A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

Chapter 453 If I don't protect you, who else can?

Lu Jing frowned and said, "This matter is indeed difficult."

"What if they speak up when we go to the clan meeting the day after tomorrow? There are so many people and so many mouths, what should we do?"

She had been somewhat looking forward to seeing Gu Xixi, as the person in charge, command respect and influence in the clan meeting.

But now that I think about it, it has a hint of a trap.

Gu Xixi said with a sullen face, "It doesn't matter."

"No matter how many people come, no matter who speaks, I've made up my mind."

"Just refuse them all!"

Within the local Gu family, there are already too many complicated and entangled kinship relationships.

Each family has its own relatives, and relatives are connected to relatives.

When the time comes, everyone will want to work in the tea plantation, and one by one, they will try to use their connections to get their own family members a job.

Regardless of who Gu Xixi agrees to or doesn't agree to, she will inevitably offend someone in the end.

Rather than putting in effort that yields no reward, it's better to refuse outright from the start.

Lü Jing couldn't help but worry, "If they are rejected and give up easily, that would be fine."

"If someone insists, wouldn't that lead to a complete breakdown in relations?"

She paused for a moment, then said, "I'm not afraid to offend these people with you, even if it means getting into a fight."

"But we taught them how to grow wheat and sold them fertilizer at cost price."

"Isn't it just about maintaining this relationship so that we can all benefit each other in the future?"

"just in case……"

Lü Jing didn't continue.

Jiang Mingyuan also looked at Gu Xixi with concern.

The biggest fear right now is that all of Gu Xixi's previous efforts will be in vain...

Although they were not clear about Gu Xixi's full plan, they had all heard Gu Xixi talk about the concept of intensive farming.

For example, the area surrounding Qingtian County is suitable for planting fruits such as Pinpo fruit, peaches, and apricots.

In the future, it may be possible to expand the orchard on a large scale while growing grain.

All orchards are built to uniform standards.

When the fresh fruit of Qingtian County, especially the Pinpo fruit which is rare in Daye, is successfully cultivated.

They would then have the opportunity to participate in the selection process and become tribute fruits.

When the time comes, the price of the Pinpo fruit from Qingtian County will naturally rise as well, making it famous throughout the world.

Lü Jing sighed, "I really don't understand why these people are so fixated on the tea plantations?"

"Can't they see Xixi's orchard, or those other orchards in Huachidu Village?"

"Intercropping in orchards will make money soon, and once the fruit ripens, the profits will only increase!"

Unfortunately, human greed is often insatiable.

Tea was on par with salt and iron in terms of status.

It was the only one of its kind in the entire Northwest, and it was enormous in scale, with a share allocated to the imperial court.

Therefore, even though the tea plantation has just started construction, it is still a long way from seeing any benefits.

It is enough to attract many people to flock to it.

Jiang Mingyuan looked at Gu Xixi and said, "If I hadn't been summoned to the prefectural city at the last minute, I could have shielded you at the clan meeting."

Even if they still see me as the naive kid I used to be.

"They'll probably behave themselves a bit because of my official robes."

"But……"

Gu Xixi smiled reassuringly at Jiang Mingyuan, "Brother Zichu, you have official business to attend to, so please go to the prefectural city with peace of mind."

Her eyes didn't show feigned composure; rather, they radiated a calmness from within.

"Even if they are dissatisfied with me, no one dares to make things difficult for me openly."

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "Brother Zichu has official robes, and I also have my own protective charm."

Lu Jing immediately thought of Gu Xixi's imperial gold medal and was overjoyed, "Could it be that one?"

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "That counts too, but why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"

Jiang Mingyuan had already figured it out: "Fertilizer and pesticides!"

"If they want to increase production and have a bumper harvest, they need to continue using these things."

"Unless someone is incredibly stupid, they won't, and wouldn't, break ties with you."

Gu Xixi smiled, "This is the advantage of mastering core technologies."

"I'm not panicking; they're the ones who should be."

Jiang Mingyuan suddenly understood, and felt much more at ease.

He glanced at Mu Nanzhao not far away and deliberately raised his voice, "What a pity, I have to go out on official business."

"Otherwise, I should go to the clan association to help you."

Leaving Gu Xixi to listen to those people's ramblings alone is annoying enough, even if it doesn't actually cause any harm.

Jiang Mingyuan walked up to Mu Nanzhao with a solemn expression.

"I arrived in a hurry from the lower ranks and only then did I see the Regent come to pay his respects."

A cold sneer appeared on Mu Nanzhao's face. He had clearly seen this guy when he arrived.

“They are all family members. Since this is not an official occasion, Magistrate Jiang, there is no need for such formalities.”

It's just pretending, isn't it? Who in officialdom can't do that?

Jiang Mingyuan insisted on bowing, straightened up, and said that he was going back to the yamen to handle official documents, and then took his leave.

On the day of the Gu clan gathering.

Two horse-drawn carriages drove one after the other towards Sweetwater Village.

The front was Mu Nanzhao's own usual place, and its luxuriousness goes without saying.

The carriage behind was also drawn by four horses, with a mahogany canopy and carvings on all four sides.

Gu Xixi rode with Mu Nanzhao. "Actually, you didn't need to come with me at all."

“You’re not even willing to attend banquets in the capital, there’s no need to humiliate yourself like this.”

Yesterday, Mu Nanzhao finished all his official duties ahead of schedule, just so he could make time to attend the Gu clan gathering today.

Mu Nanzhao said calmly, "If I'm not going to accompany you, do you expect Magistrate Jiang to accompany you?"

Gu Xixi choked, "I'm thanking you and feeling sorry for you, what kind of jealousy are you getting now?"

Mu Nanzhao had no choice but to say, "I didn't."

"I just feel that... Magistrate Jiang's reminder makes some sense."

Thinking back on it still makes me feel a little suffocated.

Weren't Jiang Mingyuan's words before he left yesterday a deliberate attempt to target him?

Jiang Mingyuan has already said he's going to the clan association to help Gu Xixi.

If he doesn't go, wouldn't he be no better than Jiang Mingyuan, an outsider?

Gu Xixi looked back through the car window, then shrank back. "Isn't it a bit much to make such a big fuss to go to a small village?"

Mu Nanzhao said, "Your female assistant is afraid of me and absolutely refuses to ride with me."

“You promised to take them along earlier, so naturally I’ll get another car.”

Gu Xixi argued, "But Lü Jing has already said she's not coming."

"You said we'd all go together, and you even invited Stone!"

Mu Nanzhao looked at her, "You despise them and don't want them to come with you?"

Gu Xixi was at a loss for words, "That's not what I meant, I..."

"I'm just asking you, why!"

Mu Nanzhao looked away, his eyes cold. "Some people want to cause trouble for your tea plantation."

"Then let their clans descend into chaos. More people will be just as good."

Gu Xixi was quiet for a moment, then squinted at Mu Nanzhao and smiled knowingly.

"I'm starting to look forward to it."

Before the two carriages even reached the village entrance, the news had already spread to the scene of the clan's banquet.

Someone ran up shouting, "Those two carriages are so big, each with four horses!"

“I saw that our Magistrate Jiang’s carriage was also pulled by a single horse.”

The elder, however, had some knowledge of the matter. "A carriage drawn by four horses?"

"Could it be that Mingyuan changed his mind at the last minute, not only coming back himself but also bringing his boss with him?"

Even the wealthiest ordinary merchants cannot openly use such luxurious carriages; it is an overreach.

Upon hearing that a high-ranking official might be visiting, they immediately agreed.

The people in charge stood up excitedly, ready to go outside to greet them.

Mu Nanzhao's car slowly approached.

Before they even stopped, Gu Xixi could see through the window that people with the surname Gu were kneeling all over the ground.

She quickly closed the gap in the car curtain.

Turning to Mu Nanzhao, she whispered, "Why are they all kneeling down?"

"Did you send someone beforehand to tell them you were the regent?"

Mu Nanzhao glanced at it indifferently, "No, they probably misunderstood."

Gu Xixi was about to get up when Mu Nanzhao pressed her back down.

"No rush, let the cars behind get off first."