2 - Little Peasant Wife

At that moment, the door was pushed open from outside, and a little girl, around three or four years old, walked in holding a bowl of rice soup. She was dressed in ancient attire, her chubby cheeks slightly sallow, yet her eyes were dark and clear, giving her a very pleasing appearance. Seeing Jing Ao Xue awake, she was startled. Her expression turned timid and hesitant as she stammered, "Mo-Mother... you're awake!" **Chapter Two: Food Scavenging** This little girl was none other than Jing Liu Er, the child of the original owner and her wife. Jing Ao Xue, having integrated the original owner's memories, though aware that two women could indeed conceive and bear children, still approached the concept with skepticism. Nonetheless, seeing the little girl in person piqued her curiosity. Jing Liu Er feared her mother, but when she didn't hear any scolding from Jing Ao Xue after a long moment, unease settled in her heart, rippling like water disturbed in a pond. Tentatively, she whispered again, stuttering, "Mo-Mother..." Jing Ao Xue replied with a complex expression, acknowledging her with a simple "hm." She wasn't experienced with interacting with little girls in the post-apocalyptic world. Confronted with this little girl now, she truly didn't know how to respond. Emulating the original owner's demeanor, she replied with a cold, detached "hm." Contrary to her intentions, this reaction seemed to relieve Jing Liu Er. She cautiously approached and placed the bowl of rice soup on the table, speaking in a small voice, "Mo-Mother... this, this is from M-Mother this morning... for you to eat..." Such a simple sentence took Jing Liu Er an extraordinarily long time to say due to her stuttering. Previously, what the original owner despised most was her timid demeanor. Hearing her speak would irritate the original owner, and this little girl became the original owner's scapegoat. Jing Liu Er had grown accustomed to this, preparing herself for a beating. Yet, seeing Jing Ao Xue sit down silently to eat, allowing her to go free so easily, Jing Liu Er felt both disbelief and relief. She sneaked a glance at Jing Ao Xue eating, a hint of disappointment rising in her heart. Usually, her mother could not stand the sight of her and her other mother, mostly staying away from home except for intermittent visits to demand money or berate them. Jing Liu Er used to dread her mother's return. However, during this illness, her mother had stayed quietly in bed for several days without losing her temper or hitting her, which she found very strange. She even dared to draw near to observe her mother up close for the first time. Despite her grievances, the bond of blood between mother and daughter was undeniable. Seeing her mother lying lifeless on the bed, she could not pretend not to be worried or frightened. It wasn't until her other mother assured her that her mother was merely asleep that she felt reassured. She even grew fond of this way of interacting with her mother, secretly hoping she would always be this quiet and present. Unexpectedly, her mother recovered so soon and would soon leave home once more. Jing Liu Er lowered her head in disappointment, her emotions fluctuating like a rollercoaster within those minutes it took for Jing Ao Xue to finish her meal, completely unaware of the turmoil in the little girl's heart. The rice soup, barely enough to be called a meal, only increased her hunger. The bowl had very little rice, making it feel like she had only drunk water, doing nothing to satiate her. Jing Ao Xue, who had survived for years in the post-apocalyptic world, feared hunger above all else. In this new world, where resources were abundant, there was no reason she should endure hunger. Resolute, Jing Ao Xue stood up abruptly, startling the timid Jing Liu Er. Uncertain how to interact with children, she mimicked a maternal gesture she had seen before, gently patting the little girl's head, then walked out with the bowl, regardless of the child's internal reaction. Turning into the kitchen, she found nothing edible; it seemed the original owner had squandered everything. With nothing to eat at home, she recalled the nearby mountain where wild vegetables and possibly game could be found. The thought of meat incited her craving. Just as she prepared to grab a kitchen knife and head for the mountains, Jing Liu Er nervously pleaded, "Mo-Mother, please... don't hit, mother." At first, Jing Ao Xue was puzzled by the little girl's words. Then she remembered that whenever the original owner came home, if the wife wasn't forthcoming with money, she would hit her indiscriminately, and the child had been caught in the crossfire a few times. So, the little girl thought she was going to hit her mother now? Jing Ao Xue found the notion absurd and silently cursed the despicable original owner. She gazed down at the timid girl, softened her voice, and reassured her, "I won't hit you or your mother ever again. I'm taking the knife to find us some food in the mountains." Curiosity overcome by her fear, the little girl's eyes widened. Jing Ao Xue, feeling the awkwardness, pondered over taking the girl along. She asked, without much expectation, "Would you like to come with me?" The little girl stepped back in fright but then nodded eagerly. "I... I can... also come?" Jing Ao Xue nodded, instructing her to "come along," and the little girl trailed closely behind. Though Jing Ao Xue's body was still weak, she adjusted her pace to accommodate the little girl's shorter stride. She considered carrying the child but didn't want to startle her, given her evident fear. Most importantly, having spent so much time in the harsh world of her past, she feared being too rough with such a delicate, soft being. Walking in silence through the village, Jing Ao Xue thought the quietness was somewhat eerie, so she asked, "Where is your mother?" The little girl, delighted by the new experience, walked without tiring. Having never ventured out with her mother before, everything seemed novel and exciting. Halted by Jing Ao Xue's inquiry, she responded honestly, "M-Mother, this m-morning... went to the town." "The town?" Jing Ao Xue wondered aloud. From the original owner's memories, she knew this village lay in a remote mountainous region of the Mortal Realm, with the nearest town being quite far—a two-hour walk, or approximately four hours round trip. As such, villagers seldom went there unless necessary. The original owner usually lingered in town, squandering money, returning only when funds were exhausted, sometimes hiring a carriage, which still took about an hour. What was the original owner's wife doing in town? Puzzled, Jing Ao Xue asked. The little girl fiddled with her worn-out clothing and said softly, "M-Mother said... you were s-sick, needed... medicine, so she went to... to get some." Understand dawned on Jing Ao Xue, a wry smile creeping onto her face. The original owner was truly deplorable, squandering everything. If not for the wife's labors, they'd have been on the streets ages ago. Even so, the original owner often mistreated the wife and child. Jing Ao Xue felt an urge to vent her frustration on the original owner, though she knew that was impossible now. She'd taken over this body and was obliged to repay the wife's kindness. Moving forward, she resolved to treat her wife and daughter better. Turning back to the little girl’s puzzled gaze, Jing Ao Xue hoisted her onto her back. The child squealed in terror, but seeing that she wasn't harmed and now had a higher vantage point, she clamped her mouth shut, even embracing Jing Ao Xue for support. Trying to explain, Jing Ao Xue faltered and, mumbling her embarrassment, carried the girl toward the mountain. Along the way, encountering villagers, who avoided her like the plague, Jing Ao Xue could only chuckle at their reactions, both amused and exasperated. Skirting the majority of the village, finally on the main road, she noticed some well-dressed villagers headed in a particular direction. Among them, a farmer in his forties commented to a young man beside him, "Like produces like, a dragon begets dragons, a phoenix begets phoenixes, and mice spawn burrowing mice. Old Master Han, after a life of literary pursuits, now has a gifted grandson, not yet twenty, already passing the provincial exams. Their family's rise to prominence is assured. Meanwhile, our family has tilled the land for generations without success." The young man by his side looked displeased, retorting, "Father, supporting a scholar costs money. Just the annual fees for the academy are thirty taels. Could you bear that expense? I certainly can't." "Short-sighted boy! If you could pass the provincial exams, I'd spend three hundred taels, not just thirty, and sell everything to provide for you!" The farmer sighed heavily, while the young man seemed dismissive. "The Han family is infamous in the village for being fallen. How did they afford to fund a scholar? Everyone knows their money was swindled from outsiders like Jing Ya Ren. Once he passed the exams, he even sent people to beat Jing Ya Ren. I heard she’s barely hanging on, bedridden, and near death. It's pitiful to consider her family, especially with young children." The farmer frowned, "What's so pitiable? The Jing Family Young Woman is diligent. Her hunting skills outshine even the most seasoned hunters in the village, earning at least a hundred taels annually. If the useless Jing Ya Ren succumbs, that woman and her family might finally see brighter days." "Indeed it is..." the young man nodded in agreement, then continued with a grin, "Father, it's been three years since our elder brother's wife passed. It's about time to find him a new bride. I think—" "Think what?" Jing Ao Xue approached coldly, asking indifferently. The young man turned as he spoke and, seeing Jing Ao Xue's aloof expression, the rest of his words got stuck in his throat, unable to continue. The farmer also noticed her arrival and quickly nudged his son, saying, "Isn't this Jing Ya Ren? What a coincidence." "Quite the coincidence," Jing Ao Xue replied meaningfully. "And where might you two be headed?" Sensing she wasn't holding a grudge, the farmer hurriedly shifted the topic, "Oh, the Young Master of the Han Family passed his exams as a provincial scholar. The Han family is hosting a grand banquet and has invited the villagers as guests for the feast. We were just on our way to partake." Hearing this, Jing Ao Xue rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Here she was, stomach growling, and a banquet lay just ahead. It would be uncharacteristic of her to pass such an opportunity by. The Han family's scholar was someone she knew well—the very man the original owner had always longed for. Handsome and learned, he was considered an exceptional figure in the Mortal Realm. The original owner disliked women and had only married due to an unforeseen incident. Having grown up in the cultivation world, she lacked understanding of Mortal Realm customs and did whatever crossed her mind, often making a spectacle of herself.