Chapter 83: Someone's Body Is Cold

Meng Chengping saw the major matter settled, let out a breath of relief, "Good! I'll go back today to report to the General, and come to fetch Boss Gu in three days."

He got off the kang, put on his boots, then remembered to ask, "The second banknote is the first installment paid in the name of the Northwest Army; Boss Gu, if you want anything else, just let me know."

Gu Xixi got off the kang and stood opposite Meng Chengping, saying, "Taking these is enough; I don't want any further remuneration."

Meng Chengping stared, thinking he had misheard.

Military grain farming is such a huge undertaking; when he came, he still worried that Gu Xixi would look down on a hundred taels of silver and be unwilling to take the risk and responsibility for it.

Who would have thought she not only readily agreed, but also doesn't want any subsequent payment?

Mu Nan Zhao held a teacup, gazing at Gu Xixi faintly; his expression wasn't particularly surprised.

Gu Xixi first bowed to Meng Chengping, saying, "As an ordinary commoner of the Northwest, speaking from public duty, I ought to thank the Northwest Army for guarding peace in the region."

"I don't know much; only farming is something I'm decent at."

"Speaking from private interest, only if the entire Northwest is free of war and foreign invaders don't breach our gates can I farm here with peace of mind and full granaries. Therefore I am willing to contribute my share to the Northwest Army."

"Please also tell the General that, having accepted this task, I will give it my all and hold nothing back."

While she spoke these words with especial sincerity, she naturally didn't notice the person still sitting on the kang drinking tea, whose eyes could not hide their admiration.

Meng Chengping stared blankly at Gu Xixi, only to see his eye sockets suddenly redden, then he burst out crying with a wail.

Gu Xixi was startled by this sudden outburst of crying.

"Ah, General Meng..."

"Gu Xixi! I've made a friend like you in this lifetime!" Meng Chengping cried while shouting loudly, "You're truly a great person, what you said is wonderful!"

"Having a good person like you living in the Northwest makes our fighting on the battlefield, shedding blood, worthwhile no matter what we do!"

"Waa… Who says women lacking talent is virtue? Who says only women and petty people are hard to raise? From now on I'll drag you out and curse them!"

"……"

Gu Xixi's ears hurt from the noise, and fearing that interrupting Meng Chengping's sentimental outburst would make him cry even harder, she could only smile and nod apologetically.

When Meng Chengping got excited, he treated Gu Xixi as a brother-in-arms from his own troops and lunged forward to hug her.

But Mu Nan Zhao timely reached out and pushed Meng Chengping away.

Meng Chengping, unprepared, was shoved and staggered three steps backward; after steadying his feet, he looked blankly at Mu Nan Zhao, still unaware of what he had done to provoke him.

Mu Nan Zhao smiled faintly, "General Meng, men and women should not be intimate."

Meng Chengping felt a chill, thinking, "No wonder they're a couple; clearly it's a tender, watery smile, but when they put it on like that, why does it feel so creepy?"

But he didn't dare say those words out loud, swallowing them down.

In the afternoon, light snow began to fall; seeing the sky darken like lead, he feared the snow would get heavier by evening.

Gu Xixi was uneasy about the tea trees planted at the foot of the rear mountain, so she decided to go check on them.

Mu Nan Zhao followed calmly, saying, "With nothing else to do, it's a good time to take a walk and enjoy the snow."

Gu Xixi muttered, "The snow hasn't even settled; what's there to see?"

Although she said that, she didn't actually object to him accompanying her.

On snowy days everyone hides indoors; the road is empty of people, so quiet you can hear the sound of snowflakes landing on clothing.

Gu Xixi said, "Now that we have money, I want to buy more fields and hire a few more workers next year."

Mu Nan Zhao softly replied, "Mm."

Gu Xixi: "I want to buy saplings and plant fruit trees."

Mu Nan Zhao: "I know."

Gu Xixi: "I know a few kinds of grass suitable for horses to eat; as long as conditions are right, scattering the seeds will make them grow quickly, so we won't have to worry about warhorses lacking fodder."

She glanced at Mu Nan Zhao triumphantly, "You don't know this one, do you?"

The two had already walked to an open area near the rear mountain.

Mu Nan Zhao fell silent for a moment, then said, "The Northwest Army's move is risky; the troops are reclaiming wasteland for farming, and the grain obtained supplements military supplies. Although it doesn't violate imperial law, the General must certainly be keeping this hidden from the court."

"If you're involved, and one day the plot is exposed, you wouldn't fear being implicated?"

Gu Xixi deliberately mimicked Mu Nan Zhao's tone, "Mm. I know."

Mu Nan Zhao chuckled, "When did you become so childish?"

Gu Xixi looked up, reaching to catch the falling snowflakes, "You also said it's just a 'what if'; compared to that, I, as a landlady, fear more the chaos of war and displacement, losing my home."

"I still want to rely on my modest abilities to become wealthy."

Mu Nan Zhao turned to look at her, seeing a tiny snow particle land on her black eyelashes and quickly melt.

For some reason, a certain shackle in his heart seemed like that melting snow grain.

His emotions suddenly relaxed considerably, and he naturally said, "You just need to do what you're good at."

"The rest, I've got."

Gu Xixi looked at Mu Nan Zhao in astonishment, seeing his calm expression as he walked forward, it shouldn't be teasing her.

A strange feeling suddenly rose in her heart, and she couldn't help joking, "Then you'd better put in some extra effort."

"After all, we're acquaintances; when you return to being the top minister, I'll have another layer of backing."

Mu Nan Zhao slightly tilted his head to glance at her smiling face, then said only one word, "Good."

On the western slope of the rear mountain, every tea tree is in good condition and can safely overwinter.

Gu Xixi opened a slit in the oilcloth near the ground, letting the tea trees breathe and absorb a little moisture from the snowy weather.

After that, for a short time no extra care will be needed.

On the way home, the snow gradually grew heavier.

Gu Xixi hurried into the courtyard, rubbing her hands from the cold, "It's freezing enough to kill someone instantly—hurry inside!"

But Mu Nan Zhao softly called out to her, "Wait."

When Gu Xixi turned her head, Mu Nan Zhao suddenly moved close to her ear, and the distance between them instantly became very close.

She instantly felt the cool, aloof aura on Mu Nan Zhao's body.

She wondered, not knowing if it was due to the poisoning, his body temperature seemed a bit lower than that of ordinary people.

While Gu Xixi was distracted, she heard Mu Nan Zhao say, "I will be leaving for a day or two."

"Home, school, find whatever excuse you like."

After Mu Nan Zhao finished speaking, he turned and strode toward the west room.

Gu Xixi reacted, "Hey, you're not going to class!"

Mu Nan Zhao didn't turn back, merely raised his arm, "The first snow is precious; let the children play for two days."

Late at night, Gu Xixi felt the hot water bottle under her feet had grown a bit cool, so she tidied the experimental equipment on the table and prepared to sleep.

In the house, aside from the main hall which has a heated brick bed, the other bedrooms are all wooden beds.

Thus, for nighttime warmth they need a charcoal brazier, and hot water bottles are indispensable.

Before bed, Zhang Shen specially filled two hot water bottles for Gu Xixi, placed them scalding hot on the bed, and covered them with a thick cotton quilt.

After Gu Xixi finished her chores, she crawled into the blankets, her whole body warm and cozy.

She hugged the hot water bottle, comfortably turned over, and watched Xiao Hua sleeping peacefully beside the charcoal brazier.

Cats fear the cold, always liking to stay near warm spots.

Gu Xixi suddenly thought of Mu Nan Zhao, he is so cold-natured, does he have a hot water bottle now?