7 Off to be Outstanding in Changsan (2/2)

Suddenly, the carriage bounced over a very shallow stream and woke Ning Que. He rubbed his eyes and accessed the time of day. It was dusk now, so, he raised his arm and beckoned the group to stop and camp.

No one protested his decision even though he had just woken up.

Every decision the young man made had proven to be right ever since they had left the City of Wei. Over the last few days, this included path selection, campsites, safety defense, water and food and possible ways for evacuation. He had yet to make a wrong decision and the group was moving quite fast under his leadership.

Several barbarians, which reined in grasslands, initially looked down on the border soldiers of Wei, but now they just admired the young soldier as a guide.

Along the stream, people dug and leveled the ground, collected firewood and boiled water in silence. The maidservant got out of the protected carriage and found Ning Que lying on the grass comfortably while enjoying some boiled meat. Her frown deepened when she found the thin, black handmaiden getting water, she lifted the pot and collected firewood.

Upon seeing her step out, a strong guard stood up. She shook her head to prevent him from following her and she walked along the stream through the fire smoke.

She had to admit that Ning Que's guidance was not bad, but much better than the young men in capital city Chang'an. If he were a nobleman in Chang'an, maybe she would admire his attitude. However, he was just a poor underclassman and he bullied the small girl who should share woe and happiness with him. This made the maidservant unhappy and it invaded her thoughts.

Walking over to Sangsang, the maidservant smiled at her gently and gave her a sign to put down the heavy firewood so she could talk to her.

Sangsang walked toward her until Ning Que nodded to her when she saw him. The maidservant took out a handkerchief from her waist to pass it to Sangsang but Sangsang shook her head. Even though she had done a lot of work, there was no sweat to be wiped away.

At this point, Ning Que finally stood up from the meadow. He dusted the grass off his body, wiping green grass juice on his coat, and made a salute to the maidservant.

The maidservant didn't even turn her head and said coldly, ”I don't like you, so you can save your ingratiation. People like you look young and gentle, but in fact, you are rotten to your core and I find it disgusting.”

Saying this without emotion, she lifted her jaw and expressed her noble character even though she did not intend to keep distant. As a maidservant of the princess of Tang, she could give orders to most of the officials in the country including Ning Que.

Ning Que shook his head while smiling and then turned to the mud stove near the stream.

He only had the one small handmaiden while the noble had numerous maidservants. His only handmaiden was taken to chat, for fun, by one of the maidservants, and the noble still had other servants to serve her while he was left to feed himself.

Maybe the sand and wind had thickened his face, but there was no awkwardness on his face at all.

...

...

Sangsang came back with a pile of cheese at sunset, while Ning Que was staring painfully at his burnt meat porridge. Seeing the snacks, he took them from her and gobbled them up.

”Why does she like to talk with you so much? She doesn't even consider me and the fact I have not had a good meal for several days... The cheap sympathy of a noble was given in the wrong place. Her smile is like a grandmother wolf who wants to eat small girls. She thinks she is decent and warm, but she is faker than the people who sell artificial wine at the tavern in the City of Wei.”

”She is a good person.” Sangsang picked up the bowl of burn porridge besides him, intending to make a new one, but she was stopped by him.

”What do you talk about these days?” asked Ning Que.

Sangsang furrowed her brows and tried to recall what had been said. Then she answered, ”You know I don't enjoy talking... and she was talking about what had happened in the grasslands, most of the time. I don't remember much of what she said actually.”

Upon hearing this, Ning Que immediately felt happier. He hummed a tune while he chewed on the delicious cheese and said, ”If she wants to talk to you again, remember to tell her to pay you or let you bring back more cheese.”

Soon night fell.

After the water was heated, Sangsang extinguished the fire with water from the brook and then walked to the small tent with the bucket of hot water. People near the stream were familiar with this as the small handmaiden was often seen preparing water for Ning Que to wash his feet with and they exuded disdain on their faces.

Of course, their disdain was for Ning Que.

After washing his feet, Ning Que slid into the wool comforter, and then hugged the small cold feet of Sangsang's in his arms. He groaned but one couldn't tell if it was from pain or enjoyment. After yawning twice, he said, ”Good night.”

Sangsang was more exhausted than Ning Que, so she had sunk into a deep sleep before long.

Startled, Ning Que opened his eyes and looked up at the sky through the tent. It had patches and it took him a moment to focus on a particular handkerchief.

He knew he was right when he saw the golden-edged handkerchief clutched in the maidservant' hands. But, he just didn't know what he was right about.