"Why?" Bai Shu didn't want to give up. Her martial arts skills were very strong. If she helped him, he would definitely be even more powerful.

Qiao Qiu picked up the basket from the ground, pulled Xiao Hui up and leaned her against her, "You don't belong here. This is just a peaceful place where everyone lives a quiet life."

"sorry."

Qiao Qiu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Bai Shu was truly a person who didn't care about trivial matters, able to take things in stride, and willing to lower himself to achieve his goals. He had a long-term vision and was an extremely intelligent person.

"Why are you apologizing to me? You don't owe me anything."

"I shouldn't have threatened you, otherwise our relationship wouldn't have gotten to this point," Bai Shu said gently, a stark contrast to his arrogant demeanor when he first appeared.

“That’s the way you people in the martial arts world behave, I can understand. There are some things you don’t know, but please understand me too. My parents are still alive, and I have to take care of them, not put them in danger.”

“If you are willing to follow me, I will send people to protect them,” Bai Shu said.

Qiao Qiu turned to look at him, a smile playing on her lips, "Then would you be willing to be my husband?"

Bai Shu was taken aback, his heart fluttering at her smile, but he remained silent.

"If I don't have enough status, why should I go with you?"

"This...I..." Bai Shu frowned. To gain a great general, would he have to sacrifice his own happiness?

Qiao Qiu looked at him like that and pouted, "Do you think I want to marry you? Stop making that disgusted face, hmph!"

After speaking, Qiao Qiu leaped up and left the place with Xiao Hui and the basket.

"Hey!" Bai Shu wanted to call out to her, but realized he hadn't even asked her name. This woman was too clever, so clever that she was probably difficult to control.

Bai Shu also abandoned the idea; he hadn't come here to recruit people, but to kill them.

However, just as he turned around, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.

...

"Miss, why did I faint?" Xiao Hui asked, scratching her head as she walked along the ridge of the field with Qiao Qiu.

"You're too tired. You must have smelled a lot of calming medicine along the way," Qiao Qiu said.

"Oh, oh." Xiao Hui nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Don't think too much. Come back with me first and wash all the herbs, then you can get a good night's sleep."

"oh."

As darkness fell and the air cooled down, many people were working in the surrounding fields.

Seeing Qiao Qiu and Xiao Hui return carrying a lot of things, she asked, "Miss, did you really go to collect herbs? Why didn't you tell me? I could have asked my husband to go with you."

Qiao Qiu smiled and said, "No need, Uncle. You are at your busiest time right now, and Aunt should stay home and help out. I went up the mountain to gather herbs to help everyone. If Aunt comes to help me, wouldn't that just add to your family's burden? What would be the point of me gathering herbs then?"

"Miss, you are so kind-hearted. We are truly blessed to have your family here."

"Uncle, there's no need for that. I'll go back and wash the herbs first, and then I'll bring everyone some herbal soup to help them cool down later."

"Thank you, Miss."

As Qiao Qiu walked along, she heard people thanking her, and she nodded politely.

Back home, Qiao Qiu first checked on the rice seedlings she had cultivated. Then she washed the herbs and prepared a medicinal soup for everyone.

When Qiao's mother saw her like this, she felt both happy and heartbroken.

My daughter has become sensible and kind, but she's reached the age where she should be married.

"Madam, a guest has arrived."

Mrs. Qiao responded and turned to leave the kitchen courtyard.

Qiao Qiu heard the sound, turned around and glanced at it, then continued working.

"Miss, you can rest here. You guide me, and I'll do it." Aunt Li saw her small, delicate hands holding the soup spoon and was afraid she would burn herself.

Qiao Qiu sighed, thought for a moment, and handed the soup spoon to Aunt Li, "Alright, I'll give it to you, Auntie. There's too much of this, and it's too tiring to stir it every now and then."

"Miss, please stand back a bit. Just tell Auntie what to do," Aunt Li said kindly. Her husband had been very fortunate to have received Qiao Qiu's medicine a couple of days ago; otherwise, he would have fallen seriously ill. Not only would there be no one to do the housework, but he would also have to be taken to a town dozens of miles away for treatment.

"good."

Qiao Qiu gave instructions from the side, completely forgetting about the arrival of guests.

A moment later, Xiao Hui rushed in, "Miss, Miss!"

"What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?" Qiao Qiu asked.

"Miss, you should go out and see what's going on. A strangely dressed young man has come and says he wants to see you."

"Dressed so strangely?" Qiao Qiu frowned. Xiao Hui had lived in the village since she was a child and had never left. Among the people who had come here recently, only Bai Shu's attire was completely different from theirs. So the person who came must be him, but how did he find his way here?

“Yes, he came to return the hoe. I went out and looked for it for a while but couldn’t find it. Turns out he found it.” Xiao Hui said with a lovestruck look, “Miss, you don’t know, that person is so handsome, even more handsome than Young Master Yuge.”

"Xiao Hui, did you come to inform the young lady, or to tell her that you've already fallen for her?" Aunt Li asked with a smile.

Xiao Hui's face immediately turned red. "Auntie, what are you saying? They're here to inform Miss."

"Haha, little girl, you can't resist your grandma's teasing... Oh, Miss?!" Grandma Li had just finished laughing at Xiao Hui when she saw Qiao Qiu run out.

"Miss, wait for me!"

Aunt Li watched the two girls run off and shook her head. "Both of them are impulsive and impulsive."

Qiao Qiu walked to the outer hall and looked up to see Bai Shu sitting in the guest seat, while her mother sat uneasily in the head seat. The small hoe that Bai Shu had brought was placed on the table next to him.

"Young master, you seem to be enjoying yourself. What brings you here?"

She remained calm, just as he had expected. Bai Shu chuckled, stood up, and didn't expose her. "Miss Qiao, I found your things and have come to return them."

"Thank you, you can go now." Qiao Qiu picked up the hoe and looked up at him.

"Qiu'er, don't be rude." Although Qiao's mother was somewhat afraid of him, she knew her daughter's behavior was wrong; there was no reason to kick someone out so readily. Besides, they had come to deliver hoes to them.

"Auntie, it's alright. Miss Qiao is very genuine, much better than many others." Bai Shu's lips curled up slightly. He hadn't forgotten how superb her acting skills were when they were in the woods.

"Mother, please don't favor him. He used the excuse of returning the hoe, but specifically asked to see me. Young master, tell me, why?" Qiao Qiu handed the hoe to Xiao Hui and told her to take it away.

Mrs. Qiao frowned slightly. Of course, she could see that Bai Shu had ulterior motives, but kicking him out like this was not a good idea.

"I've come to learn medicine from Miss Qiao. The villagers say you're a living bodhisattva in the village," Bai Shu said with a meaningful smile.