"Brother Laicai—wait, Brother Laicai—"
A person caught up after the ox cart had traveled a short distance.
Thin and carrying a book box on his back, he swayed unsteadily, clearly struggling. It was none other than the pale-faced scholar.
Laicai stopped with a "Whoa—" and Liu Donghuai, panting, ran up to the cart and leaned on its tail, gasping for breath.
"Brother Laicai, give me a ride. I can't miss today's debate meeting in the city."
Laicai glanced at Xiao Shan before saying with a troubled expression, "Donghuai, this cart is booked by Brother Xiao today. You'll have to discuss it with him."
Normally, such a small matter would be helped by villagers, especially for the only scholar in the village, who would be given convenience. But when it came to Xiao Shan, he didn't dare to broach the subject.
Brother Xiao?
Liu Donghuai then looked at the people on the cart. It was Xiao Shan, sitting regally in the cart frame with a cold expression, and a gentle, delicate woman sitting obediently below.
He immediately suppressed his heavy breaths, his face, flushed from running, turning even redder.
"You're going to a debate meeting?" Xue Niang asked in a clear voice.
This scholar seemed a bit weak. Xiao Shan hadn't panted like this when he carried her to the county town last time.
Seeing her ask, Liu Donghuai quickly replied, "Yes, yes. Could you give Donghuai a ride? I'll pay the silver."
"Then hurry up and get on!"
Liu Donghuai nodded gratefully and quickly got into the carriage, sitting near the tail.
Laicai glanced at Xiao Shan. Seeing that he was still cold-faced but didn't object, he chuckled and flicked his whip, "Hold on tight!"
Xiao Shan was certainly annoyed, wishing he could kick Liu Donghuai off. The young man's eyes darted around, stealing glances at Xue Niang, and he wondered what lewd thoughts were going on in his mind!
He had no gentlemanly openness, a scoundrel in scholarly guise!
He directly wrapped his arm around Xue Niang's waist and pulled her towards him. This way, Xue Niang was completely embraced by his side, blocking Liu Donghuai's view.
Xue Niang shifted her body and found his arm around her waist and his thick leg against her side. She felt more comfortable without having to exert any strength. Without thinking much, she leaned out to look at Liu Donghuai.
"Does the debate meeting have a prize?"
Liu Donghuai was already feeling uncomfortable. Xiao Shan's previous action was rough and barbaric, completely disregarding the woman's delicate body. He had pulled her to his side with such a thick arm, holding her tightly.
The woman dared not resist, as fragile as a rabbit. This brute was too bullying.
When Xue Niang asked, he looked up and saw her clear, spring-like gaze.
Recalling the dream from that day, his heart quickened, and he quickly averted his gaze. "Yes, the prize is a set of high-grade inkstones, said to have been used by the former Yulinzi."
What's so good about inkstones? And who is Yulinzi? It's embarrassing to even make something used by others a prize?
Xue Niang retracted her head and secretly pouted.
Laicai chimed in from the front, "Then I wish our scholar brother victory! When our village produces an official next year, we'll all benefit."
Xiao Shan snorted inwardly, his expressionless face fixed on Xue Niang's bobbing little head.
Liu Donghuai smiled sheepishly and looked forward. He couldn't see anyone, only a pair of fair, tender hands resting on Xiao Shan's knees.
"Is the scholar very powerful?"
Xue Niang leaned out again, only to be pushed back by Xiao Shan's large hand. "Sit properly, the road is uneven."
With him holding her so tightly, the uneven road shouldn't matter? Xue Niang pinched Xiao Shan's knee hard.
Liu Donghuai stared blankly, feeling that the trapped woman was like a butterfly with broken wings, weak and pitiful, waiting to be rescued.
"Heh heh!" Laicai laughed. "Of course! Our village only has this one scholar. There are only a few dozen in the entire Donglin County. What do you think, is he powerful?"
"That's not really powerful. I think Xiao Shan is more powerful. He's the most outstanding hunter in Donglin County."
There are dozens of scholars, but only one Xiao Shan. The innkeeper that day said that no hunter in Donglin County could compare to him.
He could fight tigers and hunt bears, standing his ground like a lone sentinel. A skinny scholar couldn't even beat one of his fingers.
Huh?
Did she just praise him in front of this man?
The hand on her waist tightened slightly.
Xue Niang looked up at him, and he also looked at her, his gaze as deep as the sea, like a swirling vortex that could draw people in.
After a moment of silence, Laicai chuckled again, rubbing his head. "How can they be compared? Brother Xiao is indeed the most outstanding hunter, but that's different from a scholar. They can't be compared."
"Yes, they can't be compared." Xiao Shan smiled at the corner of his lips, covering the small hand on his knee and caressing it.
Liu Donghuai felt increasingly resentful. He knew she was trying to appease this rough man, perhaps out of fear that he would hit her when they got home?
So she said these words against her will?
After all, everyone knew the difference between a promising scholar and a hunter living precariously and exposed to the elements—it was the difference between heaven and earth, clouds and mud.
It was truly pitiful that she had fallen into the hands of such a hunter.
If there were a chance, if there were a chance...
"Huh? It looks like someone is getting married ahead. It seems we have to follow behind." Laicai slowed the cart. Those getting married were the most important. It was fine to wait a bit. They were almost at the fork in the road anyway, and they could turn onto the main road later.
"Who's getting married?" Xue Niang looked ahead. There was only an old ox cart, smaller than theirs, moving slowly.
Xiao Shan glanced. "She is getting married. She's wearing a red string on her head."
"Wearing a red string means she's getting married? Shouldn't she have a phoenix coronet and robes, with gongs and drums, and a ten-mile dowry?" Xue Niang asked, her clear eyes filled with innocence.
"That's from the opera! For us farm folk, a red veil is good enough. Moreover, this should be Xu Chun's daughter, promised to a widower in the next village who is half a hundred years old. I don't know if she's marrying today. Ah, it's all because of the taxes, it's almost like selling one's daughter."
Hearing Laicai's words, the three of them looked ahead. They had reached the fork in the road, and the carriage turned onto another path.
A girl in her teens sat blankly on the cart, her gaze devoid of joy or sorrow.
The person driving the cart was hunched over, his hair already half white. If one didn't know, they would think the two were father and daughter.
This was hardly a joyous occasion, and everyone fell silent.
Laicai: What a world where fathers are not fathers and daughters are not daughters!
Liu Donghuai: At least there are two red headstrings, so she's considered properly married. But someone else was bought for half a tael of silver, without even a proper identity, and is bullied every day.
Xiao Shan: Phoenix coronet and robes, ten-mile dowry—was that the wedding she once longed for?
Xue Niang: What would have happened if she had been bought by that big-toothed man that day? She would probably be a pile of white bones by now.
When the ox cart reached the county town, Liu Donghuai took out 3 qian of silver and placed it on the cart. He didn't look at Xiao Shan, said "Thank you," and walked away with his large book box on his back.