Chapter Fifty-Two: Sharing a Room

Dinner could hardly be called sumptuous. There was white rice, a clear broth made with wild pheasant, and pork stewed with wild greens, each served in a large basin.

The wild greens had been dug up earlier that day by Xiaofu, who, after days of eating meat, felt rather greasy and went out to gather some autumn vegetables. Yet the two sisters from the Mei family ate with relish. They hadn’t expected to find such delicious fare in this remote mountain village.

Several platters of each dish were set out on the low table—there was little choice, given the number of people. The Tian family wasn’t particularly bound by strict custom; everyone ate together at the table.

Initially, Tian Dabao, seeing guests, wanted the women and children to avoid the table, but Xiaoding stopped him. As a modern-minded person, Xiaoding was far less rigid than those of the era.

At first, the Tian family felt awkward, and the Mei sisters were hesitant. But once the meal began, everyone was won over by the culinary skill of Xiaoya and Erni, and gradually relaxed, eating with increasing enjoyment.

After earning some money, Xiaoding had brought back a variety of seasonings, though the Tian family had rarely used them before. Xiaoding taught Erni and the others how to use these spices.

Over days of practice and exchange, the women of the Tian family became adept at employing these new flavors, gradually developing an enchanting style of cooking. The dishes they prepared grew more delicious with each meal.

Tang Yunzhi’s dinner was delivered by Xiaozhu, accompanied by Erni. Ever since Tang Yunzhi had gifted Xiaozhu a pearl hairpin, the girl had grown increasingly fond of her Tang sister.

Zhao Laixi, roused by Xiaoya, drank a few mouthfuls of pheasant soup and soon drifted back into deep sleep.

The family devoured their dinner ravenously.

Even the Mei sisters ate more than usual. They felt as though, for the first time in their lives, they were truly satisfied—free from the constraints of social ritual, unconcerned with appearances, able to indulge wholeheartedly. Moreover, though the dishes were few, their flavors were unmatched, impossible to find anywhere else.

While Xiaoya and Xiaoe cleaned up, Xiaoding stepped outside to arrange accommodations for the Mei sisters.

There was nowhere else in the house, so Xiaoding thought once more of the donkey cart. He layered it with dry straw, hung grass mats around the sides for shelter, and had Erni bring bedding to spread atop.

Fortunately, after the last trip selling bear meat, Xiaoding had purchased two spare quilts.

Inside the grass shed, Tang Yunzhi watched Xiaoding at work and couldn’t help but let out a cold snort.

Xiaoding’s ears were sharp; he caught the sound, turned, and asked, “Miss Tang, is something the matter?”

“Who are those two women you brought back today? Why didn’t you cover the donkey cart with grass mats for me when I arrived?” Tang Yunzhi’s irritation flared at the memory. The night she stayed in the cart wasn’t bad, but the next morning she’d been baked under the sun for hours, nearly fainting.

“Ah, well... Did you realize they were women?” Xiaoding awkwardly dodged the question. Truth be told, his actions had been half intentional, half accidental. Accidental, because he hadn’t expected Tang Yunzhi to be scorched by the next day’s sun; intentional, because he’d thought Tang Yunzhi was too spoiled and wanted her to endure a little hardship.

“That’s hardly difficult—only a fool wouldn’t notice!” Tang Yunzhi replied with annoyance.

As they spoke, the Mei sisters emerged from the thatched hut. Having finished dinner and unfamiliar with the Tian family, they stepped outside to see what Xiaoding was doing.

Spotting the freshly prepared donkey cart, they asked curiously, “Brother, is someone to sleep on this cart?” Apparently, they had not yet grasped the circumstances of Xiaoding’s household.

Seeing the two still pretending to be men, Xiaoding found it amusing and decided to tease them. “Yes, my family is poor and crowded, as you’ve seen. Tonight, I must ask you two brothers to bear with us.”

“Oh, not at all. My brother and I are accustomed to roughing it on our travels. That you provide shelter tonight is more than we could ask,” Mei Da replied politely.

“Since you don’t mind, why not share the cart with me tonight? We can squeeze in together…” Xiaoding grinned mischievously to himself.

As expected, the sisters blushed at his words, exclaiming, “How could that be appropriate?”

“Why not? Do you find me disagreeable?” Xiaoding feigned ignorance.

“That’s not what we meant, it’s just…well…” The two, faces flushed, struggled for a reply.

Xiaoding, watching their embarrassment, suppressed his laughter.

At that moment, Erni, busy placing mosquito-repelling herbs on the cart, spoke up, “Husband, don’t tease the young ladies…”

“Ah?” The sisters stared at Erni in surprise.

“Young ladies disguised as men do look quite spirited, but—there’s something missing, a certain masculine vigor…” Erni explained, glancing between the sisters and Xiaoding. No matter how they dressed, they couldn’t match her husband’s manly presence.

“Don’t let Xiaoding fool you—he knew all along you were women. His earlier suggestion was just a ploy to take advantage…” Tang Yunzhi called out from the shed, exposing Xiaoding directly.

“So you’re actually women? Forgive my dullness, I truly didn’t know…” With Tang Yunzhi revealing his scheme, Xiaoding realized any explanation would only make things worse, so he resolutely refused to admit it.

For a moment, the Mei sisters stood frozen, feeling as though everyone saw through them but themselves. All their efforts at disguise had been for nothing!

“No need to mind, young ladies. My husband was only joking—he sleeps with me at night…” Erni hastened to reassure them, seeing their embarrassment.

The sisters finally regained composure, faces red, and glared at Xiaoding, demanding, “Admit it—you knew all along, didn’t you?”

“No, not at all. I was completely in the dark, even now I can hardly believe you’re young ladies!” Xiaoding stubbornly denied it.

“Hmph, as if you’d dare…” said the one who called herself Mei Da.

“Tonight, please make do with the donkey cart; I’ve prepared bedding and placed mosquito herbs,” Erni said.

“Thank you, Miss Zhang…” The Mei sisters thanked her; Erni had earlier introduced herself as Zhang.

“May I ask your names?” Tang Yunzhi called from the shed.

This time, the sisters turned to look. Inside sat a young woman with an injured leg, lovely yet slightly wan, a bit younger than themselves.

“We are the Mei sisters—Mei Ruoshuang and Mei Ruoxue—from Mei Sword Manor. And you are…?” asked Mei Ruoshuang, dressed in pale moon-colored robes.

“So you’re from Bingzhou’s Mei Sword Manor! I am Tang Yunzhi of the Tang family in Shu,” replied Tang Yunzhi, who had heard of their manor.

“The eldest daughter of the Tang family in Shu!” The sisters hurried over to the shed, exchanging warm greetings; they, too, had heard of the Tang family.

Erni brought Tang Yunzhi’s medicine and joined the others in the shed.

“Tang sister, how did you injure your leg?”

“How are you both so beautiful?”

“I think Miss Zhang is a beauty as well!”

The women quickly found common ground, chattering away about everything under the sun.

In the courtyard, Xiaoding was left alone, standing amidst the chaos…