Chapter 7: Want to apologize? Then let me slap you

Gu Xixi stared in shock as the green ox stamped in place, then collapsed with a boom.

It died just like that?!

Just that one strike?

If Mu Nan Zhao used the same method on her…

Gu Xixi suddenly felt a faint pain in her neck.

Until Mu Nan Zhao glanced over with a cold gaze, "Let go."

Gu Xixi realized her hand had somehow been gripping Mu Nan Zhao's belt tightly; she hastily let go and stepped back several paces in an instant.

"I'm sorry!" she tried to stay calm, "Thank you for saving my life just now!"

"No need." Mu Nan Zhao said indifferently,

"If it weren't for the urgent situation, you seeking death on your own, I ought to fulfill your wish."

"……" Gu Xixi had unspeakable bitterness.

Failing to advance the romance between the male and female leads, it instead made Mu Nan Zhao's heroic rescue target shift from Gu Qingye to Gu Xixi herself.

However, there is still a difficult problem to face ahead.

Gu Xixi crouched beside the large green ox, examined it, and sighed helplessly, "Alas, it cannot be saved."

According to the current dynasty's law, unlawfully killing an ox results in punishment ranging from six months to one year imprisonment, depending on the circumstances.

Reasons such as ox plague or madness-induced rampage are not included in the sentencing list.

However, the killer must compensate the ox owner for thirty percent of the loss.

Obviously, Gu Xixi cannot afford to pay these amounts now.

Mu Nan Zhao said, "Rest assured, I will bear the responsibility for my actions."

Gu Xixi stood up, "I didn't mean that, I…"

Mu Nan Zhao stepped away, and as he brushed past Gu Xixi, his gaze was mocking, his voice ethereal like the wind:

"The person you would risk your own life to save actually wants you dead—what will you do?"

Gu Xixi froze.

Looking past Mu Nan Zhao's back, she saw Gu Qingye hiding at the base of the wall.

Seeing Gu Xixi looking at her, Gu Qingye gave a guilty smile, "Sister Gu Xixi, I'm glad you're both alright."

Only the three of us are present on this road.

Gu Xixi naturally knows who pushed her from behind.

She calmly walked step by step toward Gu Qingye, "Yeah, good thing I didn't die."

Gu Qingye gave an embarrassed laugh, but deep down she still didn't take Gu Xixi seriously.

"This fool is always easy to coax; this time is no different—just a few explanations and a bit of acting cute will smooth things over."

"Sister Gu Xixi… I didn't mean to, I was just too scared just now and slipped up; you won't hold it against me, right?"

Gu Xixi walked up to Gu Qingye and stopped.

"Smack!" A crisp, loud slap rang out, startling the sparrows perched on the wall into flight.

Gu Qingye stared in shock as she lifted her head, meeting Gu Xixi's gentle smile.

"One strike each, and we sisters are even."

"Kids roughhouse all the time; the little sister won't take it to heart, right?"

Gu Qingye covered her burning cheek, feeling for the first time that the person before her was especially strange.

"You! You actually dared to hit me!"

Gu Xixi said calmly, "I have other matters; I'm heading back first."

She didn't ask Gu Qingye why.

Having done the deed, she doesn't care what excuse the other has.

Turning the corner, Gu Xixi finally caught up with Mu Nan Zhao, "That ox should be compensated by me."

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes flickered slightly, "Aren't you broke?"

Gu Xixi said solemnly, "For now I cannot pay, but we can first write an IOU."

She is confident in herself; at most she'll wait three months, and after the autumn harvest her finances won't be so tight.

As for Mu Nan Zhao…

Gu Xixi glanced sideways, thinking that even after killing an ox he could walk this fast—his earlier fainting and vomiting blood must have been an act, right?

As if sensing Gu Xixi's little calculations, Mu Nan Zhao suddenly raised his hand to support his forehead.

"Dizzy."

His voice was so low it was almost inaudible; Gu Xixi thought she had misheard, turned her head, and said, "Ah?"

Seeing Mu Nan Zhao lower his eyes, coughing weakly, his lips faintly pale.

Out of gratitude for his life-saving aid, she could only ask concernedly, "Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

"Just me alone, I can easily fend for myself." Mu Nan Zhao self-mockingly curled his lips, "Indeed, times have changed."

Gu Xixi froze, "Ah, so it's all because of saving her that he ended up like this."

Seeing Mu Nan Zhao's body swaying on the verge of collapse, yet he stubbornly pressed forward.

Gu Xixi sighed inwardly, "Let me support you."

"No need." Mu Nan Zhao paused, "A walking stick will suffice."

At Gu Xixi's home, the courtyard was noisy with people.

Aunt Zhang had brought out all the stools from the house, yet there still weren't enough seats.

But the remaining people preferred to stand and wait, unwilling to leave.

Zhang Shen had to run back and forth to the gate repeatedly, finally seeing Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao return.

She hurried a few steps to go out and meet them, "You two…… what's going on?"

Mu Nan Zhao placed one hand on Gu Xixi's shoulder, his demeanor calm and noble.

As a "crutch", Gu Xixi was not so comfortable.

She panted from exhaustion before saying, "Uncle Liu's cow got startled; we couldn't dodge, so he beat the cow to death."

"What?!" Zhang Shen's eyes almost popped out from shock; she stepped forward and grabbed Gu Xixi to examine her.

"Let me take a look, see if you're hurt anywhere."

Gu Xixi comforted, "I'm fine, Chen Fang......"

She couldn't say the real reason.

"He might have suffered a minor injury."

Only then did Zhang Shen notice Mu Nan Zhao's condition, "Little Chen, are you injured?"

"Ouch, being gored by a cow is no small matter; quickly go lie down inside!"

Upon entering the courtyard, the people who had been eagerly waiting surged forward, each recommending themselves.

"Our two families are within five degrees of kinship! I will certainly do my utmost!"

"Pick me! I work more and don't slack off!"

……

Mu Nan Zhao secretly thought, no wonder this lass faces the Gu Lao San family with such confidence.

As it turned out, she had long planned what kind of help to hire.

Mu Nan Zhao loosened his hand from Gu Xixi's shoulder, his tone still low and depressed.

"I'll go back first."

Gu Xixi called out to Zhang Shen, who had intended to follow and attend to them, "Aunt, did you tell them my request?"

Zhang Shen nodded, "I said it, but I never expected so many people to still come!"

Gu Xixi was not surprised, for under a heavy reward there must be brave men.

Though the conditions she proposed were harsh and exacting, the benefits available to a long-term worker were also unattainable even with a lantern.

Dozens of people came and, under Zhang Shen's direction, formed a long line.

Gu Xixi seemingly chatted casually about everyday matters for a couple of sentences, then dismissed one.

In less than half an hour, she selected fifteen people from among them.

"I only need eight people; tomorrow we'll do a trial work shift of one hour."

"If I'm not satisfied with someone, they must leave at any time without complaint—everyone knows this, right?"

The crowd replied in unison.

Gu Xixi smiled amiably, "The trial work content tomorrow is also simple."

"Just do the work you usually do at home, and that's how you'll do it then."

The small courtyard finally returned to tranquility.

Yet in the evening, a piece of dinner-table gossip began to spread in Huachi Du Cun.

"The man Gu Xixi bought actually beat a cow to death with his bare hands?!"

"Could it be that he isn't a weakling who collapses at a gust of wind?"

"His appearance, his physique, now coupled with a burst of sturdy strength."

"Gu Xixi actually spent only one cash coin!!"