Cao Xianming remembered the lamb he had eaten last night, the way those women had looked at the men in the convoy, and the flash of desire in Lao Zhang's eyes when he had licked his lips just now-a desire that did not belong to him.
That look of desire, and the way those women had looked at the meat last night...
Were exactly the same.
"Yang Yong." Cao Xianming suddenly turned, his voice tight. "I have a task for you."
Yang Yong turned his head toward him without interrupting.
"They want to trade with our convoy. They said they're holding a trading fair today."
Cao Xianming rubbed between his brows, his knuckles white from the pressure. "Keep a very close eye on them."
"Watch that short girl who raises the sheep."
Yang Yong nodded.
"Okay."
Cao Xianming did not need to say more. He was curious himself.
That short girl barely came up to the other women's shoulders. She was so small and thin that a gust of wind looked like it could knock her over.
But at last night's bonfire party, those tall, sturdy women had barely dared to breathe in her presence.
It was a fear etched into their bones.
Not the fear of being beaten or scolded.
The fear of being eaten.
Afterward, Cao Xianming gave Lao Zhang a few more instructions.
Lao Zhang acknowledged them and turned to make arrangements, his steps much quicker than when he had arrived, even a little unsteady.
Once he was far away, Yang Yong and Cao Xianming squatted on the ground, their heads together and their voices lowered as far as possible.
"Old Cao, did these people approach you on their own?"
"Yes." Cao Xianming nodded. "They approached us not long after we arrived."
"It just feels strange."
"But