17 - Little Peasant Wife

The courtyard was expansive, with ample empty rooms, yet to be filled with residents. When Liu Er turned a little over two, Shen Lü Man, finding herself with some free time, started teaching her to read. As Liu Er grew older, Shen Lü Man, recalling the daily life of young misses from the Jing family, decided to create a combined study and playroom for her. Whenever Shen Lü Man ventured up the mountain to hunt, she'd leave Liu Er in that room to play. The study wasn't filled with many things, only some simple trinkets, most of them handmade by Shen Lü Man herself. Items such as animal bones, teeth, and fur were repurposed and crafted into toys for Liu Er. One day, Shen Lü Man entered the study carrying some items and found Liu Er engrossed in playing with the feathers on a shuttlecock. After arranging books on the shelf—also handcrafted by Shen Lü Man and rather basic in appearance—she noted that there were only two books. Books were expensive, and her funds were limited, so she hadn't purchased many. Placing the books bought by Jing Ao Xue the previous day on the shelf, it suddenly seemed much fuller. Liu Er approached curiously, running her fingers over the cover of the first book and struggling to recognize the characters. "Three, Character..." she trailed off, unable to read the last word. Shen Lü Man pulled the book out and sat down, gesturing for Liu Er to sit opposite her. Placing the book on the table between them, she pointed to the word and taught her, "This is 'Classic.' The book is called 'Three Character Classic.' Today, I'll teach you the words in it." With wide, attentive eyes, Liu Er nodded obediently and repeated after her. The morning passed with Shen Lü Man teaching Liu Er to recognize characters. By lunchtime, after Liu Er finished her meal, Shen Lü Man sent her to nap and moved the fabric purchased the day before from the cloth shop into her bedroom cabinet. Picking out a soft pink piece, she cut and threaded it, intending to make a new outfit for Liu Er. Just as she had sewn a few stitches, Jing Ao Xue opened the door, running a hand through her hair as she stepped out. Greeting Shen Lü Man with a weary nod, she headed to the courtyard to wash up. Watching her retreating figure, Shen Lü Man thought that Jing Ao Xue must be famished, having just woken up without breakfast. Setting aside her sewing, Shen Lü Man went to the kitchen to heat the soup she had prepared that morning and make a quick fried rice with leftover lunch ingredients. Jing Ao Xue, freshened up, soon sat down to enjoy the meal. As she ate, a thought crossed Jing Ao Xue's mind: Having a spouse to care for you was truly wonderful. In her previous life, even with her plant-based powers to cultivate vegetables, her cooking skills were average, and she often relied on nutritional supplements due to the inconvenience of cooking, usual lab routine. Those supplements, while varied in flavor and filling, resembled drinks more than meals, and frequent consumption was tiresome. In the past, her days in the lab were long and grueling. Hunger was dismissed with a cold bottle of nutrient from the refrigerator, leaving her feeling unsatisfied. Now, her life was vastly more comfortable and contented. After her meal, she looked over to see Shen Lü Man still sewing, her hands moving deftly and seamlessly as if in a natural flow, quickly sketching out the form of the garment. Her admiration was evident as she exclaimed in wonder. Shen Lü Man glanced up while continuing her work, remarkably avoiding pricking her fingers despite the distraction. Observing the dishes on the table, Shen Lü Man said, "Once I finish this seam, I'll wash the dishes." Jing Ao Xue quickly shook her head, a bit embarrassed, "I'll wash them myself." Shen Lü Man had already cooked and served the meal and was now busy making clothes for Liu Er, and Jing Ao Xue felt it was too much to ask Shen Lü Man to clean up as well. Although she was lazy, she was not to that extent lazy. She sheepishly recalled she had been acting like royalty, never washing a dish herself in recent times. After washing the dishes, Jing Ao Xue returned to the main room to watch as Shen Lü Man completed the top. Shen Lü Man massaged her wrist, and Jing Ao Xue quickly suggested, "No need to rush with finishing this. Let's rest a bit. I’d like to take a stroll after eating; why don’t you come with me?" Shen Lü Man was taken aback, and Jing Ao Xue feared she might refuse. Jing Ao Xue candidly added, "Didn't I acquire twenty acres from the Han Family a while back? I was thinking of checking the land today, maybe planting some herbs." Her interest piqued, Shen Lü Man's spirits lifted—if Jing Ao Xue started farming, it would mean she'd stay home more, which would undoubtedly make Liu Er very happy. Her mood brightened as she stood up to carefully store away the fabric and clothing in the bedroom. Returning, she agreed, "Alright, let's go." Jing Ao Xue nodded, and together they set off toward the foot of the mountain. Chapter 18: Growing Closer On the way, Jing Ao Xue attempted to engage Shen Lü Man in conversation, but Shen Lü Man was naturally reserved or perhaps simply uninterested in chatting, often responding with only brief "Mm" or "Oh." After several attempts, Jing Ao Xue awkwardly fell silent. Jing Ao Xue walked ahead, with Shen Lü Man following at a leisurely pace, her footsteps barely audible. Jing Ao Xue began to regret inviting Shen Lü Man out, yet it was too late to send her back now. She sighed in resignation, prompting Shen Lü Man to step forward and hesitantly ask, "Where did you get injured last time?" The question seemed out of the blue. Jing Ao Xue gave Shen Lü Man a puzzled look, and after a moment of thought, replied, "In the mountains." "How so? I often go up the mountain but never encounter any fierce beasts," Shen Lü Man remarked, perplexed. Jing Ao Xue touched her nose awkwardly. Her injury wasn't due to wild animals; it was diagnosed as fire element energy scorching her meridians and extinguishing her life force. The old doctor at Baicao Hall had explained this with Shen Lü Man present, so she should have been aware. Was she just trying to start a conversation? Pressing her lips together, Jing Ao Xue refrained from explaining she got hurt absorbing wood element energy to cultivate and instead lied, "I went hunting in the mountains, but all of a sudden, was overwhelmed by excruciating pain inside my body... I still don't quite understand what happened." Her face darkened as she spoke. Although a few days of rest had healed her, if such a situation were to arise again, the pain alone would be unbearable. Shen Lü Man paused in her steps, wondering why Jing Ao Xue would go hunting when she had taken plenty of food from the Han household. Noticing the evasiveness in Jing Ao Xue's demeanor, Shen Lü Man chose not to confront her about it and said, "Your symptoms sound similar to a few years ago when the internal fire burned your spiritual root upon your return from the secret realm. Perhaps the residual internal fire became active again for some reason." This indication signaled a severe issue. Looking at each other, Jing Ao Xue forced a smile and said, "Things might not be as bad as we imagine. It could be just a fluke. As long as I have herbal remedies, even if I'm hurt again, I can brew pills for recovery." But Shen Lü Man wasn’t as optimistic, her brow furrowing with concern. However, Jing Ao Xue, seeing Shen Lü Man's worry, felt the previous distance between them diminish. Jing Ao Xue, an orphan with an odd temperament, nonetheless yearned for connections with others. Shen Lü Man's care and concern warmed her heart. Softening her expression, Jing Ao Xue assured gently, "Don't worry. I'll be fine." Her tone was determined, bolstered by her own life-preserving methods. Enhancing her wood element abilities and repair capabilities would shield her against injuries. Shen Lü Man, though still uneasy, felt slightly reassured seeing Jing Ao Xue's confidence and shifted the topic, "You mentioned wanting to plant crops in the fertile land at the foot of the mountain?" Jing Ao Xue nodded, "I bought many herb seeds from Baicao Hall for this purpose." "However, cultivating herbs is difficult, each requiring different growth conditions. You..." Jing Ao Xue smirked, "We're cultivators. Although I can't use spiritual power, you can. Setting up a formation around the fields should be easy for you." With a glance at Jing Ao Xue, Shen Lü Man responded, "Formations need spirit stones, which are as rare as hen's teeth here in the mortal realm." Jing Ao Xue smiled, "Who said you need spirit stones? Just some spiritual energy is enough. Jade can temporarily store spiritual energy, acting like spirit stones." "Besides, I’m not planning to grow rare herbs, just common ones. If they thrive, great; if not, no matter. Between us, we have enough silver to last a while." "When funds run low, I can always venture out for business. You'll never go hungry, nor will Liu Er." As Jing Ao Xue spoke, she playfully winked, reminiscent of Liu Er’s expression, causing Shen Lü Man to laugh, "If that's how it is, then it sounds good." Their conversation lightened the mood, leading to more relaxed and casual exchanges as they walked. Jing Ao Xue, with her extensive memories and experiences, was a skilled conversationalist. Although Shen Lü Man spoke less, her words carried impact. Having read many books, she contributed valuable insights to their talks. By the time the two arrived, pausing in front of an abandoned thatched hut, they realized they had been engrossed in conversation for half an hour, reaching the base of the mountain. Jing Ao Xue mentally acknowledged Shen Lü Man as a treasure to be discovered and appreciated, her gaze filled with admiration when she asked, "What do you think of this thatched cottage?" Shen Lü Man circled around it before commenting, "This cottage has been abandoned for quite some time; much of the courtyard wall has collapsed. If you want to move here, some renovations would be necessary." While pointing out the drawbacks, she shifted her tone, "However, it’s indeed a good place to settle. The surrounding landscape is serene, and it’s just a short walk to your twenty acres of fertile land. The town is a mere fifteen-minute walk away, much more convenient than our current residence." Jing Ao Xue’s eyes brightened, "So you don't mind if I relocate here?" Shen Lü Man nodded, "It's at the mountain base, convenient for my hunting endeavors. Besides, there are a few friendly families nearby, each with young children. Liu Er could play with them." Smiling broadly, Jing Ao Xue agreed, "Exactly! Since you approve, I'll arrange for repairs soon, and we'll move to begin cultivating." With this mutual understanding, both women felt closer, the distance between their hearts growing less noticeable as they anticipated their new home.