Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian had been quietly waiting in the carriage when they finally saw Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming return.
Wang Xiangxiang’s eyes lit up, clearly delighted, and she stood up excitedly, calling out, "You’re back?"
Chu Lian felt a bit disappointed. She must be so happy because she no longer had to be alone with him, but as long as he could watch over her, her happiness was all that mattered.
Xiaoxiao approached with Yang Ming and said, "We’ve only got two pheasants. Let’s just make do for now. Once we get to Lin County, we can have a proper feast."
Looking behind them, Wang Xiangxiang asked curiously, "Where’s Acheng? How come he didn’t come back with you?"
Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming looked at each other, a bit puzzled, and said, "We didn’t see him."
"Oh no, I hope nothing has happened to him. He went to look for you," said Wang Xiangxiang, growing anxious. After all, he was a relative of her coachman, and it wouldn’t be good if something happened to him while with her.
"Don’t worry, he’s a grown man, he’ll be fine," Chu Lian quickly reassured her, though internally he blamed Acheng for not sticking with Yang Ming properly and causing Xiangxiang such concern.
Even though Chu Lian said that, Wang Xiangxiang was still worried. She kept looking into the distance until she suddenly spotted Acheng. Pointing at him excitedly, she said to the others, "Look, Acheng is back."
Following the direction Wang Xiangxiang pointed, they saw that Acheng had made a successful return. Apart from Chu Lian, the three of them showed surprised expressions. Yang Ming had thought it quite an accomplishment to have bagged some pheasants, but there was Acheng holding not one, but two rabbits. Yang had spent quite some time helping his wife to catch a litter of rabbits before, and here was Acheng succeeding in such a short time.
As soon as Acheng returned, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang surrounded him with a flurry of praises.
Yang Ming and Chu Lian stood to one side with their faces full of dismay. This Acheng had stolen their thunder.
"Acheng, how did you become so skilled?" asked Wang Xiangxiang, genuinely surprised, not expecting the coachman’s relative to be so capable.
"Miss, I’m used to this, oh, and there’s this too," Acheng spoke as he lifted his clothes slightly.
Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang saw and immediately screamed in fright, "Ah!"
Coiled around Acheng’s waist was a snake, something that both Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang were terribly afraid of.
Xiaoxiao, frightened, ran straight into Yang Ming’s arms. Holding his wife, he stroked her head and said, "Wife, don’t be afraid, that snake is dead."
On the other hand, having no arms to run into, Wang Xiangxiang hugged her head, eyes closed, and screamed. Seeing this, Chu Lian quickly stepped in front of her, taking her hands from her head into his own, and said gently while looking into her eyes, "Don’t be afraid."
Hearing his voice, Wang Xiangxiang opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her fear gradually subsided, feeling comforted by his presence.
They held hands and looked into each other’s eyes until they suddenly realized Xiaoxiao and the others were beside them, promptly withdrawing their hands in embarrassment.
Chu Lian shot a look at Acheng, who became somewhat apprehensive—his young master seemed to be angry with him.
Rushing his words, he said, "Miss, I didn’t know you were afraid of snakes. I’ll throw it away right now."
After saying this, Acheng ran off immediately, leaving Xiaoxiao and the others behind. In no time at all, Acheng had hurried back, and the group commenced their first picnic together.