Chapter 1693 — The Bedridden Man in the Countryside

The girl who had been running around the tree also stopped in her tracks and peered curiously at Shen Mu.

The young man slaughtering the pig beneath the tree wiped the blood from his face and shot him a savage, seemingly hostile look. The old woman and the younger woman also turned their heads to look.

The younger woman dabbed the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and smiled with rustic candor: "It's been a long time since anyone came to our village. It's rare for a young gentleman to make the long journey all the way out here. Stay for a meal before you continue on your way? " The old woman grinned, revealing two or three remaining teeth, and quavered: "Have a meal, then be on your way.

. .

" Shen Mu halted, turned around, and said with a solemn expression: "I could hardly refuse such kindness. Since you insist, I shall shamelessly impose upon you. " With that, he walked toward the village.

As he passed the pig-slaughtering youth, the young man, cleaver in hand, the muscles and veins of his arm bulging, suddenly shrugged his shoulders and let out a threatening sound from his throat. Shen Mu smiled faintly: "A fine blade. " The pig-slaughtering youth stuck out his tongue, licked the pig's blood from the cleaver, and grinned: "A fine blade indeed!

" Shen Mu walked past him.

The youth held the cleaver and stared at his back, yet Shen Mu seemed utterly unaware and simply walked on until he reached the stone block. The youth never found an opening to strike, and praised him: "Impressive skill!

Young gentleman, you're harder to handle than any pig I've ever slaughtered! " Shen Mu turned back and gave him a brilliant smile: "You're not so bad yourself.

" The old man was too advanced in years and struggled to rise. Shen Mu hastily bent to assist him, helping him to his feet.

The old man's withered, bony fingers seized the pulse point of his right wrist, and he looked up at him with a smiling face.

Shen Mu's left hand naturally came to rest on the old man's lower back at the waist point, and he gazed concernedly into the old man's eyes. The two burst out laughing.

The old man released his wrist and waved his hand: "Old as I am, I'm stubborn as a mule. I can walk! You're a good man, young gentleman—a man who respects his elders!

" Shen Mu silently withdrew his left hand and said in admiration: "The elder is hale and hearty despite his years. I am impressed. " "Young gentleman!

" The girl with the horn-shaped braids ran up to Shen Mu, tilted her head back with eyes sparkling, clutching a fruit in her hand. She raised it high, her arm stretched out perfectly straight: "Young gentleman, eat the fruit!

" Shen Mu's gaze fell upon the fruit in her hand.

It must have been plucked from that tree just moments ago—the stem was still fresh. Shen Mu smiled: "I won't eat it. You eat it, little one.

" The girl with the horn braids extended her arm, bringing the fruit right up to his lips, and said in her crisp, clear voice: "Young gentleman, eat! " But just as the fruit reached Shen Mu's lips, his palm was already there to block it.

One finger pressed against the fruit in the girl's hand and gently pushed it back.

He smiled: "You eat it, little one. " The girl strained with all her might, watching as Shen Mu pushed the fruit inch by inch back toward her own lips, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Suddenly, the girl snatched back the fruit and scampered off with a skip and a hop: "If the young gentleman won't eat it, then Yaya will eat it herself! " The old man laughed: "The young gentleman is quite strong. " Shen Mu said modestly: "My strength is only a little greater than the little one's, and I have a few years on her.

It's nothing worth mentioning. " He entered the village with the old man.

The pig-slaughtering youth hoisted half a pig carcass and the offal onto his shoulder and carried them into the courtyard. The woman had already finished washing the clothes.

She wiped her hands on her body and hurried to greet Shen Mu: "Young gentleman, you are an honored guest.

In all the time we've lived here, we've never seen anyone as refined and distinguished as you! " She circled him, sizing him up from head to toe several times, and praised: "So handsome!

" Shen Mu smiled and blocked the hand reaching for his cheek: "Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving. " The woman's fingers quivered, yet Shen Mu always blocked her at precisely the right moment.

She laughed: "The young gentleman's hands are handsome too! " With that, she withdrew her hand. Beneath the eaves, the old woman gave a snort and muttered under her breath: "Dirty old hand. .

.

" The woman shot a glare at the old woman, fury rising in her chest, and cursed: "You have the nerve to talk! Every day your whole family eats, drinks, shits, and sleeps—who do you think looks after all of you?

If not for me, you'd all be chewing on the northwest wind! It's not that I've taken a fancy to the young gentleman's beauty—I'm looking for a husband for the little one! In this godforsaken backwater, it's hard enough to find a man at all!

" After her outburst, the old woman was so angry she kept rolling her eyes.

The woman stormed back into the room and slammed the door heavily. The old woman's anger subsided. She raised her dim, clouded eyes to scrutinize Shen Mu and said with a kindly expression: "Young gentleman, what do you think of our little one? Would you consider staying and making a match? " The girl with the horn braids was overcome with shame at these words. She hid in the corner of the wall, stealing glances at him, a blush rising to her cheeks.

Too embarrassed to come out, she stayed where she was.

Shen Mu shook his head: "I am already married.

My wife is gentle and virtuous. " The old woman sighed: "What a pity. My old body is not what it used to be.

Young gentleman, could you climb that tree and pick a fruit for me? " She raised her hand and pointed.

Shen Mu followed the direction of her finger and saw a large tree bearing four fruits and one blossoming flower.

Shen Mu withdrew his gaze and smiled: "The tree is too tall. I'm afraid I can't climb it.

However, I have a treasured sword, exceedingly sharp—I could chop the tree down instead. I've felled a similar tree before. " The old man hastily said: "Don't chop it, don't chop it!

If you chop it down, how will we eat fruit anymore? " The old woman laughed: "A young gentleman from the city after all—never lifts a finger, can't tell one grain from another. To even speak of chopping down a tree!

I may be advanced in years, but I do so love beauty. There are no mirrors in the village.

Would you be so kind, young gentleman, as to go outside and cut us a piece of mirror? " She bit down hard on the words "from the city. " Shen Mu smiled: "The stone stele outside is too hard. I'm afraid I can't cut through it.

" The woman busied herself inside preparing pig-slaughter dishes, turning the offal and such into plate after plate of food.

Meanwhile, Shen Mu chatted idly with the old man and old woman outside, one sentence here and there.

"Your village doesn't have many people, but there are quite a lot of trees. " Shen Mu glanced around and said: "Six people, eight trees. " The old man laughed: "Six people?

Can't the young gentleman even count?

There are clearly five in our family.

" Shen Mu glanced at the half pig carcass hanging under the tree at the village entrance, smiled faintly, and said no more, then asked: "When did the elder move to this secluded place? " "That I don't remember.

" The old man pondered for a moment, then said: "I only remember that the world was in chaos and the people had no way to live. We were driven here by bad men. Young gentleman, is it still chaotic outside?

" Shen Mu clapped his hands in admiration: "You truly have good fortune!