Maiden Ding Ding hesitated for a moment, somewhat reluctant. After all, they had just met and had only spoken two sentences; how could there be any reason to move into someone else's house?
Seeing her hesitation, Chen Shi smiled. "Does Ding Ding think I look like a bad person?"
Ding Ding shook her head. "No."
Chen Shi said, "Since I don't look like a bad person, what is Big Sister afraid of? I am deeply respected in the village and am a well-known benevolent person. Big Sister Ding Ding, my dog Gouzi knows how to cook, and its skills are quite good. Let it whip up a few dishes tonight."
Ding Ding's eyes widened, and she looked at Black Pot in astonishment, stammering, "It knows how to cook?"
"Chopping vegetables, stoking the fire, stir-frying and boiling, braising and deep-frying—it's proficient in everything."
Chen Shi said, "You'll see once you stay at my house. Surely you don't intend to stand guard here alone tonight?"
Ding Ding looked at the coffin in the manor, tightened the cyan-blue pipa cloth bag in her arms, and could not help but feel a twinge of fear in her heart.
Chen Shi strode outward, turning back to smile. "Let's go together! It won't be too late to come see Madam Huali again in a few days."
Grit her teeth, Ding Ding hurriedly quickened her pace to follow him.
The two and the dog walked toward the outside of the mountain. Following his footsteps, Ding Ding quietly asked, "Does your Black Pot really know how to cook dishes?"
Madam Huali was already lying inside the coffin by this time, hearing the conversation between the two and unable to help shaking her head inwardly. Chen Shi is just like his grandfather back then—sweet-mouthed, best at tricking young girls.