Chapter 92: with translation of chapter title

Gu Xixi insisted on building the horse shed herself, and Aunt Zhang felt surprised.

Translation: Gu Xixi insisted on building the horse shed herself, and Zhang Shen felt surprised.

: "She insisted on building the horse shed herself, and Aunt Zhang felt surprised." Good.

: "She glanced toward the back yard and whispered, "You didn't say we don't keep idle people; if he's willing to work, just let him work?" Note we have quotes inside quotes; we used double quotes for the outer? Actually we used double quotes for the whispered speech, and inside we used double quotes? We wrote: whispered, "You didn't say we don't keep idle people; if he's willing to work, just let him work?" That's fine; we used double quotes for the whispered speech, and inside we didn't use quotes. Actually we need to show the quoted speech. The original had Chinese quotes. We can use English quotes. So we have: whispered, "You didn't say we don't keep idle people; if he's willing to work, just let him work?" That's okay.

Translation: She glanced toward the Houyuan and whispered, "Didn't you say we don't keep idle people? If he's willing to work, just let him work."

: "We don't keep idle people; if he's willing to work, just let him work." Good.

: "Gu Xixi's eyes flickered; she couldn't possibly say, "Let that guy work—the wound would split open and it wouldn't be worth it," could she?" We have double quotes inside double quotes; we need to avoid confusion but it's okay. No Chinese.

Translation: Gu Xixi's eyes flickered; she couldn't possibly say, "Let that guy work, if his wound reopens it wouldn't be worth it," could she?

: "Her eyes flickered; she couldn't possibly say... right?" Good.

: "\"Things are different now; he works as a teacher earning his tuition, not eating idle meals at home. \"" We have outer quotes? Actually we started with double quote then text then double quote. That's fine.

Translation: "Things are different now; he earns his tuition as a teacher, not eating idle meals at home."

: "He works as a teacher earning his tuition, not eating idle meals at home." Good.

: "Besides, we went out this trip, and he owes several lessons." Good.

Translation: "Besides, we went out this time, and he owes us several lessons."

: "We went out this trip, and he owes several lessons." Good.

: "I let him focus on preparing his lessons; for these few days, he shouldn't do heavy work." Good.

Translation: "I told him to focus on preparing lessons; for these few days, don't let him do heavy work."

: "Focus on preparing lessons; first, don't do heavy work." Good.

: "Aunt Zhang understood, saying, "Alright, anyway he already

Translation: Zhang Shen understood, "Alright, anyway he already chopped plenty of firewood before; it's enough for now."

Understood. Alright, he already chopped plenty of firewood before; it's enough now.

Not long after, Shitou brought Gouwa and a few little partners running wildly into the courtyard.

Translation: Not long after, Shitou rushed into the courtyard with Gouwa and several little pals, running wildly.

Run wildly/crazily.

Sister Xixi! Has Sister Xixi come back?

Translation: "Sister Xixi! Is Sister Xixi back!"

Gu Xixi was marking out the location for the horse shed, and casually replied, "Right here!"

Translation: Gu Xixi was marking out the spot for the horse shed, and casually replied, "Right here!"

The horse was tied to the wooden post of the mule shed, and the kids who saw the horse went crazy with excitement.

Translation: The horse was tied to the wooden post of the mule shed, and the kids who saw it went wild with excitement.

Mule shed; went crazy with excitement.

This is the horse! So tall! So big!

Translation: "This is a horse! So tall! So big!"

Its legs are so long; it's definitely faster than the village chief's donkey!

Translation: "Its legs are so long, it's surely faster than the Village Chief's donkey!"

I've seen horses before; the door god rides a horse—riding a horse is mighty!

Translation: "I've seen a horse; the door gods ride horses! Riding a horse is mighty!"

Shitou ran up to Gu Xixi, happy and unable to hide his pride, saying, "We heard outside that Sister Xixi and Mr. Chen have returned, and they brought a horse!"

Translation: Shitou ran up to Gu Xixi, happy and unable to hide his pride, "We heard outside that Sister Xixi and Mr. Chen returned, and they even brought a horse!"

Everyone wanted to see what a real horse looks like, so I brought them here.

Translation: "Everyone wanted to see what a real horse looks like, so I brought them here."

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "Feel free to look, but don't touch it randomly; the horse also has a temper."

Translation: Gu Xixi laughed, "Feel free to look, but don't touch it randomly; horses have tempers too."

If you annoy it, watch out—it might kick you with a hoof.

Translation: "If you annoy it and make it impatient, watch out—it might kick you."

Shitou nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll tell them—only looking, no touching."

Translation: Shitou nodded, "Okay, I'll tell them: look but don't touch!"

Shitou quickly ran over to tell the little partners a few things, then quickly ran back to Gu Xixi's side.

Translation: Shitou sprinted over to instruct his little companions a few words, then sprinted back to Gu Xixi's side.

Sister Xixi, what are you drawing?

Translation: "Sister Xixi, what are you drawing?"

Gu Xixi finished drawing the last white line, straightened her back, and said, "We're building the horse shed right here."

Translation: Gu Xixi finished drawing the last white line, straightened up, and said, "We'll build the horse shed right here."

Shitou's eyes shifted, and he came up with a good idea.

Translation: Shitou's eyes shifted, and he thought of a good idea.

There's still plenty of lumber left over from when Gu Bapi was around.

Translation: There's still plenty of lumber left over from when Gu Pipi was around.

Gu Bapi is a nickname, possibly meaning 'Gu the skinflint'; it's a named entity (a person) appearing in line 24, and we should keep it as pinyin: Gu Bapi; we'll include it if no other similar named entities appear.

But we need to see if any other named entities like Gu Bapi appear only there; we'll include them.

Gu Xixi and Aunt Zhang went to the back yard to carry timber, and when they came out they saw a few little kids standing where the horse shed was being built.

Translation: Gu Xixi and Zhang Shen went to the Houyuan to move lumber; when they came out, they saw several little kids standing where the horse shed was to be built.

Gouwa said, "Aunt Xixi, we want to build a place for the horse to live!"

Translation: Gouwa said, "Aunt Xixi, we want to make a place for the horse to live!"

The other kids also nodded, chattering away.

Translation: The other kids also nodded, chattering away.

The horse will surely like living in the house I build!

Translation: "The horse will surely like living in the house I build!"

It likes the one I build even more!

Translation: "It likes the one I build even more!"

I like the horse; it can't live outside!

Translation: "I like the horse; it can't stay outside!"

Aunt Zhang was made dizzy by the kids' noise, saying, "Okay, okay, everyone come, everyone gets a share!"

Translation: Zhang Shen was made dizzy by the kids' noise, "Okay, okay, everyone come, everyone gets a share!"

Gu Xixi looked at Shitou and knew without asking that it must be this kid's doing.

Translation: Gu Xixi looked at Shitou; without asking she knew it must be this brat's doing.

Shitou stuck out his tongue and whispered, "Sister Xixi, just agree to it—more people means more strength."

Translation: Shitou stuck out his tongue and whispered, "Sister Xixi, just agree to them; many hands make light work."

Six- or seven-year-old village kids will more or less do some work.

Translation: Six- or seven-year-old country kids more or less all do work.

Helping by carrying a few small planks, holding steady while adults nail nails, or running errands to fetch things.

Translation: Helping by holding a few small planks, steadying when adults hammer nails, or running errands to fetch things.

Although these are light tasks, with the kids' help the progress sure sped up a lot.

Translation: Although these are light chores, with the kids' help the progress indeed sped up considerably.

Finally, Gu Xixi stood on the ladder and spread a thick layer of dry grass over the shed's roof.

Translation: Finally, Gu Xixi stood on the ladder and laid thick dry grass over the shed roof.

The horse shed is now basically complete; the feeding and water troughs can be made do with substitutes for now, and we'll add proper ones later.

Translation: The horse shed is now basically complete; the feeding trough and water basin can be substituted with something else for now, and we'll gradually add proper ones later.

Gu Xixi jumped down from the ladder and announced, "Thanks to everyone's teamwork, the horse shed is built!"

Translation: Gu Xixi jumped down the ladder and announced, "Thanks to everyone's teamwork, the horse shed is built!"

The kids happily clapped and cheered.

Translation: The kids clapped happily and cheered.

Aunt Zhang beamed, saying, "Don't go anywhere—Grandma's going to make you sweet soup!"

Translation: Zhang Shen beamed, "Don't go anywhere, Grandma's going to make you sweet soup!"

The cheering grew louder.

Translation: The cheering grew louder.

Since Gu Xixi earned those two hundred taels of silver, the family's standard of living has risen several notches.

Translation: Since Gu Xixi earned those two hundred taels of silver, the family's standard of living has risen several notches.

For example, the seasonings and side foods in the kitchen.

Translation: For example, the seasonings and side foods in the kitchen.

When she first arrived in this world, she had to ration salt, and she could only dream of eating sugar.

Translation: When she first transmigrated, she had to ration salt, and could only dream of eating sugar.

Now Aunt Zhang opens the cupboard to find rock sugar, brown sugar, honey, maltose, and various spices.

Translation: Now Zhang Shen opens the cabinet: rock sugar, brown sugar, honey, maltose, and various spices.

All of these were bought by Gu Xixi on a big shopping trip to the county town.

Translation: All of these were bought by Gu Xixi on a big shopping trip to the county town.

Aunt Zhang picked a few big white radishes, peeled and chopped them, added a handful of lotus seeds with the cores removed, and put them in the pot to cook.

Translation: Zhang Shen picked a few big sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped them, added a handful of lotus seeds with the cores removed, and put them in the pot to cook.

When adding the rock sugar, Aunt Zhang first grabbed a small handful, thinking the kids liked sweetness, then she added two large chunks without hesitation.

Translation: When adding rock sugar, Zhang Shen first grabbed a small handful, thought the kids liked sweetness, and then unhesitatingly added two large chunks.

Just before finishing, she sprinkled a pinch of wind-dried wild goji berries picked from the back mountain as a garnish.

Translation: Just before taking it off the heat, she sprinkled a pinch of wind-dried wild goji berries picked from the back hill as a garnish.

A few little kids sat cross-legged on the kang, quietly waiting for Aunt Zhang to bring the sweet soup, one bowl each.

Translation: Several little kids sat cross-legged on the kang, obediently waiting for Zhang Shen to bring the sweet soup, one bowl each.

Ordinary families in the village rarely get a chance to eat sugar.

Translation: Ordinary village households rarely get a chance to eat sugar.

The kids were completely won over after the first bite.

Translation: The kids were completely won over after the first bite.

How sweet! How could there be something so delicious?!

Translation: "So sweet! How could there be something this delicious?!"

The white radish is soft and fine, the lotus seeds are fresh and sweet, and a spoonful of the smooth, sweet broth—especially in this cold winter—is utterly delightful.

Translation: The sweet potato is soft and fluffy, the lotus seeds are fragrant, sweet, and tender; then a spoonful of warm, sweet, smooth broth— in this cold winter, it's simply the utmost enjoyment.

For a moment, the only sounds in the house were the slurping and gulping of eating.

Translation: For a moment, the only sound in the house was the slurping and gulping of eating.

Aunt Zhang laughed and said, "Eat slowly, watch out for burns."

Translation: Zhang Shen laughed, "Eat slowly, watch out for burns."

Gu Xixi carried three bowls of sweet soup to the back yard.

Translation: Gu Xixi carried three bowls of sweet soup to the Houyuan.

The old doctor's door was ajar, and with her hands full holding the tray, Gu Xixi could only push it open with her shoulder.

Translation: The old doctor's door was ajar; Gu Xixi's hands were occupied holding the tray, so she could only push the door with her shoulder.

The door opened, and what came into view was Mu Nan Zhao with his clothing half-open.

Their eyes met, each pair blinked, then each reacted.

One quickly grabbed the collar, the other swiftly went in, turned, and shut the door.

Gu Xixi, embarrassed, faced the door, "I didn't know you..."

A cold wind just blew in; don't let yourself get chilled again.

"All right." Mu Nan Zhao also tried to stay calm, he quickly put on his clothes and cleared his throat.

Have you already had dinner this early?

Gu Xixi heard him ask that, knowing she could now turn around.

She placed the tray on the table, "It's not dinner; a few kids helped our family build the horse shed, and the aunt made sweet soup to entertain them."

Oh right, where is the master?

Gu Xixi completely didn't notice she said 'our family'; her tone was still that natural.

Mu Nan Zhao glanced at her, then walked over to the table in a good mood and sat down.

Jiang Lao went to the storeroom to get medicinal herbs; he'll be back soon.

The place where Gu Xixi's father used to store herbs has become Lao Langzhong's medicine cabinet.

Mu Nan Zhao took a sip of the sweet soup, his brows relaxed, 'Delicious.'

Gu Xixi was eating the sweet soup, but her eyes uncontrollably flicked toward Mu Nan Zhao.

Usually you can't tell from his clothes, but I didn't expect his build to be quite good.

He has obvious muscles, completely not the pale, slender, bone‑prominent sickly beauty she imagined.

As a civil official, yet he's skilled in martial arts and archery—just how high are his own standards?

Gu Xixi was lost in myriad thoughts when Mu Nan Zhao happened to lift his gaze and look over.

Because she felt guilty, Gu Xixi almost choked on the sweet soup; she covered up, saying, "Um, has my master been treating your wounds just now?"

Mu Nan Zhao hummed while drinking the soup, 'He said the military doctor's suturing was good.'

Don't let Mu Nan Zhao's current nonchalance fool you; just before an incense stick burned down, Lao Langzhong had scolded him severely.

I had Gu Xixi bring that pill, never expecting you'd actually be able to use it!

I finally managed to suppress the poison in your body—what on earth have you done? You've overexerted yourself, lost too much blood, triggering the poison's flare‑up. Don't you realize your lifespan has now been shortened by at least another six months?

If you're looking for death, then don't come to me for treatment! Otherwise, when I'm old and old, my later years won't be secure!