Chapter 46: Get a Massage

After dinner, Pear Blossom bid her farewells.

Turning back to the market to pick up some items, she realized that after finishing the house construction these past few days, she hadn’t been to town. While helping the Zeng family harvest rice, she hadn’t missed any meat, but for the next few days, there wouldn’t be any, so she needed to stock up. She planned to go home and let her mother preserve it with salt so it could be stored for a long time.

Today, she made a profit of about one or two taels from selling wild game. As for the thirty wen from the eggs, she didn’t feel right accepting it, but just before leaving, Murong Jin still shoved it into her hands, saying, “A deal is a deal. Since you don’t want compensation, I absolutely cannot let you leave without this thirty wen.” She had no choice but to accept it.

The meat in the city was cheaper than in the town. In the town, it was fifteen wen per jin, but here it was only thirteen wen. Pear Blossom bought five jin of pork belly, remembering that her father liked pig offal, so she also bought a pig’s intestine and liver. The white flour at home had run out, so she bought twenty jin, along with twenty jin of beans and some miscellaneous candies.

Passing by a rouge and powder shop, she remembered the ointment that Dong Yun had given her the night before. She set down her items and went inside to browse. She was drawn to a box of rouge, but upon asking, it turned out to cost two taels of silver. Reluctantly, she put it back and ended up buying a few differently colored hair ties before heading back.

The system laughed at her, suggesting that if she were in the ABO world, she would most likely be classified as a B, after all, she was a poor B.

Pear Blossom didn’t understand and let the noise in her mind be.Just as she reached the city gates, she saw Murong Jin, dressed in red, holding the reins of two horses and standing by the roadside, seemingly waiting for someone.

When he saw Pear Blossom, he quickly waved at her. Pear Blossom, carrying her basket of forty jin, wasn’t particularly weighed down, but her shoulders were sore. She blinked and asked,

“Where are you going?”

Murong Jin smiled. “I’m waiting here for you. Do you know how to ride a horse? I’ll take you back and show you the way. In case you go back on your word, I’ll know exactly where to find you.”

Pear Blossom, with her burden on her shoulders, felt the weight wasn’t too bad, but her shoulders hurt. She blinked and said, “I won’t be polite then.”

“Don’t be polite. I’m specially sending you back,” Murong Jin replied, helping her take the basket off her shoulders and tying the items to the horse’s back. Pear Blossom grinned, took the reins, and mounted the horse.

Murong Jin was a little surprised by how nimble she was. “You’ve really ridden before, huh? I thought I’d need to find a place to teach you before you could even get on.”

An average horse would cost twenty to thirty taels of silver, which most families couldn’t afford, even if they could barely manage with cattle. Only wealthier families could afford horses.

As for security agencies, horses were their primary means of production, so they naturally had plenty, which was why Murong Jin was holding two horses.

Pear Blossom had ridden with Zuo Qi to find her father for three days, so she was already more than familiar with riding. But she didn’t think it necessary to explain this to Murong Jin. She just smiled and said, “I’ve ridden cattle, so it’s pretty much the same.”

With the sound of “giddy up,” the horse lifted its hooves and started running.

Seeing this, Murong Jin was unwilling to fall behind. She quickly mounted her horse and chased after.

The distance of several dozen miles seemed insignificant at such high speed. In an area with no people, the two rode their horses furiously, and when they reached Daliushu Village, only about fifteen minutes had passed.

Pear Blossom couldn’t help but marvel at how money truly makes things easier, even making travel more convenient.

Murong Jin, however, looked excited. It was rare to meet such an interesting person, and it seemed that the days ahead would not be dull.

The two rode into the village on their tall horses. Most of the villagers were in the fields cutting rice. Hearing the sound of hooves approaching, they couldn’t help but turn their heads, thinking it was someone from the government coming down to the village. Their faces showed signs of anxiety, fearing bad news was coming.

But to their surprise, the leaders were Pear Blossom, the daughter of Liu Dagen from the village’s eastern hill, followed by a woman in red with a sword, both riding horses. They looked imposing and made everyone stop in amazement.

“Isn’t that Pear Blossom?”

“Yes, that’s Pear Blossom! This girl can ride a horse?”

“Who is the person behind her? Since when did Pear Blossom become acquainted with such a handsome person? The horse probably belongs to that lady. She looks like someone from the city, with a sword at her waist. She must be an important person.”

“Liu Dagen’s daughter is really something! Just a few months ago, she was almost sold by Mrs. Xiang, and now she seems like a different person.”

Zhang Laowu’s field was right by the main road. When he saw Pear Blossom returning on horseback, he straightened up and called out, “Pear Blossom, you’re back! Is this your friend?”

Pear Blossom replied, “She’s the daughter of my employer, just here to recognize the way. Uncle Wu, how much have you cut today?”

“Half an acre,” he replied.The others, having overheard their conversation, realized the key point. It turned out that Pear Blossom was the daughter of her employer. They began whispering to each other, speculating about how Pear Blossom must have found a good job to be riding alongside the employer’s daughter, which made them envious.

However, some people were feeling jealous, especially the Xiang family. Since they had given away eight acres of water fields to Liu Dagen’s family, they now had only three acres of water fields and two acres of mountain land to support three households and the elderly couple. Life had become tight, and they resented Liu Dagen’s family deeply. When Mrs. Xiang saw Pear Blossom returning on horseback, jealousy flared up, and she muttered curses under her breath, unable to bear anyone else’s good fortune.

Pear Blossom, however, paid no attention to her. She urged her horse forward, heading toward the foot of the eastern hill.

As they passed by the small yard of the Zeng family, Pear Blossom saw Dong Yun and Fubao picking rice ears in the field and quickly reined in her horse to stop.

Fubao had already looked up when she heard the sound of hooves and, seeing it was Pear Blossom, excitedly called out her name and climbed up the road to meet her.

Pear Blossom rode over, bent down, grabbed Fubao by the back of her collar, and lifted her onto the horse, settling her in front of her.

By the time Fubao realized what had happened, she was already on the horse, excitedly kicking her legs. “Pear Blossom, the horse! Riding the horse! Giddy up!” Dong Yun had been startled by Pear Blossom’s quick actions, but when she saw her daughter sitting steadily in front, she relaxed and smiled at the two of them.

Murong Jin, still on her horse, looked at Dong Yun, standing in the field, and couldn’t help but feel a bit awed. Daliushu Village truly seemed like a place blessed with good fortune to have such a beautiful woman. Even in plain clothes, her beauty couldn’t be hidden. Her posture and bearing made her look nothing like a village woman.

Dong Yun noticed Murong Jin and squinted slightly before turning to Pear Blossom, asking, “Who is that?”

Pear Blossom smiled and replied, “Her name is Murong Jin, the young lady from the Longwei Dart Bureau in the city. I just found a job. After the harvest, I’ll go help her as a sparring partner to earn some silver to help with household expenses.” Dong Yun understood, and with a slight nod to Murong Jin, she acknowledged her.

Murong Jin returned a smile.”Go on, don’t keep her waiting,” Dong Yun urged.

Pear Blossom then gave a firm kick, and the horse galloped off again, heading toward home.

Fubao was ecstatic, shouting out loud, and Murong Jin followed closely behind.They soon reached the newly built yard at Liu Dagen’s house. When Murong Jin arrived, she hadn’t bought anything, so feeling a bit awkward, she simply greeted Liu Dagen and his wife before turning back with her horse and heading toward the city.

Pear Blossom entered the yard with Fubao, while Daniu carried flour, meat, and beans into the kitchen.

Mrs. Xiong and Liu Dagen also put down their work and followed her inside, asking, “Who is that young lady? She’s so beautiful.”

Pear Blossom then told them about what had happened that day and concluded, “After the harvest, I’ll go to her every day to be her sparring partner and return in the afternoon.”

When Mrs. Xiong heard it would earn two taels of silver a month, her eyes lit up several times.
“Your father serves in the army, earning only three taels of silver a year, and now you’ll make two taels a month. That’s much better than your father.”

But then, thinking about what her daughter’s work entailed, she couldn’t help but worry, saying, “She’s a trained martial artist, and you don’t know anything about it. Won’t you just end up getting beaten? Never mind, never mind. Even if they offer a lot of silver, we won’t let you go. Better to catch up and quit this job before it’s too late.”

Pear Blossom laughed and said, “Mom, what are you thinking? Being a sparring partner isn’t about being a punching bag. If it were, she could just hit a wooden post. It’s mostly about holding targets and practicing. Don’t worry, I’ll learn a few moves. We’ll all be martial arts experts then.”

Liu Dagen understood more about this than Mrs. Xiong did, but he knew that being a sparring partner wasn’t an easy job. Still, the two taels of silver a month was not a small sum. He comforted his wife, saying, “Pear Blossom is strong, and she can endure falls and run fast. Working at the Dart Bureau is a respectable job. It’s better than going up the mountain and provoking wolves.”

Mrs. Xiong relaxed a little upon hearing this but still glanced at Pear Blossom and said, “Go ahead for a few days. If it really doesn’t work out, quit. We can’t let you risk your life for silver.”

Pear Blossom nodded and agreed.

Daniu carried the items into the kitchen, noticing the snacks, candies, and hair ties Pear Blossom had bought. He brought them out again.

Pear Blossom unwrapped the black candies and handed them to Fubao. Fubao immediately put one in her mouth and grabbed another tightly in her hand, afraid someone might take it away.

Seeing this, Mrs. Xiong chuckled, “Go ahead and eat. Who would want your candy?”After taking one for herself, Pear Blossom gave the rest to Xinghua.

Mrs. Xiong asked, “Buying flour and meat—what kind of game did you catch in the mountains today?”

Pear Blossom placed the remaining silver she had on the table and explained, “Three traps caught a roe deer and some pheasants and rabbits. I sold them all. The restaurant paid me one tael and four qian, and Murong Jin gave me 30 wen for the eggs. After buying these things, this is what’s left. Mother, you can save it.”

Mrs. Xiong looked at the silver on the table, hesitated, and said, “This money came from the game you caught. You should keep it. You’ll need to buy things when you go to town. The family has one tael left after building the house, and we don’t have many expenses. Once the harvest is done, your father will also find work in town. The family won’t lack money.”

After thinking for a moment, Pear Blossom decided she shouldn’t be completely without money. She pushed the one tael toward Mrs. Xiong and said, “I’ll keep the small amount for myself. The larger sum is for the family, so I don’t have to ask you for money every time I need to buy something.”

Only then did Mrs. Xiong smile and accept it. “Oh, and Mother,” Pear Blossom added, “we should start saving the eggs at home. Mrs. Murong likes our eggs and asked for as many as we can spare. Aside from what we eat, we won’t sell the rest elsewhere.”

Mrs. Xiong nodded, thinking it was a small matter. Eggs were worth one wen each, but Mrs. Murong paid her daughter a monthly salary of two taels. She understood the importance.

“Got it. We’ll occasionally eat some, but the rest will be saved for Mrs. Murong.” Thinking of the meat Pear Blossom had just bought, her mood improved again. “I’ll prepare the offal now. Tonight, we’ll have a good meal.”

With money earned today and her daughter securing a high-paying job, Mrs. Xiong was thrilled.

She kept one jin of pork for boiling and salted the rest for preservation. She made a stir-fry with pork belly and liver, braised sauerkraut with intestines, scrambled eggs with wild chives, and a dish of stir-fried radishes.

Three meat dishes and one vegetable dish it was a feast. The siblings were already drooling before the meal began. When it was time to eat, they focused entirely on grabbing food and eating, too busy to even talk.

Dagen was the most extreme, pouring the sauerkraut and intestine soup over his rice and devouring four bowls in a row, leaving him rubbing his belly and hiccupping.

Pear Blossom was slightly better off, having eaten well earlier at the courier station. She was now feeding Fubao.

Fubao loved scrambled eggs, and the eggs from old hens tasted even better. Because of them, the little girl ate almost half a bowl more rice than usual.

After finishing, she wiped her greasy mouth and said, “Eggs are delicious. Next time, I want more.”

Dong Yun, one of the few villagers who treated their family well, had a soft spot for Fubao. Hearing this, Mrs. Xiong laughed, “Next time you come, all the eggs will be yours.”

Fubao was delighted. She jumped off Pear Blossom’s lap and ran to Mrs. Xiong, rubbing against her to show her happiness.

Mrs. Xiong’s heart melted. She hugged the little girl and pinched her chubby cheeks, saying, “How could anyone hit you, like your grandmother did that day? It breaks my heart just thinking about it.” Fubao giggled from the tickling and wriggled free, running back to Pear Blossom and climbing onto her lap.

Pear Blossom held her around the waist with one hand to keep her steady while eating with the other, letting her climb up and down as she pleased.

When Dong Yun arrived, she saw this warm scene and noticed her daughter’s round belly. It was clear she’d eaten well.

Mrs. Xiong invited Dong Yun to join them, but she declined with a smile, standing in the courtyard. “I was going to take this little one home for dinner, but she’s already full here.” She had come to fetch her daughter, worried she’d delay the family’s dinner, but was surprised to find they had eaten earlier than expected.

Mrs. Xiong said, “Kids have tiny stomachs. A few bites and they’re full.”Pear Blossom carried Fubao to the courtyard and said to Dong Yun, “She doesn’t want to go back yet. Why don’t you go home first? I’ll bring her over later.”

Fubao clung to Pear Blossom’s neck and turned to her mother, saying, “I’m not going back. I want to play with Pear Blossom.” Dong Yun felt like smacking her daughter. Was she so content here that she’d forgotten home? Still, with chores waiting at home, she thought it might be easier without the little one around and left her here for now.…As night fell, Pear Blossom bathed before carrying Fubao to the Zeng family’s courtyard.

After playing with Xinghua and Erniu earlier, Fubao had finally exhausted her energy and was now dozing off on Pear Blossom’s shoulder.

Pear Blossom held her with one hand and a torch with the other, walking along the moonlit village path.

The evening air was cooler compared to the daytime heat. Crickets in the fields and frogs by the ponds filled the air with their chirping, adding life to the quiet countryside.

Soon, they reached the Zeng family’s courtyard. The gate was locked, so Pear Blossom knocked. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Dong Yun’s gentle face.

It seemed she had just bathed, as her hair was down, draping over her shoulders. She looked different from earlier in the day, carrying a hint of alluring charm.

“You’re here,” she said softly, stepping aside to let Pear Blossom into the courtyard. Her low, gentle voice brushed past Pear Blossom’s ears, and for a fleeting moment, it gave her the illusion that she was the owner of this house, while this woman was welcoming her home.

After closing the door, Dong Yun extended her hand toward Pear Blossom, saying, “Give her to me. I’ll clean her up and put her to bed.”But Pear Blossom didn’t hand over Fubao. “You just finished bathing, and it’s hot. If you move around too much, you’ll start sweating again. She’s been running around with Xinghua and Erniu, and she’s covered in dust. I’ll wash her.”

Dong Yun paused, noticing that Pear Blossom was no longer wearing the same clothes from earlier in the day. “You just bathed too. If you wrestle with her again, won’t you need to bathe all over?”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve already sweated a bit walking over here. And I’ll sweat on my way back anyway. Better me than you.”

At this moment, Fubao opened her sleepy eyes. Seeing Dong Yun nearby, she called out “Mama” and twisted in Pear Blossom’s arms, wanting to be held.

Pear Blossom said, “Fubao, let’s get clean first, then Mama can hold you. You’re all dirty right now.” Fubao obediently retracted her little hands and snuggled back into Pear Blossom’s arms.

Dong Yun smiled at this and turned toward the kitchen to fetch water. Pear Blossom followed close behind.

When Dong Yun finished filling the basin with hot water, Pear Blossom, holding Fubao in her left arm, easily lifted the heavy bucket with her right hand and carried it to the courtyard.

Dong Yun watched in astonishment as Pear Blossom walked steadily, balancing the child and the water without spilling a drop. She marveled at how someone so young could have such strength.
After adjusting the water temperature, Pear Blossom finally set the little bundle of flesh down, undressed her, and placed her in the basin.

The water was warm, not startling enough to wake Fubao fully, but as soon as she felt it, her previously drowsy eyes lit up. Grinning widely, she splashed the water joyfully, calling out Pear Blossom’s name and smacking the surface of the water with her little hands.

Resigned, Pear Blossom busied herself bathing the spirited child. Once she was clean, she wrapped her in a towel and carried her into the house.

Dong Yun glanced at Pear Blossom’s damp pant legs and laughed. “See? That’s what happens when you spoil her.” If it had been Dong Yun bathing her, one stern look would have been enough to keep Fubao in line.

Pear Blossom shrugged. “It’s just wet pants. They’ll dry soon. It’s not a big deal.”As Dong Yun searched for clean clothes for Fubao, she couldn’t help but glance at Pear Blossom again. The girl’s lips curved in a light smile as she teased the now-naked Fubao, clearly unfazed by these minor inconveniences.

Dong Yun, on the other hand, sometimes let her frustrations spill onto the child when she was in a bad mood.

She wondered if Pear Blossom were to marry and have children someday, would she still be this patient and gentle?

This thought lingered in her mind, and she ended up voicing the question aloud.Pear Blossom froze for a moment, surprised that Dong Yun would bring up such a topic.

She had always harbored feelings for this woman before her, but now, hearing her speak of marriage, Pear Blossom couldn’t help feeling uneasy. She wasn’t slow-witted of course, she understood the subtle discomfort the question stirred.”I’ve never thought about getting married,” she replied quietly.

Dong Yun noted her reaction, and the doubts she had harbored since the other night resurfaced.

While dressing Fubao, she remarked casually, “When the time comes, even if you don’t want to, there’ll be people proposing.”Not wanting to continue the conversation, Pear Blossom remained silent. Sensing this, Dong Yun dropped the subject.

After her brief excitement, Fubao’s energy waned, and she yawned, her tiny mouth opening wide. Dong Yun cradled her in her arms, rocking her gently. “If you’re sleepy, just go to sleep.”After just a couple of sways, Fubao’s eyes shut completely, and she drifted off.

Pear Blossom smiled softly. “Out like a light. She must be exhausted.”Dong Yun noticed Pear Blossom lingering and asked, “Are you staying here tonight?”Of course, Pear Blossom wanted to stay.

It wasn’t as if she planned to do anything or even knew what she wanted to do, but just being near Dong Yun filled her with a peculiar joy—a featherlight sensation brushing against her back, indescribable but undeniably pleasant.

“No, not really. You’ve seemed tired these past few days. I was just thinking… maybe I could give you a massage?”

Dong Yun felt a warmth in her chest but also a deepening suspicion. This young girl didn’t want to marry, yet treated her with such care—was it simply gratitude, pure kindness, or… something more?

Still, the offer of a massage was too tempting to refuse. The past few days of harvesting rice had left her thighs and hips aching terribly. Even bending or squatting sent sharp pains through her body, and her shoulders and arms were similarly sore. Exhausted from farm work and household chores, she couldn’t say no.

She laid Fubao on the bed, covering her with a thin blanket. Once everything was settled, she walked to the bamboo couch across from the bed and said, “Let’s do it here.”

Pear Blossom nodded, stepping aside as Dong Yun lay down.Just as Pear Blossom was about to climb up and start, Dong Yun sat up abruptly. “This fabric is a bit thick. It’ll feel uncomfortable during the massage. I’ll change into something lighter.”

Pear Blossom didn’t object, but she hadn’t expected Dong Yun to start changing right in front of her. Face-to-face, without the slightest hint of modesty.

For a moment, Pear Blossom froze, staring blankly as Dong Yun removed her outer garments, leaving only a simple dudou, which revealed her smooth curves and fair skin.

If Pear Blossom were literate, words like “slim waist” and “rounded hips” would undoubtedly come to mind.

While changing, Dong Yun kept an eye on Pear Blossom from the corner of her eye. She had anticipated some reaction—maybe averted eyes or a flushed face—but instead, Pear Blossom stood there like a stunned goose, staring straight at her.

Watching the other person’s reaction, Dong Yun was almost certain that, in the eyes of this silly girl in front of her, her current half-naked appearance was no different from the image of Fubao sitting naked in the basin moments ago.

She let out an almost inaudible sigh, feeling a weight lifted off her heart. Yet, a strange sense of loss crept in.

No longer probing, she turned her back, leaving her snowy white back exposed to Pear Blossom.

What she didn’t know was that the seemingly dazed gaze she assumed was glued to her back at that very moment.

When she finally finished dressing and lay on the bamboo couch, Pear Blossom removed her shoes, climbed onto the couch, and knelt beside her. Pear Blossom’s hands rested on Dong Yun’s shoulders.

Due to years of manual labor in her childhood, Pear Blossom’s hands were rather large, with long, well-defined fingers. Her palms and fingertips bore thick calluses from years of work. To be honest, these hands were a far cry from the slender hands of delicate girls. But to Dong Yun, the recipient of the massage, they couldn’t have been better.

Pear Blossom had learned some rudimentary massage techniques from her father, Dagen. While Dagen massaged Mrs. Xiong, Pear Blossom had watched and listened as he explained the key areas to target.

Now, Dong Yun’s well-toned body was lying right before her. Pear Blossom’s rough palms pressed onto her smooth shoulders.The initial contact sent a jolt of shivers through Pear Blossom, a sensation she couldn’t quite explain. But she quickly steadied herself, recalling Dagen’s instructions, and focused entirely on massaging with precision and care.

Dong Yun’s body gradually relaxed. She stopped overthinking and surrendered to the moment, closing her eyes to enjoy the sensation.

Compared to previous maids, Pear Blossom’s hands were much stronger. Dong Yun wasn’t worried that she’d tire halfway through. Though it was a bit painful, the sharp ache gave way to a deeply satisfying relief. Dong Yun loved this blend of soreness and tingling pleasure.

Pear Blossom continued for a while. Her hands moved downward from Dong Yun’s shoulders to her back, then to the area where her waist met her hips. She gripped both sides of Dong Yun’s waist, applying slight pressure. In that instant, Dong Yun felt as though she was being kneaded into pieces. An indescribable sensation surged from her spine to her mind, making her suddenly cry out, “Ah!”

The sound was short, soft, and seductive. Pear Blossom’s hands froze momentarily but soon resumed their movements, now avoiding the waist and returning to the shoulders.

However, fine beads of sweat formed beneath Pear Blossom’s nose.After a while, she finally managed to ask, “Did that hurt?”

Dong Yun shook her head, unaware of the impact her earlier moan had on the girl behind her. Lost in the pain-pleasure blend, Dong Yun couldn’t resist requesting, “Massage my waist again, will you?”

Pear Blossom’s gaze flickered over the gentle curve of Dong Yun’s hips, like a small hill. She instinctively avoided staring, but Dong Yun’s request prompted her hands to move back down.
She gripped the sides of Dong Yun’s waist again.“Here?” she asked.

Dong Yun reached behind and guided Pear Blossom’s hand to a spot lower on her waist, pressing firmly.

Feeling the soft warmth beneath her palm, Pear Blossom’s heart pounded like a drum. She suppressed the urge to curl her fingers, instead using the side of her fist to apply pressure, pushing gently along the area.

“Does this feel better?”

Dong Yun hummed in satisfaction, closing her eyes once more.

Pear Blossom wasn’t sure how she made it home. When Dong Yun saw her off, her gaze was drowsy, relaxed, and completely unlike her usual demeanor.

Pear Blossom, however, felt weak and drained after the massage, as if she’d been the one receiving it. Even carrying a torch felt like a struggle.

Once home, she extinguished the torch and, despite the sweat on her body, resisted washing, afraid of erasing the lingering smoothness she’d felt on her palms.

She lay down on the bed, drifting into a muddled dream. In her dream, two strands of seaweed intertwined, floating and sinking. Suddenly, a short cry echoed in her ears. Pear Blossom’s body went limp, and she woke abruptly.

For a long time, she couldn’t move. When her limbs finally regained sensation, she wiped her forehead, finding it drenched in sweat.