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墨書 Inktalez
The Wu Family had just finished their lunch. For the past ten days, all they could hear were discussions about the Xia Family's kiln. It was nothing but praise and envy, and she felt a pang of jealousy. With the sky darkening and rain approaching, she couldn't help but feel a sense of joy.
Moreover, the commotion from the Xia Family was so loud that it was hard for anyone in the village to ignore. It was impossible not to know what was happening.
Tang Sanwan had visited her home several times, mostly to talk about how much the Wang Family despised Xia Muxin, and how Liu Mazi had failed to pay wages for months.
They hadn't seen Azure Lotus in a long time, so they inquired about her. To their surprise, they learned that she was thriving with the Wang Family, living better than ever. This left the Wu Family and the You family feeling quite resentful; while their own kin struggled to make ends meet, she was being well-fed and cared for, completely forgetting her roots. It felt like raising a white-eyed wolf for over a decade.
There were still a few troublesome individuals at home, and the Wu Family pondered that it would only be a matter of time before they were driven mad by these burdensome relatives.
"Mother, people are watching. Xia Muxin is nothing but a heartless shrew. She insults our grandmother, schemes against the Gui Lian sisters, and even strikes Uncle. As for me, her Aunt? Don't even get me started. She flaunts herself in the village, trying to win people's favor while thinking the heavens are blind. Look at this retribution coming her way! Let's see how long the Xia Family can keep up this charade."
Seeing Wu Family standing at the door with glee as they watched the Xia Family's commotion, You also peeked out with a smug expression, relishing in Xia Muxin's misfortune.
They had been waiting for this day for quite some time!
"Get ready with your raincoats; we’re going to enjoy the show!"
You's words struck a chord with Wu Family. A wicked smile spread across her wrinkled face as she turned to grab her shoes from the corner of the room while instructing You.
You felt a surge of joy and smirked as she hurried off to fetch raincoats and other items.
At Muxin's house, the women had finished their meal and began clearing the table. Each one wore a tense expression as they exchanged worried glances. With Xia Muxin and Er Dan leading them, the villagers gritted their teeth and rolled up their pants legs, following suit.
Not only was Xia Muxin their great benefactor, but seeing all their hard work potentially go to waste also weighed heavily on their hearts. Moreover, as Muxin said, success lies in human effort; they refused to believe that fate could be stronger than their determination.
Besides, they couldn't let all that labor go unrewarded; they couldn't just eat lavish meals without justification...
Ten people hadn’t eaten yet because someone needed to guard the kiln. So when Xia Muxin and her group left, they would take turns returning for meals. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, scattering dirt into their untouched dishes. The group hurriedly carried the bowls inside.
"Heavens! Please open your eyes and let good people receive good rewards! We’ve been poor for most of our lives; it's not easy to find such a benefactor—please help her!"
Looking at the dark sky, Aunt Liu felt a tightness in her chest as if something were clawing at her, making it hard to breathe. Her family had received too many favors from the Xia Family, and as a widow with an orphan, she had faced less ridicule and bullying. At this moment, she clasped her hands together and earnestly prayed to the Heavens, hoping they would hear her plea and delay the rain...
“Muxin, the wind is too strong; it's hard to keep the fire going!”
Seven older men were guarding the kiln, while three of Shen Muhan's subordinates stood atop it. The wind howled like a raging storm, causing their frail bodies to tremble slightly. When Xia Muxin approached, one of the men wiped the sweat from his brow and called out loudly.
His voice was indeed loud, but it was carried away by the fierce wind. Still, Xia Muxin heard him. She walked over and pulled out two thick logs from the Firewood Stack behind the kiln and stuffed them inside before turning to the man.
“Shun Bo, you should go eat first. I won't give up until the very last moment!”
At that moment, she stood tall, her voice resonant and powerful, her eyes filled with confidence and determination. Shun Bo was taken aback for a moment before he nodded and went off with the others to wash up for dinner.
“Villagers, we have limited time; let’s hurry!”
Once they left, Xia Muxin chose a few older men to tend to the kiln while she joined those carrying bricks. There was also a steel wire that needed to be secured, but since the kiln was not yet finished, Ming Yi and over ten others joined in—three working on the kiln and ten carrying bricks.
The wild wind mixed with sand swept through relentlessly, making it hard for anyone to keep their eyes open. The sky grew darker; it felt as if those ominous clouds were right above them, close enough to reach out and touch.
“Villagers, we only have twenty bricks left; everyone hold on tight!”
The village chief Yang Dadong also came to help. He carried eight bricks up to the top of the kiln and asked those laying bricks about their progress before cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting to those working.
“Muxin, this wind is fierce; the flames are shooting high! The top of the kiln is already hot!”
Xia Muxin was panting heavily and had no strength left to respond. Her brother took over the burden from her shoulders and said anxiously.
“Brother, your worry is unnecessary; the rain will come soon!”
Xia Muxin took a moment to catch her breath, glanced at the sky, patted Xia Tieshu's arm reassuringly, then continued down with her tools.
At this moment, all she wanted was to make the most of her time, hoping to finish laying the twenty bricks before dinner. As she stepped down from the kiln, she saw her sister-in-law and others who had come to help. They all looked up at the kiln's top, their eyes filled with regret and hope. When Xia Muxin came down, Aunt Liu took the lead and said:
"Muxin, is there anything Aunt can help you with?"
"Aunt, could you bring me some husks and rice bran? The more, the better. Sister Swallow, please find a few people to help bring over the charcoal from the house. Ermiao, go find some straw raincoats; ask around at each house for as many as you can borrow. Aunt Qin, could you please prepare some ginger soup? After everyone gets drenched in the rain, a warm bowl of ginger soup will help drive away the chill."
Xia Muxin gave her instructions, and everyone felt reassured and went off to get busy.
Not daring to delay, Xia Muxin continued to pick up bricks. However, just as she was carrying the second load onto the second piece of wood, the rain came pouring down like a bucket being tipped over, stinging her face and body so painfully that she could barely open her eyes.
The rain fell heavily while the wind had calmed down considerably. The sound of raindrops hitting the ground created a series of splashes, forming small holes in the hard earth.
"Keep an eye on the fire; don't let it go out!"
The seven people tending to the kiln felt particularly uncomfortable. On one side was the cold rain, and on the other was the intense heat. It truly felt like being caught between ice and fire. Someone shouted out, prompting others to turn around and move firewood. The firewood was piled on either side of the kiln; it was better to be partially wet than completely soaked. Seeing this, some people also moved firewood to a thatched cottage nearby. However, these logs were thick branches that were quite heavy to carry, yet they did not lower their heads.
Atop the kiln, smoke continued to rise from the kiln opening as those laying bricks remained focused on their work without even looking up. In their blurred vision, one could see beads of sweat dripping from their chins like pearls.
Those picking up bricks dared not pause for even a moment; each gritted their teeth and squinted against the rain as they moved forward step by step. Despite their clothes being soaked through and their footing slipping on the wooden planks, they did not utter a single complaint.
After about ten minutes of rain, a large group approached. They all carried straw raincoats; some were no more than seven or eight years old. Upon reaching the kiln, they began helping move bricks closer to where the wooden planks were located. Some helped carry firewood while others tended to the fire.
In that moment, even the strongest Xia Muxin couldn't hold back her tears. She silently whispered her thanks—thank you, thank you!
In less than two incense sticks' worth of time, Aunt Liu and others returned with rice bran and husks using their own cart. A few older folks pushed and pulled through the muddy terrain with deep and shallow steps; it was a scene reminiscent of a touching oil painting that would forever be etched in Xia Muxin's mind.
However, everyone had returned with what Xia Muxin needed except for Ermiao, who was still missing for quite some time. Xia Muxin had already sensed this and gritted her teeth as she climbed back up to the kiln's top. She instructed Ming Yi and others who were still busy:
"Brother Ming Yi, Ermiao hasn't come back yet; please help me look for him—especially at Wang's place; we can't miss any corner!"
Ming Yi and the others hesitated upon hearing this; success was within reach as they were about to secure that last steel wire—but they couldn't afford any delays.
"Brother Ming Yi, no interest is greater than a person's dignity and innocence. I cannot ruin Ermiao's life because of my selfishness. If that's the case, then let this kiln remain unbuilt!"
Seeing Ming Yi and the others hesitating, Xia Muxin's expression turned cold for the first time as she spoke sharply.
At that moment, Yang Dadong picked up a brick, his thoughts on Ermiao. He had intended to tell Xia Muxin that he would go home to check on her, but he was taken aback by such a shocking statement, and tears began to flow.
In their impoverished village, life had always been cheap, yet he never expected Xia Muxin would give up the kiln for Ermiao. This was something that a hundred people in the village had fought for with their lives...
Ming Yi and the others were also in a dilemma, unable to go against Xia Muxin's wishes. In the end, they reluctantly put down their work. More than ten of them took a deep breath and leaped away, disappearing before everyone.
Due to the heavy rain, most people were focused on their tasks and walking with heads down, so only a few noticed this scene.
Although they all had raincoats, no one wanted to wear them because it would slow them down even more. Some began to spread rice bran and husks into the kiln cave, while others poured charcoal into the smoke hole at the top of the kiln. Some of this charcoal still had embers; when poured in, it would ignite naturally, and the heat would not dissipate.
Below the kiln, some people started using hoes to clear the ditches, allowing water to drain out rather than accumulate in the channels.
Xia Muxin's legs were starting to feel unresponsive, and her head felt dizzy. They had been busy in this torrential downpour for an hour now; several people could no longer hold on and had collapsed. Those who were firing the kiln came up to take their place.
"There are still two batches of bricks left; everyone keep it up!"
At that moment, Er Dan Ge lifted his head from under the raindrops and shouted downwards. Instantly, cheers erupted from below. However, Xia Muxin felt even more anxious because Ming Yi and the others had not returned yet, and Ermiao was nowhere to be found. The steel wire was also unfastened; as soon as the heat rose, those forty batches of bricks would become unstable and could lead to a kiln collapse.
"Er Dan Ge, can you and a few brothers fasten the steel wire first?"
Two batches of bricks could be completed quickly—perhaps in just two incense sticks' worth of time—but the steel wire needed to be secured. The bricks below were already loosening due to heat; if they didn’t stabilize the bricks above properly, even if they succeeded at this moment, they couldn't avoid a collapse during the seven days of firing.
Er Dan had been busy with his head down and hadn’t realized that Ming Yi and the others had left. Only after hearing Xia Muxin's words did he seem to come to his senses. He stretched his neck to look down; the top of the kiln was at least seventeen meters above ground. Although Xia Muxin had prepared ropes for everyone, just looking down made his legs go weak from fear.
Er Dan's face turned pale as he looked at her calm demeanor; Xia Muxin realized he was afraid of heights!
It turned out that all these days he had been pretending to be strong. During this time, he seemed to have kept his head down while working and spoke little; only when it was time to descend did he walk last.
"Alright! Muxin, don't worry, I'm calling for help right now!"
As he spoke, he grabbed a rope from the side and tied it around his waist. While securing it, he shouted to the people on the kiln, "Brothers, this is the last step; let's secure the steel wire."
With that, he climbed down along the wall of the kiln. The steel wire had already been placed at one end of the kiln's top. Once he reached a suitable height, he reached out to pull the wire. Xia Muxin sniffled and stepped forward to drag the steel wire over.
Seeing this, Black Bull and the others put down their work and tied ropes around their waists as well. They all climbed down along the kiln wall. Xia Muxin walked over one by one, handing the steel wire to them. However, when she was about to hand it to the last person, she suddenly tripped over something and lost her balance before she could even scream.
No one nearby reached out to catch her; all that remained in their hands was a piece of torn cloth.
"Muxin..."
"Miss Muxin..."
"Muxin..."
"Ah..."
In an instant, countless screams echoed from both the top and bottom of the kiln.
Xia Muxin found herself engulfed in darkness. Rain pelted her body painfully, and in her ears were Shen Muhan's various words. Before her were his playful smiles and antics. At that moment, she even heard the call of death.
Suddenly, a strong wind swept by, bringing with it a familiar scent of mint. It wasn't the kind of pain she had imagined—tearing flesh or breaking bones—but rather a familiar aroma and embrace.
Xia Muxin dreamily opened her eyes, only to see Shen Muhan's exhausted face and bloodshot eyes. His muscles trembled slightly from tension as he tightly held her body in his arms like iron, as if trying to meld her into his very being.
Xia Muxin instantly regained her senses, but there was no time for them to enjoy this moment together. With a loud crack beneath her feet, a brick fell from the top of the kiln, splattering muddy water everywhere. Xia Muxin was startled but then heard someone shout:
"Everyone run! The kiln is collapsing..."
That voice sounded somewhat familiar. Xia Muxin looked into the crowd and saw several people in straw raincoats with bamboo hats sneaking through the crowd. Their wide raincoats bulged as if they were hiding something inside.
Xia Muxin felt a chill in her heart as she was about to step forward to confront those people. Suddenly, she heard a loud shout from above, and her heart tightened. She saw Black Bull Brother falling from the roof of the kiln, followed by several more thuds as Er Dan Ge and a few other brothers who had just tied their ropes came crashing down.
Xia Muxin's heart raced, nearly leaping out of her throat. The area below and on the roof was in chaos, filled with terrified screams. The confusion caused bricks to continuously fall from the roof, and everyone else was desperately trying to escape to avoid being hit.
At that critical moment, a dozen figures flew in from all directions, catching Er Dan Ge and the others just in time. Once they landed, the group was still shaken, their bodies weak as they were supported by the Villagers, hardly daring to catch their breath.
"Boss, this person took Ermiao into the forest with ill intentions. When it started to rain, they planned to change locations, which is how we found and intercepted them."
The dozen people stood in a line, rainwater dripping like beans from their chins. Facing Shen Muhan, they kept their eyes straight ahead, their expressions serious.
Xia Muxin glanced at the Villagers helping the frightened Er Dan Ge and the others back to rest. Then she turned her gaze towards Ming Yi and the others' captives. Upon seeing them, her anger flared even more—it was indeed Wang Dafu.
Shen Muhan's eyes had long been stained with killing intent, but at this moment, he handed the decision-making power over to Xia Muxin.
"Villagers, capture those sneaky individuals near the kiln! It’s because of them that this incident occurred, nearly costing several lives."
Xia Muxin looked at the crowd of villagers and shouted with all her might. Then she grabbed a pole and kicked Wang Dafu between his legs before swinging it down on him in a fit of rage.
"You all need to secure the kiln first!"
Wang Dafu cried out for mercy under the relentless blows from Summerwood Family, clutching his head and weeping profusely. He repeatedly claimed he wouldn’t dare do it again. Yet Xia Muxin continued her mechanical motions, chopping away until she too broke down in tears.
These past days had been exhausting for her. She never expected the Royal Family to be so cruel, treating human lives as if they were worthless. They would resort to any means necessary to destroy this kiln. If Shen Muhan and the others hadn't arrived today, they would have truly been lost forever.
"Alright, Muxin, I'm here. See? They’re all fine; no one is hurt!"
Seeing Xia Muxin so emotionally overwhelmed for the first time made Shen Muhan's heart ache deeply. He snatched the pole from her hands and held her tightly in his arms, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt.
At that moment, Ming Yi and his team secured the last steel wire; the roof of the kiln stabilized significantly. Standing on top felt much easier now. Ming Yi instructed everyone to finish laying the last row of bricks before jumping down into the kiln.
Ming Peng and others also descended into the kiln. Some helped with bricklaying while others brought over those sneaky individuals hiding among the crowd. Then they heard Shen Muhan coldly give orders:
"After finishing up, drive a few wooden stakes here and tie them all up. Whenever the bricks are done firing, we will let them down. If they can't hold on, just throw the bodies off the cliff at the back!"
Shen Muhan's words pierced through the hearts of the group like sharp blades. Several of them were already terrified, reduced to a puddle of fear, begging for mercy. But Shen Muhan paid them no mind; he simply comforted Xia Muxin by patting her back, as if she were the only thing he could see in this world.
Ming Yi and the others found their cries annoying, so they sealed their acupoints and bound them together with hemp ropes.
With Ming Yi and the others' help, the last two batches of bricks were quickly completed, almost in the blink of an eye. After finishing everything, they quietly left without resting.
The other villagers returned home in fear to change their clothes. A few with better stamina changed into clean clothes and put on raincoats, taking turns tending to those still stoking the fire.
The kiln needed to burn for seven days and nights, and with this rain pouring down, it was uncertain whether the bricks would be ready in time.
Xia Muxin was personally carried back by Shen Muhan, who helped her change clothes.
While changing her clothes, Shen Muhan struggled to suppress his emotions. Her shoulders were completely scraped raw, bruised beyond recognition. Her feet were covered in blisters; some had burst and bled while others were just forming. Her palms were rough with scratches everywhere. He knew she didn't want to talk or hear anything at that moment, so he carefully applied medicine to her wounds, changed her clothes and shoes, and tidied up her long hair. He held her quietly for a while before carrying her toward the kiln.
At that moment, Ming Yi and the others had already driven three wooden stakes into the ground. The trees used for these stakes were freshly cut and stood as tall as the top of the kiln. Once they had driven eight stakes into place, each person took one and directly tied Wang Dafu and the others to the tops of the stakes.
Wang Dafu and his companions had their acupoints sealed and could not make a sound. They stared wide-eyed in terror, with a few so frightened that they wet themselves.
Then, Ming Yi and the other eight separated from midair. Xia Muxin felt a shadow pass over her head; the rain had stopped, and she finally regained some clarity as she looked up.
- End of Chapter -
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