Chapter 418: Nobody believed it

The donkey went fast, and soon it had thrown Zhao Da bao far behind.

Lv Jing turned her head and said, "This person is the old bachelor everyone's been talking about, right?"

A lazy rascal—can his words be trusted?

Gu Xixi paused a moment, then said, "He actually had no dealings with Gu Tiezhu in the past."

Just reminding us to be wary of Gu Tiezhu—there's no need to investigate whether he's trustworthy.

Just...

She paused, her expression somewhat solemn, "I still haven't thought this through well enough."

Upon returning home, Zhang Shen and Shitou had already been waiting at the doorway for a while.

Spotting the family cart from afar, Shitou immediately ran over, "Sister Xixi, Sister Jing, why are you back so late?"

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "There was a lot of work at the farm today; we only headed back after finishing everything, so we're late."

Have you eaten?

Shitou grinned, "Of course not—I was definitely waiting for you to come back so we could eat together."

The donkey cart stopped steadily; as Gu Xixi got off, she looked at Zhang Shen apologetically and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

If I come back late from now on, just go ahead and eat first.

Zhang Shen objected, "That just won't do!"

She took the things from Gu Xixi's hands and said matter-of-factly, "You folks who work hard outside—if you come home and still can't have a fresh meal, what good am I, the one who cooks at home?"

Gu Xixi laughed, supported Zhang Shen's shoulder, and said, "You're the most useful—our whole family counts on you for meals."

I'm not doing this because I'm afraid you'll wait for me and get hungry past mealtime.

Shitou saw the cart full of cold melons, and his eyes lit up.

Sister Xixi, how did you pick so many?

Gu Xixi replied, "If you want to eat, pick one yourself."

Shitou cheered, mustered his strength, grabbed the smallest one, and wobbled into the courtyard.

Zhang Shen turned her head and instructed, "First soak it in a basin of water to chill, then eat after the meal!"

Otherwise, if you just eat the sweet fruit, you won't want rice!

The three of them moved all the remaining cold melons into the courtyard.

Gu Xixi said, "The cellar is cool; let's keep five to eat slowly."

Not like in later times, from late spring to the end of summer, when watermelon vendors fill every street.

Nowadays, even Gu Xixi can't achieve watermelon freedom.

Each time the family shares a large cold melon, although it's satisfying to eat.

To achieve eating it every day, every meal, whenever you want, the distance is still far.

After harvesting a batch, we still need to wait about ten days; for now we'll keep five, naturally we must ration them.

There are eight melons left; Gu Xixi said she plans to send them to the capital.

Zhang Shen nodded, "When you were in the capital, the He family looked after you—it's only right to send them a bit more."

I'll wrap them in several extra layers later so they don't get banged up on the road.

After everything was tidied up, Gu Xixi then noticed that each room had already been fitted with mosquito screens and screen doors,

Shitou proudly announced, "I changed them this afternoon together with Grandma!"

We've placed mosquito repellent packets inside, hung mosquito nets over the beds—sisters, take a look later and see if you're satisfied.

Lv Jing smiled, pinching Shitou's cheek, "Satisfied—you're so thoughtful, I'm satisfied even without looking."

Besides the mosquito nets, Lv Jing had never seen such a thorough setup before.

She examined the screen door of the main hall closely, clicking her tongue in wonder, "What a great thing!"

The mesh screen is nailed onto the door frame to form a door of its own—summer stays ventilated and cool, yet no mosquitoes can fly in.

Lv Jing looked at Gu Xixi without hesitation, "This is still your idea, right?"

Gu Xixi chuckled.

Dinner was the cold noodle sheets steamed by Zhang Shen—using the method Gu Xixi had taught her, Zhang Shen succeeded on her first try.

Shredded cucumber and diced persimmon, tossed with seasoned garlic juice, salty herb water, rice vinegar, etc.

Although to Gu Xixi, the seasoning isn't quite authentic.

But limited by the available ingredients, for now this is as far as we can go.

After bathing in the still-hot evening, eating this bowl left her feeling completely refreshed.

After the meal, while cutting the cold melon, Gu Xixi mentioned Gu Tiezhu's act of pretending to be crazy.

I originally didn't want to say it, so as not to make you worry—it was my oversight.

Excluding An Qinghe, who has already returned to Cloud Ridge, the family now only has Zhang Shen and Shitou who are still unaware.

Gu Xixi looked at the two of them, "I've thought it over, and I should still explain things clearly to you."

Lately, don't go to deserted places; Auntie, when you go into the mountains, you must definitely travel with several people.

And Shitou, too—play with everyone during the day, but don't walk alone in the village after dark.

She paused, "But rest assured, I'll resolve this as soon as possible."

Zhang Shen and Shitou both nodded.

Shitou picked the largest, most central cold melon and first handed it to Old Doctor Lang.

Sister Xixi, Sister Jing, you two are really not being fair.

You've got this good thing and didn't bring me, and still tried to keep it from me.

He also wondered why, that night, Sister Xixi suddenly didn't call him out—turns out that was the reason.

Zhang Shen glared and snapped, "Dog shit stuck on you—what good could that be?"

"Little kids, don't get involved!"

Shitou showed his teeth in a foolish grin and kept eating his melon with his head down.

It seemed the matter was over.

However, no one noticed the little fellow's eyes rolling about—clearly he had other plans in mind.

Notices about the Regent Prince had been posted all over Xi Bei.

The discussion was so heated that, over the past two days, Gu Xixi walking around the village was constantly stopped by people to chat and laugh.

"Gu Xixi, the Regent Prince's alias is also Chen Fang."

"Our Mr. Chen hasn't been back in a while—could it be that Mr. Chen is actually the Regent Prince?"

Others also laughed, saying, "It just so happens that Gu Xixi is also surnamed Gu; I think Gu Xixi is that Gu clan maiden everyone envies!"

Everyone burst out laughing.

They all said, "As the saying goes, when one attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven; if we really had such luck, our whole village would be acquaintances of Mr. Chen, friends and relatives of the Regent Prince!"

"Gu Xixi is so good, I think she's more than worthy of the Regent Prince!"

Gu Xixi knew everyone meant no harm; they were just gathering for some fun.

So she also laughed, saying, "Isn't that right? I also hope Chen Fang can transform himself."

"The day he returns to our village with the Prince's ceremonial guard, with all the big and small officials of Xi Bei following him, I could also borrow his might to show off."

Everyone burst out laughing again.

Some laughed so hard they slumped over others; some laughed to tears.

Lv Jing walked away with Gu Xixi, saying, "Look at them, laughing so freely."

"Xi Bei, Chen Fang, a Gu-surnamed maiden, a son-in-law living in his wife's home—with such obvious clues, how could no one suspect?"

Gu Xixi was completely calm, saying, "Normal—who let me be so different from the rumored Gu maiden?"

"As beautiful as a celestial maiden, kind and gentle, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"

"Hehe."

Lv Jing gazed at the sky and sighed, "I really want to see what expression they'll have when they learn the truth one day."

Gu Xixi said, "Tomorrow I'll go to the city to find a merchant caravan."

"Then go to the government office to find Jiang Mingyuan."

"In early autumn we can transplant the tea seedlings; time is short, so we must quickly settle the matter of selecting a site for Cha Yuan."

Two days later, Gu Xixi took the Qing Tian County Office's carriage to the Prefecture City.

Jiang Mingyuan rode alongside on horseback.

This time, it was he who arranged the meeting at the Prefectural Office to see the Prefect.

He said to Gu Xixi through the window, "I've heard a noble person has come to the Prefectural Office, their movements mysterious."

"We need to be more careful on this trip, to avoid offending that person."