Chapter 158 — Eloping Together
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
The granny looked her up and down, showed a few sparse teeth, and smiled. "A fine girl — strong body, good bosom, and a rump to match. That young fellow is a lucky one."
The old man laughed. "The young fellow's a good one too — sturdy, and simple-hearted, no bully in him. He was most polite to an old bag of bones like me."
"You two," the granny put in, "stay out on the run a year or two, then go back. Have a baby, take the baby home with you, and your family won't be able to deny you even if they want to."
Ling Yuxiu murmured vague assents, her heart fluttering like a startled deer, at a loss how to answer. She thought: "If I went back with a child by Ox-boy, my Imperial Father would die of rage... Pah, pah! He wouldn't die of rage, but he would certainly have his head cut off! Great fortune, great fortune!"
Before long the smell of cooking filled the air, and Ling Yuxiu hurried to help. When the meal was done, the sky had gone wholly dark. The village was all old men and old women; they lit only oil lamps, and slept as soon as night fell.
Shen Mu helped the two old people clear the bowls and chopsticks. The old man said, "There are plenty of empty houses in the village. Pick one and settle in."
Shen Mu thanked him and went into an empty house. Snow Fox helped tidy up, sweeping out three rooms, and reckoned to herself: "One for the Green Ox, one for the big-bosomed vixen, and one for me and the young master. Three rooms — no problem."
Suddenly Shen Mu felt something stir in his heart. He looked up and saw two great stars coming from the west, moving across the heavens. "Everyone get inside!" he cried.
Ling Yuxiu, the Green Ox, and Snow Fox hurried indoors. They had barely entered when, with a humming drone, two thick pillars of light came down and lit the little mountain village bright as day.