"What's good about it?"
“Well… look at it, kings and generals, which one of them isn’t a man? Even if you don’t become a king or general, the number one swordsman is a man, the number one swordsman in the world is also a man, and even when farming, the one pulling the plow is a man.”
"The plow is pulled by oxen!"
"When there were no cows, it was men who pulled. You men could have three wives and four concubines, but women could only marry one man in their lifetime."
"What? You think marrying one isn't enough?"
"Su Xiaoying, I was just using an analogy, why are you spouting nonsense? You're so petty."
"How can you not be stingy? You're still thinking about that!"
"What idea do you have?"
“You just said…” Su Xiaoying was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly saw Yi Mei’s expression as if she wanted to start a fight, so she had no choice but to remain silent.
Yi Mei laughed, smiling, and said, "What we said earlier doesn't count anymore. Alright, Hua Hua it is, but the name has to be nice. Doctor Guo has a lot of books at home, so you can do some research. In the future, if someone asks her, 'Who is your father? Mu Yu Jian; who is your mother? Han Guang; what is your name? Su Hua Hua!' How would that sound?"
Su Xiaoying laughed and said, "Alright, alright, I understand."
“There’s one more thing,” Yi Mei suddenly remembered and said, “You have to buy a big gift for Aunt Guo next door. She helped me with everything when I gave birth the day before yesterday, and she even helped me change my clothes. I felt so bad for her.”
Su Xiaoying said, "Well, I'm going to Doctor Guo's place later. He wrote two prescriptions for you tonics and told me to pick them up. I'll buy a nice gift on the way. What should I buy?"
Yi Mei thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer. She waved her hand and said, "I'm good at killing people, but not at giving gifts. You can handle it yourself."
Su Xiaoying said, "I'm afraid you'll accuse me of embezzling your money again."
Yi Mei was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing, saying, "Come on, Su Xiaoying! You're really petty, you remember everything I say."
Su Xiaoying chuckled and said, "You just like how petty I am, don't you?"
“Yes, yes,” Yi Mei said with a smile. “Ah, I must have owed you a debt in my past life, that’s for sure. By the way, when you go to Doctor Guo’s house, take her—Hua Hua—with you too, so Doctor Guo can take a look at her.”
“He came to see me yesterday.”
"Let's take her to see him again today. Is there something wrong with Huahua? I see she doesn't cry or fuss. What other child is like her?"
Su Xiaoying immediately looked worried and said, "Why not? I think she's fine."
What do you know?!
"But I just saw it yesterday."
"I didn't take Hua Hua's pulse yesterday."
Su Xiaoying knew that Yi Mei's problem had flared up again. She was afraid of getting sick herself, and her daughter had become suspicious as well, so she could only sigh. Yi Mei had already taken out the thick blanket and wrapped it around Hua Hua's swaddling clothes.
Su Xiaoying hugged her and said to Yi Mei, "I'll be right back. Wait for me to eat."
Yi Mei nodded.
Su Xiaoying stepped outside, and her neighbor, Aunt Guo, came over excitedly carrying a basket, calling out in her loud voice, "Xiao Su, are you going out?"
Su Xiaoying smiled and said, "Yes, Aunt Guo, thank you so much for these past few days."
Aunt Guo laughed and said, "What are you thanking me for? You don't have any elderly relatives to take care of you, shouldn't we neighbors help out? Childbirth is so hard for women, and your family is the first one!"
Su Xiaoying quickly agreed.
Aunt Guo smiled and said, "My family slaughtered a chicken this morning. I left half a bowl for your wife. Take care, I'm going inside now."
Su Xiaoying quickly thanked her again, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then left.
Su Xiaoying had lived in Guojia Town for almost a year. He was good-tempered, hardworking, and well-liked. When he went out, many people greeted him and offered their congratulations when they saw him carrying a child. Su Xiaoying suddenly felt that Yimei's stubbornness this time was quite admirable. He was congratulated all the way and walked happily to Doctor Guo's clinic.
Hua Hua is certainly not wrong. Guo Shaotang couldn't help but laugh and said to Su Xiaoying, "When you were injured, Yi Mei told you to come to my house every day. Now it's the child's turn. Otherwise, I'll come to your house every day from now on?"
Su Xiaoying smiled wryly and said, "She had a serious illness when she was a child, and she was probably frightened at that time. It's okay, the child will get used to it after a few more days of rest."
Guo Shaotang said, "Things are so trivial these days, it must be hard on you, a young man."
Su Xiaoying chuckled and said, "Not at all, it's not difficult at all. Doctor Guo, could you help me inquire about something? I'd like to buy a piece of land here. Are there any families selling land?"
Guo Shaotang was overjoyed and asked, "You're planning to stay?"
Su Xiaoying smiled and nodded.
Guo Shaotang laughed and said, "I'll find out for you later! Don't worry, I've got it covered!"
So Su Xiaoying picked up the six packets of tonics, hugged Huahua, said goodbye, and went home.
Su Xiaoying bought a few yards of floral fabric on the way as a gift to repay the favor. He was overjoyed. He suddenly felt that the Master of Worry-Free Pavilion was actually quite foolish. If he had a good wife, a child, and a smooth life, he would surely be able to overcome any difficulties in his training.
Walking along the path in front of the house, Su Xiaoying could see from afar that her front door was wide open. Their house was small; you could practically see everything from the outside, so they rarely left the door wide open. Slightly puzzled, Su Xiaoying quickened her pace, reached the door, and called out, "Yimei!"
However, they did not agree.
Su Xiaoying walked in a few steps and saw that half of the quilt was dragging on the floor, and the bed was empty. Su Xiaoying's heart sank immediately, and she couldn't help but call out again, "Yimei!"
He still hasn't agreed!
Su Xiaoying tossed aside the floral fabric in his hand, tested the temperature of the bed—it was still somewhat warm—and pulled on the blankets. Something underneath jumped up and down. Su Xiaoying looked closely and saw that it was Han Guang! Han Guang was half-pulled out and fell to the side of the bed.
Su Xiaoying felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. After a moment of stunned silence, he suddenly noticed the basket on the bedside table. He immediately realized what was happening and turned to run towards Aunt Guo's house next door.
Aunt Guo's door wasn't locked, and nothing inside showed signs of having been moved. Su Xiaoying called for a long time, but no one answered. Su Xiaoying stood there, stunned, then suddenly leaped up and ran as fast as she could towards Doctor Guo's clinic. The baby in her arms felt uncomfortable and suddenly began to cry loudly.
Su Xiaoying hugged the baby tightly, and when they arrived at the clinic, she handed the baby to Guo Shaotang.
Guo Shaotang was startled and said, "Young Master!..."
Su Xiaoying has disappeared without a trace.
Killer's severed wrist
Su Xiaoying carried Huahua out the door. Aunt Guo watched her walk away, then turned and went back inside, placing the basket on the table. Yimei smiled and said, "Aunt Guo, thank you so much! I feel so bad!"
Aunt Guo carefully took the bowl out of the basket and said with a smile, "You have no one to take care of you—men, after all, don't understand what it's like for us women during postpartum confinement, right?" The bowl contained a bowl of chicken soup and two pieces of chicken, still steaming. Aunt Guo said, "I killed the chicken this morning; my husband asked me to save it for you."
Yi Mei thanked him repeatedly and drank the chicken soup. The chicken soup was very delicious. Yi Mei said, "Aunt Guo, your cooking is much better than mine."
Aunt Guo couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Sister Su, where is your hometown? Why doesn't anyone come to visit you?"
Yi Mei said, "They've all passed away." Her tone was calm, as if she didn't care.
Aunt Guo said, "Oh—no wonder." Her eyes suddenly brightened, and she said as if casually, "You must have been born with freckles before? How come you didn't die?"
Yi Mei felt a chill run down her arm and into her heart. She remained calm and smiled, "What are you talking about?" Her hand had already touched Han Guang.
Aunt Guo laughed and said, "I saw it when I changed your clothes that day. It was a complete mottled patch below your shoulder. Killer Yi Mei, you actually had a mottled patch?"
Yi Mei's pupils suddenly contracted, and she straightened up, drawing her sword, Han Guang. However, this time Han Guang was only half-drawn from its sheath. Yi Mei immediately felt dizzy and lightheaded, as if the room was spinning rapidly, and then she lost consciousness.
"Giddy up! — Bang!"
The whip lashed the horses' rumps, and the two horses galloped forward, pulling the carriage along like an arrow. The wheels creaked, and the carriage jolted violently.
Yi Mei woke up amidst the jolting of the carriage. She felt herself sitting crookedly against the carriage wall, so she tried to straighten up with her hands. However, her arms were weak and she still had no strength.
The carriage wasn't large, and without looking up, Yi Mei caught a glimpse of Uncle Guo sitting calmly cross-legged at the back of the carriage, staring at her with his bright eyes. His expression was composed and serious, seemingly carrying a hint of condescension.
For a fleeting moment, Yi Mei had a feeling of déjà vu.
"You're awake," Uncle Guo said slowly in a deep voice.
Yi Mei hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Have we met before?"
Uncle Guo laughed and said, "Of course we've met. We've been neighbors for several months."
Yi Mei sneered and remained silent.
Uncle Guo didn't say anything more, just stared at her for a moment, then closed his eyes and sat calmly cross-legged. The carriage was silent for a while, except for the sound of Aunt Guo driving the carriage outside.
The carriage was moving very fast, constantly jolting, but he remained extremely steady, unmoved no matter what potholes the wheels rolled over. However, Yi Mei was not like that; she was shaken violently and could only use her weak hands to constantly grab the carriage wall to maintain her balance.
"He's taking a back path," Yi Mei thought to herself. The back path was sparsely populated, but the surface was more prone to leaving tracks. Unfortunately, Su Xiaoying's experience in the martial world was pitifully small; she wondered if he could track her down. Thinking this, Yi Mei sighed.
Uncle Guo said calmly, "You don't need to sigh. You've killed many people, you shouldn't be afraid of death."
Yi Mei sneered, "It's none of your business."
Uncle Guo chuckled indifferently, "Your life is in my hands, how can it not concern me? Actually, I might not necessarily kill you. Just tell me one thing, and I will let you go."
Yi Mei said, "I'm a business killer, and I don't like being threatened."
Uncle Guo said, "Now that things have come to this, you might as well listen to my conditions."
Yi Mei thought for a moment and said, "Alright. Tell me what you think?"
Uncle Guo laughed and said, "Assassin Yi Mei is indeed an unusual woman. Even now, she can still speak to me in such a bargaining tone. Actually, what I want to know isn't a very important secret to you. I just want to know how the mottled spots on your body healed?"
Yi Mei's expression changed slightly. After a long while, she suddenly sneered, "This happens to be my most important secret."
Uncle Guo smiled and said, "It's fine if you don't want to tell me now. But the assassin Yi Mei is one of the four fastest swordsmen in the martial arts world, and the Han Guang sword is famous throughout the martial arts world. You should think carefully about whether your secret is more important or the hand that holds the sword."
After saying that, he fell silent, as if giving Yimei time to consider the matter.
The carriage had been traveling at high speed for an hour when the horses began to pant heavily, and even with constant whipping, the speed slowed down. Aunt Guo, the driver, turned the carriage onto the main road; the post station ahead was approaching.
Yi Mei noticed that the carriage was moving more smoothly, and she guessed that it had reached the main road and they would need to exchange money for horses at the post station. Suddenly, Yi Mei said, "I think my own life is more important."
Uncle Guo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "You're right."
Yi Mei asked, "If I tell you this secret, will you let me go?"
Uncle Guo said, "That's right."
Yi Mei sneered, "I don't believe what you're saying."
"Alright," Uncle Guo asked, "what will it take for you to believe me?"
Yi Mei said, "I need to rest for a while and then eat something."
Uncle Guo looked into her eyes and smiled, "You don't need to stall for time. Su Xiaoying won't get here so quickly. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. I'll have to cut off your fingers, one by one, until you agree."
Yi Mei said nonchalantly, "Don't try to scare me. If I decide not to tell, I will never tell, even if I turn into a pile of minced meat."
Uncle Guo looked at her, pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said, "Okay, I agree to your conditions. You can rest now. When we reach the next post station, there will definitely be a tea stall next to it. You can get off the carriage, have some tea, and eat something. What do you think?"
Yi Mei said calmly, "Very good."
Uncle Guo said, "You'd better think this through during this time. Tell me what happened when you get to the post station. Although I want to know about this and I'm wary of Su Xiaoying, if you piss me off, I'll still kill you."