Chapter 4, The Prey

Luo Dong'er suddenly blushed and, with a hint of embarrassment, said: "Everyone says you are dull, always so wooden and honest. Yet now, after spending so much time with that unscrupulous young master, you have surprisingly learned to be so glib and smooth-tongued."

The unfulfilled wish made this spoiled young man increasingly frustrated, and a malicious thought secretly surfaced in his mind: "You filthy woman, if you won't let me enjoy myself, I will make you suffer. Just wait and see, one day I will make you come to me on your knees begging for me to take you!" As he walked, he thought fiercely.

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Luo Dong'er spoke softly and gently, then slightly bowed to Ding Hao. Previously, Ding Hao had only noticed her captivating figure, but at this moment, he finally saw her true appearance.

A gust of wind blew the snowflakes from the eaves into his collar, causing Ding Hao to shiver slightly. He awoke from his reverie and quickly tucked his neck in, walking towards the west wing with his arms crossed...

Xue Liang was startled, his body lurched forward, and as he reached out to press down, the roe deer fell into the fire pit, sizzling and crackling...

At that moment, a strange shout came from behind: "Hey! You two scoundrels, roasting the New Year's goods stolen from the kitchen here, you really have some nerve!"

The setting sun casts its light upon the earth, and the vast expanse is shrouded in desolation. Beyond the corner gate lies a boundless white land, where winter has stripped everything bare. Apart from the endless white snow and a solitary cluster of trees in the distance, there is not a trace of vitality. More than half a mile from the manor, stacks resembling Mongolian yurts are piled high with leftover straw, wheat stalks, and other remnants from the harvest, all covered with a layer of pristine snow.

At this point, he glanced at the skinless roe deer and quietly swallowed his saliva, saying: "You know how well I, Da Liang, can roast rabbits and field mice since childhood. Today, I even asked Auntie for some salt. Hehe, I guarantee it will be as fragrant and enticing as the dishes made by the Dong family lady..."

With a graceful waist and a delicate figure, Ding Hao squinted his eyes as he watched her light, bird-like steps until she completely vanished from his sight. Only then did he look up at the sky and silently sighed: "In fact, I also want to be a wealthy young master, accompanied by a few lackeys, teasing respectable women on sunny days..."

Ding Hao inexplicably followed him as they gradually approached the wall of the courtyard. The high wall, topped with blue bricks, was thick and sturdy, standing at least two zhang high, with numerous lookout holes and arrow slits the size of a brick at the top. According to the memories of the original Ding Hao that he had merged with, he knew that this was one of the essential measures for wealthy families, designed to guard against the chaos of banditry. Not only was the wall high and thick, but the architecture of the Ding family courtyard was also designed with courtyards within courtyards, and houses connected to houses. There were passages, secret routes, and defensive positions in the roofs, rooms, and underground. In the event of a bandit attack, the estate workers would become soldiers, able to leverage their familiarity with the terrain and the solidity of the walls and houses to strike back at the enemy. This kind of fortified defense was the most troublesome for bandits and mountain thieves when it came to assaulting the grand estates.

The sunlight illuminated her face, which was as tender and radiant as jade. Her exquisitely delicate ears, resembling precious gems, appeared somewhat translucent in the sunlight, with the earlobes revealing a rosy hue. Her pair of eyes, like black gemstones, sparkled with brilliance. Ding Hao couldn't help but exclaim, "Truly beautiful"

Ding Chengye was momentarily taken aback. Ding Hao, on the other hand, was both expressing loyalty and gratitude, leaving him unable to react. In this awkward moment, he overlooked the fact that the seemingly foolish Ding Hao had suddenly become quite eloquent. Reluctantly, he turned to glance at Madam Dong, a flicker of malice flashing in his eyes. With a cold smile, he pushed Ding Hao aside and strode away.

As soon as the meat was placed on the grill, without even the aroma having begun to waft, he already appeared to be drooling with anticipation, which amused Ding Hao somewhat. The brotherly affection this man showed him warmed his heart, prompting him to squat down and pick up some slightly damp straw and branches to feed into the fire, allowing the pig to focus on rotating the roe deer meat.

"The Dong family daughter-in-law? It seems that the charming young widow is the dream lover of many men in the village." Ding Hao glanced at Xue Liang, who was already squatting in the ditch, using a fire knife and flint to start a fire. He ignited the dry twigs and straw, skewered a roe deer on a thick branch, and set it up on two tree forks to roast. As the fire flared up, still emitting smoke, Xue Liang leaned in with his round, dark face, sniffed the smoky aroma, and said with a look of happiness, "It smells so good! Usually, apart from during the New Year and busy farming seasons, we hardly see even a shred of meat in our bowls. Today, we can finally enjoy a feast."

Thank you, Brother Hao, for helping me out of a difficult situation. The Second Young Master is someone who cannot be offended. You are from the Ding family and often walk by his side, so you must be extra cautious in the future to avoid any intentional difficulties he may cause you

Xue Liang led Ding Hao over, brushed aside the accumulated snow, and pulled out a bundle of straw from the woodpile. He then took him to a dried-up ditch, sat down on a yellow earth slope, rubbed his frozen hands, and finally moved a large stone beside him. To his surprise, there was a round hole beneath the stone. Xue Liang pulled out an object from inside, which was bloodied and frozen solid; it was a skinned small animal, though it was unclear whether it was a sheep or a dog

What is it

In front of a corner gate, Xue Liang opened the gate and beckoned to him mysteriously. Ding Hao curiously followed him outside, where a gust of cold wind hit him, making him shiver involuntarily. His cotton coat was both tattered and old, and the cotton stuffing had not been replaced for who knows how many years, becoming heavy and hard. It could probably serve as armor, capable of withstanding swords and arrows. As soon as the wind blew, it seeped in from under the collar, truly chilling him to the bone. His cotton coat was both tattered and old, and the cotton stuffing had not been replaced for who knows how many years, becoming heavy and hard. It could probably serve as armor, capable of withstanding swords and arrows. As soon as the wind blew, it seeped in from under the collar, truly chilling him to the bone

Xue Liang presented his treasure as if it were a matter of course: "Today I had good luck; while out riding, I encountered a roe deer. This creature is quite foolish; if it hasn't been caught before, it doesn't even know to hide when it sees a person. With one strike, it was knocked down. You have just recovered from your illness and are still weak; you should eat some meat to replenish your strength"

Xue Liang took out a small cloth pouch from his bosom, crushed the salt grains inside, and then sprinkled the fine powder bit by bit onto the golden-yellow roe deer meat. Ding Hao squatted beside him, rotating the roe deer meat while advising, "Be even with it, be even with it, and don’t forget the inside. Hey, when the hind leg comes down later, don’t gnaw all the good meat off; I want... I want to leave some for my mother..."

"You don't need to say it; the old lady treats me like her own son. How could I possibly forget her?" Xue Liang, with his large backside sticking out, carefully sprinkled the limited amount of salt while speaking animatedly.

He recalled Yang, who had just woken up and was weeping uncontrollably while caressing his body. Although she was not his biological mother, he was borrowing the body of her son, and she treated him as if he were her own. Who among people is devoid of feelings? Ding Hao also developed a sense of affection for her.

Ding Hao smiled faintly and changed the subject, saying: "Look at what you said, after all, he is the young master of a wealthy family. Would he really hold a grudge against a mere servant over such a trivial matter? However... I still thank you, my lady, for the reminder. I shall be more cautious from now on"

This lady from the Dong family cannot be considered a peerless beauty; her fair face is faintly dotted with a few freckles. However, her delicate eyebrows, graceful eyes, and pointed chin create an oval face that, when adorned with two rosy cheeks, exudes a charm that seems to emanate from her very bones. This allure is not ostentatious; rather, it possesses a subtle elegance reminiscent of the misty rain of the Jiangnan region, evoking a sense of ethereal grace. One cannot help but feel an overwhelming urge to lift her 'veil' and playfully 'tease' her, as if it would be an affront to natural justice not to do so. The term 'disaster-bringer' likely refers to a woman of her kind.

"Young Master, I was unwell due to a cold a few days ago. I am grateful to Master, Young Master, and the steward for their kindness in allowing me to rest for two days. As the year-end approaches, I know you will need my assistance when visiting relatives and friends, so I dare not lie down. I got up early to walk around and stretch my limbs, hoping to recover soon and serve you better."

Xue Liang chuckled mysteriously and said, "Don't ask, just come with me in a moment." He hurried to fetch two bags of wheat, carrying one in each hand, and delivered them to the mill. Then he returned and pulled Ding Hao's arm, saying, "Let's go, today we are going to indulge in some meat."

Hmm..." Luo Dong'er raised her eyebrows slightly, seemingly surprised by Ding Hao's somewhat unusual behavior today, who was often nicknamed "the fool." She glanced at Ding Hao and then performed another bow before walking past him.

Ding Chengye, feeling guilty for his wrongdoing, was startled by the sound. Upon turning around, he saw Ding Hao standing there in a daze, which eased his mind. He couldn't help but angrily say: "What are you doing here, you scoundrel?"

Gradually, the roe deer meat began to cook, releasing a fragrant aroma. At this moment, Ding Hao also felt his appetite stirred. The two of them stared at the roe deer, which was gradually turning an enticing golden yellow, much like hungry ghosts in a feast gazing at a beautiful maiden, swallowing their saliva bite by bite

When Ding Hao returned to the Western Chamber, Xue Liang had just fed the mule and horse. Upon seeing him return, he immediately approached, winking and saying: "Hey, brother, I've got some good stuff today, I'll help you replenish your strength in a bit"

Luo Dong'er expressed her gratitude and, noticing him staring blankly at her, glanced around and tilted her head in curiosity, asking, "What are you looking at?"