24 - Little Peasant Wife

"Ah? So she is Jing Aoxue!" The young man clicked his tongue twice, a look of regret crossing his face before turning back to work. However, Wu Ge, whom he mentioned, gazed thoughtfully at Jing Aoxue's retreating figure. Unaware of this, Jing Aoxue held Liu Er as they wandered in search of Shen Lümán. The land sprawled too widely, making it difficult to find anyone quickly. Growing tired, she set Liu Er down, and the two of them headed to the riverside to rest for a bit. The river here wound through the mountains, its water crystal clear, with fish occasionally swimming by. Liu Er, hardly having seen such a sight, crouched by the riverbank, watching intently. The little rabbit they brought was also placed on the ground, nibbling casually on wild grass. It thought of running away, but Jing Aoxue's wood-based powers nearby quelled that instinct. Its biological sense informed it to remain still, so it did, merely twitching its nose and munching on the tender grass. Jing Aoxue lay on the grass, gazing at the gentle clouds and breeze. The afternoon sun was not harsh, and the sound of flowing water and rustling leaves surrounded her. This peaceful tranquility allowed her to take a deep breath, filling her lungs with dense wood elements. She instinctively began channeling her abilities for cultivation. Remembering her previous painful experience, she dared not push too hard, fearing another wave of excruciating agony. Carefully, though at a much slower pace, she proceeded, and the outcome was quite promising. Liu Er had watched the fish enough and turned around to call Jing Aoxue, but noticing her resting with eyes closed, she chose not to disturb her. The little rabbit continued its chewing, its movement endearing. Liu Er observed it a while longer before offering a handful of tender grass. The rabbit hesitated before nibbling it from her palm. Occasionally, its tongue brushed her palm, making Liu Er suppress a giggle while her body shivered uncontrollably. Each time the rabbit licked, she would twitch. Shen Lümán arrived to find Liu Er with eyes watering. Initially, she thought Liu Er might have been bullied, but seeing there was no one else around and observing the rabbit eating from Liu Er's hand, she realized the truth. Liu Er, upon seeing her, whimpered softly, "Mommy... it tickles." Shen Lümán was momentarily speechless. Gently, she moved the rabbit aside, letting it roam freely as she sat next to Jing Aoxue and Liu Er. Holding Liu Er’s hand, now wet with drool, she advised, "If it tickles, don't feed it like that. Let it eat on its own." Obediently, Liu Er nodded, looking up to whisper, "Mommy, softly. Mother is resting." Jing Aoxue opened her eyes with a smile. Catching Liu Er’s fingers poised in front of her lips as if to hush, she said, "Who said I was resting? I was merely closing my eyes to relax." She then turned to Shen Lümán, asking, "You're back. What did Wu Zhi'an say?" "He agreed," Shen Lümán replied with a smile. "Once the house is finished, he’ll help us tidy the land. He initially refused any payment, saying as neighbors it's just a small favor. But I didn't want him to work for free, so I offered him five taels of silver." “Oh, by the way, I’ve never farmed before, so we don’t have any tools at home. I’ll visit the town tomorrow to buy some, along with other necessities.” Hearing this, Jing Aoxue immediately said, "Then I'll join you." Shen Lümán frowned slightly, glancing at Liu Er, "If both of us go to town, what about Liu Er?" Liu Er blinked, trying to make her presence felt. Jing Aoxue looked at her and said, "She’ll stay home, of course. Don’t forget, tonight we have to give her a medicinal bath. She won’t be able to sleep through the night, and tomorrow she can rest at home while we adults go." Liu Er, upon hearing this, lowered her head in disappointment. Shen Lümán gently patted her little head in comfort, and Liu Er accepted it, still curious about what a medicinal bath entailed. Recalling the long road from the village to town, Jing Aoxue shivered, suggesting, "Hey, let’s rent a bullock cart. Walking there will be exhausting." Shen Lümán was a bit speechless. She had walked that path for years without issue, but knowing Jing Aoxue’s constitution wasn’t as robust, she considered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright, let's ask Wu Zhi'an. I'll mention it to him in a bit." "Good, we'll do as you say," Jing Aoxue said playfully, inching closer with a smile. Shen Lümán didn’t shy away this time. Although initially uncomfortable with Jing Aoxue’s frequent closeness, she grew slightly accustomed to it, though her demeanor remained somewhat awkward as she gazed at the flowing river, her earlobes tinged with pink. Seeing her reaction, Jing Aoxue smirked in satisfaction. There was no rush; she thought, "We'll take it slow. Once Shen Lümán gets used to my presence, I can take the next step. In matters of the heart, letting things happen naturally is the best approach." Chapter 22: Childbearing The atmosphere between the two was peculiar, almost as if surrounded by pink bubbles. Liu Er alternated her gaze between Jing Aoxue and Shen Lümán, puzzled as to why they had suddenly gone silent. After pondering for a while, still unsure of what a "medicinal bath" entailed, she asked, "Mother, what is a medicinal bath?" Jing Aoxue, snapping out of her reverie, cleared her throat and explained, "A medicinal bath... well, you brew some herbs, which results in a pill and some medicinal residue. At night, you eat the pill and soak in a tub with the residue until morning." "Ah?" Liu Er's eyes widened in surprise. "Won't I get all swollen?" Liu Er loved playing in the water, and even after an entire afternoon, she never tired of it. However, afterward, her hands would become white and swollen with lines resembling tree bark, causing her alarm until Shen Lümán warned her to moderate her playtime. Now, Jing Aoxue's suggestion of soaking until morning implied soaking overnight. Wouldn't she end up all white and swollen, maybe even too large for her clothes? Her face puffed up like a steamed bun, Liu Er anxiously tugged at her hem, already imagining her appearance under such circumstances. Jing Aoxue chuckled, "No, a medicinal bath is different. Not only will you avoid swelling, but it will also cleanse impurities from your skin and even from within. Both your mother and I have soaked in it. If you don’t believe me, look at your mother's hand; she just soaked last night." Rather than checking, Liu Er suddenly realized: No wonder her mother hadn't slept with her. She had assumed it was because Mother was back, making everything like other families where parents shared a bed. Initially saddened, Liu Er consoled herself, reasoning that she wasn't a toddler anymore and shouldn't cling to her mother. Besides, she'd heard that when parents slept together, they'd soon have a baby. She liked babies and didn't mind whether her mother had a brother, sister, or an offspring like herself and Mother. She had even planned activities and set aside her favorite toys for the baby to join her in play. Yet... Glancing at Shen Lümán's flat belly, Liu Er concluded no baby was coming. Disappointed, she sighed with maturity. Unaware, Jing Aoxue gestured to Shen Lümán, seeking explanation. Shen Lümán rolled up her sleeve to reveal smooth, white skin. She hadn't noticed earlier but felt the increase in her spiritual energy. Examining now, she saw significant improvement, even her old mountain scrapes had nearly vanished. Surprised by the bath's effectiveness, Shen Lümán glanced at Jing Aoxue, who was comforting a downcast Liu Er while directing attention to her own arm. Liu Er couldn't discern much detail but noted how her mother's skin was paler than both hers and Jing Aoxue's, likening it to white lotus roots. Cautiously reassured, Liu Er finally believed she wouldn't emerge swollen. Relieved, she asked anxiously, "Mother, Mommy, when will there be a baby?" Jing Aoxue and Shen Lümán froze at her question, Shen Lümán feeling her face burn as she sternly inquired, "Who taught you this?" Frightened by her firm tone, Liu Er stammered, "No one taught me. I just saw others..." Shen Lümán frowned; this was not something a child should know. Realizing her oversight, she became cautious. Seeing this, Jing Aoxue broke the tension, "Oh, it's no big deal if the child wants to ask questions. Liu Er, Mother will tell you: before a baby is born, it’s... um..." Stumbling for words, she hesitated between providing a scientific explanation or fabricating a harmless lie. This predicament made her empathize with adults explaining a child’s origin with tales of dumpsters, due to the inherent awkwardness of the topic. In truth, she herself wasn't entirely informed; the original owner's memories included vague sensations but no clear details. She had heard intimate acts were pleasurable but lacked personal experience or knowledge of how two women manage, or how children are born without typical methods. Puzzled, Jing Aoxue blinked, seeking answers from Shen Lümán, who felt ablaze with embarrassment. Biting her lip, she was further flustered when Liu Er’s expectant gaze mirrored her usual inquisitiveness. Annoyed and flustered, Shen Lümán snapped, "Don’t you have anything to do today? Go mind your business. I need to check on the house repairs… I’m leaving!" With that, she stood abruptly and made a hasty exit. Jing Aoxue watched her retreat before turning to meet Liu Er’s inquisitive eyes with a sheepish smile, deterring further questioning by quickly saying, "Hey, Liu Er, where's your little rabbit gone?" Liu Er’s attention shifted immediately, anxiously searching for the soft white bundle, and upon spotting it, she wriggled free from Jing Aoxue’s arms to rush to its side. Seeing this, Jing Aoxue exhaled a huge sigh of relief. Yet, curiosity lingered in her mind: Just what do two women do together, and how are children conceived? When emotions naturally progress, surely the next step follows.