Chapter Thirty-Seven: Asking for Too Much

Early the next morning, Xiao Ding awoke before dawn. Remembering last night’s events, he could not help but feel exasperated. He had finally experienced firsthand the naivety and awkwardness of a young girl growing up under the strictures of feudal propriety; he was utterly defeated by Er Niu’s innocent ignorance, her curiosity, confusion, yearning, and even certain desires and fantasies toward the opposite sex.

“Husband, why can’t I consummate our marriage yet?”

“Husband, how do married couples consummate their union? Can you teach me?”

“Husband, why is it only after consummation that children can be born? Why can’t they be born otherwise?”

“Husband, why…”

“….”

At first, Xiao Ding patiently answered each of Er Niu’s questions. In his eyes, she was still a half-grown child, and teaching her the basic knowledge of physiology—commonplace in later generations—could help her learn how to cherish her own body.

But as Er Niu’s questions grew more numerous—and more explicit—Xiao Ding was at a loss for words. In the end, he could only growl quietly, “Enough, time to sleep! Wake up early tomorrow for training. Once your body matures, you’ll understand all these things.”

Having no other option, Er Niu reluctantly fell silent, nestling into Xiao Ding’s chest as she drifted off. Xiao Ding, meanwhile, resolved to hurry with buying land and building a house; he could not continue living together with Er Niu. Not only had he recovered his memories and remembered the one he truly loved, but even without that, as Er Niu matured, it would be inappropriate to remain together in this way.

Though in this era, girls married at thirteen was common; to others, he and Er Niu were a legitimate couple. But as a modern man, Xiao Ding could never accept a minor as his wife, especially since his heart already belonged to another.

Thinking of the one he loved, now in another world, Xiao Ding felt a pang of sorrow. He quickly forced himself to focus elsewhere, determined not to dwell on it.

He gently lifted Er Niu from his chest and laid her beside him, then sat cross-legged to practice his daily cultivation. He now remembered that his technique came from the cave on the island.

Its name was "Heart Fusion Technique," an ancient Daoist method that could be practiced alone or with a partner.

Daoism teaches the interplay of yin and yang, the five elements, generation and opposition. In their view, all things possess yin and yang; thus, this technique was built on the theory of yin and yang. When practiced by husband and wife, their energies harmonize, forming a perfect great cycle of yin and yang—like the endless flow of Tai Chi, yin enfolding yang, yang embracing yin, each safeguarding the other, the two energies intertwined, the two hearts united, each within the other.

In this way, not only would their power increase exponentially, but their affection for one another would deepen, hearts beating as one. Even the coldest of hearts, upon cultivation, would fuse together, bound in longing and companionship, never to be parted.

After circulating his energy several times, Er Niu opened her eyes. Seeing Xiao Ding cultivating, she sat up and began practicing the breathing technique he had taught her.

After breakfast, Xiao Ding hitched the donkey cart, loaded with the bear—now missing its hide and a hind leg—and headed to Xiangman Restaurant in the county town to sell it.

This time, there were no bandits along the road; likely, they had been frightened off by Xiao Ding’s previous actions and dared not return.

When Wang Er, the restaurant’s attendant, saw Xiao Ding, he quickly led him to the kitchen. Upon seeing the pile of bear meat, as large as a small hill, his eyes widened in amazement.

Coincidentally, just as Xiao Ding finished unloading the meat, the restaurant manager’s daughter, Han Luer, arrived.

Last time, the wolf meat had been particularly wild in flavor, and Chef Liu’s skills were superb. The guest from the capital was full of praise after tasting it, and the Han family—over a dozen members—had thoroughly enjoyed their meal.

However, Chef Liu hadn’t known whether the guest would like the wolf dishes, and fearing the meat would spoil, he and the other cooks prepared various dishes and sold them in the restaurant, leaving only enough for one more meal.

The patrons who tasted the wolf meat were full of praise. Though expensive, they clamored for more. Those who dined here were not short of money.

While the patrons enjoyed themselves, the Han family faced a dilemma. After two meals, the wolf meat was gone, and the guest, upon tasting other dishes, merely sampled a few bites and then lost interest. Manager Han had no choice but to instruct his daughter to check the restaurant frequently for any hunters bringing wild game.

“Oh? Your name is… let me think… I believe it’s… right, you’re Tian the fool… oh no, you’re called Tian Xiao Ding, aren’t you?” Han Luer, upon seeing Xiao Ding, remembered the wolf meat he had brought but momentarily forgot his name.

“Yes, Miss Han,” Xiao Ding replied politely, clasping his hands. He hoped to earn some silver from her, thinking he must not underprice himself this time.

“Mr. Tian, what kind of meat have you brought today? Why is there such a large pile?” Han Luer asked curiously, eyeing the heap of skinless meat.

“Miss Han, just call me Xiao Ding. I dare not claim the title ‘Mr.’—I am merely a country hunter,” Xiao Ding replied modestly, then pointed to the bear meat. “This is a brown bear. We country folk are poor and seldom eat meat, so last night we ate one of its legs…”

“Very well, I’ll call you Xiao Ding from now on,” Han Luer nodded, then asked, “Did you hunt this brown bear yourself?”

“Yes,” Xiao Ding replied, offering no further explanation.

“It seems you’re quite capable!” Han Luer exclaimed, looking him up and down. This time, Xiao Ding was no longer dressed in ragged beggar’s clothes, but wore a new robe. With his tall, sturdy build and slightly tanned skin, he might not possess the handsome features of a fair-faced scholar, but he was imposing and resolute, full of masculine vigor.

“Not at all, just a stroke of luck,” Xiao Ding replied courteously.

“How much silver do you want for this bear?” Han Luer suddenly recalled the last time she had asked about the price of the wolf and couldn’t help but smile, hurriedly covering her mouth with her sleeve.

Xiao Ding thought to himself, better to risk losing the sale than to underprice it again. He had regretted selling the wolf for only twenty taels; this time, he must ask for more. But how much?

He wasn’t familiar with the local prices and had no clear idea.

“This bear… one hundred taels of silver,” Xiao Ding said, biting his lip. He figured their family ran a restaurant—they couldn’t be short of money.

“What? One hundred taels?” Wang Er, the attendant, gaped in surprise. One hundred taels was a considerable sum in these times.

Pork here cost only a few dozen coins per pound; even if wild game was pricier, a few dozen coins per pound was already exceptional. Even at one hundred coins per pound, the bear weighed four or five hundred pounds, so forty or fifty taels would have been a high price.

Han Luer was taken aback, not expecting Xiao Ding to ask for so much. She had thought forty or fifty taels at most.

Xiao Ding glanced at Wang Er, then at Han Luer, wondering if he had asked for too much. It seemed he had, but he truly didn’t know the bear’s worth.

He was hesitating, considering whether to lower the price, when footsteps approached.

“Well, if it isn’t Brother Tian! What brings you to Xiangman Restaurant today?” A voice accompanied the footsteps…