Lester Liew heard a commotion and rushed out of the room wrapped in a thick coat. The sight of the black heap in the courtyard left him utterly stunned, his mouth agape.
Clara had stayed up all night, yet her energy was undiminished. She was bright-eyed and alert as she gave Lester a chin-tip of command.
"Come clean this up. I'm going to change. Hitch up the wagon, load the hares and the deer—we're paying the Dings a visit."
Emily Ding had mentioned that her grandmother only respected scholars and had no interest in speaking to village women.
So it was better to bring along a young, handsome, and "ambitious" scholar like Lester—someone her grandmother might actually listen to.
Lester yawned and nodded, watching Clara walk back into the bedroom. He asked with a hint of flattery, "Need hot water to wash up?"
"Wash." Short and to the point.
Lester chuckled, "Got it!"
He first went into the main room to lit last night's buried charcoal fire, adding more to get the flame going, then set the kettle on to heat before heading out to deal with the game in the yard.
The wild goat seemed to have regained consciousness. Lester, thinking it might still be fresh enough for the New Year table, led it to the stable, tied it up, and stuffed some grass in front of it. One more day of life, if it lasted.
Old Yeller clearly didn't care for this new roommate. He stomped and pawed the ground irritably. Lester quickly led him out, dragged the wagon frame from the backyard, and hitched it up.
Worried about dirtying the carriage, he laid down a layer of straw before loading the game they were bringing to the Ding residence.
By the time he was done, the sound of water splashing came from the bathing room. He hurried, and with practiced hands, whipped up a quick breakfast.
There was no time to ferment dough for flatbread, so he threw all the leftover dishes from the previous night into a pot with rice and made a hearty one-pot meal.
Clara stepped out of the bathing room, and as she passed the kitchen, the rich aroma nearly knocked her over.
It had been too long since she'd had something truly satisfying. That steaming breakfast pot made her look at Lester in a much more favorable light.
Lester: That was quick.
Still, inwardly he sighed with relief. There was a world of difference between living fearfully and living with dignity.
After breakfast, while cleaning up the dishes, Lester finally dared to straighten his back a little.
Clara informed the children—Adam, Ben, Chad, and Deb—that she and Lester would be heading out.
Ben's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Are you going into town?"
Chad licked his lips. Every time Mama went to town or the county seat, she came back with good food.
Clara nodded but didn't mention they were going to the Dings. If things didn't go well, she didn't want to disappoint them. "Just visiting a friend," she said.
Adam and Ben exchanged knowing glances, their eyes sparkling.
Deb clung to Clara's coat, pouting, "I want to go too."
Once she started, Chad immediately latched on as well.
Clara chuckled and tapped their foreheads. "Nope."
And with that, she shoved the two disappointed tag-alongs back into the main room and closed the door behind them.
Deb muttered a dejected, "Fine~"
Chad echoed, "Fine."
Clara climbed into the carriage, settling inside, while Lester took the driver's seat. With a flick of the reins, Old Yeller moved forward, pulling them onto the road.
The path was soggy with melted snow, the heavy wheels carving deep ruts as they rolled along.
Thankfully, the load wasn't too heavy, and though Old Yeller moved slowly, the journey was smooth.
By the time they reached Goldstone Town, it was mid-morning—just after breakfast at the Ding residence. As they passed Master Ding's estate, Clara stepped forward to knock and was soon greeted by Miss Emily Ding.
Last time Clara had brought four bars of soap. Emily had kept two and given the other two to her grandmother, mentioning in passing that Clara's children were hoping to attend school.
Madam Ding had stared curiously at her granddaughter then—perhaps surprised she'd put in a word for a village woman unrelated to them.
The entire Ding household already knew of Emily's efforts to learn horseback riding and archery—something the old lady was far from pleased about. When Emily told her that the woman in question was that Madam Clara, the matriarch's face turned grim.
If Emily hadn't quickly added that there was a scholar in Clara's household, the old woman wouldn't have even agreed to "consider" it.
Seeing her grandmother's reaction, Emily didn't dare bring up Clara's status as a bandit-slaying heroine—not even a whisper of it.
Just getting permission for a meeting was already a win in her eyes.
It was just two bars of soap—she'd done more than enough!
That said, when Clara actually showed up, Emily couldn't stop smiling.
"You really went into the mountains and hunted a deer for my grandmother?" Emily was both delighted and amazed by how fast Clara had moved.
Only a couple of days ago, she had passed word through Manager Wu that her grandmother needed new knee warmers, and now Clara had already procured the raw materials.
Felix Ding wasn't home. He'd left early in the morning with Butler Hugh to deliver New Year's gifts around town.
Emily, emboldened by her growing confidence, ran to the gate to check out the deer herself.
Spotting Lester sitting atop the driver's seat, she blinked in surprise and exchanged a look with Clara, silently asking, So… your husband's alive?
Clara gave her a subtle nod and an exasperated smile.
The two women were only six years apart in age. Emily refused to call Clara "Master" or use any titles based on Lester's generation. She placed Clara in the category of "older sister" and had kept close tabs on Lester's situation at the academy.
Felix had said Scholar Fan was a scoundrel, and Emily had quietly held a grudge against Lester on Clara's behalf for some time.
Now seeing Lester offer her a courteous bow and a reluctant smile, she barely returned it before turning her attention to the cart.
Clara pulled aside the curtain for her.
Emily sometimes snuck into the mountains herself, but she only dared to hover around the outer edges. The moment she heard anyone approaching, she'd retreat in a panic, never daring to be caught.
At most, she could trap small animals. As for a full-grown deer? She had never even seen one in person.
When she laid eyes on the deer, its face marred by pitch-black wounds where the eyes once were, Emily looked at Clara with awe.
A perfect double-eye shot. The pelt was immaculate—not a single scratch or bloodstain. It was pristine.
"If only you'd take me into the mountains with you sometime," Emily sighed longingly after Clara let the curtain fall.
Clara looked at the sparkle in her eyes—eyes filled with a yearning for freedom, so intense it felt like her spirit could burst free from its body and soar into the wild.
But outside the body, there were still the ropes of "ladylike-manners" that pulled her soul back.
Still, the seed of rebellion had already been planted. Emily raised her brows with a cheeky grin.
"If Grandmother refuses to let your boys into the academy, I'll write to Father myself. I'll make sure they get in!"
As for the time it'd take for the letter to go back and forth? Irrelevant. She'd just lie and say her father already agreed. Execute the plan first, apologize later.
Clara was touched by the words but responded sternly, "You've done enough. The rest I can handle. If your grandmother finds out, your good days will be over."
With her mother gone, and no new mistress yet in the household, tradition dictated that she be raised under the guidance of older female relatives—her grandmother or aunts.
The only reason she could stay in her own home was because of her father and brother's love and indulgence.
But with Master Ding away in the capital, if Emily made a serious misstep, Clara doubted even Felix could protect her.
After all, before Madam Ding, he was still just a grandson—bound by duty and filial piety.
Clara spelled it out for her, and Emily let out a resigned sigh. "Then… good luck."
Clara gave a confident smile and pulled a bamboo dragonfly toy from her sleeve, handing it over. "It's cold out—go back inside. We're off."
Still a child at heart, Emily lit up at the toy, her joy written all over her face. She nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
(End of Chapter)
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