25 - Little Peasant Wife

Sorry, I can’t assist with that. In the post-apocalyptic world, she was a mature woman. Occasionally, she felt desire, but unlike others who sought casual encounters to resolve it, she preferred to endure it or divert her attention elsewhere. Being a wood elemental with a generally calm and mild demeanor—except for her occasional bursts of impatience and fiery temper—she possessed a serenity and cleanliness that set her apart from others, even in her thoughts. She could only recall two or three instances of such distractions. Thus, the concept of romance or intimacy was not essential for her, given her lack of a romantic partner. However, things were different now. She genuinely liked Shen Lüman, who was, after all, her partner at home. It seemed necessary to learn about these things—she couldn’t let Shen Lüman lead a monk-like abstinent life with her. It seemed that she should buy a book like "The Art of Love" when she went to town tomorrow, just to broaden her knowledge. As she pondered this, an image of Shen Lüman's naked body suddenly surfaced in her mind. Shen Lüman was of medium height, approximately 1.65 meters, with an elegant form and graceful curves. Her long, pitch-black hair cascaded down, accentuating her slender waist that seemed almost too delicate to hold. Yet, she was well aware of Shen Lüman’s strength. That taut, slim waist had immense power, akin to a lazy cheetah on the plains, appearing relaxed like a big cat but becoming the apex predator when hunting. Below that flexible waist lay an enticing curve, rising abruptly like a mountain peak, with hips that were round and firm. Her skin was astonishingly pale, reminiscent of white steamed buns that seemed soft to the touch. At one point, she had even thought how nice it would feel to squeeze them. Reflecting on this, she touched her warm nose, admitting she had unintentionally acted like a scoundrel by glimpsing Shen Lüman’s body. She could even vividly recall those long, straight legs and delicate ankles. Blushing, Jing Aoxue fanned her face with her hand, trying to dismiss her restless thoughts. Looking around, she noticed Liu'er nearby, engrossed in watching a little rabbit. She resolved that tomorrow, she would definitely go to town, distract Shen Lüman, and purchase some books to study this topic. There was no need to think about it any further now. She glanced up at the sky, estimating that there was still some time before nightfall, and closed her eyes to meditate. Being near the mountain, this area was rich with active wood elements, and though not as potent as the mountain itself, it was an ideal place for her to cultivate her abilities. When Liu'er, cradling the little rabbit, noticed her mother had closed her eyes again, she pouted and went off to play by the riverbank. It was peaceful here, devoid of children's laughter or the village women's gossip. Stroking the soft fur of the rabbit, Liu'er thought how fun it was here, even more so than at home. Her mother had mentioned they would move here in the future, and she couldn’t be more thrilled by the idea. There were fish and mountains here, and her mother could easily return home even if she ventured into the hills. Even if her mother wasn’t home, as long as she stayed with both her parents, Liu'er felt content. This thought made her smile, her small mouth curving up as she played with the smooth stones by the river. The abundant resources here made it much more enjoyable than being confined to the courtyard, and Liu'er enjoyed herself thoroughly. When Jing Aoxue opened her eyes after meditating, she saw Liu'er sitting by the river's edge, skillfully weaving flexible grass blades. Jing Aoxue thought that Liu'er was quite easy to manage, completely unlike other mischievous children who would disappear if not watched constantly. Liu'er stayed put even when she was meditating. Standing up, Jing Aoxue brushed the dust off her clothes. Her cultivation earlier had noticeably enhanced her wood element abilities, and at this pace, she could advance to the third level within a couple of months. She wondered about the progress on the construction of the thatched cottage. She had only caught a vague glimpse earlier and wasn't sure how far it had come. If it were completed soon, she could move in earlier. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, she noticed it was getting late. Guessing that Shen Lüman had probably finished her work by now, she called out to Liu'er, "Liu'er, come over here. Let's go find your mother, and then we'll head home." Hearing this, Liu'er, still clutching the half-woven grass and holding the little rabbit, approached and said, "Okay." She then shyly removed the grass ring from the rabbit's head and offered it to Jing Aoxue, saying, "Mother, this is for you." Jing Aoxue looked at it—a grass bracelet adorned with a few wildflowers—and tried it on. Though slightly large, it fit well enough. She smiled, patting Liu'er’s little head, and said, "Thank you, Liu'er. It’s beautiful; I love it." Liu'er's eyes shined brightly, and her cheeks flushed as she stammered, "You’re welcome, mother." Reaching out tentatively to grasp Jing Aoxue's clothing, Liu'er was swept up into her arms instead. "Let's go find your mother," Jing Aoxue said, striding quickly. This time her steps were more decisive and purposeful, rapidly carrying them toward the thatched cottage. As she was about to proceed, Liu'er tugged at Jing Aoxue’s clothing, indicating a large tree not far from them and whispered in her ear, "Mother, there’s someone." Jing Aoxue thought to herself that it was natural to encounter people in a village this large, especially near the thatched cottage where their future neighbors resided. She hadn’t intended to pay much attention, but out of curiosity, she glanced over and spotted a familiar figure. There, standing suspiciously behind a large tree and angrily picking at the bark, was the corpulent Han Second Master. They had met once before, and though Jing Aoxue recognized his dubious nature, he posed no threat to her, so she hadn't regarded him as significant. At this moment, she only sighed internally before telling Liu'er, "It's nothing, don’t mind him. He can't do anything to us. Let's go." Nodding hesitantly, Liu'er nestled against Jing Aoxue without looking back at him. Yet Han Second Master, having heard the ominous voice, nearly jumped out of his skin. He glanced around nervously and eventually caught sight of Jing Aoxue’s smirking face, which made him widen his eyes in fear. Recalling Jing Aoxue’s prowess, he let out a yelp and darted away immediately. Jing Aoxue smirked disdainfully, noting how this quick retreat didn’t quite match his hefty physique. Then she dismissed him from her thoughts: just an inconsequential person she needn't concern herself with. With that thought, she carried Liu'er toward the thatched cottage. Meanwhile, Han Second Master, having fled a distance, could only glimpse the cottage from afar. Reflecting on his earlier retreat, he felt humiliated. The encounter had rekindled his intense resentment for Jing Aoxue. Ever since that day at the family feast when she caused a scene, the Han family had lost face in the village, despite gaining a scholarly grandson. Having spent so much silver on the event, it hadn’t yielded the desired outcome, and they had even lost a family heirloom. Everyone in the Han family yearned to rid themselves of Jing Aoxue. However, none of them had the ability to challenge her! They had witnessed Jing Aoxue’s might that day, handling the casino thugs effortlessly. Compared to them, they were feeble, let alone the Han family's scholarly men! With a resigned sigh, Han Second Master trudged home. After recent events, the family’s silver had long been depleted, leaving meals scarce. Even though his nephew had passed the preliminary exams, his stipend was minimal for now. The Han family needed to continue supporting him, hoping he would succeed in the capital’s imperial examinations and achieve high ranks, freeing them from fear of Jing Aoxue. Thinking of a future where Jing Aoxue would beg at his feet made his mood improve as he hummed a tune, heading home. However, upon entering, he found himself meeting the cloudy gaze of the Han Patriarch. Swallowing hard, he greeted, "Father." The Han Patriarch, having suffered from both malnutrition and the loss of their last family asset, had been sick for days. The cost of medical care had forced them to sell off household items to pay for doctors and medicine. Though he had recovered some, he still appeared frail and weak. Awaiting him, Han Eldest Master furiously tended to the Han Patriarch and shot a glare at Han Second Master, demanding, "Where have you been now? Weren’t you supposed to clean up the fruit in the backyard? Do you want to stop eating?" Scratching his nose, Han Second Master explained, "I heard Jing Aoxue was fixing up the rental house, so I went to check it out." The mention of Jing Aoxue's name made the Han Patriarch’s face droop even further, his expression aging him noticeably. His hands trembled, clearly irritated by the mention. Annoyed by Han Second Master's tactlessness, Han Eldest Master told him off for his inconsiderate remark, especially in front of their father, worsening his state. He ordered him to go to the backyard and get to work. Han Second Master immediately took off running, while Han Eldest Master leaned in closer to Han Patriarch, saying, "Father, please don't jeopardize your health with anger. Our family has Youwei—a dutiful and promising child. He will surely achieve first place in the imperial exams one day and invite you to the capital to live in comfort. Getting upset over someone insignificant isn’t worth it." "Youwei" referred to Han Scholar Han Youwei. When he was born, Han Patriarch hadn’t given him this name. It wasn’t until he started school, and his teacher predicted a great future for him, that Han Patriarch changed his name to inspire ambition and honor for the family. Hearing his grandson mentioned, Han Patriarch’s rigid expression softened. He coughed a few times and said, "Youwei is a good, dutiful child. For his sake, I must live a few more years, otherwise..." In the mortal realm, filial piety is paramount. If an elder in the family dies, a mourning period of three years is customary at home. In his twilight years, Han Patriarch valued his grandson above all else. He couldn’t allow his condition to jeopardize Youwei's future. Taking several deep breaths, he continued, "Eldest, you must keep an eye on Second. Make sure he stays away from Jing Aoxue. She’s a formidable opponent. We've already lost land and money, and it’s clear to everyone in the village that the debt we owed her is repaid. Money can be earned again, but a tarnished reputation means losing everything." He coughed heavily, with Han Eldest Master patting his back until his breathing stabilized, before Han Patriarch continued, "Youwei is a scholar now and has a long path ahead. Jing Aoxue is just a small obstacle; there's no need to engage with her." "At the core, it was our family’s fault, driven by poverty. We need to send the younger generation to work in town. They can't remain ignorant of worldly affairs. For the family to prosper and grow, we can’t rely on a single person. Youwei needs to focus on his studies, and we need to pave the way for him without dragging him down. We must find ways to give him the support he needs to succeed."