Chapter 413

Having confirmed that Gu Tiezhu was pretending to be mad, Gu Xixi gave him one last chance.

While staying vigilant everywhere, she had already quietly spread a large net.

Lately she only took Lv Jing when going out, precisely to make the wicked think there was an opening and draw the snake out.

Gu Xixi had never concealed these matters from Lv Jing.

She even laid bare her past conflicts with Gu Lao San's family.

And Lv Jing is now very bold; probably there's nothing in the world she wouldn't dare to do.

She only distinguishes between what she wants to do and can do, and what she doesn't want to do or cannot do.

none (two girls but not named)

If Gu Tiezhu insists on charging toward a dead end, let him regret it with no way back!

By now it was dark; Lai Fu recognized the home gate and stopped at the doorway without Lv Jing needing to pull the reins.

When getting off the carriage, the two of them unintentionally glanced back.

Gu Xixi said, 'When we first entered the village and ran into others, he left and didn't follow after.'

Although it was dark and far away, they couldn't see his face clearly.

But from that person's build, stature, and the familiar, nauseatingly sneaky manner.

none

Lv Jing sneered, 'A guilty conscience betrays a thief!'

She said with disgust, 'This kind of dog-thing is full of bad ideas, yet his courage is smaller than a mouse's. Knowing he can't see the light, he dares not show himself before people, otherwise he'd make people sick!'

While unloading the cart, Gu Xixi whispered, 'His patience was never much to begin with, and I had already angered him earlier.'

'Today he showed up scouting so quickly; I estimate it won't be long before he actually makes a move.'

Lv Jing raised a confident smile, 'We just want him to come sooner rather than later, don't we?'

'You still have plenty to do ahead; wasting even a moment on this trash is just giving him face.'

Gu Xixi straightened up and said earnestly, 'I've noticed your scolding skills have improved by leaps and bounds.'

Lv Jing smiled proudly, 'This is just the beginning.'

'Wait till we catch him red-handed; you just wait and see—I'll make him regret being born human, or I'm not a Lv!'

As they led Lai Fu inside, Lv Jing kept nagging Gu Xixi, 'We agreed to share weal and woe.'

'I know you're capable and have backup plans and helpers.'

'When the time comes, don't leave me behind—I've still got this pent-up anger!'

Gu Xixi drew out her voice helplessly, 'Fine…'

Gu Xixi

Gu Xixi

Gu Xixi

Lu Jing

Perhaps because of her own experiences, she now hates evil as if it were an enemy.

As they were speaking, Shitou walked over, having only heard half of what was said; he opened his innocent eyes and asked curiously:

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The little guy turned his head to glance at the kitchen, unable to contain his excitement, and whispered, 'Which bastard is it?'

'Sister Xixi, Sister Jing, if you just take me along, I can still summon at least five helpers!'

'In terms of numbers, we won't lose either!'

none

Gu Xixi (thought)

Can't you be a little calmer? You don't even know what the situation is, yet you just want to jump straight into a fight?!

But still, Lv Jing retains some sense of being an adult.

Lu Jing, Gu Xixi (implicit)

'We were just discussing: if we meet someone daring to cause trouble outside, I'll be the one to scold him to death.'

'Oh…' Shitou nodded, looking somewhat disappointed.

Lv Jing said, 'At your age you just need to focus on studying; you don't have to worry about outside matters.'

Mentioning studies, Shitou remembered.

'Oh right, Sister Xixi, last time the teacher and his wife had an urgent matter at home. I couldn't invite you over for tea at the agreed time; the teacher said he's really sorry, and now his household affairs have been settled.'

'The teacher said this time he'll see when Sister Xixi is free and then make arrangements with his wife.'

Gu Xixi, Mr. Song

'Sir, you went all the way to Huachi Du Cun because of a family emergency, rushing back and forth; I haven't been able to help at all and feel indebted, so I really dare not accept your apology.'

'Besides, I've been in the village these past two or three days; sir, are you still scheduled for the afternoon?'

Shitou indicated he'd remembered, saying, 'The meal isn't ready yet; I might as well make a quick trip there and back.'

Gu Xixi raised her hand to stop him, 'Don't go.'

'It's already dark; wait till tomorrow morning when you go to school, and take care of it then.'

Shitou grinned, 'No problem; I don't even leave the village, and I often drop by Gouwa's place at this time.'

He tried to run off, but Gu Xixi grabbed him again.

Gu Xixi

Shitou tilted his head, a bit confused; he felt that Sister Xixi seemed overly cautious tonight.

Lv Jing, thinking quickly, she covered up, saying, "We heard today in the city that children nearby have been kidnapped by traffickers."

"Your sister Gu Xixi is worried about you!"

Looking at Shitou, he still half-believed, half-doubted.

Lv Jing intensified her efforts, speaking solemnly, "Child traffickers don't just abduct little girls."

"Someone as clever as you, tall and sturdy half-grown boy, is also very popular with them."

Shitou took the bait, "Why?"

Lv Jing said, "Those black mines are short of laborers; once sold in, they're dumped into the mine tunnels."

"Every day they're whipped while working, until they die inside and no one notices."

"The hard part is, in this lifetime they'll never see their hometown relatives again."

Shitou lowered his head, silent for a moment, "Then I just won't go out at night lately."

Lv Jing patted him reassuringly, "It's not that I don't let you go out and play with friends."

"It's just that after dark, don't wander outside alone, remember?"

Shitou nodded obediently, "I'll go set the table and call Grandpa Jiang to eat."

Finally having dealt with the little brat, Lv Jing gave Gu Xixi a proud look.

Gu Xixi sighed, "This child of ours is too crafty; it's a hassle to coax him."

"Thanks to you."

She walked toward the main hall.

"In three days we'll go back to the farm; the grapes need tip-pruning, and the watermelons can be harvested."

At the dinner table, hearing Zhang Shen say that today the village sprayed leaf fertilizer, indeed two families almost came to blows.

The two families are relatives; one family bought fertilizer, and the whole household—old and young—went to work in the wheat field.

The other family didn't buy fertilizer, ran over to watch the excitement, and even made sarcastic remarks.

They think everyone else is stupid; whatever Gu Xixi says, they believe it—pointless, wasting money and effort.

The mocked family couldn't take it, and the dispute escalated from argument to quarrel.

If it weren't for Lao Qian's early preparations and his timely arrival to stop them, the two families would have definitely fought on the spot.

Lv Jing said disdainfully, "Really, a foul mouth—you don't want to improve yourself, yet you insist on dragging others along."

"Getting beaten would be totally deserved!"

She again smiled at Gu Xixi and said, "You still have foresight—out of sight, out of mind."

Gu Xixi neither affirmed nor denied.

Her not fearing trouble doesn't mean she wants to get involved in these pointless hassles.

The next afternoon, Gu Xixi was invited to Pinlan Residence.

Knowing that Song Qingshan was eager to see her, it was for someone far away in the capital who holds a high position.

Compared to the last time she left this courtyard, Gu Xixi's mindset has changed greatly.

No longer troubled about how to later face Elder Song's expectations.