Chapter 115: Time to Divide the Spoils
Chapter 115: Time to Divide the Spoils
Hu Ma was taken aback when Second Uncle said it was late. He was startled, thinking that Second Uncle might have passed away after just a few months. However, upon hearing the reason, his heart sank involuntarily.
Second Uncle had guarded the Pure Yang Furnace all his life and pondered over it for decades, always wondering how those more capable people managed to achieve what they did.
Now, a single word from Hu Ma had cleared his doubts, but it also made him feel a sense of nostalgia.
Because he had pondered over it for a lifetime, he understood his body the best. This method of refining life into death required not only a strong furnace but also a healthy body. He was already old, with most of his life behind him, and he couldn't afford such a strenuous path anymore.
He suddenly understood why the old master he had encountered years ago only taught him for a few years before sending him back.
When he returned, it was already too late for him to learn more.
He had been used to the fullest, but he never told Hu Ma that he didn’t need to stay anymore.
Hu Ma didn’t understand all the thoughts that were swirling in Second Uncle’s mind, but he could see the melancholy in his eyes. Feeling a bit sad himself, he tried to cheer him up.
For example, he hadn’t mentioned that he had become the manager of the village and that if he worked hard, he might even become an innkeeper next year...
He also told Second Uncle that the mustached manager, whom they had met when he sent them off, still remembered him and said he would invite him for a drink if the opportunity arose.
Second Uncle didn’t take the innkeeper’s words to heart, thinking Hu Ma was just boasting.
But when it came to the mustached manager, he perked up: “We should prepare some gifts and send them back after the New Year.”
“What kind of sentiment does a person like that, a city’s old miner, have for us in the mountains?”
“Besides, he’s the kind of person who helps when given something. You should maintain this friendship; you might need it in the future!”
“...”
Seeing that Second Uncle was still thinking about him, Hu Ma was deeply moved. But between men, they didn’t say overly sentimental things. He just said seriously, “Second Uncle, if I make it, you don’t have to go cutting Ta Sui anymore. I’ll take care of your old age…”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Second Uncle just smiled: “If you support me in my old age, who will take the younger ones to earn silver?”
...
...
The next day, after sending off the people from Python Village, Hu Ma and his apprentices prepared to return to the village.
As usual, they packed everything to the brim. The peanuts, steamed buns, and salted eggs collected from the village, along with the chicken, duck, and fish that Zhou Datong’s mother had saved from the feasts, were all packed into jars and thawed, ready to last through the winter.
Additionally, there were new coats, shoes, and pants, which weren’t rushed jobs.
They had already been made, thinking that if the children didn’t come back for the New Year, they would send them after. Every household was generous with their best items.
Especially Second Uncle, who might have forgotten what Hu Ma said to him the other night, as he never mentioned the “Age Keeper” again. The previous day’s melancholy was gone, and he was still as cheerful as before.
But he remembered the mustached manager and packed wild game, herbs, and black oil paste from the village, asking Hu Ma to take them along.
Some people in the village, who were quick to speak, teased him: “They’re not your own children, why are you so busy?”
Second Uncle, however, was proud: “I’m not preparing these for the kids, I’m preparing them for Mr. Xu in the city.”
“He’s an old friend of mine.”
“...”
This time, there was no need for Second Uncle to see them off.
After all, it was almost time for the Year-Worship, and he needed to teach the villagers more things, and take them into the mountains before the New Year. The cart driver who had brought Hu Ma and the others back also arrived early as agreed, waiting in the village.
He had been warmly welcomed in the village before, and he remembered the kindness. This time, he brought some city snacks and candies to share with the village children.
They left the village full and returned full. They traveled quickly, resting at night, and in a few days, they were back at the village.
Hu Ma and his team unloaded the items and found the village unusually quiet. Although the town wasn’t crowded, there was still a faint New Year’s atmosphere, and the paper money and incense burned in front of the village were more than when they left.
But once inside the village, there was no New Year’s atmosphere at all.
Hu Ma and his team had returned early, and the other apprentices hadn’t come back yet.
They brought Zhou Datong and the others to the inner courtyard to greet the innkeeper and Wu He Sister. The old innkeeper didn’t give them red envelopes like other innkeepers, but only had the old servant bring them a jar of wine.
He said, “It’s good to be back. Focus your minds, and the work will start soon. There will be plenty for you to do. And Hu Ma, remember to give the apprentices some red envelopes for good luck.”
“This is the innkeeper’s job…”
Hu Ma agreed but also thought about it silently.
What was even stranger was that after being away for about ten days, the innkeeper, dressed in a cotton robe, looked pale and weak, with a feeble voice, appearing even more frail than before.
As an Age Keeper, he should have recovered from his injuries long ago.
He took out the things he had brought for Wu He Sister from the village and saw her come out of the house.
She wore a red cotton jacket, which made her look less thin and more spirited compared to when she wore a single layer. Standing beside the cold, dead tree, she looked radiant, and even the putrid smell that had clung to her before was much lighter.
After exchanging a few words with Hu Ma and the others, she took the gifts and went back inside.
Zhou Datong and the others had seen her before, but seeing her now still made them envious...
That night, they drank together, and then the night patrol began again. In the previous few days, only they could do the job themselves.
But after a few days, the apprentices who had returned home came back, and the manpower gradually increased.
Everything returned to normal as it was before the New Year.
It was at this time, while the work in the city hadn't started yet, that Hu Ma found a time, took advantage of the opportunity, and changed into a black cotton robe. He led Little Red Apricot and quietly left the village.
Outside, he put on a cotton hat to cover his face and slowly made his way to the west end of the town, stopping in front of a courtyard. He squatted down, reached under a stone, and took out a key to unlock the door and enter.
This courtyard was originally inhabited by a horseshoer, but he had returned to his hometown to retire before the New Year and never came back.
The village had already been rented out, and someone had come to check it during the New Year.
After Hu Ma entered the village, he saw a well and a pomegranate tree. There were stone tables and benches in the courtyard. He didn't rush, first looking around the house as if inspecting the layout, and then came out and sat at the table.
He sat there for a long time, and Little Red Apricot remained vigilant nearby.
Once he was sure no one was watching, he had Little Red Apricot continue her vigilance, got up, and went to the well, pulling the well rope.
The rope seemed to be caught by something and was quite sturdy.
But with his strength, Hu Ma slowly pulled it up. At the end, there was a large bundle, and something inside was jiggling, making the sound of ceramic jars colliding.
Hu Ma picked up the bundle, still not in a hurry, and glanced at Little Red Apricot. She quickly looked around and turned back to Hu Ma, saying, "It's fine, there's no one around. Little Red Apricot is very alert..."
"Good girl."
Only then did Hu Ma feel reassured. He carried the bundle into the main hall, didn't light a lamp, and opened it by the dim light of the sky.
Inside the bundle were several jars, a white jar, and a thing wrapped in layers of oiled paper.
He let out a sigh of relief, opened the jars, and saw inside were greenish meat chunks that had solidified into a gel.
The moment the jars were opened, Little Red Apricot suddenly peeked down from the roof, her eyes wide open.
Hu Ma raised a finger to his lips, "Shh," and then opened the white jar.
A comfortable low sigh came from his chest, but he still suppressed it, not daring to make too much noise.
Inside the jar were red Blood Food Pills, each one almost as large as those given by Grandma.
Little Red Apricot, who had been peeking down from the roof, now had eyes as wide as bells.
Only then did Hu Ma pick up the thing wrapped in oiled paper, hesitated for a moment, but didn't open it directly.
Miss White Wine was indeed very cautious...
When he first received that batch of Blood Food, whether green or red, she refined them all into Blood Food Pills or gels, and even replaced a considerable part with the stock from Caoxin Hall.
This had several advantages. First, it reduced the volume, took up less space, and was easier to preserve, making it less likely to attract evil spirits.
Secondly, so many Green Tai Sui, if all delivered to Hu Ma at once, would be too conspicuous. So, she converted some into Blood Tai Sui, and of course, deducted the losses.
Another obvious benefit was that they couldn't be too careful about someone suspecting and investigating the mysterious person who had stolen the Blood Food. What if they traced it back to him?
But these Blood Food Pills were all refined by Caoxin Hall, and their origins could be traced back. Even if the worst happened and they were discovered, it would be Caoxin Hall's loss, not the Red Lantern Association's.
Scouting, action, and disposal...
Every step was crucial, and no step could go wrong...
"Little Red Apricot, dig up the soil under the stove."
Thinking to himself, Hu Ma felt increasingly cheerful, and he instructed Little Red Apricot, who was drooling, with a low laugh, "Do you know what this means?"
Little Red Apricot came over, squatted on the ground, her eyes bright, and shook her head.
Hu Ma smiled, "It means our good days are finally here..."
"Do you want to eat Green Food every day?"
"..."
"No..."
Little Red Apricot shook her head and said, "I want to eat Blood Food every day!"
"..."
Hu Ma was a bit embarrassed, "We don't have that condition now..."
(End of Chapter)
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