Jiang Ning had not shown her face inside the room, but she could hear everything happening outside clearly.
People, most of the time, can't stand to see others doing well, especially those they know inside and out. What they fear most is when someone from the same pit manages to climb out first. "Laugh at those who have nothing, resent those who have something" — that's exactly what it means.
Liu Ming'an had already spread out the Xuanzhou paper worth one tael of silver on the table and was stroking his chin, pondering how to begin writing. Jiang Ning pulled her thoughts back and picked up a book called "The Tale of the Red-Robed Fox Spirit" from the pile of leisure books she had bought, eagerly flipping through it.
By the time the sun was about to set, Jiang Ning had read through nearly half of the book. Although it was a cliché story about a spirit repaying kindness, and the author's writing style and imagination were rather ordinary, it was still far more entertaining than the conventional "Book of Rites."
Jiang Ning put down the book and walked over to Liu Ming'an's side. On the snow-white paper, he had already drawn half of a lifelike old pine tree.
"What are you going to draw?" Jiang Ning asked.
"It's for a birthday celebration, so naturally, it's about wishing someone 'Fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea, longevity like the ageless pines of the Southern Mountains.' Of course, I have to draw some mountains and pine trees," Liu Ming'an explained. He had been drawing for a while and his back was sore, so he took the opportunity to rest while chatting with Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning glanced at Liu Ming'an, raising an eyebrow slightly: "So you can't avoid being conventional either."
"Haha..." Liu Ming'an chuckled softly, looking at Jiang Ning, "I'm just an ordinary person after all. Besides, for these things, it's not about being conventional or not, what's important is the sentiment behind it."
Jiang Ning thought about it and realized he had a point.
"Well then, I'll go make dinner. Take your time with the drawing."
"Alright," Liu Ming'an responded with a smile.
Jiang Ning went to the kitchen, first lighting a fire to boil a large pot of water. Then she cut a block of pork back fat into large pieces, washed them in clean water, and threw them into the pot to blanch. As the water temperature rose, blood and impurities from the pork fat floated to the surface. Once the water boiled, Jiang Ning scooped out the meat chunks and washed them clean again.
She replaced the water in the pot, added half a ladle of fresh water, put the pork fat back in, and threw in a few slices of ginger to remove any gamey smell. Now all that was left was to keep the fire going and let it simmer.
As the water gradually boiled away, the white and shiny meat chunks began to release their fat. Gradually, there was more and more oil, while the meat chunks started to shrink and turn golden brown. Finally, Jiang Ning scooped out the cracklings, leaving half a pot of clear, slightly yellow liquid lard in the pot. Once it solidified, it would turn snow-white.
During the time it took to render the lard, Jiang Ning also took the opportunity to knead some dough. She was planning to make dumplings filled with cracklings.
Using only cracklings as filling could be too greasy, so Jiang Ning planned to add some cabbage to balance it out. She turned to go to the courtyard, but just as she took a step, she froze in place.
Warm liquid was trickling down her inner thighs!
Jiang Ning realized what it was, but for a moment, she didn't know what to do.
"Liu Ming'an!" she called out.
Liu Ming'an, who had been concentrating on his painting, heard the call from the kitchen and quickly put down his brush, getting up to check on the situation. He detected a note of urgency and helplessness in her voice, which was unlike the ever-calm Jiang Ning. Something must have happened.
"What's wrong?" Liu Ming'an appeared in front of Jiang Ning as quickly as possible, asking with concern.
Jiang Ning stood motionless as if under a petrification spell, her face pale, looking at Liu Ming'an with eyes that couldn't hide her panic.
"Jiang Ning, what's the matter?" Liu Ming'an grew increasingly anxious seeing her in this state.
"I've started my period," Jiang Ning swallowed hard and asked with difficulty, "What should I do?"
Liu Ming'an was taken aback for a moment, but then secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't something serious.
Seeing Jiang Ning so panicked, Liu Ming'an was puzzled but didn't ask further. He just spoke in a gentle, soothing voice, "Wait here at home, I'll go find someone to help you."
"Who?" Jiang Ning asked vigilantly.
"Third Great Aunt," Liu Ming'an answered. Third Great Aunt was an elder who had helped Jiang Ning before, so she was the first person Liu Ming'an thought of.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Ning refused, "Not her, go find the Mute Woman."
"The Mute Woman?" Liu Ming'an was surprised.
"Yes, the Mute Woman," Jiang Ning insisted.
Liu Ming'an really couldn't understand what Jiang Ning was thinking, but he agreed anyway, turning to leave the house and heading towards He Zhao's place.
After Liu Ming'an left, Jiang Ning stood motionless for a long time, an indescribable sadness on her face.
Liu Ming'an didn't understand why Jiang Ning would panic about getting her period because he couldn't possibly imagine that this was only the second time Jiang Ning had experienced this in many years.
What other girls experienced monthly and took for granted was a luxury for Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning would never forget that afternoon when she was twelve years old. She experienced her first menstruation, with blood staining her underwear. It was a sign of a young girl's transition towards maturity.
Unfortunately, she wasn't an ordinary little girl. At that time, she was about to become the assassin N.
The arrival of her first period triggered Jiang Ning's first experience with menstrual cramps, causing her to miss training. The woman who raised her discovered this and took her to the hospital, telling her condescendingly, "Close your eyes and sleep, and you'll never feel pain again."
Then, the woman suddenly leaned down, reached out with her cold hand to touch Jiang Ning's face, and said with a smile, "Just like me."
When Jiang Ning woke up on the operating table, she had a new surgical scar on her belly, and from then on, she never had another period. It wasn't until much later that she realized that the surgery had removed an organ called the "uterus" from her body. From that moment on, she was an incomplete person.
Jiang Ning stared blankly out the window. Liu Ming'an was hurriedly approaching with the Mute Woman.
N was dead. She was now Jiang Ning, a complete person. Could she finally completely rid herself of that dark, bloody past and live a proper life?
Jiang Ning felt a bit lost.
"Mute Woman, thank you for your help," Liu Ming'an said sincerely outside the house.
The Mute Woman nodded and walked into the house on her own, finding Jiang Ning standing in the kitchen. She hesitated, not daring to approach.
The Mute Woman had mixed feelings when facing Jiang Ning.
On one hand, the Mute Woman respected and was grateful to her. What Jiang Ning had done for her could be described as a great kindness, akin to giving her a second life. So when Liu Ming'an came to her door and explained the situation, she agreed without hesitation.
But on the other hand, she feared Jiang Ning. Seeing her always reminded the Mute Woman of Jiang Ning's ruthless demeanor when killing, that bloodthirsty intent that made the Mute Woman want to flee uncontrollably.
Jiang Ning turned around, looking at the Mute Woman a few steps away, and said softly, "Mute Woman, please help me. I don't know what to do."
When people feel insecure, familiar people and environments can help them relax. This was why Jiang Ning insisted that Liu Ming'an find the Mute Woman instead of Third Great Aunt. Her bond with the Mute Woman was deeper, and the Mute Woman could make Jiang Ning let her guard down more easily.
The Mute Woman heard a hint of pleading in Jiang Ning's words and immediately put aside all her reservations. She came to Jiang Ning's side, took out some cloth from her bosom, and used hand gestures to teach Jiang Ning how to handle the situation.