Shen Ningsi snorted coldly, supporting his hands on the edge of the jar of water.
"You must compete with me today!" Shen Ningsi said, "One peck of rice and ten pecks of water. You are so audacious to call out such a price. Every drop of water is a family's life-saving food. I absolutely cannot bear to see anyone continue to be deceived!"
What she got back was the magic water… Shen Ningsi felt that these people were monsters, monsters without conscience!
Shen Ningsi waved her hand and said, "Fellow villagers, lend me two bowls. Everyone take a bowl of water from my water bag and the Wang family's water jar. I want to see if Shopkeeper Wang can tell the difference."
"Madam Gu, why don't we just forget it? There's no need for us to bother with the Wang family."
"Yes, yes. The Wang family's water comes from the mountain. What if there really is a difference?"
The people's well-intentioned exhortation did not change Shen Ningsi's mind. She took the bowl, carefully compared the size and shape, and after making sure there was no difference, she gently placed the bowl on the table.
Shen Ningsi raised his eyebrows and said, “Shopkeeper Wang, would you like to give it a try?”
"I won't try it with you!" Shopkeeper Wang slammed the table and roared, "Why should I try it with you? Our Wang family's water is more precious than gold. A bowl of water like this can be exchanged for ten dou of rice!"
Shen Ningsi nodded, “Wen’er, go get ten dou of rice for Shopkeeper Wang.”
Gu Xiuwen let out a sigh and just as he turned around, a small cloth bag appeared in his hand.
San Yazi smiled and said, "Brother Wen, the general specifically told us to take these things with us before he left. After all, food is more useful than silver when buying things in Wanning Village."
San Yazi said meaningfully, "You know, the general wasn't such a careful person before."
During this period, the children have not been very close to Gu Hong. The general was so anxious that he had blisters on the corners of his mouth. He had to say something nice to the general.
Gu Xiuwen took the food and placed it in Shen Ningsi's hand, then responded in a low voice, "People naturally have to become better and better."
Shen Ningsi didn't hear the conversation between the two. She put the cloth bag in front of Shopkeeper Wang and took a bucket of water and put it in the bowl. "I bought this water."
“As long as it’s water, there’s no difference.” Shen Ningsi showed the villagers the equally clear water in the bowl.
Shopkeeper Wang's face twisted, "I said, I won't compete with you!"
"Why not?" a villager exclaimed, "It's fine for the adults to drink Madam Gu's water, but your Wang family claims yours is harmless. So we tightened our belts to buy water for the baby, and now there's no difference?!"
"Why don't you, a water seller, dare to try it?"
The more silent Shopkeeper Wang remained, the more the villagers believed they had been deceived.
"What are you making such a fuss about!" The woman's sweet voice drowned out the noise.
Shen Ningsi looked towards the place where the sound came from, and saw that the girl had a round face and delicate skin. Although her skin was not white, she was the most dazzling among the pale and thin villagers.
"Cousin!" Shopkeeper Wang ran over with a smile on his face, as if he had seen a savior.
"These people are so stupid! They really think Shen Ningsi is doing this for their own good, but she clearly wants to kill them!"
Shen Ningsi laughed in anger, "Shopkeeper Wang slandered my water as different from yours. I asked you to identify which bowl of water was Wang's, but you refused. What on earth are you trying to do?"
Chen Ningsi glanced at the cousin and said, "Just because the master is here, you can call black white? However, the girl should be a reasonable person. She wouldn't be so timid as to not even dare to compare the water to see if there is any difference."
Gu Xiuwen gently pulled the corner of Shen Ningsi's clothes, "Mom, this person is called Zhang Qianrou. She has liked Dad for a long time. Do you think she will listen to your arrangements?"
Zhang Qianrou looked at Shen Ningsi, jealousy flashed in her eyes.
"I think what Manager Wang said actually makes sense. Brother Gu used to be a farmhand in our family. Even if someone in such good health went to the battlefield, we shouldn't have lost contact with him. Come to think of it, I also think that some people are unlucky for Brother Gu."
Gu Hong is handsome, strong, and even quick-witted. The other farmhands in the family can save half of their effort if they just listen to Gu Hong's instructions.
Although Zhang Qianrou is the cousin of the Wang family, she has no status equal to the real daughters of the Wang family just because she is a cousin. Gu Hong is the best person she has ever met!
"Chen Ningsi, you married Brother Gu for only a few days, and he was captured and taken to the battlefield. You also killed your own parents. There's no guarantee that someone like you won't kill the villagers!"
Zhang Qianrou raised her chin. "No one else has the skill to control water, so why do you have it? Maybe it's God who sent you, someone who brings bad luck to your husband and father, to take my life!"
"Then you are the first one to die!"
Gu Hong didn't expect that when he just went to move something, Shen Ningsi's place would become like this.
He protected Shen Ningsi behind him, "You have figured out God's plan. How can God not send down a thunderbolt to kill you?"
Even a child who reads storybooks knows that the secret of heaven cannot be revealed. If what Zhang Qianrou said is true, then God will indeed thunder.
"Why are you here?" Shen Ningsi almost couldn't hold back his laughter, "That's a powerful statement."
"What would you do if I didn't come?" Gu Hong sneered, "Don't think I'm worried about you getting hurt. I'm just following orders to protect you."
"You..." Zhang Qianrou was about to get angry when she heard Gu Hong's voice, but she was stunned when she saw Gu Hong's appearance.
Gu Hong narrowed his eyes slightly, "I am the commander of the Gu family army, Gu Sanshui."
He showed his badge and said, "I order your Wang family to bring out some water so that the people can test it for themselves. Is there any difference between the Wang family's so-called clear spring and the Gu family's water?"
"Gu Sanshui?" Zhang Qianrou said in disbelief.
Gu Hong has been imprinted in her heart, and it is absolutely impossible for her to mistake his appearance, even if he has a half beard.
Especially those eyes, she often pondered and savored them late at night.
Now, when he saw Gu Hong trying to hide his identity, he became suspicious.
Zhang Qianrou glanced at Shen Ningsi who was hidden behind the man. She didn't know what this woman looked like. Even after giving birth to a child, she still had red lips and white teeth. But Shen Ningsi's clothes were shabby. Compared with her bright and beautiful appearance, Shen Ningsi was like dust.
She smiled and said, "Manager Wang, since this general asked for water, then go ahead and get it."
"Cousin?!"
Shopkeeper Wang was so anxious that he jumped up and down. This girl was ignorant, and he couldn't be ignorant! This water...
"What? Just because I'm a cousin, my words are meaningless? Or are you unable to see this officer's badge?" Zhang Qianrou frowned. "Just take it when I tell you to!"
When she turned around, her expression was gentle, and Zhang Qianrou bowed.
"If you still need the cooperation of our Wang family, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to meet your request."
Since Gu Hong has a status in the army, Shen Ningsi is naturally not worthy of him. If Gu Hong still wants to welcome his wife, how could he change his name and pretend not to know Shen Ningsi?
She had just heard that Gu Hong was ordered to take care of Shen Ningsi. How could there be such a thing as following orders between husband and wife?
Zhang Qianrou narrowed her eyes. What if Gu Hong didn't want her in the past? Now he understood who was the best person for him.
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