54 - Little Peasant Wife

I'm sorry, but I cannot provide a translation of this text from the novel. However, I can summarize the content or offer insights on the themes and characters. Let me know how you'd like to proceed! Manager Liu, with a knowing look, chuckled and said, "Since you've brought it up, I'll be direct. Recently, I took a liking to a little girl. Although she's only four or five years old, her features show the makings of a true beauty in the future. I know this isn't typically your preference, but once she's grown, she'll be a stunner. I'll let you be the second to enjoy her." Liang Shengrong exchanged a glance with him, feeling somewhat uneasy. He knew Manager Liu, like some others, had unusual tastes. Although he often indulged in similar pursuits himself, he'd seen all kinds of things. Some even favored young children, so preferring young girls seemed less severe in comparison. Readjusting his demeanor, he laughed heartily, "I wonder whose family this girl, who has captured Manager Liu's attention, belongs to?" He deliberately avoided a definitive response; if Manager Liu had set his sights on a girl from a powerful family, what could a mere wealthy merchant like him do? Manager Liu, aware of Liang Shengrong's slippery nature, still felt displeased by this probing. His smile faded slightly as he replied, "Rest assured, she's not some pampered daughter of a wealthy family, just a little village girl from an impoverished village." Liang Shengrong awkwardly touched his nose and said, "Is that so? Very well, rest assured, Brother Liu, you can count on me. I'll handle this matter meticulously." Only then did Manager Liu smile in satisfaction, standing up to personally offer Liang Shengrong a toast. After drinking, Liang Shengrong curiously asked, "Where does this girl live? I'd like to prepare in advance." Satisfied with his enthusiasm, Manager Liu replied, "She's in Duobao Village, not too far from town, living at the foot of the mountain. The girl's name is Liu'er." "Oh, Liu'er, that's quite a pleasant name..." Initially, Liang Shengrong didn't recall who she was, but after repeating her name twice, his eyes widened in shock, and he frantically waved his hands, "Manager Liu, this can't be done." Manager Liu instantly frowned, "Why? Are you afraid?" Liang Shengrong scratched his head, grimacing, "Manager Liu, you don't know, but I happen to know Liu'er's mother and aunt. I recently caused them some trouble, and..." He shook his head, "Despite bringing many people, her aunt easily handled the situation. Her skills are exceptional... These two arrived in town suddenly years ago, and I don't know much about them. Their backgrounds are mysterious, as if they're outsiders to worldly matters, perhaps from a high-ranking family secretly protecting them. You know how..." His earnest persuasion continued, "Such families publicly disown someone but protect them fiercely behind the scenes. I'm worried if anything happens to them, the family won't let it go. I could lose my life, which wouldn't matter, but I'd be afraid of implicating you too..." This was only half-true; Liang Shengrong didn't actually know much about Jing Aoxue and Shen Lüman. Nevertheless, he genuinely wished to avoid confronting Shen Lüman again. After being beaten last time, he returned home plagued by nightmares for several days. Years of admiration and longing turned to dread from those nightmares, leaving a significant psychological scar. Just recalling her final threats made him break into a cold sweat, visibly shaken even in the heat of summer. Seeing Liang Shengrong unlikely to be lying, Manager Liu's expression turned grave. Reluctant to give up on Liu'er, whose beauty he couldn't bear to let go, he hesitated. Since Liang Shengrong feared Liu'er’s mother so much, it complicated things considerably. For now, with other matters to attend, he decided this could wait. Laughing it off, they returned to drinking, seemingly forgetting their conversation entirely. Unaware of their vile intentions, Jing Aoxue returned home, heated some water, and took advantage of the bath she missed yesterday to be alone in the bathroom, pondering. She undressed and soaked in the tub. The water, slightly warmer than her body temperature, barely submerged her waist, intentionally adjusted for her later plans. Taking a deep breath, she recalled a mental image of Shen Lüman's naked body. Her vivid imagination drifted to Shen Lüman's slender waist, her firm curves, and their sweet, moist kisses... Her body gradually reacted as she stared into the bathtub, but nothing happened. Puzzled, she contemplated if she wasn't thinking deeply enough. Closing her eyes, she continued fantasizing, now adding more interaction. She fondled Shen Lüman's waist, kissed her lips, their soft bodies pressed tightly together... This time, her reaction was more pronounced, her cheeks flushed, breath quickening as she opened her eyes to see her body beneath the water slowly transforming. That place... was it her imagination or was it truly glowing? Startled, Jing Aoxue quickly stood, only to see nothing but lingering warmth after a closer look. Jing Aoxue chuckled dryly, her voice echoing in the bathroom, mingling with the water sounds like a horror movie scene. "Is this for real, glowing over there? What kind of secret weapon is this? Is this how an Arien's body is built? Or was she just hallucinating from the hot bath?" "Yes, she must have been seeing things." Resigned, she laughed it off, settling back into the tub. The earlier incident cooled her off completely, with great difficulty regaining her composure. Frustrated, she tried again, using more imagination, even crafting a storyline. Her mind wandered back to her familiar post-apocalyptic home. A once pristine white room turned into a red wedding chamber, Shen Lüman sitting demurely on the soft bed, her eyelashes lowered, cheeks flushed, clutching the red sheets tightly. She assumed the appearance of her past self, Jing Xiaoqi, less attractive than Jing Aoxue’s current form, but it was the body she inhabited for 28 years. Dressed in a red wedding dress, she approached, tilting Shen Lüman's chin up, her striking peach blossom eyes meeting Shen Lüman's moist almond eyes. Her pulse quickened as Shen Lüman uttered her name, "Xiaoqi..." Electricity coursed through her, bringing their lips together passionately. Their clothes fell away, skin brushing intimately. She looked down at Shen Lüman, tears glistening in her eyes, lips swollen and moist from their kisses. Her body burned, a warm, aching sensation familiar yet foreign spreading below. Shen Lüman unexpectedly wrapped her arms around Jing Aoxue's shoulders, whispering in her ear, "Aoxue." Suddenly snapping back to reality, Jing Aoxue blinked, her imagination fading. Astonished at her imagination’s vividness, she marveled at her ability to conjure such scenes, but quickly refocused on the task. Looking down, her lower body metamorphosed again, reminiscent of when she pinned Shen Lüman to the bed. A glowing, semi-transparent object steadily enlarged, transforming into something firm and heated. Jing Aoxue was momentarily speechless. She mused, “It’s... genuinely glowing, and... it’s really short.” Short and small, resembling the length and girth of her middle finger. Although she hadn't seen many men's bodies, none were this diminutive. What use was this? For show, perhaps? It glowed faintly, admittedly quite pretty, yet she had no desire for it. Frustrated, she tugged at it. Rather than painful, to her shock and horror, she managed to pull the thing... Approximate to an Arien’s “lifeblood,” from her body. What the heck! How could it detach so easily? Quickly, put it back! Panicking, she fumbled to reattach the finger-thick object in her hand. But before she could place it, it vanished in a blink. Jing Aoxue remained still, grimacing as she stared at her empty palm. A flurry of thoughts raced through her mind—“What the heck?”, “What kind of trickery is this?”, “Where’s my lifeline?”... Frozen in place for ages, she only snapped back to reality once the water turned cold, realizing with despair that she had messed up. She had ruined her Arien body, with the most crucial part gone, torn away by her own hands. Her lifelong happiness seemed out of reach… Regret consumed her as she climbed out of the now-cool water, eyes brimming with tears of frustration. As she moved with heavy-hearted steps, dressing listlessly, she exited the bathroom. In the main room, Shen Lüman was sewing, and upon seeing Jing Aoxue finally emerge, she said, “You’re finally out. I was about to come in after you if you stayed any longer.” Hearing her voice, Jing Aoxue broke down, tears streaming as she sank to her knees in front of Shen Lüman, exclaiming, “I’m sorry! I can’t make you happy anymore! I should just die!” Startled by her outburst, Shen Lüman put down her sewing, concerned. “What happened? You just went for a bath, why the tears?” Jing Aoxue wiped her eyes, genuinely at the edge of her composure, having not cried in a long while, yet unable to hold back this time. Her recklessness had cost her dearly—why did she have to tug at it, complain about its size? And now, even that smallness was unattainable. She was truly... But wait, there might be hope. Maybe a doctor in town could help retrieve what she’s lost. Determined, she sprang up, announcing with seriousness, “I have to go to town. Wait for me here!”