CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 78 A WOMAN’S LIFE

"Brother Hu Ma seemed young, but his actions were very steady."

As a slight doubt crept into Hu Ma’s heart, the girl named Wu He also looked over.

In this world, women were mostly shy. Even the widows in the village would steal glances at men, but she seemed quite bold.

Her gaze scrutinized Hu Ma’s face very thoroughly, sizing him up while pushing a cup of tea towards him. Smiling, she said, "I see it all the time."

"And the time you helped deal with the evil spirit in the Manor, Datong told me about it. I really admire you!"

...

It really was her...

Feeling her gaze, Hu Ma reaffirmed his suspicion. She was indeed the one who constantly hid and observed him from her room, and she didn’t even bother to hide it in her words.

This only fueled his curiosity further. He glanced at her, but with the Shopkeeper nearby, it was not appropriate to look more.

He stood up to take the tea, smiling as he said, "Oh, it’s nothing. Coming from the village, I knew nothing; it was all thanks to the Shopkeeper’s guidance."

"Brother Hu Ma, you’re too modest," Sister He said. "But from now on, I won’t be so polite with you. I’m not in good health, and it’s inconvenient to go out. In the future, I might trouble you to bring some needles, threads, and cosmetics for me from outside the Manor..."

Hu Ma quickly replied, "It’s no trouble at all."

While accepting the tea, his fingers accidentally brushed against something. He looked down; her hand had already retracted swiftly.

Hu Ma sniffed and furrowed his brows but said nothing, only conversing politely with the Shopkeeper.

He had thought that a woman who usually hid in her room finally showing herself would have something to say, but it turned out there really wasn’t anything. The Shopkeeper just brought his daughter to the courtyard to drink tea and chat about everyday matters before they returned inside.

Seeing the late hour, Hu Ma left the inner courtyard as well and continued organizing the workers for their patrol and to feed the horses.

Although the workers were unwilling, seeing that the Junior Sister had already retreated to her room, they all groaned in unison, reluctantly coming over to work, still feeling like they hadn’t had enough.

Hu Ma didn’t know if it was his imagination, but as he directed the workers, he felt a constant gaze on his back... This sensation had become even more pronounced since meeting this girl. He felt a bit uneasy, not daring to be careless, and decided to head out of the Manor with the workers.

He thought this Junior Sister looked pretty, but there was something inexplicably odd about her. These times weren’t as enlightened as his past life; well-bred young ladies typically wouldn’t leave their inner courtyards. The Shopkeeper’s precious daughter not only dared to look at him boldly but also seemed unbothered by the workers’ attention while sitting in the courtyard with a light smile.

Weird, it all seemed so weird!

But the other workers lacked Hu Ma’s cautious awareness; they remained lost in dreamy smiles, immersed in the memory.

Once they exited the Manor, Zhou Datong got excited and repeatedly asked, "Brother Hu Ma, Brother Hu Ma, what did she smell like?"

"Smell?"

Hu Ma looked at him in surprise, then at the drooling fellows beside him, before understanding.

Somewhat helplessly, he said, "There’s no particular smell..."

Zhou Datong, and even Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu beside him, all looked skeptical. Seeing their expressions, Hu Ma figured that even if he deducted half a pound of their Blood Food, they wouldn’t be this dissatisfied.

"Really, there isn’t."

Thinking for a moment, Hu Ma found it quite peculiar. He sniffed his fingers and said, "To be honest, there seemed to be a faint stink, just masked by the smell of herbal medicine..."

"A stink?"

Zhou Datong was stunned for a moment, then resolutely said, "That’s impossible!"

"I smelled that fragrance from ten yards away! I just didn’t get close enough to know how good it smelled..."

"Yeah!" Zhou Liang and Zhao Zhu, the honest ones, nodded along, deeply agreeing. "Second Master also said that women smell like steamed buns..."

Second Master probably meant that the steamed buns women carry smell nice...

Hu Ma thought. But seeing their earnest and serious expressions, he swallowed the correction he intended to make.

What more could he say?

It’s a universal truth: whether something stinks or not depends on the face!

...

Initially, as Hu Ma settled into the manager’s position, everything in the Manor had fallen into a dull and orderly routine. But with the arrival of this Junior Sister, everyone suddenly became lively. Even when Hu Ma paid for their meals, treating them to wine and meat, it never got them this excited. Each one seemed to practically float as they walked and couldn’t help but hum tunes, even in the latrine.

Hygiene improved too. Though Hu Ma no longer lived in the communal dormitory, he had lectured them to stay clean and not be covered in mud, with dirt thick on their collars. The young men’s scent had gotten so bad that even Little Hongtang would give their room a wide berth. Bathing wasn’t practical, and changing clothes frequently wasn’t feasible for some of the workers either. But at least they could wash their feet, right? They might listen to other requests, but this particular one they usually categorized as a matter of personal freedom, outside the manager’s purview. Yet now, those who never heeded Hu Ma had suddenly become clean and tidy. They not only loved to wash their faces but even enjoyed bathing outside the house—and this was winter!

But another issue arose: the night patrol work that everyone used to compete for suddenly lost its appeal. The reason was simple: at dusk, this Junior Sister might come out of her room and roam around the inner courtyard. It was just a possibility, as she didn’t come out every day. But for that slight chance, the workers would eagerly wait.

Hu Ma, lamenting the disruptive influence of this ’burning furnace,’ cleverly came up with a few ideas. When he had a moment, he would casually point at someone, saying, "Go clean out the latrines; they’re almost full. Scoop them clean, then replace the contents with fresh earth and stove ash."

"Take the rest to the village chief’s house; you can trade it for three copper coins... You can keep the coins for yourself and buy some crisp, golden flatbreads on the way..."

This task was something no one had ever wanted to do. Even if they dared not ignore Hu Ma’s orders, their reluctance was always evident.

But now, seeing their discontent, Hu Ma would add, "And after you finish, deliver something to the Shopkeeper in the inner courtyard."

"Of course, change your clothes before you go!"

Suddenly, their enthusiasm spiked, and they nearly began fighting over the task.

Looking at the Shopkeeper’s daughter now, she didn’t seem to be as severely injured as the rumors suggested. The workers in the outer courtyard were all infatuated with her, while Hu Ma found himself wanting to avoid her. He truly felt he couldn’t see through her. She had stayed hidden in her room for so long, yet now she occasionally appeared to show her face.

The most crucial thing was whether she knew Hu Ma was intentionally avoiding her. Once, she even came straight into Hu Ma’s small room.

Normally, when practicing the Living-Refining dharma method, he didn’t even allow Zhou Datong and the others inside, having them call him from outside the door if there was any business.

Seeing her barge in directly, he was somewhat surprised. "Junior Sister, is something the matter?"

Sister He stood just inside the doorway, smiling at Hu Ma. "Can’t I come if there’s nothing wrong?"

"Miss, you wouldn’t want the Shopkeeper to know you secretly came to my room, would you?" Hu Ma thought, but he swallowed the risqué words. Forcing a smile, he said, "I just thought you might have something you needed me to do."

"What’s this about needing or not needing things done?" Sister He said. "My father is the Shopkeeper of the Lady’s Society, and you’re its manager. We’re all on the same side, so how can it be called an order?"

She laughed. "But I do have something. Where are the cosmetics you promised to buy me?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Hu Ma replied, "I haven’t seen any peddlers pass by recently, and I haven’t had a chance to go into the city."

"Alright then, just make sure you remember."

As she spoke, Sister He took two steps forward, and Hu Ma could faintly smell a rotting odor emanating from her. This time, only the two of them were in the room, and she was much closer than she had been in the inner courtyard. The stench was clearer, causing Hu Ma to feel a chill and subconsciously step back.

He suddenly realized this might upset her.

Indeed, Sister He, perhaps noticing Hu Ma’s frown or realizing the impropriety of a young man and woman speaking so closely alone in a small room, also stepped back slightly. "Actually, I have something else," she said.

"The current you..."

She hesitated briefly, biting her lip as if steeling her resolve, then said, "How far have you progressed with the Shousui dharma method?"

"Hmm?"

Why is she asking this? Hu Ma was slightly surprised. He figured this dharma method shouldn’t be a secret to her, so he slowly responded, "I’ve made some progress, but practicing it isn’t easy."

"I’ve only just started, so I’m being very cautious, afraid of making mistakes. Besides, cultivation of this dharma method requires relying on Blood Food..."

I’ve already completed the refining life process for my left hand and am debating whether to do the same for my right leg, but I can’t tell her that, he thought. Taking this opportunity, he mentioned "Blood Food," quietly observing her reaction.

"Alright then..." Hearing Hu Ma say that his progress was slow, she seemed a bit disappointed, muttering, "Then you better keep at it..."

Seeming somewhat reluctant, she walked to the threshold but then, as if remembering something, suddenly turned back to Hu Ma. "Brother Hu Ma, it’s good to be cautious. Everyone fears making a mistake when practicing this dharma method..."

"My father actually has a notebook. It contains the insights he jotted down during his daily cultivation. He treasures it greatly and usually doesn’t let anyone see it."

"If I get it for you, will that help you cultivate faster?"

"Huh?"

What is she trying to achieve? Hu Ma was thoroughly taken aback.