Seeing Li Ya's expression, Zhang Xiaoshan was very clear that if he told her about spending the night at Ge Xiue's house, she might very well grab a kitchen knife and go looking for Ge Xiue.
Girls of Li Ya's age are in their rebellious phase, acting without considering the consequences. She was not someone he could afford to provoke.
He had a flash of inspiration and said to Li Ya,
"I went to the back mountain last night to gather herbs for my sister-in-law."
"Gathering herbs?"
Li Ya clearly didn't believe him.
"Do you have to go at night to gather herbs?"
Zhang Xiaoshan argued,
"Who told you that I went at night? I went into the mountains yesterday afternoon and encountered a wild animal. I could only wait until dawn to come out."
"Really?"
Li Ya was half-convinced.
Zhang Xiaoshan, however, was emphatic as he assured,
