Xiao Shan built a small fence in the yard and put more than a dozen chickens inside.
Eating one every two days, they would last for over a month.
To make it easier for her to chew, he specifically bought half-grown chickens, yet the price was not much cheaper than that of laying hens. What a loss!
For her injuries, he also bought the softest inner garments and bedding, treating her like an ancestor.
"Hope she doesn't turn out to be an ungrateful wretch."
After such a long time, she was still in the kitchen, doing who knows what.
Xiao Shan secured the fence gate with wire, washed his hands, and went back into the kitchen.
Xue Niang was still leisurely eating steamed buns. He had bought eight buns in total, and with the one in her hand, that made eight. The soup bowl was still full, with a layer of white fat on top, all cooled down. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
After so long, what was she trying to do by eating now!
"It's all cold, why are you eating it now? Stop eating!"
Xiao Shan snatched the bun from her hand, put all the food on the table back into the steamer, scooped out the wet ash from the large stove, and skillfully lit the fire, adding firewood.
"Your body is sensitive to the cold, you must not eat cold food from now on."
He did not look back, diligently adding firewood, occasionally pulling the bellows with his left hand.
The firelight flickered on his resolute face.
Xue Niang was somewhat lost in thought.
"What you want, I cannot give."
Her voice was so low it was almost inaudible, as if she were talking to herself. Xiao Shan, with his astonishing hearing, naturally heard it. His hands paused for a moment, then, as if nothing had happened, he continued to add firewood.
The food was quickly reheated and served again. He poured a small bowl of the rib soup and pushed it in front of Xue Niang. Then he went to look through the medicinal herbs before sitting back at the table and eating heartily.
Xue Niang picked up the half-eaten bun from before and ate it slowly. The bun was filled with pork and vermicelli, very fragrant, but she ate it with a heavy heart.
She still couldn't understand. Her face could scare children if she went out. Didn't he find it disgusting?
This man was truly incomprehensible.
"I need to go up the mountain and might not return until tomorrow. Can you manage at home alone tonight? Or should I send you to Qu Linglong's place?"
Xiao Shan was still worried, but the large beasts usually appeared at night. He had to save as much money as possible. With this pampered young lady now, there were many expenses.
"No need, I can manage."
Seeing her determined expression, Xiao Shan could only nod. He secretly thought that if he were to build another house, it should be closer to the village, so she would have some company when she was home alone.
"The flatbreads are all here. I also bought a roasted goose, some dried fruits, and some pastries. Don't eat too much tonight. You must drink your medicine, and don't forget to apply the ointment to your wounds."
"Lock the yard gate properly, scatter some coarse grains for the chickens, and don't sleep too soundly at night..."
The more Xiao Shan spoke, the more uneasy he became. In this era, there were many refugees and bandits. This place was a bit far from the village. If anything happened, no one would hear their calls for help.
"You go! I can manage by myself."
Xue Niang's expression was impatient. She squatted down, her messy hair falling down the sides of her neck. The medicine in the pot was almost ready. She held the handle and poured the medicinal liquid into a bowl.
Xiao Shan's heart ached with anger. Fine, an ungrateful brat, he wouldn't bother with her!
After packing his things for the mountain, Xiao Shan slung his bow and arrows over his shoulder and set off.
Halfway there, his anger subsided. Xiao Shan couldn't help but give a wry smile. What was a grown man arguing with a little girl about? He was really becoming more and more useless as he lived.
Thinking of her head bowed and hair falling just now, he suddenly remembered that when he went to the market this time, he had bought her a silver hairpin. It was in the side pocket inside his clothes.
Should he go back again?
He should go back. There were still some things he hadn't finished explaining. He had a dagger there, which he could leave in her bedroom for self-defense.
He made a turn and went downhill again.
The fence gate was closed, and the dozen chickens were clucking. Compared to before, the yard had more of a homely atmosphere. Where was that girl?
Resting in the bedroom?
He walked around, but there was no sign of anyone. Her clothes were gone from the bedroom, and a few flatbreads were missing from the kitchen. He didn't have the mood to check what else was missing; the situation was already clear.
She had run away!
Xiao Shan's face was clouded with gloom, and a long-absent ferocity resurfaced within him.
Good, very good. He hadn't been this angry in a long time!
When was the last time? It was when he was pursuing that little Turk all the way, on the verge of capturing the enemy leader and achieving victory, but was intercepted by an imperial decree from the capital. It was read out in front of the Turkic barbarians, who then mocked him wantonly!
When passion was extinguished, sincerity trampled upon, and all efforts turned into a joke, was there anything more despairing than that?
"You bully me too!"
Anger churned in his dark eyes, his cold gaze sharp as a blade. He looked towards the road leading out of the village, as if he could see the figure that made him so furious.
His figure was like lightning, and he had already vanished from the spot.
Xue Niang's body was too weak, so she had to stop and walk intermittently. Fearing that the patterns on her face would attract trouble, she wrapped her face with a cloth, revealing only her eyes.
She didn't know where to go, nor if she would fall into the hands of bad people again. In fact, she didn't want to leave, at least not now.
But that man was too good to her. She was afraid that one day, after he had given his all and spent all his money, he would end up with nothing. She also didn't want him to hunt and take risks for someone uncertain.
She had already spent so much money. If she had the ability to repay him in the future, she would come back to do so.
But if she owed a debt of gratitude, that could never be repaid.
Therefore, she had to leave.
She didn't remember her past, but she still had feelings in her heart. Her past must have been a nightmare, but even so, she wanted to know, to face it, rather than live in ignorance, in a muddled state, deceiving herself.
Before that, she didn't want to touch upon emotions; she feared harming herself and others.
"I'm sorry, Xiao... Shan."
The scorching sun gradually weakened. Soon, it would set. By now, he must have entered the forest, perhaps lurking somewhere, waiting for wild beasts to appear?
If he returned and found that she had run away, would he be very angry?
He would definitely be angry, after all, he had spent so much money on her.
Her body weakened, and she stumbled forward. A pair of hands promptly supported her arm.
A fair-skinned young man stood before her, looking delicate and scholarly in his attire.
Xue Niang took a step back, adjusting her face covering.
"Thank you!"
She lacked strength and seemed to need to rest again.
"Miss, are you feeling unwell? Are you from Bozi Village? I am Liu Donghuai, the second son of Liu Demao from the west end of the village. Do you need any help?"
Liu Donghuai was the only scholar in the village, studying in the county town. He was home on holiday today, and coincidentally met Xue Niang. This road only led to the foot of Qingyun Mountain and Bozi Village, so he assumed she was a daughter from some family in Bozi Village.
Because he had been studying in the county for a long time, he was not very familiar with the villagers. Seeing Xue Niang alone and seemingly not in good health, he couldn't help but feel concerned.
It wouldn't be good if such a frail young lady fainted on the road.
Hearing the girl's voice, as clear as a yellow oriole, and seeing her eyes, as clear and bright as gemstones, he guessed she was only about a dozen years old.
He wondered, whose daughter was she?