Song Ning clutched the man’s chest with both hands, refusing to let go. “But… but you never respond when I call you. What did I do wrong? I… I’ve been trying so hard to learn from Qiu-ger.”

“No, I’m not angry.”

Wei Hu felt something warm seep through the thin fabric, dampening his chest. Panic seized him as he hurriedly lifted the ger’s face. He saw tears streaming down the ger’s cheeks, his face already drenched in sorrow.

“I’m sorry. I’m not angry with you.”

Seeing the ger so utterly broken, Wei Hu’s heart clenched in pain. The ger’s tears fell like pearls into his palm, their heat stinging his skin and making his heart shrink.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t angry at you. I was angry at myself.”

Wei Hu gently wiped the ger’s tears with his fingers, but the tears flowed like a burst dam, only increasing with each wipe.

“Stop crying.”

“But… but you don’t like me. Things everyone else can do, I can’t. Qiu-ger is so much more capable than me. I’m useless.”

“No, Song Ning, look at me.” Wei Hu lifted the ger’s chin. The ger gazed back at him through tear-filled eyes, and Wei Hu couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh. It truly felt like it would kill him.

“Song Ning, you’re handsome and well-educated. It’s this rough man, Wei Hu, who isn’t worthy of you. You shouldn’t have to endure this suffering…”

The ger pouted. “Wei Hu, don’t ignore Ning-ger. I’m scared. Ning-ger has no home left. Wei Hu, don’t abandon me.”

“I won’t.”

“Then hold me. I worked so hard today, I’m exhausted. My hands hurt. You didn’t even praise me when you got home, just gave me that cold look.”

Wei Hu sighed, his fingers trembling slightly as he embraced the ger pressed against his chest. “Song Ning, you’re killing me.”

“But Brother Wei Hu was the one picking on me.”

Song Ning’s small face rubbed against Wei Hu’s chest, smearing his tears all over it. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks. “Brother Wei Hu, let’s try it. See how well I’m doing?”

Song Ning suddenly perked up, lifting his head from Wei Hu’s embrace. His small hand tapped his chest a few times. “Brother Wei Hu, look! This is the protective charm Granny Zhang got for me from Fahua Temple. It’s been blessed! See? Granny Zhang said wearing it will keep me safe!”

Before Wei Hu could recover from the pang of heartache, the ger clinging to him had already changed his expression, proudly presenting a small horn-shaped talisman for his inspection.

Wei Hu gently stroked the talisman, still warm with the ger’s body heat. “Keep it safe. Don’t lose it.”

“Okay!”

“Didn’t you say you cooked? Let me see.”

Song Ning grabbed Wei Hu’s hand and pulled him toward the kitchen. She lifted the lid as if presenting a treasure. “Look! I made stir-fried dried radish with cured pork, and simmered Chinese cabbage!”

“Impressive.”

The ger’s eyes lit up, a blush spreading across his cheeks. “It’s… not really that impressive.”

Wei Hu felt his heart being squeezed and twisted by Song Ning. He truly didn’t know what to do with her. He was afraid even raising his voice might frighten this delicate ger.

“Didn’t I tell you to wait at home for me? Why didn’t you listen?”

“But you and Mother both went out to work, leaving me with nothing to do. I wanted to cook for Brother Wei Hu and Mother. I’m part of this family too—I want to help with the chores. “

How could he be so obedient? This ger had just finished crying, his eyes still red-rimmed, with faint red fingerprints on his chin. He looked up at Wei Hu with such innocent eyes that Wei Hu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

”Don’t you find it hard? You used to…”

Song Ning shook his head, cutting Wei Hu off. “It’s not hard at all. I like it here. Brother Wei Hu and Mother treat me very well.”

“You shouldn’t do this anymore. Mother and I will handle it.”

“No, don’t tell Mother.”

As the two spoke in the kitchen, Chen Cuihua’s voice drifted in from outside. “Hu-zi, you’re back already?”

Wei Hu poked his head out from the kitchen. “Mother, I’m back already.”

Chen Cuihua set down her basket, still holding unsold goods. “Business was really good today—sold six out. Where’s Ning-ger? I don’t see him.”

Song Ning peeked out from behind Wei Hu. “Mother, I’m right here.”

Chen Cuihua saw that Song Ning had just been crying. She gasped, then, without a word, landed several punches on Wei Hu. “How did you make Ning-ger cry again? I was only gone a little while, and you’re already bullying him at home!”

Chen Cuihua delivered a few more thuds to Wei Hu. Hearing the pain, Song Ning hurriedly said, “Mom, Mom! Brother Wei Hu didn’t bully me. Sand got in my eyes.”

Chen Cuihua snorted. “That better be true. If that Hu-zi dares bully you, I’ll break his legs.”

Song Ning chuckled softly, seemingly lost in thought. “Mom, dinner’s ready.”

“Coming!”

Chen Cuihua went to wash her hands. Song Ning brought out all the dishes from the pot, which he’d managed to prepare quite well under Qiu-ger’s guidance. Wei Hu followed behind him, carrying out the rice.

As the days grew colder, night fell earlier. The room was dim, and they hadn’t lit the oil lamp. The three of them gathered around the table to eat.

Song Ning’s cooking wasn’t particularly good, but Chen Cuihua wasn’t picky. She’d eaten worse before—as long as it was cooked through, she was satisfied. She was quite pleased with Song Ning; he was good in every way. If she’d married a spoiled ger instead, it would have been nothing but chaos.

Only after night had fully fallen did they light the lamp inside. Wei Hu remembered Song Ning still had injuries on his hands, so he cleared away the bowls and chopsticks.

Chen Cuihua also pulled out the money pouch from her basket. “Business was really good today—I earned fifty-eight wen!”

Song Ning leaned on the table. “Mom, you’re amazing!”

Though he thought the baskets were sold too cheaply—after all, they’d painstakingly cut the vines and spent so much time weaving each one, only to fetch ten copper coins apiece.

Chen Cuihua counted out thirty coins for Song Ning. “Here, take these.”

Song Ning shook his head repeatedly. “Mother, I won’t take them. You earned this money. I can’t accept it.”

“Take it when I tell you to. Now that Hu-zi has married a fulang, it’s not about who runs the household—we don’t do that here. But from now on, the three of us will manage our home better than anything else. You can’t go without some silver in your hands.”

Song Ning felt a pang of sadness. Why was she so kind to him?

Wei Hu also flung the water from his hands aside. “Take it.”

Only then did Song Ning accept it. ”Mother, you’re so kind.“

After the Song Ning family of three finished their meal, the Li Guifen family was also eating. At their table, Li Xiaolian chattered cheerfully with her mother. ”Mother, did you know? Brother Hu-zi’s Fulang can’t light a fire or cook rice. I just happened to see him today.“

”Really?”

“You bet! That time he couldn’t light the fire, and I helped him. I thought he was just new and unfamiliar with things. Who knew he really couldn’t cook?”

Li Guifen laughed. “Ever since Wei Hu got married, Chen Cuihua has been feeling pretty smug lately. Who would’ve thought he’d bring home a pretty face with no substance?”

Song Ning was unaware that Li Guifen and her daughter were gossiping about him. He thought Li Xiaolian was a good person after she helped him earlier.

When Song Ning slept at night, he rolled over to Wei Hu’s side. Wei Hu was nearly pushed off the bed. Wei Hu let out a soft sigh, “Just sleep properly.”

“Brother Wei Hu, I’m a bit cold.”

“Then I’ll add another blanket.”

“No, it’ll be too hot. Brother Wei Hu, you’re warm. Hold me instead.”

“Holding someone while sleeping is uncomfortable.” Wei Hu nudged him aside.

Song Ning didn’t care. Since he’d married Wei Hu, Wei Hu was his now. Qiu-ger mentioned today that many girls in the village wanted to marry Wei Hu. No way! Wei Hu was his now.

After today’s commotion, Song Ning noticed the man was clearly less guarded around him. But the man’s body was so warm—all heat radiating from him. Song Ning was cold and wanted to snuggle up for warmth.

Song Ning rolled over again, draping Wei Hu’s arm around his waist. “Brother Wei Hu, I’m going to sleep. Don’t disturb me. I’m so tired today.”

Wei Hu was worn down by Song Ning’s persistence and could only let him have his way. Otherwise, if he kept fussing, neither of them would get any sleep.

Wei Hu truly had no solution for Song Ning. He was a young man full of vigor, yet with a ger snuggled right beside him, Wei Hu couldn’t sleep.

But the little ger was becoming increasingly restless in his sleep. He’d roll over in his sleep, rub his little face against Wei Hu’s arm, and curl up in a comfortable spot like a puppy.

Wei Hu hadn’t slept a wink all night because of Song Ning. As soon as it was just beginning to get light, he got up to cook breakfast.

Chen Cuihua also got up. There were still some baskets left at home. She wanted to sell them all before the snow fell, otherwise selling baskets in the bitter cold of winter would be pure misery.

Chen Cuihua fetched some hot water to wash her face. “Why are you cooking? Where’s Ning-ger?”

“Mother, Ning-ger hurt his hand yesterday. I let him rest.”

“Serious? I didn’t notice yesterday.”

“Not too bad, but he’ll need a few days to heal.”

“Alright, tell him to be careful.”

By the time Song Ning got up, breakfast was ready. His mother was already gone from the courtyard, and Wei Hu was washing clothes outside.

“Brother Wei Hu, where’s Mother?”

“She’s already gone to town. Go wash your face. There’s an egg in the pot.”

“Alright!”

Song Ning had cried quite hard yesterday, waking up with puffy eyelids. Hearing there was an egg boiled for him, he happily went to get it.

Breakfast was waiting for him in the pot: a multigrain steamed bun, an egg, a plate of pickled vegetables, and a bowl of red bean porridge. Song Ning pulled up a small stool and squeezed in beside Wei Hu. “Brother Wei Hu, aren’t you going hunting in the mountains today?”

“No need to go so early. I set a few traps yesterday. I’ll just check them later. I’ll be back at noon to cook for you.”

“Can I go with you?”

“Sure.”

Song Ning perked up. This would be his first time going into the mountains with Brother Wei Hu.

Taking a bite of his egg, Song Ning suddenly noticed the wooden basin seemed to hold his own changed clothes—even his undershirt was inside!

Song Ning flushed bright red. “Brother Wei Hu, why did you wash my clothes?”

“Your hands are injured. I just washed them while I was at it.”

“Alright… fine.”

A sweet warmth filled Song Ning’s heart. Brother Wei Hu was so kind to him.

Wei Hu waited for Song Ning to finish eating before heading into the mountains together. Not wanting to go empty-handed, Song Ning felt something was missing. He ran to the backyard, grabbed a small bamboo basket, and saw two hunting dogs tied up there. The hen and two wild chickens were also caged.

“Brother Wei Hu, aren’t we taking Hei Dou and Hua Dou with us today?”

“No need.”

“It’s fine. As long as they don’t jump on me, I’m not afraid.”

Taking the hunting dogs along would be handy for chasing chickens and rabbits, but since Song Ning was coming along today, Wei Hu hadn’t planned to bring them into the mountains.

“Alright.”

Wei Hu released Hua Dou. Unlike the hyperactive Hei Dou, Hua Dou had a gentle temperament. Both dogs possessed a certain sense of awareness and wouldn’t bite their own family members. Wei Hu just feared Hei Dou might startle Song Ning if it lunged at him while playing.

The two men and the dog set off into the mountains. Song Ning was quite pleased, carrying a small basket on his back with light steps. This was his first time accompanying Wei Hu on a hunt, though Brother Wei Hu had said they wouldn’t venture far into the mountains.

They greeted villagers coming down from the mountains along the way, and Song Ning obediently echoed the greetings. Once they were out of earshot, one of the men remarked, “That young couple sure seems inseparable.”

Someone chuckled. “I heard Ning-ger can’t even wash clothes or cook. All the housework is either done by Chen Cuihua or Wei Hu.”

“What? He doesn’t lift a finger at home?”

“That’s right. Tsk. Town folk really aren’t marriage material. Such a delicate flower. Who lets their mother-in-law and husband wait on them hand and foot?”

Not long after Song Ning and his wife left, Qiu-ger came over carrying his embroidered basket. He’d overheard people in the village saying Song Ning couldn’t do anything. Qiu-ger frowned. They were all elderly folks, and he didn’t want to pick a fight, so he ignored them.

Wait, how could they possibly know Ning-ger couldn’t do anything? They knew jack-shit! Ning-ger was amazing, okay? Way more amazing than any of them!

When Qiu-ger arrived at the Wei household, he called out several times but got no response. Carrying his embroidery basket, he turned to leave. On his way out, he spotted his mother-in-law chatting idly with a group of people. Qiu-ger walked over.

“Don’t let your Qiu-ger go play with Ning-ger anymore. He’ll corrupt him.”

“Exactly! My Qiu-ger only played with Ning-ger for a few days, and now he dares skip lunch to cook! Just the other day, he even made my Dazhuang do chores. What kind of family lets their man cook? It’s just… it’s like… what’s that saying? ‘Defying Heaven’s Will’!”

“I heard the Wei family has Chen Cuihua and her son serving Song Ning alone! Better to marry a country ger like ours. This is like marrying a pretty pillow—all show and no substance!”

Qiu-ger walked over and heard the voices. One belonged to Li Guifen, the other to his mother-in-law.

Qiu-ger called out, “Mother, what are you doing here? You haven’t fed our chickens yet.”

“Why haven’t you fed them? You’re getting lazier by the day.”

Qiu-ger snorted. “Mother, it’s one thing to gossip about me outside, but why must you slander Ning-ger? Have you forgotten he was the one who tended to you when your stomach ached? Why can’t you remember his kindness?”

“I blame him for my stomachache! If you hadn’t insisted on picking persimmons from our tree to give him, would I have gotten sick? I say the whole Wei family is a curse—not a single decent soul among them. You’re following that Song Ning’s bad example, getting lazier by the day.“

”Mother!“ Qiu-ger shouted. ”I won’t argue with you about me, but if you say another word about Song Ning, I’ll go tell Aunt Cuihua today. I’ll see if you dare provoke her!”

Granny Sun muttered a couple of “uh-huhs” and dared not speak further. She truly wouldn’t dare provoke Chen Cuihua—that woman was formidable. If Chen found out she’d been gossiping about her family, she’d come looking for trouble again.

Li Guifen curled her lip. “Granny Sun, how pathetic can you be? Haven’t you ever seen a Fulang bully his own mother-in-law? And you, Qiu-ger, how could you disrespect your mother-in-law like this in front of everyone?”

If Qiu-ger dared to snap at Granny Sun, what right did Li Guifen—someone he barely knew—have to lecture him?

Suddenly, Qiu-ger remembered that Li Xiaolian had visited yesterday. Though they weren’t close, he’d been surprised to find the young girl mirrored Li Guifen’s sharp tongue.

Qiu-ger immediately fired back at Li Guifen, “Auntie Guifen, just because I call you ‘auntie’ doesn’t mean you can act like you’re my superior! You can’t even manage your own household properly, yet you’re meddling in mine? Why don’t you focus on keeping your own Xiaolian in line? At such a young age, she’s already picking up your sharp tongue!”

Li Guifen trembled with anger, pointing her finger at Qiu-ger. “Granny Sun, just look at your Qiu-ger!”

Qiu-ger couldn’t care less about them. He snorted and walked away. Why did he have to be saddled with such a nagging mother? Just because he didn’t come home to cook that day, she went around spreading rumors about him being lazy. He’d have to teach her a lesson.

And that Li Xiaolian—just as mean-spirited as her mother, Li Guifen. He’d have to warn Ning-ger to stay away from her.

Song Ning was happily heading into the mountains with Wei Hu for a hunt. Venturing into such a sparsely populated area for the first time felt novel. The cold weather had blanketed the slopes with a thick layer of fallen leaves and pine needles, creating a vast expanse of withered yellow that wasn’t particularly intimidating.

When they encountered a difficult path, Song Ning reached out to Wei Hu. “Brother Wei Hu, give me a hand.”

With no one around to see, Song Ning grew bolder. Wei Hu silently extended his hand, and Song Ning gripped Wei Hu’s large palm as he climbed the steep slope.

After helping him up, Wei Hu released the ger’s hand. To his surprise, the ger clung on. Wei Hu glanced at him, and the ger beamed back, his eyes crinkling in a smile.

Wei Hu swallowed hard and ignored him. He was starting to regret bringing Song Ning into the mountains. This ger clinging to his hand made his heart pound like a drum, even throwing off his aim when shooting arrows. Fine, he’d just check on the few animal traps he’d set yesterday.

With no one around, Song Ning grew bolder, holding Wei Hu’s dry, large hand the whole way. “Brother Wei Hu’s hands are so big! Brother Wei Hu’s hands are so rough! All calloused.”

“Let go.”

“Huh?”

“Let go. There’s a pheasant.”

“Oh, oh, oh.”

Only then did Song Ning hastily release Wei Hu’s hand. Wei Hu raised his bow and arrow, aiming toward the receding figure. Song Ning stared in that direction for ages but saw no sign of a pheasant.

Wei Hu’s arrow flew out. A rustling sound came from the pile of withered yellow leaves in the distance, and a wild pheasant with a colorful neck flew out. “Hua Dou, go!”

Hua Dou took off running. It was Song Ning’s first time seeing someone shoot a wild pheasant. He let out a gasp and ran after Hua Dou. Wei Hu was startled by him. “Song Ning, slow down!”

“I know, I know!”

This was a game within reach—he couldn’t let it escape. Song Ning quickened his pace, but Hua Dou was far faster. The wounded pheasant hadn’t gotten far before Hua Dou pinned it down.

“Hua Dou! Hua Dou! Give it to me!” Song Ning summoned his courage to grab the bird.

Hua Dou released the pheasant from its jaws and dropped it for Song Ning. Song Ning lunged forward to seize it. But the cunning bird, frozen with fear when it hit the ground, shot away the moment Song Ning approached.

Song Ning hadn’t even touched the tail feathers. Panicking that his hard-earned catch might escape—this was the game he and Brother Wei Hu had chased for ages!—

He scrambled after it. His foot slipped, sending him sprawling. “Ouch!” he yelped. It didn’t hurt—the ground was covered in leaves—but it was embarrassing.

The pheasant hadn’t gotten far before Hua Dou pinned it down again. Seeing Song Ning sprawled on the ground, Wei Hu quickly reached down and scooped him up. Song Ning was hoisted up like a little chick, Wei Hu cradling him around the waist. “You okay?”

“Y-yeah, I’m fine. Didn’t hit anything.”

Song Ning flushed slightly. He wasn’t short, yet Wei Hu had lifted him with such ease.

Hua Dou brought the pheasant back, pinning it down with a paw to prevent escape. Song Ning dared not intervene now, afraid the bird might flee again. “Brother Wei Hu, Hua Dou is so amazing!”

“Yeah, both Hei Dou and Hua Dou were raised from puppies in our family.”

Wei Hu plucked a bunch of wild greens from the ground, twisted them into a rope, and swiftly tied the pheasant’s legs together. “Come on, let’s check the traps. We’ll head back soon.”

“Aye.”

They hadn’t been in the mountains long before they caught a wild pheasant. Song Ning was quite pleased. He trailed behind Wei Hu, tugging at the hem of his shirt. Wei Hu glanced at the small hand on his waist but said nothing. This little ger was quite the clingy one.

Song Ning was far bolder now. After all, they’d shared their feelings yesterday. Out here in the wilderness, with no one around, what was wrong with him holding his man’s hand?

Wei Hu led Song Ning to check the several traps they’d set. The first two were empty, but the third had snared a mottled little fox. Song Ning was thrilled. “Brother Wei Hu, it’s a fox! Isn’t it worth a lot of silver?”

“It’s a mottled fox. Its pelt won’t fetch much—maybe two or three taels of silver. If we caught a silver fox or a red fox, that pelt would be worth its weight in silver.”

“Well, catching one of these foxes is still pretty impressive. Most people can’t even track them down.”

Wei Hu’s lips curled upward. This ger was always like this—making a big deal out of ordinary things, never stingy with praise. Wei Hu had long grown accustomed to traversing the silent mountains and forests alone. Now, with this young ger by his side, the woods themselves seemed transformed.

The fox, its leg caught in a snare, spotted the approaching figures and bolted in terror. Wei Hu wouldn’t let a fox he’d already secured slip away. In a few swift moves, he bound it and tossed it into his backpack.

“This fox won’t fetch much at the market. I’ll keep it to make you a fur collar.”

Song Ning was far from willing. He knew how hard times were at home. “No, no! It’s worth at least two taels of silver. Brother Wei Hu, you should sell it.”

Song Ning’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Wei Hu. “Brother Wei Hu, you can catch rabbits for me. We can make a scarf from rabbit fur later. That’ll look nice too. Take this one to sell for money.”

“Alright.”

This ger was always so considerate. Wei Hu only regretted being a poor hunter who couldn’t give Song Ning anything worthwhile, forcing him to endure hardship alongside him.

The two checked several more traps together. Just moments after mentioning rabbits, one trap had snared one. Today’s haul was decent: a pheasant, a wild rabbit, and a fox.

For Wei Hu, this was a rare, bountiful haul. Game in these mountains wasn’t easy to come by. If it were, everyone would be out hunting. Even as an experienced hunter, Wei Hu often went days without catching a single animal.

Ever since this ger came to his home, his luck had indeed improved considerably.

The two wasted no time. After checking the traps, they headed down the mountain. Wei Hu didn’t walk far, knowing the ger couldn’t go too far. Though it was still early, he led him down the mountain.

“Tired? Want to rest?”

Song Ning nodded. “I want some water.”

Wei Hu pulled a gourd from his backpack and handed it to Song Ning. They sat under a tree to rest. Song Ning took a couple of sips before offering the gourd to Wei Hu. “Brother Wei Hu, you drink too.”

Wei Hu glanced at the watermark on the gourd’s mouth before tucking it away. Song Ning knew exactly what the man was thinking. “Brother Wei Hu, are you embarrassed? What’s the big deal? I’m your Fulang. I mean, it’s just drinking water, right?”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Liar.” The ger suddenly leaned in close, his warm breath brushing Wei Hu’s neck. Song Ning looked at him as if discovering something utterly novel. “Brother Wei Hu, your ears are red~.”

Wei Hu stammered slightly, “No, no.”

Song Ning chuckled. “Brother Wei Hu, why are you so thin-skinned? It’s just sharing a drink. What if we have to kiss later? What then?”

Wei Hu hadn’t expected this ger to be so bold, talking about kissing with a grown man. Feeling like a little demon was clinging to him, he pushed the ger away. “Stop fooling around.”

Song Ning giggled and leaned in again. “No, Brother Wei Hu, kiss me. Kiss me. No one will see anyway.”

Song Ning hooked both arms around Wei Hu’s shoulders, pouting his lips as if demanding a kiss. Wei Hu dodged like a virgin being teased. “Song Ning!”

“Hey~”

Wei Hu scowled at Song Ning, but his earlobes were flushed crimson. Having known him for so long, Song Ning understood his temperament perfectly and wasn’t the least bit intimidated. She kept pestering him for a kiss.

Wei Hu grabbed Song Ning’s chin, pinching the ger’s already pouty lips into a duckbill. “Song Ning, have you been possessed by something?”

Song Ning grunted twice and shook off the large hand on his face. “Hmph, I haven’t! We’ve been married for ages and haven’t consummated the marriage yet. Qiu-ger keeps asking me about it, and I don’t know what to say.“

Wei Hu’s breath caught. He couldn’t fathom these two seemingly well-behaved gers huddled together discussing such things!

”You’re not allowed to talk about this with Qiu-ger anymore.”

Wei Hu was convinced Qiu-ger had corrupted his ger. When he first arrived, he’d been as timid as a frightened rabbit, easily reduced to tears by a single word. Now he was growing bolder by the day.

Song Ning was just teasing Wei Hu. That was his nature—shy around strangers, but once you got to know him, you’d see he was actually quite sharp.

Especially after discovering Wei Hu was all bark and no bite—he wasn’t afraid of him anymore.

Song Ning chuckled beside Wei Hu when something dropped onto his forehead. He yelped as it hit him, and Wei Hu glanced over just as the object rolled away.

Wei Hu looked up just as a large tail vanished into the trees. Song Ning picked up the object from the ground. “Brother Wei Hu, it’s a chestnut. It must have bruised my forehead. What a nasty thing! It looked like a bird.”

“No, it was a squirrel.”

The little ger’s forehead was indeed reddened. Wei Hu ground his teeth, resisting the urge to rub it for him. This kid was a troublemaker—if he helped, the ger would just keep fussing until he got his way.

Wei Hu stood up. “There’s a squirrel hole. Good stuff inside.”

Song Ning craned his neck to look. “Where? That hole?”

“Give me your basket. I’ll climb up and check.”

“Okay.”

Song Ning handed his small basket to Wei Hu. Both boys carried one, though Wei Hu’s was filled with several squeaking game animals, while Song Ning’s remained empty.

Wei Hu scrambled up the tree trunk in no time with the basket on his back. He chuckled to himself—this ger really had luck on his side. If he hadn’t been hit on the head by that squirrel, he never would’ve found this hole.

“Brother Wei Hu! Is there anything in there?”

“Yeah, plenty. Stay back. I’m gonna smash the hole open.”

“Okay, be careful, Brother Wei Hu.”

Song Ning dragged his large basket to the side. Wei Hu drew his machete from his waist and struck the hole several times with the handle. The squirrel hole contained quite a lot. Wei Hu grabbed handfuls and tossed them into his basket.

Song Ning’s basket was small, but with each scoop, it filled up quickly—nearly half full by now. Wei Hu took most of it, leaving the rest untouched for the squirrel. It was more than enough to see the little critter through the winter.

So many nuts! That squirrel must have worked hard for ages to gather this much. Song Ning kept craning his neck upward—who knew there were treasures inside a squirrel hole?

When Wei Hu had gathered nearly all he could, he slid down the tree trunk. Song Ning hurried over, peering into the basket before Wei Hu could even set it down. “Wow, so much stuff!”

The basket was filled to the brim with hazelnuts, chestnuts, and hickory nuts.

“That naughty squirrel! It took them all—just for hitting me!” Song Ning exclaimed, then asked, “Brother Wei Hu, did you take them all?”

Wei Hu chuckled. “No, I left some for it. Enough for its meals.”

Wei Hu set the basket down, and without a word, Song Ning hoisted it onto his back. “Brother Wei Hu, I’ll carry it! I’ll carry it!”

Wei Hu didn’t argue. He picked up the large basket from the ground. “Just tell me if you don’t want to carry it anymore.”

“I can handle it.”

Song Ning’s small basket was also filled. He was feeling pretty pleased with himself. These dried fruits must weigh twenty or thirty pounds—quite a bit of weight. Song Ning figured he could manage it.

“Brother Wei Hu, can we sell this for silver?”

“Sure. We can get fifty or sixty wen for it. It’s all yours.”

Song Ning’s motivation surged. This would be his very first earnings. He silently thanked the little squirrel in his heart, letting go of any resentment over the nut that had hit his forehead.

“When we get back, I’ll help you sort it out. We can get a good price for it in town.”

Song Ning nodded earnestly. “Got it. I’ll share when I get home, too.”

Halfway up the mountain, Song Ning realized the load was heavier than he’d thought. The mountain path was long, and he walked carefully, afraid of spilling the contents of his basket.

He didn’t want Wei Hu to look down on him—he wasn’t some useless young master.

Wei Hu walked ahead of Song Ning. They say going up the mountain is easy, but coming down is hard. He let the ger carry the basket for a bit before taking it over. “Let me handle this. We’ll get back sooner. I’ll stew a wild pheasant for dinner tonight.”

“Brother Wei Hu, you’re so kind.”

Wei Hu muttered inwardly. This ger had a way with words. No wonder ever since the ger came to his house, even his mother wore a smile every day.

Just as Wei Hu reached behind him, he saw the ger slip and stumble forward. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest as he hurriedly caught the ger. “Are you okay?”

Song Ning’s little face scrunched up. “Brother Wei Hu, my foot hurts a bit.”

He’d just started descending when he tripped over a raised tree root he hadn’t seen. The slope was steep, and with the basket strapped to his back, a fall would have left him covered in injuries. Thankfully, Wei Hu caught him.

Wei Hu was still shaken. He took the basket off Song Ning’s back. Was it really because he was unlucky with wives? If this ger had tumbled down, getting hurt would have been the least of his worries.

Wei Hu’s voice was low and serious. “Let me take a look.”

Song Ning sat down and slipped off his shoes. His big toe was red and swollen from the stumble, but thankfully, it wasn’t sprained. Song Ning breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s okay, Brother Wei Hu. Just a red toe.”

Wei Hu hummed in acknowledgment. Song Ning put his shoes back on, now careful to watch his step as he followed Wei Hu. Without the basket to carry, he felt much lighter, though his foot still stung with each step.

Wei Hu noticed too. After a few steps, he crouched down. “Let me carry you.”

Song Ning shook her head. “No need, Brother Wei Hu. You’re already carrying two backpacks.”

Though he longed to be closer to Wei Hu, this mountain path was treacherous enough. Carrying all that gear must be exhausting.

“It’s fine.”

Wei Hu stacked the two baskets together on his front and insisted on carrying Song Ning. Unable to refuse, Song Ning finally climbed onto his back. Wei Hu carried him steadily down the mountain.

The ger was light, and Wei Hu felt no burden at all. His mood was heavy, though. He’d always guarded against getting too close to this ger, yet here he was, feeling its weight.

Song Ning, however, was in high spirits. Today’s trip to the mountain had been fruitful—he’d hunted a fox and gathered plenty of dried fruits.

Hugging Wei Hu’s neck, his legs dangling lightly, his little face radiated contentment. “Brother Wei Hu, am I heavy?”

“Not at all.”

Song Ning noticed Wei Hu’s voice was much deeper than usual. He peered up cautiously and saw that Wei Hu’s complexion looked a bit off. “Brother Wei Hu, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Did I cause trouble by coming with you?” Song Ning asked softly.

“No.” Wei Hu stopped walking. “Song Ning, someday… someday I’ll send you away.”

Song Ning froze. Why? They’d slept in each other’s arms just yesterday! Her eyes reddened. “Brother Wei Hu, you promised you wouldn’t send me away! You don’t want me anymore!”

“It’s not that I don’t want you. Song Ning, you saw it yourself. Just coming up the mountain with me today nearly caused you to tumble down the slope…”

“That’s not it at all!” Song Ning shouted. “It’s definitely not because of Brother Wei Hu! I was just so caught up in my excitement that I didn’t watch my step. How could I blame Brother Wei Hu!”

It was rare for Song Ning to get this worked up. Wei Hu feared he’d upset the ger again and quickly set him down. Turning back, he saw the ger’s eyes reddening once more, his face tilted up at him, eyes filled with stubbornness.

“Don’t cry.”

“Brother Wei Hu, please don’t ever say you’re kicking me out again. I’m scared.”

Wei Hu’s heart felt like it was being squeezed and twisted in Song Ning’s hands. “It’s my fault.”

Song Ning now stood slightly taller than Wei Hu. He tilted his head up and kissed Wei Hu’s chin. “Brother Wei Hu.”

The soft touch on his chin vanished in an instant. Wei Hu froze, then sighed. This ger was truly going to be the death of him.

Wei Hu crouched down. “Hop on.”

Song Ning climbed back up, wrapping his arms tightly around Wei Hu’s neck. His small face rested trustingly on the man’s shoulder. “Brother Wei Hu, please don’t ever say that again.”

“Mhm. It was my fault.”

Only then did Song Ning brighten again. Having just mustered the courage to kiss Wei Hu, he now belatedly flushed crimson.

Wei Hu carried Song Ning steadily down the mountain, where they encountered Li Xiaolian gathering firewood. Li Xiaolian gasped, “Ning-ger, what’s going on here?”

Seeing Wei Hu carrying Song Ning, Li Xiaolian’s face showed surprise, but her heart twisted with jealousy. Pfft! In broad daylight, hugging and cuddling like that—what kind of sight is that? You little vixen.

Song Ning flushed too, struggling to get down. Wei Hu lifted him higher. “Stop fussing. If you fall, you’ll cry your eyes out.”

Song Ning blushed even deeper. Why make it sound like he cried easily in front of others? Didn’t he have any dignity? He gave a meek “Oh” and settled back down obediently.

Wei Hu didn’t even pause his steps. With a casual “His foot hurts,” he hoisted Song Ning onto his back and walked away.

Li Xiaolian watched Song Ning’s retreating figure, her eyes red with fury. Why him?!

Once they were a little further away, Song Ning-gerntly pinched Wei Hu’s shoulder and whispered, “How could you say that about me?”

The young ger’s voice was naturally soft and sweet, and when he scolded Wei Hu, it sounded more like a playful whine. Wei Hu’s pent-up frustration melted away. Seeing him like this, Wei Hu thought, if he were sent away, who knows how badly he’d be bullied? From now on, he’d make sure to protect him.

Wei Hu teased him, “What did I say?”

“You… you said I cry too much.”

“Don’t you cry? Your eyes were already red before I even said anything.”

Song Ning pouted indignantly, “I didn’t! It’s all your fault, Brother Wei Hu! You’re so mean! I’m ignoring you!”

Song Ning’s fierce, flailing gestures only drew a soft chuckle from Wei Hu. This only made Song Ning more annoyed. He tilted his little head and buried it in Wei Hu’s shoulder.

It was high noon now, the sun shining brightly. Many villagers had gone down the mountain to gather firewood. As they neared home, they encountered several fellow villagers. Song Ning was so embarrassed that she dared not lift her head, secretly tugging at Wei Hu’s clothes. “Wei Hu, hurry up and go.”

Wei Hu knew the ger was shy, so he carried him on his back and strode swiftly home.