Volume 8: The Days of the Ghost Marriage
A Well
Laundress Shen Maomao
Cheng Rui was very detailed. He clearly explained the reason for entering the instance, the things they would experience inside, how to leave the instance, and how to escape it for good—the only thing he didn’t mention was the matter of props.
But for these new players, how to leave this current instance alive was the most important problem they needed to consider.
The oldest, Jiang You, was the calmest, or perhaps he still didn’t quite believe Cheng Rui’s words. Besides, he considered himself unafraid of ghosts; after all, if he wasn’t even afraid of the living, there was even less need to fear the dead.
The youngest, Zhai Yiqiao, wasn’t as composed as him. She was both frightened and panicked. As soon as Cheng Rui finished speaking, she collapsed to her knees, sobbing softly in bewilderment, “What… what should I do… How can I survive…”
Cheng Rui gave a gentle smile and helped her up. “Don’t be afraid. I’ve already cleared several instances and I’m quite experienced, so I can guide you all as much as possible. Everyone starts as a newcomer. Have you ever played games? I have a small guild1 made up of players. Leave me your contact info before you get out, and I’ll add you to the guild’s group chat…”
Beside them, Tang Lusen quickly said, “Cheng-ge2, can you include me too?!”
Cheng Rui welcomed all comers, the more the merrier. “Sure, you can all join.”
Shen Maomao narrowed her eyes. She felt as if she was seeing the old Yun Shengjin in Cheng Rui.
Lou Jingmo whispered close to her ear, “There’s never a shortage of people like Yun Shengjin in these instances.”
Shen Maomao said, “I know. What I’m curious about is, does Yun Shengjin really not want to live anymore? Or has he changed his strategy?”
Lou Jingmo: “Let’s wait and see.”
Over there, Zhai Yiqiao and another newcomer, Tang Lusen, had already been completely won over by Cheng Rui in just these few short minutes, calling him “Cheng-ge” with great familiarity. Jiang You, however, didn’t express an opinion and silently blended into the crowd, appearing utterly unremarkable.
It wasn’t long before Bi Chun returned. She assigned the six men the task of hanging lanterns and had the six women go wash clothes. After assigning the work, she warned, “All of you, stay sharp. Don’t make any mistakes, or else, never mind Steward Shao, I’ll be sure to punish you myself.”
Zhai Yiqiao timidly sidled up to Bi Chun to speak, her voice so sweet it was practically dripping. “Bi Chun-jiejie…”
She had just gotten the address out when Bi Chun cut her off with a deadpan expression. “Don’t be trying to claim relations with me here!”
A look of embarrassment flashed across Zhai Yiqiao’s face.
Bi Chun saw it, reached out to pinch her chin, and said coldly, “Ooh~ let me see, what’s your name?”
Bi Chun looked petite, but the strength in her hand was immense, pinching Zhai Yiqiao’s chin until it throbbed with pain. Zhai Yiqiao’s eyes reddened as she cast a pleading look toward Cheng Rui for help.
Cheng Rui actually did step in. He took a step forward, gave Bi Chun a clumsy, nondescript bow, and said, “Miss Bi Chun, my sister is just ignorant. A person of your stature shouldn’t be bothered by the faults of a nobody3, could you please give her another chance?”
Bi Chun sneered, glanced at him, then released her hand. “You’d better keep your sister in line. Look at that restless demeanor of hers, she’d better not be getting any crooked ideas. If I catch her… Hmph!”
Cheng Rui repeatedly apologized, “Thank you, Miss Bi Chun. I will definitely discipline her properly.”
Bi Chun clapped her hands, her expression softening. She scanned the group and said, “Alright, everyone get to what you’re supposed to be doing. Men, you’ll be pasting and hanging lanterns nearby. Someone will bring the materials over in a bit. If you don’t know how, learn quickly. Women, follow me. I’ll take you to the laundry area.”
Cheng Rui patted Zhai Yiqiao’s shoulder and reminded her, “Sister, remember to talk less and work more. You can’t go wrong with that.”
Zhai Yiqiao’s eyes were red, tears threatening to fall but not quite spilling over. She reluctantly followed Bi Chun’s steps.
Taking it all in, Shen Maomao tutted, “Bi Chun is pretty aggressive.”
Lou Jingmo: “That newcomer’s eyes are full of hooks. She’s very good at seducing people.”
Shen Maomao: “?? What did you just say? It’s only been a few seconds and you’ve already found a new love??”
Lou Jingmo gave her a baffled look. “You have that little confidence in yourself? What I mean is, she knows exactly how to arouse a man’s pity. Unfortunately for her, that Cheng-whatever isn’t the type to cherish a fair flower4.”
Shen Maomao: “Why does the way you describe her make her sound like such a white lotus5?”
Lou Jingmo smiled. “Just wait. She’s got plenty of drama to stir up.”
The two of them walked at the very back, so they didn’t attract anyone’s attention. The group wound around the rockery in the back garden and arrived at a courtyard even more remote than their living quarters.
Several square, short-legged stone basins were placed along the walls of the courtyard. Some of them were piled, more or less, with worn clothes. In the middle, a clothesline had been set up with bamboo poles, and some clothes were already hanging from it, swaying gently in the breeze.
Bi Chun turned around and looked at the six people behind her, saying, “You’ll wash here. There are water buckets over there. If you run out of water, go get some from the well behind the house. Be careful when you draw water, don’t fall in. Otherwise, no one will have the time to fish you out.”
“These are all clothes the masters have changed out of. Be extremely careful when you wash them. You can’t make a single mistake, or you’ll be in for a world of hurt!”
“The washed clothes must be hung on the bamboo poles to dry. After they’re dry, they must be brought into the house and folded neatly. You can only rest after I’ve inspected them and given my approval.”
The six of them nodded repeatedly.
Bi Chun was satisfied. “Alright, get to work.” With that, she turned and left the small courtyard.
The six of them began to pick their basins.
Although there were many laundry basins here, very few of them actually had clothes in them. Shen Maomao looked around and found that only six basins contained clothes, clearly prepared for them in advance.
There were a lot of dirty clothes, piled up to be level with the rim of the basins. On top of each pile was an prop of clothing that looked high-grade from its material and color. As for what lay underneath, they couldn’t see for the time being.
Zhai Yiqiao spoke up, “For the sake of fairness… can I choose first?”
A young woman who, like Shen Maomao, had snagged a spot in the back, sneered and sat down in front of a laundry basin without giving her any face. “What are you thinking, little sister? Talking about fairness with us in an instance? There is no fairness in an instance, and no one to spoil you. If you can’t learn to be discerning, you’d better write your will early.”
Zhai Yiqiao bit her lip and gave an awkward smile. “Hanhan-jie, I’m new and don’t know the rules… Please look after me. You other sisters can pick first, I’ll just take what’s left.”
The woman had introduced herself as Su Han6.
Shen Maomao: “…” It’s just washing some clothes. I thought they’d gotten some kind of palace intrigue script…
The other two veteran players didn’t stand on ceremony either. They even dug through the top layer of clothes to pick and choose before settling on their own laundry basins.
After they had chosen, Zhai Yiqiao looked at Shen Maomao and Lou Jingmo and said, “You two sisters can choose now?”
Lou Jingmo said bluntly, “I have trouble making decisions.”
Shen Maomao felt a wave of discomfort from the way Zhai Yiqiao addressed her. She quickly said, “You choose first. I’m a total jinx7, I might as well wait for whatever you all leave for me.”
Zhai Yiqiao’s smile became a little more genuine. She lowered her head slightly and said shyly, “Then… then I’ll pick first.”
Shen Maomao wanted to roll her eyes again.
Finally, all six laundry basins had found their owners. Shen Maomao and Lou Jingmo sat next to each other, with an empty basin between them. Su Han was at the spot farthest from them. The other two women and Zhai Yiqiao were near the bamboo pole, which was more convenient for hanging clothes to dry.
There were only three water buckets in the laundry courtyard, just enough for them to work in pairs to carry the water back.
Lou Jingmo and Shen Maomao had acted like a team from the start, so they naturally got one bucket. The other two female players, besides Su Han, also formed an alliance in a short time, grabbed a bucket, and headed toward the well. That left just her and Zhai Yiqiao. The two clearly looked down on each other and had no intention of teaming up.
After hesitating for two seconds, Su Han grabbed the wooden bucket. “I’ll go first, then you can go by yourself.”
Zhai Yiqiao said meekly, “But… I’m not strong enough…”
Su Han threw back four blunt words: “Not my f#cking problem.” Then she walked off directly with the only remaining bucket.
Zhai Yiqiao stood there, her fists clenched so tight she nearly shattered her silver teeth8. In the end, however, she remained where she was and smiled at Shen Maomao, “Could I trouble you two…”
Shen Maomao: “Wait a moment. We’ll give you the bucket to use after we’re done.”
Zhai Yiqiao: “I wasn’t trying to borrow the bucket…”
Shen Maomao patted her shoulder. “No need to be shy. As long as you remember to return what you borrow, you’re a good kid.”
Zhai Yiqiao: “I wasn’t…”
Shen Maomao waved her hand dismissively. “Just wait a bit, we’ll be right back.” After saying that, she and Lou Jingmo headed around the small house in the middle of the courtyard.
After walking a short distance, Lou Jingmo glanced back at Zhai Yiqiao, who was sitting on the ground, and said darkly, “It is better to offend a gentleman than a petty person9… You and that Han-whatever are probably in for it.”
Shen Maomao’s focus went astray again. “Can’t you remember people’s names? This whole time, I haven’t heard you call anyone without adding a ‘whatever’ to it.”
Lou Jingmo said, “There’s no need to waste brain cells remembering the names of a bunch of people who might die at any moment. It’s meaningless.”
Compared to what her teammates, with whom she was supposed to be sharing weal and woe, were called, the habitually solitary Lou Jingmo was more interested in finishing the laundry and resting early.
She snatched the wooden bucket from Shen Maomao’s hands, and together they rounded the house. They came face-to-face with the two who were returning with water. The four of them made eye contact from a distance, gave a slight nod, and then passed each other in silence, without any verbal exchange.
But as soon as they rounded the house, the two of them saw a person hanging from the stone wall of the wellhead. The person was head down, legs splayed out, desperately wedging their knees against the inner wall of the well, which was the only thing keeping them from falling straight in.
It was Su Han, who had gone to fetch water alone.
“What the f#ck!” Shen Maomao immediately rushed over to save her.
She ran to the side of the well, grabbed hold of one of her legs, and used all her might to pull her out.
At the same time, a tremendous pulling force came from inside the well, dragging Shen Maomao forward a few centimeters, as if trying to yank them both down.
Fortunately, Lou Jingmo arrived at that moment. She grabbed Su Han’s other leg, and they began a stalemate against the force in the well, slowly dragging the two of them out bit by bit.
Soon, they had pulled Su Han’s waist out of the wellhead. The thing in the well seemed to realize it could no longer pull her into the water and abruptly released its grip.
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