18 - Little Peasant Wife

沈绿曼 noticed Jing Aoxue was in high spirits and suggested, “That sounds good. However, you might want to speak with the village chief about the situation. It's the off-season for farming, and many able-bodied villagers are idle at home. If you're willing to pay, they can come over to help with the repairs.” Jing Aoxue wasn't very familiar with the affairs of the village. Hearing this, she felt a bit overwhelmed and decided to hand over her purse to Shen Luman, entrusting her with contacting the village chief and taking full responsibility for the house repairs. Shen Luman's expression changed as she asked, “Then what will you do?” In the past, she wouldn't have dared to speak to Jing Aoxue so frankly. But after their journey together, she'd developed some fondness for Jing Aoxue and assumed she was shirking responsibility to go cause some mischief in town. Hence, her expression reflected her displeasure. Jing Aoxue didn’t notice Shen Luman’s questioning tone. She gazed off at the distant mountains and said, “I need to process some herb seeds. Once they sprout in a few days, I’ll plant them in the ground.” Hearing this, Shen Luman felt a wave of relief wash over her. Feeling a bit guilty about her earlier attitude and seeing Jing Aoxue’s gaze linger on the mountains, she suggested, “Would you like to take a walk up the mountain?” Jing Aoxue was indeed interested, so she nodded in agreement, and the two headed towards the mountains. Although the mountains weren't particularly high, they stretched on endlessly in a vast expanse of dense forest where no one lived. On the outskirts, one could hunt wild rabbits and pheasants. Deeper in, wild wolves and bears could be found. Shen Luman occasionally ventured deep into the mountains to hunt fierce animals to sell to the tavern for extra money when funds were tight. Her hunting skills surpassed even the village's veteran hunters. This wasn't because she possessed superb hunting techniques but because she was a cultivator. Despite being only at the third level, in the mortal realm, she was considered a moderately powerful figure. Not to mention, she had other methods for self-defense. Jing Aoxue made it halfway up the mountain and, exhausted, sat down heavily, panting for breath. In contrast, Shen Luman remained unaffected, standing upright as ever. “It's true; comparing oneself to others is futile,” Jing Aoxue thought as she wiped her sweat, gazing at the village below, built on flat terrain. From this vantage point, the village seemed sizable, with at least several hundred households, and her home was situated at the outskirts of the village. Remembering that Liu Er was still at home, she quickly stood and asked, “What about Liu Er?” Shen Luman replied, “I left a note before we left. If Liu Er wakes from her nap, she will know I’m up the mountain, and since you’re with me, she’ll be safe. She’s well-behaved, and the village is secure, so nothing will happen to her.” Jing Aoxue felt relieved at this and said, “Seems like moving here sooner would be beneficial. Our current place is too remote, with few neighbors around. If we move to the mountains’ base and foster good relations with neighbors, we can ask them to watch over Liu Er for us when we're busy.” Shen Luman glanced at her and smiled, “That's a good idea. Do you want to continue climbing the mountain?” Jing Aoxue looked at the daunting task still ahead, feeling her legs go weak. She waved her hand urgently, "No more climbing. If I go any further, you'll have to carry me back down.” “Alright, I’ll carry you,” Shen Luman replied calmly. Jing Aoxue’s mouth twitched. “Thank you, but I think I’ll walk myself.” With that, she carefully made her way down, clinging to trees for support. Shen Luman watched her clumsy descent and couldn't help but laugh. The path down was even trickier than the ascent. Exhausted, Jing Aoxue stumbled several times, nearly falling down the mountain if not for Shen Luman's timely assistance. Initially, she felt awkward needing help. But seeing Shen Luman’s impassive expression, she eventually became comfortable enough to lean on her for support down the mountain. Once they reached the flat ground, Jing Aoxue was drenched with sweat. She glanced at the fresh and unruffled Shen Luman beside her, feeling a great deal of admiration and resolved to improve her fitness. She needed to establish herself as the household’s head and couldn’t continue being so feeble! **Chapter 19: Jealousy** After descending the mountain, Jing Aoxue hurried home, worried about Liu Er being there alone. She quickened her pace and arrived home slightly out of breath. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Liu Er playing with a floral ball, a small trinket Jing Aoxue had bought in town the day before. There were several such toys scattered around Liu Er. Upon seeing their return, Liu Er's previously pouting expression turned to one of joyful excitement. She stumbled to stand, likely due to having sat too long with weak legs. She took a step forward, instinctively leaning forward and almost falling. This startled Jing Aoxue, but Shen Luman acted swiftly, using her cultivator abilities to move in a flash to Liu Er's side, catching her before she hit the ground. Relieved, Jing Aoxue hurried forward, exclaiming, "Why are you so careless!" Liu Er pouted slightly, her big, watery eyes looking at Jing Aoxue timidly, making her forget her initial frustration. Patting Liu Er’s shoulder, Jing Aoxue said, “Be more careful next time. You scared me.” Liu Er dutifully nodded, snuggling into Shen Luman's embrace. Shen Luman exchanged a glance with Jing Aoxue, recognizing the genuine concern in her eyes, which warmed her heart. She said, “Why don’t you play with Liu Er for a while? It’s still early. I’ll visit the village chief to discuss the house repairs.” Jing Aoxue agreed and took Liu Er from Shen Luman's arms. Liu Er nestled on her shoulder, whispering, “Mother, did you go to the mountain?” Watching Shen Luman’s retreating figure, Jing Aoxue sat in the courtyard with Liu Er, picking up the floral ball and handing it to her as she replied, “Yes, I went up the mountain with your mama. The scenery is lovely. We can take you next time.” Liu Er’s eyes widened. She’d always wanted to go to the mountains, but her mama had always said it was too dangerous. Yet, her mama accompanied her mother up there... Surely, her mama liked her mother more than she liked Liu Er. Feeling a bit upset and jealous, Liu Er fiddled with the floral ball, her mood souring. Jing Aoxue, playing with one of the toys herself, was taken aback by Liu Er’s sudden change in demeanor. She couldn’t fathom why Liu Er, who had been perfectly fine moments ago, now seemed so downcast. Ah, understanding a woman’s heart is indeed challenging. Shen Luman was one, and Liu Er was another. She gently lifted Liu Er’s chin, teasing affectionately, “Who made our precious Liu Er upset? Tell Mother, and I’ll go give them a good talking to!” Liu Er giggled, but then scrunched her little brows and voiced the feelings that had been troubling her. Jing Aoxue was initially bewildered, then burst into laughter, hugging the adorable little bundle in her arms. “Silly girl, of course your mama likes you more! She took me because I’m an adult and can handle any danger. When you’re a bit older, your mama will definitely take you up the mountain. It’s not what you think…” Jing Aoxue understood that Shen Luman was kind towards her, but there was no hint of romantic affection in that kindness. If she were in Shen Luman’s shoes, she knew that after caring for the original owner all these years, even with her efforts to make amends after crossing over, changing someone’s impression built over years isn’t easy. Still, this was the first time Liu Er showed signs of jealousy—quite refreshing. After Jing Aoxue's patient explanation, she watched as Liu Er’s cheeks turned crimson, blushing all the way from her neck to her ears, which were as pink as peaches, making her look utterly adorable. Especially with the mixture of shy and joyful expressions on Liu Er’s face, Jing Aoxue’s heart melted into a soft puddle of affection. Unable to resist, she hugged Liu Er tightly, kissed her cheek, wishing she could offer her all the best things in the world. No wonder people wanted children even in the harsh conditions post-apocalypse. Now she understood, with Liu Er curled up against her shoulder, blushing fiercely. Not wanting to be the subject of her mother’s teasing, Liu Er diverted her attention, saying, “Mother, let’s play with the floral ball.” Jing Aoxue readily agreed. Hearing Liu Er stutter, she raised an eyebrow, reminding her, “What did I teach you? Do you remember?” Liu Er nodded slowly, taking a moment before saying, “Mother, Liu Er remembers.” “Well done,” Jing Aoxue kissed her again. “In the future, think a bit more before speaking. Try to break up the sentences and speak each word clearly.” Liu Er tilted her head, blinking as she handed Jing Aoxue the floral ball, and they began to play. Jing Aoxue was very patient and, paired with playing with Liu Er, found she could multitask, thinking about future plans as they played. When Shen Luman returned and saw them enjoying their time together, she didn’t interrupt and instead went to the kitchen to prepare dinner as it was getting late. After they ate, Shen Luman bathed Liu Er and settled her into bed before returning to the kitchen to heat more water. Jing Aoxue was busy with the herbs, her head down as she worked, and asked, “How do the dregs and pills from yesterday work for you?” Shen Luman replied, “They’re remarkably effective, comparable to sect-grade elixirs.” Jing Aoxue smiled, “Of course, since you and I prepared them together.” Hearing this made Shen Luman’s face warm, for reasons she couldn't quite identify. Looking away at the stove fire, she asked, “Is tonight the same as last night?” Jing Aoxue nodded, “This needs to be consistent for seven days. The formula I used for you is different from mine since you have no internal injuries to repair. I prepared one to stimulate your inner potential. It needs to be used continuously to maximize its benefits.” “After you’ve used them, focus on cultivating and adapting your meridians. In a few months’ time, we can use another potion to further awaken your potential.” Shen Luman nodded, “Understood. You mentioned Liu Er could use this formula too?” Jing Aoxue looked up, smiling, “Yes, but adjustments must be made to soften the formula for Liu Er because her body is still developing. Lowering the potency is crucial; as she's young, the formula will work even better for her.” In the apocalypse, potential stimulants served to awaken special abilities, with a modest success rate of five percent. Don't underestimate that five percent. In a world where power rules, even a moderate power could elevate one to the social upper echelons, beneath only the highest leadership, ensuring they would want for nothing. Additionally, the success rate was considerably higher for children. However, in this otherworld without such abilities as Jing Aoxue regretted, that was not to be.