Chapter 1 Hu Ma's Concerns

Startled by Second Master's remark that it was too late, Hu Ma jumped, thinking that in just a few months, Second Master had already passed on. But hearing the reason, his heart sank unconsciously.

Second Master had guarded the pure Yang fire stove his whole life, and pondered it for just as long. He always wondered how those with greater abilities had managed.

Now, Hu Ma's words resolved his confusion, but also made Second Master feel a surge of emotion.

He had pondered it his whole life, so he understood his own body best. This method of living refinement into death required not only a strong furnace but also a healthy body. He was already old, his lifespan more than halfway through, and he couldn't endure such a torturous path.

What made him even more enlightened was that the master he had met years ago only taught him for a few years before sending him back.

The time he returned was actually when he had no hope of learning anymore.

He had used him to his fullest, but hadn't told him that he no longer needed to stay and guard.

Hu Ma didn't understand so many thoughts were going through Second Master's mind. The alcohol rushed to his head, but he could see Second Master's melancholy, and felt a little sad. So he cheered up and said things to make him happy.

For example, he hadn't mentioned that he was now not only the steward of the estate, but if he really worked hard, maybe next year he would return as a shopkeeper...

He also told Second Master that the little moustached steward who had sent them over earlier still remembered him, and said he would invite him for a drink if he had the chance.

Second Master didn't care about the shopkeeper talk, thinking Hu Ma was just boasting.

But when he heard about the little moustached steward, he perked up: "We have to prepare something to send back to him after the New Year."

"For him to remember an old miner from our mountains with his status, what a kindness!"

"...Besides, he's the kind who gets things done when you give him something. He's a good man. You have to maintain this relationship, you might need it in the future!"

"..."

Seeing that Second Master was still thinking of him at this time, Hu Ma was touched, but between men, there was no need for overly sentimental words. He earnestly said to Second Master, "Second Master, if I can make something of myself, you don't have to harvest Tai Sui anymore. I'll take care of you in your old age..."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Second Master just smiled, "You take care of me? What about the young ones in the village? Who will lead them to earn silver?"

...

...

As usual, it was packed full. The peanuts harvested in the village, the steamed buns, the pickled salted eggs, and even the chicken, duck, and fish that Zhou Datong's mother had secretly skimped on during the recent feasts, were all stuffed into jars, already thawed, enough to eat for a long time in the winter.

In addition, there were newly made jackets, shoes, pants, etc. These weren't made in a hurry.

They had been prepared in advance, thinking that if these children didn't return for the New Year, they would find someone to send them over after the year.

Every household was willing to take out good things for them to take.

Especially Second Master. Hu Ma's words to him earlier that night, he might have forgotten. Anyway, after waking up, he never mentioned the words "Night Watchman" again. The melancholy of the previous day was gone, and he was still as cheerful as before.

But he just remembered that little moustached steward. He packed up the wild game, herbs, and black ointment from the village, and asked Hu Ma to take them along.

Some of the gossips in the village teased him, "They're not your own kids, why are you so busy?"

Second Master heard this, but was triumphant: "I'm not preparing this for those little brats, I'm preparing it for Steward Xu in the city."

"He's my old buddy."

"..."

This time, Second Master didn't need to see them off.

After all, it was almost time to worship Tai Sui, and he needed to teach the people in the village more things, and take them into the mountains in advance. The coachman who had sent Hu Ma and the others back to the village before the New Year also arrived at the village in advance as promised.

He had received generous hospitality in the village before the New Year, and he remembered the kindness in his heart. This time, he even brought some food and candy from the city to give to the children in the village.

When he came, he was full, and when he went back, he was still full. He hurried on his way, resting at night, and returned to the estate in a few days.

Hu Ma led people to unload the things, and saw that the estate was deserted. Although there weren't many people in the town, after the New Year, you could still vaguely see some New Year atmosphere. Even in front of the estate, the burnt paper money and incense were more than when they left.

But inside the estate, there was no New Year atmosphere at all.

Hu Ma and the others had returned early, and the other guys hadn't returned yet.

He took Zhou Datong and the others into the inner courtyard to wish the manager and Wu He a happy New Year. The old manager didn't give them red envelopes like other managers, but asked the old servant to bring them a jar of wine to drink.

He also said: "It's good that you're back. Settle down, work is coming soon, you'll be busy then. And Hu boy, remember to give out some red envelopes to the guys, for good luck."

"This is the manager's job..."

Hu Ma listened, and although he agreed, he thought silently.

What was even stranger was that after only ten days apart, the manager was wearing a cotton robe, his face was sallow, and his voice was weak. He seemed even weaker.

As a Night Watchman, this injury should have healed long ago.

He took out the things he had brought from the village for Wu He, and saw Wu He come out of the house.

She was wearing a red cotton jacket, and didn't look as thin as before when she was wearing single clothes. She looked much more energetic, standing next to the cold, bare tree, looking bright and beautiful. Even the stench on her body was very faint. She said a few words to Hu Ma and the others, accepted the gifts, and returned to the house.

Zhou Datong and the others had seen her before, but now they saw her, they were still very envious...

They drank that night, and then started patrolling the night again. For the first few days, only they could go out themselves.

But in a few days, the guys who had gone home returned, and the manpower gradually became sufficient.

Everything was gradually back on track as before the New Year.

It was also at this time that, taking advantage of the fact that the work in the city hadn't come yet, Hu Ma found a time, when no one was prepared, changed into a cotton-padded black robe, took Xiao Hongtang, and quietly left the estate.

Once outside, he put on a cotton hat to cover his face, and slowly came to the west end of the town, in front of a one-entrance courtyard, squatted down, and took out the key from under the stone next to him, opened the lock and entered.

This courtyard was originally inhabited by a farrier, but he was old and returned to his hometown to retire before the New Year, and would not be coming back.

The estate had already been rented out, and someone had come to see it during the New Year.

After Hu Ma entered the estate, he saw a well, a pomegranate tree, and stone tables and benches in the courtyard. He wasn't in a hurry. He first went into the house and looked around, as if he was looking at the house layout, and then he came out and sat down at the table.

He sat for a long time, and Xiao Hongtang had been guarding vigilantly around.

After confirming that no one was watching, he asked Xiao Hongtang to continue to be vigilant, got up and went to the well, and grabbed the well rope.

The well rope seemed to be blocked by something, and was very strong.

But Hu Ma exerted strength in both arms, and pulled it up little by little. The end was a large package, and there were things swaying inside, making the sound of porcelain jars colliding.

Hu Ma picked up the package, still not in a hurry, turned to look at Xiao Hongtang, and saw her little head quickly looking around, and turned to Hu Ma and said: "It's okay, there's no one around, Xiao Hongtang is very clever..."

"Good girl."

Only then was Hu Ma relieved. He picked up the things, entered the main room, and didn't light the lamp, but opened it with the faint light of the day.

He saw that there were several urns, a white jar, and an item wrapped in layers of oiled paper in the package.

First he breathed a sigh of relief and opened those urns, and saw that they were all greenish-blue pieces of meat inside, already congealed into grease.

The moment the urn was opened, Xiao Hongtang suddenly poked her head down from the roof, staring wide-eyed.

Hu Ma held up a finger to her, "Shh," and then opened the jar.

A comfortable sigh rose from his chest, but he still suppressed it, not daring to make too much noise.

The red blood food pills were finally almost the size of those that Granny gave him.

Xiao Hongtang, who had poked her head down from the roof, now had eyes as big as copper bells.

And Hu Ma until this time, then picked up the thing wrapped in oiled paper, pondered slightly, but did not open it directly.

Miss White Wine is really steady in doing things...

At the beginning, that batch of blood food, whether green or red, she had refined them all into blood food pills, or gels, and even a considerable part of them were topped with the inventory of the Grass Heart Hall.

This had several advantages. First, the volume was small, it took up less space, and it was easy to store, not so easy to be targeted by evil spirits.

Secondly, so many green Tai Sui, if they were all transported over to Hu Ma, would be too conspicuous. Therefore, some of them were converted into blood Tai Sui and distributed, of course, she also deducted the losses.

Another obvious benefit was that he had to guard against someone suspecting the previous events, and investigating the mysterious person who robbed the blood food. What if the investigation led to him?

But these blood food pills were all refined by the Grass Heart Hall, and could be traced back to the source. Even if he had ten thousand bad lucks and was discovered, it was the Grass Heart Hall that lost the goods, what did it have to do with the Red Lantern Society?

Scouting, action, selling stolen goods...

Every link was very important, and every link could not be wrong...

"Xiao Hongtang, dig open the soil under the stove."

Thinking in his heart, Hu Ma was even more elated. He directed Xiao Hongtang, who was drooling, and said with a low laugh: "Do you know what this means?"

Xiao Hongtang trotted over, squatted on the ground, her eyes shining, and shook her head.

Hu Ma smiled and said: "It means that our good days have finally come..."

"Do you want to eat green food every day?"

"..."

"No..."

Xiao Hongtang shook her head and said, "I want to eat blood food every day!"

"..."

Hu Ma was a little embarrassed: "We don't have that condition yet..."