Chapter 49: with translation of chapter title

The person has been found; Lao Qian sent a youngster running to inform the other groups that they could go down the mountain first.

He discussed with the remaining few people, "No matter whether this animal trap was set by our villagers, now that something has happened, if we ask again, surely no one will admit to it."

"In my opinion, just destroy the mechanism, fill in the pit, and it's done."

Gu Xixi squatted under a tree, wolfing down a piece of biscuit, then gulped down half a jar of water with a glug-glug-glug.

"Ah, I'm alive." She let out a long breath, turned her head to look at Mu Nan Zhao, "After we go down the mountain later, can you still hold up?"

Mu Nan Zhao leaned against the tree drinking water, "Don't worry, everyone says your husband is strong; how could I embarrass you?"

Gu Xixi was wondering how he could say such things when she heard Zhou Gua Fu's exaggerated voice coming from ahead:

"Goodness! Such thick wood has been split in two; it must be Chen Fang's doing! When he first arrived, didn't he slap to death someone's mad cow with one palm?"

It turned out that several men had pulled up the wooden raft that had fallen into the bottom of the trap.

The wooden raft broke in the middle, but the ropes at both ends were still attached to the mechanism.

The crowd gathered around to look, all gasping in amazement.

Someone who knew about such things said, "I've seen this kind of wooden fork before; it's a device set up specifically to prevent wild animals from falling into the trap and not dying."

"Stabbing down from such a height, even a tiger would end up with several bloody holes!"

Everyone turned in unison toward Mu Nan Zhao.

Several gazes mixed with shock and wonder, as if witnessing the phenomenon of a stone flying from the sky.

Mu Nan Zhao smiled calmly, "Things happened urgently; at the time I didn't see clearly, I felt something coming down and raised my hand to block it, pulling Gu Xixi to quickly dodge."

"Maybe it was just luck; this wooden raft must have hit somewhere and split open, allowing us to be saved."

The men's astonished expressions finally relaxed, revealing a smile that said, "Brother, now I understand."

Lao Qian laughed, "Being modest, luck alone isn't enough."

"It's also thanks to Mr. Chen's quick reflexes and skill; only then could you and my niece be safe!"

"Everyone, isn't that right?"

The crowd loudly echoed in agreement.

I don't know why, but in the past when I looked at the man from Gu Xixi's family, he always seemed cold and distant, and I always felt that speaking to him might make him look down on me.

But today, upon looking again, I actually find him much more approachable.

Perhaps this person isn't bad at heart; he's just thin-skinned and shy, and with time he naturally gets used to things.

Lao Qian and a few men cut all the ropes of the trap mechanism.

The wooden raft was also split into firewood chunks; anyone willing to carry it back for firewood was given it.

Mu Nan Zhao had originally said he would help, but Lao Qian said he had been too exhausted this night and firmly refused to let him participate.

Gu Xixi had already eaten and drunk her fill, and throughout she gazed at Mu Nan Zhao with a lingering look.

Mu Nan Zhao walked back over and sat down beside her again, "What kind of look is that?"

Gu Xixi rested her chin on her hands, "I was just thinking, you, this little hidden expert in Flower Pool Ford, have already entered a splendid state."

Mu Nan Zhao raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"

Gu Xixi nodded, "Hmm, you're acting pretty well."

She stood up, patted her skirt, "Wait until I dig up the saplings, then we'll go down the mountain."

As they went down the mountain, Mu Nan Zhao mingled among the men, and from time to time someone would approach him to talk.

Although he still appeared somewhat aloof, he answered every question.

Zhou Gua Fu clasped her hands over her heart, gazing at Mu Nan Zhao from afar, smiling foolishly while letting out long and short sighs.

"Ah, Sister Xixi, you say such a good man, how can you not take a liking to him?"

Gu Xixi startled, "Ah?"

In this situation, neither denying nor affirming seems appropriate.

She gave a vague smile, "Big Sister Zhou, why are you suddenly saying this?"

Zhou Gua Fu tilted her head to look at Gu Xixi, chuckling, "Oh, you're so shy."

She glanced left and right, lowered her voice, and asked, "You two wouldn't still not have... done that, would you?"

Gu Xixi has always disliked people who lack a sense of boundaries.

She smiled and said, "As the sages say, do not speak what is improper, do not listen to what is improper."

"I am still in mourning, and I have not yet formally married Chen Fang; according to propriety, such questions should not be asked at all."

Zhou Gua Fu finally felt Gu Xixi's coldness.

She gave an embarrassed laugh and said, "I'm not saying you're lacking in propriety; I'm just concerned—if you truly like him, why keep delaying the wedding?"

Gu Xixi kept a straight face and said nothing.

Zhou Gua Fu glanced toward Mu Nan Zhao, swallowed, and finally spoke her heart's words:

"What I mean is, if you and Chen Fang don't have those feelings for each other, how about... we swap?"

Gu Xixi's pupils dilated greatly; for a moment she thought she had hallucinated.

When reading the book, I never realized the local customs were this open!

Zhou Gua Fu and Gu Xixi bought their men from the same batch; Zhou Gua Fu had good luck in the draw and was the first to pick.

So she unhesitatingly picked the tallest, strongest man, like a black iron tower.

Zhou Gua Fu was quite pleased with herself, and even mocked Gu Xixi for only looking at faces, buying a useless embroidered pillow, a sickly weakling.

And now she's done a complete turnaround!

Zhou Gua Fu put forward this request, feeling a bit guilty herself, and hurriedly explained, "Ah, I don't mean it that way."

"I mean, you're not young anymore; since you and he have no marital affinity, why not change to a more suitable man and get married?"

If one were to say that Gu Xixi was still a little angry at first.

She is now speechless.

Zhou Gua Fu continued enthusiastically promoting, "You, a woman managing so much farmland, having a tall, sturdy man who knows farming to help you inside and out— isn't that a match made in heaven!"

"Oh, I haven't had anything to do with him so far— you can rest assured about that."

"Besides, I spent far more money than you did initially— you're not losing out!"

Gu Xixi laughed angrily, "How come— you tried out the man you chose yourself and weren't satisfied, now you want to swap with me? Too late."

What does this person think Mu Nan Zhao is? And swap! He's not a thing!

Zhou Gua Fu was exposed, her face flushing red with shame and annoyance.

When she bought a man, she actually craved Mu Nan Zhao's face terribly, but she had to choose the most cost-effective option.

Recently, Chen Fang's fame has been spreading gradually through the village, with some saying he was deathly ill back then, but miraculously recovered after arriving at Gu Xixi's home.

And Gu Xixi, who was originally a good-for-nothing, suddenly made progress after meeting Chen Fang again— she not only hired those workers to farm, but also became a favorite in the Village Chief's heart.

So Chen Fang might be that kind of man with extremely good luck, the type who brings prosperity to his wife and home.

The speaker perhaps meant nothing by it, but it stirred the listener's obsession.

Zhou Gua Fu thought more and more, regretting more and more, finding it harder to bear, almost becoming a heart ailment— clearly she was the first to pick, so why did Gu Xixi get the bargain!

She also found her own husband increasingly displeasing, a block of wood who doesn't understand romance.

How could he compare to someone like Chen Fang?

The village's sole scholar, who will become a schoolteacher in the future, is respected by the whole village!

Gu Xixi looked at Zhou Gua Fu, half-smiling, "You're asking me about this because you're afraid to ask Chen Fang directly, thinking there won't be any result, right?"

"It's a shame that's the truth— even if I don't give him a title, who made him willing to stay at my house wholeheartedly?"