That night, they have dinner in the mansion. Er Yin with her loudly and manly character get away from the suspicion of the others. Duke Yan have them arrange to sleep in the back yard with beds to sleep in before they set off in a few days to camp.
Er Yin sits alone in the courtyard, the snores of the men are loud. In this case, it can be a musical choir. However the drum beat in the distance is ringing slowly. She breath in and out deeply and stare at the flower in front of her face. She is perspiring while the cool cold keep blowing on her face. Her hands tremble but it is not as terrible as when she just got home. She drink the tea that is in front of her as if she is dinking wine. A pair of eyes are watching and later leave. He walk to the study room of the Duke and disappear inside. While Er Yin is sits at the same spot till the morning arrives.
In the day time after having breakfast, the Duke told them that they have free time for the whole day. Thus the men dress in civilian garments walk out of the Duke mansion and wander the streets. They watch opera without understanding what the singers sang but still they enjoy it. They enjoy the street puppet and the street foods. By dinner, they return and did not see the Duke for the next three days. On the fourth day, the Duke told them to put on the armour and get ready to go to camp. Every men goes back to the bedroom after a good breakfast. Er Yin pretend to need to go to the toilet. She hurry to dress up in there. Back in the bedroom, one of the men is struggling to bun up his long hair and so she help him. The Duke in a distance, look into the bedroom. After that he walk away.
The men ride along with the Duke. One of the horse have a flag of Yan and it is flapping hard agains the wind. Er Yin, enjoy the ride with her horse. Not going to war, thus the screams of fear and smell of death is not on her hands today. She smile as she race along the grassland. In the mid afternoon, fifteen men arrived at the outskirt of the camp. The wooden gate and spikes are remove upon in a distance when the tower guard spot the flag in the distance thus they enter the camp without disruption.
The new men are given new uniforms and new boots. Two tents are issue to them to sleep. Er Yin did not mind who is going to be her room mate. She doesn't really sleep in the night. Thus she offer to take up all the night duties. The rules are explain by the assistance Luo Ming. The new recruits won't be entering the camp anytime soon thus they still have time to be free. Er Yin wonder around and look at the kitchen. The cooks are men who are working to prepare dinner.
"New here?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Come here. Help us to chop the meat. You do know how to handle the knife, do you?"
"Yes sir. I help my mother at home when she is not well."
She pick up the chopper and start to slice the meat. Later dice the meat. She even chop the vegetables. The cooks look at the new staff and smile. They nod their head and look at each other. They work without talking. The Duke comes in
"Sorry i was held up. What..."
He see his new staff in the corner chopping the vegetables. Er Yin is shock to see the Duke walk in the kitchen and pulling his sleeves up. The kitchen is in stand still. Till he clear his throat.
"So do you need my help?"
"Duke, not today. This young lad is offering to do all the chopping..."
"Then let me fry my sweet sour pork."
He walk towards the wok and pick up the lade. Everyone clear the space for the Duke to start his preparation of his dish. Er Yin watch where she is standing. She peel and chop the vegetables leisurely. The Duke seems to be an expert in the kitchen. He mix the sauce the way he like it. The meat are cut in squares a balance of fats and meat. Next he added oil and pour in the meat. As he fry, he swing the wok up and down and the fire from under the wok is looking like trying to escape from the entrance that he had created. From his corner of his eye, he see that his new trainer is starting at him. He smirk and check if the meat is half cook. Next he add in some vegetables that are cut in eatable size. He mix them in the wok. The aroma fills the kitchen. Soon, it is ready to be taken out. Once he lift up the wok and pour the meat on the plate, he add the sauce on top of it. Everyone is turning around to look at his dish. Er Yin wants to taste it too but he takes the dish out. She look at the bowl that still have some sauce in it. She pick it up and lick it. It is indeed a tasty sauce!