Chapter 412: Good Fruit Sent to a Friend

Zhenbaoge opened for business, and Gu Xixi took a liking to this bracelet, naturally wanting to ask the price.

Meng Dangni zi said, "No money needed."

"This item is hard to sell in the shop anyway; just take it and use it."

Gu Xixi laughed, saying, "I know it's hard to sell; Elder Sister Meng originally bought it because she was thinking of me."

"I have already accepted this kindness."

"But since it was prepared solely for me, I ought to pay for it."

Meng Dangni zi, knowing Gu Xixi's temperament, finally said, "The bracelet was given together with the jadeite; it's really not worth much money."

"If you really want to give something, then just send me two cold melons another day."

"First, both I and Qinger like to eat it."

"Second, this item is very rare; I intend to use it to entertain a few distinguished guests."

Gu Xixi knew that refusing again would be awkward, so she smiled and said, "All right, I'll bring them next time."

"Now it's just the season for cold melons; freshly picked, they can be eaten until mid-summer."

"If stored later in a cool cellar, keeping them until early autumn is no problem."

Meng Dangni zi also didn't stand on ceremony, saying, "It's a pity Qinger has been staying at her uncle's house these two days."

"She misses the taste of cold melons a few times and then stops pestering, but with you and Mr. Chen she often brings it up, pestering me to ask, 'When will Aunt Xixi come?' and asking about that handsome uncle who accompanies her, why hasn't he been seen in so long?"

Meng Dangni zi glanced at Gu Xixi with a playful look.

"I told Qinger, 'Aunt Xixi went far away to handle affairs in the capital; that's easy to explain.'"

"But how to explain that handsome uncle? That really put me in a spot for a while."

Gu Xixi smiled helplessly, "This time I came not only to deliver the melons but also to tell you about my experiences on this trip to the capital."

"Chen Fang's original name is Mu Nan Zhao, and he is now the Regent Prince."

"Looking at your expression, it's no surprise; you probably already knew long ago."

Meng Dangni zi said, "It's not entirely certain, though."

"After all, people in business hear a lot of true and false rumors."

"Chengping is in the Northwest Army; since its departure from there, I inevitably pay more attention."

"I've heard a lot about that gentleman surnamed Mu; I've half guessed, half figured it out, and it matches about seventy or eighty percent of what you just said."

Then Lv Jing came in; it was hot today, she parked her cart under the shade of the trees in the backyard, and again asked the shop's assistant for a bucket of clear water to give Blessing to drink.

"This must be the boss of the Meng family, right? I came here with the employer. My surname is Lu (the character with two mouths), and my given name is Jing (the character with three suns)."

"Just now I've troubled your shop's staff; thank you, thank you."

Meng Dangni zi stood up laughing, "What a lively girl."

"I was just about to ask you about Miss Lu, Gu Xixi, and here you are—please sit, have a cup of clear tea."

"Here at my place, just treat it as home; no need to be formal."

Lv Jing sat opposite them and said, "I have more than one thing to thank the Meng family boss for."

She glanced at Gu Xixi with a smile and said, "The Meng family is my benefactor; they gave me a life‑saving kindness and a second‑creation kindness."

Meng Dangni zi looked puzzled and also glanced at Gu Xixi for an explanation.

Gu Xixi gestured for Lv Jing to speak herself.

Lv Jing solemnly recounted her experience of going to the capital to beat the drum and appeal for justice, and all the help people gave her.

Among them, mentioning Meng Chengping was indispensable.

After she finished speaking, Meng Dangni zi's expression grew solemn, her eyes showing both pity and relief.

"Fortunately the wicked got their due in the end, and you are safe and sound."

Lv Jing nodded, "On the way to the northwest, I only then heard from Gu Xixi that the elder sister of Meng Chengping is also her close friend."

"Seeing the Meng family boss in person today, she truly lives up to the imagination—a genuine heroine among women!"

Meng Dangni zi chuckled, "I'm just a businessman; how could I deserve the title of heroine among women?"

"On the other hand, my younger brother is bold and martial; I don't know whether he can adapt to the capital."

As the head of the household, with the elder sister like a mother, Meng Dangni zi hasn't seen her younger brother in a long mention, and thinking of him inevitably brings a tinge of sorrow.

Lv Jing said, "Meng Chengping is still busy every day."

"He said he has to drill troops and take turns guarding the imperial palace; it sounds like the superiors value him greatly."

"Indeed busy." Gu Xixi confirmed, "I've been to the capital and only seen General Meng two or three times."

Meng Dangni zi laughed, "Being busy is good; he's the sort who can't stay idle."

"Back when the northwest was vast and open, there were plenty of chances for him to run free; I always worried that the peaceful, prosperous capital would be unsuitable for him, but hearing you say that, I'm relieved instead."

Gu Xixi then went on to recount some amusing incidents from her meetings with Meng Chengping.

Still, she hadn't yet mentioned the progress between He Jinglan and Meng Chengping.

Let their good news wait for them to announce it themselves later.

Meng Dangni zi, hearing Lv Jing say that cucumbers and persimmons can be eaten raw, immediately ordered the maid to wash a few.

She tried them and liked them very much.

Moreover, she asked Gu Xixi how it felt to meet the Regent Prince in the capital.

Gu Xixi had no intention of keeping anything from Meng Dangni zi; she had basically said everything that needed to be said.

Meng Dangni zi sincerely rejoiced for her friend and said bluntly, "That's only right."

The three women chatted happily, enjoying a pleasant afternoon tea.

Leaving Qing Tian Xiancheng, it was already sunset.

Passing by the farmstead, Lv Jing asked, "Meng Dangni zi wants to use the cold melons to entertain guests and build connections."

Does the landlord also have the same use?

Gu Xixi said, "It's not for anything else."

First, I'll eat my fill; the next batch will be ready to pick in two days.

I'll give two to Brother Zi Chu, and entrust the rest to a caravan to take to the capital.

As for An Qinghe's portion, he's already eaten plenty of it this winter.

When he returns, let him go to the manor to pick them himself.

Although the dark guards left by Mu Nan Zhao can be used at will.

Gu Xixi does not plan to use them lightly unless necessary or urgent.

Sending a dozen or so cold melons to the capital only requires spending a few coins to ask a passing caravan for help.

Gu Xixi counted on her fingers and said how to distribute: "General Meng lives alone; giving two to the younger ones is enough."

"The Xiao He and Wang mansions have many people; split the rest evenly between them."

It's a shame that cucumbers and persimmons are delicate and easily spoil, so they can't be shipped to the capital.

Otherwise I'd really like to let Jing Lan have a taste.

Lv Jing laughed, "Speaking of which, when we returned, Miss He said she wanted to write a letter."

By timing, the letter should have arrived already.

As they approached the village entrance, the sky had already darkened.

Lucky's ears twitched suddenly; he gave an uneasy snort and swayed his neck.

Lv Jing noticed, about to turn her head to see if Lucky had seen something.

Then Gu Xixi whispered, "Don't look back; just pretend nothing happened and keep going."

Although Lv Jing didn't understand why, she still composed herself and continued driving without glancing sideways.

After walking a stretch into the village, they met several people just returning from the wheat fields.

Everyone exchanged greetings; moving on, Lucky's mood finally calmed.

When they could see their own courtyard wall in the distance, Gu Xixi said, "Just now outside the village, Lucky must have noticed someone hiding in the grass, watching us from the dark."

Lv Jing startled, and with her wit, immediately thought of the reason.

She glanced left and right, then whispered softly, "Is it that poisonous snake we've been waiting for… coming out of its hole?"