56 - Little Peasant Wife

"…" Jing Aoxue remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "So, previously I…" Old Doctor Gu Qing stroked his beard and smiled lightly, nodding as he said, "You went through your second gender differentiation years ago. Afterward, when you're interested, your body can change automatically. This change, however, is controllable—not only by the brain but also by the body itself. The exact reasons are unclear; we can only say that it's highly adaptable, capable of taking various shapes. Typically, subhuman females develop male characteristics, although some more adventurous ones may transform into something else entirely depending on what they imagine." Jing Aoxue said, "…" Every time, she just imagined the male anatomy because in her mind, that's the only way men and women interacted. She had no idea how women interacted with each other. And why was her transformation so short? Was it because her body was too weak? … She had reached her limit of bewilderment today. What kind of bizarre body setting was this? She quickly made a stopping gesture with her hand, saying, "Okay, I roughly understand the matter now. May I borrow this book to read? I'll return it once I finish." Old Doctor Gu Qing appeared troubled as he replied, "You may borrow it, but you cannot take it outside. You can only read it here." Jing Aoxue nodded, "Alright, then I’ll read it here and only ask you if there's something I don’t understand." Gu Qing nodded, noticing her embarrassment. Without dwelling on it, he found an excuse to leave the room and went downstairs, reflecting on the amusing situation. If it were a subhuman child unaware of their body, that would be understandable. But for someone over twenty, who had even married and had children, to not understand their body—that's simply… too innocent. He chuckled twice and summoned an apprentice who was grinding herbs. Whispering a few instructions into the apprentice's ear, he handed over some silver coins and sent him off. Alone in the room, Jing Aoxue sat unmoving as she finished reading the book in front of her and let out a long sigh. She opened the window, rubbed her face vigorously, and started organizing the chaotic thoughts in her mind. Firstly, she wasn’t ill, nor had she damaged her vital organs. Besides being somewhat frail, her body was perfectly healthy. Secondly, subhumans were created beings. From the book’s introduction, it’s clear that the genius who created subhumans also invented flying birds and giant machines. This indicated that the creator came from a world more technologically advanced than hers. Ever since she transmigrated, she believed that there are many planets in existence. The Hongze Continent is likely one of them. This ten-thousand-year-old transmigrator only confirmed her belief. Thirdly, that exceptional genius was a rare kind-hearted person. Not only did they accomplish remarkable feats, but they also created subhumans, who posed no harm to others and even allowed for the possibility of same-sex offspring. If she could travel back ten thousand years, she’d genuinely like to meet such a talented individual. However, most importantly, were the words Gu Qing had said earlier. She viewed the subhuman third gender scientifically. In her heart, she thought: Subhumans must possess some kind of radioactive hormone, enabling others to immediately recognize them at first sight as subhumans. Moreover, when subhumans marry, their hormones react inversely to their partners, completely altering their bodily structure. Interestingly, it seemed that the creator of subhumans favored females, as male subhumans, after their first night, wouldn’t suddenly sprout female organs but instead secrete a liquid that allows for reproduction. Female subhumans, on the other hand, could externally form physical organs and could whimsically shape them however they pleased, albeit for brief periods, as she discovered when she managed to maintain it for scarcely half a minute. Setting aside the duration issue, just the changeable form itself was rather fascinating. Heh, future intimate moments will definitely be "colorful and vibrant." Just the thought incites a bit of anticipation and excitement. Jing Aoxue thought expressionlessly, feeling that today's mental stimulation left her unsure of how to react. Letting out another sigh, she refocused on other concerns, only to realize that night had fallen and she had been out for quite some time. Shen Luman must be extremely worried. Jing Aoxue, feeling uneasy, packed the book away and left it on the table before heading out. By that time, there were far fewer patients in the Baicaotang, yet Old Doctor Gu Qing remained busy. Jing Aoxue observed carefully and noticed he was explaining the properties of various medicinal herbs to the apprentices and herb boys at Baicaotang. Jing Aoxue hesitated, unsure if she should interrupt him. Unexpectedly, Gu Qing noticed her first. He patted the shoulder of the middle-aged man beside him, indicating for him to continue teaching, and then approached Jing Aoxue, asking, "Finished reading? Have you figured it out?" Feeling awkward, Jing Aoxue touched her nose, internally admitting this was the most embarrassing experience yet, losing both face and dignity. Fortunately, her thick skin allowed her to quickly regain her composure as she thanked Gu Qing, "Thank you, Elder. I understand now." "Ha ha, it's good that you understand. It's just surprising how your family hasn't taught you this given your age." Jing Aoxue paused, realizing something wasn't right. Reflecting on it, the original owner of this body was only concerned with cultivation. After being injured at sixteen, her grandfather arranged a marriage, and since she never liked women, naturally she didn't understand much about relationships between women. Because of this, Jing Aoxue, being a transmigrator, also didn’t know, leading to such a big blunder. Internally criticizing the original owner, Jing Aoxue said to Gu Qing, "It's late. Today, I rushed to town in a state of unrest, and I've been here until now. My wife and child must be anxious. I’ll head home now. Thank you for your help today, and I promise to repay your kindness in the future." "Oh, it's really nothing that requires thanks. Still, you've reminded me. I previously sent someone to buy some books for me, and you should take them home to read carefully. I'm sure soon enough, you’ll be able to give your wife a second child." The way he put it… Jing Aoxue's face heated up, "Thank you, Elder." Gu Qing laughed heartily, handing her a packed parcel, "It's getting dark; you'd better head back. Be careful on the road at night." Jing Aoxue nodded, offered her thanks again, and then headed to the stable to fetch her horse and rode off. As evening descended, the streets became crowded. Jing Aoxue rode cautiously, anxious to avoid the pedestrians. Unbeknownst to her, leading a horse through the crowd already made her quite conspicuous. From the second floor of a tavern, Liang Shengrong, while drinking with others, absentmindedly glanced outside, and there he saw Jing Aoxue, and she was alone. A thought crossed his mind. He couldn’t deal with Shen Luman, the staunch protector, but Jing Aoxue, a mere weakling, posed no challenge. Despite lingering fears from their last encounter, the memory still irked him, feeling he'd lost face. Seeing Jing Aoxue alone at dusk, he knew she wasn't one to secretly hold immense strength like Shen Luman. It was the perfect time to deal with her quietly and unseen. Thinking along these lines, he pointed at her and told his drinking companions, "That person is my enemy. If anyone can take her out, I'll reward them with a thousand silver pieces." The eyes of those with him lit up as they squinted at Jing Aoxue. Money could indeed sway men to act. Liang Shengrong, fanning himself with a paper fan, gave a sinister smile: "Tomorrow, this time, will mark your death anniversary!" Chapter 37: Slaughter Jing Aoxue squinted her eyes, feeling frustrated as she was jostled around by the crowded throng. Initially, she felt helpless and annoyed, thinking to herself: She was eager to return home! Shen Luman must be worried sick, and Liu’er too, probably frowning with concern like a little steamed bun. Just as she was about to cut her way through the crowd like a force of nature, she noticed a young man not far from her who tried to hurry and ended up pushing into those around him. He was promptly blocked by several middle-aged women who unleashed a verbal barrage, scolding him relentlessly until his face was filled with despair and humiliation. Jing Aoxue was dumbfounded, deciding not to press her luck by squeezing through any longer. She followed the flow of the crowd, yawning idly, trying to find some amusement in her predicament: So this world has evening rush hour too, she thought, her knowledge of this world’s quirks growing bit by bit. Following the stream of people out of the city, it took her more than twice the usual time to reach the city gates. Finally out of the city, she breathed a huge sigh of relief. By this time, the sky was quite dark, with only the faint red glow of the western sunset remaining. The bright moon was already high in sky. Jing Aoxue, with a casual glance, noted the full, round moon and couldn't help but reflect: So it's a full moon tonight. Wasting no more time, she effortlessly mounted her horse and galloped quickly towards the village. As she rode, there was a constant sound of hooves from a group of horses trailing behind her, neither too close nor too far. At first, Jing Aoxue didn't pay much attention, her mind preoccupied with thinking about how to explain her late return to Shen Luman in a way that wouldn’t raise suspicion. But the clatter of the pursuing hoofbeats grew louder, and a vague sense of danger began to creep into her mind. She decided to test the situation by slowing her horse, and, as she suspected, the group behind her also reduced their speed. She smirked coldly, raising the whip and driving her horse faster than before into a gallop. Behind her, there was a brief pause, then the sound of whips cracking as the pursuing group urged their horses to chase after her with increased urgency. Jing Aoxue was now certain the group behind her was indeed targeting her. She steadied herself, turning her head to quickly assess the situation, noticing there were quite a few people—a good twenty or thirty of them. No wonder the sound of hooves was so noticeable, especially in the otherwise serene surroundings. By now, night had fully descended. Jing Aoxue intentionally guided her horse off the main road, heading deeper into the forested areas. The group behind her cursed under their breath, and one of them shouted, "Elder Brother, that woman has spotted us." Their leader, riding at the front, squinted his eyes without a hint of emotion, thinking: This one has some skill. However, he didn't take the seemingly weak subhuman seriously. Calmly, he instructed, "No problem, keep pursuing. She's saving us the trouble of revealing our presence." The others responded in agreement, one adding, "That old scoundrel Liang Shengrong, now that he has some silver, acts all high and mighty. He wasn’t always like this; back in the day, he was groveling at our feet like a lapdog."