Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Since Pei Sixth Lady had returned, it was only natural to inform Head Wu about it.

After Pei Sixth Lady returned from her leave, Gu Ran had already mentioned to Head Wu that she would be away from Xiaxi Village for some time.

Seeing Gu Ran’s excellent performance, and the fact that Pei Sixth Lady had moved into the village and had been behaving herself, Head Wu said nothing. However, when Pei Sixth Lady exceeded the time Gu Ran had initially mentioned, and still did not show up, Head Wu became suspicious.

Could it be that this Pei Sixth Lady had taken the opportunity to escape?

But firstly, even when Pei Sixth Lady was in a better situation in Qinghuai Village two years ago, she had no intention of escaping. Secondly, most of Pei Sixth Lady’s belongings were left in Gu family’s small cottage. Thirdly, Gu Ran had repeatedly assured Head Wu. In the end, Head Wu decided to keep quiet about Pei Sixth Lady’s absence, preferring not to stir up trouble.

However, the longer the time dragged on, the more uneasy Head Wu felt.

Could it be that this time, I got it wrong?

Now, seeing Gu Ran bringing the long-absent Pei Sixth Lady with hand gifts, Head Wu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Why did it take so long?”

“The matter was somewhat tricky,” Pei Sixth Lady replied concisely.

Gu Ran, being quick to speak, said, “Village Head, Sixth Lady said that she has an elder sister in Min Prefecture. She went out to look for her sister, which caused the delay.”

“Elder sister?” Head Wu was puzzled but felt relieved when she saw Pei Sixth Lady nod slightly.

So, it was the elder sister who wound up in Min Prefecture?

Since they were both in Min Prefecture, there was no need to worry about Pei Sixth Lady running away in the future.

“In that case, if you need to leave the village again, you must inform me in advance, so I don’t think you’ve run off and almost report you to the yamen as a fugitive,” Head Wu said.

Pei Sixth Lady nodded.

Meanwhile, Lin Ersao had heard that Gu Ran and Pei Sixth Lady had come and went over to talk to them.

Pei Sixth Lady was startled to see that Lin Ersao’s belly had grown so big after just a few months. Gu Ran quickly went forward to support her, “Be careful, your belly is so big now?”

“It’s alright, my mother-in-law has asked Gold Bell to take care of me!” Lin Ersao said with a smile, turning to look at Yang Jinling, who was helping her carry things, “Right, Gold Bell?”

Only the second branch of the Lin family and Xiao Lan were present. Lin Erlang needed to oversee the farmland and the hired workers, while Xiao Lan had gone to study at the private school in Donglin Township. Head Wu usually had to work in the fields with her second son and handle village affairs. With no one to watch over Lin Ersao, they hired a local woman to help.

“You still need to be careful yourself,” Yang Jinling said, stabilizing her body, “Don’t run around.”

“I’m not running around; I’m just at home,” Lin Ersao said, looking at Yang Jinling and then holding her hand, “Look, this is the Sixth Lady I’ve told you about, isn’t she beautiful?”

Yang Jinling glanced at Pei Sixth Lady but didn’t say anything.

Pei Sixth Lady also looked at Yang Jinling and frowned slightly.

This person had shown an inexplicable hostility towards her the last time she took shelter at the small cottage to avoid the sickness, and she was doing the same now. Had she offended her without realizing it?

If she doesn’t act, neither will I.

She wouldn’t bother with such young ladies.

After reporting this matter to Head Wu and chatting with Lin Ersao for a while, Gu Ran and Pei Sixth Lady returned to the small cottage together.

The courtyard gate swung open, and the big orange cat and her family, who had been confined in the cat enclosure, spotted the two aunts returning. They meowed excitedly. Sixth Miss walked over to the cat enclosure and looked at the cat climbing frame and cat nest inside with great surprise.

She had never seen such ingenious items made for the cats and didn’t understand their purpose. The three kittens meowed at the bamboo door, recognizing the human who had fed them small fish the day before. They were extremely affectionate, meowing for freedom, hoping to be let out.

"Can they be let out?"

"Yes."

So Sixth Miss opened the bamboo door, and the three kittens happily ran out, circled around the courtyard, and then returned to her. Their little tails wagged as they rubbed against her legs, and one jumped up, grabbing onto her pants and climbing up swiftly.

Sixth Miss: ...

Gu Ran laughed out loud seeing the three kittens treating Sixth Miss like a tree to climb.

Well, well, now there’s one more person for the three kittens to climb on, which happens to lighten my load.

Sixth Miss also laughed, taking the kitten off her and placing it gently on the ground, only for another to climb up immediately.

"Meow meow~"

"Meow~"

Soon, Sixth Miss had one in her arms and another clinging to her leg, and they headed into the utility room to get food for them.

At this point, the mother of the big orange cat slowly emerged from the cat enclosure, acting very composed as she rubbed against Gu Ran’s feet and meowed with her head held high.

"But the big orange is still the best."

Gu Ran squatted down and stroked the big orange cat’s head.

The big orange cat closed her eyes, enjoying it immensely.

While Sixth Miss prepared the cat food and fed the three kittens in the corridor, Gu Ran stood up. Sixth Miss noticed Gu Ran’s pant legs were a bit short, and looking at Sixth Miss standing straight, she realized her clothes were also too small.

"Sixth Miss, come here."

Sixth Miss turned around, confused.

Gu Ran stood up and walked right in front of her. Sixth Miss, not comfortable with such a close distance, was about to step back when Gu Ran grabbed her arm, facing her directly. She then measured their height.

"Sixth Miss, you’ve grown taller." Gu Ran said in surprise.

She remembered Sixth Miss used to be half a head shorter, but after this trip, she was now the same height as her. At this rate, Sixth Miss would soon be taller than her.

Sixth Miss looked at Gu Ran levelly and nodded.

Without realizing, she had grown to the same height as her.

"You’ve really grown fast!" Gu Ran looked at Sixth Miss’s shoulders, then down at the shortened pant legs. "Your clothes are getting too small; we’ll need to make new ones."

"Yes."

"Then let’s go to town another day to get some fabric for your autumn and winter clothes!"

Sixth Miss nodded in agreement and, looking back, saw the three kittens had finished their food and were licking their mouths and washing their faces. Gu Ran had taken out the stored dried goods to air them, and Sixth Miss, seeing this, went over to help.

As they finished drying the goods, there was a knock at the gate outside the courtyard.

"Is Gu Erniang here?"

"Who is it?" Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Gu Ran went out and saw an elderly woman dressed in festive attire.

"Ah, I am Granny Fu from Donglin Township. Congratulations to Miss Gu Erniang. I've come to propose a marriage on behalf of a family from Donglin Township." Granny Fu smiled at Gu Ran standing at the gate, but then she noticed another woman behind Gu Ran and froze. After a moment, she cautiously asked, "Which one of you is Miss Gu from the Gu family?"

"I am." Gu Ran glanced at Pei Sixth Lady and replied, "Oh, you've come to propose to me? Do you know my background?"

"Of course, aren't you Miss Gu Erniang from Xiaxi Village?" Granny Fu looked at Pei Sixth Lady a few times before smiling at Gu Ran and saying, "I've brought such good news. Shouldn't you offer me some tea so we can chat leisurely?"

"Oh, I’ve just let my cats out, so it’s not convenient to invite you inside right now. Let’s sit over there instead!"

Gu Ran looked at the stone table near the osmanthus tree and asked Pei Sixth Lady to help brew the tea, while she invited Granny Fu to sit down. "May I ask, Granny Fu, which family in Donglin Township has sent you to propose to me?"

Granny Fu glanced at the gate, feeling slightly dissatisfied, but helplessly, she followed Gu Ran to sit under the osmanthus tree with a forced smile.

"Ah, the Tian family from Donglin Township, you know them? They are a well-known wealthy family in our township, with both money and capability. Tian Dalangjun, who is twenty years old and quite handsome, wishes to marry you. You two would make a perfect match."

Pei Sixth Lady just came out from the courtyard gate holding a teacup. Hearing Granny Fu's praise of Tian Dalangjun, his expression darkened.

Who would dare call themselves a perfect match for Miss Gu Erniang?

Gu Ran smiled faintly. "That Tian Dalangjun? I've neither heard of his name nor seen him. Has he seen me? How could he be satisfied with me?"

"You haven't seen him, but he has seen you and is fond of you, which is why he sent me to propose." Granny Fu smiled and, seeing Pei Sixth Lady pouring tea, couldn't help but glance at her again. "Ah, who is this miss?"

"She's my sister," Gu Ran replied briefly.

In any case, matchmakers like Granny Fu were adept at gathering information. Even if she didn’t explain, Granny Fu would find out everything about her in Xiaxi Village sooner or later.

"So, when exactly did he see me? And what about me does he like?"

"Well, that... heh, that's the prince's own business. As matchmakers, we are only responsible for proposing marriage. We don't have the time to ask such details." Granny Fu picked up the tea and drank.

"He likes me, and I don’t like him." Gu Ran said, "I apologize for troubling you, Granny Fu, with this wasted trip."

"Oh, but since you haven't met him, how can you say you don't like him?" Granny Fu was anxious.

"So, if Tian Dalangjun didn't even bother to find out if I like or am willing to marry him, why didn't he ask me before proposing?"

Granny Fu was speechless for a moment before saying, "After all, as a divorced woman living alone, you should have a companion, shouldn’t you?"

"If I were to choose a companion, I’d want someone who makes me happy, wouldn’t I?"

"What if Tian Dalangjun is the one who would make you happy?"

"Someone who proposes without checking if I’m interested is definitely not someone who would make me happy." Gu Ran reached into her pouch, took out some silver coins, and placed them into Granny Fu's hand. "Granny Fu, if someone asks you to propose again, you don't need to trouble yourself coming here. I've only recently divorced and have no intention of remarrying in the next two years. If I ever wish to marry, I will definitely ask you to help me find a match."

It’s always best not to offend a matchmaker.

People like Granny Fu, who arranged marriages, were usually eloquent and capable of both making and ruining reputations. With a single word, they could praise you to the heavens or depreciate you to the dust.

If you weren’t careful and offended the matchmaker, she could spread rumors that might cause trouble for you.

Although she didn’t like entertaining Granny Fu in the small cottage, she still needed to show proper courtesy and respect.

Granny Fu felt the weight of the silver coins in her hand and didn’t press the matter further. Then she looked at Pei Sixth Lady again. "I was wondering, Miss Gu, how old is your sister?"

Gu Ran glanced at Pei Sixth Lady.

Pei Sixth Lady understood Granny Fu's implication and said, "She's still too young for that."

Auntie Fortune laughed. "Oh, my! This Miss is so beautifully grown. When you're ready to find a husband, remember to come to me, Auntie Fortune. I'm beautiful-hearted and kind, and I'll find you a good family."

"Sure thing."

After seeing off Auntie Fortune, Gu Ran's smiling face instantly turned cold.

"The Tian family, ah!"

"You know the Tian family?" Pei Six was puzzled; hadn't she just said she hadn't met Tian Dalangjun?

"I haven't formally met him, but I've heard of them."

Gu Ran said, taking a sip from her teacup.

"They are a family of hunters."

Pei Six was confused, but Gu Ran didn't bother explaining.

The Tian family was one of the first hunting families in Donglin Township to venture into the Great Yu Mountains for hunting.

That time, when Tian Dalangjun went into the Great Yu Mountains on an adventure, she was picking fairy grass in the fields. Lin Ersao, the village chief's daughter-in-law, happened to be there too.

Lin Ersao had seen more people than Gu Ran, so whenever she saw hunters entering the miasma forest, she would eagerly share stories with her, including details about the Tian family. At that time, Gu Ran had only taken a distant glance, unable to see their faces, but she remembered that there was a hunting family named Tian in Donglin Township.

Because the risk of hunting in the miasma forest was too great, and there had been continuous news of hunters getting into accidents, recently, people coming to hunt in the Great Yu Mountains had gradually decreased again.

After all, everyone cherishes their life.

But while these hunters cherished their lives, they also plotted against her.

Some thought of sneaking into the small cottage to steal things, some came openly asking her to be their guide, and others subtly asked if she would consider remarrying. Today, Auntie Fortune even came to propose marriage.

They all thought that since she had the ability to enter the Great Yu Mountains, marrying her, a widow who hunts, would mean gaining a helper who could ensure their hunting in the Great Yu Mountains was foolproof.

What a pipe dream.

Pfft.

Gu Ran was unimpressed.

"Sixth Miss, let's go back inside and continue our work!" Gu Ran stretched her arms and walked into the small cottage.

Pei Six watched as the big orange cat and her family circled around her feet, meowing. She lowered her eyes and tidied up the teacup.

She had forgotten that Gu Erniang was a woman, and in the future, she might marry.

If she married, what would become of the small cottage, the cats, and him?

He had gone through great efforts to find a place to settle, carefully returning after much difficulty, all to continue living with them.

If Gu Erniang married, wouldn't the peaceful life he longed for be gone?

Pei Six frowned slightly.

Fortunately, from what Gu Erniang said, she had no intention of marrying in the next two years.

That meant there were only two years left of this harmonious life?

As Pei Six secretly breathed a sigh of relief, he also worried: two years would pass in the blink of an eye. Should he start planning for what comes after?

But the thought of Gu Erniang living her life with someone other than himself, raising the orange cat, made his heart feel blocked.

Because Gu Ran planned to go to the county town and deliver the dried cactus on the way to the He family, she first collected the dried herbs from inside the house and then went to the field outside with Pei Sixth Miss to harvest another batch of cactus for drying.

While they were busy in the field, a man approached them from a distance. After passing the windmill in Gu Ran's field, he turned back and, standing on the edge of the field, looked at the two and called out, "Gu Erniang?"

Gu Ran and Pei Sixth Miss, crouching among the cactus plants, turned around at the same time.

The man looked at one, then the other, and was stunned. "Who is Gu Erniang?"

"Do you need something?" Gu Ran stood up and asked.

"Hey, I am Tian Dalangjun from the Tian family of Donglin Township," said Tian Dalangjun with a smile as he rubbed his hands and approached them along the field's edge.

Seeing this, Pei Sixth Miss slowly stood up and moved in front of Gu Ran.

"How is it that I heard you rejected Auntie Fortune? Is it not true?" Tian Dalangjun couldn't believe it. "Did Auntie Fortune make things difficult for you?"

"It's you who's giving me a hard time! I told Auntie Fortune I'm not marrying, and a promise is a promise," Gu Ran said impatiently.

"Hey, you woman, do you know who I, Tian Dalangjun, am? I'm the most formidable hunter in these parts, and you think you can refuse? Do you look down on the Tian family?" Tian Dalangjun said angrily.

"Whether I look down on the Tian family is another matter, but right now, I look down on you."

"Gu Erniang, don't push your luck. As a woman who’s been abandoned by everyone, the fact that I sent someone to propose to you is an honor. You..."

Tian Dalangjun angrily took a step into the cactus field, ranting and raising his finger to point at Gu Ran, but before he could finish, Pei Sixth Miss, who had been protecting Gu Ran, could no longer hold back. He grabbed Tian Dalangjun by the collar and lifted him into the air, his feet dangling, turning his earlier arrogance into fear.

Who... who is she?

How can someone be so strong?

"What... what are you doing? Put me down."

Gu Ran stepped forward and said to Pei Sixth Miss, "Hold him lower."

Pei Sixth Miss lowered his arm, holding the now easily lifted man.

Tian Dalangjun breathed a sigh of relief, but Gu Ran smacked him hard. "For talking like that, this slap is for me!" She then slapped him again. "This one is for Sixth Miss."

Pei Sixth Miss's lips curled up in satisfaction.

"Let me tell you, Tian Dalangjun, if you can't understand what 'not marrying' means, ask your parents to teach you, understand?"

Tian Dalangjun, with two red marks on his cheeks, nodded rapidly at Gu Erniang. "I understand, it's my fault, I won't dare again."

Gu Ran nodded at Pei Sixth Miss, signaling him to let the man go, and turned back to harvesting the cactus.

Pei Sixth Miss glanced sideways, seeing Gu Ran crouching down, and, grabbing Tian Dalangjun's collar, leaned in with a cold gaze. "If you ever come back, I’ll end you."

Tian Dalangjun shuddered, not even having time to beg for mercy before Pei Sixth Miss tossed him to the other side of the edge of the field.

The fallen Tian Dalangjun wailed in pain and fled in terror.

Gu Ran glanced at Tian Dalangjun, who was running far away, and sneered. Then she spoke to Pei Sixth Miss, who was crouching next to her and working, "Sixth Miss did a good job. We should be tough on such ungrateful people."

Pei Sixth Miss nodded with a smile.

After they finished picking a new batch of cactus, Gu Ran went to check on the konjac.

Since konjac plants mature at different times, the ones with withered leaves could be dug up first. They selected the sufficiently large tubers from underground to eat, while the smaller konjac could be replanted.

Seeing the konjac, Gu Ran thought of Mae Xiang, whom she had taught to plant it not long ago.

I wonder how she's doing with her planting?

However, the climate in the Min region is suitable for konjac growth, and Mae Xiang has experience, so it probably won't be difficult.

After entering the city, she needed to remind the He family to ensure the contract was signed directly with Mae Xiang.

Gu Ran did just that. When she and Pei Sixth Miss went to sell the cactus to the He family, Huanhuan happened to be home on a day off. After hearing about this, she nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll talk to my mother and elder uncle about it." Then she asked curiously, "Sister Gu, my grandparents' family is great, and the cousin I introduced to Mae Xiang seems like a good match. Why isn’t she considering him?"

"Huanhuan, Mae Xiang is about the same age as you. If I told you to get married right now, would you do it?" Gu Ran countered.

"That's different. I can still study, have things I want to do, and even plan to go to Da Mao City in the future. Talking about marriage should wait until I finish my studies."

"It's the same for Mae Xiang. She has things she wants to do too." Gu Ran said.

"Planting konjac?"

"Right now, she’s focused on planting konjac, but who knows what she’ll be doing in the future!"

"Ah, such a good potential sister-in-law is gone!" Huanhuan said with a grin, "Alright, Sister Gu, don't worry. I'll definitely help you get this done."

After bidding farewell to Huanhuan and leaving the He family, Gu Ran planned to go to the Four Seas Cloth Shop with Pei Sixth Miss.

"Wait, are the two sisters going to the market? I’ll join you," Huanhuan said, quickly locking the door and following them. "What are you planning to buy?"

"We're planning to buy some fabric to make autumn clothes," Gu Ran replied, pointing her chin at Pei Sixth Miss. "Didn't you notice Sixth Miss has grown taller?"

"Yes!" Huanhuan stepped back and looked at the two ahead. "I remember Pei Miss wasn't as tall as Sister Gu before? Now they're the same height."

"That's right," Gu Ran said. "If she keeps growing at this rate, she'll soon be taller than me."

Gu Ran remembered that after arriving in Min Prefecture, she was about 4.86 feet (162 cm) tall. After living in Xiaxi Village for so long, she only grew to 4.95 feet (165 cm). Considering the original owner’s age, being already over seventeen, she didn’t know if she would grow any more.

But Pei Sixth Miss was previously half a head shorter than her, about 4.5 feet (150 cm). In the same amount of time since they arrived in Min Prefecture, she had grown to be the same height as Gu Ran.

In just over a year, Pei Sixth Miss had grown significantly, and at only fourteen, she was in the prime of her growth spurt.

"I think, Sixth Miss, we should start making your autumn and winter clothes. At this rate of growing, the new clothes made now won’t fit next year. We can make new ones again then."

While selecting fabrics at the Four Seas Cloth Shop, Gu Ran said to Pei Sixth Miss.

"I'll leave it to you," Pei Sixth Miss nodded.

"Then come and pick some patterns!" Huanhuan, also looking, had gathered several pieces of fabric in different styles and continued to look at others.

"Are you making clothes too?" Gu Ran asked.

"Yes, seeing that the weather is getting colder, my parents haven't bought new clothes for a long time," Huanhuan said. "I happened to earn some money this year, so I want to make several sets for them. This way, they won’t have to buy fabric themselves, which they might hesitate to do."

Gu Ran smiled as she watched Pei Sixth Miss carefully choose fabrics, eventually settling on subdued, plain colors that suited her quiet demeanor.

Remembering that Pei Sixth Lady always wore such simple and plain dresses, Gu Ran didn't say anything. After Huanhuan finished picking as well, they left the fabric shop, carrying their chosen bolts of cloth, and headed back home.

Since their donkey cart was still at the He family's mansion, Gu Ran and Pei Sixth Lady followed Huanhuan back.

The He family's mansion was in the southern district, and they needed to leave the market district and pass by Zuiyue Restaurant.

As they approached, Gu Ran suddenly remembered that two assassins had been killed at the Changlai Inn, across the street from Zuiyue Restaurant a few days ago. She subconsciously glanced at Pei Sixth Lady, recalling the incident.

Pei Sixth Lady noticed Gu Ran's gaze and gave her a confused look but caught a glimpse of two people coming out of Zuiyue Restaurant out of the corner of her eye. She sensed something off and subtly looked away.

They were assassins!