On the road to Willowridge County Town.

  Clara found herself wondering more than once—if she sold off this walking peacock of a man beside her, who was strutting his charm all over the place, how much silver could she get?

  Just as Lester Liew was chatting animatedly with the village women sharing their ox cart, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He straightened his posture and sat properly, no longer answering their questions.

  At the Goldstone Town junction, Clara handed over four copper coins as cart fare. The couple disembarked and made their way toward the Ding family estate just outside the town.

  The sun was already high, still some time before noon, but the heat was already oppressive.

  Lester quickly pulled the straw-woven hat from his back and placed it over his head, thankful for his preparation.

  Clara signaled for him to wait by the roadside and carried the nine bundled books to knock at the Ding residence’s back gate.

  The one who answered was Giles. Upon seeing her, his face lit up in surprise. “Madam Clara! It’s been a while!”

  Clara nodded politely and smiled. “Would you please let Miss Emily know I’ve come to return a few things?”

  Only then did Giles notice all she was carrying. In addition to a tightly wrapped cloth bundle whose contents were unclear, she had two cured fish and a bag of fresh vegetables.

  “Please, come into the side room to cool off. I’ll go inform the young miss,” Giles said, glancing at the blazing sun outside. He opened the shaded antechamber for her, closed the gate behind him, and went inside to report.

  Soon after, Bea and Giles hurried back together to escort Clara in.

  It had been over a month since they last met, and Miss Emily seemed like a different person. Her skin was no longer as pale and dewy as before—it had tanned slightly—but she looked vibrant, with eyes shining brightly with spirit and resolve.

  Excitedly, she dragged Clara into the study. Clara handed the vegetables and fish to Ivy to take to the kitchen, then returned the books.

  Miss Emily barely flipped through them before nodding, clearly pleased with their well-preserved condition.

  But her focus was elsewhere—she couldn’t wait to show off her progress from the past month. She pulled out her new bow, pointed at a small saddle on a nearby stool, and then gestured to the backyard, saying she now had her very own pony.

  “Clara, since you left, I haven’t slacked off for a single day! I practice my horse stance for half an hour at dawn, then archery for another half-hour, then ride ten laps up and down the lane out front. When my brother has free time, I grab my little bow, mount my pony, and we go hunting in the woods!”

  Clara smiled as she listened. When the girl insisted on taking her to the backyard to see the pony, she finally spoke up.

  “I’m afraid I can’t today. I need to get to the county academy to register my no-good husband for school.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Huh? You mean that husband of yours who looks like he descended straight from the heavens?” Emily asked, astonished.

  Clara could only laugh. What kind of bizarre metaphors were these?

  Emily didn’t think her description was strange at all. She believed it to be absolutely accurate.

  Clara was only nineteen, while her husband was twenty-four. Of course, that made him ‘old’ by comparison.

  “He’s really going back to study?” Emily asked curiously. “So you borrowed all those books from me for him?”

  Clara nodded and glanced up at the sun. “Miss, I really have to go. If we’re any later, we won’t make it in time.”

  “Alright then,” Emily replied with clear disappointment. Still, she sincerely wished the two of them success at the academy.

  With Master Ding already en route to the capital for the upcoming civil exam, only Emily remained at home. Her brother was often out with friends as well. Yet unafraid, she mounted her pony and escorted Clara and Lester a fair distance down the road before turning back.

  Watching her ride with increasing finesse, Clara couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She felt genuinely proud of this hardworking, disciplined young lady.

  One day, Emily would thank her present self for these efforts.

  By the time they left Goldstone Town and stepped onto the official road toward Willowridge County Town, the sun was nearly overhead.

  Two hours remained to their journey, and if they kept pace, they’d make it before afternoon classes began.

  However, the path ahead didn’t go as smoothly as earlier.

  Clara walked with steady strides, while Lester jogged to keep up, his scholarly composure quickly unraveling. His straw hat tilted sideways, sweat dripping.

  He desperately hoped a passing cart would appear—horse-drawn, ox, or even a mule cart—so long as there were two empty seats for them.

  Just as he was daydreaming, a horse’s sharp neigh rang out ahead. Lester’s eyes lit up. “Wife, I think there’s a cart up ahead!”

  Suddenly energized, he surged forward—only to let out a horrified yelp and dart back to Clara’s side, ducking behind her much shorter frame.

  “There’s... there's blood. I think someone’s dead…”

  Clara rolled her eyes so hard they almost stuck. She stomped her heel backward and landed squarely on his foot. Lester yowled and sprang away from her.

  Their commotion drew the attention of the caravan up ahead.

  Fifteen minutes earlier, a group of five wagons carrying eighteen people and twenty crates of goods had been blocked by a pile of stones in the road.

  Bandits lying in wait then sprang out to ambush them. A fierce skirmish ensued as the guards fought to protect the goods. After ten brutal minutes, the bandits—meeting too much resistance—made off with just one crate and fled.

  However, three guards were killed. The five wagons now lay toppled at the roadside, the horses crushed beneath the weight of cargo and carriage, barely breathing.

  “Didn’t expect those mountain bandits were still at it,” Clara muttered, frowning. She handed all their luggage to Lester. “Stay here,” she instructed, and strode toward the caravan.

  Seeing that she was just a lone woman, the merchants didn’t react defensively. They only warned her grimly, “If you’re passing through, move quickly. The bandits might return.”

  Clara didn’t waste words. She rolled up her sleeves and, to everyone’s shock, lifted one of the collapsed carriage frames on her own.

  What had taken five or six men to barely shift, she raised with ease, freeing a pinned horse beneath.

  The stunned merchants blinked, then realized they’d encountered a true powerhouse. Reinvigorated, they rushed to help her rescue all five horses and reset the carriages, restacking the cargo.

  Most of the stones in the road had already been cleared, but Clara, with her bare arms, wrapped her hands around a massive slab and flung it aside like it was nothing.

  Soon the road was clear, and the caravan reassembled and ready to move.

  The leader instructed his men to load their fallen comrades’ bodies onto a cart, then approached Clara. He bowed deeply three times.

  “Many thanks, madam, for your timely assistance. May I ask your name and where you live? Once I’ve delivered this shipment, I’ll be sure to visit with a proper gift of thanks.”

  “My name is Clara. I live in Liew Clan Village under Goldstone Town. No need to wait for next time—you can thank me now.”

  As the man stared blankly, Clara turned and called, “Lester, come here!”

  She pointed at her husband. “This man of mine is delicate and helpless. Might we hitch a ride with you into the county?”

  Lester: ???

  Delicate and helpless? Me??

  (End of Chapter)

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