Chapter 467: Visiting

Upon mentioning He Jinglan, Gu Xixi's face showed a genuine smile.

"How has Jing Lan been lately?"

He Jinghui is always eloquent, his peach-blossom eyes always full of lively smiles, making him popular with women.

But faced with the saying "a friend's wife must not be trifled with," he had to restrain his damned charm.

He gave a ordinary reply, "All good, just busy coming and going all day, not unlike Boss Gu."

"These days I want to see my sister at home, but I have to wait until she returns in the evening, only when I'm free from the ledgers."

Gu Xixi chuckled, "Sir He, are you complaining, blaming me for corrupting Jing Lan?"

"No, no," He Jinghui waved his hands in fright, giving an awkward laugh, "How could I think that! Boss Gu really likes to joke."

Mu Nan Zhao couldn't come to the northwest these days, but he wrote a letter to Huachi Du Cun every day, missing only the morning and evening greetings.

Even Mu Nan Zhao was completely wrapped around her finger, reshaped into such a fawning, obsequious manner.

How dare he, He Jinghui, act rashly?!

Although Gu Xixi didn't know He Jinghui's true thoughts, from his expression she could guess he wasn't holding back anything good.

She smiled and said, "Sweet Rain Residence has just opened two branches; I heard from Jing Lan that business is doing well."

"The new stores are still in the startup phase; after a while they'll get on track, and Jing Lan should be able to relax a bit."

He Jinghui nodded, adhering to the belief that less is more, and in front of Gu Xixi he dared not say more.

Finally, when Gu Xixi asked about Mu Nan Zhao, "How is his leg injury healing so quickly?"

"Lately he's still burning the midnight oil on paperwork, out and about busy all day, often riding his horse himself?"

Alarm bells rang in He Jinghui's head.

He kept a polite smile on his face, but in his heart he had cursed Mu Nan Zhao countless times.

Damn thing, forcing me to check on you for you.

Isn't it just wanting to know whether Jiang Mingyuan is abusing his position for private gain, constantly fawning here, yet too embarrassed to say it outright!

Now it's fine, your woman writes to you every day; how could she not know how your health is recovering?

Her suddenly asking me these questions must mean she suspects you, trying to squeeze the truth out of me!

The couple kept checking on each other, leaving He Jinghui stuck in the middle feeling bitter.

He is the Minister of Revenue! Minister of Revenue!

And he's not some government matchmaker under the Imperial Court!

He Jinghui took a deep breath; at times like this he still chose to stab his brother in the back.

"He now goes to bed early and rises early; even if busy during the day, he balances work and rest, eating his three meals on time."

"Riding a horse..."

"His leg is just fine now; to avoid leaving a lingering ailment, he certainly pays attention himself, so when he goes out he always takes a carriage."

Gu Xixi narrowed her eyes, "Oh, is that so?"

No need to ask; those two men definitely coordinated their stories beforehand.

She smiled and said, "Sir He truly lives up to being the Prince's closest friend; you remember my instructions better than he does!"

He Jinghui's scalp tightened; he could only force a smile.

Back then, when Gu Xixi learned that Mu Nan Zhao had broken his own leg rather than marry a princess, her reaction was not the moved-to-tears response He Jinghui had anticipated.

Instead, she sent a five-page letter scolding Mu Nan Zhao.

Of course, Mu Nan Zhao cares about face, so He Jinghui never got to see the exact contents.

Fortunately, Gu Xixi still let He Jinghui off, saying, "Sir He has official duties; bothering you with this trifle is really unnecessary."

"I won't trouble Sir He to relay a message back for me."

He Jinghui felt a weight lift, laughing, "Exactly, it's more convenient for you to write directly to Mu Nan Zhao and Jing Lan."

Having completed his task, he immediately took his leave.

"Jing Lan also had me bring some pastries and fabrics from the capital; I entrusted someone to deliver them to your home."

Gu Xixi clasped her hands, "Thank you."

She saw He Jinghui out; as they passed the accounts office of Cha Yuan, a crowd suddenly gathered ahead.

He Jinghui had seen no difficult scene he couldn't handle, and immediately said, "Boss Gu, do you need my help?"

"If you don't want to see them again, it's just a matter of saying so."

Having heard of He Jinghui's methods, Gu Xixi hurriedly declined, "It's just a minor dispute; I can settle it myself."

"Really no need to mobilize forces."

He Jinghui nodded, glanced at the Gu clan, then turned and mounted the carriage.

But he didn't rush the driver to leave; he just sat quietly in the carriage, listening to the outside commotion.

After all, he was here; he couldn't just stand by and watch Gu Xixi suffer.

Gu Xixi walked toward the Gu clan with a stern face, about to speak.

Suddenly, everyone dropped to their knees with a clatter.

Gu Xixi, surprised, furrowed her brows, "What are you all doing?"

The leading official said, "We're here to make amends!"

Gu Xixi snorted, "You want to play the pity card on me, act pitiful, and force me to agree to your demands?"

"That trick might work on soft-hearted, kind people."

"Too bad you knelt to the wrong person; go back, don't block the gate of my Cha Yuan."

Having said that, she turned and walked away.

In the carriage, He Jinghui curled the corner of his mouth and told the driver, "Let's go."

Upon hearing this, he no longer worried that Gu Xixi would be at a disadvantage.

No wonder that when Mu Nan Zhao met Gu Xixi, the old iron tree blossomed.

As it turns out, that couple are basically like-minded people.

That they don't bully others shows their conscience is still intact.

Seeing Gu Xixi about to leave, all the Gu clan members grew anxious.

Most of them, implicated by relatives who caused trouble at the clan assembly, can no longer buy fertilizer or pesticide.

Even without them, this season's millet was still harvested.

But once one has tasted the benefits, how could they bear to give them up?

Furthermore, some clan members managed to buy fertilizer, and their millet yielded a bumper crop—how could others not be envious?

Those who shared the same idea gradually gathered in private.

This person in charge was elected by everyone as the representative.

Since the clan elders and Gu Er and others, out of selfishness, have prevented everyone from increasing production and harvesting.

So don't blame them for secretly negotiating with Gu Xixi behind the clan elders' backs.

The person in charge loudly said, "We didn't come to Cha Yuan to seek a position!"

"The clan elder is old and soft‑eared, so it's no wonder he's muddle‑headed!"

"After discussion, we are willing to nominate Boss Gu as the new clan elder!"

"We've already counted the numbers; as long as we have the majority, Gu Er's opposition won't matter."

Each sentence increased their leverage.

But Gu Xixi still had no intention of stopping.

The person in charge, sweating profusely from anxiety, continued to shout loudly, "Everyone has come to their senses; from now on we just want to follow Boss Gu and tend our own fields well. Anything else isn't ours, and we won't even think about it!"

Finally, Gu Xixi stopped.

She turned to face them and said, "I don't like taking on too much responsibility; I have no interest in being clan elder."

"But when it comes to farming, I do have something to say."

……

Zhao Family Village, at dusk, cooking smoke curled softly.

Gu Xixi sat in the small courtyard of Zhao Meipo's house, drinking a bowl of egg‑flower sweet soup.

Zhao Meipo had built up an extensive network of contacts locally over the years.

Gu Xixi had some matters she wanted Zhao Meipo's help with.