All of a sudden, when Hu Ma heard the Second Master say it was too late, he was startled. He thought he had only been gone for a few months and that the Second Master had already passed away. But upon hearing the reason, his heart subconsciously sank.
The Second Master had dedicated his entire life to the Pure Yang Furnace, pondering it endlessly, always wondering how those more capable than him had proceeded.
Now, with one sentence, Hu Ma had resolved his doubts, but it also stirred deep emotions in the Second Master.
Precisely because I’ve pondered it my entire life, I understand my own body best. This dharma thod of refining the living into the dead requires not only a potent furnace but also a strong physique. I’m already old, my lifespan more than half spent; I can no longer tread such an arduous path. What makes realize things even more clearly now is why the old Master I t back then only taught for a few years before sending back. When I returned, it was actually when I had no hope of learning further. He used to my fullest potential but didn’t tell I no longer needed to keep watch.
Hu Ma didn’t understand the depth of all these thoughts swirling in the Second Master’s mind. However, perhaps loosened by the wine, he could sense the Second Master’s lancholy and felt a bit sad himself, so he rallied his spirits to say sothing to lift the Second Master’s mood.
For instance, he said, "I haven’t ntioned this before, Second Master, but I’m not just a manager in the Manor now. If I really do well, I might even co back next year as a Shopkeeper..."
He also told the Second Master, "And that Moustache Manager, the one who sent us over? He still rembers you and said he’d like to treat you to drinks if he gets the chance."
The Second Master didn’t take anything about being a Shopkeeper seriously, dismissing it as Hu Ma bragging.
But when the Moustache Manager was ntioned, he perked up. "We’ll need to prepare a few things and send them over after the New Year."
"For soone of his status to even think of us old miners from this mountain, that’s quite a gesture, isn’t it?"
"...Besides, he’s soone who gets things done once he’s received sothing—a good man! You have to maintain this connection; you’ll need it in the future!"
Seeing the Second Master still thinking of him at such a mont, Hu Ma was deeply touched. But n like them didn’t indulge in overly sentintal words, so Hu Ma just said earnestly, "Second Master, once I make sothing of myself, you won’t have to go cut Tai Sui anymore. I’ll provide for you in your old age..."
"Nonsense."
The Second Master just laughed. "If you provide for , then what about the young ones in the village? Who will lead them to earn silver?"
The next day, after sending off the people from Python Village, Hu Ma and his group began preparing to return to the Manor.
As usual, they were fully loaded, carrying peanuts collected from the village, stead buns, salted eggs, and chicken, duck, and fish at that Zhou Datong’s mother had secretly saved from various feasts. These items, packed in jars, were no longer frozen solid and could last quite a while during the winter.
There were also newly made jackets, shoes, and pants—not just hastily prepared items.
These had been prepared in advance, intending to have soone take them over after the New Year if the young ones didn’t return.
Every household was generous, willing to send them off with good things.
The Second Master, especially, seed to have forgotten what Hu Ma had told him the previous night. In any case, after waking up, he never ntioned the words "Shousui man" again. The lancholy from the day before had vanished, and he was smiling jovially, just as always.
But he did rember the Moustache Manager and had gathered wild ga, herbal dicine from the village, and so black oil ointnt for Hu Ma to take along.
Soone in the village with a loose tongue joked, "They’re not even your own flesh and blood; why are you so busy?"
The Second Master replied proudly, "I’m not preparing this for those little brats; it’s for Manager Xu from the city."
"He’s my old buddy."
This ti, there was no need for the Second Master to see them off.
After all, the ti to worship Tai Sui was approaching. He needed to teach the villagers many things and also lead them into the mountains in advance. The carter, who had brought Hu Ma and the others back before the New Year and promised to return early, had also arrived at the village as scheduled, ready to wait for them.
He had received warm hospitality in the village before the New Year and, rembering their kindness, had brought so food and sweets from the city this ti to share with the village children.
Just as they had arrived fully loaded, they departed fully loaded once more. They traveled quickly, setting out at dawn and resting at dusk, and returned to the Manor in a few days.
Hu Ma had his n unload their goods and found the Manor quiet and desolate. Although the town itself wasn’t bustling, so vestiges of the New Year’s atmosphere lingered. Even the amount of paper money and incense candles burned in front of the Manor was much greater than when they had departed.
But inside the Manor, there was no festivity at all.
Hu Ma and his group were early to return, and the other hands hadn’t co back yet.
He led Zhou Datong and the others into the inner courtyard to pay New Year’s respects to the Shopkeeper and Sister Wu He. The old shopkeeper, unlike others, didn’t give them red envelopes, rely instructing an old servant to bring out a jar of wine for them.
He said, "It’s good you’re back. Settle down now; work will be starting soon, and you’ll all be very busy. And Hu, rember to give out a few red envelopes to the hands for good cheer."
Hu Ma listened and agreed, though he silently thought, That’s the Shopkeeper’s job, isn’t it...
What was even more puzzling was that, after a separation of just over ten days, the Shopkeeper was wearing a cotton robe, his complexion was sallow, his voice was weak, and he seed even more frail than before.
As a Shousui man, his injuries should have healed by now.
He took out the things he brought for Sister Wu He from the village and saw her erge from her room.
She was dressed in a red cotton jacket, which made her look less gaunt than when she wore thin clothes. She appeared much more spirited now. Standing beside the cold, barren tree, she looked radiant, and even the faint, foul odor that previously clung to her had lessened considerably.
After chatting briefly with Hu Ma and the others, she accepted the gifts and returned inside.
Zhou Datong and the others had seen her before, but looking at her now, they still couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy...
They had a drinking party that night and then resud their night patrols. For the first few days, only their small group was available for the task.
But within a few days, as other hands returned from their hos, their numbers gradually beca sufficient.
Everything gradually returned to its pre-New Year routine.
It was during this ti, before any work from the city arrived, that Hu Ma found an opportunity. When no one was watching, he donned a cotton-padded black robe, took Little Hongtang, and quietly left the Manor.
Once outside, he put on a cotton hat to conceal his face and slowly made his way to the west end of the town. In front of a single-entry courtyard, he squatted down, retrieved a key from under a nearby rock, unlocked the gate, and slipped inside.
This courtyard had previously been occupied by a farrier, but he was old and had returned to his hotown to live out his years before the New Year; he wasn’t coming back.
The courtyard had already been rented out, and soone had even co to look it over during the New Year period.
Hu Ma entered the courtyard and saw a well and a pogranate tree. There was a stone table and stone stools in the courtyard. He wasn’t in a hurry. He first went into the rooms and looked around, as if examining the layout of the house. Then he ca out and sat down at the stone table.
He sat there for a long ti, while Little Hongtang stayed alert nearby.
Once assured that no one was watching, he instructed Little Hongtang to remain vigilant, stood up, and went to the well, grabbing the well rope.
The rope seed to be snagged on sothing and held fast.
But Hu Ma put his strength into his arms and gradually pulled it up. At the end was a large bundle, and from within ca the clattering sound of ceramic jars knocking together.
Hu Ma lifted the bundle, still unhurried. He glanced at Little Hongtang and saw her small head quickly scanning the surroundings. She then turned back to Hu Ma and said, "It’s all clear, there’s no one around! Little Hongtang is very clever, you know..."
"Good girl."
Feeling reassured, Hu Ma carried the bundle into the main hall. Without lighting a lamp, he used the faint daylight filtering in to open it.
Inside the bundle were several earthenware jars, a white ceramic jar, and an object wrapped in many layers of oil paper.
He first let out a soft sigh, then opened the earthenware jars. Inside, he found oily, greenish chunks of at, already congealed.
The mont he opened the jars, Little Hongtang suddenly poked her head down from the beams above, her eyes wide.
Hu Ma pressed a finger to his lips, "shushed" her, then opened the white ceramic jar.
A low, satisfied exclamation rumbled in his chest, but he quickly suppressed it, not daring to make too much noise.
Inside were scores of red Blood Food Pills. Their size was finally close to those Granny used to give him.
Little Hongtang, still peeking down from the beams above, now had eyes as wide as bronze bells.
Only then did Hu Ma pick up the object wrapped in oil paper. He hesitated for a mont, then decided not to open it imdiately.
Miss White Wine is truly ticulous... Back then, all that Blood Food, whether green or red, she had processed into Blood Food Pills or a gel-like substance. A considerable portion had even been directly substituted with stock from Grass Heart Hall. This had several advantages. Firstly, the volu was reduced, making it take up less space and easier to store, and it was less likely to attract evil spirits. Secondly, if such a large quantity of green Tai Sui had been sent directly to , it would have been too conspicuous. So, she had converted so of it to be delivered as Blood Tai Sui—naturally, accounting for any processing losses. Another clear advantage was as a precaution. If anyone grew suspicious about the earlier incident and tried to trace the mysterious person who stole the Blood Food, what if the investigation led to her? But these Blood Food Pills were all refined by Grass Heart Hall; their origins could be traced. Even in the one-in-ten-thousand chance they were discovered, it would be Grass Heart Hall that had lost goods. What would that have to do with the Red Lantern Society? Reconnaissance, action, disposing of the goods... Every step was crucial; not a single one could afford to go wrong...
"Little Hongtang, dig up the earth under the stove."
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Hu Ma’s spirits lifted considerably. He instructed the drooling Little Hongtang, then chuckled softly, "Do you know what this ans?"
Little Hongtang scampered over eagerly, crouched down, her eyes shining, and shook her head.
Hu Ma grinned, "It ans our good days are finally here..."
"Do you want to eat green food every day?"
"No..."
Little Hongtang shook her head and said, "I want to eat Blood Food every day!"
Hu Ma felt a bit awkward. "Well, we can’t quite manage that condition just yet..."
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