Nan Zhao.

He whispered, "Miss Gu, your husband... isn't he not very good to you?"

Gu Xixi blinked, "Why do you say that?"

Shitou again turned his head to look at Mu Nan Zhao, lowering his voice seriously, "My father said a man should love his wife, taking on the heavy and tiring work at home."

"In the past, my father never let my mother do hauling water or plowing."

Gu Xixi burst out laughing, "You little imp, you understand all this at such a young age."

Shitou puffed his chest, "I'm a child, not a fool; I know what I should know."

He went on, "But your husband is good-looking and talented; it's normal you don't want to leave him."

Gu Xixi suppressed her laughter and agreed, "What you say is all right."

"For us women, wanting to split is hard; anyway, we'll just make do for now."

Mu Nan Zhao was far off, unable to hear what they were saying.

But seeing the two occasionally glance at him, Gu Xixi again looked utterly delighted.

He guessed there was nothing good being said, but he had no interest in investigating.

When Gu Xixi and Shitou had finished watering with two buckets and returned laughing to the well, they heard Mu Nan Zhao say lightly:

"There will be rain tomorrow, don't water."

Xixi and Shitou exchanged a glance and said in unison, "How do you know it will rain?"

Mu Nan Zhao glanced displeased at the two, "You've barely known each other, yet you're so in sync."

"Of course." Shitou proudly said, "I treat Miss Gu as closer than my own real sister."

"This is... love at first sight, right!"

He grinned at Gu Xixi, and she returned a smile.

Mu Nan Zhao snorted coldly, "You're not an only son— where does a real sister come from?"

Gu Xixi then returned to the topic, "How do you know it will rain tomorrow?"

Mu Nan Zhao lifted his teacup and took a slow sip, "I once studied a bit of astrology."

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

Gu Xixi pulled Shitou aside and muttered, "Either way, we'll see tomorrow; you might as well wait."

"You've expended so much effort and water today; if it really rains, wouldn't that be all for nothing?"

Shitou looked up at the bright sunshine-filled clear sky, "But... will it really rain?"

Gu Xixi spoke frankly, "He has never shown this trick in front of me before."

"I have no concrete proof, so I can't guarantee it."

Shitou thought it over and finally decided, "Hmm! I'll listen to Sister Gu and wait a day to try."

This time they were not far apart, and Mu Nan Zhao heard their entire conversation.

He wore a cold face, full of disdain, and at such a young age already knew how to say flowery words to win women's favor.

Clearly he saw the rain coming, yet that brat actually said he'd listen to Gu Xixi?

Since there was no need to water, Shitou took Gu Xixi's hand and said he wanted to go see his family's most precious trees.

The area where they are now is all seedlings.

Walking east through the nursery, as they neared the end, they saw peach and pear trees several times larger than the ones before.

Among them, two peach trees still had fruit hanging.

Gu Xixi exclaimed in delight, "Is this the local late peach?"

Shitou nodded, "Hmm! It's a strain my great-grandfather bred, and now many people nearby plant it."

"At this time of year, the peaches you can buy in the market can only be this kind."

Gu Xixi lightly touched the trunk, then looked up at the branches, leaves, and fruit.

"Indeed, it's an old peach tree."

"Even if not used economically, just viewing it as scenery is already extremely beautiful."

The several pear trees nearby were also lush and leafy, their black trunks like cast iron.

As autumn approached, tiny green fruits had already formed among the green leaves.

Gu Xixi looked and said, "Thinning the blossoms in spring and the fruit in late summer—did you do all this?"

"Who else could it be?" Shitou patted his chest, looking for praise.

"I'm a child of the Zhang Miaomu family—I've been watching since I was born!"