Chapter 1693 — The Bedridden Man in the Countryside
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
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!