Wei Zheng's nose twitched slightly. After all this commotion, most of the poison in his body had been eliminated, and he was already very hungry.
Just then, Su Ruanruan came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with a medicine bowl and two bowls of porridge on it, and Wei Zheng's stomach rumbled in perfect unison.
He rubbed his stomach and gave an awkward smile, "Thank you so much, Miss Su, for saving me today..."
Su Ruanruan stopped and looked at him. "Young Master Wei, you're too kind! It was just a small favor. But this isn't my home, so I should show some appreciation for using someone else's things."
"Of course." He took out a purse from his pocket, poured out the silver inside, and looked somewhat uneasy.
"I was in too much of a rush to leave today, and I only have these ten taels of silver..."
Su Ruanruan's eyes lit up. Without thinking, she placed the silver on the tray, took it from his hand, and said with a fawning smile, "Ten taels it is. I'll pack a few more doses of medicine for you later. Remember to take them on time when you get back."
She then pointed to the kitchen, "There's still some porridge on the stove. If you're hungry, have someone go and get you some. Once you feel a little better, you can leave! This is someone else's home, and it's not appropriate for me to let you stay and recuperate here!"
After saying that, she carried the tray into Gu Ji's bedroom.
Through the open door, the group was able to see the scene inside the room.
The room was extremely simple, with only a half-new bed and a cabinet, and a low table next to the bed.
The boy named Gu Ji was lying on the bed. When he saw Su Ruanruan come in, he struggled to sit up.
Su Ruanruan leaned the soft pillow against his back and reached out to touch his forehead; it was still burning hot.
Gu Ji glanced at Su Ruanruan, then lowered his eyes. "Ruanruan, I was bewitched to look at your shadow. I'll accept whatever punishment you give me, but please don't ignore me..."
Su Ruanruan scoffed.
He reached out and touched the rim of the sweet potato porridge bowl. It wasn't so hot anymore, so he picked it up, blew on it, and handed it to Gu Ji.
“Here, drink the porridge yourself, and then take your medicine.”
Hearing this, Gu Ji felt even more guilty. "Ruan Ruan, you don't blame me anymore?"
Su Ruanruan crossed her arms and looked at him leisurely. "How can I not blame you? You have really let down the friendship we have since childhood. If I can't even trust you, who can I trust?"
"I'm sorry, Ruanruan."
Su Ruanruan picked up her bowl of porridge and drank it without even glancing at him. "It's only because it's me. If you had looked at someone else today, you wouldn't be tied to a tree. You'd probably be getting a beating by now, or that girl would be forcing you to marry her."
Gu Ji shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, how could I possibly peek at them? I just haven't seen your original..."
Su Ruanruan quickly cleared her throat, "Don't talk nonsense."
She gestured towards the door with her chin, "Today, some people came to the house."
Gu Ji turned his head slightly and saw that there were several big men standing in the courtyard. They were tall and strong. He recognized two of them. One of them had dragged him away from the cave, and the other had tied him to a tree. They all looked like men who were not to be trifled with.
Only the one sitting and eating looked somewhat refined, and he was smiling at him through the door.
He then remembered that he had seen him when he accompanied Ruan Ruan to town that day.
Gu Ji nodded slightly as a greeting.
"Who are they?"
Although he remembered what they looked like, they had not revealed their identities from last night until today.
Thinking of their fierce and menacing eyes, Gu Ji swallowed hard.
Su Ruanruan whispered, "They are constables from the county government."
"What are they doing in our village?"
"I don't know, we shouldn't concern ourselves with the affairs of the government."
Gu Ji frowned and coughed lightly. "Oh, I see."
Su Ruanruan didn't say anything more, took his porridge bowl, and handed him the medicine bowl again.
Gu Ji frowned deeply, hesitated for only a moment, and then drank the thick, bitter medicine in one gulp.
Su Ruanruan then gave him five taels of silver that she had collected.
“Look, they used Uncle Gu’s herbs, this is what you deserve.”
"Too many..."
Su Ruanruan chuckled and whispered in his ear, "Are you stupid? Isn't it good to make money? Why would anyone complain about having too much money?"
The people in the courtyard could clearly see them whispering and joking around.
Wei Zheng laughed and said, "This Miss Su is truly extraordinary."
Jin Yu glanced at Huo Yan, who showed no expression.
Su Ruanruan and Gu Ji were still talking inside when the others in the courtyard were about to take their leave.
Su Ruanruan handed the packaged herbs to Wei Zheng and gave him instructions on dosage, usage, and precautions.
Then he watched the group leave.
After they left, Su Ruanruan tidied up the yard and kitchen.
After finishing everything and returning to the room, I touched Gu Ji's forehead and it wasn't as hot as before.
"I wonder when Uncle Gu will be back."
"My father should be back today. If you have something to do, go ahead and do it! I'll be fine on my own."
Su Ruanruan glanced at him and also felt that there wouldn't be any major problems.
"Then you get a good night's sleep. I have to go to Daohua Village in a bit."
"Okay, be careful on the road."
"Okay." Su Ruanruan nodded, left the house, and closed the door to Gu Ji's house.
Su Ruanruan did not go home, but went directly to Daohua Village.
Upon entering, I found the house to be unusually lively, with all sorts of gifts laid out on the table. My uncle Duan Zhuang, my aunt Liu, my eldest cousin Duan Datie, my second cousin Duan Erwang, and my third cousin were all there.
Inside the house, several respected elders from the village sat in the seats of honor, while a matchmaker-looking old woman chatted and laughed.
Duan Datie was honest and simple. When the matchmaker praised him, his face turned red, and he scratched his head embarrassedly.
Xiao Xi, who dislikes crowds, sat quietly in the corner, listening attentively to their conversation.
When he saw the familiar figure entering the courtyard, his eyes lit up, and he ran towards Su Ruanruan with light and quick movements.
"Sister."
Su Ruanruan bent down and hugged him. The little guy seemed to have gained some weight since she last saw him a few days ago.
Sanzhu also ran out upon hearing the noise, calling out with a grin, "Cousin!"
Su Ruanruan stood in the courtyard and looked inside, only then noticing that the whole family had changed into new clothes today, and even Xiao Xi was wearing new clothes.
Although it was just coarse cloth, the whole person looked refreshed and full of energy.
Even the magpies were chirping incessantly on the roof.
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