39 - Little Peasant Wife

Shen Lümàn turned her head slightly and quietly reminded her, "We're outside." Jing Aoxue glanced at her bashful expression and couldn't help but laugh. She truly adored Shen Lümàn, who tolerated her occasional whims and teasing. Just a few casual words from her would turn Shen Lümàn's face red as an apple, an innocence that made Jing Aoxue almost wish she could... Enough! Restrain yourself! Practitioners must keep their minds clear! Jing Aoxue, a bit frustrated, scratched her long hair and picked up a stone from the ground, tossing it onto the river surface. The river flowed at an unhurried pace; the stone skipped a few times on the water before sinking. Shen Lümàn watched curiously, as she rarely played such games. It was her first time seeing someone skip stones. Jing Aoxue immediately noticed her gaze and with a smug expression, asked, "Want to learn?" Hesitating slightly, Shen Lümàn asked, "How do you do it?" Jing Aoxue, finding her curiosity rare and intriguing, patiently explained, "It's all about the angle. You need to use your wrist and fingers. Pick a stone that's not too big or too small, and I'll teach you." Seeing Jing Aoxue's eagerness, Shen Lümàn didn't shy away from the fun. She picked up two stones from the ground, handing one to Jing Aoxue. Jing Aoxue weighed it in her hand, finding it just right, and said, "I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, so just watch me do it again." With that, she tossed another stone. Shen Lümàn squinted slightly, saying, "Hmm, I think I got the idea. It does require coordination between the wrist and fingers." She attempted a throw, but the stone sank as soon as it hit the water. After pondering for a moment, she threw a few more, each one sinking without a trace. Jing Aoxue laughed, ready to demonstrate again, but she watched as Shen Lümàn picked a flatter stone, aimed carefully, and launched it. This time, as if an enchantment was at play, the stone skipped seven or eight times across the river, nearly reaching the opposite bank. Jing Aoxue was speechless. Shen Lümàn pursed her lips and smiled, "Is this how you do it?" With a complex expression, Jing Aoxue looked at her and said, "Wife, is there anything you can't do?" Shen Lümàn threw another stone, this time landing it directly on the opposite bank. She laughed, "Skipping stones is much simpler compared to cultivation. With ordinary talent, I must work hard to improve my skills, so I'm used to it by now." Oh, seems like she's a natural learner with limitless potential, thought Jing Aoxue with pride. She admired Shen Lümàn's current expression, reminiscent of an unburdened climber finally displaying a gentle smile. She had always felt Shen Lümàn lived unhappily, and now she was more certain than ever. Hesitantly, she asked, "Lümàn, do you want to return to the cultivation world?" The sudden question startled Shen Lümàn as it was the first time Jing Aoxue addressed her this way. She frowned, "Why do you ask?" Jing Aoxue grew frustrated; the conversation wasn't heading the way she intended. Continuing this line of questioning would lead nowhere before nightfall. So, she pressed on, "You grew up in the cultivation world and might be more suited to life there, but I ended up dragging you here." Shen Lümàn was about to protest, but Jing Aoxue held her hand gently, reassuring her, "However, you're my wife now. Whatever you desire, I'll do my utmost to achieve it for you, even if it's returning to the cultivation world. Though difficult for me, it's not completely unachievable." "What way?" Shen Lümàn, with slight urgency, asked. Jing Aoxue knowingly squinted, "Throughout history, there have been people who've reached the cultivation world from the mortal realm. Some by luck, accidentally stumbling upon the path; others brought by their families; and some by achieving the Foundation Establishment stage, enabling them to fly across vast seas to reach the cultivation world." She continued, "Which method would you prefer?" Her words suggested that as long as Shen Lümàn expressed a desire, she would make it happen. Shen Lümàn paused, then laughed, "I appreciate it, but the mortal world isn’t so bad. I’ve grown accustomed to it." The first two possibilities were out of consideration for Shen Lümàn, as they were too unlikely. As for the last option... she, with her five-element waste aptitude, had only reached the third level of Qi Refining after nearly twenty years of cultivation. Reaching the Foundation Establishment stage might well mean Jing Aoxue would have long passed on. Her life was prolonged and currently akin to childhood, yet she possessed human lineage. If Jing Aoxue were to die in a few decades, the prophecy from the Great Priest wouldn’t hold any weight. Her entire life seemingly would lose its purpose, a blow indeed significant. But Shen Lümàn was already accustomed to it. From her first encounter with Jing Aoxue, she knew she wasn’t the one from the prophecy, that the true savior was someone else. Never mind that she had always been a fringe figure within her clan. Sacrificing her meant no loss to them. Lost in thought, her eyes turned blank and distant. Jing Aoxue, seeing her like this, tenderly pulled her into a hug. The warmth and softness of her body carrying a faint, pleasant aroma of nature, compelled Jing Aoxue to kiss her chin gently, "I will make it happen. I will bring you back to the cultivation world!" Shen Lümàn finally looked at her, feeling a belated sense of shyness from their close position. She gently pushed her away, saying, "I understand. Since you say so, I'll trust you." Jing Aoxue felt this might just be a perfunctory remark, but that was alright as she was determined to find a way. Having survived a decade in the apocalypse, surely she could figure out a path to the cultivation world. Holding Shen Lümàn's hand, she suggested, "Let's not dwell on it now. By the way, where's Liu Er?" Shen Lümàn glanced around, spotting Liu Er sitting under a large tree, cuddling a little white rabbit, watching other children play from a distance. She pursed her lips and went over, "Liu Er." Liu Er looked up at her and obediently replied, "Mother." Jing Aoxue joined her, sitting beside Liu Er, "Do you want to join them and play?" Liu Er shook her head, tightly hugging the rabbit, "I have Da Bai to play with me." Da Bai, presumably the little rabbit in her arms, seemed fitting enough. Jing Aoxue ruffled her hair, raising her chin with determination, "Leave it to me and your mother. We'll find you some great playmates." Liu Er tilted her head, watching her, while Shen Lümàn looked curious, eager to see what she would do. With a sly smile, Jing Aoxue stood up, took Shen Lümàn's hand, and said to Liu Er, "Wait here, Liu Er." And with that, she led Shen Lümàn in a certain direction. Chapter 29: Playmates Shen Lümàn, being led by her, questioned, "How do you plan to persuade those kids to willingly play with Liu Er? Convincing children isn't easy, and what if the village kids aren't all good-natured and end up bullying Liu Er?" Her brow furrowed with concern as she spoke. Jing Aoxue smiled nonchalantly, "Exactly, children are too whimsical. We're finding playmates for Liu Er to help her become more outgoing, not to be bullied. So, we'll speak with their parents. I remember Wu Zhiyong has a child, doesn't he? He's trustworthy, so his kids should be well-mannered." Hearing this, Shen Lümàn felt a bit speechless. Seeing Jing Aoxue indeed heading towards the direction of the thatched hut, she said, "But Wu Zhiyong left the village early this morning." Jing Aoxue nodded, "I know, he went to find someone for Gu Baiwei, and he's not in the village. But his younger brother, Wu Zhian, is here. They're both from the Wu family, and Wu Zhian is even more honest and straightforward than his brother." Shen Lümàn stopped in her tracks, saying helplessly, "But Wu Zhian isn’t over there. He went to work on our farmland." Momentarily confused, Jing Aoxue tapped her head, realizing she’d forgotten. However, since they were already close to the huts, she sighed, "Oh well, we’ll first see if any of the workers around here are trustworthy." Shen Lümàn pondered, but despite thinking for a long time, she couldn't recall having a strong impression of anyone else, nor could she determine who might be reliable. Her familiarity with the Wu brothers was primarily due to Jing Aoxue previously warning her to keep her distance from Wu Zhiyong. This piqued her curiosity, thinking there was a dispute between them and fearing Wu Zhiyong might retaliate against Jing Aoxue. On another note, these brothers were truly exceptional—hardworking and efficient without the need for constant supervision, always exceeding the expected workload. Such individuals are naturally favored by employers. This was certainly true for Shen Lümàn too. She sighed, thinking: perhaps we’d better go and check it out first. The two of them reached the outside of the thatched hut and, before even entering, noticed several women gathered at the entrance, chatting with the young men working inside. Jing Aoxue glanced at them casually, recognizing none of them, and intended to keep moving forward. But Shen Lümàn pulled her back. When Jing Aoxue turned her head, puzzled, she shook her head and led her around to the other side of the hut. Leaning against the wall, Jing Aoxue chuckled, "Who are those people that you’re so cautious about?" Shen Lümàn paused before saying, "They're not anyone particularly important, but they're not easy to get along with. Let's wait for them to leave before going over." With that, she peeked around the edge, sighing in relief when she saw the women hadn't noticed them. She had lived in the village for many years. Though she didn't form deep connections, she knew everyone in the village over time. Those women were notorious gossipers in the village, who loved to get together to discuss everyone's affairs. Their personalities were outgoing and familiar with everyone. When Shen Lümàn first arrived, she knew no one, and Jing Aoxue was often aloof, rarely staying in the village. Shen Lümàn was alone for a long time, and nobody approached her, not that she cared much. Yet, one day, these women took the initiative to approach her, engaging in lengthy conversations aiming to uncover her background. Shen Lümàn fabricated stories to handle them. In exchange for satisfying their curiosity, they introduced her to various villagers. Initially, she was grateful for their help. But over time, she noticed their attitudes towards her shifted. They were shrewd and, although Shen Lümàn kept her secrets tightly guarded, she occasionally revealed small truths inadvertently.