"Fourth Young Master, we're almost at Star Engraving Prefecture."
On the muddy post road, a convoy of more than a dozen carriages crossed the fields through the wind and rain. In the middle of the convoy was a huge cargo box draped in black cloth like a coffin. The lead carriage had a spacious, well-ventilated cabin, glass windows, and soft rubber tires, so smooth that there was barely any jostling as it moved.
Ding Yiyu, who had been lying on a cushion inside the carriage, sprang upright, pulled open the curtain, and gazed into the distance at the outline of Star Engraving Prefecture beneath the curtain of rain and dark clouds. Then he sat back down and said lazily, "Wake me when we arrive."
"Fourth Young Master." The mounted man beside the carriage asked with a grin, "Are the girls in Star Engraving Prefecture young and tender? We country bumpkins have never been to a big city. We'll be counting on you to show us around."
"I went to Star Engraving Prefecture once, a long time ago. It wasn't anything special. Things are freer back home—you can do whatever you want... Are you all itching already? Didn't you go looking for women in that village last night?"
"Ah, don't mention it. We searched several houses and didn't even see a female dog. They probably hid themselves."
"Then why did you return so late at night?"
The mounted man chuckled. "Although we didn't find any women, we discovered that the old ghost at the east end of the village had a grandson. He was quite pretty and looked just like a girl. We brothers had been searching all night and were worked up by then, so we didn't care whether it was male or female. We just had to vent first."