Chapter 24: Dou Su Fu, All Resentments And Hatreds Converge
The sound of flowing water continued, and the smell was musky.
The astonishment in Fang Shu’s eyes quickly turned to something strange.
The figure in the gutter also noticed him. The other party was panicked but didn’t dare make a big fuss, lowering their voice to say:
“Who!?”
Fang Shu didn’t dodge. He thought for a moment, then squatted by the gutter and lowered his voice to reply:
“Not a bad guy, Sister Dou, it’s me, from next door.”
“It’s you…” Dou Su Fu’s face softened. She hesitated, her body shuddering involuntarily.
Fang Shu’s sharp ears clearly heard the water in the gutter sloshing along with it. Even though he tried to suppress stray thoughts, the scene still made his heart stir.
Dou Su Fu heard his breathing. Her face flushed red, and she muttered lowly:
“And you say you’re not a bad guy, you brainless fool.”
But she didn’t scream. She just scooped water by the gutter, splashing, and rustled to adjust her sleeves and belt.
When she stood up again, the wet nurse beauty was calm and composed, saying to Fang Shu:
“What a coincidence, it’s the young brother from next door.
I’m washing clothes. Are you coming too?”
Under the moonlight, Fang Shu’s gaze involuntarily glanced at the other’s tightly clinging, body-hugging clothes.
It was a lotus-colored soft gauze shirt, either deliberately disguised or unintentionally, shyly dripping water.
He assumed she was really washing clothes and replied:
“Not coming.”
Dou Su Fu nodded, then pressed her hips, lifted her skirt hem, and walked toward the paper house on her own.
But when she reached the paper house, from her perspective, she saw Fang Shu by the gutter following her like a dog sniffing a butt.
This made her face bloom with spring, both shy and angry. She turned her head and glared fiercely at Fang Shu, about to open her mouth to scold.
Who knew Fang Shu’s next words would choke the words in her throat.
Fang Shu said sincerely:
“Disturbing Sister Dou late at night is just out of fear of strongmen, but I also wanted to ask about Second Uncle’s whereabouts, so I came abruptly. I hope Sister forgives me.”
“Is that so.” Dou Su Fu seemed to know something. She was slightly surprised, covering her lips.
The wet nurse beauty leaned against the door. After pondering with her head down for a bit, she showed a sigh on her face, creaked open the paper door, and beckoned Fang Shu inside:
“Come in first and explain in detail.”
Fang Shu stepped forward, but remembering what happened earlier, he hesitated again, unsure whether to just ask outside the door.
Dou Su Fu glared at him fiercely and said lowly:
“Come in when I tell you to. Why dawdle? If you don’t come in and someone sees, it’ll ruin my reputation.”
“Sorry for the disturbance.” Hearing this, Fang Shu quickly cupped his hands, then bowed and entered the paper house.
Once inside Dou Su Fu’s paper house, a rich tofu fragrance and milk fragrance hit him.
The house was about the same size as Second Uncle Yu Le’s, but well arranged, with a feminine feel. There was a cellar dug underneath, expanded downward, storing many bottles and jars inside.
A bean-sized oil lamp was lit in the house, with dim yellow light, but a pleasant smell, smoky.
Dou Su Fu pointed to the low stool in the room: “Sit.”
She herself sat sideways on the paper bed, her hip bone pressing the sheet on the paper bed taut, extremely eye-catching.
Noticing Fang Shu’s gaze, Dou Su Fu glared at him again with her eyes and said grumpily:
“Kid with no hair yet, why stare? Ask what you have to say.”
Fang Shu nodded apologetically. He exhaled turbid air and quickly asked her where his Second Uncle had gone and why he was missing.
Seeing the serious matter come up, Dou Su Fu sighed lightly, put away her shyness and anger, and slowly told what she knew.
Fang Shu listened silently and found that what she said was no different from what Talisman Master Li Yuan said, but more detailed, like his Second Uncle entering the mine tunnel three days ago, specially choosing early morning when he left, and seeming to have found company.
Also, that Cheng Guanzi had been quite arrogant in the paper workshop lately, more cocky than before, looking down on everyone, and the uninformed would think the guy had a cockeye.
Fang Shu digested it, then stood up and bowed to Dou Su Fu:
“Thanks, Sister Dou, for telling me.”
Hesitating, he added: “Coming tonight, I hope Sister Dou doesn’t tell others, to avoid…”
Before he finished, Dou Su Fu nodded mockingly:
“Night crashing into a widow’s door, I’m more afraid you’ll spread it yourself and ruin my reputation.”
Hearing “widow’s door,” Fang Shu was stunned.
He stopped in time, didn’t continue, and only after Dou Su Fu finished mocking did he slowly add:
“To avoid that Cheng Guanzi hearing and taking it out on Sister.”
This made Dou Su Fu stunned, realizing she had wronged him.
Her face blushed slightly, eyes darting, but seeing Fang Shu’s wooden expression, she chuckled, with three parts mockery and seven parts teasing on her face:
“What, didn’t your Second Uncle tell you about my status?”
She muttered: “Don’t think I’ll fear that Cheng Guanzi. Sister didn’t tell you this out of pity, but because I have a grudge against that Cheng Guanzi too.
If not for him saying there was a treasure mine in the mountains, gathering a bunch to leave town, I wouldn’t have become a widow.
In the end, only he came back alive. If not for pulling the Black Tiger Dojo’s tiger skin… even if I risked my life, I’d avenge my husband and take his life!”
By the end, Dou Su Fu’s face was no longer shy and angry, but gritted teeth, revealing long-accumulated hatred.
This made Fang Shu think carefully and recall that Second Uncle had indeed vaguely mentioned this neighbor before.
But Second Uncle didn’t say outright she was a widow, just lightly that Dou Su Fu was also a pitiful person, and Fang Shu must not underestimate her.
Unexpectedly, there was such a story!
Fang Shu quickly cupped hands to her, showing apology.
Seeing Fang Shu’s apology, the hatred on Dou Su Fu’s face dissipated.
She calmed down and changed the subject:
“These old rotten matters aren’t worth much talk. After all, in this paper workshop, who doesn’t have a grudge against that Cheng Guanzi? Mine might not even count.”
She said it very lightly, as if the earlier hatred was an illusion, and paused, then instructed Fang Shu:
“Your Second Uncle has a grudge against that Cheng Guanzi. You’re still young, don’t be hot-blooded, or… make your Second Uncle more heartbroken.”
The woman sighed: “In this marketplace, everyone has endured it bit by bit. You’ll get used to it.”
Fang Shu understood her meaning, nothing more than “lest the white-haired send the black-haired.”
He didn’t refute, but nodded seriously: “Thanks for Sister’s advice. Brother remembers.”
Seeing Fang Shu so obedient, Dou Su Fu’s gaze toward him softened a lot, like looking at her own brother.
Seeing Fang Shu stand, about to take leave, she immediately said: “Sit first.”
Then Dou Su Fu pursed her body and lifted a wooden bucket from the cellar in the narrow paper house.
She lifted the bucket lid, and hot steam rose immediately, with a pleasant fragrance filling the whole house.
With her back to Fang Shu, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing fair wrists and arms, then supported the bucket rim and scooped a bowl of even fairer milk tofu from the bucket.
Fang Shu steadied his stray thoughts, but smelling the milk tofu’s fragrance, he recalled the spiritual energy taste in the milk tofu.
He couldn’t help glancing over.
Dou Su Fu turned and saw Fang Shu’s straight stare at the milk bowl in her hand.
She smiled involuntarily, plopped her butt on the closed milk bucket lid, and placed the milk bowl on the table:
“Little glutton, eat it.”
But Fang Shu stared at the milk tofu in the bowl, didn’t move, but said gravely:
“Sister, I have no money.”
Dou Su Fu smiled even more: “I know you have no money. This bowl is Sister’s belated welcome gift to you.”
She propped one hand, supported her chin with the other, and smiled at Fang Shu.
But Fang Shu looked at the milk tofu on the table, his thoughts drifting, recalling something.
He swallowed, showed hesitation, and looked toward Dou Su Fu’s front.
Dou Su Fu was puzzled at first.
She thought there was something on her face, but seeing Fang Shu’s flickering, half-lowered gaze clearly.
She suddenly recalled something too, arms tightening around herself, her face burning red and hot like fire.
“Pah!” Dou Su Fu spat darkly:
“You brainless fool, what are you thinking at your young age.”
Immediately, she hesitated fiercely.
The woman was pondering whether to explain to Fang Shu how the milk shops on Blood Street really worked, but worried it would hurt her own business.
Sensing Fang Shu’s awkwardness and the weird atmosphere in the paper house, especially his young age.
Dou Su Fu finally said seriously, poking Fang Shu’s head, spitting darkly:
“Not thinking good thoughts at your young age.”
She simply explained the ways of the Blood Street milk shops.
It turned out the milk shops on Blood Street were half real, half fake. Among the real milk food sold, only half was pure, the other half not very pure.
After all, with so many customers daily on one street, even using cow or horse milk, it’d take hundreds or thousands to supply, let alone human.
Seeing Fang Shu listening seriously, face lost in thought.
Dou Su Fu said grumpily:
“If you want the real thing, go buy from that heartless filthy place. The girls there can make it fresh for you.”
Fang Shu understood she meant the brothels in the marketplace.
He slowly came back to his senses and said:
“So, most Blood Street milk shops are just gimmicks, to comfort those who sell blood for money?”
Dou Su Fu heard “comfort gimmick” for the first time, but thinking it over, found it true.
Blood ghosts sell blood for money, milk shops sell milk, with a “gimmick” linking them, sounding like the same category.
This way, blood ghosts willingly buy milk food for mental comfort, compensating the grievance of selling blood, and milk shop business steadily increases.
Though agreeing inwardly, Dou Su Fu hummed:
“Not entirely gimmick. This bucket of milk costs me one or two spirit stones. Infusing spiritual energy into milk food requires corresponding magic to blend.
Though not pill refining, it’s a kind of ‘medicinal cuisine’ method, greatly nourishing the body, much better than you think.
Don’t believe? Just eat and see.”
Seeing Fang Shu still hesitant, Dou Su Fu pretended anger:
“Relax, didn’t poison you, little guy. If I poisoned you dead in my house, who knows what they’d say outside.”
Fang Shu couldn’t refuse politely, so nodded and quickly picked up the milk tofu.
One bowl of milk food down, he felt warmth surging in his belly, whole body smoky.
Compared to the fierce, raw, half-cooked rice-like effect of the Essence Nourishing Pill, Dou Su Fu’s milk food was like a bowl of hot porridge, stewed soft and thick, filling the stomach and comfortable.
With the nourishment of fifty cents a bowl milk food, Fang Shu’s body, buried in hard training all day, lost all fatigue.
He really wanted another bowl!
Fang Shu stared brightly at Dou Su Fu, but she was no longer as generous as before.
She warily leaned back, butt tightly on the milk bucket, knocked the milk bucket to remind:
“One or two spirit stones, one bucket.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu’s bright gaze vanished, but he showed no disappointment, instead looking gratefully at her.
Such medicinal cuisine, her giving him a free bowl was already impressive.
Seeing Fang Shu so well-behaved and sensible, Dou Su Fu’s face unchanged, but heart softened.
She thought, then simply lifted a larger bucket from the cellar, water jar-sized, straining her body taut.
Fang Shu wanted to help but restrained, fearing too much movement would make Sister Dou misunderstand.
Finally, Dou Su Fu uncovered the bucket, scooped directly with a ladle, fair fingers gripping the handle, handing ladle and all to Fang Shu:
“Here. Can’t give you more tofu, but you can eat your fill of fermented water.”
Fang Shu confirmed he could eat directly with the ladle and said:
“Sister is so nice!”
Then he unceremoniously gulped, like rushing to sell blood, downing three full ladles in a row.
This hungry ghost look made Dou Su Fu click her tongue, muttering:
“Eating so much fermented water, careful you get urgent to pee…”
Halfway, she shut her mouth herself, gaze drifting.
After eating his fill of fermented water, Fang Shu’s face more comfortable.
The spiritual energy in this fermented water was minimal, but nourishing, comparable to the dojo’s blood steamed buns.
“Thanks for Sister’s hospitality. Brother won’t disturb anymore.”
Fang Shu wiped his mouth, bowed to Dou Su Fu, about to take leave.
Dou Su Fu didn’t keep him, gracefully went to the doorway to let him out.
But suddenly.
Dou Su Fu’s plump body blocked the door first, shushing Fang Shu to be quiet.
Fang Shu was puzzled.
Soon, he heard running footsteps outside, and sobbing cries:
“Don’t hit me, don’t hit!”
A woman running at night outside the door.
Behind her, cursing voices:
“Run? Where can you run!
You stinking bitch from the mountains, soon you’ll beg me to take you in.”
The running woman’s voice sounded young, faintly familiar to Fang Shu.
The cursing man’s voice sounded old, like an old monkey.
“No! I’m not a servant, I’m not here to be…” The woman seemed caught, crying loudly.
But the old man showed no pity, a slap sound rang out.
“Not? Really think what the female human trafficker said, that the debt-repaying thing in the house bought you?
Pah! Don’t even pee and look at yourself. Old me is just for praying for good luck, old me bought you!
After serving till old me dies, you’ll follow in burial!”
Vicious, resentful, wailing voices rang unabashed in the paper workshop, especially shrill.
But no one in the paper workshop went out, not even opening windows.
Dou Su Fu pressing the door showed regret, muttering softly:
“Really wasting a person.”
Fang Shu naturally wouldn’t idly stir trouble.
Still living off the Fang clan in the mortal world, he learned to respect others’ fates, including his own.
Fang Shu just asked Dou Su Fu lowly:
“The woman outside is… Su Qin Gao?”
“Su Qin Gao?” Dou Su Fu looked at him suspiciously, sizing up:
“You little imp, how do you know Sister Su’s given name?”
Fang Shu frankly said he came from the mortal world on the same snake boat as Su Qin Gao.
Hearing this, Dou Su Fu’s suspicion vanished, then muttered: “All pitiful people.”
Asking in detail, Fang Shu then learned.
It turned out Su Qin Gao thought she was marrying into the paper workshop, to the Sickly Person, to eat up the old man’s family.
But she was purely tricked by her “close sister.”
The Sickly Person was just a front; her real buyer was the Sickly Person’s old dad.
The female human trafficker’s words had no truth.
More precisely, the Sickly Person’s old dad was taking her as concubine, wanting to pray for good luck for his son, and if the son really died, he could try to have Su Qin Gao bear another for him.
As for why Dou Su Fu knew so clearly.
The old beast, before Su Qin Gao arrived, shamelessly shouted about praying for good luck in the paper workshop.
After buying Su Qin Gao, the old beast bragged everywhere that mountain girls were cheap.
The guy even promoted the female human trafficker well, saying if folks picked themselves at the landing spot, they absolutely couldn’t get such stupid yet well-shaped goods!
Fang Shu listened silently.
Then, after the old and young made a fuss and presumably returned to their nest, he took leave of Dou Su Fu and went alone to Du Gu Guan.
Night was slightly chilly.
But once out of the paper workshop, Fang Shu’s face was colder, like a different person, no childishness.
Walking along, whether from that bowl of milk tofu or seeing Su Qin Gao’s fate, his heart burned with fire, full of strength, just wanting to hurry back to the hall, temper tendons and bones, sacrifice and refine magic tool.
So back at Du Gu Guan, he didn’t sleep, but continued night immortal merit practice in the hall.
Bang bang bang!
“All worldly suffering comes from bodily weakness.”
Heat burned in Fang Shu’s chest, but his face calm, reciting immortal merit incantation nonstop:
“All hateful encounters are like dream, illusion, bubble, dew or lightning; only great magic power can subdue them!”
