Li Chen’s eyes turned cold as he quickened his pace toward home.
But the moment he reached the gate, he froze.
At the entrance to the courtyard knelt a stout young girl with a large slab of meat balanced on her head, sobbing uncontrollably.
Beside her stood a limping man holding a vine switch, lashing her from time to time while cursing, “You wretched girl, I’ve spoiled you rotten. How dare you bully Brother Chen’s family? Today you’ll kneel right here. You won’t get up until Brother Chen comes back and says he forgives you. Otherwise, don’t even think about coming home tonight!”
It was Zhou Dahai and Zhou Jiao.
Several villagers nearby were trying to persuade Zhou Dahai, but he refused to listen.
Wang Caifeng stood off to one side, crying in distress yet not daring to speak.
Yu Qingwan stood timidly at the doorway, softly trying to persuade Zhou Dahai as well, “Uncle Zhou, please let Xiao Jiao get up. She has already apologized. It’s really fine. Please… please don’t hit her anymore…”
But Zhou Dahai would not relent. He insisted on waiting for Li Chen to return.
Seeing this scene, Li Chen felt a surge of emotion. This Zhou Dahai, worthy of his military background, was truly a man of temperament and loyalty.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew the villagers’ attention. They turned and saw Li Chen returning.
Those closer spotted him first and shouted, “Stop arguing! Brother Chen’s back. Looks like he’s brought back quite a bit of game again!”
At once, a crowd surged forward.
A few curious women approached, took one look, and immediately screamed, their faces turning pale as they stepped back, “Leopard… it’s a leopard! Heavens, such a huge leopard…”
Several seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boys surrounded Li Chen, eyes wide with awe. Leading them were Zhao Dashi, Hou Xiaobai, and another named Liu Chenxu.
At this moment, they looked at Li Chen as if he were a god descended from heaven.
“Brother… Brother Chen, that leopard… did you kill it?”
Zhao Dashi’s voice trembled as he stammered.
Li Chen nodded. “Yes.”
He did not deliberately conceal it. If news of killing such a ferocious beast spread, it would deter petty troublemakers in the village. Let them know that anyone who dared provoke him would end up like the leopard. That would save him much unnecessary trouble.
“My heavens… Brother Chen, are you the reincarnation of the Mountain God? This… this is too fierce!”
Even the surrounding villagers watching the spectacle felt awe rising within them. This young man was terrifyingly capable.
That was a leopard, second only to the tiger among forest predators.
And leopards were more cunning than tigers, incredibly fast, coming and going like the wind. People had heard of men killing tigers, but no one had ever heard of someone killing a leopard.
The crowd encircled Li Chen so tightly that his maid wife could not squeeze forward.
“Brother Chen, you’re back?”
Zhou Dahai hurried over when he saw Li Chen.
But the moment he noticed the massive leopard being dragged behind him, he shuddered, his eyes filling with admiration and reverence.
Even during his time in the army, there had been few warriors capable of killing a leopard.
This young man was truly formidable.
After steadying himself, Zhou Dahai handed the vine switch to Li Chen and said in deep shame, “Brother Chen, I’ve learned about what happened yesterday. It was my failure to discipline her properly. This wretched girl dared to bully your household and even insult you. I won’t say more. Take it. Beat her however you wish to vent your anger. Even if you beat her to death, I won’t frown.”
Li Chen shook his head and pushed the switch back. “Uncle Zhou, there’s no need to press someone to the ground once they’ve already paid. I’ve already punished her, and she understands her mistake. Let Xiao Jiao get up.”
“No! Brother Chen, you saved my life. Yet my family bullied you. How can I face anyone? You must beat her again, in front of me!”
As he spoke, Zhou Dahai’s eyes reddened.
A life-saving debt. He had no way to repay it, and yet his own wife and daughter had acted this way. The shame weighed heavily on him.
Li Chen had no choice but to accept the vine switch and walk over to Zhou Jiao.
“Brother Chen, I’m sorry. I’m sorry to you and to Wan’er. You… you can beat me. This piece of meat we were given, my father said we can’t eat it. We brought it to your home. Please accept it. I only beg you to forgive my childish ignorance…”
Zhou Jiao said through sobs, the slab of meat still balanced on her head.
His maid wife, soft-hearted, covered her mouth and began crying quietly as well.
Li Chen raised the switch high. Wang Caifeng turned her head away, unable to bear watching.
But instead of striking hard, Li Chen merely tapped the switch lightly against her back.
He tossed the switch aside and smiled at Zhou Dahai. “Uncle Zhou, I’ve struck her, and I forgive Xiao Jiao.”
He then helped Zhou Jiao to her feet, brushed the dust from her clothes, and smiled at her. “It’s fine. We’re all brothers and sisters in the same village. Just get along well with Wan’er from now on.”
Zhou Jiao stood there with the meat still raised above her head, mouth agape, overwhelmed by shame and gratitude. After a moment, as if recalling something, she hurriedly lowered the large slab of meat and awkwardly held it out to Li Chen.
“Brother Chen, the meat… for your family.”
As she said this, she swallowed involuntarily.
Li Chen smiled and pushed it back. “My family has meat. You keep it.”
“Father, Brother Chen won’t take it…”
Zhou Jiao turned anxiously to Zhou Dahai.
“Brother Chen…”
Zhou Dahai limped over, urgency in his eyes.
Wang Caifeng also stepped forward gratefully, trying to press the meat into Li Chen’s arms. “Brother Chen, Aunt and Jiao’er were wrong. He’s already punished us. We won’t dare again. You’re broad-minded and don’t hold it against us, but we still feel ashamed. Please take this meat.”
“Uncle Zhou, Aunt, we truly don’t lack meat. Look, I brought back plenty of game today, including this leopard. You keep the meat and eat it yourselves. We’re from the same village. It’s impossible for tongues and teeth not to bump into each other. It’s fine. Go home.”
Li Chen smiled warmly.
“A hero indeed emerges in youth. Brother Chen, you’re truly capable and magnanimous. I won’t say more. I, Zhou Dahai, will remember this kindness!”
Zhou Dahai gave him a firm thumbs-up.
Wang Caifeng and Zhou Jiao both bowed deeply in shame.
Then the family of three returned home joyfully to stew their meat.
“Brother Chen, my mother said you saved my life, and a man must repay kindness. But… I don’t have much to thank you with. All that’s left at home are these arrow shafts. I made them to sell in the city’s arrow shop to help with household expenses. I’ll give them all to you. Maybe you can use them. They’re not perfect, so please don’t mind.”
Hou Xiaobai stepped forward, removing a small bundle of arrow shafts from his back. There were more than twenty, which he stood upright on the ground.