The simple-minded face of Ding Shan broke into a happy smile upon hearing the village chief’s praise.
"Young master, Ding Shan is also very hardworking. You tell him to do sothing, and he’ll do it without a single word of complaint," the village chief continued to recomnd Ding Shan. "Even though Ding Shan is small, he can do a lot of things. He knows how to plow, transplant rice seedlings, and harvest rice... "
Ding Shan interrupted the village chief, saying, "I can also slaughter pigs and cut down trees. I can carry a lot of trees."
Instead of getting upset at being interrupted, the village chief smiled and said, "Yes, Ding Shan can carry several trees from the mountains back by himself."
Following that, each ti the village chief praised Ding Shan, Ding Shan would add sothing more himself.
Liang Run and Zhao Yao watched with amusent as the village chief and Ding Shan sang each other’s praises.
"Young master, Ding Shan doesn’t require any wages, just enough to eat his fill," the village chief said with a guilty conscience. Given Ding Shan’s appetite, his monthly food costs would definitely not be insignificant.
"I don’t need wages, just food," said Ding Shan, glancing hesitantly at Zhao Yao before adding with so reluctance, "If I could eat at, that would be even better..."
Before he could finish, the village chief gave him a kick to the back, and he quickly shut his mouth, then hurriedly shook his head, saying, "Not eating at is fine too."
"Young master, if you take Ding Shan, it will be like employing ten n," the village chief continued to boast about Ding Shan, "No, it’s twenty n; Ding Shan can do the work of twenty people. By taking him, you save on the cost of hiring twenty laborers."
Ding Shan looked at Zhao Yao with hopeful eyes, "I’m very good, please take ."
Looking at Ding Shan kneeling in front of him, Zhao Yao suddenly thought he resembled a big dog waiting for its master to take it ho.
"Young master, let Ding Shan lift the stone lion at my door to show you," the village chief suggested, giving Ding Shan another kick.
Ding Shan hurriedly got up and ran outside.
Zhao Yao stood up and followed him to the village chief’s doorway.
Ding Shan wrapped his arms around the belly of the stone lion and slowly lifted it until he cradled it in his arms, stopping only then.
He didn’t rush to put the stone lion down, holding it for a mont before setting it back down.
Seeing Ding Shan actually lift the stone lion, Ding Yuan and Tong An were dumbfounded. Tong Xi, sowhat incredulous, approached to try as Ding Shan did, but the stone lion didn’t budge.
Tong Xi tried again with all his might, but still couldn’t lift the stone lion.
This stone lion weighed at least two or three hundred catties.
Zhao Yao, seeing Ding Shan’s expectant expression, smiled and said, "Indeed, your strength is impressive."
Ding Shan bead with pride, "I have the greatest strength in our village, no one can compare with ."
Tong Xi joked, "I’m afraid there’s no one in the whole capital stronger than you." Is this Ding Shan really only ten? What on earth has this child been eating to have such strength?
"Young master, do you want to take Ding Shan?"
"Following is not about strength, but about unwavering loyalty for a lifeti. Can you do that?"
Ding Shan replied, "If you take , I will only have you as my master."
"Young master, Ding Shan will definitely be loyal to you," insisted the village chief. "He is simple, honest, and obedient. If he follows you, he will absolutely never betray you."
Standing beside Zhao Yao, Liang Run said nothing.
Tong Xi and the others also remained silent.
They could not influence Zhao Yao’s decision.
Zhao Yao looked at Ding Shan and laughed, "Alright, I’ll take you."
The village chief was delighted and quickly expressed his gratitude to Zhao Yao, saying, "Young master, thank you." He then nudged Ding Shan’s leg, "Ding Shan, kneel to see your master."
Ding Shan swiftly knelt down and kowtowed three tis before Zhao Yao with a grin, "Ding Shan greets the master!"
"Rise."
Ding Shan obediently stood up.
"Ding Shan is your small na, so what’s your full na?"
"Master, I’m just called Ding Shan, no other na."
The village chief explained, "When his mother had difficulty during childbirth, to ensure he would grow up safely, she gave him the humble na [Ding Shan]."
Zhao Yao thought for a mont and said, "From now on, you’ll be called Ding Shan." Ding Shan did look as strong as a mountain.
Ding Shan didn’t expect to have a proper na, and he said joyfully, "Ding Shan, I like it, thank you for the na, Master."
The village chief was very pleased that Zhao Yao had indeed accepted Ding Shan. "Young master, with Ding Shan, he won’t let you down!" Finally, Ding Shan had found a place to belong. This young master is from a wealthy family, so following him, Ding Shan will at least have enough to eat every al.
Zhao Yao looked at Ding Shan, contemplating that with proper training, Ding Shan could be very useful soday.
His great strength made him an excellent prospect for martial arts training. When they returned to the capital, he would have his uncle find a master for Ding Shan.
"There’s still ti, let’s go up the mountain again," Zhao Yao rembered the dream he had at noon. Bai Bai and Xiao Bai were still waiting for him in the mountains.
Liang Run assud Zhao Yao was interested in the mountains, "Alright, let’s go have another look."
"Young master, shall I accompany you, otherwise it might be hard to find the way down the mountain if it gets late?"
"Thank you," Zhao Yao replied.
"Young master, there’s no need to be polite," said the village chief, "By taking Ding Shan, you are a benefactor to the people of Dahua Village."
"A benefactor, really?"
"Young master, you don’t know that Ding Shan’s parents are heroes in our village..."
On the way to the eastern part of the mountain, the village chief told Zhao Yao and the others about Ding Shan’s unfortunate background, and as he spoke, he began to cry, continuously thanking Zhao Yao.
Back at the clearing, Zhao Yao shouted, "Bai Bai, Xiao Bai, I’m here."
Liang Run quickly asked, "Yao Yao, who are you calling?"
"Uncle, you’ll see shortly," Zhao Yao said, calling out again towards the distance, "Bai Bai! Xiao Bai!"
Tong Xi wondered secretly if the prince knew so... um... animal friends here?
A mont later, a pure white White Deer appeared before them.
Seeing the White Deer, Zhao Yao felt relieved in his heart. So the dream was real.
The village chief and Ding Shan were stunned at the sight of the White Deer. They wanted to speak, but were too shocked to utter a single word.
Zhao Yao ran over to the White Deer and hugged its head.
The White Deer nuzzled Zhao Yao’s cheek with its face.
Xiao Bai, who was entwined around the White Deer’s antlers, was too shy to nuzzle Zhao Yao’s cheek like the White Deer.
Liang Run and the others were also shocked, watching the scene in disbelief.
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