48 - Little Peasant Wife

At the mention from Gu Qing, Jing Ao Xue was immediately puzzled and asked, "Why? What's wrong with demi-humans?" Gu Qing explained, "Do you know, ten thousand years ago, there were no demi-humans on the Hongze Continent. Then, suddenly one day, these people appeared, and over generations, they have become what they are today. The history of demi-humans is so ancient that most people don't know about it. Only our Gu family... is somewhat special, so we know a bit, but even that is just the tip of the iceberg." Hearing this, Jing Ao Xue glanced at Shen Lu Man, who nodded in agreement. Her confusion deepened. She hadn't found any mention of this in the memories of the original owner. Given that even Shen Lu Man was aware of it, how was it possible that the original owner, the heir of her family, didn't know? Could it be that the original owner simply didn't care and so forgot about it? She pondered for a moment and then said, "Oh well, it doesn't matter if the Grand Tutor is male or female, human or demon. You've said a lot, but you haven't gotten to the main point yet." Gu Qing turned slightly red and said, "Oh, right. I just wanted to tell you that the Liu family has a powerful backing. You mustn't offend them. If you do, quickly flee the country. Hundred Herbs Hall has branches in many countries. Although different people run them behind the scenes, they are all connected. If you decide to escape, our Gu family will also assist you." Jing Ao Xue felt warmed by his words and replied with a smile, "Thank you, Elder Gu. It seems the Gu family really is formidable." Gu Qing smiled and said, "No worries. Now, to the main point: The Liu family recruits many girls without background to test their prowess. Those who don't measure up are weeded out, while the best are sent to the capital to become the Grand Tutor's female disciples." "This... sounds like a good thing, after all, the other party is the Grand Tutor," Jing Ao Xue said hesitantly. Gu Qing remained calm, "It would be good if they really became disciples. Over the past twenty years, countless have been chosen, yet the ones remaining by the Grand Tutor's side can be counted on two hands. Where did the others go? No one knows." Jing Ao Xue was alarmed, "What about those girls? It's impossible for so many people to go missing without notice." Gu Qing shook his head, "There's an official reason. It's an imperial decree stating they've gone to serve immortals on Penglai Island. Each girl's family received a hundred taels of gold. Even if families are discontent, they are powerless and have to let it go." "Truthfully? Could those girls have died?" Gu Qing glanced at her, speaking softly, "Yes, they all died, and in gruesome ways, leaving behind dried-up corpses resembling mummies." Jing Ao Xue pursed her lips, realizing her assumption was quite different. Initially, she thought Liu family’s third son had a peculiar fixation on young girls, but it turns out this involves two notable figures. Clearly, this wasn't something she could involve herself in. She just hoped the Liu family hadn’t truly taken an interest in Liu’er; if they had, she’d fight to the death to make them pay. She exchanged glances with Shen Lu Man, both recognizing the coldness in each other's eyes. All the while, Liu'er had been listening quietly. Though trembling with fear, she dared not show it, her tears nearly falling as she quietly asked, "What about Sister Qiao’er…" Jing Ao Xue rubbed her forehead, thinking about how this girl was still worried about Zhang Qiao'er. Shen Lu Man was frustrated, nearly wanting to drag Liu’er away for a scolding. Jing Ao Xue quickly stopped her and said to Liu’er, "Liu’er, this is not something we should get involved with. Besides, you heard it yourself, only the very best girls are chosen to go to the capital. Your Sister Qiao’er isn't exceptional enough, so she won’t be picked." Even after hearing this, Liu'er furrowed her brows and said, "But those girls, they're so pitiful." Jing Ao Xue felt speechless, feeling that Liu'er had such a merciful heart. Liu'er looked up earnestly and asked, "Gu Qing, Grandfather, how can we save those girls?" Gu Qing paused, surprised by Liu'er's sincerity, and casually remarked, "You'd just need to be stronger than the Grand Tutor." Liu'er nodded blankly, "I see." What exactly she understood, was unclear to the three adults present. Gu Qing just assumed it was idle talk, something she’d forget in a few days. Jing Ao Xue smiled wryly, thinking: Is Liu'er going to dedicate herself to saving the world now? That's quite an ambition. The original owner and Shen Lu Man were known for their somewhat cold demeanor, so how did they raise such a soft-hearted woman? A genetic mutation? Jing Ao Xue couldn't figure it out, so she just put it aside, thinking Liu’er was too young to do anything significant right now. Shen Lu Man said calmly, "Thank you, elder, we understand your concern and will not actively oppose the Liu family." Gu Qing stroked his white beard, "No problem. You are friends of the young lady, so you're esteemed guests of the Hundred Herbs Hall. I enjoy chatting with you, so sharing some gossip is no issue." Jing Ao Xue smiled and exchanged a few more words with Gu Qing. Seeing the time, she took her leave. Shen Lu Man, carrying the herbs, said, "Let's go to the horse market to buy a carriage first." Jing Ao Xue, who had been keeping an eye on Liu’er, quickly nodded at this suggestion. Liu'er followed closely behind Jing Ao Xue, her delicate lips tightly pressed, as if contemplating some great matter, a look Jing Ao Xue hadn't seen on her face before. She tugged on Shen Lu Man’s sleeve, leaned in, and quietly asked her, "What should we do?" Shen Lu Man was in a foul mood and replied expressionlessly, "She'll learn from her mistakes." Jing Ao Xue pouted; she didn’t want Liu'er to suffer. Being a parent is hard; she was finally realizing the complexity and helplessness in such feelings. For others, a beating might suffice, but Liu'er was so adorable, so well-behaved... Even if she constantly brought up Zhang Qiao'er, it was due to her kindness—could that really be labeled a flaw? It was clearly a virtue. However, the world wasn't so kind; the more purehearted a person was, the more likely they were to get hurt. Someone like Liu'er, who knows how much she'll have to endure in the future? The thought weighed heavily on her heart. She brooded silently, her mood dampening. When the trio reached the market, only Shen Lu Man had a slight understanding of what made a good horse and took the lead in selecting one. Jing Ao Xue and Liu'er followed behind. Seeing Liu’er deep in thought, Jing Ao Xue asked, "Liu'er, what are you thinking?" "About becoming strong," Liu'er replied solemnly. Her seriousness paired with her round face made Jing Ao Xue want to pinch her cheeks. And so she did, pinching Liu’er's cheek lightly, "Becoming strong isn’t just about thinking. It requires hard work and effort. Do you think you can handle it?" Liu'er hesitated, nodding. She feared hardship but feared powerlessness more. She wanted to try, she wouldn’t force her mother or Shen Lu Man; she was growing up and should be responsible for herself. Jing Ao Xue sighed, "Well, since we're moving, let's start tomorrow. You can train with me in the mornings. Remember, if you can't handle it, you'll have to give up these grand ideas and just listen." Liu'er’s eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly, "Mother, you’re the best." Jing Ao Xue was flattered, feeling dizzy with happiness. Having such an endearing daughter made any extra effort worthwhile. Chapter 33: Differences It wasn't until Shen Lu Man called out to her that Jing Ao Xue snapped back to reality. She quickly walked over to Shen Lu Man and asked, "What's up?" Shen Lu Man said, "I've picked out a few horses. Come over and choose one." Jing Ao Xue raised an eyebrow and said, "You’re really efficient, my dear. Alright, let me take a look." She circled the horses a few times, noting that each was impressively tall. Jing Ao Xue didn't know much about horses, though she did think they tasted good. The horses in front of her were all beautifully built, with long, glossy manes and strong, agile limbs, which indicated they were good runners. Frowning, Jing Ao Xue was deep in thought and couldn't identify any differences between them beyond their colors. Scratching her nose awkwardly, she turned to the shop owner, who was standing nearby with a big belly and a friendly smile. "Could you tell us more about these horses?" she asked. The shop owner smiled and said, "Of course, no problem. Take a look, my esteemed customers. This black horse here comes from the northwest of our empire. Its mother served in the military, and its father has an extraordinary background, having saved many lives. You could say it’s..." "Wait a minute!" Jing Ao Xue rolled her eyes. She just wanted to buy a horse, not get the entire ancestral history. Clearly, this sounded exaggerated. She didn't bother with subtleties and straightforwardly said, "I’m serious about buying a horse, but you’re not the only stable in this market. I don't have the patience for these tall tales. Just tell me the bottom line price for these horses." The shop owner looked a bit embarrassed and said, "Dear customer, I..." "Oh, by the way, these horses are all healthy, right? I wouldn’t want to take one home only for it to keel over in a few days. I’d be back here to cause a fuss if that happened." As she said this, Jing Ao Xue gave Shen Lu Man a look. Shen Lu Man stomped her foot hard, creating a crack in the smooth ground. The shop owner and others around were wide-eyed, thinking to themselves, "Is this really a woman? She’s like a mighty female warrior! Terrifying!" The shop owner trembled as he wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, stammering, "They’re definitely all fine, don’t worry. But... among the better ones, a few just arrived recently and might not be accustomed to the environment. It might be better to choose from the other horses in the shop." As he said this, he signaled for the stable hands to lead away the recently arrived horses, replacing them with a few others from the stable. Jing Ao Xue squinted her eyes and said with a smile, "That's more like it. It saves you trouble and gives me peace of mind." Circling around the six new horses, she said, "Hmm, they do seem better than before. What's the price?" The shop owner, still wiping sweat, subtly distanced himself from Shen Lu Man, and said, "The price… Well, if you want quality goods, the price naturally goes up. The one on your left has a genuinely excellent lineage. Since you seem straightforward, I won't overcharge—if you’re willing to take it, it's yours for three hundred taels."