Chapter 78: The Donkey Has Been Poisoned

Gu Xixi paused at the doorway for a moment; when she turned back, her smile was radiant, yet inexplicably it gave one the creeps.

"Because of some unavoidable reasons, I've tolerated her for a long time; I took the chance to vent my own frustration."

Her smile grew a bit gentler. "Is there a problem?"

Mu Nan Zhao stared, then answered instinctively, "No."

Gu Xixi nodded politely. "Then I'll be going."

Mu Nan Zhao watched her turn and leave, and unexpectedly felt a sense of relief.

Was she angry?

Exactly, when she looked at him it was clear she was angry.

But what exactly was she angry about?

Mu Nan Zhao even seriously recalled what he had just done.

When he was young writing policy essays, he had never encountered such a perplexing dilemma.

The situation today stems from Gu Xixi learning that Zhou Gua Fu had been frequently visiting Gu Qingye, even though the two had no prior acquaintance.

Gu Xixi took note of this and subsequently realized Zhou Gua Fu harbored ulterior motives.

Therefore she spread the word through Qin Dasao, intending not only to lure Zhou Gua Fu out but also to test Gu Qingye.

If Gu Qingye, after breaking off the engagement, did not heed Zhou Gua Fu's words to cause trouble, then she could thereafter live peacefully.

If she insisted on colluding with Zhou Gua Fu to do evil, the consequence would be her own undoing.

Gu Xixi returned to her room and flung herself onto the bed.

Dealing with Gu Qingye didn't let her vent her anger; instead, her inner frustration grew.

Moreover, this feeling could not be shared with anyone.

After transmigrating, the two major survival concerns Gu Xixi cared about most were:

First, having grain in the storehouse and money in her purse—she had initially achieved this.

But the second, how to escape the fate of a side character under the protagonists' halo and live safely to old age.

What has she turned things into now?

Besides the sisters Gu Xixi and Gu Qingye turning against each other, which fits the plot, today Mu Nan Zhao helped Gu Xixi set a trap, sending Gu Qingye to jail.

In that case, wouldn't the protagonists' love line be completely ruined?

Gu Xixi worriedly buried her face in the pillow.

Although she doesn't regret doing it, now everything has gone awry.

She had no idea what the future would hold.

If the ending won't change, will it ultimately just be a different excuse, and she still dies because of Mu Nan Zhao?

That's why, when she looked at Mu Nan Zhao just now, she felt angry all over.

It's all this guy's fault for being born such a jinx; otherwise, how could this disaster have befallen us?!

Gu Xixi pounded the bed hard to vent her anger, then lay there limp and defeated.

After calming down, reason gradually returned.

She knew Mu Nan Zhao was innocent; she shouldn't take her anger out on him.

Moreover, up to now he hasn't actually done anything to harm her.

As for the future, unknown things can only be taken step by step.

At lunchtime, Gu Xixi's condition had returned to normal.

She said to Mu Nan Zhao, "It's rare that you have free time today; could you accompany me this afternoon to sell another batch of grain? It's a good chance to test our Blessing."

Blessing is the name Gu Xixi just gave to the donkey.

Gu Xixi has recently been learning to drive the cart, but she's still not very skilled at turning and going up and down slopes.

Mu Nan Zhao said, "Okay."

He secretly thought, she now looks… as if she has attained a sudden enlightenment and calm?

Blessing outside suddenly cried out a few times; Lao Langzhong put down his rice bowl and said, "Why does the donkey's cry sound off?"

Zhang Shen couldn't tell the difference, "Don't donkeys all sound like that?"

"It's called Blessing," Gu Xixi corrected. "Just like Little Flower, it has a name."

Mu Nan Zhao also felt something was off; "I'll go check."

Soon, his slightly urgent voice was heard: "Gu Xixi, Gu Xixi!"

Gu Xixi ran out and saw Blessing with white foam at the corners of its mouth, nostrils flaring, struggling to breathe—clearly in distress.

Blessing seemed to know its master was its only savior, straining to turn its head toward Gu Xixi, eyes pleading.

When we bought the donkey, it was healthy and lively—what happened?

Gu Xixi felt guilty and quickly called for Lao Langzhong to come see.

"I haven't studied animal husbandry; did I fail to care for it properly, making it sick?"

Lao Langzhong furrowed his brows in silence, pried open the donkey's eyelids, then its mouth to examine.

Although he isn't a veterinarian, he has treated many small animals before and still has experience.

After a moment, Lao Langzhong said with a solemn face, "It's been poisoned."

"Arsenic."

Gu Xixi, Zhang Shen, and Mu Nan Zhao stared in shock, then their faces darkened.

The donkey, well kept at home, had been poisoned by someone.

Aren't the kitchen and well in the house unsafe then?

But saving the donkey is urgent; Zhang Shen asked, "This donkey… can Blessing still be saved?"

Lao Langzhong said, "The poison was given in a small amount; there is hope."

"Two catties of mung beans, grind them and mix with a basin of cool water to pour into it."

Zhang Shen hurried to prepare the mung beans.

Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao exchanged a glance; Mu Nan Zhao stepped on the wooden shed frame and, with agility, climbed to the top of the wall in two moves.

Moments later, he leapt down and said, "Someone scattered arsenic from outside into the interior."

"Jiang Lao, please look at the water the donkey drank."

The wooden shed was built against the wall, the feeding trough on this side of the fence gate, the water trough on the side; it is the only place convenient for poisoning.

Lao Langzhong got a bit of water on his finger, lightly smelled it at the tip of his nose; although it had dissolved in the water, the smell was slight.

"It's arsenic."

A basin of mung bean paste was brought over; Gu Xixi unlocked and let Lucky out, trying to see if it could eat it on its own.

Lucky seemed to understand this was to save it, glanced at Gu Xixi, and actually began gulping it down.

Zhang Shen looked on in amazement, "They say that when living beings fall ill in the wild, they will seek medicine on their own."

"I didn't expect livestock to do that as well."

After Lucky finished the mung bean paste, Lao Langzhong again let it drink some clear water.

Gu Xixi saw that Lucky's breathing was not as severe as before, she felt somewhat relieved, and led it to rest under the eaves.

Now, there's no need to go sell grain in the afternoon either.

Several people returned to the house and sat down, first discussing the poisoning incident.

Mu Nan Zhao said, "Completed in a short time, not yet detected by us, it must be someone from this village."

They only dared to administer poison from outside the wall, targeting the donkey; the other party may intend a warning or to vent anger, not to kill. It may be motivated by profit.

Arsenic has to be bought with money; it's not cheap, so poor households can be ruled out.

This morning Gu Qingye was arrested, leading to Zhou Gua Fu; Zhou Gua Fu had also already been taken by Lao Qian to the ancestral hall, prepared to be dealt with according to village rules, so it couldn't be the two of them.

Gu Xixi pondered, "If we're talking about motives of profit, I happen to think of someone."

She whispered a few words.

Zhang Shen stared and said, "You mean their family?"

Gu Xixi said, "We'll know if we try."

Today the weather is fine, and even at sunset it's not too cold; Gu Daye's family is just having dinner in the courtyard.

There are many people at home, so they also have to split into two tables.

Seeing Gu Xixi enter holding a bowl, the whole family stared, and for a moment no one spoke to greet the guest.

Gu Xixi didn't mind either, smiling and saying, "This morning Gu Qingye was taken by the Village Chief; I thought Grandfather Gu should be curious about what happened, so I specially came to the door to explain."

Gu Daye indeed was somewhat concerned about this, "Indeed, it's again your good deed?!"