Chapter 93: A Unique Gift

Lao Langzhong indeed came back quickly.

He sniffed, smiled, and said, "Xixi, what tasty thing did you bring?"

Gu Xixi stood up, helped take the medicinal herbs Lao Langzhong was holding, and said, "Sweet potato and lotus seed sweet soup, still warm—hurry wash your hands and sit down to eat."

Lao Langzhong nodded with a smile at Gu Xixi, but when he turned to Mu Nan Zhao, his face turned cold again.

"How did you sit up? Didn't I tell you to lie down these few days?"

Mu Nan Zhao laughed and said, "With such a nice sweet soup, you can't possibly eat it lying in bed."

Lao Langzhong splashed water washing his hands, and at the same time unhappily scolded, "Still laughing? If Xixi hadn't given you medicine in time, you'd already be dead beyond saving!"

"Who knows when the lost blood will be replenished—you really know how to find work for an old man."

Lao Langzhong complained while drying his hands, then took out a freshly written prescription from his pocket and handed it to Gu Xixi.

"Go to town tomorrow and grab a larger amount of these few medicines."

"White peony, angelica, and prepared rehmannia are all blood-nourishing herbs."

Mu Nan Zhao said, "I don't feel any discomfort; why not pick them up when you go to town another day?"

"What did you say?" Lao Langzhong snapped, "You're losing blood fast—how can you put it off?"

"If you keep going like this, next time you collapse I won't even bother to save you—just tell Xixi to get a straw mat, roll you up, and bury you."

Gu Xixi stared at Mu Nan Zhao in shock upon hearing that.

Due to physiological differences, men cannot tolerate blood loss nearly as well as women.

So Mu Nan Zhao's fainting spell back then was actually anemia-induced shock?

Afterward he only rested three days, then when he reached the village entrance and got off the cart, he still walked that far leading the horse.

Gu Xixi still feels frightened just thinking about it now.

"You were dressed all in black at night, so I never noticed how much blood you were losing."

Now not only Lao Langzhong but Gu Xixi grew angrier the more she spoke, "With so much blood loss, you must feel dizzy and panicked—why didn't you tell me?"

"If something went wrong on the way back, with no village ahead and no shop behind, where would I find a doctor to save you?!"

Mu Nan Zhao gave a wry smile and said, "Yes, yes, I was inconsiderate."

"But rest assured, I'm not that easy to kill."

"Shut up!" Lao Langzhong and Gu Xixi shouted in unison.

Mu Nan Zhao helplessly watched the two people before him, who were fuming.

He suddenly swayed, propped his forehead with one hand, and furrowed his brows.

Gu Xixi eyed him suspiciously and asked, "What's wrong with you now?"

Mu Nan Zhao weakly lifted his head and said, "Hearing you say that, I do feel a bit dizzy."

Gu Xixi and Lao Langzhong both fell silent.

After all, he's still a patient, and getting angry at him now won't change anything.

Gu Xixi said coldly, "Drink the sweet soup, then hurry back to your room and lie down."

"No," Lao Langzhong corrected, "you should lie prone!"

Lao Langzhong took a big spoonful of the sweet soup, closed his eyes in enjoyment, and said, "In winter, nothing beats a hot sweet soup."

The next morning, village lessons resumed as usual.

The parents had all paid their tuition, and after about a month there would be the holiday break.

Mu Nan Zhao felt that continually postponing class was untenable, so despite Lao Langzhong's objections, he insisted on going to the Tudimiao.

Lao Langzhong fumed at home, stroking his beard and glaring.

Gu Xixi could only advise, "He basically sits in a chair during class, doesn't do strenuous exercise, and won't reopen the wound."

"After morning classes end, he'll have plenty of time to rest in the afternoon and evening."

Lao Langzhong had had enough of Mu Nan Zhao repeatedly ignoring medical orders, re-injuring himself over old wounds.

He scoffed, "Do you think he'll obey and rest properly? I sure don't!"

Coincidentally, since her earlier attempt to sell grain had fallen through, Gu Xixi set out in her mule cart.

She first went to that grain shop and sold the millet.

After picking up the medicine prescription, she bought several packets of pastries and two small baskets of locally grown flower-covered pears.

At the Zhenbaoge, which had just opened for the day, there weren't many customers.

Gu Xixi had just taken down two packets of pastries and a basket of pears from the cart when Meng Dangni zi personally came out to greet her.

"The clerk saw you coming and hurried to tell me, so I could come out to welcome you."

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "I picked up some things on the way for you and your child to eat."

Meng Dangni zi gestured to the elderly maid beside her to take the fruit pastries.

She warmly took Gu Xixi's hand and led her toward the rear hall.

"Those pearls I made into jewelry earlier have all sold out, and I made quite a profit."

"I've been wondering when you'd come—I have a gift for you."

Bringing up the pearls, Gu Xixi felt a little embarrassed, saying, "After all, we deceived you back then; if you don't blame me, that's enough—I'd feel ashamed to ask for another gift."

Meng Dangni zi said sternly, "Didn't we agree not to mention that anymore?"

Gu Xixi laughed and said, "Okay, okay, I'll follow your lead—no more mention of it."

In the rear hall, after the servant served tea and withdrew, only Meng Dangni zi and Gu Xixi remained, sitting opposite each other.

Meng Dangni zi took out a square black-lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay box.

"This is a design I drew myself—what do you think?"

Gu Xixi glanced at Meng Dangni zi, picked up the box, and opened it.

A pearl ring was inlaid inside.

The ring is pure silver; its band is shaped like entwining orchid branches, with smooth, graceful lines that make the central white pearl look even smoother and more lustrous.

Gu Xixi smiled and praised, "It's really beautiful; the style is both fresh and unique."

Meng Dangni zi said, "As long as you like it."

"I was afraid that if it were set in gold you wouldn't accept it; this silver ring may not be worth much, but its advantage is that it's not too flashy."

"And……"

Meng Dangni zi reached out and pinched both sides of the pearl.

To her surprise, a slit opened on the inside of the ring, revealing a small hollow cavity within.

Gu Xixi was greatly interested, "There's even a mechanism!"

Meng Dangni zi said, "My younger brother didn't say anything, but from my cold observation, the young master of your household is probably not an ordinary person."

"This time Chengping came back, saying he'd been punished with military batons for a mistake, which makes me even more certain that this gift should have been given to you sooner."

"No matter what, it's never wrong for us women to have an extra trump card to protect ourselves."

Gu Xixi understood in her heart and frankly said, "I've been studying medicine preparation; this ring will come in handy."

She put the ring on her index finger, and it fit perfectly.

"Thank you; it's rare to have such sincere intentions—I will surely keep it safe."

As they parted, Meng Dangni zi said wistfully, "As the year-end approaches, business gets busy; if you have free time during the holidays, I will definitely come to your home to visit."

Gu Xixi smiled and agreed, "All right, I'll come see you again the next time I go to town."

She got on the flat cart and pulled the reins.

Meng Dangni zi suddenly remembered another matter: "The year-end is unsettled, with human traffickers roaming inside and outside the county town; if you encounter roadblock hitchhikers on your way back, be sure not to stop."

Gu Xixi thought of the treasures she had hidden in her pack, and she wasn't particularly worried.

"Fine, I've taken note of it."

Just that Huachi Du Cun is not far from the county town; on the way back I still need to tell Lao Qian.