Translated By April

Thanks to R and Elaine for the Kofis, enjoy the bonus chapter!!

Wei Qingshan hadn’t expected that he had only casually said something, and his little husband had taken it seriously. His heart felt tender, and he picked up a piece of meat and placed it into his little husband’s bowl. “Eat more meat. Why are you only eating tofu?”

His little husband worked hard at embroidery. When he was home, he often saw his little husband sitting all day in front of the embroidery hoop. He needed to hunt more so that once they had land, they wouldn’t have to worry about running out of food, and his little husband wouldn’t need to work so hard.

At night, Wei Qingshan held his little husband and closed his eyes. He had gotten used to holding his little husband while sleeping. When he was in the mountains, sleeping alone in a cold bed didn’t feel comfortable at all.

The next day, Wei Qingshan carried the game on his back and went to town to sell it. Lin Yu packed the dried goji berries he had sun-dried and put more than a dozen eggs into the basket. “The chickens at home have started laying eggs. We can’t finish eating them all, so take them to town and sell them.”

“We should save up more eggs. In winter, the chickens won’t lay.”

“We still can’t eat that many. There’s already a lot at home.”

“Alright.”

Wei Qingshan carried the game into town. After Lin Yu tidied up the backyard, he went back to embroidering. Those handkerchiefs for the married women and husbands—he still needed to find time to embroider them.

Quarreling noises came again from next door. Lin Yu sighed. It seemed Qian Gui’er had returned. When Qian Gui’er wasn’t home, Sang Niang’s days were a bit easier. But whenever Qian Gui’er came back, he would hit Sang Niang again.

Lin Yu put down his things and went out to take a look. The courtyard was in chaos. Qian Laotai hid inside the house and didn’t dare come out, muttering, “Hit her, hit hard, beat her to death so it’s all over.”

In the courtyard, Qian Gui’er was grabbing Sang Niang by the hair. “You bitch, always acting mysterious and playing tricks. I want to see how powerful you think you are!”

Sang Niang had also had enough. She bit down hard on Qian Gui’er’s arm, and the two of them rolled into a scuffle on the ground. Qing-ger was behind, pulling at Qian Gui’er’s clothes. “Don’t hit my mother, don’t!”

Lin Yu quickly went over and picked up Qing-ger, afraid that Qian Gui’er, in his drunken rage, wouldn’t even spare his own son.

Lin Yu carried Qing-ger back home. “Qing-ger, be good, play here with Ama.”

When Sang Niang came to pick up Qing-ger, her face was black and blue. Lin Yu quickly went inside to get some medicinal wine. “Sang Niang, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, I won’t die.” Sang Niang thanked him and left with Qing-ger.

Qian Gui’er had drunk too much today. Normally, he wouldn’t dare hit her, afraid she’d stand by his bed at night with a knife.

That afternoon, Lin Yu carried a basket and went to the back mountain to cut grass. He didn’t know there had been another commotion at the Qian household next door. It was just because Qing-ger had been squatting on the ground playing, which annoyed Qian Gui’er’s eyes, and Qian Gui’er had kicked him away. Qing-ger lay on the ground crying loudly.

Sang Niang quickly rushed over and picked him up. She glared fiercely at Qian Gui’er. Qian Gui’er spat. “Crazy woman, little bastard!”

She couldn’t beat Qian Gui’er, but when she went crazy, he couldn’t get any advantage over her either. She could endure Qian Gui’er hitting her, but he must not touch her Qing-ger!

Sang Niang kept that in her heart. She would not let Qian Gui’er off.

Wei Qingshan, after selling the game in town, bought some meat and embroidery threads. He wasn’t in a rush to go back. Instead, he spent some time asking around in town before heading home. His little husband had asked him last time to inquire about who Zhao Dazhi was marrying.

Wei Qingshan asked around and came back frowning. He had heard people say that the girl from the Yao family had a bit of a temper.

When Wei Qingshan got back, he told Lin Yu about it. “I heard Zhao Dazhi is marrying a girl from the Yao family in town. Her father and older brother work as hired hands for a wealthy household, so their family is fairly well-off. They probably saw something in Zhao Dazhi’s tongsheng status.”

“How’s the person?”

“I heard her temper’s not very good.”

Lin Yu felt uneasy in his heart. “After marrying over, she won’t bully Yueniang, right?”

Lin Yu could only silently pray that the new bride would treat Yueniang better. As long as she didn’t treat her harshly, it would be fine.

A month later, Lin Yu finished embroidering the wedding garment. The old woman readily paid the remaining silver, and only then did Lin Yu free up his hands to start embroidering the babies in the handkerchiefs. He had Wei Qingshan help him buy some silk fabric and some embroidery thread when he went to town.

Once people in the village found out that Lin Yu had some free time, quite a few came over asking him to embroider dolls. Lin Yu agreed to each one. “Once I finish embroidering, I’ll take them to the village entrance to sell. If anyone wants to buy, just go there to get them.”

Only then did the crowd leave. During those days, Lin Yu stayed home embroidering the dolls sitting in lotus flowers, with a smile on his lips. Once he had embroidered enough and saved up some silver, the next year, he and Wei Qingshan could buy land.

He thought of his mother again. In order to earn more silver, she would often light a lamp at night to do embroidery. She would stroke his hair and say, “Once mother does a bit more embroidery, she can buy sugar candy for Yu-ger, and then buy paper and ink for your father.”

His mother’s face always carried a faint smile. Thinking of her brought a smile to Lin Yu’s own lips. As long as he embroidered more, he could earn more silver. Once the family had land next year, he wouldn’t need to embroider as much.

Chun-ger always envied him for knowing how to embroider, thinking it more relaxing than grinding tofu. But when rushing to finish work, he would sit all day, his back and eyes hurting. Back then, his mother had rushed through night after night to save travel expenses for his father to take the exams, causing her eyes to tear up even during the day—she had strained them too hard.

Lin Yu felt that he didn’t particularly like embroidery. He just treated it as work, hoping to let Wei Qingshan suffer a little less. When he had been in the Zhao household, he hadn’t told anyone he knew how to embroider—otherwise, with Cai Chunhua’s personality, she would have made him sit in front of the embroidery hoop day and night.

When Wei Qingshan came back, he was leading a deer. Lin Yu quickly helped him remove the basket from his back. “Why did you come down the mountain so late?”

“I hunted this deer, so I came down while it wasn’t dark yet.”

“I didn’t know you’d be back. I’ll go cook for you.”

“Just make something simple.” Wei Qingshan untied the cloth pouch from his waist. “I picked some crabapple fruit on the mountain. They’re pretty sweet—wash and eat them.”

Lin Yu was happy to see wild fruit. “Okay, I’ll go cook first.”

By then, it had already been dark for a while. Lin Yu had just been about to pack up his embroidery basket and rest when Wei Qingshan returned with the game. Lin Yu quickly went to the kitchen, stir-fried some eggs, and made a pot of hand-pulled noodles.

Wei Qingshan held the bowl and began to eat. “Why were you still embroidering so late?”

“I wasn’t, just embroidered for a bit. I was about to sleep.”

Wei Qingshan knew Lin Yu was eager to buy land. There was more game deep in the mountains, and this time he had even caught a deer. To sell it at a good price, he had only wounded its hoof, so it had taken him longer to come down the mountain.

Wei Qingshan sat at the table eating, while Lin Yu sat beside him nibbling on crabapple fruit. Sour and sweet, the taste was quite good.

“We’re going to town tomorrow, right?”

“Mm, this deer’s hoof is injured, better to sell it early. Do you want to come to town with me tomorrow?”

“Okay.”

It wasn’t often that Wei Qingshan came home, and Lin Yu stayed home every day—just right for them to stroll through town together.

This time, Lin Yu brought some eggs from home again. They had eight hens at home, and every day he could collect five or six eggs. He embroidered in the front yard during the day and could hear the hens clucking when they laid eggs in the backyard.

The two of them, leading the deer, couldn’t walk fast. By the time they reached the town, the sun was already high in the sky.

“Let’s go ask at the restaurant in town.”

Deer were expensive. It wouldn’t sell well at the market. In previous years, when he caught large prey, he would always go to a restaurant in town—he was quite familiar with the manager there.

Wei Qingshan led the deer to the back door and knocked. Before long, the manager came out. “Yo, this deer is a big one.”

“I waited in the woods for two days to catch it.”

The two discussed and settled the price. The manager gave Wei Qingshan a cloth pouch. He looked at Lin Yu. “I heard you got married this spring. This must be your husband, right? Congratulations, congratulations.”

Wei Qingshan cupped his hands in greeting. “Mm, may the manager’s business also prosper.” The manager saw Lin Yu carrying eggs and simply bought those too—after all, buying from anyone was still buying, and at three wen per egg, he straightforwardly paid the copper coins.

Lin Yu gave thanks. Originally, he was going to sell them at the market, but with the restaurant manager buying them, he didn’t have to make a round trip.

Without that injured deer slowing them down, the two simply strolled around town. Lin Yu bought some more embroidery thread at a stall, and Wei Qingshan bought some meat and then some pastries at a pastry shop.

Lin Yu quietly tugged on his sleeve. “Buy a little less, this is expensive.”

“We don’t buy it often, I’m just getting a little to try.”

Pastries were much more expensive than fruits. Pastries not only used better ingredients, but also looked better. Lin Yu had never eaten them before, so Wei Qingshan brought him over to buy some.

That packet of pastries alone cost fifty copper coins. Lin Yu carefully placed it into the back basket, afraid it would get crushed.

Wei Qingshan then saw a stall selling hairbands on the street. His little husband used the peach wood hairpin he had carved before every day. Wei Qingshan stopped and stood there. Lin Yu saw that he wanted to buy again and said, “Don’t, I already have one.”

“You don’t have one.”

The stall owner, a fellow husband, warmly invited the two of them to try some on. “Buying a hairpin for your husband? You can try it on.”

Wei Qingshan picked up a light green hairband. “Do you like this one?”

Lin Yu nodded. Wei Qingshan, with his clumsy hands, helped Lin Yu tie up his hair. It was loose and messy, and some strands fell against his cheeks.

Lin Yu felt a little embarrassed. “Let me do it myself.”

Wei Qingshan paid fifteen copper coins and bought that hairpin. “It looks very good.”

Lin Yu blushed from the compliment, lowered his head, and didn’t dare look at him.

The two strolled around the town for a while and ate some food before heading back. As soon as they got home, Wei Qingshan handed the cloth bag to Lin Yu. “Keep it safe.”

Lin Yu felt it and knew there was quite a lot. “So much?”

When he poured out the silver taels in the cloth bag, there were actually twenty-five taels of silver!

Lin Yu’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Wei Qingshan. “Next year we can buy land!”

“Mm, we can buy land.”

Lin Yu stored away the silver taels. With the savings from before, they now had a total of fifty taels of silver. If the price was low enough, they could even buy two mu of paddy field!

Seeing his little husband happy, Wei Qingshan was happy too. With his little husband by his side, he always felt full of motivation.

That night, Wei Qingshan held his little husband close with affection. Lin Yu couldn’t take it and bit his lip, not wanting to make any embarrassing sounds. But Wei Qingshan got mischievous and insisted on teasing him, until he made Lin Yu cry and had to coax him in his arms afterward.

Lin Yu couldn’t get up in the morning. Yesterday, Wei Qingshan had gone too far, and his waist was sore.

In the morning, the village became noisy, but Lin Yu lived on the outskirts and didn’t know what had happened.

He Dongdong specially came over to tell him, “Yu-ger, I heard a group of wild boars came to the village outskirts and ruined the fields of a few families. Your place is a bit out of the way, so if you’re home, make sure to keep the door closed.”

Wei Qingshan also heard it. “Did anyone see them?”

“No, several families’ fields got ruined. Who knows if they went back up the mountain or are hiding somewhere?” He Dongdong also seemed a bit scared. “I’m heading back first. Shi Tou said I’m not allowed to go running around the next few days, he’s afraid I might run into the wild boars.”

Lin Yu stood up and sent him off at the door. “Then be careful on your way back.”

“It’s fine, it’s broad daylight. Wild boars won’t dare come out.”

Not long after He Dongdong left, the sound of gongs came from the village. “Wild boars have come down the mountain. Everyone, try not to go out. Wild boars have come down the mountain. Do not go out…”

Lin Yu got a bit nervous. He had never seen a wild boar before, but he had heard people talk — wild boars had angry faces and sharp tusks that could pierce right through a person.

Wei Qingshan originally planned to go into the mountains for a few days, but with wild boars running down from the mountain, he couldn’t feel at ease leaving Lin Yu home alone. At night, when they went to bed, he closed the courtyard gate and the main hall door tightly, and even placed the machete in the house just in case.

Lin Yu couldn’t help but lean closer to Wei Qingshan. “Qingshan, have you ever run into wild boars on the mountain?”

“Yes, a fully grown wild boar weighs two to three hundred jin. If people run into one, they have to avoid it. I usually don’t hunt wild boars. A few years ago, I did hunt some that weren’t fully grown, around a hundred jin.”

“Mm, don’t go hunting these kinds of things anymore, it’s too dangerous.”

“Got it.”

The next day, the village head came looking for them. As soon as he came in, he sighed, “Goudan’s leg got trampled and broken by a wild boar. Yesterday I already beat the gong and told people not to go out. I told them not to go out, but Goudan’s family’s field got ruined, and he insisted on going down to plant; he just happened to run into a wild boar. Luckily, he managed to keep his life.”

“Is the injury serious? Did he see how many wild boars there were?”

“Him only breaking a leg is already considered lucky. Thank goodness the kid was clever and jumped into the water, otherwise, he’d be dead.”

Lin Yu felt a bit scared hearing this. How could wild boars be so fierce?

“Goudan said there were two or three of them. Qingshan, these wild boars are ruining crops and hurting people. We can’t just ignore it anymore. If they get into the village, that’ll be big trouble. You’re the only hunter in the village. Can you help us out?”

Wei Qingshan nodded. “Gather some men from the village. Let’s talk and figure out what to do.”

“Alright, I’ll go call everyone to gather at the village entrance.”

After the village chief and Wei Qingshan agreed on this matter, he left. Lin Yu tugged on Wei Qingshan’s sleeve. “Can you not go? What if the wild boars leave in a few days?”

“The wild boars have already hurt someone. If they run into the village, it’ll be trouble. Best to take care of them directly.” Wei Qingshan patted Lin Yu’s hand. “It’s fine, there are plenty of strong young men in the village, nothing to be afraid of.”

The village chief quickly began beating the gong, calling for the villagers to gather at the entrance. The quiet village suddenly became lively, and every household had someone come out. Lin Yu and Wei Qingshan also headed toward the village entrance. He Dongdong and Shi Tou came too. When they saw Lin Yu, they squeezed over to his side. “Is the village chief going to talk about the wild boars?”

Lin Yu nodded. He Dongdong spoke to him in a low voice, “I heard several families’ fields were ruined by the wild boars. Even Wei Er’s land was wrecked. Look, Xia Hehua is so angry her face turned green.” The village chief had already come to his house. Lin Yu was now worried whether Wei Qingshan might run into danger while hunting wild boars.

The village chief stood at the front, talking about hunting the wild boars. He hadn’t even finished speaking when a few young men in the crowd started getting excited. “Village chief, I’ll go! I’ll go!”

“I want to go too! I want to go too!”

An old woman yanked at her young son. “What nonsense are you saying?! What if you get hurt?”

The village chief struck the gong again at the front. “If you’re willing to go, then find Qingshan. Everyone should follow Qingshan’s arrangements. The meat from any boars hunted will go to the households that participated. If you don’t go, then don’t even think about it. Everyone knows wild boars are fierce. This isn’t a game.”

Those who had originally backed out changed their minds upon hearing there would be wild boar meat to share. Though wild boars were fierce, it was rare to get meat in the countryside. With so many people, what was there to be afraid of?

“I’ll go! I’ll go!”

“Qingshan, I want to go too!”

The village chief shouted from the front, “Alright then, whoever wants to go, look for Qingshan. You’re all brave men, don’t be some turtle with its head pulled in!”

The strong young men of the village all gathered around Wei Qingshan. Lin Yu stood off to the side with He Dongdong. He Dongdong craned his neck to look in—Shi Tou was in there too.

He Dongdong was also a bit worried. “It should be fine, right?”

This time, nearly all the men from each household had gone. Qian Gui’er hunched his neck and secretly slipped back home. He wasn’t going! Just for a bit of meat? What if he lost his life?

Wei Qingshan told everyone to first go pick some naoyang flowers, and soak the juice into their iron forks, hoes, and other farm tools. Then he led people to dig traps outside the village.

“We don’t know which field the wild boars are hiding in right now. When you’re picking naoyang flowers, don’t go alone. Go in groups.”

“Got it, Brother Qingshan.”

Upon hearing they were going to hunt wild boars, the young folks who liked excitement were all thrilled. They grouped up and happily headed out of the village to gather naoyang flowers.

Wei Qingshan went with Shi Tou, He Dazhu, and the others toward the back mountain. He made arrangements for Lin Yu, “I’ll walk you home on the way. When you’re alone at home, lock the door and don’t come out.”

Lin Yu nodded. He Dongdong also followed Shi Niang home.

Once the people dispersed, each household shut its gates tight again. Every family had elders and children, all afraid that the wild boars might rush into the village and hurt someone.

After returning home, Lin Yu let Dahei and Baixue out into the front courtyard. He went inside and locked the door tight, and only dared open it again once Wei Qingshan had returned.

Wei Qingshan took out his arrows and machete. Lin Yu helped him pound and mash the leaves and roots of the naoyang flowers beside him. Naoyang flowers were poisonous and could numb prey.

They poured out quite a lot of juice, and Wei Qingshan soaked the arrows and machete in it.

“This afternoon, I’ll take people to dig traps outside the village. You stay home and keep the doors locked.”

“Got it.”

That afternoon, the young men from the village came to find Wei Qingshan, carrying hoes, iron spades, and bundles of bamboo with the ends carved into sharp points.

Wei Qingshan led them away, avoiding the wild boars hiding in the fields. A group of people marched out of the village with their tools in grand formation.

Lin Yu was at home, unable to concentrate on embroidery. He ended up taking apart some old clothes at home, preparing to paste together inner insoles to make Wei Qingshan a couple of pairs of shoes. Wei Qingshan was always running around the mountains, so he went through his shoes quickly.

Just as Lin Yu was tearing old cloth, he heard a commotion from next door again. Qian Gui’er was shouting, “You damn woman, say one more word to Lao Tzu!”

Sang Niang was slapped to the ground by Qian Gui’er. “Qian Gui’er, you’re just a coward! So many people went, and you didn’t even dare to go hunt a wild boar! Serves you right for being unable to have a son! You’re just a coward!”

Qian Gui’er was furious and jumped on top of Sang Niang to beat her. “You little slut, you damn woman! Who gave you the guts to talk like that?! I’ll make you talk!”

Sang Niang was beaten until the corner of her mouth bled, but she didn’t make a sound. She even wore a smile as she comforted Qing-ger, hiding in the weaving room. “Qing-ger, don’t be afraid. Mama’s fine.”

Qing-ger had been so frightened that he curled up into a ball by the doorway. Qian Gui’er had gone mad with anger and raised his foot to fiercely kick Sang Niang several times.

Wei Qingshan led a group of people to dig a trap under a steep mountain cliff, inserting sharp bamboo spikes inside, just waiting for the next day to drive the wild boars into it from three sides.

The next day, after breakfast, the young men from every household who were going to hunt the wild boars all left the house with tools that had been soaked overnight. He Dazhu, Erzhu, and a few others came over holding iron pitchforks to find Wei Qingshan. Several people were standing at Wei Qingshan’s door chatting, each of them very excited.

Wei Qingshan instructed Lin Yu to go hide at He Dongdong’s house. He was afraid the noise outside the village would frighten Lin Yu. Lin Yu obediently carried his embroidery basket and went to find He Dongdong.

As the group passed by the Qian household, Qian Gui’er also came out holding a pitchfork.

“Yo, Qian Gui’er, you’re coming too? We thought you were going to keep your neck shrunk and stay hidden.”

“Scram, Lao Tzu went home early yesterday to get ready!” Qian Gui’er glared at the person and also followed with his pitchfork.

He was just going along to watch the commotion, he wasn’t stupid. Once the wild boars showed up, he would just hide in the back. That little slut Sang Niang had actually dared to scold him as a coward yesterday—just wait until he got back, he’d beat her to death!

After the men left, all the households in the village once again tightly shut their courtyard gates, afraid that the wild boars might be startled and run into the village. Lin Yu found He Dongdong, and he, too, was a bit scared, so he brought Shi Niang along and the three of them returned to his mother’s home. With more people around, they didn’t feel as afraid.

Wei Qingshan led the people toward the fields where the wild boars had been appearing. The fields had rice, sorghum, and cotton, which had all been rooted through and trampled by the wild boars, ruining a lot of food.

“Everyone, form groups of seven or eight. Light the firecrackers in separate spots. Once you hear any movement, drive them toward the cliffside.”

“Okay!”

Everyone split up into groups, lighting the fire and tossing the bamboo into it. The heated bamboo exploded with a loud bang.

At the He household, Lin Yu was startled by the sound. Outside the village, one explosion followed another. Everyone in the courtyard hid inside the house. The two children in the He family started bawling in fright.

Everyone huddled inside the house. He Dasao and He Ersao were busy coaxing the children. The children’s crying and the explosion of the firecrackers made it impossible for Lin Yu to concentrate on his embroidery. He could only worry about what was happening outside. At the Qian household, the gate was also tightly shut. Sang Niang held the frightened and crying Qing-ger and hid in a corner. Her face was expressionless as she lightly patted Qing-ger on the back. “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Be good. Maybe we won’t have to be afraid anymore in the future.”

Qing-ger cried in her arms. “Mama, I want to eat malt candy.”

The hand that was patting Qing-ger paused for a moment. Sang Niang softly said, “There’s no more malt candy. In a few days, Mama will go to town and buy some for you.”

Along the path outside the village, fires were lit everywhere. Bamboo was tossed directly into the flames, and the bang bang sounds startled the wild boars hiding in the crops. The wild boars howled and started running.

“I saw them! I saw them! over there!”

Wei Qingshan saw them too. It looked like there were three wild boars, all fully grown and quite large in size. “Everyone, be careful. Hold the torches and keep throwing the bamboo.”