The four of them walked along, talking as they went.
Gu Kai and Gu Yao followed carefully behind, clearly still wary of Shu Ning after hearing that Old Madam Gu wanted to sell them. Their eyes darted around cautiously, watching her with full alertness.
Neither of them stood near her. Holding hands, they stayed close to Gu Zhao’s left side, keeping their distance from her.
“…” Although his conversation with Shu Ning had been somewhat strange, seeing the children treat her so coldly still puzzled Gu Zhao. He frowned and turned his head. “You little brats, she saved you at noon!”
Gu Kai peeked around Gu Zhao to look at Shu Ning, a bit uneasy but still cautious.
Gu Yao also lifted her big eyes slightly, wanting to get closer, but she hesitated and stayed beside Gu Zhao, feeling safer there.
“Since neither of you wants to come to me, that works out—I can stand next to your big brother!” Shu Ning said cheerfully, like a sly fox.
She stepped closer and immediately pressed against Gu Zhao’s arm.
“…” Gu Zhao froze.
“I’m your big brother’s fiancée—the one he slaughtered a rooster for and worshipped heaven and earth with. Are you sure you don’t want to play with me?”
“…” Gu Zhao looked at Shu Ning in shock.
He had already said yesterday—that wasn’t an engagement.
Why did she keep bringing it up?
Why was this girl so eager to marry him?
Even if she wanted to repay him, she didn’t have to be this direct!
“I didn’t properly thank you for last night. Zhu Qiulan has already been detained—you should feel relieved now, right?”
“…” Gu Zhao frowned again.
The one who should feel relieved was her.
Zhu Qiulan posed no threat to him at all.
“I didn’t fall into the water because of Bai Zhiping. There’s no such thing as forgetting one person and immediately finding another,” Shu Ning explained seriously.
So that was what she meant by “relieved.”
Really now…
“When you saved me, didn’t you say, ‘If you want a man, find big brother’? I listened to you—so why don’t you want it anymore?”
Gu Zhao’s face instantly turned bright red.
Why was Shu Ning so bold when she spoke?!
He had indeed said that.
But that was when he pulled her out of the water—he said it to stimulate her consciousness.
She had been choking on water—how did she still remember that?!
He was a man—saying a few teasing words was normal.
But she was a girl—how could she say something like that?!
“Shu… Shu Educated Youth… you must have misheard…” Gu Zhao dragged Gu Kai and Gu Yao along, walking so fast it was almost like flying.
Shu Ning covered her lips and laughed, quickly following behind them.
The mustard greens they bought in the morning still hadn’t been processed. After returning from the county, Shu Ning followed Gu Zhao back to his yard.
Inside the main hall, Ergouzi—who hadn’t gone to the county with them because he had walked dozens of kilometers selling tofu and nearly worn his legs out—was staring resentfully at the empty noodle bowls on the table.
“Brother Zhao, you guys are unfair! While I went to invite the police, you all ate good noodles!”
“I didn’t make that,” Gu Zhao replied.
“Sister-in-law, did you make it? Can you make me another bowl?” Ergouzi asked pitifully.
“Oh, sure,” Shu Ning agreed readily. There were still leftovers—making another bowl wasn’t difficult.
Seeing her head straight into the kitchen, Gu Zhao grabbed Ergouzi’s ear and twisted it. “Ergouzi, who do you think you are? Ordering people around so casually!”
Ergouzi winced in pain but grinned. “Brother Zhao, be honest—are you feeling protective?”
“…” Gu Zhao’s heart twitched slightly. He twisted harder. “Say nonsense again and I’ll twist your ear off.”
“Alright, alright! Mercy!” Ergouzi surrendered. “I wasn’t trying to order her around. Let go, I’ll explain.”
Gu Zhao narrowed his eyes and loosened his grip. “You’d better have a good reason.”
Ergouzi rubbed his burning ear before nodding toward the yard. “Over there—Bai Zhiping has been wandering outside since you got back. I think he’s waiting for sister-in-law.”
“I’m not letting him meet her. So I’m keeping her busy!”
Gu Zhao followed his gaze—and sure enough, not far away, a figure lingered, glancing toward the yard.
Bai Zhiping.
Waiting for Shu Ning?
Gu Zhao let out a cold laugh, walked into the kitchen, and stood beside Shu Ning, blocking her completely.
Outside, Bai Zhiping’s view was entirely obstructed, and his anger surged again.
Both of them were in the kitchen.
A man and a woman alone—what were they planning?!
Shu Ning was surprised. “Why are you here?”
“That guy Ergouzi has always been a starving ghost. Give him more noodles,” Gu Zhao said casually.
Outside, Ergouzi heard this and was secretly delighted.
His Brother Zhao really was someone who said one thing and meant another.
Shu Ning worked quickly, and soon a fragrant bowl of noodles was ready.
As Ergouzi ate happily, he glanced at Gu Zhao watching him impatiently—and suddenly realized the shortcut to good food.
Call her “sister-in-law,” get delicious noodles!
“One bowl of noodles makes you that happy?” Gu Zhao rolled his eyes.
“Of course!” Ergouzi replied, then looked at Shu Ning busy in the yard. “Brother Zhao, she’s working on the mustard greens. Aren’t you going to help?”
“If she likes doing it, let her do it.”
“They say a woman’s heart is hard to read. Brother Zhao, I think your heart is even harder to understand.”
Gu Zhao ignored him, though his gaze drifted toward Shu Ning.
In the yard, Shu Ning divided the mustard greens into two portions.
One portion she blanched and soaked in cold water to make pickled greens.
The other she neatly spread out to dry, planning to store them later.
After finishing, she salted the remaining meat and placed it in cold water to preserve it.
“Brother Zhao, maybe you should just marry her,” Ergouzi said, watching her bustling around. “Having a woman in the house really makes a difference.”
Gu Zhao looked at him like he was an idiot. “You think marriage is that simple? Just because she says she wants to marry me, I should believe it?”
“Shu Ning, are you done? I need to talk to you!”
An impatient voice suddenly came from the gate, interrupting them.