Tian Xiao Wu looked up.
Weren’t these the lazy good-for-nothings from the neighboring villages?
“Zhu Zi, Er Gou Zi—what are you two doing here in our village?” Halfway through speaking, Tian Xiao Wu’s expression changed. He began pushing them toward the entrance. “My dad’s at the brigade headquarters right now. He forbids people like you from coming around here. Hurry up and leave! If he catches sight of you, I’ll get a scolding for sure.”
These young men from other villages were notorious for dodging work and avoiding labor. They hated nothing more than working in the fields, and Tian Xing Fa—Tian Xiao Wu’s father—would flare up with anger whenever he saw them. He had long forbidden Tian Xiao Wu from spending time with them.
Hearing this, a look of deep annoyance flashed across the faces of the layabouts and petty troublemakers, though they quickly masked it.
They took a few steps back as if obeying, then suddenly grabbed Tian Xiao Wu.
“Xiao Wu, didn’t we agree to find somewhere to hang out this afternoon? It’s already this late, and you’re still loitering around the brigade headquarters?”
Tian Xiao Wu pulled a long face. “I can’t go. My dad caught me and ordered me to plant sweet potato seedlings this afternoon. You all go ahead without me.”
He looked utterly resigned.
But the others refused to let him off the hook. “We already settled on it—everyone’s accounted for. How can you back out now? By the way, Er Gou Zi brought a deck of cards from outside. We could play a few rounds today.”
“For money?” Tian Xiao Wu asked hesitantly.
The others snickered. “What’s the point of playing cards if there’s no stake? It’s no fun otherwise.”
Tian Xiao Wu shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum.
He waved his hands in alarm. “Then I definitely can’t come. My dad warned me he’d break my legs if he ever caught me gambling. If he found out I was betting money, he’d probably beat me half to death—or even have me thrown in jail. Forget it, you guys go. I’ll do my work in the fields properly this afternoon.”
“You’re nothing but a coward, Xiao Wu! Always hiding behind your dad’s apron strings. You’ll spend your whole life being your daddy’s obedient little boy!” snapped Zhu Zi, his temper flaring at Tian Xiao Wu’s firm refusal.
Tian Xiao Wu immediately stepped forward aggressively. “Watch your mouth! My dad raised me from a baby—if I don’t listen to him, who should I listen to? Get out! Get out of our village right now!”
As the youngest child in the family, Tian Xiao Wu had been doted on growing up. Hearing such insults naturally made him lose his temper.
The rest quickly jumped in to mediate. “Easy, easy. Zhu Zi, apologize to Xiao Wu—you shouldn’t have said that.”
“Exactly. Xiao Wu, calm down. You know how Zhu Zi is—he never thinks before he opens his mouth.”
Zhu Zi’s expression shifted through several emotions. After a moment of hesitation, he lowered his head and mumbled a reluctant apology.
With the others coaxing and smoothing things over, Tian Xiao Wu’s expression finally softened.
Seizing the chance, the others pulled him firmly, refusing to let go.
“Xiao Wu, listen to us—skip work this afternoon and come play cards instead. It’s way more fun. No scorching sun, no tiring labor. Your family doesn’t need those few work points anyway.”
After the heated exchange, Tian Xiao Wu had already lost interest in joining them. Besides, he suddenly felt an urgent need to use the outhouse, so he tried to break free and hurry away.
“Forget it—you go ahead. I absolutely won’t join the card game. If my dad finds out, he’ll beat me black and blue. And I’m telling you, you shouldn’t do it either. When we just wander around the village skipping work, folks only mutter behind our backs. But if we start gambling, we’ll be no different from the ruffians and thugs from outside. People will despise us even more.”
“I’ve said enough. I’m off to the latrine—you all better be gone when I get back!” With that, Tian Xiao Wu rushed toward the outhouse.
Once he was gone, the group of troublemakers exchanged glances, then all turned to look at Er Gou Zi.
“Brother Gou, why wait for Xiao Wu anymore? Let’s just go play ourselves. He’s such a coward—happy to slave away in the fields like a dumb ox.”
The words were harsh, but no one spoke up to defend Tian Xiao Wu.
Er Gou Zi’s face turned dark. “You fool—don’t you get it? Who among us has it as good as Tian Xiao Wu? His dad is the brigade leader—he even draws a regular salary. If we don’t fleece this fat sheep, what’s the fun in playing just among ourselves? Give it a little longer—when he comes out, we’ll drag him along.”
After whispering for a while, the group squatted on a small earthen slope behind the brigade headquarters to wait.
The slope stood right next to the latrine. Barely had they settled down when a series of splashing, gurgling sounds drifted from inside.
Disgusted, the men quickly stood up and moved further away.
As they walked, they heard people in front of the brigade headquarters talking excitedly about a pheasant.
Ten minutes later, Tian Xiao Wu emerged from the latrine looking thoroughly relieved.
He had barely taken two steps when the group surrounded him again.
“Aren’t you fellows gone yet?” Remembering the racket he’d made inside, Tian Xiao Wu felt a little embarrassed.
“Xiao Wu—we heard there’s a young woman named Ye Qing in your village. They say she climbed the mountain alone yesterday and came back with a wild pheasant. Is that true?” one of them asked bluntly.
“Everyone’s saying she’s got the knack for mountain foraging—can wander the deep woods all by herself.”
Tian Xiao Wu was still fastening his belt, but nodded vigorously. “That’s right—I heard the same story.”
He spoke with undisguised admiration. “Who would’ve thought someone like that lives among us? Right now, I’m even less capable than a young daughter-in-law!”
The men exchanged skeptical looks. “Sounds like your villagers are just boasting. Or maybe she just got lucky. How could a woman dare go into the deep mountains all alone?”
Tian Xiao Wu grew defensive. “It’s true! I was on militia duty yesterday and saw her come down from the mountain at dusk with my own eyes!”
“Is game that scarce up there these days? Or did the bears hibernate through the season and never wake up?” Er Gou Zi rubbed his chin and gazed toward the mountains.
“Xiao Wu, in a couple of days we’ll all go up there together. Who knows—maybe we’ll bag a pheasant or a hare ourselves and finally get some decent meat in our bellies.”
Tian Xiao Wu immediately tried to pull away. “No way! I’ve got work to do in the village, and my dad would never let me wander the mountains alone.”
“Who said anything about going alone? We’ll all be with you.”
“Still no—he’d break my legs anyway.”
“First you refuse to play cards, and now you won’t even go up the mountain! Tian Xiao Wu—are you really going to be your daddy’s good boy forever? Never amount to anything?”
“Exactly! If you still want to call us friends, come along for a look.”
“Let him be—he’s too scared. Still clinging to his mother’s apron strings, never daring to disobey his old man.”
Their taunts and goading struck a nerve. Tian Xiao Wu’s pride flared. “Fine—I’ll go! I’m no coward, that’s for sure!”
“Great—you said it yourself. In a couple of days, sneak out and meet us, and we’ll head up the mountain.”
Tian Xiao Wu agreed at once, then straightened his clothes and ordered them to leave. Only then did he return to the front of the brigade headquarters to continue bragging with the others.
As soon as he was out of earshot, the group of troublemakers turned to leave, still discussing their plan.
“Brother Gou, why did you insist on dragging Xiao Wu along just now?”
“Use your brains—of course I’m not stupid. If everyone says this Ye Qing knows her way around the mountains, we’ll just follow behind her. Whatever she finds or catches, we’ll take it from her. She’s only one woman—how dare she refuse us?”
“We don’t even know what she looks like—we need Xiao Wu to point her out.” Er Gou Zi spoke with a lazy, self-satisfied smirk.
Then he gave a cold chuckle. “Besides—with Tian Xiao Wu’s father being brigade leader, if we run into any trouble up there, wouldn’t he have to help us out?”
“Brother Gou—you’ve thought of everything!” someone praised, giving him a thumbs-up.
Pleased with himself, Er Gou Zi pulled out a cigarette and had one of his followers light it. He puffed away contentedly, looking thoroughly pleased with his own cleverness.
Neither Tian Xiao Wu nor Ye Qing had any idea what these outsiders were plotting.
Meanwhile, back at the Xiao household, Ye Qing had finished grinding corn grits and cornmeal in just ten minutes. Shi Feng Xia had also run out of breath from chatting. The two sisters-in-law cleaned up the stone mill, wiped their hands, and hurried home to eat pheasant.
As soon as they neared the Xiao family courtyard—before even stepping inside—a rich, savory aroma drifted out, making both swallow hard. They quickened their pace instinctively.
Ye Qing remembered the cloth bag she’d brought. She walked straight into the kitchen. “Mom, I ground some extra cornmeal today. Instead of plain corn porridge, why don’t we mix it into flatbreads and bake them along the edge of the pot? We can dip them in the pheasant broth.”
She fell silent mid-sentence, noticing no response. When she looked closer, she found Xiao Yang sitting behind the stove instead.
“Where’s Mom? Why are you here?” she asked.
“Your mother sent me. She said my cooking is better than hers, so I’m in charge of stewing the pheasant today.”
Ye Qing remembered then—Xiao Yang had once apprenticed at the state-run restaurant. Even though he hadn’t finished his training, the master chefs there were true professionals. Even their apprentices had solid skills.
The delicious scent had hit her before she even entered the yard; now standing in the kitchen, the fragrance wrapped around her completely.
Unable to resist, she lifted the pot lid for a peek.
Xiao Yang tried to stop her but was too late. He sank back behind the stove and continued feeding the fire, looking slightly annoyed.
The moment the lid lifted, the rich aroma of pheasant meat filled the air. Ye Qing breathed in deeply—there was not only the savory meat scent but also a faint, earthy fragrance of mushrooms. Looking inside, she saw the whole pheasant she’d brought home, chopped into chunks. Nothing was wasted: the innards—gizzards, liver, and intestines—had all been cleaned and cut to size, bubbling away in the broth.
Every piece was coated in glossy, deep brown sauce, simmering gently. Potatoes lay at the bottom, already softening and melting into the liquid, thickening it further. A thin layer of golden oil glistened across the surface. Ye Qing couldn’t remember the last time she’d smelled anything this appetizing.
She quickly replaced the lid and praised him loudly. “No wonder you got into the state restaurant—your skills are no joke! I’ve never smelled stewed pheasant this good.”
Xiao Yang’s lips curved upward slightly behind the stove. Though he still felt a little wary of Ye Qing, praise still felt good. He returned the compliment. “It helps that you brought such a fine bird. When I gutted it, there was so much fat inside—I rendered it all down into lard. It’s in that jar over there; it’ll last us for two months easily.”
Ye Qing glanced where he pointed. Sure enough, a clay pot held rich, golden pheasant oil.
Xiao Yang went on to explain how he’d prepared the dish. “Freshly butchered game doesn’t need blanching. I just heated a little of the pheasant fat in the pot, tossed in the meat, and seared it until browned. The skin released even more oil as it cooked.”
“And I didn’t just use potatoes— I added dried hazel mushrooms we saved from last winter, too.”
Ye Qing could barely listen; her mouth was watering so much she could almost feel it pooling.
Recalling why she’d come in, she handed the cloth bag to Xiao Yang. “I didn’t grind all the corn into grits. There’s plenty of fine meal here. Mix it with water and press it into flatbreads to bake along the rim of the pot. We’ll dip them in the broth later.”
Xiao Yang took the bag, poured out the flour, and began kneading it with warm water.
Glancing sideways, he saw Ye Qing still standing there. Mustering his courage, he said, “You’d better go outside. I don’t like anyone hanging around while I cook.”
Ye Qing asked how much longer until it was ready.
“Half an hour.”
With that, she turned and left.
For the next thirty minutes, the courtyard smelled so delicious that no one could concentrate on their chores. Everyone waited impatiently. When Xiao Yang finally called out, “Dinner’s ready!” the whole family hurried inside.
Shi Feng Xia rushed to set the low wooden table on the brick bed. Once the pot was placed on top, everyone climbed up eagerly as if it were Lunar New Year.
The moment the pheasant was served, faces lit up with excitement.
Chen Xiu Zhi picked up her chopsticks first and served everyone a piece of meat.
“Let’s not waste words today—just enjoy this meal. I know you’ve all worked hard lately.”
Ye Qing said nothing. She bit into the meat and almost sighed in satisfaction.
“This is the best stewed pheasant I’ve ever tasted.”
Xiao Yang’s cooking, combined with the freshness of the bird, made the meat so tender it fell off the bone—soft enough to swallow without much chewing.
After a few pieces, Ye Qing turned to the potatoes, which had soaked up every drop of flavor. They were fluffy and melted instantly on the tongue.
Paired with the warm corn flatbreads, it was a feast the whole family savored.
No one spoke; chopsticks moved so fast they blurred.
When barely half the pot remained, everyone finally slowed down. Ye Qing asked, “Are you all full?”
Xiao Lei finished his last bite of bread and quietly loosened his belt under the table. “Absolutely.”
Xiao Yang nodded in agreement. Shi Feng Xia leaned back against the wall, rubbing her stomach. “I’ve eaten way too much—just want to lie down and sleep right here. This is the best meal I’ve had in ages.”
“Since you’re all done, I’ll finish the rest,” Ye Qing announced. She picked up the last two flatbreads, tore them into pieces, dipped them in the rich broth, and popped them into her mouth one by one. A look of pure bliss spread across her face.
This was what life should be—this was what real food tasted like!
She ate every last crumb, soaked up every drop of broth, and finished all the potatoes and vegetables.
After days of living together, the Xiao family was already used to Ye Qing’s large appetite. No one said a word, though each silently thought how wonderful the meal had been.
As Shi Feng Xia lay back, she felt a twinge of disappointment—not toward Ye Qing, but at the thought she’d had earlier: she’d planned to save the leftover broth to mix with rice porridge for dinner, but now it was all gone.
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she felt a chill and shook herself awake.
Wait a minute! The whole pheasant had been caught by Ye Qing. Without her, there would be no feast at all. How could I be so selfish?
She shook her head, then smiled, admiring Ye Qing’s skill in catching such a plump bird and feeding everyone so well.
Ye Qing wiped the last bit of sauce from the bowl and casually spoke up. “Since today’s pheasant is gone, I’ll head back up the mountain tomorrow.”
Before Chen Xiu Zhi could protest, she added, “My legs are still sore from the last trip. I won’t go deep into the woods—just stick to the foothills, look for wild vegetables, and rest up. Once my legs feel better, I’ll venture further again.”
Chen Xiu Zhi had no argument left. She’d just finished eating and couldn’t very well forbid Ye Qing from going.
Seeing them fall silent, Ye Qing continued, barely hiding her smile. “It’s the perfect season for wild greens right now—fern shoots, dandelions, and other herbs are everywhere. I’ll only go where others rarely wander, gather what I can, and dry them out later. We can sell them for extra grain or save them for winter meals. Once my legs heal, I’ll decide about deeper trips. Does that sound fair?”
No one objected. Chen Xiu Zhi only warned repeatedly to be careful and not take unnecessary risks.
“Listen to me, dear—if you ever get hurt or run into danger, just come straight back and work the fields with me. Wild animals won’t dare come this close to the village.” In effect, she was agreeing to let Ye Qing forage instead of doing regular farm labor.
Ye Qing promised to be careful and accepted every bit of advice.
She had her own reasons. If she ever did suffer a serious injury in the mountains, it would mean the trade was no longer worth the risk—better to stick to farming. In another ten years or so, markets would open up anyway; there would be plenty of ways to make money then. No need to risk her life for a few extra supplies.
With everything settled, everyone returned to their chores after the satisfying meal.
Shi Feng Xia was so stuffed she could barely move. Since she was pregnant, no one insisted she go out to work; she stayed home to nap and tidy up later. The rest grabbed their tools and headed to the fields.
As soon as Chen Xiu Zhi and her two sons left, Ye Qing slung her bamboo basket over her arm and set off. True to her word, she stayed near the foothills, walking only about an hour inland, searching areas rarely visited by women and children.
This became her routine for the next several days.
Ye Qing avoided joining groups of other women. Whenever they saw her, they would crowd around—asking how she was treated by the Xiao family, why her parents had demanded such a high bride price, or trying to coax her into taking them into the woods to hunt for game.
Her patience was limited, and she soon grew tired of it. Later, whenever she spotted other women, she simply turned the other way. Only when she occasionally ran into Xiao Yan and her older brothers and sisters did she join them to share finds and fruits.
The village children were innocent and trusting. Happy to have someone willing to explore with them, they quickly warmed up to Ye Qing. Within days, Xiao Yan was calling her “Cousin Sister-in-Law” affectionately.
The three siblings roamed the hills daily and knew places no one else dared visit. They even showed Ye Qing a bird’s nest high up in a tree, though none of them dared climb to reach it.
What they wouldn’t try, Ye Qing did. She set down her basket, scrambled up the trunk in seconds, and retrieved seven eggs. She took only four, leaving the rest behind. Back on the ground, she gave one egg to each child. In return, Xiao Yan shared all the wild berries she’d picked, declaring Ye Qing the best sister-in-law ever.
This was the peak season for wild vegetables—bracken, fern shoots, and Siberian ginseng, all at their most tender and flavorful. Ye Qing filled her basket to the brim every day.
Back home, the whole family pitched in. As soon as Xiao Lei and Xiao Yang returned from work, they fetched water. Ye Qing and Shi Feng Xia washed the greens, while Chen Xiu Zhi boiled them briefly in salted water.
Once blanched, the vegetables were laid out to dry in the sun. If stored properly, they would last until the following spring. That way, even when snow covered the mountains in winter, there would still be something green and fresh on the table.
One day, Ye Qing brought home something even more exciting—a large, heavy deer antler. In her past life, wild animals had grown scarce in the mountains she knew, so finding such a prize was rare. She treated it like treasure.
When the family returned, she held it up proudly. “Look what I found today!”
Everyone stared in amazement.
“This is valuable,” Ye Qing said, turning it over. “How much would it sell for? I heard deer velvet fetches a good price, and the supply station buys it.”
Chen Xiu Zhi rarely left the village and didn’t know much about it, so she pushed Xiao Lei forward. “Your older brother has sold wild goods in town before—he’ll know.”
Xiao Lei took the antler and examined it carefully. “This is just a hard antler, not velvet. There’s a big difference. Velvet is harvested while still young and soft, full of blood and nutrients—it’s a precious medicinal herb. The supply station pays up to eighty yuan for a pair.”
Ye Qing frowned. “So this isn’t velvet?”
“Not at all,” Xiao Lei explained. “Hard antlers fall off naturally once they’ve grown fully—like fingernails falling off. Velvet is cut while it’s still soft and growing. This one is useless for medicine.”
Ye Qing nodded, listening closely.
“There are red deer and sika deer up there. Red deer are more common, but sika deer velvet is far more valuable.”
“Then this one’s worthless—can’t trade it for grain?”
“Not worthless,” Xiao Lei corrected. “People still buy them at the market to make medicinal ointments. It won’t bring much, but enough to exchange for some food. We’ll take you there next time the market opens.”
Ye Qing brightened. “Great! I’ll keep an eye out for more then.”
…
Four or five days later, Ye Qing’s legs felt completely healed—no more soreness or pain. She wasted no time telling the family she was ready to go deeper into the mountains.
Before dawn, Chen Xiu Zhi was already up. Smoke curled from the kitchen chimney.
“Mom—why are you awake so early?” Ye Qing rubbed her eyes and peered into the kitchen.
Chen Xiu Zhi stirred the fire. “I didn’t prepare anything for your first trip, but now I know better. I’ll bake some corn flatbreads before work—something to take with you, so you won’t go hungry if you don’t find anything.”
“And there’s an old work coat by the bed—your father-in-law’s. He used it for carpentry, but it’s sturdy and barely worn. I altered it a bit. Wear it up there—it’ll protect your clothes from branches and scratches.”
Ye Qing crawled over to see. It was a thick, olive-green canvas jacket. She picked it up gratefully.
The woods were full of sharp twigs and thorns; even a small tear would leave her cold. The weather was still cool before summer arrived. Holding the coat and seeing Chen Xiu Zhi’s thoughtfulness, Ye Qing felt a surge of warmth. She decided then—regardless of how things turned out with Xiao Yang, she would always respect and care for this mother-in-law.
Before leaving, Ye Qing asked about the market. She learned the next one would be held in ten days.
Walking up the trail, she planned her route. With ten days to go, there was no need to catch pheasants or hares just yet. Keeping them at home would only waste feed and cause them to lose weight—hardly worth it. Better to wait until just before market day to hunt, so the meat would be fresh.
Today, her goal was clear: valuable mushrooms and herbs, which could be dried and traded for grain. Spring mushrooms, chaga fungus, and Solomon’s seal root were all highly sought after. Plus, she’d look for eggs and small game.
And of course—she wanted to catch another pheasant for the family. Xiao Yang’s stew had tasted so good she’d been dreaming about it ever since.
Munching on her flatbread, she followed the stream upward, stopping only occasionally to pick wild berries along the way.
She’d been walking for hours when she looked up. The sun stood high, around nine o’clock. A cluster of red berries caught her eye—raspberries. Nearby lay a few fallen tree trunks. She sat down to rest, eating the sweet fruit while scanning the surroundings.
And then she saw it.
This part of the woods was rarely visited. The decaying logs were covered in wood ear mushrooms and meadow mushrooms.
The mushrooms were smaller than those grown in farms, and many were already dry—tiny as a cat’s ear.
Once she finished the berries, Ye Qing leaned forward and carefully picked every mushroom, tucking them into her storage space.
The mushrooms grew in thick clusters. She gathered them quickly, making quite a rustle as she moved.
But there was another sound—louder than hers.
Snap!
A branch broke somewhere to her right and behind.
Thud!
It fell to the ground, followed by the sound of something heavy tumbling down.
Then came scurrying footsteps—like someone trying to hide in a hurry.
Ye Qing glanced toward the noise, a cold smile spreading across her face.
She’d noticed she was being followed long before reaching this spot. While climbing, she’d casually glanced back and spotted familiar faces—including Tian Xiao Wu, whom she’d met briefly on her first trip.
The rest were strangers—people she’d never seen in the village.
She’d led them on for two hours, deliberately taking winding paths and tiring them out, just to see what they wanted. Now that they’d grown clumsy and noisy, she finally stopped to rest and gather mushrooms.
“Two hours of following me like shadows, too cowardly to show themselves—their intentions can’t be good,” she murmured.
But she wasn’t afraid. This mountain was her playground, her hunting ground. No one could trick or trap her here.
Still, she disliked having unwanted company. It made it hard to use her storage space, and carrying everything was exhausting.
After picking the last mushroom, she slipped off the trail and vanished into the dense foliage, leaving her pursuers completely lost.
Elsewhere in the woods, Tian Xiao Wu and the others were already arguing loudly.
That morning, the brigade leader had gone to the commune for a meeting, leaving Tian Xiao Wu unsupervised. He’d planned to sleep late and skip work entirely.
But before sunrise, his old friends had somehow found their way to his house, pulled him out of bed, and dragged him straight into the mountains.
They wouldn’t say where they were going or what they were looking for—just kept walking, stopping frequently to climb trees and scan the woods.
Tian Xiao Wu, half-asleep, leaned against a trunk, yawning.
Suddenly came a loud crack, followed by a heavy thud. He jumped awake just in time to see Zhu Zi tumble from a tree, landing hard on his rear end and groaning in pain.
Tian Xiao Wu laughed. “I told you to eat less—look at you, too heavy to climb a tree without breaking a branch!”
“Shut up! The branch was rotten, not me too heavy!” Zhu Zi grumbled, rubbing his sore bottom.
Before Tian Xiao Wu could tease him further, Zhu Zi sat up, frowning. “Are you sure we got the right woman? Is her name really Ye Qing?”
Tian Xiao Wu exchanged confused glances with his cousin. Why suddenly bring up Ye Qing?
But the others seemed to know exactly what was going on.
Er Gou Zi, their leader, stood up and brushed himself off. “Of course it’s her. Someone from the village pointed her out to us. What are you getting at—what is she doing?”
Zhu Zi peeked through the trees again, looking frustrated. “She’s just picking mushrooms and wood ears! If she’s such a skilled forager, why waste time on tiny plants instead of hunting pheasants and hares? Typical woman—no sense of what’s valuable.”
“So she’s just sitting there gathering mushrooms? You’re sure she isn’t searching for nests or game?” Er Gou Zi asked doubtfully.
“What else would she be doing? Pheasants don’t nest on fallen logs!”
Er Gou Zi fell silent, then pulled his coat tighter and cursed. “Damn it—she must have noticed us. People who know the mountains are sharp. She’s probably been aware all along.”
“So you’ve been following Ye Qing this whole time?” Tian Xiao Wu’s foggy brain finally caught up. He pointed an accusing finger at Er Gou Zi. “No wonder you dragged me out before dawn, snuck around like thieves, and kept pushing me to walk behind everyone else—you were using me to track her!”
Tired and hungry from two hours of walking, the others lost patience.
Er Gou Zi didn’t bother denying it. “We’re not doing anything wrong. We’re just curious—want to see if she’s really as good as everyone says at finding game. What’s it to you?”
He glared at Tian Xiao Wu. “Keep your voice down. If she hears us, we’ll look like fools. Or are you suddenly taking her side against your friends?”
Tian Xiao Wu’s face flushed red with anger. He stepped onto a log and shouted, “Have you no shame? Stalking a defenseless woman! She’ll be terrified seeing a pack of men following her. I say we turn back right now and leave her alone!”
When no one moved, he spat in disgust. “I’m ashamed to know you. A bunch of grown men, trying to leech off someone else’s luck—are you even men?”
He spoke loudly, making no effort to hide his voice.
The others grew nervous—both embarrassed by his words and afraid their presence would be discovered.
Worse, they’d brought no food or water, and their energy was fading fast. “We’re just watching—we’re not hurting anyone. Why are you blowing this out of proportion?”
“Still the same coward, running to hide behind your father’s rules!” someone sneered. “Now you want to side with an outsider? Fine—then we’re done with you. You’re no friend of ours.”
“Good riddance! I don’t want to be friends with thieves and cowards!” Tian Xiao Wu shot back. “And don’t think I don’t know your real plan—you’re not just watching. You intend to steal whatever she finds, aren’t you?”
Er Gou Zi stamped out his cigarette butt, his expression turning cold and menacing. “Suppose we do—what are you going to do about it?”