The old man's dark face now appeared very ruddy, not because he was shy from meeting strangers, but because the northwestern wind had blown on it, freezing it red.
"Did you come from the forest?" the old man asked as he approached.
Jiang Xiaobai handed him a cigarette, which the old man took.
"Did Mr. Gao send you over?" Jiang Xiaobai asked with a smile.
The old man exhaled a puff of smoke and nodded.
"Please lead the way, I'll drive behind you," Jiang Xiaobai said.
The old man waved his hands, "No, no, you can't drive, you have to follow me and ride in my cart."
"Your cart?"
Jang Xiaobai looked at the dirty donkey cart behind the old man. He wasn't sure if it had been used for hauling manure before; one could smell a stench from five meters away.
