His fingers traced from the inner corner of Ling Cang's eye to the outer edge.
This person likes me, he thought to himself.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Suddenly, there was a frantic knocking at the door.
Ling Cang set Ming Xi down on the warm kang. "I'll go see."
He stepped off the kang, put on his shoes, and went to check. The courtyard was buried under a thick layer of snow. The moment the door opened, wind and snow swirled inside. Ling Cang quickly slammed it shut.
Treading through the snow, he opened the gate. A young woman stood there, dressed flamboyantly despite the cold—thin, colorful gauze garments and heavy makeup. Her eyes were tearful as she looked at Ling Cang.
"Sir, please save me!" She threw herself toward him, but Ling Cang sidestepped, avoiding her.
The woman looked resentful but still dabbed at her tears.
"My foster father is heartless and wants to sell me off. I beg you to take me in. I am willing to be your servant, to repay your kindness."
She was the daughter of Old Zhang from the village.
Old Zhang had three children: the first was this woman, Yan'e, born to his former wife. The other two, a ge'er and a man, were from his current wife. The stepmother was notoriously sharp-tongued
she always prioritized her own children regarding food and clothing, and found fault with the daughter from the previous marriage at every turn.
Yan'e was no pushover either. She often stirred up trouble, leaving the family in constant turmoil. Old Zhang, caught in the middle, could only turn a blind eye.
A month ago, when Ling Cang arrived in the village like a celestial being descending to earth, he captured the hearts of all the ge'er and young women in the village. With his handsome features, tall stature, and family wealth from generations of merchants, he was the ideal match every ge'er and woman dreamed of marrying.
Today, Yan'e overheard her stepmother planning to marry her off to Li Huzi, the butcher from the neighboring village. A physical fight broke out between them. Her father even threatened to tie her up and wait for the wedding day. She pretended to agree but seized the moment when they were distracted to escape.
Though she couldn't compare to the noble ladies of the capital, she was still considered a beauty in the surrounding villages. How could she marry a butcher who knew nothing but slaughtering pigs and selling meat? The thought of sharing a bed with him made her feel as if she could already smell the stench of raw meat.
Gritting her teeth, she braved the snowstorm and ran toward the western hill.
Ling Cang's gate was tightly shut, with pristine snow piled halfway up.
Clearly, he has no wife, she thought.
In the village, except for the unmarried men who didn't bother to clear the snow in front of their doors, every household kept their entrance clean, shoveling as soon as the snow fell.
But none of that mattered. Once Ling Cang married her, she would take care of shoveling the snow herself.
She reached up to tidy the disheveled hair at her temples and knocked on the gate.
Ling Cang glanced at her. "I have no need for servants."
He moved to close the gate, but Yan'e quickly blocked it with her hand.
"Sir, if you don't despise me, I could also be your wife," she said shyly.
"Ling Cang, who is it?" Ming Xi, draped in a mink fur cloak, lifted the heavy curtain and walked over.
Yan'e turned to look at the voice.
The newcomer was clearly a ge'er. His face was fair, his eyebrows like distant mountains, his eyes like stars. With red lips and white teeth, and a teardrop mole at the corner of his eye that added a touch of allure, his long black hair cascaded loosely, making him seem almost otherworldly.
She stared at him for a few moments, then turned to Ling Cang. "Sir Ling, who is he?"
Ling Cang smiled and pulled Ming Xi's hand, drawing him into his arms. "My betrothed."
Yan'e was shocked. "But... you came here alone that day. You had no wife."
Ming Xi understood—this person must be one of Ling Cang's admirers.
That won't do. The person I've set my sights on can't be coveted by others.
"I am his betrothed husband. The winter is harsh and cold, so I came to warm my husband's bed."
He finished speaking, leaning his head slightly against Ling Cang's chest as he looked at Yan'e.
Yan'e twisted the handkerchief in her hands. This ge'er is truly shameless, mentioning warming the bed before they're even married.
How can a ge'er compare to a woman? In the future, he might not even bear children.
Her eyes darted craftily. "Sir, although this young master beside you is quite handsome, he is, after all, a ge'er who may not bear children well. Sir Ling comes from a great family with vast wealth. Marrying a ge'er I afraid wouldn't be approved by your parents."
Ling Cang stroked Ming Xi's head. "None of your concern."
Yan'e bit her lip, tears welling. "This humble woman doesn't aspire to be your official wife. I only wish to stay by your side to escape my family's forced marriage. I beg you to take me in."
Once I step into Ling Cang's household, I'll have plenty of ways to win his favor and crush this nameless, statusless哥儿 beneath my feet.
"Pfft." Ming Xi laughed aloud.
"Do you want to take her in?" He looked up at Ling Cang, pointing at the pitiful-looking Yan'e.
"If she stays, I go."
Ling Cang: "What does she have to do with me? The wind is strong, Xi'er, let's go inside."
Ignoring Yan'e in the snow, he led Ming Xi back into the house and closed the door.
Outside, Yan'e stamped her foot. "What a seductive fox spirit!" After cursing, she shivered violently.
She had originally intended to wait outside the gate for a while, but the wind and snow were too fierce, and the cold was unbearable. So she turned and swayed her hips as she walked back.
But at the edge of the western hill, she ran into Li Laizi, the village's notorious ruffian.
"Well, well, if it isn't Sister Yan from the Zhang family? What, went to see that fellow on the western hill?"
Yan'e glared at him, pulling her gauzy dress tighter. "None of your damn business!"
Li Laizi's eyes fixated on her curvaceous figure, now accentuated by the tightened dress.
"If he didn't appreciate you, it's fine. How about Sister Yan comes with me? I guarantee I'll make you feel blissful every day." As he spoke, his hand reached out to grope her.
"Get lost! Take a look at yourself—a toad covered in warts!" Yan'e retorted disdainfully.
Li Laizi's face darkened. He slapped Yan'e hard across the face.
"You bitch! Calling me a toad? You think you're some celestial maiden? Don't think I don't know about what you did with Granny Wang's man in the western mountain cave."
"What? Want to become Mrs. Ling? Got rejected?"
"Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting?" Yan'e glanced around and hissed.
"Nonsense? I saw it clearly. That figure of yours, Sister Yan... tsk tsk tsk. It's kept me awake every night."
Yan'e grew impatient. "What do you want?"
He lightly stroked Yan'e's cheek. "Sleep with me once. Let me taste what it's like, and I'll keep this matter to myself."
This must not get out, Yan'e thought.
Otherwise, Sir Ling will never want me. I'll end up married to that butcher, enduring wind and sun, suffering and toiling.
Thinking this, she agreed. Li Laizi wrapped an arm around Yan'e and led her into his house.
Soon, Yan'e's soft moans and Li Laizi's heavy breathing could be heard from inside the house, occasionally accompanied by the creaking of the bed and the rustling of clothes.
Afterward, Li Yan'e looked at the suggestive marks on her body and her disheveled clothes. A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes as a scheme came to mind.
She prodded Li Laizi's face with her fair foot. Li Laizi grabbed it and kissed it. "Did you enjoy yourself, baby?"
Yan'e kicked him. "Remember your promise, Li Laizi."
Li Laizi sat up. "Yes, yes, yes."
Yan'e dressed and walked out. As she approached the village, she let her hair down, revealing the marks on her shoulders, and tore her clothes into disarray. Weeping, she ran toward the village chief's house.
Several women sweeping snow along the road exchanged glances, dropped their brooms, and followed her.
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