Thud, thud-!
The rough axe swung down as it split the sturdy log in two.
The young man holding the handle of the axe straightened his back as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Take it easy."
The pile of firewood this young man had chopped today had already grown into a large heap.
An elderly woman with white hair handed the young man a gourd full of water from the well as she glanced at the front gate.
"Who are you waiting for? You've been staring at the front gate for a while now."
The young man's name was Shang.
He was a servant, so he didn't have a surname.
"Today, my lady is supposed to arrive. But she's running late, so that's why I keep looking at the gate."
"My lady?"
"She's the youngest daughter of our master in Beijing, Lady Yun Xiao. Did you not hear the news?"
"I've only heard that our master in Beijing has three daughters."