22 - Little Peasant Wife

Title: Devoted to My Farm Household Wife (22)_Yi Chun [Completed]_Fuxiaobook Shen Lv Man was momentarily stunned, then let out a sigh of relief before demanding, "What do you mean? Be more specific!" Her tone carried a hint of firmness, which made Jing Ao Xue quietly muse: Does she really not want to divorce me this much? Although, to be fair, I don't want to separate from her either. Still, Shen Lv Man seems overly sensitive about this matter. She married the original host and stayed by her side all this time. There must be a significant reason for her persistence over the years, something crucial enough to make her hold on day after day for a decade. For now, Jing Ao Xue didn't wish to uncover the exact reason. Even if she asked, Shen Lv Man would never reveal it. Frustrated, she massaged her forehead, initially aiming to connect deeply with Shen Lv Man, only for things to take an unexpected turn. Left with no choice, she solemnly assured, "I just want to live well with you and Liu Er, nothing else. Don't overthink. I've changed a lot these days; surely, you've noticed even a little. If you don't believe what I say, then I'll show you." Jing Ao Xue sincerely added, "All I ask is for you to give me a chance to prove my sincerity!" Upon hearing this, Shen Lv Man bit her tongue until she tasted blood, finally covering her lips with her hand. She opened her mouth to say something, but Jing Ao Xue gave her no opportunity, stating only, "The water is about to cool. I'll go to the kitchen to heat more," before turning and leaving. Sitting dazed in the bathtub, Shen Lv Man felt an overwhelming rush of emotions, leaving her unsure of how to proceed. Did Jing Ao Xue really mean what she said? Did she truly want to build a life with her? Such an outcome was undoubtedly favorable for Shen Lv Man, as they were bound together for life—if Jing Ao Xue's attitude improved, their shared lifetime would be less unbearable. She mentioned wanting Shen Lv Man to believe her, to prove her sincerity. Shen Lv Man's feelings were complicated; she relaxed, sliding further into the tub. The pale green water gradually covered her head, and under the dim light, the water in the tub refracted a dark green glow. Submerged in the water, she felt as though she had returned to the safest place, her whole self unwinding and emanating a gentle luminescent green light. Recalling the words of the old clan priest on his deathbed and Jing Ao Xue's recent promise, the icy hardness encasing her heart for over twenty years finally cracked with a faint fissure. Over the years, she had suppressed her true nature, severed hopes for the future, and remained by the side of this reckless Ariran. Life had long since dulled her senses. Yet, unexpectedly, a new development emerged—one centered around Jing Ao Xue. She wasn't quick to trust; past torments were certainly genuine. Yet, the changes in Jing Ao Xue recently were also real. Unable to decide, she resolved internally: In the days to come, I will see with my own eyes just how far Jing Ao Xue can go! ### Chapter 21: Getting Along Shen Lv Man had mentally prepared herself, and over the next few days, she grew closer to Jing Ao Xue. One of them was making a deliberate effort to please, while the other consciously chose to accept. Although they went through an inevitable awkward adjustment period, both women were clever and lived together day and night. Once they started to open up and talk, the previous barriers melted away, making their interactions much more natural. One morning, after finishing breakfast, Shen Lv Man prepared to head out to the thatched hut at the foot of the mountain, while Jing Ao Xue stayed behind to care for Liu Er and the newly cultivated herb seedlings. Before leaving, Shen Lv Man glanced at Jing Ao Xue and asked, “I’ll also hunt on the mountain today and bring back some game to improve our meals. Is there any particular meat you’d like?” The implication was clear: if Jing Ao Xue had a preference, Shen Lv Man would make an effort to catch it. Jing Ao Xue's eyes brightened, increasingly appreciative of Shen Lv Man's culinary skills. She didn’t hold back in her response: “Bring back some wild chickens. They have a rich flavor and are great for making soup or stews.” Since moving back to the village, meat had been scarce. Although Shen Lv Man’s cooking was excellent, a constant vegetarian diet was hard to maintain—she wasn’t a monk, after all. Seeing the eager gleam in Jing Ao Xue’s eyes, Shen Lv Man chuckled and agreed. She then turned to Liu Er, who was standing next to Jing Ao Xue. Liu Er shook her head and said, “Mother, I like fruit, it’s delicious.” It seemed Liu Er wasn’t fond of meat, or perhaps she didn’t agree with killing animals. Shen Lv Man gently caressed her head, casting a knowing smile toward Jing Ao Xue before departing. Jing Ao Xue watched Shen Lv Man's retreating back, then lifted Liu Er into her arms, saying, “Let’s continue studying in the study room. We finished ‘The Three Character Classic’ before. Today, you need to recite and write it from memory; then I’ll teach you numbers and accounting.” Liu Er, being a diligent and accommodating child, embraced learning like a sponge. She quickly absorbed what Jing Ao Xue taught and applied it effectively. Knowledge had significantly transformed Liu Er in just a few days through Jing Ao Xue’s tutelage—her stammer improved, and her speech was no longer as slow. Her demeanor also changed; she was less timid than before. While she still rarely spoke to strangers, her sweet and polite demeanor was endearing. The morning passed quickly with lessons, and by midday, Shen Lv Man returned home, carrying two pheasants, a rabbit, and a wild duck. Additionally, two cloth bags hung from her arms. Jing Ao Xue and the restless Liu Er rushed to greet her. Seeing Shen Lv Man burdened with goods, Jing Ao Xue went over to help. As she gazed at the pheasants, her mind raced through a hundred different chicken recipes, nearly causing her to drool with anticipation. Shen Lv Man shook her head in amusement and placed the soft, white rabbit into Liu Er's arms. Liu Er’s eyes widened with surprise and delight, a broad smile lighting up her cherubic face. Hugging the rabbit, she chirped, “Thank you, Mother. The rabbit is adorable. I won’t eat it.” Shen Lv Man patted her head, knowing this rabbit wasn’t meant for consumption. She had come to terms with Liu Er’s gentle nature, and given their current life among humans, there was no need to force her to go against it. Protected by Shen Lv Man and Jing Ao Xue, Liu Er would not suffer any grievances here. Liu Er, eyes twinkling with joy, pranced over to Jing Ao Xue, presenting the rabbit, “Mother, look, a bunny!” Feeling playful, Jing Ao Xue handed over a pheasant and said, “Liu Er, look, a flower chicken, we’ll have chicken later!” Alarmed by Jing Ao Xue’s licking lips, Liu Er clutched the rabbit and retreated a few steps. Jing Ao Xue could only shake her head with amusement as Liu Er dashed to the study room, rabbit in tow, seeking refuge. Once Liu Er disappeared into the study, Jing Ao Xue grinned at Shen Lv Man, “That must have been quite the effort. Was it hard to catch all these?” Shen Lv Man replied, “Not really. I set some traps up on the mountain last night, not expecting much. But when I checked this morning, I found two pheasants... the rest were also easy to catch.” In the courtyard, she washed her hands before heading to the kitchen to prepare the meal. She left the tasks of cleaning and preparing the chicken and duck to Jing Ao Xue, whose deft skills amazed Shen Lv Man. Jing Ao Xue even used her wood-based abilities to infuse the meat with energy, amplifying its flavor and expelling unwanted elements. When she brought the prepared meat to the kitchen, Shen Lv Man was surprised by her speed—perhaps the power of hunger was indeed great. As Shen Lv Man mused over Jing Ao Xue’s obsession with meat, she decided that hunting could become a regular endeavor. With plenty of game on the mountain, she could frequently bring something back to satisfy Jing Ao Xue’s cravings. She set aside the chicken—one for soup and the other for stir-fry. After dealing with the duck, seasoning it for a braised duck dish later, she cut the chicken into pieces for sautéing. Watching from the side, Jing Ao Xue felt her mouth watering but didn’t dare to linger for fear of drooling. Planning to step out to distract herself, she paused as Shen Lv Man called her attention to two cloth bags nearby. Jing Ao Xue hesitated, then opened the bags to reveal a variety of eggs—duck, chicken, and bird eggs—and another bag full of unripe fruits. Just the sight of the tart fruit made her mouth pucker, wondering how Liu Er could enjoy such flavors. Shen Lv Man instructed, “Take out the bird eggs. I’ll boil them for us to eat. Put the chicken and duck eggs in the jar for custard in the mornings.” Jing Ao Xue nodded, sorting the eggs while her hunger abated. Once done, she asked, “Is there anything else I can help with?” Shen Lv Man shook her head but then hesitantly added, “Actually, I have something to ask you. Yesterday was the seventh day of my herbal bath. You mentioned it would only take seven days, so tonight…” Considering this, Jing Ao Xue had pondered the same issue the previous night. As Shen Lv Man brought it up, she replied, “Let’s prepare pills for Liu Er. She doesn’t need the full seven days, just three, with a month’s interval between. For you and me, let’s take the herbal bath every three months for seven days. How does that sound?” Shen Lv Man agreed, “That’s reasonable. We don’t need to keep watch all night tonight—let’s take turns heating water instead.” Jing Ao Xue welcomed the respite, not having to endure another sleepless night. Through these seven nights, the fatigue had left her with dark circles, manageable only through her wood abilities. She yawned, feeling grateful. Seeing Jing Ao Xue’s weariness, Shen Lv Man suggested she rest, promising to wake her when the meal was ready. Jing Ao Xue didn’t argue; exhausted, she returned to her room. Strangely, Jing Ao Xue seemed to lack any culinary talent. No matter how much she tried, her dishes were barely edible and sometimes downright bizarre. Despite Shen Lv Man’s patient guidance, the results were mediocre—sufficient to keep hunger at bay, but that’s about all. After a few attempts, Jing Ao Xue gave up. With Shen Lv Man in charge of the kitchen, she had no lack of good food. While her culinary skills were lacking, Jing Ao Xue assisted Shen Lv Man with simpler tasks like washing vegetables or doing dishes. Too tired today to do even that, she fell asleep quickly, lulled by the faint aroma of cooking. When Shen Lv Man finally called her for lunch, it took a splash of cold well water to fully wake her before she rushed to the table, eager to eat.