Lan Yue observed this, secretly marveling at Gu Qingcheng's prestige. Even at such a young age, she commanded such respect and deference from everyone.
Little did she know, Gu Qingcheng's high standing was built brick by brick through her dedication to the villagers' well-being. Their obedience stemmed entirely from the heart.
After her inspection, Gu Qingcheng felt a sense of satisfaction. The zombie antidote was indeed effective, meaning her father and Daoist Master Ge could safely focus on researching other medicines. She planned to write a letter to her father to share the good news. Of course, there would be the matter of long-term follow-ups for the injured villagers to check for any residual effects, but that was a story for another time.
After a busy morning, Gu Qingcheng noticed the Lan sisters assisting even the pharmacy apprentices, diligently recording the conditions of the injured. This solidified her opinion that the sisters were worthy of friendship. They were the kind of individuals who could manage household affairs with grace and hold their own in any situation.
As morning turned to noon, Gu Qingcheng invited the sisters for lunch. Lan Xing and Lan Yue politely declined, explaining they had to rush back home. They had come out without their family's knowledge and needed to appear as if they had never left before their parents discovered their absence.
Understanding their predicament, Gu Qingcheng didn't press the issue. She promised to prepare a grand feast for them at a later date.
Returning to the inn, Gu Qingcheng found Mi Guo already there. He had returned while she and the sisters were at the pharmacy.
"Sister, I have good news! In about seven or eight days, we'll be able to move into the new house."
"Really? What happened? Old Hu said it would take over a month!"
"Hmph, as soon as I left the pharmacy, I went to rush Old Hu with the renovation. He realized his deception and finally agreed to speed things up," Mi Guo said, sounding annoyed.
"What's wrong? Isn't he doing a good job? What's the issue?" Gu Qingcheng asked, puzzled.
"I made some friends on the island, and this morning I overheard them saying that Old Hu has struck it rich. He's assembled a large team of craftsmen specializing in renovations and house construction. With the island's growing population, the demand for new homes has increased, and his business is booming. But Old Hu can't handle the volume. He takes on every job, regardless of his capacity. As a result, he's short-handed. So, he sends random laborers to the construction sites each day to just go through the motions, doing minimal work to give the impression of progress. If our new house were being built properly, it would have been almost finished already. He's been deliberately delaying it."
Gu Qingcheng couldn't help but laugh, amused and a little exasperated. Old Hu certainly had the audacity to apply modern construction project management tactics so adeptly, but it was wrong to use them against them. Old Hu had truly prospered because of their backing, and now he was undermining their trust.
Mi Guo and Lan Xing had missed each other that day. Gu Qingcheng, unaware of their prior acquaintance, mentioned to Mi Guo that she wanted to introduce him to two interesting friends.
Following this, Gu Qingcheng became busy again, and she had no further contact with the Lan sisters for the time being. She did, however, meet frequently with Du Laoda. The construction of the wharf had also commenced, with Du Laoda playing a crucial role in land acquisition and labor management. Their working relationship had evidently deepened after the zombie siege, with both of them demonstrating their integrity and strengthening their mutual trust through the ordeal.
The promised reward for the first person to raise the alarm during the zombie attack was also fulfilled. The award ceremony was a grand affair, complete with a decorated stage, colorful banners, dragon and lion dances, and a cacophony of gongs and drums. Almost all the idle residents of the island turned out to witness the spectacle. The fisherman, a Mr. Qiu, affectionately known as Old Qiu, received the most gold he had ever held in his life – a full 100 taels! This substantial reward was, of course, paid out of Gu Qingcheng's own pocket. She possessed ample gold, and this act further cemented her reputation for public spirit and righteousness.
After the award ceremony, Gu Qingcheng moved into her new residence. Having been thoroughly reprimanded by Mi Guo, Old Hu was terrified into apologizing profusely. He mobilized his entire workforce and completed the new house within a week. Mi Guo was delighted that with the new house, Gu Qingcheng would finally have someone to attend to her needs. When she was tired, she could simply relax with a hot bath, and someone would be there to arrange it for her. Making the bed and warming the covers were also no longer her concern.
With the move to the new house complete, Gu Qingcheng began planning the dinner invitation for Lan Xing and Lan Yue. Mi Guo had not yet met Lan Yue, nor was he aware that she was the young woman whose foot he had accidentally stepped on that night. Gu Qingcheng discussed the menu with Mi Guo.
Upon learning that his guests came from a distinguished family, Mi Guo suggested, "Ladies of their background likely wouldn't be impressed by ordinary fare. However, dishes like boiled fish slices, roast lamb, stir-fried conch slices, and salmon are not commonly eaten by locals. We could prepare dishes that they might not encounter regularly."
"Absolutely. We must astound them," Gu Qingcheng declared. This was her first time seriously making friends, so she was determined to make a good impression. Mi Guo, recognizing this and seeing it as an opportunity to showcase his culinary skills, was equally eager to impress.
They finally settled on the menu for the evening: boiled fish, roast lamb, salmon, curry fried rice, and a mushroom soup with matsutake. While the selection might not seem extensive, the portions were generous, ensuring everyone would be satisfied. Naturally, the Lan sisters' appetites were likely not as large as Gu Qingcheng and Mi Guo's, who had been enjoying greatly enhanced appetites since consuming the "Great Strength Pills." They expended a lot of energy in their daily activities, which they found effortless, leading to increased calorie consumption. Dr. Gu Chaobei had always maintained that a good appetite and sound sleep were indicators of good health, and he consistently encouraged them to eat and sleep well.
When the Lan sisters received Gu Qingcheng's invitation, they concocted a plausible excuse for their mother: they needed to go out to get measured for new clothes and purchase new jewelry. Having successfully "fooled" their mother, they set off for the banquet.
As the Lan sisters alighted from their carriage, they saw Gu Qingcheng and Mi Guo waiting to greet them at the entrance. Being young, there were no excessive formalities among them. Upon seeing Lan Xing, Mi Guo exclaimed, "It's you!"
"You two know each other?" Gu Qingcheng asked, curious.
"On the Qixi Festival night, I stepped on Lan Xing's foot and took her to the clinic. I didn't realize she was one of the new friends you mentioned," Mi Guo said, his face beaming.
Lan Xing didn't seem embarrassed at all. She cheerfully greeted Mi Guo, showcasing her fully recovered foot. Lan Yue breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, neither Mi Guo nor Gu Qingcheng seemed to suspect anything. If they knew that Lan Xing had intentionally held back Mi Guo to give Lan Yue an opportunity to spend time with Gu Qingcheng, it would have been rather awkward.
Seeing that Mi Guo and Lan Xing were already acquainted, Gu Qingcheng was quite pleased. "It's truly fortunate," she said. "I was worried you might feel like strangers, but now I don't have to worry. Come in and have some tea first." This exchange further warmed the atmosphere among them.