Chapter 91: Look at him with new eyes

Meng Chengping sensed the subtle atmosphere inside the room.

He glanced at Gu Xixi, then turned to Mu Nan Zhao, his expression gossipy, "Hey, what bad thing did you do to annoy them, giving you the cold shoulder?"

Mu Nan Zhao sighed inwardly, glanced at Gu Xixi, and said, "I just woke up; what can I do?"

If there's anything to say, it can only be because of the night before yesterday.

Gu Xixi must have been holding a grudge against him since then, letting it build up until today when it all exploded.

Meng Chengping moved a kang table over for Mu Nan Zhao, set down plain porridge and side dishes, and said, "You're just getting better; you can only eat this."

He sat down gleefully and ate heartily, as if Mu Nan Zhao's misfortune made a great appetizer.

Mu Nan Zhao felt stifled inside; he couldn't take it out on Gu Xixi, so he snapped at Meng Chengping:

"Stop eating—don't you have something to say?"

Meng Chengping took a sip of mutton soup and said, "Oh, we've looked into those people who intercepted us in batches."

"The Northern Li got the news from some winding backroads—someone wants to meet the General in secret to supply grain to the Northwest Army, and their target is to kill this person."

"But their information about this person is unclear, so they're launching a full-scale attack, intending to leave no one alive."

Gu Xixi asked, "Those Northern Li aren't coming after us, are they?"

Meng Chengping's expression grew complex; after a moment he said, "Indeed, they're definitely after us."

"But the Northwest's defenses are tight; the information the Northern Li spies obtained through rumor is unreliable, and they haven't actually grasped our true purpose for this trip."

Gu Xixi put down her chopsticks, "In other words, I came to survey the reclaimed land, yet I was mistaken for the contact delivering grain supplies?"

Meng Chengping nodded sympathetically, "Mm, mm."

Gu Xixi felt the mutton lose its flavor, "So these people actually want to kill me?!"

Meng Chengping struggled to confirm, "According to what they say… that's how it is."

He quickly added reassurance, "Though they said it's you, it's not really you. They've messed up this mission entirely—they don't even know who they're supposed to kill, male or female."

Mu Nan Zhao raised his brows, "General Meng, are you here to tell us we've been marked by the Northern Li and we're on our own?"

Meng Chengping waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, no, no—how could that be?"

"Since we've invited Boss Gu, we must certainly guarantee your safety."

He glanced at Mu Nan Zhao, cleared his throat weakly, "The General's order is to protect your affairs in the Northwest from being exposed, while also keeping Boss Gu completely safe."

"All Northern Li who entered the country the day before yesterday must die—not one was allowed to leave alive."

Mu Nan Zhao scooped a spoonful of rice porridge and said lightly, "The General handles things far more meticulously than you do."

Meng Chengping secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Of course."

Mu Nan Zhao was already out of danger, but Gu Xixi still had some unfinished work.

The oat spikes previously gathered had all been retrieved by Meng Chengping with his men.

Gu Xixi needed to thresh the wheat spikes, dry them in the wind, then store them properly for next year's seedlings.

Meng Chengping summoned several able-bodied soldiers' families to help, and efficiency greatly improved.

The Flower Pool Ford village side also couldn't be left unattended for too long.

Mu Nan Zhao decided to return after three days of recuperation.

Meng Chengping still personally led troops to escort the wagon.

The wagon swayed gently.

Mu Nan Zhao looked across several times, and each time Gu Xixi's eyes were elsewhere.

Mu Nan Zhao felt bitter at heart.

He had never coaxed a woman before; how could he make her calm down quickly?

Over the past three days Gu Xixi's mood hasn't been high, especially toward Mu Nan Zhao—while giving him medicine, bringing food, passing things, and bringing water weren't delayed, she just didn't bother to engage with him.

Mu Nan Zhao glanced over again, pondering how to speak, "Those wastelands—do you have any leads?"

Gu Xixi made an "ngh" sound from her nose.

After a moment, she turned her gaze to him and asked, "Want to make up?"

Mu Nan Zhao had never felt this uneasy; his gaze drifted as he made an "ngh" sound.

Gu Xixi said, "The condition is that you teach me to ride."

Mu Nan Zhao blinked, "Just that?"

Gu Xixi curled the corner of her mouth in a teasing smile, "I'll guarantee you'll learn within a month—can you do it?"

Mu Nan Zhao looked at her; the tightness in his chest from the past few days suddenly cleared, instantly becoming bright and cheerful.

"No problem—just riding a horse. With your intelligence, you'll learn it in less than a month."

From outside the wagon came Meng Chengping's laughter, "I recall Boss Gu's family only has donkeys; I'll leave this draft horse for you for now—it's gentle and friendly, so Boss Gu can use it first."

Gu Xixi asked, "After all, it's a warhorse—can I keep it?"

Meng Chengping said, "Of course; nowadays the border is largely iced over, the Northern Li already lack food, so this isn't a time for large-scale fighting."

Gu Xixi saw Mu Nan Zhao also nod slightly, so she didn't press further.

Flower Pool Ford village—Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao, who had been away for several days, returned leading a horse.

Because the villagers saw them being picked up by armored people, they were inevitably curious.

Someone asked, "What's your relation to that officer? What good deed did he ask you to do?"

Gu Xixi hadn't yet spoken.

Mu Nan Zhao already replied without changing expression, "A reward."

"Previously Xixi came up with the idea of using oleander to kill rats, and it was passed to the military."

"They held a banquet in thanks for the rat‑killing feat and gave this horse as a reward."

"Otherwise, how could we have met those lofty figures in the military?"

Everyone suddenly understood, saying, "Just saying that, I've also never heard that the Gu Clan has any relatives serving in the military."

Mu Nan Zhao said, "Yeah, we're just common folk; getting the reward is already a gain, and from now on we dare not casually involve ourselves with others' connections."

The villagers grew even more fond of Mu Nan Zhao.

"No wonder it's Mr. Chen; if it were anyone else, dining with the nobles would have them bragging about it out of proportion."

Gu Xixi was shocked; not to mention Mu Nan Zhao's smooth, effortless lying, even his down-to-earth manner of speaking now truly makes people look at him in a new light.

The household remained as usual.

Zhang Shen heard the movement and came out of the room, saying, "Finally you're back; are you tired? Hungry? I'll go boil water to make noodles for you!"

"No rush," Gu Xixi shifted position to let Zhang Shen see the horse Mu Nan Zhao was leading.

"Better to settle it first."

Zhang Shen widened her eyes, "Wow! What a fine fellow!"

Adult horses are expensive, and this is the first horse in Huachi Du Cun.

Zhang Shen plucked up her courage and stepped forward to look.

Gu Xixi took the reins, saying, "It has a good temperament; feel free to pet it."

She said this while giving Mu Nan Zhao a look, urging him to hurry to the backyard to find Lao Langzhong.

Zhang Shen stroked the horse's mane a few times, liking it more and more, saying, "People say donkeys and horses don't mix, but we still need to build a separate shed for it."

Gu Xixi glanced at Lai Fu and reminded, "Auntie, the mule we keep is not a donkey."

Zhang Shen said, "They're pretty much the same, same principle!"

She said, turning her head to search for Mu Nan Zhao, "Where's Little Chen? The thing he built for Lai Fu last time looked pretty good to me."

Gu Xixi hurriedly said, "Let me do it."