Chapter 86 Since No One Suffers Loss
Gu Xixi smelled the soil in the palm of her hand, then picked up some with her fingers, rubbed it gently, and then sprinkled a handful of soil naturally, observing how it scattered.
Meng Chengping whispered to Mu Nanzhao, "How come this is just like a doctor treating a patient, he has to observe, smell, ask and palpate?"
Mu Nanzhao ignored him and just stood there quietly.
Meng Chengping couldn't stand the loneliness. He felt uncomfortable if he didn't say a few words after a while.
He glanced at the black embossed brocade cape on Mu Nanzhao and said with a smile, "The inside of this cape is made of gray squirrel, and the outside is made of brocade material. It's not cheap, right?"
"Brother Mu, why haven't I seen you wear such a good thing before?"
"Boss Gu bought it for you recently, it looks new at first glance."
"Boss Gu is so willing to give, have you two made any progress recently?"
Meng Chengping said a lot of gibberish, but Mu Nanzhao only said two words in return: "Noisy."
Finally, Gu Xixi turned around and asked, "General Meng, do you know where to find water nearby?"
Meng Chengping replied, "One mile further north, there is a river."
Gu Xixi nodded and took out a piece of rice paper that had been cut into palm-size pieces from her small cross-body cloth bag.
She bent down and quickly grabbed a handful of soil and said, "Let's go check out the river now."
The river Meng Chengping was talking about was a seasonal river, the source of which was the ice and snow on the distant mountains.
From the thaw in mid-spring to late autumn is the river's flood season.
It is currently in the freezing and dry season, the riverbed is shallow, and stones of various colors are clearly visible through the thick ice.
Gu Xixi looked in the distance at the source of the river and asked, "With mountains behind it, the climate here should be similar to that of Huachidu Village, right?"
"In a normal year, the spring rainfall is even, moist and warm, the summer has frequent thunderstorms, the autumn has continuous rain, and the winter snow can be as deep as the calf."
Meng Chengping was dumbfounded. "Boss Gu's words are exactly right. It's as if he has lived here for a long time and saw it with his own eyes."
Gu Xixi seemed to be thinking, "There is still enough water for irrigation, which is good news."
Meng Chengping asked anxiously, "Is there any other good news? What did you think of the land just now?"
Gu Xixi was in a playful mood at this time and stepped on the ice on the river surface.
After confirming that it was firm, she bravely stood on it, smiling uncontrollably as she said, "The soil is moderately sticky, relatively loose, and rich in fertility, which are good points. The soil is generally saline, which is the biggest disadvantage."
"Salt alkali." Meng Chengping narrowed his eyes, "I know this."
"There are many salt-alkali beaches in the northwest. When the wind blows, a layer of salt-alkali frost forms on the surface. The groundwater pumped up nearby is bitter. Apart from some wild grass, nothing else can grow."
He asked somewhat frustratedly, "You said that so much of the wasteland around here is saline-alkali land, which means that crops cannot be grown there."
Gu Xixi turned her head and looked at him, smiling, "When did I ever say that we can't plant seeds?"
Meng Chengping was startled, then overjoyed, "Boss Gu has a solution?"
Gu Xixi hummed and said, "It's not difficult. Once I bring back the collected samples, I will be able to find a solution."
Meng Chengping thought that this was probably the secret method mentioned in the rumors.
Gu Xixi turned around and walked towards the shore, "No more playing, business is more important."
Mu Nanzhao reached out his hand naturally.
Gu Xixi looked at the hand stretched out in front of her. The ten fingers were slender, the knuckles were even, and extremely beautiful. It was obvious that they were hands that had once lived a life of luxury.
In comparison, Gu Xixi looked down at her hands. They looked equally ugly before and after she crossed into the book. Her fingers were fleshy, and her skin was inevitably rough because of constant contact with reagents and water, and fiddling with various plants.
She hesitated for a moment, trying to remain calm and put her hand into Mu Nanzhao's.
Mu Nanzhao didn't seem to be exerting any effort, and Gu Xixi stepped on the ground easily.
She took her hand back and thanked him with a smile. But then she saw Meng Chengping's eyes were full of amusement, as if he was watching another big show.
Gu Xixi said calmly, "I am very interested in the salt-alkali beach that General Meng mentioned. Can we go there to take a look next?"
"Of course, I can, but..." Meng Chengping looked embarrassed. "The salt-alkali beach is further west."
Mu Nanzhao pondered and said, "To the west, at the border with Beili, not far outside the pass is Beili's largest military camp."
Meng Chengping nodded, "That's right."
"So there is a greater chance of encountering Beili spies there."
"The general asked me to ensure your safety at all costs, otherwise we should not go."
Mu Nanzhao asked Gu Xixi, "Why do you want to go to the salt alkali beach?"
Gu Xixi said, "Remember what I said before, about grass suitable for horses to eat? Maybe you can find it there."
Meng Chengping was so excited that he lost his voice. "Boss Gu can really even provide food for the war horses?"
Gu Xixi was very cautious, "I can't guarantee it, you won't know until you go and take a look."
Mu Nanzhao and Meng Chengping looked at each other and made up their minds.
Meng Chengping said solemnly, "Boss Gu risked his life for the Northwest Army, and we will risk our lives to send you back the same way you invited us here!"
Back in the carriage, Mu Nanzhao said, "Anything that is beneficial to the Northwest Army will benefit Meng Chengping, and I am happy to see it happen."
"It is natural for Meng Chengping and I to take risks for this, but you don't have to do the same."
He looked across, his eyes deep, "It's still not too late for you to ask them to return now."
Gu Xixi clasped her hands in her arms and looked at Mu Nanzhao with a half-smile, "You all have your own plans, how do you know I don't have any?"
The two looked at each other for a moment, and Mu Nanzhao chuckled helplessly, "Forget it, since no one will suffer, let's go together."
Gu Xixi certainly had her own plans, besides the reason she had told Meng Chengping before, which was that she hoped for peace on the border.
There is another reason, that is "love".
I love discovering different crops and I love conquering planting on different lands.
Heading west, you can see the sun slowly sinking towards the horizon.
Gu Xixi couldn't count how many times she had lifted the curtain and looked out.
Finally, I heard Meng Chengping shouting excitedly, "We're almost there! We can see the salt-alkali beach ahead!"
To prevent any unexpected situations, the carriage was stopped a little further away and hidden behind a pile of rocks.
Gu Xixi and others walked towards the salt-alkali beach.
The salt-alkali beach is close to the desert. The mudflat is a mixture of land and mud, and the edges are naturally bounded. If you look from a high place, the large irregular shapes look like a huge brand.
Although the weather is cold, the muddy water in the saline flats does not freeze, which is a sign of high salt content.
Gu Xixi stepped through the mud and water and searched carefully on a piece of wrapped land.
There are only two types of plants here. Some of the grass can grow to half a person's height, with thick and tough leaves. Even if they are withered and yellow at this time of year, they still stand firm when blown by the cold northwest wind.
The other part, hidden under the tall grass, grew close to the ground and had already dried up and shriveled.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com