The Lady Butcher and the Delicate Bride - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Does your hand still hurt?”

Hearing Chu Yu ask this so suddenly, Mu Dingxiang froze on the spot.

She raised her hand and looked at it. The fall she took outside the courtyard after overhearing the Mu couple had injured her hand; it was still dripping blood now, her entire hand stained red.

When she wasn’t paying attention, she didn’t feel the pain, but now she realized it was a piercing, throbbing ache. Yet, no matter how much it hurt, it couldn’t compare to the desolation in her heart.

Looking at the upturned flesh of her palm and thinking about her life over the past decade—a life where she wasn’t treated like a human being—she realized all these hardships were brought upon her by those closest to her. Even when injured, she had never received a word of concern from her family. Instead, a fellow villager she barely knew was the one to offer a kind word.

For a moment, bitterness surged in her heart. Her nose tingled and her eyes grew red; she nearly burst into tears.

Chu Yu had been a soldier in her earlier years and had endured countless hardships. Seeing the girl like this, combined with the situation she had just described, Chu Yu’s thin lips pressed into a tight line, and her expression turned frighteningly dark.

Should she really help her? Chu Yu hesitated. After a long silence, she gave a soft sigh and said, “If you follow me, there will be one more person for the village to gossip about. My reputation isn’t exactly great.”

“Furthermore, my home is even poorer. I don’t live in the county seat anymore, and I haven’t saved much money over the years. My only property consists of two butcher knives and a horse. The family house has collapsed, and I sleep in a cave behind it now. Can you endure that kind of hardship?”

Seeing a chance that Chu Yu might soften, Mu Dingxiang was initially overjoyed. But hearing that Chu Yu had no money, her face darkened. If Chu Yu truly came to propose and there was no bride price, her money-grubbing parents would certainly never let her go.

Seeing her silence, Chu Yu assumed the girl couldn’t handle such a bitter life. She knelt back down to continue washing clothes, saying as she scrubbed, “It’s only natural if you can’t take such a hard life. But in that case, I won’t be able to help you.”

Seeing the misunderstanding, Mu Dingxiang said hurriedly, “No! It’s not that. I’m not afraid of hardship. Sleeping in a cave or eating grass roots and tree bark—none of that matters to me. I’m just afraid that if my parents see you have no money, they will still insist on betrothing me to Widower Zhang.”

Only then did the tension in Chu Yu’s face ease. “You don’t need to worry about that. Whatever Widower Zhang can give, I naturally can give as well.”

“Really? Chu Yu, then you’ve agreed to help me, right?” Mu Dingxiang suddenly felt a flicker of light before her eyes. She couldn’t stop herself from sobbing.

“Chu Yu, Chu Yu… so disrespectful. Do you even know how old I am?”

Mu Dingxiang shook her head, the unshed tears at the corners of her eyes making her look quite pitiful.

“Twenty? Twenty-one?”

Chu Yu looked very young, but her temperament was extremely sharp. She was beautiful, making it hard for anyone to guess her age.

“Guessing low. I am twenty-six this year. How old are you? You’re so thin—have you even reached fourteen? So young, yet your parents want to give you to Widower Zhang?”

Upon hearing Chu Yu’s age, Mu Dingxiang’s eyes widened. This person was a full ten years older than her, yet it didn’t show at all. But to her, what did Chu Yu’s age matter?

By comparison, Widower Zhang was over forty. Besides, Chu Yu was many times better looking than any of the young men in the village.

“Age doesn’t matter. I don’t mind.”

Mu Dingxiang didn’t know how a marriage between two women worked, nor did she know if Chu Yu’s agreement was out of a genuine liking for girls or mere kindness. Regardless, no one could be better than Chu Yu. If Chu Yu wanted to do anything to her, she would let her.

After all, if she followed Widower Zhang or any other man, wouldn’t she have to do the same things? Then why not find someone better looking… or someone she liked a little more!

At this moment, Chu Yu was the best choice to help her escape the Mu family. She was fierce enough; Chu Yu spent her years slaughtering pigs, and it was rumored she had been a soldier and killed people. She carried a ruthlessness that could suppress her difficult parents.

“I am sixteen,” Mu Dingxiang said. “Please don’t look down on me for being young.”

Hearing this, Chu Yu suddenly laughed. “When people take a wife, they usually like them young. Why would I look down on you?”

Mu Dingxiang didn’t know how much truth was in those words, but she could see the woman was willing to help. She knelt beside her and pulled the wooden tub over. “I am very grateful for your help. I will pay you back the money I owe you later. Let me help you wash the clothes…”

Chu Yu reached out to stop her. “Your hand is still bleeding. After I finish the clothes, come with me to get some topical medicine. Don’t touch water for the next few days.”

Only then did Mu Dingxiang remember her injured hand. She had to pull back and sit to the side to wait for her to finish.

Chu Yu must have just washed her hair; her long black locks were draped over her shoulders. As she bowed her head to wash the clothes, her sharp gaze was hidden, making the whole scene look remarkably soft and beautiful.

How could someone be like this? “Quiet as a virgin, quick as a leaping rabbit”—it made one yearn for her.

“Finished. Let’s go.” Chu Yu wrung out the clothes, picked up the tub, and spoke to Mu Dingxiang, only to find the young girl staring at her with burning eyes.

Interrupted, Mu Dingxiang snapped out of it and hurriedly stood up to follow.

A path stretched forward from the riverbank, lined with green vines blooming with tiny, delicate flowers. It was quite lovely. However, about ten mu of land nearby sat empty and unplanted. Seeing the fields were clean of weeds, they must have been planted with crops last year, but for some reason, they weren’t this year.

Mu Dingxiang vaguely remembered that the Chu family land was leased to another family in the village.

Seeing the girl looking around with a puzzled expression, Chu Yu said, “This land all belongs to my family, about ten mu. It was previously leased to Uncle Shi’s family. During the New Year, Uncle Shi’s son found a good job in the county and took the old couple there to live, so the land went fallow.”

“Why don’t you plant it?” Mu Dingxiang asked.

“I have to go out before dawn every day to slaughter pigs, then I have to sell the meat. I don’t get back until noon, and then I have to catch up on sleep. With only half a day, I’m too lazy to manage it alone.”

One person eats and the whole family is full; Chu Yu didn’t want to make herself that tired.

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt her sleeve being pulled. She turned to see the girl’s two sparkling eyes.

Chu Yu: “?”

“Chu Yu, don’t let the land go to waste. I can farm it, okay?” Mu Dingxiang had observed the fields; the soil was fertile and close to the river for easy irrigation—much better than the Mu family’s six mu. Furthermore, the Chu land was bordered by the river, not touching other families’ boundaries, so there would be no disputes or fear of passersby stealing grain. The only way to get there from the opposite bank was that narrow stone bridge.

“I thought it was something else. If you’re not afraid of the exhaustion, then farm it. Otherwise, I’ll lease it to someone else or just let it sit.”

“Not afraid of exhaustion, not afraid at all,” Mu Dingxiang said repeatedly.

The two walked about a hundred paces before reaching the site of the original Chu house, but it was nothing but ruins. Behind the house, up a set of stone steps, a natural cave appeared before them.

The cave entrance was supported by timber with a thatched roof. Beneath it were a few chairs, and on the other side were several pots and pans—likely a kitchen Chu Yu had set up outside the cave.

“You… you really live in a cave!” Mu Dingxiang had thought Chu Yu was only saying that to test her.

“It’s not too late for you to regret it now.” Chu Yu began spreading the clothes one by one on bamboo poles by the cave to dry.

“I don’t regret it.”

Mu Dingxiang didn’t think living in a cave was bad. When she was with the Mu family, she left early every morning; she drank from the fields when thirsty and found a hidden thicket to sleep in when tired. With the sky as her blanket and the earth as her mat, it wasn’t much better than a cave. Moreover, this cave was clean, with a bed, bedding, a table, and chairs. The items were few and simple, looking very comfortable. Vines and small flowers even climbed the stone walls, and the sunlight filtering in felt refreshing and pleasant.

“I like it here,” Mu Dingxiang said, making no effort to hide her fondness.

The corner of Chu Yu’s mouth curled slightly. After putting away the tub, she entered the cave, found something on a stone table, and waved her over. “Come in.”

Only after receiving the host’s invitation did Mu Dingxiang enter.

It was currently the transition between spring and summer; it was starting to get hot outside, but the temperature in the cave was pleasant and cozy.

Once she sat down at the table, Chu Yu tilted her chin. “Give me your hand.”

Mu Dingxiang obeyed, spreading her injured palm on the table. The mangled gash looked quite shocking at first glance. Chu Yu found a small bottle of liquor from somewhere, dripped some onto a cotton ball, and gently wiped around the wound before lightly sprinkling a white medicinal powder on it.

A powerful, stinging pain radiated from the wound. Mu Dingxiang couldn’t help but hiss.

“Endure it!”

Chu Yu showed no sign of “tender pity for the fair sex.” She tore a strip of cloth, wrapped it around the girl’s hand several times, and tied a deft knot.

“There. Don’t touch water for a few days. I’ll change the dressing for you in two days.”

“Thank you,” Mu Dingxiang said softly.

Having lived with the Mu family all this time, all she ever heard or saw were curses and calculations. Outsiders looked at her with prying eyes. Aside from Auntie Wu’s family, Mu Dingxiang had felt almost no kindness in the world. Now, Chu Yu had not only agreed to help her escape her misery but even personally bandaged her wound—how could she not be filled with gratitude?

Chu Yu said nothing, lowering her head to pack away the medicine and liquor.

“Can you… can you go to my house a bit earlier tomorrow?” Mu Dingxiang asked uneasily.

Chu Yu was a butcher. If she asked her to go to the Mu house first thing in the morning to propose, then she certainly couldn’t slaughter pigs tomorrow. She didn’t know how much money would be lost, adding to the debt she already owed her. But the situation was critical. If Widower Zhang arrived before Chu Yu, her parents might agree to his proposal the moment he stepped through the door, and then it would be too late. She had to grit her teeth and ask for the favor.

“Mhm. I’ll head out as soon as it’s light.” Chu Yu gave her a definitive promise, and Mu Dingxiang finally felt a bit more at ease.

Looking at the sky outside, the sun had begun to set. It was time for Mu Dingxiang to return.

“Do you want me to walk you back?”

Mu Dingxiang shook her head, declining the kindness. She didn’t want her parents to see Chu Yu at this juncture, lest they become suspicious and change their tactics early—that would be disastrous.

Looking at the girl’s pitiful appearance, Chu Yu’s heart, usually as hard as stone, couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for her.

Truly a pitiful little girl.

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