The Hand of Confession – Chapter 69

Volume 3: Days of Working at the Manor

Fake Newbie

Just don’t want to use my real name while surfing online

Shen Maomao’s eyes shifted, and she told them the slightly embellished truth: “He’s a new coachman who went out to gather fodder and hasn’t returned until now. We are his friends, and because we were worried about him, we went out to search for him. Many demons appeared in the Baron’s farm! They attacked my poor friend, and we were trapped on the farm. We barely managed to find the right moment to escape!”

The two guards exchanged glances, highly doubting Shen Maomao’s words: “Impossible! The Baron has excellent relations with the church bishops, and today a bishop even came to the banquet. Demons would absolutely not dare to appear on the Baron’s territory!”

Shen Maomao said: “If you don’t believe me, you can go see for yourself. Can we enter now? We haven’t even finished today’s work.”

The two guards lowered their weapons, and one said: “The situation is special now. You must find someone from the manor to bring you in.”

Shen Maomao jumped down from the carriage: “Big Brothers, how can we find someone if you won’t let us in to look? Everyone is so busy, who has time to escort us in? Look, I’m even wearing our manor’s maid uniform! Isn’t that proof enough?”

The guard holding the sword remained absolutely firm: “No, you can tell us the names of people you know, and I can go ask inside the manor.”

Several familiar faces quickly flashed through Shen Maomao’s mind.

Freckles, Little North, Dewdrop, Lin Fei, He Yongchang…

She felt He Yongchang was probably the most familiar with them.

So she said: “There’s a new cook called He Yongchang, he’s our friend.”

The guard nodded, showing no particular reaction to this distinctively Eastern name: “Wait here for a while then.”

With that, he turned and walked into the manor, soon disappearing from their sight.

To intimidate them, the remaining guard pulled out his musket again, though he didn’t point it at anyone, just held it in his hands.

Horse Golden Retriever turned its head to eat some fodder, letting out a long sigh, worried about its future; Shen Maomao leaned against the carriage, curiously stealing glances at the endless stream of carriages in the distance and those noble and wealthy guests; Lou Jingmo hadn’t come down from the carriage at all, she stared blankly at a point in empty space, probably thinking about the plot developments.

The two people and one horse waited for more than ten minutes before the sword-carrying guard came jogging back from the distance.

Shen Maomao peered behind him but didn’t see He Yongchang’s shadow.

What’s going on?

Thinking in a negative direction, could He Yongchang have met with harm?

The guard ran up to them, slightly out of breath, and said: “There’s no such person in the kitchen. Leave immediately, or we won’t be polite anymore.”

The other Big Brother immediately raised his musket, aiming it at the two people.

“But…” Shen Maomao’s heart went “gudong” (an onomatopoeia expressing sudden anxiety or shock), “Is it that there’s no such person, or that he’s already dead?”

The guard affirmed: “What do you mean ‘already dead’? The new cook in the kitchen isn’t called He Yongchang at all! Why would I need to lie to you?”

Shen Maomao’s eyes widened.

It wasn’t that there was no such person, nor that he was dead, but that the name He Yongchang didn’t exist…

Lou Jingmo noticed the situation and jumped down from the carriage, saying: “We remembered the name wrong. Could you trouble yourselves to make another trip? This time look for Brendan.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Shen Maomao hurriedly added, “He’s the steward in charge of assigning our work. He should remember us!”

But the two guards had clearly decided they were suspicious and sternly ordered them to leave.

Just as Shen Maomao was thinking about dislocating their arms, legs, and jaws while there weren’t many people around, two more guards approached from the distance.

Her slightly raised hand immediately dropped back down. Now with more people opposing them, all armed, they truly couldn’t win in a fight. With props she might have had a fighting chance, but now she was just a salted fish, so it was better not to act rashly.

The other two guards saw the situation and quickened their pace towards them.

Shen Maomao stepped back halfway and turned her head to whisper to Lou Jingmo: “Should we run?”

Lou Jingmo replied: “No need, a familiar face has arrived.”

Shen Maomao opened her eyes wide to look, and made eye contact with Dongfang who was curiously watching them.

Wasn’t he supposed to be following Second Young Lady Anna? Why was he out patrolling now?

The NPC among the two newly arrived guards asked: “What’s going on?”

The sword-carrying guard answered truthfully: “These two people are impersonating manor servants, trying to sneak in…”

Dongfang quickly interjected: “I know them, they really are manor servants. This girl is a maid, that one is a gardener. We come from the same place, we’re laoxiang (fellow townspeople from the same hometown, a meaningful connection in Chinese culture).”

“But…” The sword-carrier wanted to say more, but the musket-holder beside him said: “They just remembered wrong. You can go in, but don’t use the main gate – use the side door.”

Usually, the manor’s hierarchy wasn’t this strict, and servants could enter through the main gate, but today’s special circumstances made the side door requirement understandable.

Shen Maomao had no interest in starting an equal rights movement in the game world, so naturally wouldn’t care about the main gate versus side door issue.

The two guards continued their patrol, while the guard partnered with Dongfang misunderstood their previous relationship and gave Dongfang a “men know what I mean” look (a cultural expression implying romantic or flirtatious undertones). He consciously moved aside to wait, saying: “Don’t chat for too long~”

Dongfang felt somewhat awkward.

Shen Maomao gratefully said: “Thank you, Dongfang. If it weren’t for you, we would have had to spend the night outside.”

Dongfang waved his hand dismissively: “It’s nothing. But weren’t you inside the manor just now? How did you end up outside?”

Shen Maomao didn’t know how to answer this question and could only look toward Lou Jingmo with pleading eyes.

Lou Jingmo’s lips parted: “She went out to play.”

Shen Maomao: “…”

Fortunately, Dongfang seemed to be someone who understood propriety and social cues. Seeing that the two didn’t want to explain, he didn’t pursue the matter, only kindly reminding them: “Something might happen tonight, be careful. I need to go now.”

Shen Maomao repeatedly thanked him: “Thanks, thanks, you be careful too.”

Dongfang made an “OK” sign to them, then hurried to catch up with his partner.

Shen Maomao watched his retreating silhouette and couldn’t help but sigh: “He’s really such a good person…”

Lou Jingmo nodded: “Indeed, but as for that He Yongchang…”

“What’s his deal?” Shen Maomao asked.

Lou Jingmo curled her lips in a smile, showing indifference: “Just someone who doesn’t want to use their real name while web surfing.”

Shen Maomao: “Huh??!”

She had thought of many possibilities, but this one hadn’t crossed her mind.

How would a newbie know to hide their real name? Moreover, he even chose an online name that sounded so much like a real name…

“His act as a newbie was too perfect…” That fear of the unknown game, the timidity when bullied and not daring to fight back, and his natural behavior when interacting with them… was it all fake?

Lou Jingmo held Horse Golden Retriever’s reins, leading it toward the side door: “His acting wasn’t very good, you just weren’t observant enough.”

Shen Maomao hurriedly caught up: “Are you saying you saw through his problems early on?? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Lou Jingmo said coolly: ” What does it have to do with my fart?” (a crude but common Chinese expression of indifference)

Shen Maomao automatically replaced her Lou-style triple response (referring to Lou’s characteristic blunt way of speaking), admitting her mistake: “Sorry, Sister Lou! I know you wanted to teach me a lesson, I definitely won’t be this stupid in the future!”

Lou Jingmo raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.

Shen Maomao’s inner thoughts: This is Sister Lou’s doubt about her! She must keep her word and distinguish other players’ good and bad intentions by herself, not letting her down!

Lou Jingmo: “…” What on earth is she imagining in that head of hers?

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The two of them avoided those noble guests and returned Horse Golden Retriever to the stable.

By now the stablemen had finished work, leaving the stable unoccupied and unlit. As soon as Shen Maomao and Lou Jingmo arrived, the other horses approached the railings, stretching out their long heads and staring at them unblinkingly.

Shen Maomao felt creeped out by their stares, and only felt better after patting Horse Golden Retriever’s head. The scene reminded her of Lingyuan Village: “Sister Lou, look at them… don’t they look like those monkeys? Golden Retriever’s situation also seems similar to the last dungeon…”

“It’s fine, they’re all horses except for Golden Retriever…” After saying this, Lou Jingmo became uncertain and added a “Maybe.”

The two people and one horse walked in the darkness, passing stable after stable until reaching the last one. Lou Jingmo untied the reins, Shen Maomao opened the fence, letting Horse Golden Retriever slip in. The other two horses inside showed no reaction, completely ignoring them.

Horse Golden Retriever’s eyes were full of rejection, staying stubbornly at the doorway, refusing to go in no matter how Shen Maomao pulled the reins.

Tired of pulling, Shen Maomao gave up the struggle and tried reasoning instead: “What do you want then? You heard it yourself, that He Yongchang isn’t a good person. If you come back with us, first there’s nowhere for you to stay, and second, we can’t explain it to him.”

Horse Golden Retriever, having spent a day in fear and now facing the prospect of sleeping with so many strange horses, immediately lost control of his tear ducts and shed sorrowful tears: “Heeee-heeee…”

Shen Maomao: “I don’t understand…”

Horse Golden Retriever: “…QAQ” Knowing he couldn’t count on Shen Maomao, he turned his Maybelline big eyes toward Lou Jingmo.

Lou Jingmo remembered her identity as a power-leveler (game term for someone who levels up characters for others), and for once felt somewhat embarrassed.

It was all Shen Maomao’s fault, making her forget about her employer.

Shen Maomao sneezed and couldn’t help rubbing her arms: “Why does it feel a bit cold here… Let’s make a decision quickly, there must be plot developments at the ball, shouldn’t we go tempt death?”

Lou Jingmo pulled Golden Retriever’s body down from the carriage, directly by the legs, not even needing to climb up – very simple and crude.

Shen Maomao didn’t know what she was planning, but still lent a hand, rescuing Golden Retriever from the ground.

Lou Jingmo: “Put him on the horse’s back.”

Shen Maomao complied, and together they hung Golden Retriever on the horse’s back, letting his body and soul have an intimate encounter.

Lou Jingmo: “Try taking out your items, see if there’s anything usable.”

After becoming a horse, Horse Golden Retriever had tried to open his inventory, but hadn’t succeeded. So this time he held no hope.

Lou Jingmo urged: “Hurry up.”

So he closed his eyes, attempting to summon the item interface. After a few seconds, a super-large game inventory floated before his eyes…

It actually worked!

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