The snow fell intermittently for three days.
During these three days, Liu Zhiheng spent almost every waking moment with Duan Wujiu, and neither of them left the small courtyard of the Liu family.
When she fed the chickens, he fed the donkey; when she tended the fire, he chopped wood; when she cooked, he washed the dishes; when she swept the snow, he carried water.
If Liu Zhiheng told Duan Wujiu to go east, he would never go west. He did whatever she asked, behaving so obediently that he seemed like a child groom of the Liu family, attentively serving Liu Zhiheng and placing her above all else.
Liu Zhiheng felt somewhat grateful that she had saved Duan Wujiu. Otherwise, at the foot of this great mountain, with heavy snow sealing off the paths, surrounded by silence and no one in sight, and without WiFi or a phone, she would have been bored to death if she had no one to talk to.
At the same time, however, she increasingly felt like a terrible person. How could she bear to deceive such an innocent boy? Taking advantage of him while he remembered nothing.
But after an internal struggle, Liu Zhiheng still chose not to tell the truth.
The truth was, she couldn’t bear to part with Duan Wujiu’s company.
After all, it was only for two months. She had saved his life, so taking up two months of his time shouldn’t be too much to ask.
In the morning after breakfast, the two played chess indoors.
Duan Wujiu was astonished by Liu Zhiheng’s chess skills. Over the past two days of playing, he found that he couldn’t beat A Heng.
Although he couldn’t remember if he had ever lost to anyone before, Duan Wujiu had in his mind the chess manuals left by masters throughout history.
Comparing them in his mind, he feared that even those masters couldn’t match Liu Zhiheng.
Liu Zhiheng actually found chess rather uninteresting. If it weren’t for keeping Duan Wujiu company, she wouldn’t have wanted to play.
She had once been at the level of a professional player, but after AlphaGo emerged, chess was ruined. Especially after all players began memorizing AI chess manuals, chess was completely dead.
Duan Wujiu lost and helplessly set down his piece.
“I can’t beat A Heng.”
“Don’t be discouraged. You played very well.”
Duan Wujiu’s chess skills were quite high, with an aggressive style, unpredictable tactics, and unconventional thinking. He was also very adept at taking risks and breaking conventions. If Liu Zhiheng hadn’t memorized AlphaGo’s chess manuals, she wouldn’t have been able to beat him.
“I’ve just read a few more chess manuals than you.”
“A Heng is too modest.”
Liu Zhiheng didn’t explain further. Seeing that the snow outside had lightened and unable to stay indoors any longer, she suggested to Duan Wujiu, “How about we go up the mountain for a walk? We haven’t had meat for days. Shall I take you rabbit hunting?”
Liu Zhiheng took Duan Wujiu up North Lao Mountain.
North Lao Mountain was a natural barrier. To its south lay the heartland of the Central Plains, while to its north were the Ten Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the fiefdom of the Prince of Yan.
Thus, even if the barbarians from the northern grasslands were fierce and skilled in battle, they could at most advance as far as Pingzhou City.
To some extent, these ten prefectures of Yan Territory served as a buffer zone for Great Xia. It seemed the emperor, in granting this fiefdom to Duan Wujiu, didn’t particularly favor this son.
Thinking back to how Duan Wujiu had begged her not to lock him in a cage or let rats bite him during his episode, Liu Zhiheng felt even more sympathy for him.
Such a handsome child—why didn’t his father love him?
“Here it comes!” Duan Wujiu suddenly whispered.Liu Zhiheng snapped back to reality, only to see a red fox appear in her line of sight. She gently raised her bow, drew the string, and shot an arrow, hitting the target in one go.
Duan Wujiu walked over, picked up the red fox, and saw that the arrow had struck the fox’s eye.
“A Heng is so skilled.”
“After all, I’m a hunter’s daughter. My father is much more skilled than I am—he doesn’t even need to look, just listening to the sound is enough to shoot birds out of the sky.”
Duan Wujiu pondered thoughtfully. Such a skilled person, yet just a hunter?
Liu Zhiheng had good luck today. Although she didn’t encounter any rabbits, she caught a pheasant in one of the traps she had set.
The two descended the mountain with the fox and the pheasant.
After returning, Liu Zhiheng asked Duan Wujiu to help slaughter the chicken at home while she took the fox and went out.
Liu Zhiheng found the village peddler and exchanged the fox for some winter supplies. Then, she hurriedly went to Xie Tinglan’s house.
Xie Tinglan had been ill earlier, and with the weather turning colder and several days of snowfall, he hadn’t gone to the county school, staying home to recuperate instead.
Seeing the courtyard gate unlatched, Liu Zhiheng tiptoed inside. Through the window, she saw Xie Tinglan sitting inside, reading a book. Without disturbing him, she hung the supplies on the door and quietly left.
She didn’t want to annoy Xie Tinglan. Since he hated her so much, she thought it better not to appear before him. Instead, she would use this method to gradually improve his impression of her.
Liu Zhiheng walked briskly toward home, having made up her mind not to hold back when it came to Xie Tinglan. She would give money when necessary and send gifts when appropriate.
As long as she took good care of Xie Tinglan, this future big shot, ensuring he could happily travel to the capital for the imperial exams, marry a wealthy and beautiful woman, and reach the peak of his life, she believed he would soon forget this small village and its people.
By then, she could wholeheartedly live a good life with her father and younger brother. Not only would she avoid retaliation, but she might even benefit from his success.
As Liu Zhiheng walked through the alley, lost in thoughts of her future good life, she bumped into a young girl.
“What are you doing here again!” a girl’s voice shouted.
Liu Zhiheng looked up and saw it was Fang Chuncao, the youngest daughter of the Fang family.
In the original story, Fang Chuncao was Xie Tinglan’s childhood sweetheart and later became his maid. Though born a commoner, she willingly became a servant, accompanying Xie Tinglan to the capital for the imperial exams and watching without resentment as he married several wives.
After enduring five years of hardship, Chuncao finally became a chambermaid. After another five years, she was elevated to concubine only after becoming pregnant.
“Shameless! What are you doing here looking for Brother Xie again? Haven’t you caused him enough trouble?”
Chuncao had a cute appearance, and when angry, she looked rather charming, making Liu Zhiheng want to pinch her round little face. Unfortunately, the way Chuncao looked at her was as if she were a sworn enemy.
Liu Zhiheng didn’t want to waste time arguing with Chuncao and simply walked past her.
She was in a hurry to get home for dinner!
Chuncao was taken aback. Why hadn’t Liu Zhiheng bullied her today? She hadn’t hit or scolded her.
In the past, Liu Zhiheng had always bullied Chuncao. Although Chuncao resented it, she secretly felt a sense of satisfaction because she knew that, in Brother Xie’s heart, her status was higher than Liu Zhiheng’s.So what if Liu Zhiheng was prettier than her? So what if the Liu family was the wealthiest in the village? Brother Xie still disliked Liu Zhiheng!
But now, with Liu Zhiheng ignoring her like this, could it be…?
Chuncao had no time to dwell on her complicated feelings. Remembering that Liu Zhiheng had just come from the direction of Xie Tinglan’s house, she hurried toward the Xie residence, fearing that Brother Xie might have already fallen victim to Liu Zhiheng’s schemes.
At that moment, Xie Tinglan was sitting at his desk, reading a book.
After taking the medicine Liu Zhiheng had sent over the past few days, his health had almost fully recovered. Thinking of Liu Zhiheng, Xie Tinglan realized she hadn’t visited him for quite some time—something that would have been unthinkable in the past.
Recalling her behavior during her last visit, Xie Tinglan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
In the past, whenever she was around him, Liu Zhiheng would either say inappropriate things or make indecent sounds. But that day, she had spoken logically and humbly, almost as if she were a completely different person.
Could it be that she no longer wanted to marry him?
Just as he was lost in thought, Chuncao pushed the door open. Seeing Xie Tinglan sitting safely in the room, fully dressed and unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Chuncao said with a hint of shame, “Something came up at home today, so I was delayed. I’m sorry for being late. She… didn’t do anything inappropriate, did she?”
“Who?”
“Liu Zhiheng. She was just here—didn’t you know?”
Xie Tinglan immediately stood up and instinctively headed outside, intending to look for Liu Zhiheng.