Chapter 344
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It was still Little Orange who was the most straightforward. She grabbed Zhang Xiaohua’s sleeve, which was covering his face, and yanked it down, her voice choked with tears as she said: “My young lady is already this sick, what’s there for you to take advantage of?”
Zhang Xiaohua curled his lips and thought to himself: “Just this little yellow-haired girl? She’s really not worth any improper thoughts from me.”
However, with just a glance, he truly did feel a bit of pity.
Miss Nie’s face was flushed red, her lips covered with little blisters, dry and pale. Her wrist had already been carefully bandaged, but it was still swollen high, lying there weakly as she mumbled something unintelligible.
Seeing her burning up and talking nonsense, Zhang Xiaohua frowned slightly. He wasn’t a physician and didn’t know how to treat this. Even if his body was full of true qi, what use would it be?
He asked weakly: “Miss, have you given her any water?”
Seeing how clueless Zhang Xiaohua was, Little Orange grew a bit angry. She raised her arm to block his view and said: “Go, go, go, stop looking. Just knowing how sick my lady is should be enough. How can you just stare like that?”
“I’m her personal maid. How could I not know to give her some water?”
“They say scholars are useless, and it really seems true.”
Zhang Xiaohua defended himself: “Miss, you’ve misunderstood. I’ve only just started my studies, so I can’t really be called a scholar. But if you think I am, I’m quite pleased, at least my two months of studying the Three Character Classic weren’t in vain.”
“Pfft-” Little Orange almost laughed through her tears. This guy was just too funny. She said: “You’ve only studied the Three Character Classic for two months, barely know any characters, but you’ve got the scholar’s tone down perfectly. What a talent.”
“Miss, you have a discerning eye. My teacher says the same, and it makes me quite proud.”
“Oh, right. Miss, your family’s bodyguards should be arriving soon. Since I’m of no use here, I’ll take my leave. I still need to go home and review the Three Character Classic.”
“You… you can’t just leave… Aren’t you someone who’s read the classics? Don’t you know what’s written in them, that saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda?”
“Ah??? Big sister, are you joking? Didn’t I just say I’m still reading the Three Character Classic? Is that line even in the Three Character Classic? Let me count… ten characters, right? Anyway, that phrase does sound familiar. I think it’s something the old monk in my village, the one who’s always asking for alms, says all the time.”
“This… this…” Little Orange didn’t know how to persuade this fake scholar. But if she let him leave, it would really be a pity. Judging by his words, he was just a countryside lad who’d only recently started studying, so he must have some strength. And although his nose was a bit flat and his eyes a bit small, he seemed honest and reliable. If she could get him to lend a hand and help carry her gravely ill young lady to the medical clinic up ahead, he’d definitely be the perfect candidate.
Seeing the girl at a loss for words, Zhang Xiaohua secretly felt pleased. He cupped his hands and said: “Since that’s the case, I’ll take my leave. If I run into your family’s bodyguards on the way, I’ll let them know to hurry back.”
With that, he turned to go.
In truth, Zhang Xiaohua acted this way for two reasons. First, yesterday, Little Orange had said he looked plain and wasn’t a good match, which he didn’t like. After all, which eighteen-year-old youth wouldn’t be annoyed at having his looks belittled? Second, Little Orange had lied to him, saying there were still bodyguards alive and seeking help ahead. That lack of trust also made him uncomfortable. With both reasons combined, he behaved in this somewhat difficult manner. Of course, he also wanted to make it clear to this girl that he was just an ordinary person, so she wouldn’t associate him with last night’s violent events.
But as he turned to leave, he saw Little Orange biting her lip, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly troubled. His heart softened. Ah, forget it. What was he doing, putting on such an act? So what if he looked plain? Was he really afraid of what others said? She’d just been through a terrible ordeal, so it was only natural for her to be cautious. Didn’t he often trick others himself?
But after all, he was still a youth in the prime of life. Since he’d already turned around, how could he just swallow his pride and stop now? All he could do was silently hope: Hurry up and ask me to stay. Please, hurry up and ask me to stay.
But even after he’d turned away, he didn’t hear Little Orange call for help.
Feeling helpless and a bit regretful, Zhang Xiaohua had already turned away.
Just then, a moan came from inside the carriage. “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, ow…” Miss Nie stirred, suddenly clutching Little Orange’s hand tightly. The last cry of pain must have come from bumping her injured wrist.
“Sigh…” Zhang Xiaohua let out a long sigh. In the end, he just couldn’t bring himself to take that first step away.
When he turned back again, Zhang Xiaohua saw Little Orange tightly clutching Miss Nie’s hand, tears streaming down her face. Yes, she was just a young maid, how could she have ever faced such a situation before? She had finally run into someone who seemed at least somewhat reliable, even if he was just a fake scholar, yet he refused to help her. What could she possibly do?
Zhang Xiaohua looked around. Scattered nearby were several fine horses. He casually picked one, found a water pouch hanging from its saddle, unscrewed the stopper to check, then carried it over and handed it to Little Orange. She was quietly weeping to herself, and when a large object suddenly appeared in front of her, she was startled. She looked up in alarm, saw it was Zhang Xiaohua, opened her mouth to say something, but couldn’t utter a word. With difficulty, she took the pouch and carefully fed Miss Nie some water. The water pouch was truly large, and although Little Orange was careful, she still spilled quite a bit onto Miss Nie’s face. Perhaps it was the coolness of the water, or maybe her thirst was finally quenched, but Miss Nie soon lay quietly in the carriage again.
While Little Orange was giving water, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t stand idle. He went over and led the black horse from which he’d taken the water pouch. He stripped off its saddle and other gear, tossing them to the ground, then took the harness and tack from the carriage Little Orange had been riding in and fitted them onto the black horse.
The black horse was well-trained. Earlier, when Zhang Xiaohua took the water pouch from its back, it had sidestepped out of the way. Now, when he tried to lead it, the horse resisted. Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t flustered; he simply pressed down on its back with both hands and applied a bit of force. Unable to withstand such strength, the horse’s legs buckled and it collapsed to the ground. As soon as Zhang Xiaohua released his hands, the horse sprang back up, its eyes wide with fear. Zhang Xiaohua didn’t waste any time and easily led the horse over to the carriage.
The black horse was now extremely docile, letting Zhang Xiaohua handle it as if he had been its trainer all along. Only now did Little Orange realize what was happening. She watched with admiration as Zhang Xiaohua, though a bit clumsy, managed everything with surprising ease. She’d seen all sorts of animals, horses included, and knew well that a horse wouldn’t normally let a stranger handle it so easily, especially a specially trained one like this. Otherwise, she would have gone to harness a horse herself long ago. Why would she have waited for Zhang Xiaohua’s arrival?
Although Zhang Xiaohua had never actually harnessed a carriage before, when he traveled south with Ou Yan last time, he’d been just a servant, so helping the coachman unhitch and harness horses was perfectly normal. He’d simply forgotten some of the steps. As for why it all seemed so easy, well, if you had hands with the strength of several thousand catties, what task wouldn’t be a breeze?
In no time, the carriage was ready. Zhang Xiaohua said: “Miss, I’m not very good at driving a carriage, but I imagine you’re even less so. I’ll make do and give it a try.”
Little Orange replied gratefully, “Young master, this maid’s name is Xiao Juzi(Little Orange). There’s no need to be so formal, just call me Little Orange. My lady is gravely ill and cannot thank you herself, so please allow this maid to thank you on her behalf.”
Zhang Xiaohua waved his hand. “No need for courtesy, Miss-oh, Little Orange. I’m not some young master, just a country boy who works the fields. I’ve only read the Three Character Classic for a few days. The way I spoke earlier was awkward, I’m really not used to it. By the way, my name is Ren Xiaoyao. You can just call me Brother Xiaoyao.”
Seeing this fake scholar reveal his true nature, a faint smile appeared on Little Orange’s face, and a ray of sunshine broke through her anxious heart. She said: “Young master, your temperament is really good, so straightforward. My lady would surely like you.”
“Ah?” Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback. “That counts as a good temperament? Little Juzi, if that’s the case, then everyone in my village, dozens of us, must all be straightforward types. Would your lady like all of them?”
Little Orange blushed and said: “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. But calling you ‘brother’ doesn’t seem right. You’re quite tall, but your age is about the same as my lady’s, maybe not even older than me.”
Zhang Xiaohua chuckled. “Then just call me Ren Xiaoyao.”
“All right, Ren Xiaoyao.” After getting a bit more familiar with Zhang Xiaohua, Little Orange glanced at her sleeping mistress and said: “If possible, please try to get us to the market town ahead as soon as you can, so my lady can get treated.”
Zhang Xiaohua replied: “That’s exactly what I intend.”
With that, he jumped onto the carriage, sat cross-legged in the driver’s seat, and, recalling how he’d seen coachmen drive before, imitated their actions, picking up the reins and preparing to set off. Suddenly, Little Orange seemed to remember something and called out: “Ren Xiaoyao, wait!”
Zhang Xiaohua paused and laughed: “Could it be you know how to drive? If you do, please, be my guest.”
Little Orange replied shyly: “No, that’s not it. I just remembered something, it’s… it’s…” She hesitated for quite a while, unable to say what it was.
Zhang Xiaohua thought for a moment and immediately understood what she meant. He grinned and said: “Don’t tell me you need to relieve yourself?”
“Pfft!” Little Orange’s face instantly turned bright red as she spat at Zhang Xiaohua, “No…”
Of course, Zhang Xiaohua knew perfectly well, he was just teasing. After all, he was eighteen now, full of youthful vigor. In the past, when would he ever have had the chance to talk to a young girl? He’d just returned from a deserted island and already run into these two young ladies. Even if he didn’t have any improper thoughts, it was perfectly normal to joke around a little.
